In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, as we say goodbye to 2019, we take the chance to look back at some of our best coverage of the past few months, including coverage from MSPO in Poland, China's military parade and NATO Engages in London.

• Show coverage - MSPO

Editor in chief Richard Thomas and deputy air editor Tim Martin report from MSPO in Poland.

Among the news to emerge from the show was the confirmation that the Pentagon's decision to remove Turkey from the F-35 programme has since left production made aircraft readied for Ankara without an owner.

Meanwhile, among the new products on display was a technology demonstrator of an mobile air defence combat system (ASBOP–PERKUN) the Lukasiewicz – PIAP Institute has developed in partnership with the Telesystem-Mesko company.

• Deep Dive – People’s Liberation Army (PLA) armaments

On 1 October China put on its largest-ever parade through Tiananmen Square in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the modern-day People’s Republic of China. Dominating the spectacle were missiles, unmanned systems and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities.

Asia Pacific editor Gordon Arthur was there and outlines what he learned from the parade, which saw some 40% of the equipment shown to the public for the first time.

Chinese missiles dominate world’s largest military parade

• Interview – Justin Bronk of RUSI

Deputy Editor, Air Tim Martin talks to Justin Bronk, Research Fellow specialising in combat airpower and technology in the Military Science team at RUSI, at the NATO Engages event in London.

• Industry Voice - Nammo

Nammo SVP of Communications Endre Lunde outlines the challenges the defence industry faces planning for 2020 and beyond given the current global instablility.

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

As a bonus episode for listeners of The Weekly Defence Podcast, here's episode three of our new Revolutions in Vertical Flight podcast series.

The full series can be found here:

The Revolutions in Vertical Flight podcast tells the little-known story of the history of rotorcraft, from the autogiro and helicopter, to the tiltrotor and eVTOL platforms in development today. 

Revolutions in Vertical Flight reveals the stories of a small group of pioneers, the visions and beliefs that drove them, and their approach to invention and innovation.

And the Shephard Studio podcast series looks at the vertical flight innovation underway today, revealing how it will transform military operations and revolutionise urban mobility.

In this episode, we look at a persisting dream of the early rotorcraft pioneers – how to build a machine that combined the vertical takeoff and landing attributes of a helicopter with the speed and range advantages of a fixed-wing aircraft.

We hear how a failed military mission in the Iranian desert ultimately led to the creation of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor. And how Leonardo plans to bring the tiltrotor design to the civil market with its AW609. 

Land: Year in Review

Senior Editor, Naval Richard Thomas and Land Analyst Sonny Butterworth consider how 2019 has proven to be an eventful year for the armoured vehicles market with several major contracts finalised such as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle for the US Army and Marine Corps and the Boxer contract for the British Army. 

Also, the trade shows this year marked the debut of several new 8x8 platforms which aim to increase their operational utility. Some of these platforms are coming from manufacturers based in countries not typically associated with the production of armoured vehicles such as UAE and Thailand. 

Asia-Pacific Editor Gordon Arthur highlights the biggest news in the land domain of the year for the Asia-Pacific region taking a closer look at Australia, South Korea, Japan and India. As Vietnam received 64 T-90S and T-90SK tanks from Russia, and India approved the acquisition of 464 T-90MS tanks, we discuss exports and how Asia’s interest in importing armoured vehicles from different places is growing.

Sea:  Year in Review 

Director of Analysis Matthew Smith and Senior Editor, Naval Richard Thomas discuss how navies across the globe face a dilemma of modernisation of hugely capable ships which yet come with a considerable price tag. Where is the right balance? 

And going through this year’s major stories in the naval sector we highlight fleet modernisation among countries such as UK and Italy, and in the US we saw the largest-ever shipbuilding contract in the sea domain awarded earlier this year to General Dynamic Electric Boat for the construction for nine Block V Virginia class submarines. 

Air: Year in Review 

Air Analyst Ilker Aktasoglu and Editor, Air Tim Martin take a look at the air domain talking how  Lockheed Martin’s F-35 has been the main subject of this year’s top stories. The US cancelled Turkish participation in the programme over Ankara’s procurement of Russian weapon systems while Singapore Greece and Poland all confirmed plans to procure the F-35. We go back to Paris Air Show which witnessed two next generation combat aircraft mock-ups: Dassault and Airbus’ sixth-generation Future Combat Air System and Turkish Aerospace’s fifth generation TF- X fighter. And in the UK we discuss the MoD’s choice to procure five new E-7 Wedgetails for $1.98 billion to replace E-3D Sentrys which will retire by 2025. 

Director of Analysis Matthew Smith talks about how the October incident caused by missiles fired by Saudi Arabia will continue to have a huge impact in the air defence domain. This could lead to a substantial growth in investments from countries in the air defence sector - especially in the Middle East. 

 

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, after heads of state, government and military leaders descended on London for the NATO Leaders’ Meeting, we review the issues facing the alliance, and get the perspective of two key analysts.

• News Roundup (00:36)

 On the news this week…

Senior Editor, Naval Richard Thomas and Deputy Editor, Air Tim Martin, take a look at the atmosphere at this year’s NATO meeting in occasion of the 70th anniversary of the alliance. They discuss why the positive speech delivered from the NATO Secretary, Jens Stoltenberg, was contrasted by scepticism by some world leaders, with particular attention to French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech.

Director of Analysis Matthew Smith shares data following the NATO release of its most recent set of budgets, which saw a significant increase in procurement expenses compared to last year with Turkey on top of the list with an estimate $5.3billion for procurement expenses. 

Senior Editor, Naval Richard Thomas talks about the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier commissioning ceremony in Portsmouth, 78 years after the sinking of the first HMS Prince of Wales.

• Interview – Justin Bronk of RUSI (21:14)

Deputy Editor, Air Tim Martin talks to Justin Bronk, Research Fellow specialising in combat airpower and technology in the Military Science team at RUSI .

• Interview – Robert Vass President of GLOBSEC (36:26)

We discuss with Robert Vass some the most prominent issues amid countries part of the NATO alliance following the world’s leaders’ speeches at this year’s event in London.

• Industry Voice: Nammo (51:24)

 Shephard Media’s VP Content Tony Skinner and Nammo SVP of Communications Endre Lunde discuss the EU’s possible prohibition of lead ammunition for sport and hunting purposes, and the effect this would have on the defence supply chain.

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

·       News Roundup (00:40)

In the news this week…

We hear from VP content Tony Skinner about companies developing new training solutions and when those systems are likely to be ready for deployment. 

 We also learn about Epic Games and its software engine and Cruden’s fast boat simulator, both on the show floor at this year’s I/ITSEC.

Military Training & Simulation News Editor Trevor Nash considers whether lower-cost military training technologies are a panacea for companies, and if these devices will be ready to replace larger full-flight simulators and weapon system trainers.

·        Deep Dive – I/ITSEC 2019 (14:44)

Senior Editor – Naval Richard Thomas talks to Booz Allen Hamilton about why immersive training environments are gaining popularity, and the challenges of using VR and AR for militaries . 

·        Interview – Richard Whittle  (31:04)

With the V-22 tiltrotor having recently passed the 500,000 flight hour milestone, VP Content Tony Skinner talks to author Richard Whittle, who goes back in time, explaining some of the challenges that the original proponents of the Osprey programme had to overcome.

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

 ·        News Roundup (00:35) 

On the news this week…

We hear from Deputy Editor – Air Tim Martin about the contenders for the US Navy’s (USN) TH-73A trainer helicopter contract.

 Land Analyst Sonny Butterworth looks at the sale of 500 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles to Lithuania.

 Meanwhile, Senior Editor – Naval Richard Thomas explains that Iran has announced that it is installing a VLS onboard the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) destroyer Dena, ahead of stated plans to introduce the technology more widely across its surface fleet.

·        Deep Dive – D&S 2019 (14:55)

 Senior Editor – Naval Richard Thomas and Asia Pacific Editor Gordon Arthur discuss all the news from the recent D&S exhibition in Bangkok.

·        Interview – General Electric (38:48)

 We speak to General Electric about its solution for the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) that will replace the engine on the UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters. Tom Champion, ITEP Program Manager and Mike Sousa, Director of Turboshaft Business Development, provide an update.

·        Industry Voice – Nammo (53:00)

VP Content Tony Skinner and Nammo SVP of Communications Endre Lunde discuss technology management – the challenges related to managing technological developments and progress.

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, Tim Martin, Deputy Air Editor, reflects on the news from this week’s Dubai Air Show and we speak with Mark Bauman, VP of Global Gorwth at Insitu, about its unmanned platforms.

News Roundup (00:35)

On the news this week…

Land Editor Beth Maundrill chats with Richard Thomas, Sea Editor, about the UK’s investment into various modernisation programmes in the Middle East, including Jordan and Lebanon, and the team talk about the finalisation of the contract for the UK Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates. 

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/uk-details-security-support-jordan-and-lebanon-ano/

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/imps-news/deal-done-uks-future-type-31-frigates/

Meanwhile, on land the team looks at the latest from Mercedes-Benz special trucks including its presence at Defence and Security Bangkok. And in the unmanned domain, the latest Common Robotic System contract has been awarded by the US Army to Flir’s Endevor Robotics. 

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/mil-log/ds-2019-unimog-relaunches-itself-asia/

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/uv-online/endeavor-robitics-awarded-us-army-crs-h-contract/

Deep Dive – Dubai Air Show (17:00)

With Dubai Air Show coming to a close this week, Tim Martin speaks about some of the highlights from the event including the UAE’s decision to acquire more GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft and how Leonardo’s AW609 may be delayed regarding certification because of changes to FAA requirements. 

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/dubai-airshow-uae-enters-final-stages-air-power-do/

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-helicopter/dubai-airshow-2019-stress-tells-uae-aw609-deal/

Interview – Insitu (25:41)

Mark Bauman from Insitu and Shephard’s Tim Martin speak about the long-standing ScanEagle UAV programme and its evolution over the past 15 years to today’s latest variant of the unmanned aircraft. 

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest.

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we speak with Airbus Helicopters about the US helicopter training market and its business growth path and Raytheon provides insight into the space domain and its importance to the military. 

• News Roundup (00:45)

On the news this week…

Land Editor Beth Maundrill chats with Richard Thomas, Sea Editor, about Egypt’s growing naval ambitions and how neighbours in the region are keeping a close eye on those developments. The team also discusses the findings from the Accident Investigation Board Norway following its review of the November 2018 sinking of frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad. 

Meanwhile, on land the team looks at the latest in mortar technology from Spain and the operational use of the Alakran by two of its first customers. 

With Defence and Security Bangkok to begin on 18 November the team touch on the 2020 defence budget approval from the Thai government and what demands the Thai Armed Forces have. 

• Deep Dive – Airbus Helicopters (16:13)

Airbus Helicopters recently hosted media at its site in Manching, Germany, Deputy Air Editor Tim Martin speaks with Matthieu Louvot, Executive Vice President of Airbus Helicopters Programmes during the visit about the company’s key military programmes. 

• Interview – Raytheon (25:48)

As discussed on previous podcasts, the space domain is an important frontier for armed forces around the world. We speak to Wallis Laughrey, VP Space Systems at Raytheon about how this area. 

• Industry Voice (44:20)

Beth Maundrill speaks to Nammo’s SVP of Communications Endre Lunde, who provides his insights into the area of defence export controls.

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest.

https://twitter.com/fprestmusic

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we speak to Raytheon and Saab about the Guided Carl-Gustaf Munition and take a deep-dive with Defence Insight’s Matt Smith into military fixed-wing aircraft and the upward tick in investment over the next decade.

• News Roundup (00:00:35)

On the news this week…

On the vehicle front, Land Market Analyst Sonny Butterworth outlines the recently announced contract that will see the British Army provided with more than 500 Boxer armoured vehicles at a cost of some £2.8 billion.

Boxer contract announced for British Army

While at sea, Naval Editor Richard Thomas provides insight and analysis into the suspension of the UK’s Fleet Solid Support Ship programme, as calls grow to ensure the country maintains a sovereign shipbuilding capability.

FSS suspension indicative of wider push for sovereign naval industry

Air Editor Tim Martin details on the news from his recent Airbus visit and developments on key rotorcraft, unmanned and fast jet programmes the company is involved with.

Airbus reveals classified ‘untrackable’ low observable UAV
​Spanish shares increase non-starter for Airbus

• Deep Dive – Fixed Wing Aircraft Analysis (21:00)

Land Editor Beth Maundrill sits down with Shephard’s Director of Analysis, Matt Smith, to talk about the latest in the series of Defence Insight’s analysis. This time the team looks into military fixed wing aircraft and the upward tick in investment over the next decade.

• Interview – Guided Carl-Gustaf Munition (32:38)

Beth Maundrill speaks with Michael Höglund, head of business unit ground combat for Saab and Ty Blanchard, Guided Carl-Gustaf Munition business development manager for Raytheon about the latest live firing demonstration of the Guided Carl-Gustaf Munition which have been carried out in both Sweden and the US.

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest.
https://twitter.com/fprestmusic 

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, the team discusses the electronic warfare landscape and UK moves into manned-unmanned teaming, we speak to MetaVR about visualisation technologies as well as defence supplier Inzpire. And our sponsor Nammo provides this week’s Industry Voice segment.

• News Roundup (00:35)

On the news this week…

With Editor-in-Chief Richard Thomas away covering the AOC 2019 conference in Washington DC, the team consider the electronic warfare landscape and how the US is scrambling to respond to the expanding threat.

Director of Analysis Matthew Smith outlines the projections for the fighter aircraft market over the next ten years and what a lower-cost F-35 could mean for future procurement programmes.

Deputy Air Editor Tim Martin explains how the British Army wants to prioritise manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) for its incoming fleet of AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters, but first intends on making sure that such developments can take place without overburdening soldiers.

Land Editor Beth Maundrill outlines why the Latvian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is making another attempt to procure a fleet of tactical vehicles. This comes after the previous competition, which saw the selection of Sisu's GTP 4x4, had to be terminated due to the discovery of a number of irregularities in the evaluation process.

•  Deep Dive – Military simulation technologies (13:55)

Our Training and Simulation Editor Trevor Nash talks to Garth Smith, President of MetaVR as we take a deep dive into the simulation and training market, and consider the underlying visualisation technologies that enable next-generation training.

• Interview – Alan Whittle, Director of Strategy and Plans at Inzpire (30:36)

Our VP Content Tony Skinner sits down with Alan Whittle, Director of Strategy and Plans at Inzpire, to talk about how the defence supplier has positioned itself to leverage recent wins from the UK Ministry of Defence.

• Industry Voice – Nammo (40:17)

Nammo’s SVP of Communications Endre Lunde provides essential tips and strategies for those listeners that find themselves frequently away on business travel.

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

https://twitter.com/fprestmusic