LOCATIONS
MARITIME
03 Dec 24. Mysterious Chinese Flat-Top Ship Conducts First Sea Trials. A mysterious Chinese flat-top vessel, which has drawn attention for its unusual design, reportedly conducted its first sea trials. Photos and videos posted on November 26 reveal a design without typical military aircraft carrier features. The vessel, lacking a hull number or People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) insignia, instead displays the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) logo, raising speculation about its purpose—military, civilian, or experimental. The ship’s configuration includes a distinctive arrangement of three island-like superstructures. At the bow, there is an island featuring a bridge and a conventional mast. A larger central structure appears geared towards flight operations, incorporating a glazed rear-facing control tower and an enclosed mast, which in earlier images was topped with a spherical radome. Toward the stern is a third structure housing the exhaust stacks. The vessel’s open flight deck displays markings suited for rotary-wing aircraft operations, potentially helicopters or drones. However, the absence of catapults or arrestor cables suggests it is not intended for heavy fixed-wing aircraft. Openings on the sides of the ship have sparked discussions about the presence of a hangar or auxiliary boat storage, but these features remain speculative due to limited visibility and available details. Analysts have suggested it may function as a platform for rotary-wing aircraft and uncrewed aerial vehicles, aligning with the PLAN’s focus on drone-based naval capabilities. Others believe it could be part of a CSSC-led civilian initiative, such as maritime research or testing, given its lack of conventional military markings. There are also theories that the flat-top could be designed for operations in ambiguous or contested regions, such as the South China Sea or the Taiwan Strait. Satellite imagery indicates that the construction of the vessel likely began after May of this year, with the ship launched between mid-September and mid-October. The ship was first spotted at a Guangzhou shipyard. The recent development comes amid China’s broader naval modernization efforts. PLAN currently operates two aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, with a third, the Type 003 Fujian, in testing and a fourth under construction. The latter, the Type 004, is expected to be a 110,000-ton nuclear-powered supercarrier. Alongside these carriers, China is also developing platforms like the Type 075 amphibious assault ship and its successor, the Type 076, which is anticipated to incorporate drone operations extensively. China’s advancements in shipbuilding stand in stark contrast to declining production rates in the United States (U.S.). A 2020 Pentagon report projected the Chinese Navy would have 475 ships by 2035, compared to the U.S. Navy’s anticipated count of 305-317. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)
03 Dec 24. Flight I guided missile destroyer USS Russell to complete upgrade in 2026. The first of the Flight I Arleigh Burke-class destroyers will be decommissioned this decade, although USS Russell looks set to operate into the 2030s. The USS Russell (DDG 59), one of the original Flight I Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, will spend its 30th year in service undergoing a modernisation programme, to prepare the vessel for its fourth decade of operations. As the original progenitors of the long-lived Arleigh Burke DDGs, the Flight I variants are all still active despite having been introduced into the US Navy from the early-1990s onwards, and are being kept in service in a bid to maintain surface fleet hull numbers. The USS Russell was commissioned into service in May 1995. In a 2 December contract announcement, the US Department of Defense (DoD) stated that Continental Maritime of San Diego, based out of San Diego, had been awarded an initial $64m firm-fixed-price contract action for maintenance, modernisation, and repair of USS Russell, under fiscal 2025 docking selected restricted availability. The DoD stated the contract had been procured using “full and open competition”, with four offers received to perform the overhall programme. The contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring its cumulative value to $72.6m, with work expected to be completed by June 2026. Despite its age, the USS Russell still has significant capabilities, including the AN/SQR-19B(V)1 towed array sonar. Credit: US Navy According to the US Navy’s March 2024 report to the US Congress on the Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for Fiscal Year 2025, the first of the Arleigh Burke’s, the USS Barry (DDG 52) was proposed to be decommissioned in 2028 after serving its full 35-year operational life. This is to be followed in 2029 with DDG 54, DDG 55, and DDG 56 (USS Curtis Wilbur, USS Stout, and USS John S McCain respectively), indicating that the USS Russell has a future in the US Navy until 2030 at least. As one of the first ten of the original 20 Flight I Arleigh Burke’s (DDGs 51-71), the USS Russell is distinct in having no hangar to house an embarked helicopter, unlike the later Flight IIA and new Flight III vessels. Official US Navy data explains that the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers replaced the Charles F Adams class (DDG 2), and was designed with an all-new hull form, incorporating much of the Spruance-class (DD 963) destroyer propulsion, and the integrated Aegis Weapons System (AWS) proven on the Kidd-class (DD 993) destroyers and installed on the larger Ticonderoga-class cruisers. The AWS is composed of a multi-function phased array radar, AAW and ASW systems, VLS, and the Tomahawk cruise missile. The eponymous USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) was commissioned in July 1991. The Arleigh Burke-class employs all-steel construction and comprises four separate variants or ‘Flights’, the US Navy states. Within this framework, DDGs 51-71 represent the original design and are designated as Flight I; DDGs 72-78 are Flight II ships; and DDGs 79-124 and DDG 127 are Flight IIA ships. The Flight III baseline began with DDGs 125-126 and continues with DDG 128 onwards. According to analysis carried out by the US Congressional Research Service, the US Navy’s FY2024 five-year (FY2025-FY2029) shipbuilding plan, two Flight III Arleigh Burke DDGs are to be built each year during the period. In September 2023, the US Navy received the first Flight III DDG, the USS Jack H Lucas (DDG 125), introducing new radar capabilities with the AN/SPY-6(V)1 AESA 3D radar, compared to the Flight I and Flight II use of the AN/SPY-1D PESA 3D system. In August 2024, the keel was laid for the fifth Flight III vessel, the future USS William Charette (DDG 130). (Source: naval-technology.com)
PLANT CLOSURES, STRIKES AND JOB LOSSES
04 Dec 24. Airbus cuts 2,000 Defence and Space jobs, taming earlier plans.
- Summary
- Companies
- Space unit hardest hit after losses on satellites
- Germany to absorb biggest share of cuts, followed by France
- Job cuts focus mainly on white-collar and management positions
Airbus (AIR.PA) announced just over 2,000 job cuts in Defence and Space, or about 5% of its second-largest division, as it reels from U.S. competition in the satellites sector but the cuts were not as severe as the European group had first warned. More than half of the 2,043 total job reductions, affecting 1,128 positions, will fall in the Space Systems business following heavy losses on satellites, Europe’s largest aerospace group said, adding there would be no compulsory redundancies. Airbus builds satellites and transporters and has key shares in European missile, fighter and space-launch programmes. It brought forward a statement confirming the figures after Reuters reported the cuts, following the first of two days of closed-door briefings for the aerospace company’s unions on the results of a lengthy efficiency review. In October, Airbus announced plans to cut up to 2,500 jobs in Defence and Space, or 7% of the workforce, after 1.5bn euros of writedowns in satellites led by troubled OneSat. (Source: Reuters)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
04 Dec 24. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated Daniel Driscoll to be the next U.S. Army secretary, saying the veteran will be a “fearless and relentless fighter” for the service. In a statement, Trump said that Driscoll “brings a powerful combination of experiences to serve as a disruptor and change agent” for the Army. Driscoll has a background in venture capital and private equity firms but has most recently worked as a senior advisor to Vice President-elect JD Vance. The two were classmates at Yale Law School. (Source: Defense News)
04 Dec 24. USAF MG Luke C.G. Cropsey for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as commander, Air Force Information Dominance Systems Center. Cropsey is currently serving as the Department of the Air Force Integrating Program executive officer for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
03 Dec 24. Army LG Joseph P. McGee for reappointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as director, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. McGee is currently serving as director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff; and senior member, U.S. Delegation to the United Nations Military Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
03 Dec 24. Army Col. John W. Sannes for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Sannes is currently serving as deputy chief of staff for Operations, Plans and Experiments, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Futures Command, Austin, Texas.
03 Dec 24. USAF MG Mark B. Pye for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as commander, Air Force Nuclear Systems Center. Pye is currently serving as the director, Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
03 Dec 24. USAF Col. Matthew C. Brown for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Brown is currently serving as the deputy director, Joint Staff, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Indiana.
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
05 Dec 24. South Korea’s president replaced his defense minister Thursday as opposition parties moved to impeach both men over the stunning-but-brief imposition of martial law that brought armed troops into Seoul streets. The Democratic Party and other small opposition parties submitted a joint motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday over his martial law declaration the previous night. Martial law lasted about six hours, as the National Assembly quickly voted to overrule the president, forcing his Cabinet to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/AP)
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
29 Nov 24. Babcock bolsters South Korean relations to grow global opportunities. Underlining our intent to build on our strategic partnerships in the Republic of Korea, Babcock has signed two separate agreements with South Korean companies this week – Hanwha Ocean and Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. – to support the growth of global opportunities.
A Strategic Cooperation Agreement has been penned with Hanwha Ocean, the shipbuilding and offshore company, to further develop opportunities in the global naval market. This agreement outlines our joint aim to deepen cooperation in major global naval procurement projects, including the Polish Orka submarine programme and the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, leveraging our respective strengths to provide tailored solutions for clients throughout the entire lifecycle of naval platforms, from acquisition to operation.
The agreement builds on Babcock and Hanwha Ocean’s existing relationship which dates back to June 2023, when Babcock Canada signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement to support Canada’s submarine sustainment programmes and cooperate on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. In February this year, the two companies also entered a Teaming Agreement to collaborate on global submarine programmes.
In a separate agreement, Babcock has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with aerospace company Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) to explore military flying training, air base support and engineering opportunities targeted in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. This international partnership brings together Babcock and KAI’s military aviation experience capable of supporting air power requirements in today’s changing environment, enabling air forces to deliver on their core mission and maintain sovereign capabilities.
During a visit to the Republic of Korea this week, David Lockwood, Babcock’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We have long-standing relationships and an established presence in South Korea. These agreements will help to grow these exciting strategic partnerships, leveraging our respective capabilities to pursue global prospects and to deliver impactful results for our customers.”
Left to right: David Lockwood, Babcock CEO, Mark Goldsack, Babcock’s Managing Director of Business Growth and AUKUS, Mr Woorae Cho, KAI’s Executive Vice President and Mr Goo-young Kang, President and CEO of KAI.
PERSONNEL
03 Dec 24. Babcock creates 1,500 UK early career roles to secure next generation of skills. To support the development of the UK’s next generation of defence and engineering talent, Babcock International Group (Babcock) is pleased to announce it will create almost 1,500 new apprentice and graduate roles over the course of 2024 and 2025.
Following a record-breaking intake this year of more than 400 apprentices, Babcock will welcome a further 500 apprentices into the Group through their recently launched recruitment programme. These early career hires will be further supplemented by 253 graduate roles in 2025, following on from the 285 graduates that joined Babcock in September.
Babcock has also launched an innovative new engineering pre-apprenticeship scheme near their Devonport site in Plymouth and their operations at HMNB Clyde, providing an additional, alternative route into Babcock, with those who successfully complete the year-long course guaranteed an interview for a Babcock apprenticeship the following year.
Babcock, which delivers critical, through-life technical and engineering support to international defence customers is committed to providing careers in support of the UK armed forces, its allies and security services. This year’s intake includes a range of key defence sector trades from Welders to Mechanical and Electrical Fitters who will further bolster the specialist engineering capability at the heart of the company.
Babcock CEO, David Lockwood, said: “These 1,500 exciting, new early career roles will support the UK’s defence by providing the next generation of defence and engineering talent. This will be our largest ever combined intake and underlines Babcock’s commitment to invest in the skills that will significantly underpin the UK’s sovereign defence capability for decades to come. We look forward to welcoming the best and brightest recruits into our team and can promise them a career that makes a difference in the communities where they live, and a critical role in international defence.”
Application for its 2025 apprentice intake can be accessed via Apprenticeships · Babcock Early Careers (babcockinternational.com
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
06 Dec 24. Airbus SE (stock exchange symbol: AIR) announces the appointment of Carmen-Maja Rex as Chief Human Resources Officer, effective 1 April 2025. In this role, she will be a member of the Executive Committee and report to Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. Carmen-Maja Rex is currently Human Resources Group Director at Heidelberg Materials, one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of building materials and solutions. After nearly 22 years with Airbus, the last 12 of which as Chief Human Resources Officer and member of the Airbus Executive Committee, Thierry Baril will leave the Company later in 2025, after having ensured a smooth transition with his successor.
03 Dec 24. ALL.SPACE, the global leader in multi-orbit satellite communications, has announced the appointment of General (Ret.) James “Jim” McConville as a Non-Executive Board Member. Formerly the 40th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, General (Ret.) James “Jim” McConville led the 1.2 m-strong organization with an annual budget of $185bn, playing a pivotal role in modernizing the U.S. Army; advancing next-generation technologies and fostering defense partnerships across the globe. General (Ret.) James “Jim” McConville’s expertise in defense, strategic leadership, and operational modernization will prove invaluable as ALL.SPACE continues to establish itself as an integral partner for defense and government organizations, moving forward in its mission of advancing satellite communications with the highest standards of security, resilience, and operational excellence.
03 Dec 24. German-French defence firm KNDS on Tuesday named Jean-Paul Alary as its new chief executive, succeeding Frank Haun, who retires in mid-December. Alary joins from Safran Aircraft Engines, a unit of French high-tech group Safran. He assumes his new position on April 1. (Source: Google/Reuters)
05 Dec 24. Supervisory Board of Rheinmetall AG: Sabina Jeschke and Sigmar Gabriel nominated as new members. In today’s meeting, the supervisory board of Rheinmetall AG decided to nominate Prof Dr Sabina Jeschke and Federal Minister (ret.) Sigmar Gabriel as new members of the supervisory body. Additionally, the mandates of Prof Dr Andreas Georgi, Marc Tüngler and Ulrich Grillo are to be prolonged. The corresponding nominations will be published together with the invitation to the Annual General Meeting in 2025. After years of successful involvement, Prof Dr Susanne Hannemann and Klaus-Günter Vennemann will resign from Rheinmetall’s supervisory board at the end of the shareholders’ meeting on 13 May 2025. The capital side continues to be represented by Saori Dubourg, Dr Eng Klaus Draeger, as well as Louise Öfverström, with Ulrich Grillo acting as the chair.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
02 Dec 24. AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE: AME) today announced the appointment of Narayan Vishwanathan as Vice President and General Manager, Materials Analysis Division. Mr. Vishwanathan most recently served as Divisional Vice President and Business Unit Manager for the Electron Microscopy Technologies (EMT) businesses within AMETEK’s Materials Analysis Division. (Source: PR Newswire)
02 Dec 24. Anzu Partners, an investment firm delivering capital and strategic support to breakthrough technology companies, and J.A. Green & Company, a premier boutique and award-winning government relations and lobbying firm, announced the appointments of James “Hondo” Geurts and General Mike Murray as venture partners for the Anzu-Green Critical Technologies Fund. Anzu-Green Critical Technologies Fund seeks to strengthen the U.S. national security complex by investing in companies innovating critical technologies, including advanced materials, artificial intelligence, quantum science, renewable energy, and beyond. This venture fund will be built on a powerful partnership, leveraging Anzu Partners’ technical diligence experience and extensive portfolio support system for early-stage companies, with J.A. Green’s deep insight and expertise within the U.S. government, specifically the Department of Defense.
James Geurts, known to most as Hondo, has over three decades of leadership in the national security sector, including service as the Under Secretary of the Navy, the Department’s number two civilian with responsibility for the effective global business operations of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps team. From 2017 until 2021, after his Presidential Appointment and unanimous Senate confirmation, he served as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. As the Department of the Navy’s most senior acquisition official, he was responsible for ensuring the effective procurement and sustainment of platforms, systems, technologies, and services to enhance the capabilities and readiness of Sailors and Marines serving around the globe. Since his retirement from government, Geurts has worked extensively to improve the Nation’s defense industrial base, serving on several commissions, study efforts, and more. He mentors public and private sector teams on scaling, agility, innovation, teamwork, talent development, and leadership.
General Mike Murray served in leadership roles with command positions and various staff assignments at the highest levels of the Army over the course of his 40 years of service. In 2018, he became the first Commanding General of United States Army Futures Command, a new four-star Army Command headquartered in Austin, Texas. Among his numerous awards and decorations are the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and 5 Bronze Stars. He served a total of 4 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
03 Dec 24. DataShapes AI, Inc., a leading innovator in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven solutions for the electromagnetic spectrum, is thrilled to announce that retired U.S. Army General Paul Craft has joined the organization as a Partner. (Source: PR Newswire)
03 Dec 024. The Board of Directors at Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) named Kevin O’Connor as the corporation’s new senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Effective Jan. 13, O’Connor will succeed Maryanne Lavan, who plans to retire. O’Connor most recently served as senior vice president and chief legal officer for Carrier.
02 Dec 24. Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), a leading innovator of purpose-built vehicles and equipment, today announced the appointment of Matthew Field as chief financial officer (CFO), effective December 16, 2024. Field will succeed Michael Pack, who transitioned to president of the Company’s Vocational segment earlier this year. With over 20 years of leadership in the automotive and aerospace sectors, Field brings a strong track record in strategic financial stewardship to Oshkosh. He is currently serving as CFO of Joby Aviation, where he was instrumental in guiding the company through its public listing in 2021, establishing Joby as a leader in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology. Prior to Joby, Field spent more than two decades at Ford Motor Company, including as CFO of Ford North America, Ford’s largest division, representing approximately $100 bn in annual revenue. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
06 Dec 24. New board of directors for Armscor. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet approved a new board of directors for the State-owned defence acquisition and project management company, Armscor, at its December meeting. Phillip Dexter is replaced as chairman by Dr Lesiba Alex Mahapa. Open source information has it he was at the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) and the SA Police Service (SAPS) with all told more than 20 years of service in the public sector. Academically he has PhD and Masters degrees in the psychology of education as well as a higher education diploma, a secondary teaching diploma and a post-graduate diploma in labour law. Eight other new board members were named by Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, when she briefed media this week. They are Maki Ndlovu as deputy chair and members Peta Mashinini, Zane Cleophas, Masande Booi, Raymond Vokwana, Dr Elsie Molokwane, Mmathabo Sukati and Ntshengedzeni Tshivhase. There was, at the time of publication, no further information available from Armscor on its new board including how long they will serve. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)