INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES

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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO

 

26 Jun 25. British industry to benefit from billions in government spending under new plans to protect national security. Government will back British industries such as energy, steel and cyber – giving them more of the £400bn spent on government procurement each year and protecting our national security.

• British industries such as energy, steel and cyber are set to get more money from government spending under new plans being considered to protect UK national security.
• Central government departments will be told to consider UK-made steel for all public projects, and use exemptions for buying rules wherever possible to support steel makers, in new guidance issued today.
• New rules would also ensure the public sector excludes companies that have failed to pay small businesses on time.

Government will back British industries such as energy, steel and cyber – giving them more of the £400bn spent on government procurement each year and protecting our national security. A consultation launching today will consider new rules to give the government greater power to back our national security through government buying and ensure the country retains a strong, homegrown industrial base. The plans will allow Ministers to designate certain UK industries as nationally important to protecting UK national security – as part of our Plan for Change to secure Britain’s future. Current rules require public sector buyers to consider bids from overseas suppliers that can undercut UK firms. Under the new designation, public sector buyers will be able to avoid normal buying rules to support national security, and award contracts to our industries.  The changes come following the publication of the government’s Industrial Strategy which set out a ten year plan to boost investment, skills and jobs and reduce the energy costs for business and industry. New guidance will also require Government departments to consider UK-made steel in all future public projects, including those that form part of the £725bn of UK infrastructure spending over the next 10 years. The government previously announced that Government departments would have targets, and this expands that requirement to the wider public sector. Further prioritising and boosting spending with SMEs.

Supportive quotes;

Gareth Stace, Director-General of UK Steel said: “This is unequivocally positive news for the UK steel industry. These changes rightly recognise the strategic importance of steelmaking to national security and the vital role of resilient domestic supply chains.  With the launch of the National Infrastructure Strategy and Strategic Defence Review, the next decade presents a generational opportunity for our steel industry. This revised guidance and proposals in the consultation will help government departments unlock the full capacity and capability of our members, supporting jobs and driving investment across the country.”

Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “We welcome clear signs that prompt payment is being made a central plank of procurement policy. Too many small firms are left chasing invoices for weeks or months, often at serious cost to their survival and growth, so excluding more bad payers from public contracts and building further on existing rules is a step in the right direction. This builds on FSB’s successful push to stop late payers winning major public contracts, with the payment threshold that must be enforced by all central government departments, and overseen by Cabinet Office, due to drop from an average of 55 to 45 days in October. SME spending targets are vital, but the challenge is making sure that each department or public body has a target that is ambitious, monitored regularly and actually helps small firms to access public sector supply chains. We look forward to each Department’s new direct spend target for SMEs being published soon. Going forward, we will be engaging with the consultation and its proposals in the coming weeks, and ensuring it delivers for small businesses who need meaningful change to access procurement opportunities.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

20 Jun 25. NATO and Ukraine seek solutions to Russian fibre-optic cable FPV drone threat. An innovation challenge set by the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center (JATEC), part of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT) has called for technological proposals to counter Russia’s use of fiber-optic cable controlled first-person view (FPV) attack drones, reports the Kyiv Post. The topic was addressed at the NATO June 20th Innovation Challenge meeting in in Tallinn, Estonia. According to the Ukrainian news source: “These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are tethered to their operators by a fiber optic cable, typically between 5 and 20 kilometers (3 and 12.5 miles) long to provide its primary guidance and control system. These have presented a currently intractable challenge on the battlefield as, unlike free-flying drones, they are largely immune to conventional electronic jamming or other countermeasures.

“NATO ACT is the alliance’s lead agency for developing strategic warfare structures, capabilities and doctrine. As such it has, since 2017, issued twice annually a challenge to industry, academia and individuals to suggest cost-effective solutions to operational challenges faced by NATO nations. The challenges are sponsored by ACT and a member nation. The previous project co-sponsored by Poland, launched in March, called for proposals to counter Russian high-speed, precision-guided glide bombs. This resulted in the selection of three finalists from around 40 proposals – the TYTAN subsonic interception drone, the Alta Ares AI-based trajectory prediction program and the ATREYD autonomous drone wall (ATREYD). 2025’s second challenge, the 17th iteration, was the counter fiber-optic drone requirement sponsored by ACT, JATEC and Estonia. This set the requirement for a system that has a day and night detection range of at least 500 meters, weigh less than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) with a maximum cost of $100,000.

“This challenge saw an unprecedented 162 submissions – including 42 from Ukrainian stakeholders – which has since been reduced to a shortlist of 10 candidates for further practical trials.”

Currently Ukraine has had to rely on a system that tracks Russian fiber-optic drones by spotting the reflective fibers spooling out behind the drones and then tracing them back to their Russian operators. Images have appeared on social media showing dozens of used cables crisscrossing the battlefield which makes it impossible to trace their launch points. Meanwhile, NATO reports trials mark a crucial step forward in developing advanced multi-layered air defence capabilities to support Ukraine. “These rigorous tests, a direct outcome of collaboration between France and NATO, focused on countering glide bombs to provide robust protection against evolving threats.

“The trials brought together a powerful alliance of international partners, including NATO Allied Command Transformation, the Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre, the French Direction Générale de l’Armement, and vital Ukrainian representatives from the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This collaborative effort involved three key start-ups – Alta Ares, ATREYD, and TYTAN – each contributing components towards a holistic defensive solution. The entire process was notably accelerated through special procedures, reflecting the urgency of operational needs.

“Conducted at the Direction Générale de l’Armement‘s test ranges in France, the trials subjected various integrated systems to demanding conditions. Over several days, teams assessed advanced sensor systems, dynamic control technologies, and innovative engagement methods against simulated and real targets.”

For more information:

https://www.act.nato.int/article/ukraine-support-counter-glide-bombs/

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/54446 (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)

 

20 Jun 25. UK procures thousands of UAVs. UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey announced in an address to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Land Warfare Conference held in London on 17 and 18 June that the United Kingdom would invest over GBP100m (USD134m) in initial funding to develop land unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms as deliveries of thousands of strike UAVs begin. He said, “Autonomous Collaborative Platforms will fly alongside the Apache attack helicopters and enhance the army’s ability to strike, survive, and win on the battlefield,” which he called “a game changer [that] will be applying the lessons from Ukraine in a world-leading way … putting the UK at the leading edge of innovation in NATO”. He added, “Alongside our ability to move forward with greater combat mass, we’re investing in AI [artificial intelligence] and drones to strike further and faster through Project Asgard. In well under a year, we’ve developed and procured these recce-strike systems that allow our soldiers to connect the sensor to the shooter in record-beating time.” He said these systems have already been tested and partly deployed in Estonia, with plans to use them in NATO’s Exercise ‘Steadfast Defender’ in 2027. Healey expected the lessons from Asgard to inform the UK’s new integrated Digital Targeting Web, as recommended by the 2 June Strategic Defence Review (SDR) be developed over the next two years, so he committed to support it with GBP1 bn of new investment. (Source: Janes)

 

EUROPE

 

26 Jun 25. EU Commission, EDA Sign Financial Agreement; More EDF Projects for EDA. On June 25, the European Commission and the European Defence Agency (EDA) took a step forward in enhancing European defence cooperation by signing a Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA). This new agreement provides a long-term, stable foundation for working together on defence initiatives, especially in relation to the European Defence Fund (EDF).  The FFPA simplifies how the Commission and EDA sign annual Contribution Agreements, helping to speed up the process of supporting joint defence projects under the EDF. This creates the basis for a more enduring partnership between the Commission and EDA, closely linked to the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The agreement aims to simplify and accelerate the administrative and financial procedures related to indirect management of EDF projects, allowing resources to be mobilised more efficiently in support of EU strategic autonomy. More than 40 projects worth around €300m Since the EDF was established, the Commission has entrusted EDA with the indirect management of 24 defence projects. With the addition of new projects made possible through this FFPA, that number will rise to over 40 projects with a total value of around €300 m. This new partnership builds on the strong cooperation that has already developed between the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) and EDA. This framework stabilises and formalises a cooperation process between DG DEFIS and EDA on defence innovation, which further expands the complementarity between the European Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) and EDA’s Hub for Defence Innovation (HEDI), building on their respective strengths. DG DEFIS already closely collaborated with EDA for the implementation of EDF projects through annual Contribution Agreements since the launch of EDF in 2021. The FFPA ensures continuity and better coordination for European defence capabilities development. In parallel with the FFPA, the Contribution Agreement for EDF 2024 calls was approved, further solidifying the operational and financial collaboration between the European Commission and EDA. Together, these agreements provide a clear and streamlined mechanism to manage joint defence projects, making it easier to implement and deliver critical defence capabilities.

André Denk, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency, said: “Thanks to this new agreement and these new EDF projects, we can help EU Member States develop new defence technologies faster. Working with the European Commission, we can identify the most promising solutions, and, importantly, act as a technology broker – using EDA’s networks and EU funding to support further development.”

Timo Pesonen, Director-general of DG DEFIS, said: “This agreement is more than a formality; it is a strategic enabler. By simplifying our cooperation with EDA, we will accelerate the delivery of innovative, EU-funded defence projects. This partnership is a concrete step towards providing our armed forces with the cutting-edge capabilities they need, faster and more efficiently. We are committed to turning our cooperation into tangible results for Europe’s security.”

With an increasing number of projects and a deepening partnership, the Commission and EDA recognised the need to simplify how they work together. The FFPA does just that.

It introduces:

• A standardised annual contribution agreement template that speeds up annual negotiations;
• Faster EDF grant procedures, with a reduced administrative burden;
• Better alignment of timelines between DG DEFIS and EDA, helping to ensure smoother delivery of funding to defence actors with a particular attention to grant agreement preparation timeline for directly and indirectly managed projects.

These changes are especially beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which make up a large share of EDF beneficiaries and are key drivers of innovation in the defence sector. (Source: ASD Network)

 

25 Jun 25. Switzerland in talks with US as cost of F-35A fighter jets rises.

• Summary
• Companies
• Swiss announced deal in 2021 to buy 36 F-35A jets
• Bern says fixed price agreed at about 6bn francs
• US now wants to raise price by up to $1.3bn, Bern says

Switzerland is holding talks with the United States after Washington tried to raise the price of new fighter jets Bern is buying for its air force, the government said on Wednesday. Bern chose Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Lightning II as its next-generation fighter plane in 2021, with a fixed price of around 6bn Swiss francs ($7.4bn) for 36 jets, a decision that attracted controversy in neutral Switzerland. But the U.S. Joint Program Office overseeing the project said last year the price could be higher, and the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency told Switzerland in February that the fixed price was a misunderstanding. Switzerland was informed the price for the F-35s would be dearer because of higher raw materials and energy costs, as well as higher U.S. inflation, with the sum potentially increasing by $650m to $1.3bn, the government said.

“A contract is a contract,” said Urs Loher, head of Swiss defence procurement agency Armasuisse. “With the procurement of the F-35A fighter aircraft, we’re suddenly faced with a different reality, despite a clear fixed price.”(Source: Reuters)

 

USA

 

23 Jun 25. US Army to hold C-sUAS demonstration day for programme contractors. The US Army Contracting Command – Redstone (ACC-RSA) on behalf of Program Executive Office Missiles and Space (PEO MS) Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Product Office has issued a notice alerting industry vendors of an upcoming Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System (C-sUAS) demonstration event. Response date is July 8. According to the notice:: “The United States Government (USG) continues to partner with industry to assess the current and future state of C-sUAS Soldier Common Systems. Current world events highlight the need to enhance C-sUAS capability across the battlefield. Every squad, unit, and potentially every Soldier in the Army will require the ability to detect and defeat small UAS, which will require common equipment across every Army formation at the Soldier level. C-sUAS Soldier Common Systems are defined as an individual, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) agnostic, self-protection C-sUAS system. C-sUAS Soldier Common Systems can be wearable, handheld, or dismounted and can engage a small UAS through Electronic Warfare (EW) or by augmenting weapon optics.

Technical Data for All C-sUAS Soldier Common Systems:

All systems shall meet military standards as well as Deployment and Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) requirements:

9. System shall not require more than a single Soldier to operate
10. System will only be employed for self-defense and will not need to clear airspace
11. System must minimize interference with the Soldier’s ability to operate their primary weapon
12. System shall minimize size and weight while utilizing power via battery or an equivalent source
13. System shall meet the military Electromagnetic Safety Standard MIL-STD-464
14. System shall meet the military Environmental condition Standard MIL-STD-810
15. Test data shall be provided to validate vendor provided system performance; and
16. Vendor shall provide evidence of Technology Readiness Levels and Producibility.

Performance Requirements for C-sUAS Soldier Common Systems DETECT Category:

3. System shall detect and provide orientation to the Soldier of groups 1-2 small UAS
4. System provides greater than 15 seconds of detection time

Performance Requirements for C-sUAS Soldier Common Systems DETECT & DEFEAT Category:

5. System shall detect and provide orientation to the Soldier of groups 1-2 small UAS and provide greater than 15 seconds of detection time
6. System shall defeat groups 1-2 small UAS non-kinetically or kinetically
7. System provides a defended area greater than .5km
8. Kinetic defeat solution must not impede the soldier’s primary weapon and/or augment the primary weapon

The C-UAS Product Office is planning a three-phase evaluation process for this requirement. Any vendor interested in participating in Phase 1 is required to provide the information requested in this Special Notice sections titled “C-sUAS Soldier Common Systems Schedule” and “Vendor Submission of DD1494 and Over-the-Air RF measurement”.

For more information: https://sam.gov/opp/883c389d9a344b2cabe1a82152f6b267/view (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)

 

REST OF THE WORLD

 

27 Jun 25. The Australian government has formally released a new request for information for the previously “scrapped” JP9102 under a “new” project name, but not a lot appears to have changed in the objectives and capabilities sought, leaving serious questions about what exactly has changed. Defence Connect can officially reveal that the government has formally released a “new look” request for information (RFI) on AusTender to provide the Australian Defence Force with a resilient and sovereign satellite communications (SATCOM) capability under the project name SPA9102. This “backflip” comes just months after the Australian government formally “cancelled” the prior incarnation, the $3 billion JP9102, when Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles claimed that the government was seeking a “change of direction, not [a] cancellation”. As part of this “change of direction”, the government raised significant concerns about the resilience and survivability of the proposed single-orbit GEO-based (geostationary) system failed to “meet strategic priorities”, seeking to pivot towards a “multi-orbit capability” while the ADF’s current SATCOM capabilities supported immediate operational requirements. At the time, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy told Defence Connect, that the “IIP provision for this project hasn’t been touched” and that the “money still resides” in the 2024 Integrated Investment Program (IIP). Minister Conroy said at the time: “We’ve ceased the procurement activity, and we have focused on looking at other technology solutions, and that is, to be quite frank, because of the growing counter space threats … I’ve been frustrated and annoyed by some of the commentary out there, by people who just don’t have access to the classified briefings, who profess to be greater experts on this area than the ADF, who might be trying to sell their particular commercial technology or have a view.” At the time, this was met with widespread industry angst, confusion and distrust of the government’s objectives moving forward, with industry partners of all sizes expressing significant concerns about the future direction the government was seeking to travel in. SPA9102 reflects a more refined and segmented approach, and could be argued as a “cheaper solution” to solve an immediate need, representing a breaking up of mission requirements, with SPA9102 intended to evolve the ADF’s existing space capabilities through targeted enhancements, rather than a wholesale procurement. As it stands, the RFI states: “Defence has a need for a UHF band payload in a geostationary orbital slot”, seeming to directly conflict with the earlier statements made by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, indicating that there is an urgent operational requirement, despite the earlier statements that existing platforms both solely military and dual-use could fulfil the ADF’s operational requirements. Furthermore, the RFI is focused on informing planning, not yet defining specific procurement parameters such as “one satellite” versus “a constellation”, leaving room for industry to propose solutions that could include:

• A standalone narrowband satellite.
• A hosted payload on a multipurpose platform.
• A distributed architecture of small/nano satellites.
• Or leveraging allied constellations with sovereign enhancements.

Regardless the need for a “UHF band payload in a geostationary orbital slot” seems to directly conflict with the government’s previous statements, with the real knock-out blow coming in Annex A, which states, as part of the information to be provided by the respondents, “Respondents should note that ‘resiliency’ throughout this RFI refers to features to protect the communications of a single UHF satellite in geostationary orbit from EMI (Electromagnetic Interference).” This leaves one wondering, why now is a single satellite, in a single orbit now less vulnerable and seen as the viable and urgently needed solution? The current request for information (RFI) focuses specifically on narrowband SATCOM, as a discrete and separate component of Defence’s broader SATCOM architecture, marking a a move away from monolithic acquisition models and towards a modular, phased development path that can adapt more flexibly to threat evolution, technological change, and Defence’s integrated force design priorities. It should be noted that while SPA9102 is not currently a procurement activity, it is a market exploration effort aimed at gathering industry insight to inform future planning. This differs from JP9102, which sought to immediately field a complete system. SPA9102 begins with an RFI focused on understanding what the Australian and international industry base can deliver in the narrowband SATCOM domain. (Source: Defence Connect)

 

26 Jun 25. Significant arms export application backlog cleared. A significant backlog of arms control applications and export permits has been cleared as part of the Government of National Unity’s collective responsibilities in the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), Deputy Defence and Military Veterans Minister Bantu Holomisa has stated, as part of efforts to support the SA defence industry. In a one-year review since assuming his position as deputy, Holomisa provided a progress report to Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, UDM (United Democratic Movement) Member of the National Assembly, on 24 June.

“As part of our collective responsibilities in the National Conventional Arms Control Committee, we have actively contributed to the clearing of a significant backlog of arms control applications and export permits. Regular sittings of the Committee have ensured that due process is followed while maintaining the momentum necessary to support South Africa’s defence trade and associated industries,” Holomisa wrote.

“The backlog, which had affected operational timelines and contract fulfilment, has been systematically addressed except in instances where further verification or end-user clarity is still required. Our approach has balanced national security interests with economic imperatives, ensuring that compliant transactions are processed without unnecessary delay,” he added. “Importantly, this work has direct fiscal implications. Every approved permit contributes to sustaining the country’s defence manufacturing base, securing jobs, and increasing state revenue. The NCACC therefore functions not only as a regulatory mechanism but also as a strategic enabler of industrial and economic resilience.”

Wider efforts were also made to engage with the defence industry, particularly as part of efforts to advance the implementation of public-private partnership (PPP) resolutions. “These interactions served both as progress reviews and as strategic exchanges aimed at deepening cooperation in critical capability areas, including artillery systems, weapons testing, and industrial modernisation. The engagements also reaffirmed a shared commitment to leveraging the local defence industry as a cornerstone of national security and economic growth.”  A central focus of these engagements was the increasing interest, both domestically and internationally, in concluding memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with South African partners. “These MoUs are expected to strengthen collaboration in advanced defence manufacturing and testing, helping position South Africa as a serious global player in next-generation defence systems,” Holomisa stated. Discussions also centred on developing a coherent industry roll-out strategy that aligns local capabilities with global demand, enables technology transfer, and revitalises underutilised infrastructure for defence innovation.

“Stakeholders noted some progress since the last formal conference, but also expressed concern over regulatory delays, particularly those related to the issuing of permits by oversight bodies. These delays have disrupted momentum on several priority projects, thereby limiting the speed and scale of PPP execution.”

On a positive note, regulatory engagements with National Treasury have yielded revised guidelines, effective June 2025, that provide broader space for PPPs in areas such as prime mission equipment maintenance and upgrades. Consultations with the SANDF are also underway to ensure that industry proposals respond directly to operational requirements, Holomisa revealed. One of the most significant recommendations is the proposal to establish a dedicated PPP Directorate within the Department of Defence. This unit would serve as the central coordinating body for all PPP-related initiatives, reporting directly to senior leadership and working closely with oversight structures such as the Council on Defence and SANDF command.

“Stakeholders further recommended that the scope of PPPs be expanded beyond weapons systems to include strategic infrastructure development such as military hospitals, new bases, and the rehabilitation of command and logistics centres, thereby enabling comprehensive capability renewal,” Holomisa informed Kwankwa.

“These engagements concluded with a unified commitment to intensify coordination between government, the defence force, state-owned entities, and industry partners. The focus going forward is to finalise a practical implementation roadmap for PPPs, remove regulatory bottlenecks, and institutionalise a mechanism to drive delivery on key resolutions. Stakeholders reiterated their readiness to support the Department’s efforts in positioning the local defence industry as a strategic, responsive, and globally competitive contributor to national development and security imperatives,” the Deputy Minister added. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)

 

23 Jun 25. UK officials are lobbying for Rolls-Royce to replace US rival GE Aerospace as the main engine partner on South Korea’s fighter jet programme, as Britain seeks closer ties with the Asian nation’s booming arms sector to help rebuild its own defence industrial base. (Source: FT.com)

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