LOCATIONS
MARITIME
30 Apr 24. Pakistan Navy’s first Hangor-class submarine unveiled in China. China is constantly increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean and has also financed the development of ports in Pakistan.
In a ceremony held at the Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Company in Wuhan, China, the Pakistan Navy unveiled its maiden Hangor-class submarine.
Addressing the assembly, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf emphasised the importance of maritime security, particularly in the current geostrategic landscape. The Hangor-class submarines, equipped with weaponry and sensors, are poised to safeguard regional waters, reinforcing the Pakistan Navy’s commitment to a secure maritime environment.
Amidst rising tensions, India and Pakistan are using strategic manoeuvres to fortify their defence capabilities.
In 2023, India’s collaboration with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems aimed to extend the service life of the INS Shankush HDW Class-209 Type 1500 submarine, responding to Pakistan’s acquisition of Yuan-class submarines.
Given the degree of asymmetry between the Indian Navy and Pakistani Navy, the Pakistani Navy cannot be expected to mount a head-on assault against an Indian naval armada, and instead is likely to depend on its fleet of small missile-equipped Chinese fast attack crafts and French submarines to mount rapid hit-and-run attacks on Indian battle groups, as revealed by GlobalData’s information on the Pakistani defence market.
The latest submarine acquisition, part of a broader agreement settled during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan, underscores the enduring Pak-China friendship.
China is constantly increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean and has financed the development of ports in Pakistan.
For example, Pakistan’s Gwadar port (part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the BRI) can serve as a deep-water port with dual uses for commercial and military interests, as per GlobalData’s intelligence on the Chinese defence market.
Under the terms of the agreement, eight Hangor class submarines will be acquired, with four to be constructed in China and the remaining four at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Ltd (KS&EW) in Pakistan under transfer of technology (ToT). These submarines are designed to engage targets at extended ranges. (Source: naval-technology.com)
30 Apr 24. China’s 3rd Aircraft Carrier Fujian Prepares for First Sea Trial. The Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian, after more than six years of construction and outfitting at Jiangnan shipyard, is nearing its first sea trial. Initially scheduled to move from its berth in the Yangtze River Delta on April 29, the carrier remained stationary, delaying the anticipated trial. Social media and updates from the scene showed the vessel powered under its own capability, assisted by tugboats, but has not yet embarked on the sea trial.
Launched on June 17, 2022, Fujian is China’s first supercarrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, a technological advancement over the ski-jump systems used in the earlier Liaoning and Shandong carriers.
The ship, named after the Fujian province directly opposite Taiwan. The Fujian’s development highlights China’s continued focus on expanding its naval power and technological advancements in military capabilities.
The vessel measures approximately 316 meters in length with a beam of 76 meters at its widest point, making it one of the largest carriers in the world with a displacement exceeding 80,000 tons. The design includes three catapults, four arrestor wires, and a complement of advanced radar systems and defensive armaments such as the HQ-10 missile system and H/PJ-11 30mm autocannons.
For its air group, the Fujian is expected to carry the J-15B fighter jets, the new generation J-35 fighters, and possibly the J-15D electronic warfare variant. It will also support the KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft.
While the exact date for the commencement of the sea trials remains unconfirmed, the preparation and recent movements indicate that they could begin soon. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)
26 Apr 24. HII Delivers Virginia-Class Submarine New Jersey (SSN 796) to U.S. Navy. HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has delivered Virginia-class fast-attack submarine New Jersey (SSN 796) to the U.S. Navy.
New Jersey is the 11th Virginia-class submarine delivered by NNS, and the 23rd built as part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat.
“It is a proud day for our entire team when we deliver a high-quality submarine like New Jersey to the fleet,” said Jason Ward, NNS vice president of Virginia-class submarine construction. “The mission ahead for New Jersey and her crew is clear, and we applaud our shipbuilders for delivering this critical capability to the fleet, while maintaining our highest standards of safety and quality.”
More than 10,000 shipbuilders from NNS and Electric Boat participated in the construction of New Jersey, alongside thousands of suppliers across the country, including more than 100 in New Jersey who support submarine construction. It is the first Virginia-class submarine designed and built with crew gender integration.
New Jersey was christened in November 2021 at NNS by ship’s sponsor Susan DiMarco, a New Jersey resident, retired dentist and wife of former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson. The submarine is expected to be commissioned later this year. (Source: ASD Network)
AIR
01 May 24. V-22 Osprey could see second life, with new drive system, wings in 2050s. The V-22 program office is studying the future of the tiltrotor aircraft, weighing both a technology refresh as well as whether it could rip off the wings and nacelles to add decades of additional life to the airframes. U.S. Marine Corps Col. Brian Taylor, the joint program manager for the aircraft, told an audience at the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington that the U.S. military is the only one flying a tiltrotor because it’s a complicated plane with a complicated drive system.
That said, Osprey operators continue to find “the mission sets the V-22 are getting into is absolutely unlimited” because the plane is so robust and flexible.
The program office is eyeing a V-22 Cockpit Technology Replacement, or VeCToR, upgrade effort that will begin research and development in 2026 and would be fielded from 2032 to 2042. That effort aims to bring more off-the-shelf technology to the screens, keyboards, computers and radars in the cockpit, for example.
The office is also in the early stages of studying a Renewed V-22 Aircraft Modernization Program, or ReVAMP, effort that would consider how to keep the fuselage for decades beyond what would otherwise be the end of the plane’s effective life in the early 2060s.
Research and development for the ReVAMP effort would formally begin in 2036, according to his briefing slides, and installations would take place in 2042 to 2050.
“If we had to do V-22 all over again, what would that look like? And really focusing on keeping the fuselage, and maybe you replace the wing and the nacelle, maybe you don’t,” he said during his presentation.
“Something we’re learning about the fuselage is that it is actually kind of life-unlimited, that there’s enough margin in it. And so if we put a new wing and a nacelle on there, we’re probably good for another 40 years,” he added. “So that is a study that’s ongoing, but it’s [all about] how you take this platform and make it available to the services” into the 2070s.
Taylor said the effort is in its infancy and that his office is soliciting ideas and input from industry to shape the effort.
Asked if a V-22 fuselage with new wings and drive system would continue carrying out transport missions or take on other work, Taylor said: “I don’t know, and that’s the fun part.”
Taylor added that the office is considering an optionally unmanned version while it looks at how to make the plane more reliable, maintainable, affordable and safe.
The drive system has been at the heart of several challenges for the platform. In February 2023, the program office halted operations for an undisclosed number of planes until their input quill assembly was replaced. This input quill assembly, which attaches the Osprey’s engine to its proprotor gear box, was causing hard clutch engagements in cases when the assembly was over a certain age.
Taylor said a new input quill assembly prototype that incorporates 15 design changes will be delivered in the next month or so to begin testing.
The proprotor gear box itself may also see changes in the near term, as it has seen reliability issues, including “chipping,” where metal shavings come off during routine operations and can damage the rest of the drive system. Taylor said the Navy is investing in a gear box upgrade for its CMV-22 planes.
Taylor said the idea was that the program office would work with industry to engineer a plan to extend V-22 fuselages for the next chapter of their service lives. That plan would then go to the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force so they can decide if they want to spend their money on this life-extension plan or if technology is changing such that they’d rather pursue something entirely new to meet their mission needs.
“I’m a little bit biased; I would love to see the V-22 stay in service for the next 100 years. But if there’s a better thing that we need to pivot to, then that’s really kind of up to the services,” Taylor said.
On the VeCToR cockpit effort, Taylor said the program office is struggling to support displays that were developed in the 1980s.
“We are kind of at the tipping point where we are spending enough on just maintaining what we have, that it’s time to do something different,” he said. “Honestly, it was a keyboard that pushed me over the edge, the astonishing bill to keep the keyboard on the aircraft. It’s 26 letters, 10 numbers, maybe a couple other buttons, but it seems like there’s a smarter way to do this stuff.”
As the Marines undertake this effort, Taylor said he also wants to help the plane become more software-centric to allow for faster capability upgrades. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
26 Apr 24. First AH-64E attack helicopters now operational with Netherlands. The Netherlands has brought online remanufactured AH-64D Apache attack helicopters that have been upgraded to the ‘E’ standard.
The first of the Netherlands’ new Apache AH-64E attack helicopters have returned to service after undergoing an update and modernisation programme, and are expected to remain operational until 2050, according to the country’s Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Announcing the development in its weekly update, the Netherlands MOD stated that the first four remanufactured aircraft were now returned to operational capability with the Royal Netherlands’ Air Force 301 Squadron, with a further 16 due to be updated in the years ahead.
Six AH-64E aircraft are currently being used for training purposes at Texas Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) in the United States, with a further two updated platforms to be delivered in 2025.
The Netherlands is upgrading its legacy AH-64D fleet to the ‘Echo’ (E) Version 6 standard and operates a fleet of 28 airframes, delivered between 1998-2002. A 2022 statement from Boeing said that all 28 AH-64Ds would be upgraded to the Version 6 standard.
In October 2022, the first of the remanufactured AH-64Es was handed over to the RNLAF.
The Apache attack helicopters, manufactured by US prime Boeing, are widely operated by Nato militaries, with the UK declaring the first of its own AH-64E aircraft operational in Q4 2023.
Netherlands defence spending spike following Russia-Ukraine war
GlobalData analysis of Dutch defence spending shows that since the return of high-intensity warfare to Europe, the Netherlands has made a more determined effort to modernise its military and better share the burden of Nato’s Article 5 collective defence initiative.
While the Netherlands only spent $12.8bn on defence at the start of the decade, 2024 is expected to be a consequential year, with $22.8bn earmarked for military spending, representing a 41.8% increase from 2023.
Analysis of the Netherlands’ defence spending from 2020 to 2024 shows a compound annual growth rate of 15.5%, indicating that the increase in military budget, to some extent, predated Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
29 Apr 24. Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Diligence headed for the scrapheap. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel, once important in Falklands and Gulf conflicts, is marking the end of its era as it heads towards disposal. The UK’s Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) has facilitated the sale of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship, Diligence, for disposal, showing the UK’s stance on disposing of surplus military assets.
Previously deployed in conflicts such as the Falklands and the Gulf, RFA Diligence has served as a support vessel for the Royal Navy. Now, as it sets sail for Turkiye under the ownership of LEYAL Ship Recycling Group, the ship’s retirement signals the end of an era.
Richard Whalley, head of DESA and a former crew member of RFA Diligence, emphasised the importance of responsible asset disposal, stating, “Responsible disposal of surplus defence assets is a key part of DESA business.” He further highlighted the economic benefits of the sale, which avoids unnecessary environmental costs and generates revenue for the UK.
The journey towards scrapping the ship was challenging. The onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic disrupted DESA’s initial tender process, limiting international sales competition.
The former fleet repair vessel was taken off the market after the UK could not find a buyer.
However, LEYAL Ship Recycling Group emerged as a candidate for the contract, securing the future of RFA Diligence.
RFA Diligence‘s past includes serving as a fleet maintenance vessel and offering support during various naval operations. Its retirement marks the end of a chapter in British naval history.
The UK’s shipbuilding industry is crucial for both the economy and national security, yet it has faced declines in recent decades. However, the UK plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, with £87bn allocated. (Source: naval-technology.com)
26 Apr 24. US Coast Guard Airbus MH-65s retire from Arctic mission. The last US Coast Guard (USCG) Airbus MH-65 Dolphin in Alaska retired from Air Station Kodiak on 23 April, ending the type’s 36-year employment in the service’s Alaska Patrol (ALPAT) role.
“For decades, the cutter and helicopter team were the core of the ALPAT mission,” said Commander James Kenshalo, a USCG MH-65 Dolphin pilot. “Together they projected force and protection to the most extreme remote regions of our nation’s territories, operating beyond where help could reach.”
Air Station Kodiak operates six Sikorsky MH-60Ts and is scheduled to receive three more in 2025. The service intends to standardise its full rescue helicopter fleet on the MH-60T, which has a longer range, greater payload capacity, and commonality with other armed service fleets. Alaska is among the first regions to complete the transition because of the long ranges required to perform rescue and security missions in the region. (Source: Janes)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
29 Apr 24. UK STRATCOM and US DIU place liasion officers in each others’ hubs. The arrangement will deepen UK-US ties when it comes to sourcing innovation and dual-use technologies. At the UK Strategic Command (STRATCOM) Conference 2024, Doug Beck, director of the US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and General Jim Hockenhull, Commander of UK Strategic Command, signed an agreement to place liaisons officers in each nation’s defence innovation hubs.
STRATCOM’s innovation team ‘jHub’ connects technology and talent with users across Defence. The US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), based in Silicon Valley, focus on accelerating the adoption of commercial and dual-use technology to solve operational challenges at speed and scale.
Doug Beck, the unit’s director, reports directly to the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin III as of April 2023 after the institution’s restructuring to encourage private sector innovation.
“As technological advancements continue to accelerate, we must collaborate ever more closely with our international allies and industry partners,” stated STRATCOM in a recent statement.
The STRATCOM Conference brought together over 250 experts from international allies and partners, across government, industry, and academia to discuss challenges and share ideas.
“This agreement will help us continue to share knowledge and ideas with our close ally and collaborate on the development of cutting-edge science and technology on both sides of the Atlantic,” STRATCOM continued. “Partnerships like this help protect both our nations and strengthen what is already the most robust, deepest, and advanced military partnership of any two countries.”
AUKUS goes global
UK-US ties have also strengthened in a global context too under the auspices of the trilateral AUKUS alliance with Australia recently.
The alliance recently announced it will open up for collaboration with potential partners, such as Japan, as the three seek to benefit from global innovation in emerging technologies under the Pillar II initiative.
As part of the second pillar initiative, the three nations have set up various schemes to boost innovation in these emerging tech areas.
Recently, numerous defence companies attempted to resolve vulnerabilities of land-based autonomous systems in electronic warfare congested environments in February 2024 – a far cry from the central policy of nuclear submarines for Australia under Pillar I. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
02 May 24. Nathalie Guichard joins the European Defence Agency (EDA) as Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Director. Ms Guichard is a Brigadier General and was previously the managing director of L’Atelier Industriel de l’Aéronautique de Clermont-Ferrand (AIA CF), a French state-owned military aircraft maintenance facility. Ms Guichard is a military engineer who graduated from France’s L’École polytechnique and the Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (ISAE-Supaéro). She also holds a master’s degree in public management. With her engineering background, Ms Guichard brings a wealth of experience to EDA. She started her career in 1990 as a project manager for flying test bench modification. Two years later, she became head of the equipment maintenance department. After transferring to the aeronautical programs office of Délégation générale pour l’armement (DGA), France’s procurement agency, in 1998, Ms Guichard then became the Rafale manufacturing and support manager at the French Ministry of Defence. (Source: EDA)
02 May 24. Ms Katherine Smitton has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Tajikistan in succession to Mr Timothy Marschall Jones who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms Smitton will take up her appointment during October 2024.
30 Apr 24. Ms Juliana Correa has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Guatemala and non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Honduras in succession to Nick Whittingham. Ms Correa will take up her appointment during October 2024.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
01 May 24. MG Jason E. Kelly, commanding general, U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to deputy commanding general for Civil Works and Emergency Operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
01 May 24. MG John V. Meyer III, commanding general, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, Fort Riley, Kansas, to chief of staff, U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
01 May 24. MG Duane R. Miller, provost marshal general, U.S. Army; and commanding general, Army Corrections Command, Washington, D.C., to deputy commanding general, Security Assistance Group-Ukraine, Operation Atlantic Resolve, Germany.
01 May 24. MG William D. Taylor, commanding general, 2nd Infantry Division (Combined), Eighth Army, Republic of Korea, to director of Operations, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea, Republic of Korea.
01 May 24. BG John B. Hinson, commanding general, 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island, Illinois.
01 May 24. BG Kareem P. Montague, deputy commanding general (Support), 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado, to deputy commanding general for Interoperability, Land Forces and Operations Command, France.
01 May 24. Col. (Promotable) W M. Bochat, commandant, U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School, U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to commanding general, 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
01 May 24. Col. (Promotable) David P. Elsen, deputy chief of staff, G-2, U.S. Army Pacific Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, to director of Intelligence, J-2, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii.
U.S. Army Reserve
01 May 24. MG William S. Lynn, commanding general, (Troop Program Unit), Army Reserve Medical Command, Pinellas Park, Florida, to deputy surgeon general for Mobilization and Readiness (Individual Mobilized Augmentee), Office of The Surgeon General, U.S. Army, Falls Church, Virginia.
01 May 24. BG Michael L. Yost, deputy commander for Professional Services, (Troop Program Unit), 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support), Forest Park, Georgia, to commanding general, (Troop Program Unit), Army Reserve Medical Command, Pinellas Park, Florida.
01 May 24. BG Todd W. Traver, deputy commander, (Troop Program Unit), 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support), Fort Gillem, Georgia, to deputy commander (Troop Program Unit), 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support), Salt Lake City, Utah.
01 May 24. BG Katherine A. Trombley, deputy commanding general, (Individual Mobilized Augmentee), Reserve Affairs, U.S. Army Combined Arms Command, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to commander (Troop Program Unit), 9th Mission Support Command, Honolulu, Hawaii.
01 May 24. BG Mark W. Siekman, commander (Troop Program Unit), 9th Mission Support Command, Honolulu, Hawaii, to deputy commanding general, (Individual Mobilized Augmentee), Reserve Affairs, U.S. Army Combined Arms Command, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
01 May 24. BG Ronald D. Sullivan, chief judge, (Individual Mobilized Augmentee), U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to commanding general (Troop Program Unit), U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
30 Apr 24. USAF Command Chief Master Sgt. Ted R. Braxton Jr., currently assigned as command chief, 406th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, has been selected to replace Navy Command Master Chief Michael S. Koch as the command senior enlisted leader, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
30 Apr 24. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Kyle J. Gilliam, currently assigned as command sergeant major, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, has been selected to replace Army Command Sgt. Maj. Corey Perry as the command senior enlisted leader for the Defense Intelligence Agency, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
30 Apr 24. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Rose, currently assigned as senior enlisted advisor, Program Executive Office Soldier, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, has been selected to replace Navy Command Master Chief Timothy L. Garman as the command senior enlisted leader, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, Baghdad, Iraq.
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
02 May 24. Forcys has appointed Dr Ioseba (Joe) Tena as Managing Director and Mr Peter Hodgkinson as Non-Executive Director. Ioseba, who takes up the role with immediate effect, has served as Forcys Commercial Director since the company’s formation in 2022. Prior to that, Ioseba was Head of Defence at Sonardyne International Limited who are also part of the Covelya Group alongside Forcys, Chelsea Technologies, EIVA, Voyis, and Wavefront Systems.
30 Apr 24. Roke announced the appointment of Raj Dedi as Futures Director with immediate effect. Raj, who was previously Roke’s Assistant Director in its National Security business, alongside Chair of the Roke Operating Board, will focus on driving and further leveraging Roke’s world-class expertise to deliver the Futures 5-year business strategy. Roke’s Futures business focusses on applying Roke’s advanced technology in new and adjacent markets. It draws on the innovative skills and expertise of more than 800 engineers and scientists with experience across a multitude of industries and disciplines. From concept to product development, they help clients create innovative solutions to problems in the most challenging physical and digital domains. The Futures team boasts world-leading capability in intelligent sensing, machine vision, artificial intelligence, and autonomy, bringing these skills together through cutting-edge products and services. Raj will be leading the team to deepen our existing client relationships and identify cross-market opportunities to accelerate business growth. A key element of this strategy will be to leverage Roke’s extensive in-house R&D to help solve our clients most urgent problems.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
26 Apr 24. Austal USA today announced its board of directors has elected industry veteran Michelle Kruger as the company’s new president. Kruger joined Austal in 2022 as vice president of global services and support, and had been serving as interim president since August 2023 when the previous Austal USA chief, Rusty Murdaugh, resigned. Kruger, a marine engineer by trade, held various positions at General Dynamics prior to joining Austal, including at Electric Boat, Bath Iron Works and NASSCO. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Breaking Defense.com)
01 May 24. Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) announced today that it has hired Retired Vice Admiral Roy Kitchener and Retired Major General David Gaedecke as senior executive advisors within the firm’s global defense business. In their respective roles, Kitchener and Gaedecke will provide critical mission context, leadership, and advanced technological understanding to accelerate the development and delivery of new solutions and capabilities for complex global defense challenges. As Booz Allen continues to prioritize talent investments to advance defense missions, hiring senior leaders with firsthand experience in the Department of Defense and strategic global regions provides the firm with critical mission context and understanding to help build new defense solutions that reflect the latest technologies and critical mission challenges. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
02 May 24. Lockheed Martin Announces Election of Thomas Falk as Independent Lead Director of the Board. The independent members of Lockheed Martin’s board of directors unanimously elected Thomas J. Falk as independent lead director of the board effective today, succeeding Daniel F. Akerson who, along with James O. Ellis, Jr., retired from the board this morning following the company’s annual stockholders meeting. Falk has served on Lockheed Martin’s board of directors since 2010 and as Audit Committee chair since 2015. As independent lead director, Falk will assume all duties and responsibilities of that position, including presiding over executive sessions of independent directors, approving agendas for board meetings and providing feedback to management. He will also chair the board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and serve as ex officio member of each of the other committees. In connection with Falk’s election as independent lead director, Patricia E. Yarrington has been appointed Chair of the board’s Audit Committee.
02 May 24. Longtime RTX leader Greg Hayes passed the reins of the world’s second largest defense contractor to Chris Calio today, as Hayes stepped down as chief executive officer and became the company’s executive chairman. The long-awaited transition, announced in December, went into effect at the company’s annual shareholder meeting this morning. Calio, formerly the company’s president and chief operations officer, steps into the role of chief executive at a critical juncture for RTX. He will lead the company’s continued efforts to boost weapons production — a vital concern of the company as munitions demand skyrockets due to the war in Ukraine — and while Pratt & Whitney wrestles with a material defect of its Geared Turbo Fan engines that could cost the company billions. As COO, Calio oversaw the realignment of RTX into three business segments: Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace and a single Raytheon unit that combined the company’s weapons and space arms. In October the company announced it was setting its cybersecurity unit for $1.3bn. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Breaking Defense.com)
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
30 Apr 24. Marshall Middle East has appointed Rob Bricker to the newly created role of Business Development Director, reporting to Managing Director Chris Walton. Drawing on nearly twenty years of experience across defence and security exports, training transformation and programme management, Bricker will build relationships with new and existing customers in one of Marshall’s fastest-growing regions. Bricker joins Marshall from the UK Department for Business and Trade, where he led a large and diverse team across a range of sectors as UAE Country Director. In his two prior roles within the Department, he served as First Secretary for Defence and Security for the UAE and Kuwait, in both cases leading defence and industrial collaborations, building strategic partnerships and intergovernmental contact networks. From 2012 to 2018, Bricker was also responsible for planning and delivering technology and knowledge transfer initiatives for the UK Ministry of Defence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.