VACANCIES
25 Apr 25. Capua and BATTLESPACE form an agreement on specialist defence, cyber and technology recruitment. “Capua is the UK’s leading recruitment consultancy for candidates with 0 to 6 years of professional experience. We work with an industry-leading network of over 200,000 young professionals to match them with top employers in the UK and overseas. We partner with a range of high-growth companies to source and interview top quality candidates for critical technical and commercial roles. We’re sector-agnostic, working primarily across sectors including Defence Tech & Aerospace, Engineering, and various Professional Services to deliver cost-effective and timely hires for our clients.” said Ollie Gordon Brown of Capua.
Julian Nettlefold of BATTLESPACE said, ”We are delighted to sign this agreement with Capua which will give our international audience of government and industry readers an excellent opportunity to source new jobs at a time when the growth in arms production around the world is predicted to soar at a time of a predicted shortage of candidates with the required credentials to meet the job requirements. BATTLESPACE will be advertising new job opportunities on our weekly Management on the Move segment.”
LOCATIONS
MARITIME
19 Apr 25. Taiwan Accelerates Tuo Chiang-class guided missile corvettes Production Amid Rising Chinese Naval Threats. On April 18, 2025, an image circulating on Telegram social media revealed that Taiwan has accelerated the construction of its second batch of Tuo Chiang-class guided missile corvettes. Photographs taken at Lung Teh Shipbuilding’s Su’ao shipyard in Yilan County show two of the five new vessels under construction, signaling a significant advancement in Taiwan’s indigenous naval capabilities. The Tuo Chiang-class corvettes are central to Taiwan’s asymmetric defense strategy, designed to counterbalance the growing maritime capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). These fast, stealthy, and heavily armed vessels are optimized for operations in the confined waters around Taiwan, providing a formidable deterrent against larger adversaries. This latest move comes amid a noticeable intensification of Chinese naval activity in the region. Over the past several months, the PLAN has significantly ramped up its presence around Taiwan, frequently conducting large-scale military drills, joint patrols, and simulated blockade exercises near the island. These maneuvers, involving aircraft carriers, destroyers, and amphibious assault ships, are viewed by Taipei as deliberate displays of force aimed at pressuring Taiwan and challenging its sovereignty. In response, the Taiwanese military has prioritized bolstering its maritime defenses, with the Tuo Chiang-class corvettes forming a critical component of its countermeasure strategy. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, the second batch of five corvettes is expected to be completed and launched by 2026. This follows the successful delivery of the first batch of six corvettes, which entered service earlier this year. Once the second batch is commissioned, the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) will operate a total of 12 Tuo Chiang-class vessels. These will be complemented by 12 Anping-class patrol frigates, which are based on the same hull design and currently serve with Taiwan’s Coast Guard, enhancing the nation’s layered maritime defense posture. Developed and built domestically by Lung Teh Shipbuilding in collaboration with the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), the Tuo Chiang-class represents a significant achievement in Taiwan’s indigenous defense manufacturing. The design features a wave-piercing catamaran hull, which provides high stability and reduced radar cross-section, essential for stealth operations in littoral environments. The vessels are powered by waterjet propulsion systems, enabling top speeds of up to 40 knots and high maneuverability. In terms of armament, the Tuo Chiang-class corvettes are equipped with a mix of domestically developed weaponry. One of the most potent systems onboard is the Hsiung Feng III (HF-3 or Xiongfeng-3) supersonic anti-ship missile. The HF-3 is a key component of Taiwan’s maritime strike capability. It is capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 2.5 and has a range estimated between 150 to 400 kilometers, depending on variant and launch profile. The missile is designed to penetrate advanced naval defenses using a high-speed, sea-skimming trajectory and terminal maneuvering. Its 225 kg high-explosive warhead is capable of disabling or destroying large warships, making it a critical deterrent against any naval incursion. (Source: Google/armyrecognition.com)
PLANT CLOSURES, STRIKES AND JOB LOSSES
20 Apr 25. Three former senior advisers to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth decried on Saturday what they called “baseless attacks” after each was escorted from the Pentagon in an expanding probe on information leaks. Dan Caldwell, a Hegseth aide; Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg; and Darin Selnick, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff were among four officials in Hegseth’s inner circle who were ousted this past week. While the three initially had been placed on leave pending the investigation, a joint statement shared by Caldwell on X said the three were “incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended. Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door.”
“At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of ‘leaks’ to begin with,” the post said. Former Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot also announced he was resigning this week. The Pentagon said, however, that Ullyot was asked to resign. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/AP)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
22 Apr 25. Mr Chris Rampling has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands in succession to Ms Joanna Roper CMG. Mr Rampling will take up his appointment during July 2025.
24 Apr 25. Mrs Sally Axworthy MBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan in succession to Ms Kathy Leach who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mrs Axworthy will take up her appointment during August 2025.
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
22 Apr 25. X-Bow Systems Inc (X-Bow), the leading non-traditional producer of advanced manufactured solid rocket motors (SRMs) and defense technologies, today announced the appointment of Hector Fernandez as Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Fernandez will oversee the company’s financial strategy, accounting operations, and investor relations. He will report directly to X-Bow Founder and CEO Jason Hundley and join the executive team, leveraging his experience in driving profitable growth, strategic initiatives, and enhancing shareholder value. (Source: PR Newswire)