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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
15 Jan 25. For sale: two UK amphibious assault ships, available ‘as is.’ HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark are likely to be sold in a government-to-government deal, with Brazil a main candidate. Detailed in a parliamentary written response on 14 January 2025, Maria Eagle, UK Minister for Defence Procurement, stated that both vessels were currently “laid up awaiting disposal”, with the Royal Navy said to be “exploring options” for prospective sales. The vessels were part of wider large-scale cuts to UK defence capabilities in late-2024, which saw drones, helicopters, and warships all axed.
Eagle said both ships required “costly and time-consuming refits” and as such, were “not considered a cost-effective use of taxpayers’ money”.
The sale will save £9m ($11m) a year in maintenance, as well as funds generated from the sale of the two 20,000 tonne warships, Eagle added, stating that any sale would “reinforce relationships” with international partners.
“These vessels had, in effect, been retired by the previous government,” Eagle maintained.
This is incorrect, as both vessels were being kept in a condition known as ‘extended readiness’, able to be worked up into service as required, effectively in reserve. Many countries, including the United States, maintain a reserve fleet able to be brought into service within various timeframes, to accommodate operational necessities such as the outbreak of major conflicts or war. As specialised warships, the Albion-class amphibious assault ships provided the capability to embark around 400 troops and associated equipment, with its aft flight deck providing landing spots for rotary aircraft up to the size of the heavy lift CH-47 Chinook. According to the Royal Navy, below deck storage provide capacity for dozens of large trucks and smaller vehicles for light role configuration troops, or a squadron of six Challenger 2 main battle tanks and 30 amoured personnel carriers. Delivery of troops and vehicles is performed either via the helicopter flight deck or the integrated well deck at the stern, which is floodable to create a dock area. Landing ships, such as the Landing Craft Utility MK10, are hosted inside the Albion class and used ferry tanks, APCs, vehicles, and troops to shore. The UK government has said that the role of the Albion class will be performed by three smaller, less effective Bay-class landing ship docks operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), and the 45-year-old casualty receiving ship, RFA Argus. One of the Bay class, RFA Cardigan Bay, is currently laid up and likely not available for operations until the end of 2026 or early 2027. The Bay class cannot embark as many troops or vehicles as the Albion class and can host only half as many landing ships, while also being manufactured to commercial, not military, standards.
Brazil likely an option for Albion class
The UK has previously had success in selling unwanted naval platforms into South America, with the former Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Ocean sold to Brazil in 2018 in a deal worth around £84m at the time. The vessel had served in the Royal Navy for less than 20 years before being decommissioned. However, HMS Ocean was purchased as a direct replacement for Brazil’s 1960s era aircraft carrier São Paulo, which was originally acquired from France. The Brazilian Navy also operates the former Royal Navy Type 22 frigate HMS Battleaxe, which was acquired in 1997 and renamed Rademaker. In 2012, Brazil also acquired three offshore patrol vessels (OPV) from UK shipbuilder BAE Systems in 2012, newly dubbed the Amazonas-class OPVs. The vessels, which were based on the Batch 2 River-class OPVs, were originally manufactured for Trinidad and Tobago in the late 2000s, which subsequently opted not to complete the acquisition. The UK MoD declined to comment on prospective sale countries for HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, when contracted by Naval Technology. (Source: naval-technology.com)
13 Jan 25. UK Defence probes industry over FADS capabilities. A new range of maritime threats will shape the solutions embedded in the Future Air Dominance System (FADS). The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a Request for Information (RfI) in mid-December 2024 to gain a clearer understanding of the current maritime capabilities available for its Future Air Dominance System (FADS) programme. Speaking with suppliers, the government aims to flesh out FADS through numerous one-to-one sessions in its second market engagement event over three days at the end of Janaury 2025. At present, the MoD suggests that this Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) concept will employ a ‘system-of systems’ approach, combining various diasggregated sensors and effectors in the battlespace. Besides naval aircraft, weapons, and emerging uncrewed systems, at the centre of this integrated network are the future Type 83 destroyers that are scheduled to replace the Royal Navy’s six existing Type 45 warships in the late 2030s. In particular, the RfI also points to innovation in Long Range Precision Strike (LRPS) capabilities to overcome “the hardest of targets in air, land, and maritime domains.”
Armed to the teeth
A new range of maritime threats faced over the past few years will doubtless shape the solutions embedded in the FADS. However, it must be noted that the Type 83 destroyer is in a pre-conceptual stage so any solutions are speculative. Nevertheless, William Freer, National Security fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, a think tank, observes growing threats from various aerial weapons.
“Warships over the last two decades were operating in a relatively benign environment and were equipped to do so. This is no longer the case.”
William Freer, Council on Geostrategy.
“The maritime component of FADS will have to contend with small but growing numbers of hypersonic missiles, the proliferation of anti-ship ballistic missiles, the potential of large saturation attacks by cruise missiles, as well as the potential of drone swarms,” he observed.
“One thing is becoming clear, warships over the last two decades were operating in a relatively benign environment and were equipped to do so. This is no longer the case. But the Royal Navy has not been sitting still.
“Although developing shipborne ballistic missile defences (BMD) has been slow, the missile defences will be significantly upgraded in the coming years,” suggested Freer.
By the end of the decade Type 45 destroyers should each receive an extra 24 missile cells (taking the total to 72) as well as BMD capability.
Depending on how the Type 26’s Mk41 VLS cells are loaded it could carry more than double the missiles (and a greater variety of missiles) than the current Type 23.
It has also been decided that the Type 31 will be equipped with up to 32 Mk41 cells instead of the original plan of just eight cells for Sea Ceptor missiles.
Red Sea crisis
Nowhere are these threats more prevalent than in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
In 2023-4, the Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond and Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, have respectively operated in the Red Sea as part of an allied force under Operation Prosperity Guardian to defend maritime shipping against Houthi strikes in the crucial chokepoint.
There is a considerable cost gap between Sea Viper/Ceptor and attritable uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). For that reason, the Royal Navy has made good progress with a cheaper counter-UAS solution with its development of a directed-energy weapon system, DragonFire, which will be fielded by 2027.
While the programme cost the MoD £100m ($125m), the government noted after the success of its demonstrator that the cost of operating the weapon is typically less than £10 per shot.
What will the surface fleet look like?
Recent research suggests that the Royal Navy will need to determine how it will disperse its capabilities across the surface fleet, especially when it comes to deciding what platform will take on the role of a ‘radar picket’ to get the most efficient response times against aerial threats.
However, this must also be considered within the context of a reduced force structure. Due to the decommissioning of several ships in 2024 and the capability gaps to come, the Royal Navy will be operating a more nimble service with ships operating a persistent forward presence around the world. While little can be said about Type 83, major decisions regarding other surface fleet programmes are expected to come in the spring with the release of the all-encompassing Strategic Defence Review according to the Minister of Defence Procurement, Maria Eagle, in a parliamentary written response on 9 January 2025. (Source: naval-technology.com)
19 Dec 24. 713285451 – Future Air Dominance System (FADS) – RFI – Market Engagement
Ministry of Defence
Published date: 19 December 2024
Last edited date: 19 December 2024
Open early engagement – This means that a procurement idea is currently active, it is in the early stage of development and judging interest from potential suppliers.
Contract summary
Industry
- Warships – 35510000
Location of contract BS34 8JH
Procurement reference tender_473601/1436909
Published date 19 December 2024
Closing date 17 January 2025
Contract is suitable for SMEs? Yes
Contract is suitable for VCSEs? No
Description
The Future Air Dominance System (FADS) Team within Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (“the Authority”) is seeking to engage with suppliers for the purposes of gaining a clearer understanding of current market capabilities and potential offerings which may be relevant to FADS.
FADS is a transformative multi-domain programme that will provide Maritime Integrated Air and Missile Defence (M-IAMD) against the toughest of threats in the air and space domain, and Long-Range Precision Strike (LRPS) against the hardest of targets in air, land, and maritime domains. The FADS programme will align itself with a ‘system of systems’ approach and brigade around the themes of; SENSE, DECIDE, EFFECT, CONNECT, HOST and ENABLE.
FADS will deliver Air Defence of the Carrier Strike Group and Littoral Strike Group from the mid-2030s; a role currently being provided primarily by the Royal Navy’s Type 45 Destroyers.
Following the issuance of a Prior Information Notice (PIN), dated 18 November 2024 (Ref. 2024/S 000-037234), the Authority would like to sincerely thank all suppliers who have expressed an interest in the FADS programme. If you attended the brief on 03 December and would like to provide some feedback, the Authority would be grateful if you could complete the questionnaire linked here
https://forms.office.com/e/9K96GW0B7g
– to provide feedback that will help us improve how we engage with you in the future.
The slide pack shared at the brief is available for viewing via AWARD. To access the documentation, interested suppliers will have to register to AWARD and pass necessary checks in a security gateway. To register, please follow this link – https://award.commercedecisions.com/dsp/web/project/c681dabd-6f69-4130-a815-9a82d6902ca3/register
– and follow the instructions when prompted.
This second notice serves to provide further information regarding the next Market Engagement Event 2 (MEE2): One to Ones.
These sessions will be held on 28, 29 and 30 January 2025.
More information
Previous notice about this procurement
713285451 – Future Air Dominance System (FADS) – RFI – Market Engagement
- Early engagement
- Published 19 December 2024
Attachments
- 20241219_FADS- MEE2- RFI_O.pdf
- n/a
About the buyer
Address
Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support
Bristol
BS34 8JH
England
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
20 Dec 24. Published date: 20 December 2024
Open early engagement – This means that a procurement idea is currently active, it is in the early stage of development and judging interest from potential suppliers.
Contract summary
Industry
- Tactical command, control and communication systems – 35712000
Location of contract
Any region
Procurement reference tender_478242/1437512
Published date 20 December 2024
Closing date 17 January 2025
Contract is suitable for SMEs? Yes
Contract is suitable for VCSEs? No
About the buyer
Contact name
Fabiana Milczarek
Address
Mail Point 3008, Ash Level 0, MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
England
Email:
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
13 Jan 25. Britain moves closer to nuclear-powered surface warships. There has been an update on the Royal Navy’s effort to explore nuclear-powered surface ships, building on its earlier Request for Information (RFI) issued last year. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has now invited industrial stakeholders to a workshop at Navy Command HQ in Portsmouth on 20 February 2025 to discuss the feasibility and strategic vision for a novel nuclear-powered navy. According to the updated notice, “This will be an opportunity for the Royal Navy to engage with industrial stakeholders on a novel Nuclear Surface Fleet then seek industry’s view on investigating a plausible strategic vision for a novel nuclear navy focusing on the operational advantages and feasibility of nuclear technology in naval surface applications.” The workshop will focus on validating concepts, identifying research questions, and laying the groundwork for further research and development. The workshop is limited to 50 attendees and is open to industry stakeholders only, with no press or public participation permitted. The MOD, in the announcement, made clear that this engagement does not constitute a pre-qualification exercise, stating, “Any formal procurement process will be undertaken in accordance with the relevant Procurement Law. Nothing in the event shall be construed as a representation as to the Authoritys ultimate decision in relation to any future requirement.” This workshop is a continuation of the Royal Navy’s broader exploration of nuclear technologies for surface ships, initiated with the September 2024 RFI. That RFI sought insights from the defence industry about integrating Generation 4 nuclear reactors into the fleet. The focus was on understanding how advanced reactors—such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)—could improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and enhance operational capabilities. The MOD asked industry leaders to provide detailed technical information on reactor designs, power output, safety features, and lifecycle sustainability assessments. The RFI also explored the feasibility of integrating nuclear power into existing and future ship designs, as well as the potential implications for training, crewing, and maintenance. These advanced technologies, designed to be safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly, represent a significant evolution from traditional reactors. They also offer the potential to extend operational range and reduce logistical dependency on fuel supplies, a key advantage in modern naval operations.
While nuclear propulsion has been widely used in submarines, its application to surface ships—common in the U.S. and French navies—represents a new frontier for the UK. Nuclear-powered carriers, such as the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-class and France’s Charles de Gaulle, showcase the strategic advantages of extended operational endurance and reduced fuel reliance.
Despite the Royal Navy’s extensive use of nuclear propulsion in its submarines, including the Vanguard and Astute classes, its surface fleet remains conventionally powered.
Call to Industry
The workshop aims to gather further insights from industry experts on the integration of nuclear technologies. Discussions will focus on:
- Feasibility of using Generation 4 nuclear reactors in surface ships.
- Safety and regulatory considerations.
- Environmental and sustainability challenges.
- Implications for ship design, crewing, and maintenance.
Participants are required to RSVP by 31 January 2025, with detailed instructions to follow for successful applicants.
(Source: News Now/https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/)
09 Jan 25. UK odd one out as European allies commit to the Eurofighter. Germany, Italy, and Spain are all acquiring the latest variant of the Eurofighter jet, but the UK appears unwilling or unable to follow suit. The UK is the only lead nation of the multinational Eurofighter programme not to have placed an order for additional aircraft in 2024, following the commitment to purchase 25 aircraft each by Spain and Italy late last year and Germany’s ongoing Quadriga acquisition. A collaborative effort between Airbus, BAE Systems, Leonardo, and the partner nations of the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy, the Eurofighter is intended to remain operational beyond 2060. Beginning development in 1989, the first of the Tranche 1 aircraft arrived in service among the core nations from 2003-2005. However, while the UK’s European partners were busy concluding or progressing on the delivery of new aircraft in 2024, the UK’s own commitment to additional airframes appears uncertain.
The German Quadriga programme will see 30 single-seat and eight twin-seat latest generation Tranche 4 Eurofighters acquired to replace 38 older Tranche 1 aircraft, with the aircraft to be delivered between 2025-2030.
Spain’s Halcon programme will deliver 20 new Tranche 4 Eurofighters under Halcon I to the Spanish Air Force from 2026-2030. A follow up agreement for an additional 25 Eurofighters under Halcon II was formally concluded in December 2024.
The same month, Italy confirmed a contract for 24 Eurofighters to replace current in-service Tranche 1 aircraft, with the new variants offering upgrades in avionics, weaponry, and operational capabilities, and will be equipped to handle Brimstone III and Meteor missiles.
The UK is a full Tranche behind, only recently moving to integrate an active electronic scanning array radar (AESA) into its 40 Tranche 3 airframes. Unlike the other Eurofighter partners, the UK has not yet committed to replacing its oldest airframes, with the RAF due to lose its 30 Tranche 1 fighters in 2025, leaving just 107 Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 aircraft in service.
By comparison, the German Air Force operates around 140 Eurofighters and will likely commit to the programme throughout its life span given the level of industrial participation.
GlobalData analysis from 2024 indicates that Italy operates 95 Eurofighter multirole fighters, while Spain has a fleet of 70 aircraft.
New Eurofighter orders needed to sustain industry
In March 2024, Airbus stated that in order to maintain expertise and the capability to develop and produce fighters in Germany and bridge a potential decade-long production gap, an additional order of around 100 new Tranche 5 Eurofighters would be required.
Of these, 50 aircraft will be produced by Airbus in Manching, Germany, with the remaining 50, coming from potential export orders, to be assembled in Italy (Leonardo), Spain (Airbus), and the UK (BAE Systems).
In December 2024, Qatar reportedly came to the rescue of UK industry with the purchase of 12 additional Eurofighters for a fee of around £6bn ($7.4bn), a move that brought some much-needed certainty to BAE Systems’ share of the fighter programme. Qatar is a designated UK export country for the Eurofighter.
It is uncertain whether the UK will look to acquire anymore Eurofighters, with the RAF’s Tranche 1 fleet out of service this year and focus increasingly turning to the sixth-generation Tempest concept, part of the Global Combat Airforce Programme in collaboration with Italy and Japan. UK Minister for Defence Procurement Maria Eagle sought to make light of the situation during a House of Commons question and answer session on 6 January, stating domestic and export orders were “very important” and that the government was “working hard” on unnamed export campaigns.
“The rest of the spend in such matters is part of the [Strategic Defence Review] and once that is completed there will be conclusions. Perhaps it will not be a Christmas present, but… a present at some time later on,” Eagle said. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
09 Jan 25. Royal Navy will iron out MRSS concept by mid-2025. Whereupon the Outline Business Case will determine next steps for contracts awards as the service struggles to maintain a credible surface fleet. Although this comes nearly four years after the class was first announced in the government’s 2021 Defence White Paper, the ships could not come soon enough as Britain’s surface fleet has been culled in that time. Now all that is left to carry the burden of supporting Royal Marines in littoral operations around the world are three civilian-operated Bay-class dock landing ships after the new Labour government announced the retirement of two Albion-class ships in November 2024. Furthermore, it is likely the temporary vessels will need to be upgraded and recertified to fill the capability gap until the first MRSS unit is available in 2033. By that time the Bay-class, which entered service in the mid-2000s, will approach a quarter of a century of active service. Nevertheless, in a parliamentary written response on 9 January 2025, the Minister for Defence Procurement, Maria Eagle, confirmed that an Outline Business Case is underway and is scheduled to be submitted in the middle of this year. The document will “detail the schedule for future contract award milestones” and begin “shifting to the Assessment Phase in 2026.” At present, MRSS in the early conceptual stage. The Royal Navy and Defence Equipment and Support – the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence – are conducting detailed work on key user requirements, conceptual designs, affordability, and exportability assessments.
High-level discussions between officials in the UK and Dutch governments considered forming a collaborative procurement programme for the MRSS platform at the end of June 2023. However, this depended on reviewing their respective joint requirements and expected timelines.
MRSS concept is a tall order
Six MRSS vessels will replace the decommissioned Albion-class and the ageing Bay-class. This means that the future platform must be highly versatile in replacing the two different classes.
“The Multi-Role Support Ship design will need to incorporate the twin needs of enabling an initial amphibious landing and supporting an extant bridgehead, as well as having a light deck for helicopters, and defensive armament,” observed James Rogers in a report published by the Council of Geostrategy last year.
“The new design would also offer an opportunity to embed an uncrewed system capability, particularly aerial, the potential for amphibious platforms – with their ample space, flight deck, and command and control systems – makes them a promising ‘mothership’ to multiply a variety of systems.”
The report recommended that the government prioritise MRSS to ensure the programme delivers a strong design that fully encapsulates all the capabilities of both classes without significant delay.
With plans set to get a first impression ready by the middle of this year, this will put pressure on the Navy and shipbuilders to deliver an all-encompassing concept. (Source: naval-technology.com)
13 Jan 25. UK MoD issues industry RfI for Light Mobility Vehicle. The LMV would replace in service platforms like the Land Rover and Pinzgauer used across the UK military. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a Request for Information (RfI) for a Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) platform, itself part of the wider Land Mobility Programme (LMP) being undertaken by the British Army in a bid to consolidate disparate vehicle fleet designs. Published on 10 January 2025, the MoD stated a requirement for the production, supply, support, and training for an LMV solution, which would “explore multiple options” including the possible delivery of a wheeled utility platform to modernise capability in roles currently filled by Land Rover and Pinzgauer with a “Common Based Platform”. As part of the process, the MoD has invited industry to participate in a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise in support of the development of its acquisition strategy, looking at areas such as the potential for an Off the Shelf (OTS) solution, and through life costs of ownership. Despite the age of the UK military’s light vehicle fleet, with platforms such as the Land Rover and Pinzgauer many decades old, progress to find replacement options has been slow. As reported in 2024, the British Army is still to formally define the scope of the wider LMP, with the MoD not due to complete the formal change request until February 2025 ahead of an outline business case at some point between March-October the same year. The programme does not include acquisitions being sought under the Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Medium and LTMP Light programme, through which the MoD is currently seeking industry responses to the potential purchase of more than 1,000 4×4 and all-terrain vehicles, valued at a combined total of £91.3m.
What LMV prospects for UK industry?
The prospect of an OTS solution for the LMV programme points towards a desire to expedite the procurement process, although the approach could see the acquisition of a non-UK design that involves little to no domestic participation. However, the new UK government has stated a preference towards local manufacture and participation, offering a degree of promise for the country’s commercial and military vehicle suppliers. In late-2024, UK defence vehicle prime Supacat unveiled its tactical Light Mobility Vehicle, intended for use by light role and very-high readiness forces, aimed towards operations with 3 Command Brigade of the Royal Marines or the British Army’s Ranger regiment for any UK requirement. The LMV combines Toyota automotive components with a bespoke chassis and a ‘Combat Cell’ shell and is available in 4×4 or 6×6 configurations. The Combat Cell, developed by Armoured Car Systems in Bavaria, Germany, is configurable depending on mission requirements, and features a crew served main weapon such as a general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) mounted on a 360° slewing ring and commander’s GPMG on a dash mounted swing arm. (Source: army-technology.com)
EUROPE
16 Jan 25. Dassault outlines Rafale deliveries as France eyes upgrades. A total of 30 aircraft were ordered in 2024 for export customers, as the French military looks towards the new F4.1 standard. Providing its annual production update in early January 2025, French aerospace manufacturer Dassault confirmed delivery of 21 Rafale multirole fighters in 2024, compared to 13 aircraft in 2023. Broken down by aircraft for the French Armed Forces versus those destined for international customers, Dassault stated that 14 platforms were for national use in 2024, while seven were intended for export. This compares to 11 Rafales delivered to the French military in 2023, with just two handed over to foreign operators. A total of 30 export orders were confirmed in 2024 for the Rafale fighter, compared to 60 aircraft (42 French, 18 export) in 2023. As of 31 December 2024, Dassault’s Rafale backlog included 220 Rafale (164 export, 56 France) versus 211 units as of 31 December 2023. Dassault Aviation confirmed that it will publish its full annual results on 5 March 2025, including revenue, and value of order intakes and backlog.
France looks to Rafale F4.1 standard
In December 2024 the French DGA confirmed that it had received the 14th and final Rafale scheduled for delivery in the year, representing the 26th aircraft in a batch of 39 airframes intended to be delivered to the French Air and Space Force by 2025. The 40th aircraft will be delivered at the beginning of 2026 for use as a test aircraft. A subsequent production phase of 42 Rafale’s to the F4.1 standard, confirmed in 2023, will see the first deliveries take place from 2027. The F4.1 model provides a range of upgrades and additional capabilities, including the integration of the new helmet sight, improved fire control for use with the Meteor missile, expanded passive threat detections, and boosted datalink exchange. Additional functionalities also provide greater protection against cyber threats and new functions for the Talios designation pod and the RBE2 radar. All Rafales of the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy will gradually be retrofitted to the F4 standard. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
15 Jan 25. Airbus CEO says Europe’s two fighter jet programmes could combine. Airbus (AIR.PA) CEO Guillaume Faury said he could see the two separate European programmes working on new fighter jets and combat air systems being combined in future or at least designed to work together. Britain, Italy and Japan said in December they were setting up a joint company to develop, design and build an advanced stealth jet, named GCAP, while France, Germany and Spain are working on the rival FCAS project. Defence experts have long speculated that there is not enough money or potential orders for the rival programmes. Faury said on Wednesday that some form of combination would make sense. “I think there’s really room to do things in a smart way,” Faury told reporters. “Each and every country could contribute its financial and technological capacity to a bigger programme for Europe, because that’s what we need at the end.” (Source: Google/Reuters)
14 Jan 25. EOS and AMEXCI, Together with Saab, Part of SQ2020 Industrial Participation. Squadron 2020 is a project of the Finnish Navy. Its aim is to replace the seven vessels the Navy will decommission. Four modern corvettes will be procured to replace the vessels to be decommissioned. A multi-role corvette is a surface combatant capable of conducting effectively the range of Navy tasks at sea all year round. A large part of the Navy’s tasks and operations are conducted at sea. As part of Squadron 2020 Industrial Participation, AMEXCI and EOS, together with Saab, will develop new capabilities to manufacture demanding defense components in Finland with metal additive manufacturing (AM). The project focuses on developing AM solutions both for spare parts and new product development. New and enhanced competencies will contribute to improving the overall security of supply in Finland. Additive Manufacturing can enable spare part production for the Finnish Defense Forces (FDF) and critical industries, as well as the rapid deployment of new innovative equipment. The project participants are industry forerunners in their respective areas of expertise. AMEXCI is a leading metal Additive Manufacturing service provider, with a high-quality 3D-printing production and know-how on developing AM solutions for our customers. EOS is the world leading company in Metal Additive Manufacturing solutions, with a deep understanding of materials and process development as well as quality assurance. Saab has successfully implemented metal Additive Manufacturing in its production processes. By transferring its technological expertise, Saab serves as an excellent partner in fostering new competencies within Finnish industries.
Statement from Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): “The project increases the capabilities of domestic industries in designing and manufacturing components for challenging military environments using AM. The Finnish Defense Forces sees the project as fulfilling the needs and supporting the interest of national military defense and security of supply.”
Johannes Karjalainen, Managing Director, AMEXCI: “I’m thrilled to be involved in developing new technologies and creating novel Nordic collaboration with Saab and EOS. I believe our new competencies developed within this project will be beneficial for many companies and stakeholders, and it will strengthen Finnish supply chain resilience in challenging situations.”
Paula Kainu, Senior Metal Solutions Architect, EOS: “Over the years, we have developed comprehensive know-how on AM materials with an extensive material data bank, which we will leverage in this project. By combining our extensive experience with the specific application requirements, we can develop an AM solution that perfectly fits. Not only advancing this project but adding value to many companies alike.”
10 Jan 25. Serbia cancels Russian arms deals amid Ukraine war, Western sanctions. Serbia, one of Moscow’s staunchest allies in Europe, has been forced to cancel a number of contracts to purchase Russian weapons, according to Gen. Milan Mojsilović, the chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces. As international sanctions continue to pressure Moscow, Belgrade is now shopping for military gear in other countries, such as Israel and China, but also in the West.
“When it comes to weapon deliveries from the Russian Federation, they are currently practically impossible. We are trying to find a way through diplomatic channels to overcome the newly created situation,” Mojsilović told local daily Večernje Novosti.
“We have terminated some contracts, and postponed some in the hope that the situation in international relations at global level will normalize and allow the implementation of the contracts,” Mojsilović said, indirectly referring to the war in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions on Russia.
The general did not specify what types of weapons were covered by the deals Belgrade decided to scrap or delay.
At the same time, Serbia’s military has “found a way to ensure a sustainable and flexible system of supplying spare parts and maintaining military equipment, even under the conditions of sanctions against Moscow” for its existing stocks of Soviet- and Russia-designed equipment, the general said.
While remaining outside NATO and pursuing a policy of military neutrality, Serbia has expressed interest in joining the European Union. In October 2024, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated his country was determined to “accelerate” its efforts to become an EU member state. This nuanced policy towards the West has pushed Belgrade to distance itself from Russia’s defense industry, all while awarding major military contracts to European companies. These include Serbia’s purchase of 12 Rafale fighter jets from France. Meanwhile, the Serbian government is also advancing military collaboration with Israel. In November 2024, Israel’s Elbit Systems announced that it was awarded deals worth around $335m to deliver PULS rocket artillery systems and Hermes 900 drones to an unnamed European client. Earlier this month, Israeli daily Haaretz reported those contracts came from Serbia, whose industry supplies ammunition to the Israel Defense Forces. At the same time, the Serbian authorities are investing in developing their ties with China. Belgrade recently announced the Chinese-made FK-3 air defense systems are now in service with the country’s Air Force. (Source: Defense News)
USA
14 Jan 25. The Pentagon’s ‘Replicator’ drone bonanza faces an uncertain future. In a speech last August, Kathleen Hicks listed the two most common questions about Replicator, her two-year pledge to buy thousands of drones and help the U.S. military compete with China.
“When we launched Replicator, a common refrain I heard was: ‘Can it work?’ These days I’m more likely to hear: ‘Will it stick?’” said Hicks, the deputy secretary of defense.
That second question soon won’t be hers to answer.
Since she first unveiled Replicator a year and a half ago, it’s nearly become a trademark. Hicks has sat in all of the Pentagon’s major meetings on it. She’s read every story published about the program, prepared in files from her staff. And she’s called its success a referendum on her leadership.
Senior Pentagon officials interviewed for this story said the program is on schedule largely through her effort. Now, as Hicks leaves office, the question is whether it can survive without her.
Republicans and Democrats have applauded the idea behind Replicator. To compete with China, they argue, the Pentagon needs cutting-edge weapons much faster. Hence, aides in Congress and executives at drone firms said they expect it to endure — albeit with changes.
And after 16 months, many officials working on the program outside the Pentagon say the biggest change it needs is size. Hicks made the bet to start Replicator, no small feat in a risk-averse bureaucracy, they acknowledged. But without more funding and more weapons on order, it won’t reach its true promise: a military nimble enough for the future of war.
“I would like to think that years from now, we would look back and say, ‘Yes, this began with the Biden administration,” said Chris Brose, an executive at the drone and software firm Anduril. “However, the real scale that this got to was delivered by his successors.”
‘Magnitude’
By early 2023, the problem was clear.
The year before, Russia had started a war with Ukraine dominated by trench warfare, artillery and increasingly drones. Both sides were building them in huge numbers to target, spy and attack at once, known in the military as “swarms.”
But these weren’t American drones. Instead, Ukraine’s soldiers were mostly buying and then tweaking their weapons from DJI, a Chinese company controlling 90% of the consumer market. U.S. firms weren’t only behind on building the weapons; their equipment wasn’t even needed.
“We know we have a problem on the production side: that DJI has just taken off with the international market. We needed to build out — we still do need to build out — that American industry,” Hicks said in an interview.
The deputy is close to the ultimate Pentagon insider. She took her first job in the building at the age of 23. And her habits reflect its culture of productivity. Hicks regularly schedules her day in 15-minute slots, she reads books on better managing her time and she returns hundreds of pages of reading to her staff each week marked with detailed notes.
So as the problem emerged, Hicks thought about how the Pentagon, internally, could solve it. American companies were indeed making high-tech drones. But the supply was small — in large part because the Pentagon was a picky customer. The period between signing a contract and actually getting equipment to troops often lasts more than 10 years.
The issue wasn’t just for Ukraine.
Hicks had entered office saying her top challenge was China, a country so large it could outpace America’s ability to build almost anything.
“It was the magnitude of all of the things,” said Mike Horowitz, a former top Pentagon policy official involved in Replicator, who listed out China’s ability to build a range of weapons: ships, submarines, drones, missiles. “They’re doing all of them simultaneously.”
Over the course of 2023, Hicks had been visiting Indo-Pacific Command, which oversees U.S. forces across the region, to watch troops experiment and exercise with new technology. She saw the need for more weapons that could punch above their weight. And she decided that if the Pentagon wasn’t buying enough of these already, she would make it.
In August that year, she took to the stage at a conference in downtown Washington and pledged two things. The Pentagon would field thousands of affordable drones within two years. And it would learn how to buy such weapons faster along the way.
Hicks called the two-part program Replicator, named after a gun from Star Trek that can form matter from thin air.
‘WD-40′
At first, other people in the Pentagon and Congress — largely unaware that the program was coming — had different names for it. Some called it confusing. Others worried it was a flash in the pan. Overall, the consensus at first was that Replicator was a good idea but that people couldn’t tell whether it was more than that.
“We had a candid conversation” before the announcement, said a senior defense official involved in the effort with Hicks, granted anonymity to talk freely. “I said we’re probably gonna get our asses kicked for eight to nine months in the press. Are you ready?”
Part of the skepticism came from how little Hicks’ team shared about the program after launching it. Because she didn’t want the idea choked by bureaucratic thorns, the deputy announced it without a full plan to discuss it publicly. Even more, her staff wasn’t entirely sure how it would work.
“My Italian family uses WD-40 for literally everything. — it’s like you have a cut [use] WD-40. So when we zoomed out, there were all these great innovation gears [inside the Pentagon] but some of them were a little squeaky,” the official said.
Replicator was meant to make these all click into place.
Atop the effort was the Defense Innovation Unit, tasked with bringing high-tech weapons into the military. Along with Hicks’ staff, it surveyed the different parts of the Pentagon from the Army to the Air Force, asking what drones would matter most for a fight with China and what they could buy the fastest.
At the same time, the team was working with military leaders in the Pacific and Congress, which later agreed to free up half a bn dollars for the effort (the same number made it into the next defense budget, which Congress has yet to pass).
In the year since, the Pentagon has announced several systems selected for the program: mostly underwater vehicles, small flying drones and loitering munitions meant to explode on impact. This last group will make up the bulk of the program, a congressional aide said. Of the 2,500 to 3,000 systems the Pentagon plans to deliver, over half will be the Switchblade 600, a kamikaze drone.
Hicks argued these results helped change the narrative.
“Replicator really depended on having that reputational advantage internally to make it happen. Now the Hill and the press — that reputational advantage probably needed to prove out another year. I think we’ve done that by just putting our heads down,” she said.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks observes a Defense Innovation Unit site walkthrough in Mountain View, California, Dec. 12, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)
‘Dress rehearsal’
In a meeting last fall, another Pentagon official working on the program remembers getting goosebumps. Military leaders in the room were planning a Replicator “dress rehearsal” for early 2025 — a drill meant to prove how the weapons could all work together.
“There was this moment where we all realized how real this is,” said the official. It had gone from an idea to a table of the nation’s top officers.
Since Hicks announced the program, it’s earned real staying power. Officials across Washington cite it as an example of how to jolt America’s slow bureaucracy. And military leaders in the Pacific have been happy to have someone advocating for their priorities.
Last fall, the Pentagon announced a second version of the program, this time focused on protecting American bases from incoming drones — a problem on display across the Middle East since Israel’s war began in Gaza.
But the drill this year is also a sign of the issues Replicator has yet to address. For one, the military is still deciding where to station the drones, which so far have been relatively short-range and would struggle to enter a fight. The answer is likely to put them on ships, said Adm. Sam Papapro, the head of Indo-Pacific Command, at an event last November.
Military leaders are trying to make sure the drones can resist jamming — a huge problem in Ukraine — and how to make the weapons operate in synchrony. They’re also trying to decide how to sustain the weapons, since these drones are meant to be “attritable,” the Pentagon’s version of a plastic fork and knife compared to silverware.
“We’re now going from just buying the system to actually using it in an operationally relevant environment and assessing changes we need to make,” said Bryan Clark, a former Navy officer and analyst at the Hudson Institute, where he follows the program closely.
‘A solvable problem’
These tests won’t address the largest critique often leveled at Replicator: that it didn’t wasn’t big enough. China has huge stores of weapons, beyond what Horowitz listed earlier, and they’re growing. Thousands of relatively small drones won’t tip the military scales.
“The PRC has got 2,100 fighters, they’ve got three aircraft carriers, they have a battle force of 200 destroyers. Well, Roger, we’ve got a couple of drones,” Paparo said in November, using the common abbreviation for the People’s Republic of China.
Hicks staffers bristle at this critique. Replicator, they argue, was never meant to be the Pentagon’s only insurance program for a war with China. It was meant to teach the Pentagon a new way of doing business. Even more, it wasn’t like there were bns of extra dollars lying around for the program. Starting Replicator at its current scale was hard enough given how much the Pentagon bureaucracy can resist change.
“What Replicator did was juice the system and show that this is a solvable problem,” Horowitz said.
Indeed, Hicks and other top Pentagon officials say this effort is only one part in a much larger engine designed to get the military more advanced weapons.
In an interview last month, the head of Pentagon research and engineering explained the point by pulling out a complicated flow chart, illustrating how the Defense Department brings a new weapon on board.
“There’s the entire ecosystem. This is how we fit together. It isn’t [that] only one piece of the puzzle is important and the rest is irrelevant,” said Heidi Shyu, tracing the Replicator section of the chart with her finger.
Even critics accepted this argument: They could blame Replicator for not being something it was never meant to be. But Brose, the executive at Anduril, also said that the program’s scope should factor into its legacy. If the U.S. needed a true crash program to help defend Taiwan, or other parts of the Pacific, then Replicator may have missed the moment, even if it’s on track to meet its goals.
Still, that doesn’t mean they don’t want it to stick around. The Pentagon, at least, expects it to.
“Initiatives change names all the time,” the first official said. (Source: glstrade.com/Military Times)
10 Jan 25. Cuashub.com said today that US Major calls for lightweight drone interceptor to protect Marines. Major Jason Dempsey, Counter-UAS and GBAD Capabilities Integration Officer for the US Marine Corps, highlighted the urgent need for portable counter-UAS systems during his presentation at the Counter-UAS Technology USA conference. Maj. Dempsey provided an overview of the Marine Corps’ current capabilities and the critical gaps that remain.
Maj. Dempsey emphasized the evolving threat posed by small unmanned systems in modern warfare: “We know the threat. The threat has evolved. We have seen that the threat is dropping bombs into a tank’s hell hole. We have seen that troops are actually being attacked by these small, group one UAS that are a couple hundred dollars [and when equipped with] a mason jar, a grenade and a diode, you can have close air support.” Major Jason Dempsey, US Marine Corps
He described the Marine Corps’ efforts to address these threats, including the development of various integrated systems such as the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) and the Light MADIS, as well as fixed-site and medium-range intercept capabilities.
Deconflicting the airspace
There have also been efforts underway to enhance airspace awareness and ensure that the Marines can accurately identify hostile UAS when they appear and prevent friendly UAS being mistakenly shot down. The intent is to implement an “amber alert” system that enables geofencing of the environment to avoid unnecessary alerts for troops on the ground. Maj. Dempsey compared the problem to that of alerts from home security systems.
“Does anyone have a home security system? I do, you start getting pinged and you start ignoring it. We can’t do that. I need to be able to say this is a threat, it’s in your close proximity and you need to be able to take action on it while another unit is kicking in doors on the other block. But they don’t know what’s happening over there, because they don’t need to know, it’s not within their battle space,” he said.
However, Maj. Dempsey pointed to a critical need for dismounted counter-UAS solutions that are lightweight, easy to use, and effective against aerial threats without adding significant burden to Marines in the field. He noted that there is a key distinction between man-portable and dismounted systems.
“There’s a big difference between man-portable and dismounted. Man-portable, after a mile, I’m probably exhausted. Dismounted, I can walk that 25 miles if the battalion requires me to.”
A tiered approach
The Marine Corps is taking a tiered approach with “packages” that increase capability at each echelon. Maj Dempsey dived into the requirements for packages one, two and three.
Package one
Package one focuses on the individual Marine, particularly those stationed at entry control points or on short watches.
“That Marine on the deck has a phone, has a watch, and if they get indications of warnings, it will tell him where to point his weapon system if he needs to go kinetic,” Maj. Dempsey explained.
The Marines are looking at RF detection systems, passive detection systems, and acoustic detection systems to provide real-time alerts. However, Maj Dempsey also stressed that they want to maximize the use of existing weapons, such as the M4 and M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle.
“The last thing a Marine needs is another weapon system,” he said, but added, “If you can allow me the ability to kill the bad guy and kill a drone, we’d be willing to entertain another weapon system.”
Major Jason Dempsey, US Marine Corps
Package two
For package two, the focus shifts to small units requiring enhanced detection capabilities.
“You’re looking at EO/IR [electro-optical/infrared] and maybe a small radar that allows them to have both an active detection system and passive detection system, as well as the RF detection system,” Maj. Dempsey said.
The biggest gap, however, remains the lack of short-range interceptors. “I need the ability to kill these damn things,” he said. “Whether that ties into a different radar, or whether it has its own organic ability to detect the system and kill the threat, that is on industry to help us out.”
Package three
For package three, which focuses on vehicle-mounted or fixed-site capabilities, modularity is key.
“[We need] the ability to have both a fixed-site tower and a tripod capability, and be able to put it on a vehicle, [and take it] off very quickly,” he explained. “[For example, if] my engineers are rebuilding a bridge, they can drive up, their vehicles already have these capabilities on the system. And if those trucks need to go away, they just put it on a tripod and keep going.”
The need for a dismounted interceptor
Maj. Dempsey also highlighted the importance of equipping dismounted forces with the tools to detect, track and engage enemy drones while maintaining their operational flexibility. This is particularly key when considering the prevalence of jam-resistant drones such as those being deployed in Ukraine.
“We know where the threat is going,” he warned. “RF detection systems are becoming more obsolete. If I utilize a C2 dark drone, where it’s utilizing AI, ML or image recognition, I can’t jam that. I need to be able to kill it, shoot it out of the sky, and that’s where a short-range interceptor comes into play.”
“I need Marines that have the ability to not necessarily conduct air defense, but conduct self-defense against the aerial threat. I need a short-range interceptor that I can launch like a football, for lack of better terms, and go intercept that threat. The system needs to be lightweight, easy to use, easy to train and MOS agnostic.”
Major Jason Dempsey, US Marine Corps
As the Marine Corps continues to refine its requirements for these capabilities, Maj. Dempsey called on industry to provide innovative solutions.
“The program office has the flexibility, if I have a capability that has more lethality, it’s smaller, lightweight and more than anything, has a higher probability of kill. They have the flexibility where I don’t have to write a requirement. They just go and buy the new system.”
https://cuashub.com/en/content/us-major-calls-for-lightweight-drone-interceptor-to-protect-marines/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
09 Jan 25. Air Force reboots $12bn systems integration contract. The Air Force has gone back to square one in its effort to modernize a major ballistic missile system. Guidehouse and BAE Systems traded wins for the Integration Support Contract 2.0 contract, with each company protesting when the other won. For the last protest won by BAE in late June, the Government Accountability Office gave the Air Force the option to start over if it felt the solicitation no longer met its needs. The Air Force released a sources sought notice on Tuesday that kicks off the development of a new solicitation for the estimated $12 bn contract that will run for 18 years. ISC 2.0 is part of a massive Air Force effort to replace its Minuteman III missiles, with Northrop Grumman building the new Sentinel missile system that is also called the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent. The contract covers sustainment services for the Minuteman missiles and its retirement, as well as support the deployment of Sentinel. BAE is the incumbent contractor supporting Minuteman III. That intercontinental ballistic missile was first fielded in 1970 and initially had an expected lifespan of 10 years. The new sources sought notice describes four challenges the Air Force wants to address: modernization of legacy systems, evolving mission requirements, complex systems engineering and integration, and cost and schedule discipline. Some of the specific services they are looking for include systems engineering and integration, program and lifecycle support, data and analysis, and acquisition support. The Air Force also wants cybersecurity and IT support. The document also describes needs such as finance and budget management, security, nuclear safety, and construction and infrastructure support. The Air Force says it is open to small business primes. But given the scope of services and needs, this will be another battle of large businesses. Comments are due Feb. 8. (Source: glstrade.com/https://www.washingtontechnology.com/)
REST OF THE WORLD
16 Jan 25. Japan passes record defense budget, while still playing catch-up. While Japan’s Cabinet has approved a record defense budget for 2025, the 13th growth year in a row, Tokyo’s military posture vis-à-vis regional threats remains a work on progress, according a U.S. analyst. Grant Newsham, senior research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, told Defense News that “decades of pathological dependence” on the United States have left Japan’s military “a stunted force not really able to operate efficiently or effectively in most cases.” This is at a time when Japan perceives unprecedented external threats. The government’s 2024 iteration of its annual Defense of Japan white paper noted, “Japan is facing the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II.” Japan is alarmed by China intruding into its southwestern archipelago, and it regards Russia and North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs as serious risks.
Newsham noted, “I think Japan recognizes and understands the seriousness of the threats it faces from China, North Korea and Russia. Ukraine really spurred Japanese awareness – figuring that Taiwan was next, with everything that would portend for Japan’s security.”
Yet the former U.S. Marine Corps officer warned the threat perception has yet to manifest itself fully in defense programs. “This hasn’t, however, translated into a Japan Self-Defense Force that’s organized and capable of fighting a war – despite having some niche capabilities that would be very helpful if employed in support of U.S. forces,” he said.
Approved on Dec. 27, 2024, the upcoming defense budget beginning April 1 is up 9.4% to a record 8.7tn yen, the equivalent of $55.1bn.
The FY2025 defense budget is higher than the 8.54trn yen requested last September, because it adds 123.8bn yen for a new communications satellite to replace the Kirameki-2 that will retire in 2030.
Stand-off weapons are a priority, with 939bn yen allocated to items such as ground- and sea-launched Type 12 anti-ship missiles, hyper-velocity gliding projectiles for island defense, and development of submarine-launched missiles.
Considerable funds are being spent overseas for Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile for Japan’s F-35A fighters, Tomahawk cruise missiles to arm destroyers, and extended-range Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missiles (JASSM-ER) for F-15 fighters.
On Jan. 15, the U.S. State Department approved a $39 million sale of 16 JASSM-ERs, following an approval for 50 such missiles in Aug. 2023.
However, depreciation of the yen is adversely impacting Japan’s overseas purchases. As a result, Tokyo paid 123.9bn yen more in fiscal 2023 for U.S.-sourced Foreign Military Sales equipment than it had originally assumed.
Other upcoming imports include two MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones and six American-manufactured V-BAT drones to operate from Japanese warships.
Integrated air and missile defense is a priority for Japan too, with 533 billion yen allotted to various interceptor missiles and mobile reconnaissance radars in places like Okinawa, where thousands of American troops are based.
Describing Tokyo’s ongoing security reliance on the U.S., Newsham said, “The Americans and Japanese either hang together or hang separately, paraphrasing Ben Franklin. The Americans might have a chance alone against the Chinese, but it would be tough. The Japanese have no chance at all.” (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
16 Jan 25. South Korea to refit KDX-II destroyers with local combat management system. South Korea has announced plans to refit its Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin (KDX-II)-class guided-missile destroyers with a locally developed combat management system (CMS) as part of the vessels’ modernisation programme. In a statement released on 15 January, the country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) revealed that these warships will be upgraded to enhance their ability to protect the country’s sea lines of communication. The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) operates a fleet of six KDX-II destroyers and the warships were commissioned between 2003 and 2008. All six vessels are equipped with a CMS that has been supplied by a Samsung-BAeSEMA collaboration. BAeSEMA is in turn a British-French technology joint venture that has since been dissolved. This CMS incorporates elements derived from the Thales TACTICOS system. To develop the system, DAPA held a meeting with South Korean defence systems company Hanwha, the former disclosed in its statement on 15 January. In addition to its CMS, South Korea is seeking to upgrade the class’s sonar and fire-control systems. Details on these were not provided by DAPA in its statement but the country is known to have made a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) request to the United States for modified MK 99 fire-control system (FCS) cabinets. This FMS request has been approved by Washington and this approval was announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in December 2024. (Source: Janes)
15 Jan 25. India’s indigenous defense manufacturing prowess demonstrated by commissioning of three naval assets, says GlobalData. Following the news on simultaneous commissioning of three indigenously built naval assets by the Indian Navy;
Rithik Rao, Aerospace & Defense Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view: “The commissioning of INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vagsheer marks a significant milestone in India’s shipbuilding and design capabilities, highlighting the country’s steadfast commitment to achieving self-reliance in defense manufacturing. Armed with advanced weaponry such as BrahMos and Barak-8 missiles, both INS Surat and INS Nilgiri provide the Indian Navy with enhanced anti-surface and anti-air warfare capabilities, excelling in both offensive and defensive roles. INS Vagsheer, being the last of the current batch of Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarines, excels in a range of operations, including anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and area surveillance. Together, these domestically built platforms demonstrate India’s growing competence in developing cutting-edge naval technologies, thereby strengthening its maritime security and reinforcing its strategic autonomy in defense production. The increasing maritime presence of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) in the Indian Ocean Region has underscored the need for India to bolster its naval capacity. The country is trying to catch up with its Chinese counterparts in terms of quantity and technology advancements. Consequently, the Indian Navy has been placing greater emphasis on improved capabilities of its new inductees with state-of-the-art sensors and weapon systems, aligning with a broader operational and force-level strategy. This also enables India to fulfill its responsibility towards maritime security & stability in the region.
“According to Global Data’s report “India Defense Market Size, Trends, Budget Allocation, Regulations, Acquisitions, Competitive Landscape and Forecast to 2029,” India is forecast to spend $35.2bn on the procurement of various types of indigenously built naval vessels and submarines. This substantial investment reflects the country’s ambition to cultivate a robust and resilient defense industrial base.
“Shipbuilders such as Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) stand to benefit significantly, leveraging the expertise gained from constructing complex naval platforms. Such advancements will lay a strong foundation for future collaborations between major domestic defense contractors and many small and medium suppliers in upcoming next-generation submarine and naval vessel construction programs, ensuring the Indian Navy remains well-equipped to meet evolving challenges in the upcoming decades.” (Source: GlobalData) Media Centre
14 Jan 25. ADSB Launches First Vessel in Prestigious FALAJ 3 Programme. EDGE Group entity Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), the regional leader in the design, construction, repair, maintenance, refit, and conversion of naval and commercial vessels, celebrated a significant milestone with the launch of the first FALAJ 3 class vessel during a ceremony held at the ADSB shipyard. This launch marks a pivotal phase in fulfilling the contract with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), paving the way for an advanced fleet of vessels designed to enhance national defence capabilities. Under the patronage of Rear Admiral Pilot Staff Major General Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Commander of the UAE Naval Forces, the ceremony brought together dignitaries, military officials, and senior EDGE and ADSB leadership to commemorate the vessel’s debut.
David Massey, CEO of ADSB, said: “The launch of the first FALAJ3 vessel reinforces ADSB’s expertise in shipbuilding and represents a major step forward in delivering cutting-edge, highly sophisticated vessels equipped with the latest mission systems and advanced armament. This addition to ADSB’s capabilities and extensive product portfolio underscores our commitment to supporting the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Defence. As we deepen this partnership, we remain focused on driving innovation and excellence to meet the evolving needs of the nation’s defence landscape.” (Source: Defense Arabia)
08 Jan 25. Asia-Pacific nations boost amphibious naval fleets to repel China. Navies across the Asia-Pacific region are boosting amphibious capabilities in an effort to protect their complex coastlines, as China continues its flex its military muscle in the region. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), for example, is set to receive 10 new landing craft by the end of Fiscal Year 2027. This includes two 3,500-ton Logistics Support Vessels (LSV), four 2,400-ton Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and four smaller Maneuver Support Vessels. Japanese shipbuilder Naikai Zosen launched the first LSV on Nov. 28, and the first LCU on Oct. 29. All these vessels will join a joint Maritime Transport Group being established next March, and will help support the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, Japan’s equivalent of a marine corps. Tokyo is alarmed at the vulnerability of its southwest archipelago to Chinese intrusion. The military said, “In light of the current severe security environment, the JGSDF will steadily build transport vessels to strengthen transport functions to islands.” Australia is charting the same course as it rapidly overhauls its amphibious capacity with 18 new Landing Craft Medium (LCM) and eight Landing Craft Heavy (LCH). Last year’s Defence Strategic Review mandated greatly improved littoral capabilities. The LCMs, designed by Birdon Group, carry 90 tons of cargo, while the larger LCHs displace 3,900 tons. On Nov. 22, Canberra announced the LST 100 design from Damen Shipyards had been selected for the LCH. Austal will build all LCMs and LCHs in Western Australia.
Australia’s chief of Army, Lt. Gen. Simon Stuart, said: “Our plan is to have the first medium in the water by the end of 2026, the first heavy by the end of 2028. That means we’ve got to work with industry and make sensible compromises to get the capability, which will be a step change above anything we’ve currently got.”
The Australian government said the craft “will support a strategy of denial, which includes deploying and sustaining modernized land forces with long-range land and maritime strike capabilities across our region.”
Elsewhere, the Philippines already has two Tarlac-class landing platform dock (LPD) vessels, and PT PAL in Indonesia is building another two following a 2022 contract.
To be delivered to the Philippine navy in 2026, these LPDs are useful for moving units around the Philippine archipelago, including its existing South China Sea bases. Manila is currently facing Chinese pressure in this maritime territory.
Taiwan commissioned the domestically built LPD Yushan in September 2022. This 10,000-ton vessel cannot help counter a full-scale Chinese invasion, but it can support mine countermeasures, resupply offshore islands and support amphibious landings.
India is dragging the chain in terms of improving its limited amphibious sealift. The Indian Navy issued a request for information for four LPDs in 2021, but little more has occurred since.
Navantia of Spain teamed up with Larsen & Toubro to offer the Juan Carlos I platform. However, amphibious vessels are competing for funding against submarines and other surface combatants. Plus, India’s land borders with China and Pakistan are mired in tensions. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
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