Gordon Arthur
Gordon Arthur is an Asia correspondent for Defense News. After a 20-year stint working in Hong Kong, he now resides in New Zealand. He has attended military exercises and defense exhibitions in about 20 countries around the Asia-Pacific region.
All Stories By Gordon
Vendors line up to fill Japan’s F-35 pilot training gap
Tokyo is currently mulling its options for new advanced jet trainers.
Singapore raises defense budget, readies new military acquisitions
The government of Singapore announced a 12.4% defense budget hike on March 3, with major new equipment on order.
For India, it’s ‘Pick your fighter,’ as Delhi weighs US, Russian bids
India wants to catch up quickly to China in fighter jets. But buying on the global market could torpedo the country's homegrown program.
India raises defense budget by nearly 10%, pushes local manufacturing
Although Delhi says modernization is a priority, funding for capital acquisitions has grown just 4.65% compared to last year.
Philippines shores up defenses with increased military spending
Defense leaders in Manila are beefing up the country's defenses as China asserts itself over disputed claims in the South China Sea.
S. Korea flies its most capable Surion helicopter variant yet
Korea Aerospace Industries’ production line for the Surion helicopter is receiving a shot in the arm thanks to the development of two new versions.
Western defense companies size up Vietnam’s military market
American and European contractors were out in full force for the country's biennial defense expo in Hanoi in December 2024.
Japan passes record defense budget, while still playing catch-up
Approved on Dec. 27, 2024, the upcoming defense budget beginning April 1 is up 9.4% to a record 8.7 trillion yen, the equivalent of $55.1 billion.
Asia-Pacific nations boost amphibious naval fleets to repel China
Tokyo, for example, is alarmed at the vulnerability of its southwest archipelago to Chinese intrusion.
Taiwan gets US Abrams tanks, hardening final defenses in an invasion
The Abrams represents a significant step up in terms of firepower and protection compared to Taiwan's current fleet of decades-old M60 and M48 tanks.
