In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast we talk to the International Centre for Defence and Security in Estonia to explore threats posed by Russia to countries in the Baltic region, and in an interview with Raytheon we talk about digital engineering and its use to create virtual platforms and systems to facilitate real world programmes.

Newsround [00:38] 

At Aero India 2021, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited emerged as the likely candidate to build seventy HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

In Egypt, the  Rafale aircraft operated by the Egyptian Air Force have finally been armed with the MBDA SCALP long-range stand-off attack missile.

In the US, on 8 February DARPA awarded preliminary Phase I design contracts for the LongShot programme.

In the naval domain, South Korea aims to develop unmanned technologies for surface and underwater craft, including an uncrewed nuclear-powered submarine capable of releasing drones and other unmanned vehicles.

In Focus 

News Editor Ben Vogel discusses a story from Shephard’s contributor Eugene Gerden reporting on a recent announcement from the Central Military District of he Russian Ground Forces.

 The announcement revealed the country has finalised the first stage of tests of its BMPT fire support combat vehicle. 

Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira talks about a newly release Slovak Defence Strategy set to shift the annual defence budget toward weapons and equipment procurement as well as military R&D.

In news from the air desk Tim Martin discusses the latest on the FVL Maritime Strike programme.

Interview – ICDS on Baltic Security [18:47]

Senior Editor Naval Richard Thomas is on the line with Tony Lawrence, Head of Defence Policy & Strategy Programme and Research Fellow at ICDS in Estonia, about the maritime security situation in the Baltic region.

Interview: Raytheon Intelligence & Space [32:38]

Shephard contributor Gerrard Cowan is on the line with Tay Fitzgerald, VP of advanced concepts and technology at Raytheon Intelligence & Space, for insight into the world of digital engineering and its uses for military programmes. 

This episode was produced by Noemi Distefano with music and sound mixing by Fred Prest.