• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Excelitas Qioptiq banner

BATTLESPACE Updates

   +44 (0)77689 54766
   

  • Home
  • Features
  • News Updates
  • Company Directory
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media Pack 2022

NEWS IN BRIEF

February 7, 2014 by

———————————————————————–

Web page sponsored by General Dynamics Land Systems Force Protection Europe (GDLS FPE)

http://www.gdls.com
——————————————————————-
EUROPE

06 Feb 14. Britain has dropped to fifth place from third as a global military spending power because of its shrinking defence budget and increased expenditure by Russia and Saudi Arabia, a respected report on the state of the world’s armed forces said yesterday. British military spending last year was $57bn dollars (£35bn), putting the country behind the United States, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia, according to the Military Balance 2014, by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London. David Cameron frequently claims that Britain is the world’s fourth largest defence spender, based on alternative estimates used by the Government, when he counters criticism of sweeping cuts to the Royal Navy, Army and RAF over the past four years. However, many analysts believe this to be meaningless, because it fails to take into account what Britain — compared with other nations — is able to buy with the money it spends.
“In this year’s book we say the UK is fifth [largest defence spender], and that is a product of the increase we have seen in Saudi Arabia over the last five years,” said Giri Rajendran, a research associate at IISS. “We think the Saudis are spending slightly more than the UK at the moment.” Mr Rajendran said that the sterling-to-dollar exchange rate was also a factor in this year’s figures, noting that if last week’s rates had been applied then British defence spending would be just ahead of Saudi Arabia’s, though still one rank lower than in 2012. Summing up the state of the world’s armed forces, IISS outlined a growing shift in the balance of military power from the West to the East, with rising defence budgets in Asia, particularly in China, and declining expenditure in the United States and across Europe. (Source: The Times)

05 Feb 14. The United States has warned France that French companies – which sent executives to Tehran this week – will be punished if they violate U.S. sanctions with Iran, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday. Separately, another U.S. official this week said Kerry had told French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius that the visit was “not helpful” and that it gave the wrong impression that the West could do business with Tehran as usual. Iran welcomed more than 100 executives from France’s biggest firms on Monday, the most senior French trade mission in years. That trip followed an interim agreement reached by Iran and six world powers in November under which Tehran agreed to limit parts of its nuclear work in return for the easing of some international sanctions. (Source: Reuters)

04 Feb 14. Rolls-Royce faces charges over radioactive material. Rolls-Royce, the engine and turbine maker, is facing multiple criminal charges for allegedly failing to manage the risk of employees being exposed to a radioactive substance. The criminal case is being brought by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency. It is expected to go to Crown Court, but the first hearing will be on Thursday at South Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court. The case relates to the alleged loss of Ytterbium 169 at a company plant in Derby. It is alleged that there was a loss of the material within the premises, which was discovered within a short period of time following a shift change, people close to the investigation said. Ytterbium 169 is used to check welding and joints. After the alleged incident, Rolls-Royce tightened its procedures, the company said. David Orr, an inspector at HSE, said: “Having concluded our joint investigation with the Environment Agency into the incident we have decided there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to bring criminal proceedings in this case.” On top of allege

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • qioptiq.com
  • Exensor
  • TCI
  • Visit the Oxley website
  • Visit the Viasat website
  • Blighter
  • SPECTRA
  • InVeris
  • Britbots logo
  • Faun Trackway
  • Systematic
  • CISION logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • businesswire logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • ssafa logo
  • DSEi
  • Atkins
  • IEE
  • EXFOR logo
  • KME logo
Hilux DVD2022

Contact Us

BATTLESPACE Publications
Old Charlock
Abthorpe Road
Silverstone
Towcester NN12 8TW

+44 (0)77689 54766

BATTLESPACE Technologies

An international defence electronics news service providing our readers with up to date developments in the defence electronics industry.

Recent News

  • EXHIBITIONS AND CONFERENCES

    May 27, 2022
    Read more
  • VETERANS UPDATE

    May 27, 2022
    Read more
  • MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE

    May 27, 2022
    Read more

Copyright BATTLESPACE Publications © 2002–2022.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use the website, we'll assume you're ok with this.   Read More  Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT