In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, we discuss some of the main highlights from the floor of IDEX 2021; and in an interview with Curtiss Wright company PacStar we discuss developments in battlefield tactical communications and the challenges ahead.

 Newsround [00:46]
The Shephard news team is joined by freelance contributor Leonid Nersisyan, calling in from Abu Dhabi where he attended IDEX/NAVDEX 2021. 

In a roundtable discussion, the team looks at news from the event and main capabilities on display across the three domains land, air, and sea.

 LAND
Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira and Leonid engage in a discussion around the main ground systems developments from exhibitors.

These include: Spanish company Escribano, which launched new remote weapon stations (RWS) specially configured for the Middle East market; and French company Arquus, which revealed its Hornet RWS on the Scarabee light armoured vehicle.

Russia presented the T-14 tank, produced by Uralvagonzavod (part of Rostec State Corporation). The new tank is fitted with a high degree of protection against all existing and future-generation anti-tank weapons, including precision-guided munitions.

South Korean company, Kia Corporation displayed its new Light Tactical Cargo Truck and Bare Chassis concept; and MBDA showcased its Sky Warden offers flexible C-UAS with sensor fusion.

AIR & SEA [18:22]

Following conflicts in recent years in Nagorno-Karabakh which saw increased use of loitering munitions, the Armenian defence industry showcased new small drones by Pride Systems. The company exhibited two models of its own design at the show: a fixed-wing drone with variable-sweep wings and a pentacopter. 

The UAE announced that the third GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft was delivered on 20 February by Saab. And Austrian company Schiebel revealed it is developing the S-300 as a larger and heavier rotary-wing UAV in its Camcopter range. 

At the parallel show, NAVDEX, a ceremony for the logistic support vessel Al Saadiyat (L72) was held as part of efforts by the UAE to modernise its naval fleet. 

Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) exhibited several scale models of new vessels being designed and manufactured domestically. These include the 60m-long Falaj 3 patrol vessel.

Interview – Curtiss-Wright company PacStar [33:28]

News Editor Ben Vogel is on the line with PacStar CTO Charlie Kawasaki to discuss trends in network modernisation for tactical battlefield communications. What innovative technologies and methods are going to make an impact?

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