PODCAST: Submarine safety, Finnish HX fighter programme and global MLRS market

04/30/21 • 56 min

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, the Shephard team looks at the global MLRS market, focusing on current programmes and platform upgrades; and in an interview with the Digital Ground Forces Division of the IDF, we discuss its Tzaid programme, also known as Torch.

Newsround [ 00:56]

Turkish defence companies Ares Shipyard and Meteksan unveiled the new anti-submarine warfare variant of the ULAQ unmanned surface vehicle family on 23 April.

Australia got one step closer to receiving its first UCAV after the US State Department approved a potential $1.65 billion FMS package for up to 12 weapons-ready MQ-9B SkyGuardian aircraft.

The US Army in Europe is adopting Li-Fi optical wireless communication technology that uses the visible light, ultraviolet and IR spectra to transmit data.

UK-based pureLiFi will provide its Kitefin system to US Army Europe and Africa in what the company described as ‘the world’s first large-scale deployment’ of the technology.

In Focus

A week on from the sinking of the Nangala Cakra-class (Type 209) Indonesian submarine north of the coast of Bali, News Editor Ben Vogel and Senior Reporter Tim Fish look at submarine safety and consider the wider implications the incident will have on the Indonesian Navy.

This week also marks a key moment for the Spanish Army as after a decade-long wait, Spanish shipbuilder Navantia launched the first of four S-80A Plus submarines and could be ready to deliver the new platforms from 2023.

In news from the air desk, Air Editor Tim Martin discusses Finland’s progress on the HX programme. Helsinki is getting closer to selecting an aircraft for its €9.4 billion ($11.4 billion) HX fighter competition after receiving best and final offers from five competitors.

And the testing of IFV contenders for the Czech Army programmes begun this week with the service initiating tests of three IFVs on 26 April.

Deep Dive – Global Market of MLRS [23:20]

Senior Land Analyst Sunny Butterworth discusses updates, replacements and the wider global market for multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).

Interview – IDF [41:48]

Tim Fish is on the line with Major Amos Shor, Head of the Digital Ground Forces Division, Ground-Forces Weaponry Branch of the IDF, for a conversation about the Tzaid programme, also known as Torch.

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

Newsround [ 00:56]

Turkish defence companies Ares Shipyard and Meteksan unveiled the new anti-submarine warfare variant of the ULAQ unmanned surface vehicle family on 23 April.

Australia got one step closer to receiving its first UCAV after the US State Department approved a potential $1.65 billion FMS package for up to 12 weapons-ready MQ-9B SkyGuardian aircraft.

The US Army in Europe is adopting Li-Fi optical wireless communication technology that uses the visible light, ultraviolet and IR spectra to transmit data.

UK-based pureLiFi will provide its Kitefin system to US Army Europe and Africa in what the company described as ‘the world’s first large-scale deployment’ of the technology.

In Focus

And the testing of IFV contenders for the Czech Army programmes begun this week with the service initiating tests of three IFVs on 26 April.

Deep Dive – Global Market of MLRS [23:20]

Senior Land Analyst Sunny Butterworth discusses updates, replacements and the wider global market for multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).

Interview – IDF [41:48]

Tim Fish is on the line with Major Amos Shor, Head of the Digital Ground Forces Division, Ground-Forces Weaponry Branch of the IDF, for a conversation about the Tzaid programme, also known as Torch.

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

Previous Episode

PODCAST: Lockheed Martin 2021 financials, Slovak IFV and C-UAS trends

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we comment on Lockheed Martin’s Q1 financial results, we delve into IFV procurement in Slovakia, and we talk to Blighter Surveillance Systems about C-UAS market trends.

Newsround [01:00]

Just two months after Moscow agreed to extend the New START nuclear arms treaty with the US, Russia is now updating its intercontinental ballistic missile inventory with plans to field a new-generation system to replace the RS-24 Yars.

The Budget Committee of the German Parliament has approved investment totalling €600 million in multiple procurement programmes.

Israel Aerospace Industries revealed on 19 April that the Barak ER extended-range interceptor missile, tested in March, is now in serial production with the Israeli defence forces most likely to be the launch customer.

On 16 April, the French Navy received its first FREMM air defence frigate, Alsace, from shipbuilder Naval Group.

BAE Systems has finished construction of the bow of HMS Glasgow, which is the first City-class Type 26 frigate for the UK Royal Navy.

In Focus

Air Editor Tim Martin discusses Lockheed Martin’s Q1 financial results, in which the company said it can reduce operating costs of the F-35 to $25,000 per flight hour.

In news from the land desk, Senior Land Reporter Tim Fish discussed how the Slovak MoD is procuring new infantry fighting vehicles to replace its old Soviet-era platforms.

Interview- Blighter Surveillance Systems [18:15]

Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira speaks to Angus Hone, CEO of UK-based company Blighter, about the latest developments in C-UAS platforms and drone detection radars, as well as market trends for these systems.

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

Next Episode

PODCAST: FLRAA update, UK land programmes and Russian microeletronics

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, our team of subject matter experts delves into stories from the land and air domains, and in an interview with Supacat we look at the wider impact of the Integrated Review on some key British Army programmes.

Newsround [00:55]

French company Dassault confirmed on 4 May a follow-on order from Egypt for 30 Rafale multirolefighter aircraft in an estimated €4 billion deal.

The delivery schedule for the 30 extra Rafales was undisclosed at the time of the announcement, and Shephard has since learned that the contract has still not officially been signed as a bank loan needs to be finalised that is 85% guaranteed by the French state.

Boeing is poised to provide India with six additional P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, after the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress that the State Department approved the potential sale.

Elbit Systems has successfully completed acceptance tests for combat suites aboard the Hellenic Coast Guard’s new patrol vessels in the Aegean.

Trials included integration level tests of the combat systems and subsystems onboard the vessel as well as live firing tests from the onboard remote-controlled weapon stations.

Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Russian conglomerate Rostec, recently warned that his companies are accelerating the development of domestic microelectronics ‘as foreign deliveries can be stopped at any time’.

The need to ensure technological independence from foreign suppliers requires Russia to spend big over an extended period of time. Yet it is debatable whether Russia can guarantee stable funding in the post-COVID Russian economy.

In focus

Air Editor Tim Martin reports on the latest news concerning the US Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) programme.

Ahead of a FLRAA contract award to Bell or a joint Boeing and Sikorsky team, the US Army has decided to keep manufacturing costs and programme risks confidential.

Senior Land Reporter Tim Fish looks at potential delays in Canada on the Long-Range Reconnaissance System for the LAV, amid reports that one of the companies involved in the programme is suffering severe financial issues.

And as the Australian government seeks FMS approval from the US for an upgrade to its Abrams tank fleet, Tim also looks at what this means for the country’s land forces.

Interview – Supacat [19:00]

News Editor Ben Vogel is on the line with Phil Applegarth, director and head of Supacat, and Steve Austin, engineering director of the company, to dive into how UK industry reacts to the Integrated Review and MoD Command Paper.