BATTLESPACE BOOK CLUB

01 Aug 08. European Defence Policy: House of Lords Report. The House of Lords’ European Union Committee published (1 Aug 08) a report on Current Developments in European Defence Policy. The Report is a record of the evidence taken from MoD officials on 26 Jun 08. Key topics in the evidence include: the European Defence Agency (EDA) budget and European Defence Spending; the future of the EDA; the Defence Industrial Strategy; helicopter availability; problems associated with the operation of Article 296 and the availability of troops.
Comment: Being Minutes of Evidence, the Report does not reach any conclusions but it does highlight some of the frustration associated with ‘European’ Defence Policy. The Report is published as HL Paper 145, for £6:50. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0833, 25 Aug 08)

04 Aug 08. Defence Industry: Top 100 Companies. Defense News published (4 Aug 08) a list of the leading 100 Defence companies, ranked by Defence turnover in 2007. Lockheed Martin (US), Boeing (US) and BAE Systems occupied the top three places as they had done in 2006. Other UK companies were ranked: Rolls-Royce – 16th (16th in 2006); QinetiQ – 32nd (36th); Babcock International – 38th (55th); VT Group – 40th (45th); Cobam – 48th (46th); GKN Group – 55th (40th); Meggitt – 64th (82nd); Ultra Electronics – 70th (73rd) and Chemring – 82nd (100th). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS