LOCATIONS
LAND
13 Aug 24. NORAD Quick Reaction Alert facility at Canadian Forces base. Construction is valued at approximately $87.3m and work is due to reach completion by 2027. Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, located in Quebec province, will house a new Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) facility for operations conducted under the auspices of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) – a bi-national organisation between Canada and the US. Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair, announced the site’s construction on 12 August 2024. Construction is valued at approximately C$120m ($87.3m), and work is due to reach completion by 2027. This facility will enable Canadian personnel to posture and deploy the Air Force’s forthcoming fleet of 88 CF-35A fighter jets – due to be delivered throughout 2026-7 – in a flight-ready state in support of NORAD operations.
However, at the moment, Bagotville is home to 3 Wing, a unit that operates CF-188 Hornet aircraft. Currently, L3Harris is undertaking an extension programme for the aircraft, having delivered six upgraded units in July 2023, bringing the Royal Canadian Air Force to initial operating capability.
Canada’s Ministry of National Defense states that the extension is intended to ensure that the Air Force’s Hornet fighter fleet is able to meet operational requirements, including integration into NORAD and Nato until 2032, when the permanent fleet of F-35As is expected to be fully operational.
The new QRA site, spanning 7,400 square metres (m²), will include aircraft hangar bays, office space and sleeping quarters for personnel, and a 17,000m² secure fenced compound surrounding the facility.
Once completed, it will help Canadian personnel support Canada and the NORAD mission and quickly respond to any threats in North American airspace.
This investment is part of Canada’s C$38.6bn NORAD Modernisation Plan, announced by the Government of Canada in June 2022. It represents the most significant upgrade to Canada’s NORAD capabilities in almost four decades.
In particular, the QRA facility is part of the NORAD Modernisation Plan’s Defence of Canada Infrastructure Project (DCFI), which commits funding to upgrade fighter infrastructure and NORAD QRA capabilities at bases across Canada to operationalise and employ the CF-35A for continental defence.
Most recently, NORAD fighter aircraft detected, tracked and intercepted two bomber aircraft – one Russian TU-95 and a Chinese H-6M – that entered NORAD’s Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, but not US sovereign airspace, at the end of July 2024. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
12 Aug 24. New Caldicot Joint Cadet Centre. The doors to a new £1.2m Joint Cadet Centre (JCC) have opened in Caldicot as part of a national effort to modernise the reserve and cadet estate. The new Joint Cadet Centre (JCC) project is the latest development in the Reserve Estate Optimisation Programme (REOP) in Wales, which aims to modernise existing cadet centres and create new, efficient facilities to benefit today’s reserve forces and cadets. It was built on the site of the old Army Cadet Force building in Mill Lane, Caldicot, which was razed to the ground to make way for the bespoke building shared by both army and air cadets in the town. During the build, the cadets from Caldicot Army Cadet Force moved just a short distance away to Jubilee Way, taken in by the air cadets of 2012 (Caldicot) Squadron. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
MARITIME
13 Aug 24. RoK receives another upgraded Jang Bogo submarine. The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) has received another upgraded Jang Bogo (KSS-I)-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK), the country’s military procurement agency, Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), announced on 12 August.
The vessel, ROKS Jeong Un, was handed over on the same day of the announcement in a ceremony attended by senior naval officials and representatives from local shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean, the agency added.
Work on Jeong Un began in March 2023, and the vessel has since completed its refurbishment and evaluation processes, with Hanwha Ocean having been appointed as the main contractor in the upgrade programme.
“With the upgrades and improvements, the vessel’s ability to carry out operations, such as the detection, identification, and interception of hostile vessels, has been greatly improved when compared to its original configuration,” said DAPA.
“In particular, given how the newer combat systems have been developed domestically, the military’s combat operations are now greatly enhanced, given the availability of logistical support in-country,” it added.
South Korea operates a fleet of nine KSS-I-class submarines, and the vessels were commissioned between June 1993 and December 2001.
Except for the first-of-class submarine, which was built by German shipbuilder Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel, the rest of the KSS-I vessels were either assembled or built by South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) at its Okpo shipyard under a technology transfer agreement. DSME is the predecessor to Hanwha Ocean. (Source: Janes)
12 Aug 24. Brazil launches first in class F200 Tamandaré frigate. The Tamandaré frigate will protect the 4.5m square km of Brazil’s Blue Amazon strategic territory. The Brazilian Navy has achieved a significant milestone in its fleet modernisation programme with the launch of the first Tamandaré-class frigate, named F200 Tamandaré on 9 August 2024 at the ThyssenKrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul shipyard in Santa Catarina.
The frigates are a crucial element of the Brazilian Navy’s Corvettes Class Programme (CCT), aimed at enhancing national territorial defence and safeguarding the country’s extensive natural resources.
With the launch of the F200 Tamandaré, the CCT programme is on target to have the first in class vessel operational in 2024, with the remaining vessels scheduled for delivery by 2029. These frigates will play a vital role in Brazil’s defence strategy, ensuring the security of the Blue Amazon and enhancing the Navy’s ability to respond to both conventional and asymmetric threats in its maritime domain.
Based on the MEKO A100 design, the Tamandaré-class frigates are multi-mission vessels, featuring a displacement of 3,500 tonnes, a length of 107.2 metres (m), and a draft of 5.2m. The ships incorporate stealth characteristics to minimise radar signature and are designed for a variety of operational roles, including escort duties, maritime traffic protection, and humanitarian missions.
The Tamandaré-class frigates, developed by the Águas Azuis consortium—comprising Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Embraer Defense & Security, and Atech—are designed to bolster Brazil’s naval capabilities in the strategic Blue Amazon region, which encompasses over 4.5 m square kilometres of maritime territory.
Each frigate is equipped with advanced weaponry and sensor systems. The primary air defence system is the Sea Ceptor missile system, integrated with the Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM), offering comprehensive self-defence and local area air defence capabilities. The ships also feature MANSUP anti-ship missiles, Mark 46 anti-submarine torpedoes, and a range of naval guns, including the Leonardo OTO Melara SRGM 76/62mm.
The construction of the Tamandaré-class frigates represents a significant technological and industrial achievement for Brazil, with a high degree of domestically produced local content, consisting of over 30% of the first ship, and 40% of subsequent ships. The initiative also involves a substantial transfer of naval engineering technology, positioning Brazil as a key player in military shipbuilding.
The sensor suite includes state-of-the-art radars such as the Raytheon X- and S-band radars, Hensoldt TRS-4D surveillance radar, and the Thales STIR fire-control radar. The frigates are also outfitted with the Atlas Elektronik ASO 713 hull-mounted sonar and Safran’s Paseo XLR optronic sights, enhancing their ability to detect and engage various threats in complex maritime environments. (Source: naval-technology.com)
09 Aug 24. U.S. Navy Christened Expeditionary Fast Transport Future USNS Point Loma. The Navy christened the future USNS Point Loma (EPF 15), the second of the Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) Flight II configurations, during a 10:00 a.m. EDT ceremony on Saturday, August 10, in Mobile, Alabama.
The Honorable Nickolas Guertin, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition delivered the principal address. Remarks will also be provided by Vice Adm. Scott Gray, Commander Navy Installations Command; Ms. Michelle Kruger, President of Austal USA; and Mr. Stan Kordana, Vice President of Program Execution, General Dynamics Mission Systems.
In a time-honored Navy tradition, ship sponsor Elizabeth Asher will christen the ship by the breaking of a bottle of sparkling wine across the ship’s bow.
The ship is named in honor of the community of Point Loma and its decades long relationship with the Navy, beginning with the establishment of the Naval Coaling Station, La Playa, in 1901, and later the Naval Supply Center San Diego in 1943.
This is the second ship to honor the Point Loma community.
As a Flight II ship, EPF 15 is configured to deploy as a fast transport, or with Role 2 Enhanced medical capability, or both. The medical mission capability includes an embarked medical unit, two operating rooms, and the ability to support 147 medical patients and 38 civilian crew that operate and maintain the ship. Flight II EPFs will also have an 11M Rigid Inflatable Boat and MV-22 capability. (Source: U.S. DoD)
AIR
09 Aug 24. A new era of tactical airlift capability for New Zealand has officially begun with Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivering the first of five C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifters to the New Zealand Ministry of Defence and New Zealand Defence Force during a ceremony at the Lockheed Martin’s facility in Marietta, Georgia, on Aug. 8.
For almost six decades, the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF) C-130Hs have served as essential first-response resources for New Zealand and the entire Indo-Pacific region. Crews from 40 Squadron located at RNZAF Base Auckland, Whenuapai, will operate the new C-130Js, representing one of the most advanced configurations of the Super Hercules ever produced.
“From supporting humanitarian and disaster relief operations to partnering with allies in military operations, New Zealand’s C-130s are truly a global force for good,” said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Air Mobility & Maritime Missions line of business. “The RNZAF’s new C-130J fleet will continue to support these critical missions while offering New Zealand increased allied alignment, greater reach, enhanced capabilities and proven performance for some of the most demanding tactical airlift operational requirements.”
New Zealand officials announced the intent to modernize its existing fleet of five C-130Hs with five C-130J-30 variants in 2020 via a Foreign Military Sale with the U.S. Air Force. A joint project team with personnel from New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force have worked alongside the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin to manage the aircraft delivery and training programs.
Always evolving, continually innovating and ready for what’s next, the Super Hercules leads the charge by setting standards and shaping the future of tactical airlift missions, offering a multitude of advantages found in no other medium-sized tactical airlifter in production or operation today.
These discriminators include proven operational readiness with the greatest ease of transition, increased reliability, superior tactical airlift and combat airdrop capabilities, certification by more than 20 airworthiness authorities, and enhanced survivability. The C-130J also delivers unmatched interoperability with NATO and global air forces, robust industrial partnerships and verified low life-cycle costs with significant fuel savings resulting in a reduced carbon footprint compared to other medium-sized jet airlifters.
See how and why the C-130J continues to be the worldwide choice in tactical airlift through the newest episode of “Into the Cockpit” on Lockheed Martin’s YouTube channel, which offers exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the Super Hercules.
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
13 Aug 24. Cisco will cut thousands of jobs in a second round of layoffs this year as the networking equipment maker shifts focus to higher-growth areas, including cybersecurity and AI, according to people familiar with the matter. The number of people affected could be similar to or slightly higher than the previous layoff and will likely be announced as early as Wednesday alongside the company’s fourth-quarter results, said the sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly. Cisco laid off 4,000 employees in February.
As of July 2023, the company employed around 84,900 people, according to its annual filing, a number that does not account for the February layoffs. Cisco did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Cisco, the largest maker of routers and switches that direct internet traffic, has been grappling with sluggish demand and supply-chain constraints in its mainstay business.
Cisco shifts focus amidst layoffs.
These challenges have pushed the company to diversify with moves such as its $28bn buyout of cybersecurity firm Splunk, completed in March. The acquisition aims to reduce reliance on one-time equipment sales by boosting its subscription business.
The company has been trying to incorporate AI products in its offerings and reiterated its target of $1bn worth of AI product orders in 2025. In June, it launched a $1bn fund to make investments in AI startups such as Cohere, Mistral AI, and Scale AI. The layoffs are the latest in the tech industry, which has been cutting costs this year. (Source: News Now/DevX)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
14 Aug 24. Mr Nick Low has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Maldives in succession to Ms Caron Röhsler. Mr Low will take up his appointment during January 2025.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
09 Aug 24. Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Ms. Amanda Dory Announces Space Policy Leadership Transition. As we continue to strengthen our nation’s alliances and partnerships in the space domain, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy expresses profound appreciation for Dr. Vipin Narang’s exemplary service as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy. From March 2022 to August 2024, Dr. Narang effectively and skillfully supported the Department’s strategic capabilities for integrated deterrence: space, nuclear weapons, missile defense, and countering weapons of mass destruction, first as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space policy and then as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense. We thank Dr. Narang for his exceptional public service and his lasting contributions to the Department of Defense, including his leadership in space, nuclear and countering weapons of mass destruction, and his work on extended deterrence in the U.S. and abroad. We wish him continued success as he departs the Department and returns to academia. We also express appreciation to John Hill, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for space and missile defense, who will serve as Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy as of Aug. 10. (Source: U.S. DoD)
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
14 Aug 24. Julian Forsyth, formerly at GDELS, has been named as Managing Director at ARTEC-Boxer UK.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
12 Aug 24. KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today the appointment of Nchacha E. Etta to its Board of Directors effective August 12, 2024. Nchacha E. Etta is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Omnicell, Inc., a multinational healthcare technology company. His breadth of finance and accounting experience stems from leading and working in global finance organizations across the healthcare and consumer products industries for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Omnicell, Mr. Etta served as senior vice president and chief financial officer for Essilor of America, Inc., a subsidiary of EssilorLuxottica SA. Before that role, Mr. Etta served as the worldwide vice president and chief financial officer of Johnson & Johnson Vision from 2015 to 2019, and for the previous nine years, he held various senior finance roles at The Coca-Cola Company. Earlier in his career, Mr. Etta worked at Microsoft Corporation, Eli Lilly & Company, The Carlyle Group, and Orano Cycle. Mr. Etta holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from George Mason University, and a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from Howard University.
13 Aug 24. Leonid Capital Partners (“Leonid”), a leading investment firm focused on high-growth technology companies working in the national security industry, is proud to welcome Retired Vice Admiral Mat Winter to its Board of Advisors. He completed a distinguished 35-year Navy career and brings extensive leadership and business experience. During his military career, Winter served as the senior executive of the Navy’s Uncrewed Aviation Enterprise, where his novel industry outreach initiatives had profound growth across global commercial and defense enterprises. He also led the Navy’s global Science and Technology Enterprise as its 24th Chief of Naval Research. Winter also served as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program Director, where he led the $1.5 trillion global enterprise and was responsible for modernization, production and global operations of the world’s most advanced 5th generation strike fighter. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
12 Aug 24. Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a technology company that delivers mission-critical processing power to the edge, today announced the appointment of Brad Whittington as its Senior Vice President of Engineering, effective Aug. 12, 2024. Reporting to Chief Operating Officer Roger Wells, Whittington is responsible for the strategic planning, leadership, and execution of Mercury’s recently integrated Engineering organization. Whittington has more than 25 years of experience in technical leadership roles in aerospace and defense. He most recently served as Vice President of Engineering and Chief Engineer for the Defense Systems Sector within Leidos. Prior to that he held numerous leadership positions at Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and NASA. He has an M.S. in engineering from Texas Tech University and a B.S. in physics and B.S. in mathematics from Harding University. Earlier this year, Mercury reorganized its business to streamline and simplify its operations. The Engineering, Operations, and Mission Assurance functions were centralized to bring the full breadth and depth of the company’s technical and mission knowledge to bear in support of customer missions. Interim Engineering leader Joe Plunkett will now transition to a permanent role leading the Advanced Concepts organization that was established to drive innovation and strategic growth pursuits.