The Defence industry briefing
The month in defence in news, views and numbers
In quotes
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The M1 is a challenging weapon system that is complex to maintain. That was true yesterday, it’s true today, it’ll be true in the future.
Pentagon Press Secretary US Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder commenting on the difficulties in countries maintaining the M1 Abrams main battle tank, prior to the announcement that 31 units are planned to be donated to Ukraine.
// Credit: NIDS/NATO Multimedia Library
Credit: U.S. Air Force
Modern technology, in the simulator environment, thanks in part to the computer-gaming industry and all of the developments and networking available, means that a large part of the training is of better value in a synthetic environment.
UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston giving evidence before the UK Defence Committee is grilled about the efficacy of simulated versus real-world flight training.
In numbers
4%
Poland recently announced an intention to increase its spending on defence as a proportion of GDP up to 4%, as countries in Europe assess the impact of the Ukraine war.
1,200
The number of workers that will have to be recruited at UK shipyards as part of a plan to build new logistics ships for the UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary, described as a “challenge” by officials.
$11bn
Egypts military expenditure is anticipated to increase at a continuous annual growth rate of 3.9% from 2024 to reach $11bn by 2028, a GlobalData forecast shows.
3
The number of French air bases where the Indra radar system will be installed
13%
Elbit Systems’s annual revenue increase
DVD 2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Apache 6.5 concept to benefit from ITEP
US defence prime Boeing revealed that the Apache Version 6.5 concept will benefit from the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), providing an increase in power generation and output, allowing for improved loadouts for emerging weapons sets and sensors. In 2019 General Electric‘s aviation subsidiary won a potential $517.4m engineering and manufacturing development contract to provide a new turbine engine for the US Army’s Apache and Black Hawk helicopters.
Read more at Army Technology
UK dips into booming global artillery market with M270A2 upgrade
The UK will upgrade nine of its M270 MLRS fleet to the A2 variant, as part of an ongoing recapitalisation of the fleet, which could also be doubled in size from its current number of around 40 vehicles. A Lockheed Martin official, speaking at AUSA 2022 in Washington, DC, confirmed to Global Defence Technology that nine UK M270 launcher units would be upgraded to the A2 variant, although declined to say whether the rest of the country’s fleet would also benefit from the process.
Read more on Naval Technology
On TWitter
In Pictures
// With the US Army actively looking into hybrid propulsion for future land platforms, General Dynamics showcased its Abrams X concept at AUSA 2022 in Washington, DC, offering a electric-hybrid drive system for the legacy Abrams main battle tank. Credit: Richard Thomas
// AM General took the opportunity to demonstrate its Soft Recoil Technology at AUSA 2022, enabling a 105mm light gun to be fitted to a Humvee chassis for increase manoeuvrability. Credit: Richard Thomas
// At AUSA 2022 the US Army revealed that it had been given permission to acquire additional AMPV platforms (pictured) to replace 200 active M113 armoured personnel carriers that were donated to Ukraine. Credit: Richard Thomas
A US Army UH-60 Black Hawk of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, Wings of Victory, flies over the Black Sea for maritime operations crew certification flights off the coast of Bulgaria on May 5, 2021, during Exercise Swift Response 21, part of DEFENDER-Europe 21. Credit: US Army
The British Army has sent almost 2,000 troops to Liverpool to help with the mass testing of residents for Covid-19. Image: Crown Copyright / MOD