Rumblings in the Asia-Pacific, developments from SHOT and how industry can support the troops in the new operating environment

In this episode of the Weekly Defence podcast, we turn our attention east and consider the latest defence news from Asia-Pacific, we are on the floor of SHOT show in Las Vegas and we bring you all the news of the week. And our sponsor Nammo provides this week’s Industry Voice segment.

• News Round (01:50)  

 The team discuss the news that Chinese company Huawei will be allowed to contribute to the UK’s 5G network and any impact this will have on the UK’s information sharing and future in the Five Eyes network. Experts from the cyber community have deemed the risk posed by Huawei hardware ‘manageable’.

VP Content Tony Skinner also highlights the recent decision of the Czech MoD to boosting its defence budget in new or modernized military equipment. The budget allocation of $3.2 billion is the biggest ever in defence procurement for the country and aims to significantly strengthen the Czech Army.

Reporter - Land Flavia Camargos Pereira speaks about the US Army’s effort to replace the Vietnam War-era M113 armoured vehicle, with the commission of 150 Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) following the 21 January contract modification revealed by the Pentagon worth $400 million. 

Flavia also gives an insight on the latest developments on the Scorpion programme as France moves forward and the French Army announced it will field the Thales’ 120-mm Rifled Recoiled Mounted Mortar systems. 

• Asia Pacific update (17:54)

Asia Pacific Editor Gordon Arthur brings us the latest from the Asia-Pacific region, including India’s announcement it has elevated its response to China’s threat deploying seven to eight submarines in the Indian Ocean last week. The Indian MoD is making slow, though significant, advances on both submarine and fighter fronts as part of their Project 75(I) submarine programme.

Moving onto China, Gordon talks about the recently revealed Chinese production of aircraft jet engines. The announcement and the jet exhibitions of the jet engines in Hebei last month, marks a new era on Chines plans for military aircraft production.  

• Show coverage – SHOT Show (31:50)

Senior Editor - Naval Richard Thomas talks to our regular contributor, Scott Gourley, about the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show he attended in Las Vegas last week. We find out what SHOT is, how it went from being a sporting show to attracting ballistic technology experts from all over the world and the latest industry news from exhibitors on the floor.

 Turkish counter-UAV ammunition and multi-calibre rifles on show

• Industry Voice - Nammo (42:55)

VP Content Tony Skinner speaks to SVP Communication at Nammo Endre Lunde about the company’s focus for 2020, including the specific needs of troops in the new operating environment. 

Music and sound mixing provide by Fred Prest