Transferring technology, teaming manned and unmanned aircraft, and deconstructing the news

Why mount a Javelin on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)? Why is Russia buying 100 new-generation attack helicopters? And what’s the future of manned-unmanned teaming technologies?

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, the team look at the implications of the major defence stories of the week, we speak to L3 Technologies about its development of MUM-T and we discuss the future of UK defence exports with the director of the Defence and Security Organisation (DSO).

In our Industry Voice segment, meanwhile, our sponsor Nammo discusses the implications of the main defence stories of the first half of 2019.

• News Round Up (01:00)

This week in the news…

The team discusses the escalation of tensions between the US and Iran, following Iran’s Revolutionary Guard shooting down a BAMS-D version of the RQ-4 Global Hawk on 19 June.

Elsewhere, Deputy Land Editor Beth Maundrill looks at the implications of a test at Redstone Arsenal in which a Javelin anti-tank guided missile was tested using a Kongsberg remote weapon station mounted on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).

In the air domain, Senior Reporter Tim Martin and Air Domain Helen Haxell look at Russian MoD plans to place a large-scale order for no fewer than 98 Mi-28NM new-generation attack helicopters.

Tim also outlines how the co-axial Sikorsky S-97 Raider programme has managed to successfully overcome software-based problems but has yet to achieve a self-imposed speed target of 220kt.

Out at sea, Editor-in-Chief Richard Thomas provides an update on both the US Navy’s Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG(X)) and future Large Surface Combatant (LSC). Two RfIs were released for the latter in February 2019 and the navy now reports it has received responses from more than 30 potential industry partners.

• Paris Air Show coverage – The future of manned/unmanned teaming (20:13)

Air Domain Editor Helen Haxell sits down with L3 Technologies to talk about manned-unmanned teaming developments and how the technology has evolved. 

Daniel Gelston, L3 Technologies President of Broadband Communications Sector and Rob Johnston, Director of Business Development at the company provide their insight.

• Interview – Mark Goldsack, Director of the UK’s Defence and Security Organisation (DSO) (33:33)

Tony Skinner, VP Content, speaks to the Director of the UK’s Defence and Security Organisation (DSO), Mark Goldsack, about the future of defence exports and the role that technology transfer now plays in international partnering across the sector.

• Industry Voice – Nammo (46:49)

In this week’s Industry Voice Tony Skinner, our VP of Content, and Endre Lunde, SVP of Communications for Nammo, talk about the main defence stories to have dominated the headlines in the first half of 2019.

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest