Anthropic, an AI research and development firm, announced a new advisory council of former national security officials and lawmakers that it said will help the firm support the U.S. government and allies build "enduring technological advantages in an era of strategic competition." The "Anthropic National Security and Public Sector Advisory Council" will look to strengthen the technology capabilities of the U.S. and its partners while deepening public-private partnerships, it said.
The State Department is seeking public comments on an information collection related to Part 130 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which deals with political contributions, fees and commissions relating to sales of defense articles and services. Under the ITAR, defense exporters shipping certain goods worth more than $500,000 to a foreign armed service, international organization or others must notify the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls about certain political contributions or fees associated with the sale, the agency said. Comments are due Oct. 27.
The State Department this week approved a possible $97.3 million military sale to Australia, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. The sale includes Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units, and the principal contractor will be the Javelin Joint Venture between RTX and Lockheed Martin.
The Export-Import Bank didn’t approve any new transactions involving dual-use goods in FY 2024, the Government Accountability Office reported Aug. 20. The bank also, as of August, wasn't monitoring the end use of any dual-use export transactions "because all such transactions had been repaid in full."
The State Department last week approved a possible $500 million military sale to Bahrain, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. The sale includes four "M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems" and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin.
The State Department this week approved a possible $346 million military sale to Nigeria, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. The sale includes munitions, precision bombs, precision rockets and related equipment, and the principal contractors will be RTX Missiles and Defense, Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems.
President Donald Trump signed a new executive order Aug. 13 aimed at deregulating the commercial space sector, which it said will help make American space launch companies more competitive. The order doesn't explicitly mention the loosening of export or trade restrictions, but it directs the Commerce and Transportation departments, along with other government offices, to create a "streamlined process for authorizing novel space activities (missions not clearly or straightforwardly governed by existing regulatory frameworks) with the goal of enabling American space competitiveness and superiority in new space-based industries."
The State Department last week approved a possible $160 million military sale to Canada, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. The sale includes "Joint Light Tactical Vehicles" and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be AM General, LLC.
President Donald Trump said that he is open to the possibility of normalizing trade relations with Russia if his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin goes well.
The State Department this week approved a possible $404 million military sale to Australia, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. The sale includes equipment and services to support the maintenance of its MC-55A aircraft fleet. The principal contractor will be L3 Harris.