What can we expect from the upcoming Paris Air Show? What is the state of the military unmanned systems market? And how is the defence industry meeting the rising wave of consolidation?

In this week’s episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we talk about our expectations regarding the Paris Air show, hear about the Shephard Plus Unmanned Systems Report, and hear from our sponsor Nammo about the United Technologies and Raytheon merger.

• News Round Up (00:51)

This week in the news…

We cover the Angolan military’s acquisition of a number of upgraded 2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful) surface-to-air missile systems, as well as look at how Iran has also been bolstering its air defence with a demonstration of the Khordad 15 system.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will increase the size of its military and acquire new amphibious ships under the latest Defence Capability Plan (DCP) released on 11 June. The New Zealand military also has chosen Lockheed Martin’s C-130J-30 Super Hercules as the preferred option to replace its fleet of C-130H tactical airlifters that have been in service since the mid-to-late 1960s.

Finally, we talk about the US Army Security Assistance Command completing the delivery of 70 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed reconnaissance helicopters and one CH-47D Chinook heavy-lift helicopter to Greece's Hellenic Army.

Angola received upgraded SA-6 systems
Defence Capability Plan expands NZ’s military
NZ replaces Hercules with....
Greece gets ex-US military helicopters

• Event – Paris Air Show Preview (08:48)

With the Paris Air Show coming up, Air Domain editor Helen Haxell and Senior Reporter Tim Martin discuss what we can expect from the event, and what they believe some of the highlights will be.

Shephard Media reports from the 53rd Paris Air Show (PAS 2019)

• Market Report – Unmanned Systems Report (26:03)

Helen speaks to our director of analysis, Matt Smith, about the upcoming Shephard Plus forecast covering the unmanned systems sector, which uncovered trends such as an increased focus on indigenous programmes resulting in few platforms being exported.

There is concurrently an enormous expansion in the provision of every type of UAV imaginable, and the competition is extraordinarily fierce as new manufacturers pile into the market.

Matt explains how our forecast for military unmanned system procurement shows the market for new air, land and naval vehicles almost doubling over the next ten years.

View latest market forecasts

• Industry Voice – Nammo (37:29)

In this week’s Industry Voice Tony Skinner, our VP of Content, and Endre Lunde, SVP of Communications for Nammo, talk about the consolidation taking place throughout the industry, such as the Raytheon and United Technologies merger. 

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest.