What equipment does the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) have in Hong Kong? What will be the role of AI and cyber offensive capabilities on the future battlefield? 

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we hear from our Asia Pacific Editor about China’s Hong Kong garrison and the military equipment on display at a recent base open day. We speak to a former Commandant of the French Foreign Legion about his vision of collaborative combat.

The team look at the implications of the major defence stories of the week and our sponsor Nammo considers the trend of governments entering into long-term supply agreements with industry.

• News Round Up (00:48)

 This week in the news…

On the naval front, Editor-in-Chief Richard Thomas outlines Russian plans to procure two Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines and two Project 677 diesel-electric submarines to boost its sub-surface fleet.

China is also growing its submarine fleet. The US credits the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) with currently having six SSBNs, six SSNs and 50 diesel-electric submarines.

An analysis by Asia Pacific Editor Gordon Arthur shows how China has developed a more modern submarine force, optimised primarily for regional anti-surface warfare missions near major sea lines of communication.

On the aviation side of the house, Air Domain Editor Helen Haxell explains how the Philippine Air Force (PAF) used the celebration of its 72nd anniversary on 2 July to highlight new platforms that the force is expecting in the coming year or so.

Land-side, in the wake of the final formation of Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), Deputy Land Domain Editor Beth Maundrill considers how this development could affect the British Army's Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme (CR2 LEP).

• Behind the news – a visit to the Hong Kong Garrison of the People’s Liberation Army (16:00)

Over a three-day period from 29 June to 1 July, the Hong Kong Garrison of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) opened the gates of three of its military camps to ticket-carrying members of the public.

Our Asia Pacific Editor Gordon Arthur was there and explains to host Helen Haxell how, in light of ongoing civil tensions and mass public protests in Hong Kong, the PLA was on even higher alert than normal, with several new pieces of equipment on display.

You can read Gordon’s full story here: PLA shows varied capabilities in Hong Kong

• Interview – General Alain Bouquin (30:48)

Tony Skinner, VP Content, speaks to General Alain Bouquin – a former Commandant of the French Foreign Legion and now strategic advisor to Thales – about the use of cyber attack and AI on the battlefield and his concept of collaborative combat.

• Industry Voice – Nammo (42:38)

In this week’s Industry Voice Tony Skinner, our VP of Content, and Endre Lunde, SVP of Communications for Nammo, discuss the trend of governments entering into long-term supply agreements with industry and the implications for international cooperation.

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest