LOCATIONS
LAND
20 Mar 25. Barrow granted royal status to recognise its UK nuclear submarine-building heritage. The King has agreed to confer the title of “Royal” to the Port of Barrow in recognition of the town’s contribution to national security as the home of nuclear submarine building in the UK. His Majesty is said to be hoping to visit the town in due course following the announcement that the home of Britain’s nuclear submarines will receive the title. It comes as the Prime Minister is set to describe Barrow as a blueprint for how defence spending can boost communities up and down the country. The Prime Minister’s visit follows him secretly joining submariners returning home a few days ago. He boarded HMS Vanguard as she returned to UK waters, known as a “Day Zero”, to thank the submariners for their months of silent service deep underwater. It was the first time a Prime Minister had been on a nuclear submarine since David Cameron was welcomed on board in 2013. In a post on X, Sir Keir thanked the submariners for “months of silent service”.
“It was an honour to join them on board, and to meet their loved ones,” he said. “Thank you for your service to our country – welcome home.”
The PM will also lay the keel to the first boat of the next generation nuclear-armed submarines, known as the Dreadnought class during his visit to Barrow. He is also announcing a new £28m funding package for T-Levels, an alternative to A-levels, delivered by providers across England including Furness College in Barrow. (Source: forces.net)
19 Mar 25. Kratos Breaks Ground on $50m State-of-the-Art Hypersonic System Indiana Payload Integration Facility. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a technology company specializing in defense, national security, and global markets, today announced the groundbreaking of Kratos’ Hypersonic System Indiana Payload Integration Facility (IPIF) in Crane, Indiana. This state-of-the-art 68,000-square-foot office, laboratory, integration and test complex will support critical hypersonic vehicle and payload activities and systems for the Multi-Service Advanced Capabilities Hypersonic Testbed (MACH-TB) program. The project demonstrates Kratos’ commitment to advancing hypersonic system payload integration and test capabilities and expanding crucial infrastructure needed to accelerate the time to Mach 5+ flight testing. With an investment in construction and equipment estimated to exceed $50m, the Kratos IPIF is being designed for rapid, affordable preparation of experimental payloads to significantly boost the tempo of flight testing for next-generation hypersonic systems and technologies and to accelerate the development of advanced weapons systems. The facility is expected to create over 100 high-tech jobs, with an estimated average annual wage of $80,000+. IPIF operational readiness is expected by the end of 2026. The hypersonic system IPIF expands Kratos’ footprint in Indiana and complements the recently announced agreement with Kratos and RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., launching Prometheus Energetics LLC (Prometheus), a new U.S.-based merchant supplier of Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) and other energetics with Prometheus headquarters and production campus located on an approximate 550-acre site in Bloomfield, Indiana, at ACMI’s National Security Industrial Hub (NSIH). (Source: ASD Network)
18 Mar 14. Peraton announced the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art facility in Huntsville, Alabama. This 27,000-square-foot facility, located in the Redstone Gateway complex, serves multiple federal customers, including the Defense Intelligence Agency/Missile and Space Intelligence Center, US Army, FBI, Missile Defense Agency, and NASA. The facility features more than 12,000 square feet of space for a Secure Compartmentalized Information Facility (SCIF). The new Huntsville location is part of Peraton’s ongoing expansion, with career openings currently available and more expected in the months and years ahead. There are currently 200 Peraton employees in the Huntsville-Madison County area.
“We are excited to officially open our new Huntsville facility, which represents a significant investment in our mission to provide top-tier services and solutions to federal agencies,” said Steve Schorer, chairman, president, and CEO, Peraton. “This facility strengthens our ability to serve customers and creates an environment for innovation and collaboration. We’re proud to contribute to the local economy by bringing new opportunities to Huntsville and its skilled workforce.”
The Huntsville facility is strategically located within the Redstone Gateway complex, which is home to several major defense and aerospace contractors, making it an ideal location for supporting the growing needs of Peraton’s customers. With a focus on security and technology, the new facility will enable the company to continue delivering high-quality services to its federal partners.
“Huntsville continues to be a hub for innovation, and we’re excited to see Peraton expanding here,” said Congressman Dale Strong (R-AL), who was in attendance and has been an advocate for increased economic development in Huntsville. “This new facility shows just how important Huntsville has become in supporting key federal projects. Partnerships like this help create jobs, boost our economy, and play a vital role in national security and technology advancements.”
The new facility furthers the federal government’s efforts to maximize taxpayer dollars by bringing world-class technology and expertise to protect and strengthen America and its interests. In supporting the military and civilian workforce in Huntsville, Peraton is continuing its proud tradition of being by the side of its customers, working as partners. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
19 Mar 25. Australian Federal Minister Officially Opens New Sydney HQ. On Tuesday 11 March 2025, the Australian Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, The Hon. Pat Conroy MP, officially opened DroneShield’s new Sydney headquarters, marking a significant milestone for the company. This is a reflection of our growth and the continued development of our world-leading counter-drone technology, which plays a crucial role in modern security and defence efforts globally. Founded in 2014, DroneShield Limited (ASX:DRO) has come a long way from its humble beginnings in a small office with just a handful of staff. The company has continually focused on developing cutting-edge counter-drone technologies that protect people, assets, and infrastructure from the rapidly evolving threat of drone-based attacks. Today, we’re proud to employ around 250 people in Sydney, including 200 engineers, and a commitment to maintaining a predominantly Australian supply chain. This approach allows us to not only create cutting-edge technology, but also contribute to the local economy and the Australian defence industry ecosystem.
18 Mar 25. G3 Systems completes Stage 1 on their third overseas infrastructure contract with the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO). G3 Systems Limited, the British company with nearly 25 years of operationally proven expertise in designing and producing deployable containerised solutions and providing infrastructure support to military and government organisations in remote locations across the globe, has just competed the Stage 1 surveys of their third overseas construction project for the FCDO. In the last 12 months, G3 Systems has announced contracts to refurbish two other FCDO locations in Lagos and Luanda. This latest contract is for the refurbishment of the British High Commission in Maputo, Mozambique. The contract was awarded following a competitive tendering exercise run by the FCDO and is a combination of initial structural and civil surveys (Stage 1) followed by the main refurbishment works (Stage 2). It includes the construction of a single-storey extension, remodelling of the existing building, improvements to internal facilities and external landscaping. The Stage 2 works will take approximately 18 months to ensure full compliance with current regulations and are designed to meet the highest standards of quality, health and safety, sustainability and security.
Nick Rose, Managing Director G3 Systems said, “We now have extensive experience of delivering on complex overseas construction projects in remote locations for the FCDO. This is just another example of our expertise in action. G3 Systems has worked with the military on high quality complex construction projects in remote and challenging locations for many years and it is fantastic to see these skills supporting UK national interests elsewhere in the world. I am also really looking forward to sharing more good news soon in other areas of our business.”
MARITIME
20 Mar 25. The keel of the first of the UK’s new Dreadnought submarines, the most powerful and technically advanced boats ever designed for the Royal Navy, has been laid at BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness shipyard. HMS Dreadnought is the first of four Dreadnought Class ballistic missile submarines, which BAE Systems is designing and building in Cumbria, and will succeed the Vanguard Class of submarines. The ceremonial event, attended by UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, marked a significant milestone in the programme to maintain the UK’s Continuous at Sea Deterrent (CASD) and protect national security. The Dreadnought Class will begin to enter service in the early 2030s. CASD will be maintained throughout the transition from Vanguard to Dreadnought Class.
Steve Timms, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Submarines business, said: “Laying the keel for the first of class, HMS Dreadnought, is an incredibly proud moment for everyone across the Company, Defence Nuclear Enterprise and Royal Navy. It comes as the boat’s last major unit prepares to make its way into the Devonshire Dock Hall for final integration, demonstrating the progress made across the programme to date. Our collective role in maintaining Continuous at Sea Deterrence is our most critical responsibility. It’s a truly national endeavour vital to safeguarding our way of life, as well as making a significant contribution to local and national prosperity. I’m proud that thousands of our highly-skilled people are at the heart of today’s achievement.”
Prime Minister, Keir Starmer said: “It’s an honour to be in Barrow to lay the keel for the next generation of nuclear-armed submarines. These boats will protect our people and Allies from the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life for future generations. Investing in the British defence industry, underpinned by companies like BAE Systems, is at the heart of my government’s commitment to national and economic security as part of our Plan for Change. This investment is supporting good, secure jobs and putting money in the pockets of working people. The people of Barrow, and the submarines manufactured here, have been an integral part of our deterrent capability for decades. We will continue to foster that innovation and industrial excellence to protect the UK for the decades to come.”
Admiral Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, said: “Since April 1969, Royal Navy submariners have been proud to deliver the Continuous at Sea Deterrent, maintaining at least one nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine on patrol, ready to respond to the most extreme threats to the UK. Whilst the Vanguard Class of submarines continues to deliver CASD today, the Royal Navy is greatly looking forward to operating highly sophisticated and advanced Dreadnought Class submarines. This keel laying ceremony is considered the ‘birth’ of a vessel and I congratulate all those involved across the Alliance for reaching this important milestone in the life of HMS Dreadnought and look forward to bringing this exciting and highly capable submarine into service.”
Dreadnought submarines will be the largest ever operated by the Royal Navy at 153.6 metres long – approximately the length of three Olympic swimming pools. Technological advances, changing threats and new methods of design and production mean the new boats will represent a significant step change compared to their predecessors. It is one of the largest and most complex engineering projects in the world. The Dreadnought Alliance, a partnership between BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and the Ministry of Defence’s Submarine Delivery Agency, manages delivery of the UK’s next nuclear deterrent platform. As part of the Government’s Nuclear Skills Plan initiative, the Submarines workforce, centred in Barrow, has grown by more than 3,000 since 2023 to 14,700. That growth is set to continue as both the Dreadnought and SSN-AUKUS programmes develop. The overall Dreadnought programme is expected to support in the region of 30,000 jobs across the UK over the life of the programme. The Barrow shipyard has undergone more than £1 billion of redevelopment to drive efficiencies and boost capacity to accommodate the build of Dreadnought and ensure the historic shipyard can continue delivering world-class submarines to the Royal Navy for generations to come. BAE Systems estimates that it will spend in the region of £7.5 billion with 1,500 suppliers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, ensuring the economic impact of the programme is felt right across the UK.
PLANT CLOSURES, STRIKES AND JOB LOSSES
18 Mar 25. Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud dismissed his defence minister, Abuldkadir Mohamed Nur, on Sunday following lobbying efforts by the US military, sources told Middle East Eye. Nur has been reassigned as the minister of ports amid indications that US military support for Somalia’s fight against al-Shabab – an armed group designated as a terrorist organisation by Washington – has slowed. Two sources familiar with the situation told MEE that Nur’s efforts to deepen Somalia’s military, energy and aerospace cooperation with Turkey unsettled Washington, which maintains closer ties with the United Arab Emirates in the Horn of Africa. Under Nur’s leadership, Somalia and Turkey signed a comprehensive naval, trade and defence agreement in February last year. While the full details of the deal remain undisclosed, sources indicate that it grants Turkey the responsibility of safeguarding Somali waters, establishing a Somali navy and assisting in the exploration of energy resources, as a response to Ethiopia’s naval deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland. (Source: Google/https://www.middleeasteye.net/)
17 Mar 25. Australian defence workers undertake mass walkout over shipbuilding wages. Industry. More than 500 defence workers are taking part in a massive walkout today over wages, according to the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union. More than 400 workers from the AMWU and around 100 workers from the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) are taking industrial action as BAE Systems Australia’s leadership team addresses its maritime workforce in response to a dispute over workers’ wages. Workers at BAE Osborne are seeking a 30 per cent wage increase on average over three years to keep them in line with industry rates.
“BAE Systems Australia is negotiating an enterprise agreement that seeks to ensure improvements to wages and longer-term job security for our employees,” a BAE Systems Australia spokesperson said.
“We continue to negotiate in good faith with the aim of achieving an outcome that balances reward and sustainability, to ensure value for money to the Commonwealth and taxpayer.
“We will provide a further update when appropriate.”
An all-hands meeting hosted by BAE Systems Maritime Australia acting manager director Paul Berryman will be held to attempt to resolve the dispute.
“Workers at BAE are rightly angry that they are paid, on average, 20 per cent less than other workers with the same skills in the same industry,” AMWU SA acting state secretary Stuart Gordon said.
“We are the highly skilled tradespeople who are building the next generation of ships for the Australia Defence Force.
“We are taking a stand because BAE isn’t recognising the value of our skills and our work. BAE wouldn’t accept lower-quality ships, so why should we accept lower wages?
“The future of the industry is built on attracting and retaining our skills and experience. Same job, same pay – that’s why we’re out, and that’s what will resolve it.”
AMWU members have been tasked with the critical Hunter Class Frigate Program that will provide continuous naval shipbuilding capability for the country and will complement future AUKUS work with its anti-submarine capability. It comes at a critical juncture as the program commences with the construction of the first of the Hunter Class frigates and as BAE Systems Australia bolsters its workforce to support the program. Workers will commence maintenance and upgrades mid-year on the Hobart Class destroyers as part of the Defence Capability Enhancement Program. The workforce also conducts work on offshore patrol vessels. Currently, BAE workers are paid, on average, 20 per cent less than other workers with the same skills in the shipbuilding industry, according to the AMWU. BAE Systems Australia is currently offering workers a 12 per cent wage increase over three years. The blue-collar workers have been undertaking stoppages in the last month, having been in negotiations with the multinational company since July 2024. (Source: Defence Connect)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
19 Mar 25. UK’s new National Armaments Director job open to Turkish and EU nationals. The National Armaments Director will be charged with £20bn in defence investment as part of wider defence procurement reformation. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has finally published a job advertisement for the newly created National Armaments Director (NAD) role, with its scope not excluding non-UK application from the role, including Commonwealth, European Union (EU), and Turkish nationals. In a UK Civil Service job posting, it was stated that the NAD role will “lead the MoD” alongside the Permanent Secretray, the Chief of the Defence Staff, and the Chief of Defence Nuclear, delivering the defence industrial strategy, leading reformation, and security “standardisation in Nato and across allies to achieve interoperability”. The post of an MoD NAD was first unveiled by UK Defence Secretary John Healey at an Institute for Government press briefing in February 2025, where he announced the role would be responsible for more than £20bn ($25.9bn) in the defence procurement portfolio. Speaking at the time, Healey said the NAD would be tasked with “fixing procurement and driving growth”. However, Healey admitted that the MoD could not pay the same rate to the NAD as would be available in the private sector, instead calling to patriotic duty and pride in national defence industrial renewal.
Job specs: UK National Armaments Director
The newly published job advertisement indicates a salary of £290,000 – £400,000. A Civil Service pension is also offered, with an employer contribution of 28.97%. The NAD role also offers an annual bonus of up to 60% of the salary. At the top end, this could offer an annual salary with bonus of £640,000. In addition, the role is also open to range of non-UK nationals from within the European Union who have either settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), or those who have made a “valid application” for the EUSS. Recruitment would also consider applications from Republic of Ireland nationals and those from Commonwealth countries who have a right to work in the UK. The job outline added that Turkish nationals, “and certain family members of Turkish nationals”, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service could apply. The UK recently announced that it would increase defence spending up to 2.6% as a proportion of its GDP, up from around 2.2% currently, paid for through a cut in overseas aid and the bringing into the MoD budget of the Single Intelligence Account, which pays for the operations of MI5, MI6, and GCHQ. (Source: army-technology.com)
18 Mar 25. Fundamental changes to Armed Forces processes to better support Women in UK Defence. As part of a series of changes to eradicate unacceptable behaviours in the military a new Tri-Service complaints unit for the Armed Forces has been announced.
* New initiatives to tackle unacceptable behaviours in the military to be introduced at pace.
* Changes include a new specialist Tri-Service team for taking the most serious complaints, such as bullying, discrimination and harassment, outside the single Service chain of command.
* MOD creates a central Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce, to drive cultural improvements
* Progress comes as Armed Forces Commissioner Bill continues through Parliament as part of the Government’s Plan for Change
As part of a series of changes to eradicate unacceptable behaviours in the military, and step-up support for women across UK Defence, a new Tri-Service complaints unit for the Armed Forces has been announced.
The new team will be independent of the single Service chain of command to provide individuals with greater confidence and help ensure that the most serious complaints are dealt with quickly, fairly and in a standardised way across the Armed Forces. Building on the change in 2022 when complaints were taken out of the direct chain of command, providing greater independence and confidence.
The change will see Bullying, Harassment, Discrimination related service complaints dealt with by a team outside the commands of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.
This builds on the successes of the tri-service approach to sexual offending, within the Defence Serious Crime Command which was set up in 2022.
In addition, the Ministry of Defence will set up a Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Taskforce, led centrally by Minister Carns to cohere and drive the work to change culture from the heart of the department. Minister Carns will be supported by a network of regional champions who will help raise awareness of and tackle violence against women and girls across the military, and a Defence Voices Panel – a challenge group made up of service personnel and civil servants to provide honest feedback and lived experiences.
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans Al Carns will set out these new measures before the House of Commons Defence Select Committee later today. He will give evidence alongside Service chiefs.
Minister for Veterans and People Alistair Carns said: 2This government was elected on a manifesto of change, and we are delivering for Defence. I am personally committed to ensuring that we do everything within our power to root out unacceptable behaviour and ensure that the Armed Forces is a place where everyone can thrive. Women in the armed forces play a vital role in our keeping our nation safe. This is not just a matter of basic justice and equality, it is essential to military effectiveness. Our people have spoken, and we have listened. We are moving at pace to create a new Tri-Service Complaints team to take the most serious complaints out of the chain of single Service command for the first time and to launch a central taskforce to give this issue the attention and focus it deserves.”
The MOD’s VAWG Taskforce will include regional support network, trained on topics including domestic violence and sexual offending. These roles will use a network of multidisciplinary experts to support Armed Forces personnel, including healthcare providers, social workers, and HR advisors and will link into the Victim Witness Care Unit. These measures are part of the government’s commitment to improving Service life and renewing the contract with those who serve and have served and support this government’s foundation of strong national security. The government introduced the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill in November – the first ever independent champion for serving personnel and their families. The Bill has passed through the House of Commons and is now in Committee Stage in the Lords. The Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for serving personnel and their families to raise issues which impact Service life. They are expected to be appointed by the end of 2025. With powers to visit Defence sites unannounced and commission reports, the Commissioner will hold Defence to account and drive improvements to Service life. The government is committed to standing up for those who serve the nation. At the end of July, the Armed Forces received the largest pay rise in over 20 years, and in December the MOD struck a landmark deal to bring the military housing estate back into public ownership to enable additional investment into homes for military families and deliver savings for taxpayers. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
14 Mar 25. Jeffrey Kessler Confirmed as DOC Under Secretary for Industry, Security. The Senate on Thursday confirmed Jeffrey Kessler, a partner at international law firm WilmerHale, as under secretary of commerce for industry and security in a 54-45 vote. In this capacity, he will lead the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, which advances national security, economic objectives and foreign policy by fostering U.S. strategic technology leadership and ensuring an export control and treaty compliance system. Kessler’s Senate confirmation for the under secretary role marks his return to the department. During President Trump’s first term, he served as assistant secretary of commerce for enforcement and compliance for two years. In this role, he oversaw efforts to ensure foreign compliance with trade agreements, enforce U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws and support the implementation and negotiation of international trade agreements to open foreign markets, among other responsibilities. Kessler most recently served as a partner within WilmerHale’s international trade practice. The Yale University graduate first joined WilmerHale in 2011 as a counsel.Kessler holds a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Chicago and a juris doctor and master’s degree in economics from Stanford University. (Source: glstrade.com/ExecutiveGov.com)
14 Mar 25. The Senate today confirmed Stephen A. Feinberg as the Defense Department’s 36th deputy defense secretary by a vote of 59-40. Feinberg, a New York native and businessman, last worked in government as chair of President Donald J. Trump’s Intelligence Advisory Board during the president’s first administration from 2018 to 2021. As deputy defense secretary, Feinberg will be responsible for DOD’s day-to-day business, including executing the defense secretary’s priorities and managing the department’s budget.
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
18 Mar 14. Amentum (NYSE: AMTM), a global leader in advanced engineering and innovative technology solutions, today announced the appointment of Corhyn Parr as Vice President of International Business Development. Corhyn joins Amentum after a distinguished tenure as CEO of Nuclear Waste Services, a subsidiary of the UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), where she played a pivotal role in advancing the UK’s nuclear waste management strategies and initiatives.In her new role, Corhyn will leverage her extensive experience in the nuclear sector and proven track record in international business development to drive growth and expand Amentum’s global defence, energy and environment footprint. Her expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments and building collaborative partnerships will be instrumental as the company seeks to enhance its service offerings in the nuclear, environmental, and defence sectors worldwide. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
18 Mar 14. Cognyte Software Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGNT) (“Cognyte”), a global leader in investigative analytics software, today announced the appointment of Dr. Ronny Lempel as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In this role, Lempel will apply over 25 years of proven, cross-discipline technology expertise to extend Cognyte’s innovation leadership and bring unparalleled vision and value to Cognyte’s customers. Among his previous leadership roles, Lempel led research and technology initiatives at Google Ads, Microsoft Azure Machine Learning, Outbrain and Yahoo, developing vast and varied expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI), search engines, recommendation systems and ad tech. Lempel’s distinguished expertise in these fields combined with his military experience in an intelligence unit come together to drive AI innovation and bring added value for customers. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
17 Mar 25. Cubic Corporation announced that Mac Curtis will retire as Chairman of the Board, effective today. Stevan Slijepcevic, who has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cubic since January 2022, will assume the additional role of Chairman of the Board. The move reflects Cubic’s commitment to continuity and strategic growth under Slijepcevic’s leadership. Since becoming CEO, Slijepcevic has led Cubic’s strategic transformation, strengthening its core businesses and driving efficiency across the organization. Under his leadership, Cubic has reinforced its presence in the transportation and defense industries, secured key contracts, and positioned itself for continued growth.
14 Mar 25. Skylark Labs, the innovative U.S.-based artificial intelligence company revolutionizing adaptive security solutions, today announced the formation of a distinguished Defense Advisory Board comprised of former military leaders and defense technology experts to guide the company’s strategic growth in the defense and security sectors. The board brings together decades of leadership experience across military branches, intelligence operations, and defense technology deployment—providing Skylark Labs with unparalleled insights as it expands its footprint in the national security space. The advisory board includes several distinguished members with extensive backgrounds in military leadership and defense technology:
* Lt. Gen. Michael S. Groen (Ret.), former US Marine Corps Commander of JAIC and Deputy Chief of Computer Network at NSA, who brings deep expertise in implementing AI solutions across military operations
* Colonel Brad Boyd (Ret.), former U.S. Army Chief of Staff at US Army HQ, JAIC, Stanford, and DIU, with extensive experience in defense technology implementation
* Colonel Douglas Drakeley (Ret.), former U.S. Air Force Director ISR US Air Force, JAIC, and DIU, bringing decades of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance expertise
* Retired Border Patrol Agent in Charge, Philip Calk, with 28 years of experience at DHS and USBP with TS Clearance, offering specialized expertise in border and public safety operations. (Source: PR Newswire)