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