The defence industry briefing
The news, views and numbers you need to know about this month
News in numbers
61%
Increase in ams imports by Middle East countries between 2010–14 and 2015–19
$87bn
Amount the US Pentagon plans to spend on nuclear modernisation projects over the next 5 years
$3bn
Value of a deal signed by India to purchase military equipment from the US
$1,8bn
Amoung the US Navy expects to save by retiring the first four Littoral Combat ships
Quote of the month
“The fighter jet era has passed. Drone warfare is where the future will be. It’s not that I want the future to be – it’s just, this is what the future will be.”
Elon Musk, commenting on the F-35 programme at the Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando last month
This month on twitter
RAF intercepts Russians
Indian sub refurb
War & Coronavirus
Getting AI right
Doggo veterans' day
Marines tech trials
REader survey
This month we asked readers on our sister website Army Technology:
Is NATO still relevant for the defence of member states?
The survey found that of 5,208 respondents, 62% think NATO is still relevant but needs an overhaul to be more effective. Meanwhile 20% of respondents said NATO is still relevant in its current form, while 18% disagreed.
The survey found that of 5,208 respondents, 62% think NATO is still relevant but needs an overhaul to be more effective. Meanwhile 20% of respondents said NATO is still relevant in its current form, while 18% disagreed.
ARMS TRAnsfers
The top five arms exporting and importing countries 2015-2019 according to SIPRI
TOP 5 - EXPORT
US: 36%
Russia: 21%
France: 7.9%
Germany: 5.8%
China: 5.5%
% share of total arms exports
TOP 5 - IMPORT
Saudi Arabia: 12%
India: 9.2%
Egypt: 5.8%
Australia: 4.9%
China: 4.3%
% share of total arms imports
COVID-19 update
9 March 2020
A US Navy sailor has been officially confirmed positive with coronavirus Covid-19, making them the first US service member in Europe to contract the virus.
6 March 2020
US Army researchers have commenced testing a potential vaccine against Covid-19 as part of a collaborative approach with other agencies in the US and overseas, including the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
6 March 2020
The US European Command (USEUCOM) and the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) have terminated the remaining portion of Exercise Juniper Cobra 20 (JC20) over coronavirus fears.
5 March 2020
Lockheed Martin has paused production of F-35 aircraft in Japan and told employees at an Italian factory to work from home due to concerns over the Covid-19 outbreak.
5 March 2020
The Indian Navy has postponed Milan 2020, a multilateral exercise due to take place in late March and involving naval forces from around 30 countries.
27 February 2020
The Republic of Korea (ROK)-US Alliance has announced the postponement of joint military drills amidst growing concerns over the spread of coronavirus.
26 February 2020
A US Forces Korea (USFK) soldier was officially confirmed positive with coronavirus Covid-19, making him the first US service member to contract the virus.
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