Defence Weekly 

Hewlett Packard faces challenges after 2015 as big contracts recede
Global IT provider Hewlett Packard (HP) expects challenging times in the UK defence sector beyond 2015 as major contracts wind down. Chris Abbott, ...
08-Feb-2012
Initial SV exports could be worth GBP1.3 billion, says GDUK
Exports of General Dynamics UK's (GDUK's) Scout Specialist Vehicle (SV) could be worth GBP1.3 billion (USD2 billion) in its first 16 years of sale, ...
08-Feb-2012
US-UK defence trade treaty on track for activation in March
The US-UK defence co-operation treaty is on course to be implemented by the end of March 2012, the US Department of Defense (DoD) has...
03-Feb-2012
UK releases defence technology White Paper
The preference of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) for off-the-shelf procurement, open competition and bilateral equipment alliances was underscored on 1 February in a...
02-Feb-2012
EU High Representative reiterates need for pooling of resources
The European Union (EU) High Representative has called for greater pooling of military resources to ensure Europe remains a "credible player" on the world ...
01-Feb-2012
*Briefing: Opening the transfer window
The global defence market is passing through a period of significant change. The concentration of military spending in the Western world, which is a...
23-Jan-2012
BAE refutes reports of Portsmouth job cuts claim
BAE Systems has denied reports that it plans to close its Portsmouth shipyard and cut 3,000 related jobs due to a drought of future ...
23-Jan-2012
Genocide law jeopardises France's bid to supply missiles to Turkey
A French bid to provide air defence systems worth USD4 billion to Turkey is under threat from a draft French law regarding the official ...
23-Jan-2012
EDA reports growing chasm between EU, US defence spending
New figures released by the European Defence Agency (EDA) have revealed that the US spent 2.7 times more on defence than the European Union ...
11-Jan-2012
*Briefing: Shifting focus
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the defence and security domains proved relatively resilient in 2011. Bleak market conditions in the Atlantic region shaped ...
06-Jan-2012
Astrium buys majority stake in Space Engineering
Defence satellite specialist Astrium has acquired a majority stake in Space Engineering: an Italian provider of telecommunications and radar products. Astrium, a subsidiary of...
22-Dec-2011
Safran, Thales announce optronics JV
Safran and Thales have formally announced the formation of an optronics joint venture (JV) following months of talks on asset swaps that were driven ...
21-Dec-2011
BRIEF: Safran, Thales asset swap talks fail
Safran and Thales have again failed to agree on asset swaps for their defence activities despite continued French government pressure, with only a commercially ...
16-Dec-2011
BRIEF: TKMS turns focus on naval vessels
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has announced it is to focus on military surface vessel and submarine construction after selling off its civil shipbuilding operation ...
16-Dec-2011
*Analysis: Challenges lie ahead for Australian defence
Economic challenges and programme delays are threatening the future of an increasing number of Australian defence companies, putting at risk the country's planned modernisation ...
16-Dec-2011
Thales increases stake in DCNS, commences ammunition merger talks with Nexter
The consolidation of France's defence industrial base accelerated on 15 December as Thales announced that it had increased its stake in shipbuilder and naval ...
16-Dec-2011
MBDA sees Viper Strike acquisition as 'first step' in US expansion
MBDA Inc, the US subsidiary of pan-European missile company MBDA, sees its acquisition of Viper Strike as the "first step" in building its US...
13-Dec-2011
UK MoD holds firm on Future Force 2020 contracts
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) will not postpone military contracts beyond 2020 in order to meet the budget challenges of the Strategic Defence ...
08-Dec-2011
US foreign military exports hit $35bn for FY11
US government sales of military equipment to foreign powers reached USD34.8 billion in Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11), exceeding USD30 billion for the fourth year ...
08-Dec-2011
UK's defence procurement reform report delayed until 2012
Publication of the UK's report on restructuring of its defence procurement arm, the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) organisation, has been pushed back until...
07-Dec-2011
*China sets sights on European acquisitions
Major Chinese companies will be encouraged to enhance efforts to penetrate European markets through acquisitions and investment during 2012, Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming ...
02-Dec-2011
BRIEF: Cosworth purchases UAV engine IP
UK motorsport firm Cosworth has furthered its drive into the defence market with the purchase of lightweight engine designs for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ...
02-Dec-2011
BRIEF: TE Connectivity eyes Deutsch
TE Connectivity, a US supplier of military and aerospace electronic components, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire high-performance connector maker Deutsch Group ...
02-Dec-2011
BRIEF: £45m boost for UK SMEs
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK's defence sector are in line to benefit from GBP45 million (USD70 million) of extra funding allocated ...
02-Dec-2011
*Finmeccanica details merger of European operations
Italian industrial group Finmeccanica intends to establish a single entity for all three European companies within its defence electronics and security operations that will ...
02-Dec-2011
Lower overheads 'put private sector ahead in Indian naval market'
Indian Defence Minister A K Antony has stated that private shipbuilders were selected ahead of state-owned companies in building a range of naval platforms, ...
02-Dec-2011
*India bucks underspending trend
India reversed its tendency to underspend its annual military procurement allocations during the last financial year, with investment during the 2010-11 period ahead of both...
02-Dec-2011
Orsi takes charge of Finmeccanica after Guarguaglini's resignation
Finmeccanica's appointment of Giuseppe Orsi to replace Pier Francesco Guarguaglini as chairman is "no revolution", a company spokesman told Jane's on 2 December. ...
02-Dec-2011
UK MoD launches counterfeit component awareness campaign
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched a 'counterfeit awareness working group' to raise awareness of the issue of rogue parts in military ...
30-Nov-2011
Unnamed foreign defence group buys into India's Pipavav
An international company with "strong interests" in military manufacturing has become a strategic investor in Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company. The deal - ...
24-Nov-2011
Closure 'an option' for Boeing Kansas plant
Boeing is reviewing its defence operations in Kansas, with closure being considered, the company has confirmed to Jane's . Boeing's defence business ...
22-Nov-2011
Briefing: Almaz-Antey project to build S-500 plants
Russian defence giant Almaz-Antey is poised to launch a long-awaited project to build two new manufacturing plants in western Russia that will pave the ...
21-Nov-2011
US committee warns of dangers of commercial aerospace collaboration with China
A congressional report has indicated its concerns relating to US corporate collaboration with the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the Beijing-owned military and ...
18-Nov-2011
UK SDSR pushes contract renegotiations
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) expects about 500 individual contracts to be renegotiated in total as a result of the Strategic Defence and ...
18-Nov-2011
UK industrial participation reports expected in 2012
Studies into the reform of the UK's defence industrial participation (IP) regime appear likely to run into 2012, Jane's has learnt. The IP...
18-Nov-2011