LOCATIONS
MARITIME
05 Feb 25. Fincantieri renames two new combat ships for Indonesian Navy. Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has formally renamed two MPCS (Multipurpose Combat Ship/PPA) vessels acquired by the Indonesia at its shipyard in Muggiano, the company announced on 29 January. The two ships, originally built as the fifth and sixth units for the Italian Navy and formerly named Marcantonio Colonna and Ruggiero di Lauria, were formally renamed KRI BRAWIJAYA-320 and KRI PRABU SILIWANGI-321 at a ceremony witnessed by Indonesian navy chief Admiral Muhammad Ali, Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, as well as senior company officials. Built at Fincantieri’s integrated Riva Trigoso-Muggiano shipyard, the new vessels will be the largest combat ships in the Indonesian Navy and are expected to strengthen Indonesia’s ability to safeguard its maritime interests. Both vessels were sold to Indonesia under a 2024 contract worth approximately €1.18bn. The Italian Navy had been part of an aggressive marketing campaign to boost awareness and interest in the Indo-Pacific, with MPCS/PPA vessels – also known as the Thaon di Revel-class offshore patrol vessels in Italian service – Francesco Morosini and Raimondo Montecuccoli having conducted high-profile visits Indonesia in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The new ships are scheduled for delivery to the Indonesian Navy in 2025. According to Fincantieri, the MPCS/PPA is a highly versatile platform designed to perform a wide range of missions, including combat operations, maritime patrol, rescue, and civil protection activities. Depending on the configuration, the vessels displace between 5,800 and 6,300 tonnes. When configured as a ‘light’ variant, the Italian Navy’s PPAs are armed with a Leonardo 127/64 mm main gun, a 76/62 mm secondary gun, and two 25 mm remote control guns. The service’s first- and second-of-class vessels are configured as ‘light’ variants. Meanwhile, the ‘light plus’ variant of the PPA includes anti-air warfare capabilities with MBDA’s surface-to-air anti-missile system extended self-defence (SAAM ESD) guided-weapon system as well as Leonardo’s Kronos Quad C-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. Italy’s third PPA is configured as such. (Source: AMR)
31 Jan 25. Indonesia set to receive first PPA by mid-2025. Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri is on track to deliver the first of two multirole offshore patrol ships (Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura: PPA) on order for the Indonesian Navy by mid-2025. A milestone to mark the vessels’ progress towards delivery was marked on 29 January when a renaming ceremony for both ships was held at Fincantieri’s Riva Trigoso-Muggiano shipyard. This milestone was announced by Fincantieri via an official social media page on the same day. The ship, formerly known as Marcantonio Colonna, has now been renamed Brawijaya with pennant number 320, while the vessel formerly known as Ruggiero di Lauria is now called Prabu Siliwangi with pennant number 321. Both vessels are set to be the largest warships in service with the Indonesian Navy once they are commissioned in the latter part of 2025. Fincantieri first disclosed in March 2024 that it has signed a EUR1.18 bn (USD1.23 bn) contract for two PPAs with the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD). The PPA is a class of 143 m frigate-like warships that can be configured for a wide spectrum of missions ranging from ‘light’ low-tempo maritime surveillance operations to ‘full combat’ higher-end warfighting scenarios. Also referred to as the Thaon di Revel class, the Italian Navy has thus far commissioned three units that were inducted between March 2022 and September 2023. At the vessels’ renaming ceremony, Indonesian Navy’s Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali described the PPA programme as a significant milestone in the country’s bid to modernise its armed forces. (Source: Janes)
AIR
03 Feb 25. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced the delivery of the first F-16 Block 70 jet to Bulgaria, marking a major step forward in the country’s efforts to modernize its air force. The delivery was celebrated in a ceremony last Friday morning in Greenville, South Carolina, attended by Bulgaria’s Minister of Defence, Atanas Zapryanov, alongside American and Bulgarian leaders. F-16s are built by the Lockheed Martin team in Greenville. Bulgaria has ordered 16 total aircraft. “The F-16 will help the Bulgarian Air Force stay ahead of threats in the region and play a key role in the allied peacekeeping mission in Europe and around the world,” said Mike Shoemaker, vice president and general manager – Integrated Fighter Group. “The F-16 has proven its air dominance time and again, and the Block 70 version will give the Bulgarian Air Force a highly capable, combat-proven aircraft.” Lockheed Martin has a backlog of 117 F-16 Block 70/72 jets to be produced in Greenville, with 23 already delivered for international partners. The F-16 program supports more than 46,000 American jobs, making it a vital part of the country’s industrial base.
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
06 Feb 25. Serco, the international provider of critical government services, has today been selected to deliver the Ministry of Defence’s next-generation recruiting solution for the Royal Navy, the British Army, the Royal Air Force and Strategic Command following a rigorous competitive process. The contract sees recruitment for these branches of the military brought together for the first time. The Armed Forces Recruitment Service (AFRS) contract, will be for seven years, plus options for a further three one-year extensions. A 21-month mobilisation period is expected to begin in April 2025 with the new service commencing in early 2027.
Mark Irwin, Serco Group Chief Executive, said: “It is a true privilege to be selected to partner with the UK Ministry of Defence in service of the nation’s current and future Armed Forces. Serco has been working with the MOD for over 60 years, and we fully recognise the critical importance of recruiting and retaining the right number of well-trained personnel willing to serve and defend their country. Along with our partners, we have invested in the development of this solution since the procurement for AFRS was launched in 2021 and we are fully committed to ongoing collaboration with the MOD to ensure we adapt to current and emerging needs.”
Anthony Kirby, UK & Europe Chief Executive, said: This contract reflects our broader ability to support members of the Armed Forces on their career journey, from recruiting the right personnel, to providing assessments, medicals, and onboarding, leading into their military training. I am proud of the significant and strategic partnership we have with the MOD and look forward to building upon this as we enter this new service.”
Serco will be the prime contractor and, in conjunction with a strong team of delivery partners, will provide an end-to-end service from candidate attraction through to assessment, enlistment and onboarding into initial training. The new recruitment service, including management of all Armed Forces Career Offices across the UK, will operate with a blended workforce that incorporates military service personnel. It is underpinned by best-in-class integrated technology, designed to improve the overall candidate experience at the same time as modernising and speeding up the current recruitment process.
The principal members of ‘TEAM Serco’ are:
- Serco – as the prime contractor, will be responsible for overall AFRS delivery including integration of all programme activities to be undertaken and will lead the transition from the current recruitment arrangements, providing career advice, a new contact centre, asset and fleet management, and estate management.
- Pegasystems – specialises in enterprise transformation and platform solutions, empowering leading organisations worldwide. They are the current provider of the Recruiting Information Technology System for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. By leveraging intelligent automation and insights, Pega has revolutionised and automated various stages of the recruitment process, modernising and improving the candidate experience.
- Adecco – with a presence in 60 countries, Adecco is a global leader in workforce solutions, supporting 3.5 million careers daily. It has provided innovative recruitment services to the UK public sector for over 30 years and is the appointed prime partner of the tri-Service Australian Defence Force Recruiting contract.
- Akkodis – as Adecco’s in-house technology business, Akkodis specialises in Talent Management Digital Solutions, with 20+ years supporting the UK Ministry of Defence.
- TMP – the largest UK recruitment marketing agency, with over 80 industry awards for creativity and effectiveness. Their attraction and awareness campaigns utilise 1,200 media channels to recruit hard to fill roles across the public and private sector, plus the early careers space.
- Optima Health – the UK’s leading supplier of employee health assessments, supporting over 10% of the entire UK working population. With a team of over 1,600 staff, including over 800 clinicians, they deliver around a million clinical assessments each year throughout the UK, including at over 50 clinics.
- PA Consulting – works across the defence and security ecosystem, helping it to innovate and transform. Their people are experienced industry professionals and leaders in building innovative systems and solutions, using their experience and relationships to challenge conventional thinking, foster ingenuity and deliver rapid results.
- MPCT– is a leading provider of vocational education and training for people aged 16+ in the UK. With a focus on fitness, vocational qualifications, and employability skills, MPCT prepares learners for rewarding careers in the Armed Forces or uniformed services.
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
03 Feb 25. Council for Science and Technology. Eight new members have been appointed to the Council that advises the Prime Minister and Cabinet on science and technology. Eight new members have been appointed to the Council for Science and Technology (CST). The Council advises the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on strategic science and technology policy issues that cut across the responsibilities of individual government departments.
New members:
- Mark Enzer OBE is a Strategic Advisor at Mott MacDonald. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London.
- Professor Dame Lynn Gladden DBE is Shell Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cambridge, and former Executive-Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
- Priya Lakhani OBE is Founder CEO of CENTURY Tech. She co-founded the Institute for Ethical AI in education.
- Avid Larizadeh Duggan OBE is a Senior Managing Director, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Teachers’ Venture Growth. She is a Non-Executive Director on the board of Barclays Bank UK.
- Professor (Emeritus) Nick McKeown is Senior Fellow at Intel Corporation, Professor (Emeritus) of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University and Visiting Professor of Engineering and Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University.
- Professor Sir Nigel Richard Shadbolt is Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford and Principal of Jesus College, Oxford. He is Co-Founder and Chair of the Open Data Institute.
- Richard Slater is Chief R&D Officer for Unilever. He was previously Senior Vice President R&D, GSK Consumer Healthcare. He is a Non-Executive Director at Future Origins.
- Paul Taylor CBE is Director of Morgan Stanley International, Chair of Interrupt Labs Ltd and Chair of Beyond Blue. He is a Non-Executive Director on the Defence Technology and Innovation Board at the Ministry of Defence. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
04 Feb 25. Mr Angus Lapsley CMG has been appointed as the UK’s next Permanent Representative to NATO. The NATO Alliance is made up of 32 countries in Europe and North America and keeps 1 bn people safe. It is the cornerstone of transatlantic security and key to underpinning prosperity at home and abroad. Mr Lapsley has more than 30 years of experience in the Civil Service, with relevant expertise from a variety of previous roles – including most recently as NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning. He is also a member of the Strategic Defence Review Team, advising the UK government as part of the root and branch review of UK defence and making sure Britain is secure for decades to come. Mr Lapsley will remain on the review team until the review is complete.
INDUSTRY
06 Feb 25. A science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) roadshow for schools that has been running for 20 years has secured £3.5m worth of funding to continue for a further five years. BAE Systems launched the nationwide educational event in 2005, engaging and inspiring around 1.3m pupils since then. The RAF joined as a partner in 2008, with the Royal Navy adding its support in 2015. Designed to spark excitement and interest in STEM subjects, the programme offers a highly interactive experience for primary and secondary school students aged 10 to 13 years old, demonstrating practical applications of scientific and technological concepts in real world scenarios. This year’s series launched today at St Mary’s College in Hull and will go on to visit more than 500 schools up and down the country, bringing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to life as around 130,000 pupils use the technology to create songs and accompanying music videos with the help of a robot dog called Lexi. The scheme is so successful that the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and BAE Systems have now agreed to continue delivering the roadshows until at least 2030.
Tania Gandamihardja, Group Human Resources Director at BAE Systems, said: “As one of the UK’s leading advanced engineering and technology companies, we have a long history of nurturing young talent and helping to educate young people on the value of studying STEM subjects. I’m proud of the part our schools’ roadshows have played in that over the last 20 years and delighted that we have secured this new funding to take us up to a quarter of a century of inspiring young minds in this way.”
The roadshow has visited over 5,000 schools across the length and breadth of the UK in the two decades since its launch, covering topics such as electricity, space, magnetism, energy, maths, waves, physics and biomimicry.
Maria Stead, Head of School at St Mary’s College in Hull, said: “We are very excited to be able to host this STEM roadshow at St Mary’s and to work with such an innovative and important local and national company. As we move into an ever-greater technological future, we want our students to be at the forefront of all such developments and therefore being part of a day like today is an amazing opportunity. We know our youngsters will take a lot from the experience and that this will help to shape their future paths.”
Together, BAE Systems, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy employ thousands of engineers across the world and are committed to engaging with young people through initiatives like the STEM roadshow to encourage and support a highly skilled workforce of the future.
Commander Chris Pinder, Royal Navy STEM Programme, said: “The Royal Navy relies on STEM expertise to design, build, deploy and maintain our world-class ships, submarines and aircraft around the world. Galvanising the engineers and scientists of the future is essential and the additional funding to maintain this excellent programme is hugely welcome.”
Wing Commander Russ Barnes, Royal Air Force Youth STEM Programme, said: “STEM subjects are at the heart of everything we do in the Royal Air Force and wider UK Armed Forces. Without skilled and passionate individuals, our day-to-day work would be impossible. “The schools roadshows will continue to play an important role in inspiring the next generation of innovators, aviators and engineers.”
For more information on career opportunities with BAE Systems, including apprenticeships and graduate training programmes, please visit baesystems.com/ukcareers
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
05 Feb 25. Thales’ Board of Directors (Euronext Paris: HO) which met on February 4, 2025, coopted as a Board member Valérie Guillemet, Human Resources Director and member of Dassault Aviation’s Executive Committee. Upon the recommendation of Dassault Aviation, Valérie Guillemet is now a Director on Thales’ Board, following Charles Edelstenne, who ended his term on January 9, 2025. She will serve the remaining term, until the Ordinary General Meeting called to approve the financial statements for the 2025 financial year. Additionally, Eric Trappier succeeds Charles Edelstenne as a member of the Strategy & CSR Committee, and Valérie Guillemet succeeds Eric Trappier as a member of the Governance and Remuneration Committee. As a result of new appointments by the trade unions of two employee representative directors, Anne-Marie Hunot-Schmit is reappointed in her role and Stéphane Jubault succeeds Nadine Relier-David, for a 4 year term starting December 9, 2024. Stéphane Jubault has been appointed as a member of the Strategy & CSR Committee and Anne-Marie Hunot-Schmit remains a member of the Audit and Accounts Committee and the Governance and Compensation Committee.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
03 Feb 25. Former RTX CEO Gregory Hayes will step down as executive chairman and member of the board, the aerospace and defense major said on Monday. Hayes will remain an employee of RTX as a special advisor to CEO Christopher Calio, who will take on the role of chairman of the board, the company said. The transition will be effective April 30, 2025, the company said, adding that Hayes’ role as special advisor will run through Jan. 2, 2026. (Source: Reuters)
05 Feb 25. Peter Krauss appointed by Terran Orbital as President and Chief Executive Officer is focused on leveraging the company’s proven track record to drive innovation, enhancing its portfolio and fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration.