LOCATIONS
LAND
23 Apr 24. BAE Systems’ Combat Mission Systems (CMS) business is marking the start of construction on its new 236,000-square-foot facility in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Designed with functionality and a future-proofed blueprint, the site will provide the infrastructure required to innovate solutions that support the U.S. military and its allies around the world.
BAE Systems breaks ground on cutting-edge engineering and product development site in Maple Grove, Minnesota. (Credit: BAE Systems)
“Breaking ground on the Maple Grove site is a critical milestone for our business as our talented employees will have a state-of-the-art facility to enable them to make a difference for those who put their lives on the line to protect us,” said Andy Corea, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems’ CMS business. “The new facility is core to our efforts to attract and retain talented employees, while also enabling us to modernize our industrial base, improve internal processes, and strengthen performance as we continue to develop and produce high-quality capabilities for our warfighters.”
Today, BAE Systems’ Minnesota operations are home to world-leading design, development, and lifecycle support services for a full spectrum of gun systems, weapon launching systems, advanced munitions, weapon handling systems, and combat vehicles. BAE Systems will carry its legacy—with local operations dating back to the 1940s—into the new facility that will be built to meets the needs of its current and future workforce.
“We’re incredibly grateful to be establishing roots in the Maple Grove community,” said Brent Butcher, vice president of BAE Systems’ CMS weapon systems product line. “Our Minnesota-based operations have a long history of making a difference for our troops. We’re taking these decades worth of experience and collaborating with our stakeholders each step of the way to make sure the new site will support our team members, customers, supply base and surrounding communities.”
The Opus Group is the developer, design-builder, architect, and structural engineer of record on the Maple Grove project.
“Opus is excited to collaborate with BAE Systems to develop and deliver a state-of-the-art facility for the company and its stakeholders. We have a long history of development in the City of Maple Grove and Opus is proud to bring another development to this community,” said Nick Murnane, Opus vice president and general manager of real estate development.
Beyond modern technology and infrastructure, the space will feature energy efficient designs in support of the company’s sustainability goal to be carbon neutral across all operations by 2030. Industry-leading capabilities the Maple Grove facility will have onsite include:
- A dedicated engineering workshop designed for all specialties including digital engineering.
- A product design center where employees, customers and suppliers can collaborate and knowledge share on development projects.
- A full-service prototyping lab with bays for the development of future products and services.
BAE Systems will move its current operations in Fridley, Minnesota to Maple Grove once development is complete in 2025. (Source: PR Newswire)
23 Apr 24. RTX breaks ground on $115m expansion of Alabama missile integration facility. Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, recently broke ground on a $115m, 26,000 square-foot expansion of its Redstone Raytheon Missile Integration Facility, which will increase the factory’s space for integrating and delivering on critical defense programs by more than 50 percent. The expansion will also bring an estimated 185 new jobs to the area, growing RTX’s employee footprint in Alabama to more than 2,200 people.
“This important investment in the Huntsville region will help us meet the growing needs of our military customers and service members,” said Raytheon President Phil Jasper. “It will also ready our operations to accelerate delivery of our vital counter-hypersonic solution.”
Raytheon’s Redstone facility is the final integration point for many missile programs for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy, and other defense customers. The facility currently handles integration of nine variants of the Standard Missile family, including Standard Missile-3 and Standard Missile-6, and will accommodate additional defense programs, including the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI).
GPI will be the first-ever interceptor to defeat the emerging threat of hypersonic glide vehicles in their vulnerable glide phase of flight. With the expansion of our Missile Integration Facility at Redstone, Raytheon is demonstrating its ability and commitment to continued GPI development.
The Redstone Raytheon Missile Integration Facility first opened in 2012. Expansion construction is scheduled to conclude in 2025. (Source: PR Newswire)
23 APR 24. On April 23rd 2024, Thales, the German Navy and German military procurement agency, BAAINBw (Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support), celebrated the official opening of the ‘extended Thales Testing Centre.’
- The extended Thales Testing Centre will serve as a F126 collaboration hub for the three parties as well as other project partners. The facility will enable prototyping, system validation, integration, and testing, before shipment to Germany, where construction of the frigates takes place.
- The opening of this testing centre is an important milestone towards the delivery of the first ship, scheduled for 2028.
April 23rd marked a major milestone in the F126 project in Hengelo in the Netherlands. The German Navy, the BAAINBw, Thales and other F126 project partners, such as Damen Naval, prime contractor for the F126 project, inaugurated the “extended Thales Testing Centre”, a system testing and integration facility dedicated to the project. Here, project partners and the BAAINBw will work together with the German Navy on this extraordinary project.
Last year, Thales has already doubled its local production capabilities in the Netherlands by expanding its own testing and integration facilities. Through to this experience of successfully ramping-up activities, the Group was able to deliver the German Navy and BAAINBw the ‘Extended Thales Testing Centre’ dedicated to the F126 project on time.
Collaborating, testing and integrating
As part of the project, the extended Thales Testing Centre will function as a collaboration hub for various project partners, to whom the facility offers a physical environment to collaborate, innovate and co-create solutions that address the customer’s needs.
Additionally, the system testing and integration will take place in this facility. The building is equipped with multiple testing positions for the ships’ sensors and other hardware. Furthermore, the integration of the mission system into Combat Management System TACTICOS will be validated here.
Created through collaboration
The delivery of this project milestone was made possible through the close collaboration between various project stakeholders and celebrated through the building inauguration in Hengelo with the presence of various projects partners, including broad representation from the German Navy and BAAINBw through Flottillenadmiral Andreas Czerwinski, Konteradmiral Christoph Müller-Meinhard, and Kapitän zur See Matthias Michael Potthoff. From design to construction and opening, the extended Thales Testing Centre is a real co-creation by the German Navy, BAAINBw, Damen, Dura Vermeer and Thales.
“By inaugurating the extended Thales Testing Centre today, we reach a great milestone in the F126 project. Together, we have created a collaborative environment that will enable our colleagues, partners and customer to work together on the innovative solutions for the F126 frigates.” said Dirk Jan de Bruijn, VP Above Water Systems Thales.
22 Apr 24. Rohde & Schwarz expands footprint in India by opening new state-of-the-art facility in Bengaluru. On April 22, Rohde & Schwarz has inaugurated a new facility center in Bengaluru’s Manyata Tech Park, housing R&D, system integration as well as calibration and repair services. The opening marks a strategic milestone for the technology company: it not only increases its presence in the third-largest city in India, but also strengthens its commitment to the Make in India initiative of the government by fostering innovation across the automotive, telecom, semiconductor, electronics, aerospace and defense sectors. Rohde & Schwarz India, the Indian subsidiary of the German based, global technology company Rohde & Schwarz, celebrated the grand opening of its new future-oriented facility located in the heart of Bengaluru’s prestigious Manyata Tech Park.
While inaugurating the new offices, Andreas Pauly, President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Rohde & Schwarz, said: “We are proud to expand our presence in Bengaluru. For Rohde & Schwarz, India is not merely a growth market but a vital component of our global strategy. The new facility marks a significant milestone in our journey toward strengthening our position as a trusted partner in India’s evolving technological landscape. Moreover, it reflects our contribution to the Make in India initiative through a large team of highly skilled engineers.”
For more than 90 years, Rohde & Schwarz has had a tradition of innovation, helping to develop current and future cutting-edge technologies. By expanding R&D activities in India, Rohde & Schwarz is able to enhance technological excellence for the highly dynamic Indian market. The R&D team in Bengaluru is involved in developing next generation solutions for the company’s Test and Measurement Division.
Yatish Mohan, Managing Director Rohde & Schwarz India, added: “For the past 25 years, we have fostered technological advancement in India through strategic partnerships with government agencies, training institutes and technology firms. Our presence spans multiple locations throughout the country, encompassing tier-II cities directly and via our extensive channel partner network. We are excited about the opportunities that our new facility brings, allowing us to enhance our services to the Indian technology industry and facilitate innovation in the electronics, semiconductor, automotive and telecommunications sectors.”
The new facility houses an ISO 9001 and ISO17025 (NABL) accredited calibration and repair service center, offering precision services to meet the rigorous quality standards of the industry. This addition reinforces the commitment of Rohde & Schwarz to delivering high-quality products and services to its customers across India and beyond. Furthermore, the facility will also encompass sales, applications, systems integration and a dedicated demo display area showcasing various test and measurement equipment and test solutions. This strategic move underscores the company’s intention to enhance customer experience and accessibility, providing clients with hands-on experiences and seamless access to cutting-edge technology solutions.
19 Apr 24. Roke invests in Gloucester and Cheltenham tech region with new office and jobs to support future growth.
- Roke’s new Gloucester location will be the base for 200 employees across its National Security, Defence, Intelligence and Futures business units, with over 40 new roles currently being recruited for at the site.
- The new office is part of Roke’s continued investment into growing the UK’s technology industry, ensuring it’s best placed to serve key clients and partners, supporting the UK’s ability to compete on the global stage.
Roke, a UK-based technology company, today has officially opened its new bespoke office space in Gloucester, as it focuses on further expansion, innovation and technological growth in the area and for the UK.
The Gloucester opening adds to Roke’s existing sites in Romsey, Manchester and Woking, with the company now employing over 1,000 people in total.
The new Gloucester office will provide a collaborative environment to support innovation and product development for local clients and partners within the Cheltenham and Gloucester cyber cluster, helping to build UK prosperity in the technology sector.
Building on Roke’s continued investment in its people and infrastructure, the new premises, located within the Elmbridge Court development, will be home to 200 employees across Roke’s National Security, Defence, Intelligence and Futures business units. Roke is looking to boost employment in the local area with new rewarding career opportunities, with the site currently recruiting for over 40 new technology roles from software development, data science and AI.
A key occupant of the office will be Roke Intelligence, the newest business unit dedicated to redefining global standards in commercially outsourced professional intelligence. Founded through the acquisition of Geollect in 2022, Roke Intelligence integrates the expertise and tradecraft of intelligence professionals with cutting-edge technology to better empower clients with actionable insights and a vital competitive advantage in a dynamic global risk environment.
The opening event was attended by Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester and Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy; Laurence Robertson, MP for Tewkesbury; and Paul MacGregor, Managing Director of Roke, as well as clients, partners and employees.
Other attendees supporting Roke at the opening event included Ploughshare and The D Group. Ploughshare is the organisation dedicated to ensuring UK government science delivers real prosperity to the economy, society, and the environment. And The D Group delivers strategic briefings and insights to governments, partnerships and institutions.
At the event they spoke about maximising productive innovation within the Defence and National Security sectors to support the UK’s ambition to be a ‘science and tech superpower’. The talk was based on the two organisations’ recent joint report “Unleashing the UK’s Innovation Capability to Support Our National Interests”, which Roke contributed to, alongside other leading players in Defence and National Security.
At the opening event, Paul MacGregor, Managing Director of Roke commented: “Innovation is at the centre of UK prosperity and our ability to compete globally. The Roke business, and the UK technology ecosystem in which we operate, are critical to driving this, and we believe the new Gloucester office offers us the perfect collaborative environment to enable innovation to flourish.
“Our new Gloucester office marks our continued investment into building and growing the UK’s technology industry, allowing us to be on hand to better serve our clients and partners. We’re looking forward to investing in the people of Gloucester and Cheltenham, providing rewarding careers and to help in solving real world challenges now and in the future.”
Attending the official opening of the office, Gloucester MP Richard Graham said: “Gloucestershire and Gloucester are great places for tech and innovation and I welcome Roke investing in the area, and supporting the UK’s role on the global stage.”
MARITIME
24 Apr 24. Second Dearsan offshore patrol vessel launched for Nigerian Navy. Turkish shipyard Dearsan has launched the second and final 76 metre offshore patrol vessel (OPV) for the Nigerian Navy (NN), six months after the first. The launch on 19 April at Dearsan’s shipyard in Turkey was described by the shipbuilder as “a major step forward in enhancing Nigeria’s maritime defence and security capabilities.” The launch ceremony was attended by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu; Minister of State for Defence Bello Muhammed Matawalle; President of Secretariat of Defence Industries of Turkey, Haluk Görgün; Turkey’s Deputy Minister of National Defence Şuay Alpay; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
Speaking at the event, Ogalla said, “Dearsan Shipyard is constructing two OPVs for the NN and the first OPV was launched here on 26 October 2023. I am particularly pleased that the milestones on the vessel construction have been met and I hereby appreciate the management of Dearsan Shipyard for their efforts so far”.
The Nigerian Navy said construction of the vessel will boost its fleet renewal efforts for fulfilment of her constitutional mandate and ensure maximum presence at sea to curb illicit acts such as oil theft, piracy, sea robbery, illegal fishery as well as smuggling of small arms and light weapons among other crimes in the vast 84 000 square nautical miles of Nigeria’s maritime environment. “It will also facilitate harnessing the enormous potentials within Nigeria’s maritime domain in support of the Federal Government’s Blue Economy initiatives.”
According to Dearsan, the OPV 76 vessels have been tailored to meet the specific requirements of the Nigerian Navy. Each vessel has a length of 76.8 metres, a beam of 11 metres, and a draft of 2.9 metres. The crew consists of 43 sailors, and the steel-hulled vessels displace 1 100 tons. The aft deck can accommodate a medium-size helicopter. Two RHIBS will be carried for interdiction and other tasks.
Armament includes a Marlin 40 (40 mm) main gun, Aselsan 30 mm Muhafiz remote controlled stabilized naval gun and 12.7 mm STAMP remotely controlled weapon station (RCWS).
Combat equipment will include an Aselsan MAR-D naval search radar and Aselsan DenizGozu-AHTAPOT (Sea Eye-Octopus) electro-optical/infrared system. Havelsan will supply its Advent combat management system and its GVDS ship data distribution system while Yaltes will supply operator consoles.
Four MAN 18VP185 diesel engines in a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) configuration will give a maximum speed of 28 knots and a range of 2 500 nautical miles/endurance of 16 days. Crew complement is 47.
Nigeria’s contract for the two OPV 76 vessels was first announced in November 2021. At the time, the Nigerian Navy said Dearsan was selected based on its track record and cost-effective pricing and the acquisition is part of the Nigerian Navy’s fleet renewal effort in line with its 2021-2030 Strategic Plan.
After securing the offshore patrol vessel contract, Dearsan Shipyard in June 2023 signed an agreement with the Nigerian Navy for the mid-life upgrade of its flagship, the NNS Aradu, and the supply of a 57 metre long Tuzla-class patrol vessel.
The refurbishment and project for the NNS Aradu, originally built by German shipyard Blohm & Voss in 1982 and commissioned in 1985, will be conducted at Dearsan Shipyard’s facility in Tuzla. The NNS Aradu is a Meko 360 class vessel with a length of 125 metres and displacement of 3 500 tons.
Sources indicate that the Tuzla class vessel was initially intended for Libya; however, due to unforeseen complications, the delivery could not be completed. Once the delivery is completed, the Nigerian Navy will become the fourth to operate Tuzla-class vessels, following the Turkish Naval Forces, Turkmenistan Navy, and Turkmenistan Coast Guard Command. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
22 Apr 24. The Royal Navy’s latest Astute Class submarine has been officially named at BAE Systems’ Submarines site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Agamemnon – named after the ancient Greek king – is the sixth of seven Astute submarines being built by the Company.
She is due to be launched later this year, ahead of being commissioned into the Royal Navy.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister for Defence Procurement and included an address by the boat’s Lady Sponsor, Lady SJ Sedwill, the wife of former UK National Security Adviser Lord Mark Sedwill. Agamemnon was then blessed and christened, with a bottle of beer from the local Ulverston Brewing Company smashed against her hull.
Steve Timms, Managing Director, BAE Systems’ Submarines business, said: “This is a key milestone for Agamemnon and the UK nuclear submarine programme, and contributes to the Government’s Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper, which underpinned the importance of our business and Barrow in delivering this national endeavour. The Astute Class submarines are a vital component of our nation’s defence capabilities and we are fully focused on completing the remainder of Agamemnon’s programme so she can join her sister submarines in service with the Royal Navy.”
Five Astute Class submarines are already in service, while work is also well under way in Barrow on the seventh and final boat.
Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said: “HMS Agamemnon will play a vital role in defence of the nation, providing our Armed Forces with a competitive edge for decades to come. The Astute Class programme continues to support tens of thousands of jobs, with these submarines being a leading example of our commitment to investing in British sovereign capabilities.”
At 97 metres long and weighing 7,400 tonnes, advanced nuclear technology means the Astute Class submarines never need to be refuelled. They can manufacture their own oxygen and fresh water from the ocean and are able to circumnavigate the globe without surfacing.
Equipped with world-leading sensors, the Astute Class carry both Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAM) and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.
As the home of UK submarine design and build, the UK Government, through the Ministry of Defence are investing with BAE Systems to expand the Barrow shipyard in preparation for an exciting future. In addition to the Astute Class, construction is underway on the first three boats in the Dreadnought Class, which is the next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines that will replace the current Vanguard Class.
BAE Systems is also developing the SSN-AUKUS programme, as part of the trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK and America. Under the AUKUS agreement, Australia and the UK will operate a common submarine of the future, incorporating technology from all three nations, based on the UK’s next generation design, which BAE Systems is leading.
Last year, the Ministry of Defence awarded the Company a £3.95bn contract for SSN-AUKUS, while in March the Australian Government selected BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd to build Australia’s new fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarines.
Recognising Barrow’s integral role to the nation’s defence, the UK Government recently announced it will commit more than £200m over the next decade to ensure the town thrives and becomes an even more attractive place to live and work.
BAE Systems’ submarines business already employs approximately 13,500 people, mainly in the North West of England, with that figure set to grow to around 17,000 in the coming years.
22 Apr 24. Singapore launches submarine ‘Inimitable’ in German alliance. Singapore’s naval programme hits milestone with the launch of the Type 218SG submarine. The unveiling of the Inimitable solidifies Singapore’s submarine defence technology, marking a milestone in naval capabilities, in collaboration with Germany.
In partnership with Germany’s thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Singapore reached a moment in its naval defence programme with the launch of its fourth submarine, named Inimitable. The ceremony, held at the thyssenkrupp Marine Systems shipyard in Kiel on 22 April 2024, was attended by dignitaries that include Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defence; and Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security of the Republic of Singapore.
The Inimitable joins its predecessors, the Invincible, launched in 2019, and the Impeccable and Illustrious launched in December 2022, further bolstering Singapore’s maritime defence capabilities. With its design, the Type 218SG submarines have a low signature and an air-independent propulsion system for extended underwater endurance.
Last July, the Republic of Singapore Navy celebrated welcoming the Impeccable into its fleet. The vessel is one of four submarines explicitly designed for operations in Singapore’s shallow and busy tropical waters.
Singapore operates two units each of increasingly ageing Swedish-origin Archer-class and Challenger-class submarines. Two of the original four Challenger-class submarines were upgraded between 2016 and 19, with the remaining two decommissioned due to increasing obsolescence, according to GlobalData’s Singapore Defense Market 2023-2028 report.
Oliver Burkhard, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, highlighted the project’s significance: “The submarines built in this project are the most modern conventional submarines the world has ever seen.”
Burkhard attributed the success to the dedication and collaboration of numerous individuals involved in the project.
In addition to the submarine launch, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and ST Engineering signed a memorandum of understanding, aiming to enhance the capabilities of Singapore’s Type 218SG submarines over their operational lifetimes. The agreement builds upon previous collaboration efforts and covers various technologies and applications, including additive manufacturing, maintenance training, data analytics, and obsolescence management.
The launch of the Inimitable represents another milestone for Singapore’s naval defence programme, showcasing the nation’s commitment to maritime technology and partnerships. As the vessel undergoes testing before its scheduled handover in 2025, anticipation builds for the continued advancement of Singapore’s naval capabilities. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
22 Apr 24. Joint Franco-German C-130 unit receives final aircraft. The joint Franco-German C-130 air transport squadron has received its final aircraft, with all 10 Lockheed Martin KC/C-130J tanker and transport aircraft now located at Évreux-Fauville Air Base in northern France.
With the French Air and Space Force (Armee de l’Air et de l’Espace: AAE) having already received its two KC-130J and two C-130J-30 aircraft, the Luftwaffe said on 19 April that its final KC-130J has now been flown into the same location to join its two previously delivered KC-130Js and three C-130J-30s.
The C-130 air transport has an unrestricted exchange of aircraft, aircrews, and maintainers, as well as technical and logistical support based on a common pool of spare parts and a common service support contract. “Ten aircraft, two nations, one association – there has never been anything like this in Europe,” the Bundeswehr earlier said.
The joint air transport squadron is scheduled to achieve full operating capability in 2024–25. (Source: Janes)
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
24 Apr 24. US defense contractor L3Harris to cut 5% of workforce to save costs, email shows. U.S. defense contractor L3Harris Technologies Inc (LHX.N), will cut 5% of its workforce this year as part of a cost saving measure, CEO Chris Kubasik said in an email to employees seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
The cuts represent about 2,500 of the roughly 50,000 employees the company had as of the end of last year, according to its annual filing. L3Harris is set to report its first-quarter results on Thursday.
The cuts are not evenly distributed but aim to eliminate redundancies across all functions at the company, a person familiar with the situation said, adding the reductions did not necessarily focus on the Aerojet Rocketdyne divison, which L3Harris acquired for $4.7 bn in December 2022.
Mergers often generate layoffs because companies cull jobs that are deemed duplicative.
L3Harris is “right-sizing” its workforce as part of a streamlining in operations to deliver on its LHX NeXt commitment of $1 bn in cost savings over the next three years, a company spokesperson said in a statement, without confirming the number of employees affected.
LHX NeXt is L3Harris’ multiyear plan to trim cost and increase efficiencies in its operations.
The company said in December that it would suspend its merger and acquisition activity for the “foreseeable future” to strengthen its balance sheet, and outlined capital deployment priorities for two years which include research and development investments and debt payment, and utilization of excess cash for dividend increases and share buybacks.
It also announced in December that its board appointed an ad-hoc committee to review the company’s operational performance, cost structure, and portfolio composition.
The cuts come as companies across sectors have resorted to layoffs in a bid to cut costs and improve bottomlines.
In January, Reuters was first to report that rival defense contractor Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), would implement a 1% reduction in its workforce over the course of the year, seeking to reduce costs.
U.S. defense contractors’ margins remain marred by headwinds from labor and supply snags which began during the pandemic, even as they see a notable increase in orders amid the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine, and escalating tensions between China and the Philippines.
L3Harris, formed by the merger of L3 Technologies and Harris Corp in 2019, counts the Pentagon, planemaker Boeing (BA.N), and defense and aerospace major RTX (RTX.N), among its customers. (Source: Reuters)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
25 Apr 24. The Prime Minister has appointed General Gwyn Jenkins as the new National Security Adviser. General Jenkins, currently the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, replaces Sir Tim Barrow. General Jenkins will take up his new role in the summer.
23 Apr 24. DSIT announces further appointments to its leadership team including Professor Christopher Johnson as Chief Scientific Advisor and new expert non-executives Dominic Field and Liz Cohen to the Departmental Board
- The department also confirms the re-appointment of Shonnel Malani as Lead Non-Executive Director alongside other non-executives from DSIT’s start-up board – Melissa Di Donato, Jason Chin, Saul Klein
- Bryan Ingleby and Vikas Shah will continue on the Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee alongside new joiners Gillian Leng and Mark Poulton. Liz Cohen will chair the Committee (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
19 Apr 24. Army Col. Grant S. Fawcett for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Fawcett is currently serving as deputy commander (Support), 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia; and Operation Atlantic Resolve, Poland.
19 Apr 24. Army Col. Michael D. Rose for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Rose is currently serving as commander, 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
19 Apr 24. Navy Vice Adm. Michael E. Boyle for reappointment to the grade of vice admiral, with assignment as deputy chief of naval operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy, N3/N5, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Boyle is currently serving as commander, Third Fleet, San Diego, California.
19 Apr 24. Navy Rear Adm. Dion D. English for appointment to the grade of vice admiral, with assignment as director for Logistics, J-4, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. English is currently serving as director, Supply, Ordnance and Logistics Operations Division, N4L, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
22 Apr 24. Rashtriya Raksha University signs MoU with French Starburst Aerospace. Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar-based Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) and Starburst Aerospace of France on Monday entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance aerospace, defence, and homeland security innovation. The MoU includes the creation of a venture capital fund of 100 m euros for aerospace, defence and security technology and provides export promotion support for Indian start-ups to explore international markets, the RRU said in a release. The partnership between Starburst and RRU is a reflection of the progress in the India-France Strategic Partnership in defence and space, it said. The strategic alliance between RRU, Starburst, and Security and Scientific Technical Research Association (SASTRA), a not-for-profit company set up by RRU, is aimed at fostering innovation and driving advancements in the aerospace, defence and homeland security sectors, the RRU said.
RRU and Starburst will work together to advance a vibrant security and defence ecosystem in India, facilitating enterprise creation and nurturing the rapid growth of innovative start-ups in the region, it said.
Vice-Chancellor, RRU, Bimal Patel expressed optimism regarding the partnership’s transformative potential towards innovation and self-reliance across defence, homeland security, and related technological domains, stated the release.
RRU provides education and training in the areas of national security, defence, policing, and allied fields. The university offers various undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs related to security and defence studies.
Starburst Aerospace helps stakeholders innovate, navigate and invest in the dynamic aerospace and defence industry. Its flagship accelerator programme helps start-ups scale their business in aviation, space, and defence sectors with access to corporate representatives, government stakeholders, and private venture investors.
(Source: Google/https://www.theweek.in/)
PERSONNEL
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
23 Apr 24. Iron Bow Technologies, the next-generation technology solutions provider to government, commercial, and healthcare markets, today announced the promotion of Kevin Greene to Vice President of Business Development. In his new role, Kevin will drive exponential growth while helping clients achieve their goals through an outcomes-driven approach and next-generation solutions. He will leverage innovative as-a-Service models, an extensive cadre of subject matter experts, significant past performances as well as access to the strongest network of strategic partners. He will promote a culture of success, foster transparent collaboration, and prioritize career development opportunities throughout the organization. These efforts aim to harness talent effectively and enhance the overall client and employee experience. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
22 Apr 24. Red River, a technology transformation company serving government and enterprise customers, today announced the appointment of Brent Pugh as its Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Pugh brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the U.S. and international aerospace and defense industry. He most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer of CAE’s Defense and Security business, responsible for a $2bn high technology organization with more than 6,000 employees. Pugh also served as the Treasurer of CAE USA Inc., the company’s US-based subsidiary independently operating under a Special Security Agreement (SSA) to mitigate foreign ownership, control or influence (FOCI). He has served in financial leadership positions across several organizations including L3Harris Technologies and public accounting firms Arthur Andersen and KPMG. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
22 Apr 24. Spirent Federal Systems, the leading provider of positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) test solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of retired General David D. “DT” Thompson as an advisor. General Thompson will provide strategic counsel in support of Spirent Federal’s mission: partnering with defense and industry to develop robust test equipment for emerging navigation warfare (NAVWAR) technologies, such as encrypted military GPS signals, jamming and spoofing mitigation, non-RF sensor fusion, and controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA) systems. General Thompson brings nearly four decades of leadership and expertise to the role, having served in various positions in operations, research and development, and acquisition in the US Air Force and US Space Force (USSF). General Thompson played a key role in planning and instituting the USSF and served as the first Vice Chief of Space Operations until his retirement in February 2024. His education includes a Master of Science in National Security Industrial Policy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University, a Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, and international studies as an Olmsted Scholar at Johannes Kepler University. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
22 Apr 24. VirnetX Holding Corporation (NYSE: VHC) today announced that it has established an advisory board comprised of four retired senior U.S. Air Force leaders. The board will assist and advise on business development and operational direction of VirnetX’s Zero Trust Network Access security technology as a necessary layer of security for defense communications and data management to Department of Defense government officials and commercial contractors.
Advisory Board Members:
Lance W Lord, General, USAF (Ret.)
Lord retired in 2006 as a 4-star General in the U.S. Air Force. He was the Commander of the Air Force Space Command and was responsible for the development, acquisition and operation of the Air Force’s space and missile systems. He led more than 39,700 space professionals who provided combat forces and capabilities to the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Strategic Command. He is a former member of the President’s Commission on Position, Navigation and Timing Senior Advisory Group and the US Strategic Command Senior Advisory Group. Lord currently serves as the Chairman of OmniTeq and founded its predecessor L2 Aerospace LLC. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Frequency Electronics Corporation, is a board member of Boneal Aerospace Corporation, a member of the Iridium Communications Government Advisory Board, a member of General Dynamics Mission Systems Senior Advisory Group and Hera Satellite Systems Senior Advisory Group.
Daniel P (Fig) Leaf, Lieutenant General, USAF (Ret.)
Leaf retired in 2008 as a 3-star Lieutenant General in the U.S. Air Force. He was Deputy Commander in the U.S. Pacific Command. He has worked with leaders of every nation in the Indo-Asia Pacific region except North Korea. He delivered guest lectures at King’s College London, the Vietnam Academy of Social Science, China’s PLA Political Academy in Xian, and the Pakistan National Defense University among others. His military experience includes his time at PACOM, a tour of duty at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, four years of duty assignments in both the Republic of Korea and Japan, and temporary military duty across the region. A master of air operations, information warfare and joint force operations, he is a decorated fighter pilot and leader, with combat missions in Europe and the Middle East. He has executive level industry experience as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Northrup Grumman.
Nina M Armagno, Lieutenant General, USAF (Ret.)
Armagno retired in 2023 as a 3-star Lieutenant General in the U.S. Air Force, serving as the first Director of Staff for the U.S. Space Force. During her 35-year career, Armagno held multiple commands at many levels of space operations including Director of Plans and Policy at U.S. Strategic Command. She was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Space Force by working with the highest levels of the U.S. Government and is a lifetime member of the Council of Foreign Relations. Industry experience includes RocketLab board director and several strategic advisory board positions.
A Bowen Ballard, Major General, USAF (Ret.)
Ballard retired in 2003 as a 2-Star Major General in the U.S. Air Force with over 37 years of uniformed service. He served as Assistant Chief of Staff of Intelligence at U.S. Air Force Headquarters in the Pentagon and as Mobilization Assistant to the Director of the National Security Agency and Chief of Central Security Services. He serves on the Air Force Secretary and Chief of Staff Civilian Advisory Group and is widely recognized on the Hill in DC and throughout numerous Congressional circles. He has been CEO of a regional real estate corporation and a director of two regional commercial banks. He has served on the Embry-Riddle University President’s Advisory Board and has accumulated more than 7,000 hours as a civilian pilot. (Source: PR Newswire)