LOCATIONS
LAND
29 Sep 25. SEA Canada, part of SEA Group and Cohort plc Group, has today opened its new facility in Ottawa, Ontario. Strategically positioned in Canada’s capital, the cutting-edge facility is a demonstration of the company’s commitment to innovation and local manufacturing excellence. The state-of-the-art manufacturing site will be the cornerstone for SEA Canada’s launcher solutions, including its torpedo launcher system (TLS) and the Ancilia trainable decoy launcher, as well support the growth of Ottawa’s defence manufacturing offer. A significant step forward for SEA Canada’s ability to serve both regional and international customers with agility and precision, the new facility features advanced production technologies and systems that align with SEA’s global environmental goals and renowned global standards for quality.
Keith Cunnane, General Manager at SEA Canada said: “The opening of this facility marks a major milestone for both SEA Canada and defence manufacturing in the nation’s capital. We’re proud to contribute to regional economic growth and job creation, while also supporting Ottawa’s reputation as a centre for innovation and advanced manufacturing. By increasing our capacity to deliver cutting-edge launcher systems with reduced lead times, this site will further cement our position as a trusted global supplier of innovative and flexible countermeasure capabilities.”
The Ottawa site was officially opened by Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa and British High Commissioner to Canada, Robert Tinline.
A centre of excellence for launcher technology, the company’s proven and reliable TLS will be manufactured at the site and supported by local suppliers and a Canadian supply chain. Initial work is focused on SEA Canada’s £15.1 m contract to deliver its TLS for a major Royal Canadian Navy vessel program but will be quickly followed by global export opportunities. A weapon-agnostic configurable solution, the launcher is able to fire NATO compatible standard lightweight torpedoes, helping ensure that navies retain supply chain control through a flexible choice of ammunition suppliers.
Richard Flitton, Managing Director at SEA Group, said: “The new Ottawa manufacturing site represents a significant step forward for SEA Canada – expanding our manufacturing capabilities and strengthening customer service and support offer across Canada and North America. The company’s rapid and continued growth is a testament to the strength of our partnerships with the local defence community and the dedication of our talented team. We’re proud to be a part of the defence manufacturing sector in Ottawa and look forward to playing an even greater role in the region’s defence and manufacturing landscape.”
The SEA Canada Ottawa facility opened on 29 September 2025. More information can be found here: https://www.canadasea.ca/
29 Sep 25. UK to fund £11m Clyde welding centre after SNP snub. Defence Secretary John Healey has confirmed that the UK Government will fund a specialist welding facility at the centre of an SNP “student union politics” row. The planned £11m facility by Rolls-Royce and the Malin Group at the Scottish Marine Technology Park in Clydebank almost collapsed because Scottish Enterprise was unable to provide a £2.5m support grant. They knocked back the firm’s request because the specialist skills centre was to support submarine manufacture and, at the time, the SNP Government had a long-standing ban on awarding taxpayers’ cash to companies involved in the manufacture of munitions. John Healey made the announcement in his speech to Labour conference The minister will use his speech to Labour conference in Liverpool to announce the Ministry of Defence cash for the centre.
Mr Healey said: “Labour is proud of Scotland’s maritime heritage, and we are taking action to ensure its success long into the future. Where the SNP will not back Scottish industry, young people or our national security, Labour will step in. With our record defence investment, and our record export deals, Labour is making Scotland a shipbuilding superpower once again. We will deliver good, well-paid jobs and opportunities across the Clyde, Rosyth, Methil and beyond. I am proud to work with Anas and Scottish Labour as we strengthen our national security in a more insecure world, while making defence an engine for growth across Scotland. This announcement shows we can turbocharge that work if the Scottish people elect a Scottish Labour government next May
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the new welding facility was “proof that when Scottish Labour and UK Labour work hand-in-hand, we can deliver the new direction and the new opportunities that Scotland needs.” The funding will be delivered through the Government’s Unity contract with Rolls-Royce, an eight-year agreement worth approximately £9 bn to bolster support to the Royal Navy’s fleet of nuclear submarines. The centre will initially be operated by Rolls-Royce Submarines in partnership with Malin Group and Strathclyde University. Earlier this month, First Minister John Swinney dropped the Scottish Government’s ban on public cash for arms firms. He told MSPs the change in stance reflects the need to “recognise the reality of the importance of defence” in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“In recognition of that changed international landscape, the Scottish Government will lift the restriction we have applied on the use of support for the production of munitions,” Mr Swinney said.
The earlier unwillingness to fund the welding centre saw the Scottish Government accused of hypocrisy, as publicly owned Ferguson Marine is subcontracted by BAE Systems to work on Royal Navy frigates. When details of the snub were first reported in June, Mr Healey told the BBC: “It really strikes me as student union politics. It’s not a serious government concerned about the opportunities for young people in the future.” However, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said it was important to take a principled position.
She told the programme: “The project was not eligible for funding because of the long-standing policy position that we have, that we do not provide or support the use of public funding for the manufacture of munitions. I think the key difference between ourselves and the UK Government is that, when we have principles, we stick to them.” (Source: NewsNow)
MARITIME
25 Sep 25. Indian Navy to commission anti-submarine vessel Androth. Androth is designed to accurately detect, track, and neutralise underwater threats. The Indian Navy is preparing to commission Androth, its second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), on 6 October 2025. The commissioning at Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam will be overseen by Eastern Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar. This event signifies the formal induction of the second vessel out of a planned fleet of 16 ASW-SWC ships. Androth, constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, India, incorporates more than 80% domestically sourced components. The vessel was built under the supervision of the Directorate of Ship Production and the Warship Overseeing Team in Kolkata. It was handed over to the Indian Navy on 13 September 2025. The name ‘Androth’ is derived from Androth Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, highlighting India’s focus on “safeguarding its vast maritime territories”. The new vessel follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, INS Androth (P69), which served for more than 27 years prior to its decommissioning. Equipped with advanced weaponry, sensor suites, and modern communication systems, Androth is designed to detect, track, and neutralise underwater threats effectively. Its capabilities extend to maritime surveillance, search and rescue operations, and coastal defence missions. The ship’s waterjet propulsion system allows it to operate efficiently in shallow waters. The ASW-SWC vessels are indigenously designed and constructed according to the Classification Rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). These ships are approximately 77 metres long and are among the largest Indian Naval warships powered by a diesel engine-waterjet combination. They feature lightweight torpedoes, indigenous ASW rockets, and advanced shallow water SONAR systems for effective submarine detection and engagement in littoral zones. The first vessel in this series, Arnala, was launched in December 2022, followed by Androth in March 2023. Anjadip the third vessel, and Amini, the fourth in the series, were launched in June and November of 2023, respectively. The fifth, Agray, and the sixth, Akshay, were launched in March 2024. In August 2025, the Indian Navy commissioned two of the seven Project 17A multi-mission stealth frigates into service at the Naval Base in Visakhapatnam on 26 August 2025. (Source: naval-technology.com)
26 Sep 25. U.S. Navy Christened Future USS Louis H. Wilson Jr.. The U.S. Navy christened the future USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), during a ceremony at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) on Saturday, September 27, at 10:30 a.m. (EST). The principal address was delivered by Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric Smith; Additional speakers include Governor of Maine, Janet Mills; U.S. Senator of Maine Angus King; Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition, Jason Potter; Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources, Vice Adm. Brad Skillman; Medal of Honor Recipient, Col. Harvey C. Barnum, Jr.; and President of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Chuck Krugh. In a time-honored tradition, ship sponsors Janet Wilson Taylor, daughter of the namesake and Susan J. Rabern, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller, will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow. The ship is named after Gen. Louis Hugh Wilson Jr., a World War II and Vietnam War veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Battle of Guam. Following his service in Vietnam, he served as the 26th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1975 to 1979. The christening of DDG 126 symbolizes the Navy’s 250-year commitment to innovation and maritime dominance. From seabed to space, the Navy delivers power for peace – always ready to fight and win. This milestone marks the Navy’s enduring legacy and commitment to shaping the future of maritime power. Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyers feature the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar and incorporate upgrades to the electrical power and cooling capacity plus additional associated changes to provide enhanced warfighting capability to the fleet. Future destroyers Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124), Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127), William Charette (DDG 130), Quentin Walsh (DDG 132), John E. Kilmer (DDG 134), Richard G. Lugar (DDG 136), and J. William Middendorf (DDG 138) are also in production at BIW.
AIR
01 Oct 25. Marshall Group future base now uncertain. The future location of an aerospace company is uncertain after a proposed move was deemed to be “no longer affordable”. Marshall Group announced plans in 2019 to leave Cambridge Airport, with 12,000 homes set to be built on the site. It agreed a “potential relocation” to Cranfield University’s base in Bedfordshire, but was now “actively exploring a number of alternative options”. The university’s chief executive and vice-chancellor, Dame Karen Holford, said it “isn’t the outcome we’d hoped for”. The company was founded in 1909 and in 2020 signed an option agreement providing it with “the right to take a 150-year lease” at Cranfield Airport. Its most recent accounts, published last week, said a strategic review last summer “concluded that all major components of the group’s engineering businesses, which currently occupy Cambridge East and the surrounding land, will vacate no later than 2028”. However, on Wednesday, Marshall said “after a lot of work and analysis, we have had to conclude that this proposed location is no longer affordable”. The group, which has more than 2,000 employees, did not expand on the costs involved.
“Our focus remains firmly on securing the long-term future of the business, and we are actively exploring a number of alternative options for relocation,” the statement continued. “Although commercial sensitivities mean we cannot share more detail at this stage, we are committed to providing updates as our plans continue to develop.”
The accounts said “2024 was a challenging year” and the group made a loss of £55.5m before tax. Cranfield boss Dame Holford said of the move’s collapse: “This isn’t the outcome we’d hoped for, however our airport remains an important asset for the university and a unique facility for research and innovation in the UK.
“The land proposed for development retains long-standing planning permission and we are actively exploring other options for the site.” (Source: Google/BBC)
01 Oct 25. Islanders take off again — built in Britain. Britten-Norman, manufacturer of the ‘iconic’ Islander aircraft, has reached a milestone in its programme to bring full aircraft production to the company’s facility in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight, when — supported by new investment and a wide-ranging transformation initiative — it reached the point of completing more than 50% of the first new UK-built Islander’s assembly, all while expanding its workforce and modernising its facilities. Previously, major assemblies were manufactured overseas before final assembly, but the new production line at Bembridge represents the return of full aircraft manufacturing to the UK. Wing assembly of the first UK-built Islander is expected to be finished later this year, with final assembly scheduled for early 2026 ahead of first delivery in spring 2026.
Grahame Stone, Britten-Norman’s commercial director, said: “This milestone marks the excellent progress by our team in relocating the Islander’s production to Bembridge. By bringing the full build to the UK, we are strengthening our capability and ensuring we can deliver new aircraft efficiently for operators worldwide.
“Since announcing our reshoring plans in 2023, we have invested in technologies that include advanced CNC equipment; we have also grown our workforce by more than 40% in the past 12 months. Moreover, our new production line is now well advanced, and development continues as the company prepares to ramp-up activity over the coming years to deliver new-build aircraft.’
Mr Stone also said that demand for the Islander remains strong, with confirmed orders and multiple Letters of Intent already secured. “With almost 1,300 Islanders delivered since the type first entered service, the aircraft continues to play a vital role in connecting communities and supporting essential services worldwide, from passenger transport and cargo to surveillance and special missions.” (Source: News Now/https://www.machinery-market.co.uk/)
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
30 Sep 25. The International Institute for Strategic Studies announced the appointment of renowned scholar Dr Erin Pobjie as its first Senior Fellow for Space. The role will lead the IISS space programme and also work with colleagues on delivering IISS assessments of space-related issues in our databases and publications. It will address the major risks to national and commercial space activity and support the development of norms, rules and principles to reduce space threats and prevent an arms race in outer space. Erin is an acclaimed researcher in the field of peace and security law and is a senior research affiliate at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law as well as a non-resident fellow at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, contributing to their Space Security Program. More recently, Erin was the inaugural British Academy Global Innovation Fellow (Technology & International Affairs) at the German Council for Foreign Relations where she worked in the Center for Climate and Foreign Policy.
29 Sep 25. Nicolas Chamussy to depart as CEO of KNDS France. KNDS France’s current chief financial officer Nicolas M, will serve as interim CEO until a permanent successor is appointed. European defence company KNDS has announced the upcoming departure of Nicolas Chamussy from his position as CEO of KNDS France. Chamussy will step down from the position effective 30 September 2025, after more than four years at the helm. Appointed in April 2021, Chamussy’s tenure has been marked by a strategic adaptation to the changing international and European defence landscape, said KNDS. (Source: army-technology.com)
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
28 Sep 25. IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), the leader in the quantum computing and networking industries, today announced the appointment of General John W. “Jay” Raymond to its Board of Directors. A globally recognized leader in space and national security operations, General Raymond most recently served as the first Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
01 Oct 25. NUBURU, Inc. (NYSE American: BURU), a global leader in high-performance blue laser technology, announced the implementation of a dual-CEO structure, effective October 1, 2025. This strategic initiative complements Alessandro Zamboni’s role as Executive Chairman and supports the company’s ongoing transformation plan. The plan aims to achieve revenue growth starting in Q4 2025 through strategic acquisitions and international alliances, while also managing increased organizational complexity. Nuburu Strengthens its Leadership Team to Execute on Ambitious Transformation Plan through strategic acquisitions and international alliances with the appointment of Alessandro Zamboni and Dario Barisoni as co-Chief Executive Officers (“Co-CEOs”) The Board of Directors has appointed Alessandro Zamboni and Dario Barisoni as co-Chief Executive Officers (“Co-CEOs”). In their new roles:
- Alessandro Zamboni will continue to leverage his expertise as Executive Chairman and Co-CEO, overseeing corporate strategy and financing, treasury and financial reporting, public and investor relations, and market strategy. This appointment formalizes his strategic leadership role during this critical phase.
- Dario Barisoni will report to Mr. Zamboni and will focus on the operations of the Company’s business and subsidiaries, implementing acquisitions and post-merger integration operations, driving synergies across business units, and developing operational and investment strategies, particularly within the defense sector.
In addition, Alessandro Zamboni has been appointed Chairman and Dario Barisoni has been appointed CEO of Nuburu Defense LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NUBURU Inc., signaling the company’s commitment to growth in this key market. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)