Month: May 2024

Pentagon’s ‘Switchblade 600’ drone gets funding for China fight

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A tank-destroying drone known for helping Ukraine push back on Russian advances is getting a major infusion of support – as part of an accelerated Pentagon effort to prepare for a possible conflict with China. The 50-pound (23kg) Switchblade 600 is the first of a new wave of lower-cost autonomous weapons the Pentagon is publicly acknowledging it is funding through its Replicator programme – an effort to field new systems by August 2025 to help counter Chinese capabilities. Produced by AeroVironment Inc, an Arlington, Virginia-based company, the drones can fly…

China’s President Xi begins state visit to France

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China’s President Xi Jinping is on a rare state visit to France, which started with trilateral talks with French President Emanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Ahead of Xi’s visit, both von der Leyen and Macron indicated the meetings would focus on establishing fair trade between the European Union and China. Both leaders have complained of overproduction by China’s subsidized industries, allowing them to flood European markets with cheap goods. France currently holds the revolving presidency of the European Council, defined as the EU institution that…