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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
18 Oct 23. UK MoD seeking close quarter battle sight for L7A2 GPMG
The multi-million-pound programme will equip an in-line sight for the long-serving GPMG weapon system used by the British Army. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking a close quarter battle (CQB) sighting system that can be used on the L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) to enable operators to undertake CQB scenarios when using the GPMG weapon system.
According to a 16 October Public Information Notice (PIN), the UK MoD will bring the L7A2 CQB sight into service through the Support Weapons Enhanced Sighting System (SWESS) project. The sight, destined for British Army use, will be “in-line” and useable in all light conditions, the PIN stated.
The programme value is thought to run up to £20m ($24.37m), with a maximum of six industry vendors being invited to participate, states the MoD.
The project to procure a GPMG CQB sight began in November 2022 when the UK MoD’s Dismounted Close Combat Project Team awarded framework agreements for the following sighting system variants for use on the GPMG: SWESS Light Night Sight: Zero-light (thermal) sighting system; SWESS Light In-Line Sight: Zero to day light (thermal in line with direct view optic) sighting system; and SWESS Light Battlesight – Quick acquisition day optic.
Within the original SWESS Light Framework competitions the MoD stated industry would be invited to re-tender for the three framework agreements at periodic intervals within the seven-year contract duration. This would allow industry to make available the most up-to-date capability for the British Army, states the published PIN.
The original timeline for the CQB procurement envisaged a Dynamic Pre-Qualifier Questionnaire issuance in July 2023, followed by an invitation to tender in August. It was anticipated that evaluation of requirements using loaned trial systems would take place in September/October, with a framework award in November.
Following the outcome of the competition, the contract to deliver the system is scheduled to begin in Q1 2024, concluding in Q1 2029.
A history of the GPMG
According to the British Army, the L7A2 GPMG is a 7.62mm x 51mm belt-fed GPMG that can be used as a light weapon and in a sustained fire (SF) role.
In the SF role, mounted on a tripod and fitted with the C2 optical sight, it is fired by a two-man team grouped in a specialist machine gun platoon to provide battalion-level fire support. In SF mode, the GPMG, with a two-man crew, lays down 750 rounds-per-minute at ranges up to 1,800m.
The GPMG can be carried by foot soldiers and employed as a light machine gun (LMG). A fold-out bipod is used to support the GPMG in the LMG role. Versions of the GPMG are mounted on most British Army vehicles and some helicopters.
In service since the 1960s, the GPMG was manufactured by Manroy Engineering in the UK, which in 2017 was acquired by FN Herstal to form FNH UK, a subsidiary of Belgian weapons OEM FN Herstal.
The British Army is embarking on widespread modernisation of its infantry-carried small arms, and recently awarded a deal for a new battle rifle for the UK Special Forces and Ranger Regiment. It is thought that this award could inform an eventual replacement for the SA80A3 infantry rifle currently in service, under Project Grayburn. (Source: army-technology.com)
18 Oct 23. The UK Space Agency is Unlocking Space for Business.
The UK Space Agency has launched a new programme to help businesses unlock the benefits of satellite data and services.
The UK Space Agency Unlocking Space for Business programme logo with the London city skyline in the background.
Global satellite services currently support activity that contributes £370 bn to the UK economy, which is around 17.7% of our GDP. As the cost of accessing space continues to fall and the pace of innovation increases, a greater number of businesses now have the opportunity to harness the advantages offered by satellites through enhanced imagery, connectivity and navigation capabilities.
Unlocking Space for Business is an 18-month programme designed to bring these untapped benefits to hundreds of new organisations across the UK, focused on the leading transport and logistics and financial services sectors.
Opportunity areas can include using satellite imagery to improve the measurement of climate variables and verification of customer insurance claims after extreme weather events, satellite position and navigation to support location tracking and enabling the movement of people and satellite connectivity to help crew and passengers keep in touch with operators and families on shore.
Unlocking Space for Business will provide workshops, networking events, learning and development sessions, and online resources to support companies in their understanding of what satellite data and services can mean for them as well as offering the opportunity to bid for a share of up to £6 m UK Space Agency funding later this year to help launch innovative pilot projects, data procurement or partnerships.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:
Unlocking Space for Business will champion the use of space and help tackle barriers facing organisations that have not traditionally used satellite data or services. This will help catalyse further investment into our growing space sector and deliver greater benefits for businesses, people, and the environment.
This is just one of the ways we’re working to deliver the goal set out in the National Space Strategy to build one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world, developing new skills and creating jobs.
Satellite data and services have the ability to unlock and deliver new revenue growth opportunities, operational efficiencies, improved customer experiences and ESG benefits for organisations.
Unlocking Space for Business will connect leading data suppliers, technology integrators, insight providers and end-users to encourage the development and adoption of innovative solutions using satellite data and services.
Delivery of the project is being supported by PwC, a leader in human-led, tech powered business transformation, and the Satellite Applications Catapult, a leader in bringing space-based services to market.
Faye Melly, Delivery Partner at PwC, said: “Businesses today face significant challenges which demand innovative solutions. The to-do list can range from driving operational efficiencies and strengthening customer experience, through to taking action to drive towards Net Zero. In all of these areas space can play a pivotal role. Unlocking Space for Business gives UK firms the opportunity to realise the benefits of satellite data and services, and we’re proud and excited to be supporting the delivery of this programme for the UK Space Agency, in partnership with the Satellite Applications Catapult.”
Organisations can register their interest to get involved with the project and keep up to date with planned activities including Insight and Networking Events, Exploration Workshops and learning and development sessions ahead of the funding call opening later in the year.
Lucy Edge, Chief Operating Officer and Acting CEO at the Satellite Applications Catapult, said:
We’re excited to launch Unlocking Space for Business today. By bringing together key players in the satellite industry, integrators and end users, we’ll make it easier for businesses to access the business-critical data they did not even know was available to them. We’ll also connect companies with government funding sources to test out pilot projects using satellite tech.
Satellite services drive innovation in all businesses and will boost the bottom line. By building up these partnerships and support systems, we aim to accelerate the adoption of satellite solutions across the private sector.
Unlocking Space for Business is part of the UK Space Agency’s Inspiration Programme, directly delivering the National Space Strategy (NSS) goal to use space to deliver for UK citizens and the world by increasing public awareness of the critical role space-based assets play in our daily lives, emphasising how they can be leveraged to enable business benefits such as improving public services and combating challenges such as the climate emergency.
Find out more on the Unlocking Space for Business website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unlocking-space-for-business
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
17 Oct 23. £750,000 competition launched to find disruptive ideas for the future of defence. Novel Disruptive Science Impacting Future Defence and Security: Help DASA and Dstl discover creative technologies and concepts that may disrupt the future of defence.
- DASA has launched a new Themed Competition: Novel Disruptive Science Impacting Future Defence and Security
- Funded by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)
- Up to £750,000 funding available for disruptive, early stage ideas and concepts that may be used as the basis for further research within the Defence Science and Technology Futures (DSTF) Programme.
- The competition will be run over two phases
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch a new Themed Competition: Novel Disruptive Science Impacting Future Defence and Security. Run on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), this competition seeks exciting concepts, technologies or ideas that may disrupt the future of defence.
The outcome from Phase 1 of this competition is anticipated to be a pool of novel science and technology (S&T) ideas and concepts that may disrupt the defence landscape and have the potential to lead to radical change.
A disruptive impact is something that radically alters how we do things – this can be positive (e.g. a new capability becomes available) or negative (e.g. a new type of threat arises).
Upon completion of Phase 1, we will seek to direct further funds to a number of projects deemed to offer the most potential for Defence or Security. Phase 2 will see funded suppliers explore how to continue their research; the most promising suppliers may be allocated a proportion of £750,000 (ex VAT) to further mature their ideas or concepts.
Key dates and funding
- £750,000 (Exc. VAT) funding is available for this Themed Competition. The value of each funded submission is £50,000
- The deadline to submit a proposal is midday GMT Tuesday 5 December 2023
Do you have disruptive idea or concept? Read the full competition document and submit a proposal.
We are interested in low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) ideas (TRL 1-2) from any discipline that may disrupt current ways of innovating, which could in the future either benefit defence or security, or form the basis of countering a threat. We would like you to provide us with an exciting flavour of what might be possible and be disruptive.
Proposals submitted for this competition do not need to fulfil contemporary defence requirements.
To learn more about the challenge area of the competition, read the full competition document: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/novel-disruptive-science-impacting-future-defence-and-security
Supporting events
Webinar
31 October 2023 10:30 – 12:00pm GMT
This dial-in session will provide further details on the problem space and a chance to ask questions in an open forum. If you would like to participate, please register on the Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/novel-disruptive-science-impacting-future-defence-and-security-webinar-tickets-726803447677?aff=oddtdtcreator (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
17 Oct 23. New initiative, growing DASA’s Business Acceleration Services.
DASA is seeking an experienced partner (or partners through a consortium) to deliver business acceleration services to cohorts of high-tech SMEs for NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) and UK defence and security innovation.
- DASA is preparing to launch a procurement process to find a partner(s) to deliver business acceleration services to boost capacity in this area
- This new initiative is to support both NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) and UK defence and security innovation
- This procurement will be run in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations (PCR) 2015 Restructured Procedure
- A Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be used to select suppliers with the relevant capability and capacity for Invitation to Tender (ITT)
- The PQQ and ITT stages will happen in the spring of 2024 with a view to having delivery partners on board, ready to occupy the I-Hub space and be ready to deliver activities from the summer of 2024.
DASA is seeking an experienced partner (or partners through a consortium approach) to deliver business acceleration services to cohorts of high-tech SMEs for NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) and UK defence and security innovation. This will include delivering business training and the provision of mentoring programmes and wider engagements with the goal of facilitating the development of SMEs’ products and businesses.
The partner(s) will also manage a vibrant innovation space and its start-up community. In summary, these services will increase the range of advanced dual use capability available for civilian, defence, and security customers, providing strategic advantage for the UK and NATO.
Key Dates
- 1 November 2023: Early Market Engagement Webinar, via MS Teams. Register here
- 31 December 2023: Estimated date for publication of contract notice
Why should you get involved?
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new international initiative led by NATO to create a step change in the future capability of NATO Allies by harnessing new technologies developed by SMEs.
The UK defence and security ecosystem understands that it is important to access a wide network of innovators, especially those who have not worked in the industry before, to develop and deliver solutions. Innovation is essential in maintaining strategic advantage and this initiative will bring together the rapid advancement of technologies that will address critical defence and security challenges.
What are the requirements?
The service delivery is for two years with the option to extend for a further three years, subject to allowable refinements.
Flexible Cost Services
A comprehensive, high-quality acceleration programme for DIANA. The acceleration curriculum will be designed by NATO DIANA in collaboration with all affiliated sites, but implemented by the partner(s). It will include training and mentoring activities, against curriculum requirements, delivered to a cohort of companies drawn from across the alliance, selected by NATO. It is expected that delivery will entail one annual cycle per year, including one 6-month Bootcamp accelerator programme followed by one 6-month Grow programme with a reduced cohort, as described on DIANA’s website.
DASA business acceleration services, which include, but are not limited to:
- Acceleration programmes and training modules of differing durations designed for the UK market (in addition to the DIANA programmes)
- Innovation activities including, for example, Hackathons, Investor Showcases, Customer Demonstration Days, and events, such as networking and sector-specific events (e.g. FinTech)
- Provision and maintenance of a mentor pool for UK programmes
Fixed cost services
Innovation space management
- Full management and operation of an innovation space fitted out by MOD to a high specification, comprising approximately 40 open plan desks, flexible meeting rooms and event space
- Reception facilities for the full innovation space, including the NATO DIANA European Regional Office (the permanent office for NATO DIANA staff, which is collocated with the UK accelerator space that the successful partner(s) will operate)
- Provision of general administration services, marketing, communications and outreach to SMEs and defence and security stakeholders
Operations
- Budget management, security, governance and reporting to DASA
Facilities management
- Facilities management, including cleaning of the space (both the UK accelerator space and the NATO DIANA European Regional Office), maintaining provisions and supplies in keeping with an innovation space, and the ability to organise catering for events as required
Early Market Engagement webinar
On Wednesday 1 November 2023, we will be hosting an Early Market Engagement Webinar via MS Teams to make the market aware of the upcoming opportunity and to seek industry feedback on matters such as the requirement, contract framework and pricing to help inform the procurement strategy.
If you are interested in working in partnership with DASA, and would like to learn more about our requirements and provide initial feedback, then do register your attendance by midday Monday 30 October 2023: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dasa-early-market-engagement-webinar-tickets-734741480547
Submitting your PQQ
If you have experience in delivering business acceleration services and would like to partner with DASA on this new initiative, sign your organisation up to the with the ‘Supplier Registration’ link on the Defence Sourcing Portal, and search for ‘Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic DIANA’: https://www.contracts.mod.uk/web/login.html?VISITORID=734f742a-48ab-444f-a934-26f06b570f23&_ncp=1692011088763.18572-1
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
16 Oct 23. Strengthened Partnership Between Great Britain and Sweden. On Friday 13 October, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed a strategic partnership between the UK and Sweden. The partnership is based on the countries’ strong common interests and values, and the aim is to deepen and broaden the cooperation.
“In the partnership, we strengthen the strong cooperation in defense and security, among other things by establishing a new cooperation on counter-terrorism and defense equipment exports. This means that we are strengthening our relationship with an important security policy partner. It is of great importance for the overall security in Europe,” says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
The signing of the strategic partnership is a follow-up to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s visit to London on 19 June. The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak then decided to develop and sign a strategic bilateral partnership between the countries before the end of the year.
The UK is an important trading partner and ally in international affairs. In the partnership, Sweden and Great Britain further deepen their strong cooperation in security and defence, among other things by establishing cooperation on counter-terrorism and in the export of defense equipment. In this way, Sweden strengthens its relationship with an important security policy partner, which has significance for overall security in Europe.
The strategic partnership covers a wide range of areas where Sweden and Great Britain see benefits from increased cooperation. This applies to areas such as innovation, research, green transition as well as trade and investment, but also that the countries must continue cooperation in international matters relating to, for example, support to Ukraine and the importance of a rules-based world order.
The strategic partnership with Great Britain is a political declaration of intent that is in line with Sweden’s EU legal obligations
(Click here for the joint declaration (11 PDF pages) on the Swedish Government website: https://www.regeringen.se/globalassets/regeringen/dokument/statsradsberedningen/231012—strategic-partnership-between-the-united-kingdom-and-sweden.pdf (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Swedish Government;)
EUROPE
19 Oct 23. Budget Committee Approves Procurement and Development Projects Worth Over 4.4bn Euros. “We are investing in national and alliance defense capabilities. The current decisions of the Budget Committee will further strengthen the operational readiness of our armed forces. A clear sign of a changing era. This year we have already submitted a total of 40 “25m euro templates”. This means we can conclude contracts with a total volume of over 26bn euros. I am pleased about the parliamentary support,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Wednesday.
The largest project approved today involves the procurement of the ARROW air defense system, including the ARROW 3 guided missile as well as spare parts and training packages, with around 4bn euros from the Bundeswehr’s Special Funds.
A further approximately 162m euros from the Bundeswehr’s special funds will be used for the procurement and development of new cryptophones for encrypted communication in line with requirements, for the procurement of receiver cards, for reliable land- and sea-based satellite navigation as well as for the procurement of cryptographic and radio devices in the microwave radio systems PATRIOT weapon system released.
With today’s decision by the Budget Committee, more than 52m euros can also be contractually committed from the defense budget for the procurement and integration of underwater drones for maritime reconnaissance. The procurement measure for radio equipment that can be connected across the armed forces was also approved. The associated budget commitment of more than 130m euros is made through both the defense budget and the Bundeswehr special fund.
In addition, the reorder of anti-tank directional mines with an order volume of over 67m euros was approved by the Budget Committee at the expense of Section 60.
For us as the client, these decisions form the basis for drawing-down budget funds from both the regular defense budget (section 14) and from the Bundeswehr’s special funds. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ German Ministry of Defense; issued Oct 18, 2023)
19 Oct 23. German Aerospace Industry Faces End of the Typhoon Program. This past week, the German aerospace lobby (BDLI) and its current president, Airbus Defense and Space CEO Michael Schöllhorn, recalled that the Eurofighter program was in jeopardy. Shortly after an ill-fated British attempt to lobby German authorities to allow another sale to Saudi Arabia, which Berlin is blocking, this seems to be the last desperate call to try to save the European combat aircraft… but it has limited chances of success.
2030-2040: the Death Valley of the German aerospace industry
According to Schöllhorn, unless a contract for the further development of the aircraft called “Long Term Evolution (LTE)” is concluded next year, the EF-2000 will disappear. Furthermore, a new production batch (known as Tranche 5) must be commissioned in 2025 to ensure production is not interrupted, Schöllhorn said during a BDLI press conference in Berlin on Oct. 13.
According to current plans, Eurofighter production in Germany will cease in 2030 with the delivery of the final Tranche 4 aircraft for the Luftwaffe (Quadriga contract, 38 fighters). Since the next-generation SCAF/FCAS fighter being developed with France and Spain is scheduled to have its first IOC in 2040 at the earliest, there is currently a gap of ten years without orders for the German military aviation industry.
If the German defense ministry does not award a follow-up order (i.e: Tranche 5) soon, Airbus fears the end of military fighter aircraft construction in Germany, with massive losses of jobs, and a general decline of the aerospace industry. Airbus is therefore calling for a vital (and urgent) decision on the Eurofighter.
Saudi Arabia, a big but undesirable customer…
To ensure a minimum economically sustainable production rate of ten aircraft per year, exports are also necessary, said Schöllhorn. He only expects an order of around 40 Eurofighters for Tranche 5 from Germany and hopes that Spain will take delivery of another 25 aircraft in the Halcon 2 project.
However, to bridge the decade from 2030 to 2040, 100 Eurofighters must be produced, at a unit price of €100/120m.
Where to find a customer sufficiently wealthy and interested in cutting-edge technologies? Nowhere else than in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)…a country under German embargo.
The German ban on the export of Typhoons to KSA will not be lifted, and the (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/)
British Prime Minister’s unsuccessful personal intervention has shown that Berlin will stay firm in its decision, notably because it is the steadfast policy of the Green party, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ largest coalition partner.
A desperate solution from the past?
Airbus has found last-ditch solution on its hands: it has dug up an old written question addressed by die Linke, the Leftist party, to the Federal Government (BT-16/2568) of the 12 September 2006:
“What legal agreements exist between the Federal Republic of Germany and Great Britain and between the Federal Republic of Germany and Saudi Arabia that guarantee to the British and Saudi governments that Eurofighters with German components and subsystems that are finally assembled in Great Britain may be delivered to Saudi Arabia (please state the relevant passages of the agreement)?
On page 3, the German Government confirmed that it would be obliged to provide the UK with alternative sources of supply and, if necessary, to finance them:
“The government agreement concluded between the Eurofighter partner countries — Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Spain — in October 1986 stipulates that no partner is allowed to hinder the sale of jointly developed products by another partner country. If a country does not approve the delivery of its share, it is obliged to enable the other country to set up an alternative source of supply and, if necessary, to finance it. There are no agreements regarding the Eurofighter between the Federal Republic of Germany and Saudi Arabia.”
So far, the BDLI has not yet been asked about relocating German production to UK. However, this request has been made to at least one German company…
If not Saudi Arabia, who else?
Mr. Schöllhorn sees further possible export opportunities to Turkey, other NATO countries, Austria, and Qatar. Turkey and Qatar are unlikely due to their alleged support of the Muslim Brothers, while Austria will be extremely hard to convince to go back to Eurofighter after the past debacle and, in any case, the number would be very limited (15 maximum).
Can co-operation save Airbus? Mr. Schöllhorn has interestingly spoken about the co-operation in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) regarding the unmanned components and the Combat Cloud, but the German export policy would probably hamper these perspectives, not to mention the British position. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/)
19 Oct 23. Patria and UAG refurbish US Army Black Hawks for European market. The UH-60 Black Hawks will be upgraded to take on a wider range of missions with increased efficiency and capabilities for European countries. Patria and United Aero Group (UAG) have agreed to work together to acquire UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters, formerly owned by the US Army, to be refurbished and upgraded for the European market.
Set to start in 2024, the modernisation programme will see the Black Hawks enhanced with greater capacity to take on a wider range of missions with increased efficiency and capabilities. The number of Black Hawk units both companies intend to procure at this stage remains undisclosed.
The programme provides end users with a cost-effective procurement solution, short delivery times and customisation to various military and law enforcement aviation, from utility operations, medevac, search and rescue and firefighting missions.
Additionally, Patria offers local maintenance and sustainment support through the Patria OPTIME modular sustainment solution.
This involves an assessment of the current state of the user’s operating environment, equipment and sustainment solution as well as the requirements set for them. After a successful feasibility study, there will be a more thorough value proposal phase.
European consumer base for the Black Hawk
Currently, there are 29 international customers that use the multi-mission UH-60M Black Hawk variant developed by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary.
These include Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey and, of course, the US.
According to GlobalData intelligence, the US Army operates 1,163 Black Hawk units, some of which were acquired as far back as 1979, a year after the platform originally entered the military rotorcraft market.
GlobalData also projects European spending on the Black Hawk will grow from $150m in 2023 to $170m (€142.42m) in 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.43% over the four years.
Over the period 2023–33, besides emerging economies in the Asia-Pacific region, which are witnessing increasing defence expenditure due to regional power struggles and territorial disputes, countries in Europe are also expected to increase their defence outlays after years of budget cuts and sequestration measures, presenting global military rotorcraft manufacturers with greater opportunities in the coming decade.
18 Oct 23. Italy unveils weapons wish list, forecasts defense spending. Italy this year allocated millions of euros to buy new tanks, fighting vehicles and rocket launchers as the war in Ukraine revives the demand for land warfare systems, a government document has shown.
The budgeting document, officially due in the spring but only released Tuesday, breaks down Italy’s defense spending for 2023 and offers forecasts for 2024 and 2025. Officials reportedly held up the document’s release amid a scramble to update military shopping lists in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Now on the list are 21 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems — U.S.-made rocket launchers that have seen success on the battlefield against Russian targets. An initial €137m (U.S. $145m) is expected to go toward the launchers over the next seven years, the document said, with the total outlay to reach €960m (U.S. $1bn).
The document also confirmed Italy’s intention, announced in July, to buy new Leopard 2 A8 tanks to beef up its depleted fleet. For the tanks, €100 m is penciled in for 2024, and Italy expects to have spent €4 bn by 2037, with spending eventually running to €8.25 bn.
Defense sources said over the summer that Italy’s target is 133 new tanks to meet NATO requirements.
At the time, the government said the purchase of Leopards would not rule out Italy’s entry into the envisaged Main Ground Combat System program, a Franco-German initiative to develop and produce a replacement for their tank fleets.
Another new scheme outlined in the document is a €15bn program to buy new armored fighting vehicles to replace Italy’s aging Dardo vehicles. With €48m forecast for 2024 to get the program going, the document said €5.23bn was budgeted so far and spread over 14 years.
Italy has yet to decide on what vehicle to buy or develop, but the document stated the program must “maximise” Italian industrial input, jobs and know-how, while being part of a “multi-national context, based on alliances with solid European firms that already work with Italian companies, creating advantageous opportunities for the expansion of the partnership on the development of the future European Main Battle Tank.”
Among other new programs is a €76m outlay to develop drone swarm technology.
And Italy’s investment in the trilateral Global Combat Air Program to develop a fighter aircraft with Japan and the U.K. is to receive €271m this year, with spending by 2037 is forecast to reach a total of €7.77bn.
The 2023 budget includes a total of €19.56bn in spending by the Defence Ministry, up from the €18bn spent in 2022, which was in turn an increase on previous years.
The part of the budget devoted to procurement stands at €6.1bn, a 12.5% jump from the €5.42bn spent in 2022, which in turn was a jump by about 35% on the €4bn spent in 2021.
For a true picture of Italian defense procurement spending, the annual extra cash for domestic procurement provided by the country’s industry-focused ministry must be added, which amounts to €1.87bn, down from last year’s €2.43bn.
Nevertheless, the overall procurement total this year, combining spending by the Defence Ministry and the industry-focused ministry, runs to €7.97bn, up from €7.85bn last year.
Last year’s total was in turn up from the €6.76bn in 2021 and the €5.45bn in 2020, showing a continuing positive spending trend.
The budget document forecast that total procurement spending will rise again in 2024 to €8.16 bn and then again to €8.74bn in 2025. (Source: Defense News)
17 Oct 23. German opposition to Saudi Eurofighter exports a ‘real problem’ – Airbus CEO. Airbus (AIR.PA) Chief Executive Guillaume Faury hit out at the German government for its strict line on arms exports in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday, with Berlin blocking the delivery of Eurofighter combat aircraft to Saudi Arabia.
“The German government’s stance on arms exports to some countries is a real problem,” Faury told the business daily Handelsblatt.
“If Germany wants to be a trustworthy partner in major defence projects, it must resolve the issue of export controls with the other Europeans and not in spite of them,” he said.
Faury also told the newspaper that the European planemaker was on track to reach its delivery target this year.
“We have made a lot of progress with the supply chains. However, the environment remains extremely complex and requires a lot of work, attention and time,” he said.
Airbus missed its delivery target last year.
France and Germany have long been at odds on defence exports, with Berlin traditionally taking a more cautious stance.
Berlin halted arms sales to Saudi Arabia following the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far pushed back against pressure to unblock delivery of the Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia. His coalition partner, the Greens, firmly opposes the move, pointing to human rights concerns and Saudi Arabia’s role in the Yemen war. (Source: Reuters)
16 Oct 23. Airbus Presses Berlin to Award Eurofighter Tranche 5 Contract – But Its Case Is Dicey. Industry Needs A Fundamental Decision on the Eurofighter by 2025.
The management consultancy PwC Strategy& today presented a new study on the effects of Tranche 4 of the Eurofighter program on the German economy.
The study showed that the Eurofighter program along the entire value chain:
— Secures 100,000 European jobs, 25,000 of them in Germany
— 120 suppliers throughout Germany are involved
— Every euro invested in the Eurofighter program generates several times more of the German gross domestic product
— The share of German industry in the program generates a significant amount of tax revenue as well as contributions for social security and pension funds.
However, according to current planning, production of the Eurofighter in Germany will end in 2030 with the delivery of the last Tranche 4 machine for the Bundeswehr. Since the future European air combat system FCAS is scheduled to be operational from 2040, there is currently a gap of ten years without orders for the domestic industry.
Without an early follow-up order (Tranche 5) from the federal government, there would be a risk of the end of military fighter aircraft construction in Germany – and with it a corresponding loss of jobs, tax revenue and, in particular, of cutting-edge technologies and skills in our industry, which have been built up over decades.
The aviation industry in Germany therefore needs a commission from the federal government to further develop the Eurofighter and thus a fundamental decision on the future of the system during this legislative period.
The economic case for a Tranche 5 order from Germany is not clear. The order would cost €15bn, but Airbus claims it
would generate €8.2bn in tax revenue and provide €15.3bn boost for German GDP.
These figures come from a study commissioned by the BDLI and Airbus from PwC’s “Strategy&” unit.
BDLI President Dr. Michael Schöllhorn said: “Do we want to keep military aircraft manufacturing in Germany? If the answer is ‘yes’ – not least in view of the geopolitical situation – then we must quickly build an industrial bridge to the future in addition to the Tranche 4 Eurofighter that is currently under construction in Germany. In concrete terms, this means: We need the commission for the further development of the Eurofighter during this legislative period.
Schöllhorn continued: “This is the only way we can keep the Eurofighter for the Bundeswehr and our allies at the cutting edge of technology in the long term, and create important technological foundations for the next generation of air combat platforms. This is associated with a fundamental decision by the federal government on additional procurement of Eurofighters based on this new technology.”
The Eurofighter as a European cooperation project forms the backbone of several European air forces. For Germany, this weapon system is not only of overarching, strategic importance for the air force, but also the structural military aviation program that has a lasting impact on our industrial landscape along the entire value chain nationwide.
defense-aerospace.com EDITOR’S NOTE: The request of a Tranche 5 order by Schöllhorn – who is also CEO of Airbus Defence and Space – raises a number of questions.
The first concerns the German air force’s future inventory. The 38 Eurofighter Tranche 4 aircraft ordered in 2020 under the Quadriga program will have a service life until “well beyond 2060,” then-Airbus DS chief Dirk Hoke when the contract was signed. The proposed 100 Tranche 5 aircraft would have at least the same longevity, as will the 35 Lockheed F-35s that Germany is buying for €10bn.
So, in 2040, Germany will have a fleet of over 283 modern combat aircraft, including 110 Tranche 2/3 Eurofighters due to be retrofitted with AESA radars. This means that either the SCAF/FCAS program will not be needed before the 2050s at the earliest, or that Germany will have to prematurely retire its latest 138 Tranche 4 and 5 Eurofighters around 2040 to make way for SCAF/FCAS. Neither is an attractive prospect.
The second point is financial. The 38 Quadriga aircraft ordered in 2020 cost €5.4bn, or €142m each, so a hypothetical order for 100 Tranche 5 aircraft would cost at least €14.2bn, and probably over €15 bn given inflation since 2020.
So, if the government accepted Schollhorn’s proposal, Germany would end up paying over €30 bn on combat aircraft alone. Given Germany’s current economic situation, it is implausible that it could finance such a large amount at a time when it had to resort to a €100 bn Special Fund to restore its armed forces to an acceptable readiness level.
By asking Berlin to invest an additional €15 bn to maintain its industry in the medium term, Schollhorn is indirectly making the case for delaying the SCAF/FCAS joint program with France and Spain, which would hurt the industry in the long term.
Another issue is that 40 of the 100 Tranche 5 aircraft in Schollhorn’s plan are intended for export but, given the German government’s restrictive export policy – it continues to block the sale of 72 Eurofighters by BAE Systems to Saudi Arabia, for example – there is no guarantee that any export sale would go through even if export customers could be found. This undermines the case economic case for Tranche 5 order.) (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ German aerospace industry trade association BDLI; issued Oct. 13, 2023)
16 Oct 23. Sweden Expands FMV Defense Procurement Agency As Turnover to Double. FMV Is Building New to Cope with Growth. In order to meet the Armed Forces’ increased need for materiel, FMV must grow. According to the government’s target, FMV will double its turnover by 2026 and the plan is to go from approx. 2,200 employees to 2,900. To cope with this growth in the near term, more office space must be created. In 2021, the government granted FMV’s application for a time-limited building permit for a pavilion along Värtavägen. Groundwork has begun for the building, which is expected to be ready in the spring of 2024.
Recently, the production of Annex 2 modules started in Moelven’s factory in Säffle. There are several advantages to modular construction in a factory environment.
Control over the climate means that there is no damage to materials that can occur in conventional construction, such as water damage as a result of an unfinished climate shell.
Efficient and environmentally safe construction as there are ready-made solutions for various stages in the construction process.
A high degree of completion even before the pavilions leave the factory means that on-site work is minimized.
The assembly of the modules is estimated to take three weeks and if the weather holds, they will be in place before Christmas. After that, the building’s various systems are connected and tested with the goal that occupancy will take place in the summer of 2024.
Previous information from July 2023:
In 2019, the City of Stockholm granted the property owner Specialfastigheter’s application for a time-limited building permit for a pavilion along Värtavägen, intended for FMV’s operations. After the appeal, the matter went to the government, which granted the application in October 2021, according to decision FI2020/01262. The time-limited building permit extends from its original date of 2019-09-02 through 2024-12-31. Subsequently, an application for an extension has been made, which is done for five years at a time.
Final planning has taken place in the spring of 2023 for both building and land measures. During the spring, the land preparations also started, which will last until v. 40. After that, the building will be put in place during the fall/winter of 2023 and completed during the spring of 2024. After this, the building will be decorated and the outdoor environment prepared with a planned move-in in the summer of 2024.
FMV’s goal is to deliver the right materiel for a stronger defense. The prevailing global situation and the goal of increasing defense appropriations to two percent of GDP mean that the authority must grow in order to strengthen Sweden’s defense capabilities. The new pavilion is critical to cope with growth. In the longer term, work is also underway to create other, more permanent solutions.
(Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/: Swedish Defense Materiel Agency, FMV; issued Oct 11, 2023)
USA
18 Oct 23. U.S. Navy Shipbuilding Programs Impacted by Continuing Resolution. The Department of Defense once again finds itself operating at reduced funding levels due to a continuing resolution (CR) enacted at the start of the 2024 fiscal year. A CR locks the government at the previous year’s funding levels and place restrictions on the launch of new start programs. Many programs also end up with the wrong amount of funding under a CR, which creates complications for projects that are ramping up or being scaled down. Navy officials recently said they would be left with $26bn in misaligned funds under a full-year CR, reflecting a tenth of the service’s entire budget. The Navy would also face a cut of nearly $15bn if a full budget isn’t passed.
What does that mean for specific programs in the Navy’s $32.9 bn FY24 shipbuilding request? Forecast International’s FY24 Budget Spotlight shows that the shipbuilding account is underfunded by around $900 m under the current CR. That figure doesn’t include another one percent cut that would be implemented as a sequester penalty if Congress fails to pass a full budget by the end of the calendar year.
Fincantieri’s Constellation class frigate is subject to a 50 percent reduction under the CR. The Navy requested two ships in FY24, but only one ship was funded in FY23. Construction of the second ship depends on passage of a full FY24 budget. The ships are being built in Marinette, Wisconsin.
A new start submarine tender program is also on hold. The Navy is competing for construction of a new AS(X) tender to support Virginia class and Columbia class submarines. The service requested $1.7 bn for the first tender in FY24. A contract award is expected in May, but it would be delayed under an extended CR. In 2022, the Navy awarded AS(X) design study contracts to L3Harris Technologies, General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), and Huntington Ingalls.
Navy officials said the Virginia class submarine would also be impacted by the lack of a full FY24 budget. The service requested $10.3 bn for two subs, which are constructed by General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding.
One key shipbuilding program is moving forward unscathed for the time being, despite the complications arising from the CR. The stopgap spending bill currently keeping the government running included $621 m specifically for the Columbia class submarine to ensure construction of the second submarine in the class, the future USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827), is not delayed. The program is a critical priority for the Navy, and there is little room for schedule delays. The lead boat, the future USS District of Columbia (SSBN 826), is already under construction at Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding. (This article was originally posted on Forecast International’s Security and Defense Monitor blog.) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Forecast International)
REST OF THE WORLD
20 Oct 23. Mitsubishi Electric lands Australia defense contract in industry first. Mitsubishi Electric has signed an agreement with the Australian Defence Department for joint equipment development, the company announced Thursday, the first time a Japanese company has entered a defense contract with a foreign government.
Subsidiary Mitsubishi Electric Australia and the Australian military will combine laser technologies to enhance surveillance capabilities for fighter jets and vehicles. The development timeline and cost estimates were not disclosed.
Up to now, Japanese defense manufacturers have participated in developing equipment for foreign governments through Japan’s Defense Ministry.
Japan’s defense industry faces high investment costs in equipment and human resources to maintain technological standards, and its only customers have been domestic ones.
This year’s annual white paper from the Defense Ministry sounded an alarm over the withdrawal of companies from the sector and the weakening of the domestic manufacturing system.
If companies can land more direct contracts with foreign governments as Mitsubishi Electric has, the increase in the customer base will make it easier to recover investments.
Mitsubishi Electric has been involved in defense development since the 1960s, specializing in lasers and guided missiles. The company is strengthening its defense-related businesses in line with the increase in Japan’s defense budget. In May, it announced plans to increase staff in the defense and space business by 1,000 people.
The Defense Ministry praised Mitsubishi Electric’s contract as a symbol of defense and technology cooperation between the countries and called for continued public-private defense cooperation.
To strengthen joint defense development with foreign countries, Tokyo is considering establishing a security clearance system to certify people who handle classified information.
Japan is the only Group of Seven wealthy nations member that does not have such a system in place, which has made some domestic defense companies unable to expand overseas until now.
Meanwhile, Australia is trying to improve its defense capabilities with an eye on China, but there are limits to what it can do on its own.
China has been working to increase its influence in Pacific island countries with deep historical ties to Australia, such as a security agreement it signed with the Solomon Islands in 2022.
A Reciprocal Access Agreement between Japan and Australia came into effect in August, simplifying procedures for the countries’ military forces to conduct activities when visiting the other country. It was first applied during joint training exercises held in Australia that month.
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles agreed to the importance of defense equipment and technological cooperation when they met in Tokyo on Thursday. Both ministers welcomed the announcement of the Mitsubishi Electric contract.
In March, Australia announced it would deploy nuclear submarines through the AUKUS security framework with the U.S. and the U.K.
The Australian government’s medium- to long-term national defense strategy, compiled in April, pointed out the need to expand relationships and practical cooperation, including with Japan and India, which together with the U.S. and Australia make up the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.
In 2016, Japan tried to sell its Soryu submarine, built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, to Australia but lost out to a French company. The Australian government at the time was looking to expand employment and placed emphasis on local production and technology transfer, and Japan was unable to offer favorable conditions.
(Source: Google/
18 Oct 23. Israel suspends defense sales to Colombia. The Israeli government has suspended all sales and supplies of defense and security hardware and related services to Colombia.
The move followed a heated exchange on X, formerly known as Twitter, between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Israeli Ambassador in Bogota Gali Dagan about the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Petro had refused to condemn the Hamas raid. When Dagan urged Petro to speak about the attack on Israel, Colombia’s president replied with a message that “terrorism is killing innocent children in Palestine” and followed up with messages in which he accused Israel of turning Gaza into a “concentration camp.”
Petro doubled down on his criticism of Israel over the weekend, describing its military campaign in Gaza as “genocide” and threatening to break off relations with the Jewish state.
“If we must suspend diplomatic relations with Israel, then that is what we will do,” he wrote on X on Sunday. “You cannot insult the president of Colombia.”
Ultimately, Israel called Colombia’s ambassador to a meeting in which she was informed that defense cooperation between the countries would be suspended, the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a news release.
Colombia’s Defense Ministry did not reply to Defense News’ request for comment.
Defense relations
Colombia has had a close relationship with Israel, with the former having acquired military hardware and security equipment from the latter for decades. But relations chilled after Preto became president in August 2022.
Emilio Meneses, an independent security analyst based in Santiago, told Defense News the president’s “outburst of criticism against Israel, which could have been expressed in a more appropriate language and through proper diplomatic channels, is helping neither the Palestine people nor Colombia. Quite the opposite.”
Colombia has plans to acquire the Barak MX air defense system, made by Israel Aerospace Industries, to meet a requirement for protecting deployed personnel and strategic facilities.
The Colombian Air Force’s primary fighter jet and only high-performance combat aircraft is also made by IAI. The service has an estimated 24 Kfir fighters. Technical problems involving their General Electric J79 turbojet engines led to the Air Force grounding its Kfir entire fleet in 2015.
Restoring the fleet required involvement from IAI, which has historically provided extensive maintenance services, in both Colombia and Israel. In January 2023, the parties renewed the contract for these services until 2025.
The Kfir jets are also armed with weapons acquired from Israel, including the Derby BVR medium-range air-to-air missiles from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Griffin laser-guided-bombs from IAI.
And the Kfirs use Python III and Python IV all-aspect, heat-seeking, close-range air-to-air missiles, made by Rafael. Those weapons are also used for the service’s A-29 Super Tucano turboprop aircraft.
The main infantry rifles in use with the Colombian military are the Israel Weapons Industries-made 5.56mm Galil automatic rifle machine gun and 7.62mm Galil sniper rifle. Since the 1980s, they were produced in Colombia under license by the state-owned concern INDUMIL, which has exported these weapons to other countries in South and Central America. Colombia has started to replace the Galil weapons with the newer Galil ACE infantry rifle, made locally by INDUMIL under license from IWI.
The Spike weapon from Rafael is the main anti-tank missile in the Colombian Army’s inventory, while the Sikorsky UH-60 Arpia IV ground-fire support helicopters from the Air Force are armed with ER, LR and NLOS versions of the same weapon. (Source: Defense News)
19 Oct 23. KAI, Lockheed Martin to Cooperate on Korean Military’s Large Chopper Project. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will collaborate with Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky on a project to build a new large maneuvers helicopter for the Korean military’s special forces. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin that specializes in rotorcraft manufacturing.
KAI announced on Oct. 18 that it signed a letter of intent (LOI) at Lockheed Martin’s booth at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (Seoul ADEX 2023) being held at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, to explore potential business areas and cooperate to forge a strategic partnership and create industrial benefits.
Through the signing of the LOI, the two companies plan to establish a cooperation system for promoting the large special operation maneuver helicopter business in the Korean market and create opportunities for commercialization.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) of Korea decided in an executive committee meeting in April to introduce a large special operation maneuver helicopter with a budget of 3.7 trillion won (US$2.7 bn) from next year to 2031.
The CH-53K King Stallion, which Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky plans to propose for the special operation helicopter project, is a multi-role heavy-lift helicopter with a larger transport capacity than all U.S. military helicopters. It is a modern, digitally designed helicopter. It is expected to compete with Boeing’s CH-47F ER. (Source: Google/https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/)
17 Oct 23. No maintenance contracts in place for multiple SAAF aircraft types. Armscor does not have maintenance contracts in place for three of the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) aircraft types, with challenges finding a C-47TP maintainer indicating the type could be permanently grounded. The King Air, Caravan and C-47TP fleets do not have maintenance contracts in place, according to an Armscor presentation delivered to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) in mid-September.
Armscor is in the process of appointing a contractor for King Air maintenance, having received three bids from May this year. Less good news concerns the Caravan fleet, as the only bidder “failed capability analysis” and the bid was cancelled in July. The SAAF is now discussing adding an avionics upgrade to a new maintenance support contract.
Prospects for the C-47TP fleet to return to the air remain poor, as a request for bids this year elicited no valid bids, and Armscor was forced to cancel the process for the second time. “The Dakota C-47TP is a very old aircraft, thus the support for this aircraft is very limited in South Africa and the world,” Armscor stated. “Due to the age of the aircraft, it is no longer supported by the OEM [original equipment manufacturer]. There are no AMOs [aircraft maintenance organisations] with a Dakota C-47TP stipulated on the Operational Specification.”
Armscor added that there have been numerous attempts to get a support contract for the C-47TP Dakota fleet since 2018, which resulted in no valid bids and several user requirement specification amendments. “Discussion are being held with SAAF regarding the future usage of the aircraft due to reasons indicated above,” Armscor state in its presentation to the PCDMV.
Regarding the rest of the SAAF fleet, maintenance contracts are in place for most other aircraft types, although not all are fully funded. On the fixed wing side, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) contracts are in place for the Boeing Business Jet, Falcon fleet, C212, and PC-12, although the PC-12 is not serviceable as the engine requires an overhaul.
The PC-7 Mk II contract will end in less than a year and a replacement has yet to be placed. The situation is the same with Rooivalk and Oryx support contracts. As for the rest of the rotary wing fleet, Leonardo South Africa is responsible for A109 airframe support, and Airbus Helicopters responsible for BK 117 support. It is expected a new product support contract for the Super Lynx 300 will be in place by 20 October 2023.
For the combat fleet, Gripen engine and airframe contracts are in place as are Hawk Mk 120 engine and airframe contracts. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
16 Oct 23. Australia leverages Western expertise to drive self-reliance in defence. Domestic production soars as Australia prioritises Western technologies in defence.
Australia’s strategic shift towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing has witnessed success, focusing on collaboration with Western companies to bolster domestic production.
According to insights from GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, the move reduces imports and strengthens the Oceanic country’s access to defence technologies.
Australia’s drive for self-reliance in defence manufacturing has marked a turning point in the nation’s strategic outlook. Over the past few years, the Australian Government’s emphasis on promoting domestic defence manufacturing has yielded results, reducing the country’s import dependence.
Made in Australia
As per GlobalData’s latest Defense Platform Import/Export Dashboard, most of Australia’s defence platforms, including military land vehicles, artillery systems and naval vessels, are now proudly marked “Made in Australia”. The government’s approach has culminated in establishing a defence manufacturing sector that caters to domestic needs but also holds the promise of international export.
The Australian Government is making Western technologies a cornerstone of its strategy to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing. GlobalData reveals that this approach has shifted the nation’s defence landscape.
The US emerged as Australia’s principal partner in this endeavour, contributing to approximately 71.7% of the import value for defence platforms in 2016–22. The partnership between Australia and the US projects a promising outlook for the coming decade, with the US expected to export $33.8bn (A$53.47bn) worth of defence platforms to Australia between 2023 and 2033.
These platforms include a spectrum of defence technologies, from Virginia-class submarines to MQ-4C Triton UAVs, UH-60M and MH-60R helicopters, and C-130J aircraft.
The job analytics data, extracted from GlobalData’s Job Analytics database over the past four years, paints a vivid picture of the dynamic employment landscape within the aerospace, defence and security industries.
In a testament to Australia’s commitment to self-reliance in defence, the nation displays a robust 18,483 active jobs, significantly outnumbering the jobs closed at 17,915. Meanwhile, Australia’s key partner in this endeavour, the US, features prominently, with 10,026 jobs posted and 9,658 closed, reaffirming the depth of collaboration.
Sai Kiran, aerospace and defence analyst at GlobalData, notes: “Australia’s geographical proximity to the Indo-Pacific region, coupled with its crucial role in countering China’s aggression, has solidified its partnership with the United States.
“This strategic alliance has led to an influx of US-based defence companies in Australia, facilitating easy access to local weapons production. Notably, this approach supports Australia’s broader vision of self-reliance in the defence sector while reducing the risks associated with logistic challenges during emergencies.”
Foreign companies in Australia
While Australia has achieved self-sufficiency in several defence sectors, it still relies on certain imports. Platforms like military fixed-wing aircraft, military rotorcraft, UAVs and submarines are among the products that continue to be sourced from other countries including the France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the US.
Kiran concludes: “Australia’s push for self-reliance extends to defence companies from other NATO countries, which have established bases in the country with significant support from the local government.
“An illustrative example is the recent A$220m investment by the Australian government in two munition plants operated by Thales Australia, a subsidiary of the French defence company Thales Group, aligning closely with Australia’s defence priorities.”
According to GlobalData’s Job Analytics database, Thales SA is the second most active company providing jobs to Australia’s aerospace, defence and security industry within the last four years, dating from 12 October 2019 to 12 October 2023. Thales currently has 194 active jobs; the French company has posted 7,360 jobs and has closed 7,263 jobs within the past four years.
This investment exemplifies Australia’s ongoing dedication to becoming a self-reliant defence manufacturing powerhouse while maintaining strong alliances with Western partners in this pursuit. (Source: army-technology.com)
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