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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
30 Oct 25. UK plans to launch ‘Back British’ defence offset approach. The UK plans to launch a new defence offset mechanism to ensure that UK businesses benefit when the government purchases internationally, it has emerged. UK Minister for Defence Procurement, Luke Pollard, announced the ‘Back British’ agenda to a room of small companies, asserting that they “will benefit from the new approach”. The plans are dependent on the results of an industry consultation, but essentially it would require international suppliers to “create jobs, know-how, and investment opportunities here in the UK”, the UK Ministry of Defence said. In other news, US President Donald Trump has granted South Korea permission to build a nuclear-powered submarine for the first time, making it one of just seven countries with the capability. South Korean President Lee Myung stressed the reduced burden upon the US military if his country could deploy its own fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. The announcement came amid Trump’s tour of Asia, where he visited Malaysia and Japan, meeting the new Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. Whilst in Seoul, he also held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the pair agreeing to lower tariffs. (Source: Clarion)
28 Oct 25. UK to launch competitions under T&E programme. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is launching a series of themed competitions under its ’Test and Evaluation (T&E) Transformation Programme’. Separated into two distinct sections, one set of competitions will be MoD-focused, with funding supporting projects led by the MoD and frontline commands. The second set of competitions will be industry-focused, with companies invited to compete for funding in specific topic areas. All will be run using the T&E Transformation Fund made up of around GBP32 m ringfenced through to 2030. Also this month, the UK Government selected Rupert Pearce, the former CEO of satellite communications firm Inmarsat, to become the new National Armaments Director (NAD). Pearce takes over from the interim NAD, Andy Start, and has a background in commercial law and venture capital. (Source: Clarion)
16 Oct 25. UK outlines key requirements for Digital Targeting Web. Along with new technology, existing capabilities, such as Nexus and Strike Net will be used to support the web. The UK’s new Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) has unveiled its blueprint or “shopping list” for the military’s future Digital Targeting Web (DTW) battle system, with early investment priorities focused on building a defence-wide C4ISTAR architecture. Speaking at DSEI UK 2025, Rear Admiral (RADM) Paul Stroude, Director of Capability at CSOC, outlined that the C4ISTAR architecture – covering command, communications, and intelligence/surveillance functions – is necessary to create a web that “extends across the entirety of defence”, supporting all the functions – sense, decide, and effect – of the DTW. The DTW – first announced in the Strategic Defence Review in June – aims to improve battlefield decision-making by connecting sensors, effectors, and decision-makers into a system-of-systems. GBP1 bn has been earmarked for the programme.
C4ISTAR priorities
Breaking down the DTW’s C4ISTAR priorities, RADM Stroude said that “top of our list” is taking “the leap to data-centric security, zero trust architectures, and data gateways that can operate across the entire defence estate to allow information to flow at machine speed, securely, and seamlessly across classifications”.
“So, a minimum viable product initially in this will prioritise deployed hosting platforms, such as OpNET and also integrating with FLC [frontline command] initiatives such as the Royal Air Force’s Nexus and the Royal Navy’s Strike Net”, he said.
Supporting this, however, requires a comprehensive cloud and communications backbone.
“We’re going to be heavily enabled by the enterprise secret cloud. And again, we’re going to have to provide some of the early years funding for that out of the Digital Targeting Web.”
From a tactical perspective, RADM Stroude highlighted the growing importance of AI, noting that it will “require an uplift in edge compute enabled through further investment in our deployed ‘C2 to the Edge programme’, and in particular project ‘Seraphim’, which has been stood up to deliver modern local area mesh networks and services delivered through OpNET.” OpNET is the UK military’s secure digital communications and IT network, which provides secure data, voice, and messaging services across security levels.
Other priorities
Enhancing situational awareness, resilience, and connectivity are other core priorities for enabling the DTW, he continued.
For situational awareness, the military must build ‘shared situational awareness’, operating on a federated, filterable common operating picture spanning both the tactical edge and HQ nodes.
Connectivity, meanwhile, requires “closing gaps in the transport layer”, through Link 16 and Link 22, delivered via a common access point and integrated broadcast services, he continued.
Working with partners across the UK Government and its allies is essential for achieving this level of connectivity, he said, adding that the military plans on working with NATO on the Allied Software for Cloud and Edge Services (ACE) initiative. A new Five Eyes information sharing environment is also going to be established called Arcadia to replace Pegasus, he noted.
ACE is a NATO initiative, supported by the UK, that aims to establish a common digital service for creating, distributing, and storing classified information securely.
Finally, resilience, and this goes beyond cyber, encompasses establishing robust alternative position, navigation and timing; anti-jam satellite navigation; exploiting satellite signals; and deployable “eLoran nodes to provide a time signal”, RADM Stroude explained. The capabilities needed to achieve this likely exist already, with CSOC assessing that “something like 70% of what we need” is already available, Brigadier Richard Alston RM Deputy Director of Cyber and Electromagnetic Effects at CSOC added at DSEI UK. The challenge is “orchestrating all of that activity”, Brig Alston concluded, with a new defence targeting enterprise office set to be established to help support this. (Source: Clarion)
28 Oct 25. Ploughshare launches services to help UK companies identify dual-use technologies that can drive economic growth.
- Ploughshare launches new services to unlock dual-use innovation
Ploughshare, the Ministry of Defence’s trusted commercialisation partner, today unveiled a new suite of services designed to help UK companies identify, unlock and accelerate the journey of defence-inspired intellectual property into wider civilian applications and markets to deliver greater economic and strategic value for the UK.
- Two decades of impact, now scaled for national benefit
With a 20-year track record of successfully spinning out companies and licensing innovations from government laboratories (creating 16 spinouts and 500 jobs, licensing over 150 technologies, and delivered £125 m in GVA to the economy), Ploughshare is now making its expertise available to a wider audience – enabling more organisations to benefit from defence innovation and contribute to UK prosperity.
- Ploughshare and Leonardo announce new collaboration
As part of this expansion, Ploughshare and Leonardo have announced a new collaboration to accelerate the commercialisation of their defence IP. Formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding, the partnership will leverage Ploughshare’s new services to unlock innovation with dual-use potential and drive impact across sectors.
Initially targeting the defence sector, the initiative offers tailored support to scale innovations into market-ready products, while navigating complex IP frameworks and security considerations. The services span the full innovation lifecycle—from discovery to deployment—and tap into Ploughshare’s established ecosystem across defence, government, and civilian domains.
The launch comes as the UK’s Strategic Defence Review 2025 calls for a wartime pace of innovation and positions defence as a driver of national prosperity. Ploughshare’s offering empowers companies to transform breakthrough ideas into commercial success—strengthening sovereign capability and delivering impact for UK Plc.
Ploughshare CEO Hetti Barkworth-Nanton explains: “Defence has given us game-changing tech—from the EpiPen to GPS. We believe the next breakthrough could already be sitting inside a UK defence company. Yet much of the intellectual property generated remains underexploited – trapped in early concepts, shelved projects, niche applications, or applied only to battlefield settings.
“Now is the time to unlock that latent value. We have already announced the Technology and Growth alliance, convening organisations across the defence enterprise to unlock inventions and to work with enablers including investors, and accelerators, to take it to market. We are now offering our own, proven, capabilities to play our part in acceleration. By commercialising IP through licensing, defence companies can accelerate new product development, strengthen sovereign capability, and create new revenue streams that benefit both national security and UK Plc.”
Ploughshare and Leonardo collaborate together
Leonardo UK and Ploughshare have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on accelerating the identification and commercialisation of defence intellectual property with dual-use potential through its newly launched services.
Hetti adds: “We’re delighted to have Leonardo on board; it’s a clear sign of industry demand when such an innovative company has decided to work with us. The company has a rich history of creating technologies that have huge dual-use potential, such as innovations that have transformed how search and rescue teams locate people in trouble. We’ll be working closely with them to identify what’s next.”
Professor Simon Harwood, Leonardo UK Capability Development Director, said: “The defence industry has always, at its core, been about securing the prosperity of the nation. Whilst Leonardo UK and the wider defence industry’s direct focus has been, and will remain on ensuring malevolent actors cannot disrupt our nations’ infrastructure, trade, and way of life, whilst protecting the lives of the service people who risk their lives in achieving this, there is much that we learn in our research and development that can directly benefit UK consumers’ lives.
“With over £400 m spent each year in R&D, Leonardo UK has and continues to develop a wealth of knowledge and proprietary capabilities in electro-optics, antenna designs, sensors, communication systems, cyber security, composite materials, autonomous systems, and much more. Our advanced technical capabilities provide the potential for us to positively impact beyond the world of defence. We are excited that, with the acceleration in investment in defence and pace of technological development, we can, in conjunction with the Technology and Growth Alliance, step-up the pace of the R&D derived benefits into UK PLC and directly into UK consumers’ lives.”
From identifying IP to a full-scale management package
Ploughshare has created a range of services designed to fit every need, from identifying IP to a comprehensive commercialisation offering based on their 20 years of expertise. The suite of services on offer will help businesses:
- Uncover hidden value: Identify untapped IP within an organisation. The service offering helps defence companies collaborate with internal technical and R&D teams to discover high-value ideas and assets that could drive growth, enhance supply chain compliance, or be licensed to third parties
- Prioritise innovations with the most potential: Quickly assess and prioritise promising IP. This service offering helps defence companies evaluate whether early-stage ideas could deliver greater commercial impact through licensing—with minimal upfront investment
- Licence technologies out to market: Turn validated IP into revenue. A managed service that connects defence companies with third-party partners to license IP and take ideas to market through a robust commercialisation plan —delivering growth and impact while reducing internal resource strain and risk
- Manage licensees: A service that offers outsourced management of third-party licensees, enabling companies to maximise return, maintain IP independence, while containing costs
- Launch spin-outs: Launch disruptive ideas into new ventures – a managed service that helps defence companies spin out high-potential IP into standalone businesses, accelerating market entry while minimising operational distraction and risk
- Outsource commercialisation: A comprehensive full-service offering that supports defence companies across the entire idea-to-growth journey—identifying, managing, and scaling opportunities. This service offering gives companies the option to fully outsource their entire technology transfer and IP licensing activities in this multi-year partnership, with minimal disruption and risk to current business operations
27 Oct 25. Royal Navy to spend £150m on mine-hunting drones to counter Russia threat. A fleet of cutting-edge vessels could be used for clearing mines in conflict zones such as the Black Sea. Britain will acquire a fleet of underwater drones for minehunting as part of a £150m upgrade of the Royal Navy amid growing threats from Russia. The cutting-edge vessels could be used for clearing mines in conflict zones such as the Black Sea, off the coast of Ukraine, or protecting underwater cables and gas pipelines from sabotage, The Telegraph understands. Up to 24 will initially be acquired by the Ministry of Defence, though more could potentially be ordered on top of this, according to a newly-advertised contract. It was not immediately clear what type of drone defence officials were seeking, at a time when the Navy has been trialling various devices from small underwater gliders to larger, uncrewed submarine-like vessels. However, the contract’s value implies each one could cost as much as £6m each. The purchase is being made as part of the Navy’s mine hunting capability programme. Mine hunting has traditionally involved crewed ships equipped with high-definition sonar for detection and divers or remotely-controlled vehicles for defusing bombs. But with the Navy set to retire most of its mine-clearing ships this decade, drones are gradually being introduced to do the job instead.
‘Leading edge of defence’
A defence source said: “Whether it’s hunting down deadly mines left by Putin’s forces or catching hostile activity near critical infrastructure, underwater drones are a vital part of modern warfare.
“We’re calling on the defence sector to bring their best innovations to ensure Royal Navy sailors have the most advanced underwater technology ready to deploy from the North Sea to Nato operations.
“This is putting the UK at the leading edge of defence innovation and delivering on our strategic defence review.”
It is understood that the main focus of the drones will be to covertly detect underwater mines in conflict zones. Extensive mine-laying has been seen in the war between Ukraine and Russia, including in the Black Sea where both sides have sought to deny each other freedom of manoeuvre. However, the British drones will also be used to patrol UK and Nato waters for suspicious activity on the seabed. It follows concerns about activity by Russian vessels near critical infrastructure. Last year, Nato forces were placed on high alert following a string of cable and gas pipeline outages in the Baltic Sea. The incidents were later linked to an oil tanker that was suspected to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet”. The Royal Navy has been trialling various uncrewed vessels as part of its switch to a “hybrid fleet”, including both drones which float on the water and those underwater. These include the “Excalibur” submarine drone developed by Plymouth-based MSubs and autonomous underwater gliders developed by Anglo-German start-up Helsing. The Navy’s new mine hunting fleet will include a “mothership”, HMS Stirling Castle, coupled with various uncrewed vessels. Uncrewed vessels are “quicker and provide greater precision than crewed mine hunting vessels”, according to the Ministry of Defence. (Source: Daily Telegraph)
22 Oct 25. UK and US issue call for C-UAS capability research participants. The UK National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is inviting expressions of interest to participate in the next Capability Optimisation Research Environment (CORE) event, scheduled to take place in the U.K. between 23-27 February 2026. CORE provides a collaborative test and experimentation environment for organisations developing counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) technologies. It enables participants to research, trial and refine capabilities alongside UK Government and international partners.
The event comprises two themes:
Theme A – Optical Systems for C-UAS Detection and Situational Awareness
This strand will explore the capabilities of optical and imaging systems that can support C-UAS detection and situational awareness. NPSA is interested in technologies that provide persistent observation of an operational environment. Of particular interest are systems that can operate effectively in day, low-light and night conditions.
Theme B – Imagery Based Object Detection, Tracking and Analytic Software
This theme focuses on imagery based object-detection analytics that can identify, classify or track UAS within optical imagery. Of particular interest are systems that can operate effectively in both day and night conditions and can ingest external video feeds to detect small UAS against clear-sky and cluttered backgrounds.
Participants will have the opportunity to evaluate algorithm performance in a controlled environment, comparing detection accuracy and adaptability across multiple sensor types. Expressions of interest should be submitted to by Friday 31st October 2025. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Oct 25. UK government consultation on new defence procurement strategy. The news strategy will require foreign contractors to create job and investment opportunities in the UK, as part of their deals. The UK government has initiated a consultation with the defence industry to launch the ‘Back British’ offset strategy, aimed at ensuring that defence import deals result in a direct benefit to British businesses. Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard announced the consultation during the Defence Procurement Research, Technology and Exportability (DPRTE) summit in Manchester. The proposed policy will require foreign contractors to commit to creating job opportunities, investing in the UK or engaging local small businesses as a part of their deals. The final framework will be derived from a 12-week consultation period involving the sector. The initiative aligns with the objectives of the Strategic Defence Review to cultivate new partnerships with industry, transform the procurement process, and encourage job growth throughout the UK. According to the Ministry of Defence, this approach will benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the “backbone of the defence industry”. The UK government has already pledged to increase spending with SMEs by £2.5bn ($3.3bn) by May 2028, as part of the Plan for Change. The plan outlines clear, attainable targets set to be met by the end of this Parliament. It aims to advance key national missions and bring tangible improvements to working individuals’ lives.
Minister Luke Pollard said: “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. We are increasing defence spending and directing more of that at UK based firms. Where we have to buy from foreign firms a new offset approach means UK SMEs will benefit from offset agreements. By helping open up global supply chains to UK firms of all sizes, a new offset approach will strengthen our Armed Forces while making defence an engine for growth across Britain.”
The consultation on offsets also forms an element of a broader suite of reforms under the new Defence Industrial Strategy. This strategy intends to bolster Britain’s industrial base through measures such as setting up a Defence Office for Small Business Growth from early 2026. In September 2025, UK Defence Procurement Minister Maria Eagle revealed in a written parliamentary response that between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, contracts awarded by the Ministry of Defence to non-UK companies were on average 23.1% higher than those given to UK-based defence companies. Earlier in October 2025, the UK entered into a £350m ($466m) defence contract with India, a decision that will safeguard hundreds of jobs in Northern Ireland. (Source: army-technology.com)
EUROPE
27 Oct 25. 20,000 UK jobs secured as Türkiye buys 20 Typhoon jets in biggest fighter jet deal in a generation. Thousands of skilled UK jobs have been secured for years to come as the UK and Türkiye sign a deal worth up to £8bn for 20 UK Typhoon fighter jets – the biggest fighter jet exports deal in a generation.
- £8bn deal struck with Türkiye for first new orders for UK Typhoons since 2017, as the Prime Minister visits Ankara for the first time.
- Deal strengthens NATO’s collective deterrence and ties between UK and Türkiye.
- Skilled jobs on production lines sustained across the UK for years to come, including in Warton, Salmesbury, Bristol and Edinburgh, delivering on this government’s Plan for Change.
Thousands of skilled UK jobs have been secured for years to come as the UK and Türkiye sign a deal worth up to £8 bn for 20 UK Typhoon fighter jets – the biggest fighter jet exports deal in a generation. The multi-billion pound deal was signed as the Prime Minister was hosted by the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during his first visit to Ankara today. The deal will help to sustain a 20,000 strong UK wide workforce, with production lines in Edinburgh, Warton, Salmesbury and Bristol. The Turkish agreement is a major boost for the British order book, representing the biggest fighter jet deal in almost 20 years and saving the Warton production line. It will also strengthen Türkiye’s advanced combat capabilities, bolstering NATO’s strength in a key region and enhancing interoperability between both our air forces. The deal comes just weeks after the UK’s Type 26 frigates were selected by Norway, adding a further £10 bn to Britain’s economy and securing 4,000 jobs. Both deals underline the government’s work to make defence an engine for growth, delivering highly skilled jobs and putting money in the pockets of working people through the Plan for Change.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This landmark agreement with Türkiye is a win for British workers, a win for our defence industry, and a win for NATO security. At either ends of Europe, the UK and Türkiye are vital to tackling the challenges of our time and this will allow our Armed Forces to work even closer together as we deter threats and protect our national interests. Delivering highly skilled, well-paid jobs, including in Warton, Edinburgh and Bristol for years to come, this is yet another example of our Plan for Change in action, driving renewal and opportunity up and down the country.”
The deal also follows the Prime Minister and the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signing a new agreement in July to boost world-class UK defence exports such as Boxer armoured vehicles and Typhoon.
During the Prime Minister’s visit today, he also met Turkish military and RAF Typhoon pilots to hear firsthand how the jets will contribute to European security.
The Prime Minister also laid a wreath at the Anitkabir Ataturk Mausoleum, before finalising the Typhoon deal at the Presidential Palace.
The Typhoon workshare agreement sees more than a third (37%) of each aircraft manufactured in the UK; the rest of each aircraft would be produced by the Eurofighter Partner Nations. The UK jobs include:
- Nearly 6,000 jobs directly support the Typhoon programme at BAE Systems sites in Warton and Samlesbury, where production and final assembly of each Typhoon fighter jet takes place.
- The Typhoon programme supports more than 1,100 jobs in the South West region. That includes Rolls-Royce in Bristol producing critical modules and components for Typhoon’s EJ200 jet engines and acting as main hub for maintenance of the engines.
- The Typhoon programme supports more than 800 jobs in Scotland. That includes Leonardo in Edinburgh manufacturing the fighter jet’s cutting-edge radar for identifying enemies.
Defence Secretary John Healey, who travelled with the Prime Minister to Ankara to finalise the deal, said: “This is another major export deal for the UK and is the biggest jet exports deal in a generation. It will pump bns of pounds into our economy and keep British Typhoon production lines turning long into the future. This deal goes far beyond the procurement of aircraft. It is the leading edge of the growing defence and industrial partnership between our two nations. Türkiye is an important NATO ally and the gatekeeper to the Black Sea. By equipping them with top-of-the-range Typhoon fighter jets, this deal will strengthen NATO deterrence and help make us all safer. I’m determined this government will make defence an engine for growth across the UK.”
The first delivery to Türkiye is expected to take place in 2030.
Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive, BAE Systems said: “Türkiye’s procurement of Typhoon marks the start of a new chapter in our longstanding relationship with this important NATO ally and reinforces the outstanding operational support the aircraft delivers across Europe and the Middle East as a fundamental pillar of defence and security.
Typhoon is an export success story and demonstrates how investment in defence can fuel significant economic growth and returns across the UK. Today’s announcement extends Typhoon production and preserves crucial sovereign skills which underpin the UK’s defence and security.” Typhoon jets continue to demonstrate their formidable capabilities as the mainstay of RAF combat air operations. Deployments include:
- NATO Air Policing: Securing NATO’s eastern border and reinforcing collective defence.
- Quick Reaction Alert: Providing 24/7 protection of UK airspace for homeland security.
- Operation Shader: Supporting counter-Daesh operations in Iraq and Syria. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
27 Oct 25. The UK Government has announced a c.£5.4bn agreement with the Republic of Türkiye for the purchase of 20 Typhoon aircraft and an associated weapons and integration package, sustaining more than 20,000 highly skilled jobs across the UK supply chain. Under the agreement, BAE Systems will manufacture major airframe components, conduct the final assembly of the aircraft and lead the weapons integration at its sites in Lancashire, generating work for hundreds of companies across the UK supply chain. The weapons package will be primarily provided by MBDA. The agreement announced today means the Turkish Air Force will become the tenth air force to operate Typhoon and reflects the crucial role Typhoons are providing in international air defence. BAE Systems Chief Executive, Charles Woodburn, said: “Türkiye’s procurement of Typhoon marks the start of a new chapter in our longstanding relationship with this important NATO ally and reinforces the outstanding operational support the aircraft continues to deliver across Europe and the Middle East as a fundamental pillar of defence and security. Typhoon is an export success story and demonstrates how investment in defence can fuel significant economic growth and returns across the UK. Today’s announcement extends Typhoon production and preserves crucial sovereign skills which underpin the UK’s defence and security.”
Key highlights
- Türkiye becomes the tenth operator alongside: UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
- Typhoon is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most successful defence export programmes contributing £1.4bn in exports annually
- The programme generates £1.6bn to the UK economy each year
- More than 20,000 jobs across the UK are supported by the Typhoon programme, including highly skilled sovereign engineering roles, with the majority based in the North West of England
- Typhoon production in the UK now extends into the 2030s
- From the UK Government’s original £12bn investment, the programme has already returned more than £30bn to the UK economy
- Under the agreement, BAE Systems anticipates that it will recognise c.£4.6bn including through its shareholding in MBDA.
USA
30 Oct 25. Pentagon’s DOGE unit to revamp military drone program, sources say.
- Summary
- DOGE unit aims to streamline procurement and expand drone production
- DOGE unit’s leader was marine and Goldman Sachs trader
- Trump, Hegseth have made expanding drone industry a military priority
The Pentagon’s DOGE unit is leading efforts to overhaul the U.S. military drone program, including streamlining procurement, expand homegrown production, and acquire tens of thousands of cheap drones in the coming months, according to Pentagon officials and people with knowledge of the matter. In July, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pledged, opens new tab to cut red tape and assert U.S. drone dominance by approving hundreds of American-made drone models and launching training programs to prepare units for ‘drone wars’ – a response to the widespread use of drones on Ukraine’s battlefield, which have exposed U.S. drone limitations. (Source: Reuters)
REST OF THE WORLD
29 Oct 25. South African defence sector invites global collaboration and investment. The Global Industrial Cooperation Association (GICA) held its 2025 October Conference in Cape Town from 14 to 16 October, bringing together international government policymakers, global industry leaders, and the multi-national defence sector to discuss industrial collaboration, technology transfer, and investment.
“Collaboration is very vital to progress, very vital to growth,” said Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) Zuko Godlimpi. “Collaboration between business and the state is not just about contracting or employment, but about creating ecosystems that improve collective productivity and output.”
Highlighting the success of the National Industrial Participation Programme (NIPP), which has generated over R18 bn in new investments, technology transfers and exports, Godlimpi cited partnerships such as Airbus with Aerosud and Thales, Rheinmetall and Saab, and Damen Shipyards as examples of effective industrial cooperation.
“Industrial participation cannot be treated as a compliance exercise,” he emphasised. “It must be embraced as an engine of inclusive growth, one that strengthens small and medium enterprises, expands skills pipelines, and stimulates investment in research and development.”
Godlimpi also placed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the centre of Africa’s reindustrialisation drive. “It will allow Africa to be an exporter of finished goods, not just raw materials.”
He stressed that deeper continental supply chains and value chain integration were essential to “future proof” Africa’s industries against global shocks such as COVID-19, wars, and trade disruptions.
Isaac Motale, Deputy Chair of the South African Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association (AMD), presented a compelling case for international collaboration with South Africa’s defence sector.
“Eighty percent of the revenue derived by defence companies in South Africa is pure exports, Motale stated. “South Africa supplies to over 35 countries, with systems exported to over 70 nations worldwide, from Europe and the Middle East to the Americas and Asia.”
The South African Defence Industry (SADI) employs around 20,000 people across more than 600 companies, including major system integrators and small suppliers. “We can provide up to 80% of the South African National Defence Force’s requirements locally,” Motale noted. “Our companies are capable, from design to production, in air, land, and maritime domains.”
Motale outlined why South Africa is a valuable partner for defence cooperation: “We are self-reliant, non-aligned, and have a well-established value chain,” he said.
“We are trusted globally, with IP portfolios ready for commercialisation and a track record of world-class innovations like the G5 and G6 artillery, mine-protected vehicles, missiles, and the Rooivalk and Mwari aircraft.”
Proposing specific areas for collaboration, Motale invited GICA members to explore joint ventures in air defence systems, robotics, AI, 3D printing, satellite technology, clean energy, and unmanned systems, as well as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for the African continent.
“The South African defence industry remains focused on developing world-class leading technologies,” Motale concluded. “We can be your trusted partner, particularly within the BRICS League of Nations, and we call for structured, frequent engagements with GICA.”
Zukiswa Kimane, Chief Director: Industrial Policy at the dtic, spoke on how public procurement supports industrial policy.
“Public procurement is not just spending, it’s power,” she said. “When used strategically, it becomes a tool for driving industrialisation, creating jobs, and strengthening local industries.”
With government procurement representing 15–25% of GDP, Kimane stressed its role in promoting local content, transformation, and inclusion.
“South Africa’s unemployment rate remains high, particularly among youth,” she said. “That is why our policy focuses on broadening participation, supporting SMEs, and bringing previously disadvantaged individuals into the mainstream economy.”
Since 2012, 28 sectors have been designated for local content, leading to significant successes such as Damen Shipyards’ Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel (MMIPV) project for the SA Navy, Airbus-Thales-Aerosud collaborations, and partnerships involving Rolls-Royce, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, and Safran.
“With local content, we ensure our communities don’t just watch projects happen, they happen to benefit from them,” Kimane said. “Local content and industrial cooperation are where global ambition meets local talent.”
She concluded that public procurement provides dual benefits, stimulating demand for locally produced goods while giving investors confidence to build capacity, skills, and technology in South Africa.
The Global Industrial Cooperation Association (GICA) is a not-for-profit organization established in 1986 to promote trade for foreign suppliers and provide a platform for industry and government leaders. GICA’s international member companies span a wide range of industries, including aerospace, defence, finance and infrastructure. Whilst retaining its international flavour, the GICA October 2025 Conference highlighted a clear message: South Africa’s defence and industrial sectors are open for partnership, committed to innovation, regional integration, and inclusive growth.
As Godlimpi summed up: “Together we can ensure that South Africa, and indeed Africa at large, is not just a participant in global trade, but a driver of industrial innovation and shared prosperity.” (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
28 Oct 25. EDGE Group to provide border security solution to Angola. The United Arab Emirates’ EDGE Group is finalising a contract with Angola’s Ministry of Interior to deploy a major border security solution, which is to be delivered by its entity BEACON RED. A Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed by Omar Al Zaabi, President of EDGE Commercial, during the recent state visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to Angola, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations, EDGE said in a statement on Wednesday 22 October. The multi-year programme will deliver command and control (C2) systems and mission-specific training to enhance situational awareness, operational readiness, and rapid response at critical border points. “The project will stand as one of the most significant UAE-led security programmes internationally, demonstrating EDGE’s proven ability to deliver solutions that address complex national security priorities,” the company stated. EDGE’s border security architecture integrates AI-powered analytics, surveillance UAVs, secure communications, and big data management with traditional defence systems and layered physical security. “Each solution is tailored to the specific operational demands, terrain complexities, and threat environments of the customer, delivering modular, interoperable systems that ensure enhanced situational awareness and rapid responsiveness across diverse geographies.”
“This important programme underscores EDGE’s core strategy of delivering advanced, UAE-developed defence and security solutions to international partners,” said Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE Group.
“Angola stands out as a forward-thinking nation with a clear vision for modernising its national security architecture, which makes it an ideal partner in shaping the future of border control. As one of the most significant UAE-led initiatives of its kind, it highlights the strength of our defence industrial base and our role in supporting governments in building long-term, future-ready national security capabilities.”
BEACON RED was established in 2018 and falls under the Space & Cyber Technologies expertise area of EDGE. EDGE noted the border security agreement follows the February 2023 €1 bn deal under which Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), part of EDGE Group, has been contracted to build three BR71 Mk II corvettes for the Angolan Navy as well as inshore patrol vessels and transport ships. French shipyard Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) is building one of the corvettes and the other two are being built in the United Arab Emirates under a technology transfer agreement. Steel for the first corvette was cut in December 2023, and the hull was laid down in March 2024. Fitting out of the vessel has begun, with delivery expected in 2026, followed by the remaining ships by 2027. EDR magazine reported that the €1bn Angolan deal also includes five 16 metre long 160 Sea Keeper cargo and transport vessels and six 12 metre long 120 Fast In-shore Platforms. A five-year Integrated Logistic Support and Integrated Service Support package is also included, as well as six HT-100 VTOL unmanned aerial systems, produced by Anavia of Switzerland of which EDGE acquired the majority shares in November 2023, two of which will be embarked on each BR71 Mk II corvette. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Angolan corvette contract included an export-credit financing package to help Angola finance the acquisition. CMN previously supplied three HSI 32 patrol craft to Angola, with deliveries in 2019. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
21 Oct 25. Malaysian Army seeks 105mm towed howitzers. Malaysia issued a tender for new 105mm towed howitzers in mid-October 2025, as the Malaysian Army seeks to boost its mobile firepower. The army wants 36 howitzers, and a budget of MYR697.69 m (US$166 m) has been allocated for this procurement. The Malaysian Army also wants integrated fire control systems, designs for a regimental command post vehicle and a technical solution for communications to go with the artillery pieces. The 1st Royal Artillery Regiment (Para) of the 10th Parachute Brigade received 18 Nexter LG1 Mk III 105mm artillery pieces after an order was lodged in 2018. That deal included ERG3 long-range 105mm munitions possessing a 17km range. Nexter partnered with Malaysian firm ADS, which locally assembled the artillery pieces. The Malaysian Army has other regiments equipped with older OTO Melara Model 56 105mm pack howitzers that also need replacing. The figure of 36 howitzers suggests that two such regiments will be equipped. The two main contenders are KNDS France with more of the LG1 Mk III that weighs just 1.65 tonnes, as well as the Boran from MKE in Turkey. Both weapons can be under-slung by helicopters or flown in C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.
The 1.745-tonne Boran comes with Aselsan’s Volkan 230/105 digital fire control system, whereas previously delivered LG1s came with Bacara ballistic computers and the Thales AS 4000 fire control solution. Given that this tender is for a significant number of artillery pieces, Malaysia will presumably be looking for local technology transfers, logistical support and an ammunition supply that maximise the involvement of local companies. Malaysia, a country split in two geographically, incorporates the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. Towed howitzers are an ideal way to rapidly move weapons by air or sea between the two land masses, as well as within the jungle-clad interior, as the Malaysian Army prioritises fast-response units. This towed howitzer tender closes on 27 November. Malaysia had previously expressed interest in refurbished M109A5 self-propelled howitzers from the USA and, latterly, truck-mounted 155mm howitzers. These efforts bore no fruit, and the emergence of this towed howitzer tender may indicate that the 155mm self-propelled howitzer project is on hold. Kuala Lumpur recently allocated MYR21.7 bn (US$5.16 bn) for its 2026 defence budget. Of this sum, MYR7.63 bn will go towards procurements and infrastructure development. Other current acquisition priorities for the Malaysian Army include medium-to-short-range air defence systems (to replace the Jernas/Rapier), very short-range defence systems (to replace assorted Anza Mk II, Igla and FN-6 man-portable systems) and ten vehicles for Malaysia’s peacekeeping battalion in Lebanon before the mission ends in December 2026. (Source: AMR)
24 Oct 25. India’s DAC approves $9bn for armed forces enhancements. Acceptance of Necessity was granted to procure landing platform docks and advanced light weight torpedoes for the Indian Navy. India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has sanctioned proposals amounting to approximately Rs790bn ($9bn) during a meeting held in New Delhi on October 23, 2025. This approval will fund new acquisitions for the Indian Navy, Air Force, and Army. Under this proposal, Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was accorded to procure Landing Platform Docks (LPD) and Advanced Light Weight Torpedoes (ALWT) for the Indian Navy. It also covers allocations for 30mm Naval Surface Gun (NSG), an Electro Optical Infra-Red Search and Track System, and Smart Ammunition for 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount. The LPDs will bolster the Navy’s amphibious operations alongside the Army and Air Force. Additionally, they will aid in peacekeeping missions and operations related to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The ALWTs, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Naval Science & Technological Laboratory, can target conventional, nuclear, and midget submarines. Moreover, the addition of a 30mm NSG will bolster both the Indian Navy and Coast Guard’s abilities in Low Intensity Maritime Operations and anti-piracy roles. The Indian Air Force has been granted the AoN for a Collaborative Long Range Target Saturation/Destruction System (CLRTS/DS) along with several other proposals. The CLRTS/DS system is equipped with autonomous take-off, landing, navigation, detection, and payload delivery abilities within its mission area. Similarly, for the Indian Army, the AoN has been sanctioned for the procurement of Nag Missile System (Tracked) Mk-II (NAMIS), Ground Based Mobile ELINT System (GBMES), and High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs) equipped with a Material Handling Crane. NAMIS is developing its capability to neutralise enemy combat vehicles, bunkers, and other field fortifications while GBMES will offer electronic intelligence of enemy emitters around-the-clock. According to the data and analytics company GlobalData, India is expected to spend around $543.1bn on defence from 2026 to 2030. GlobalData’s report, named ‘India Defense Market Size and Trends, Budget Allocation, Regulations, Key Acquisitions, Competitive Landscape and Forecast, 2025-30’, indicates that acquisitions will comprise approximately 31% of this proposed spending. (Source: naval-technology.com)
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Since 1946, Industrial Electronic Engineers, IEE, has specialized in the design, test, support and fielding of display products for use in demanding military and aerospace applications throughout the world. IEE has developed an extensive product portfolio that today includes enhanced flat panel displays, smart displays and handheld devices.
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