Analysing People’s Liberation Army armaments, talking helicopters with Leonardo and assessing the Somali piracy threat

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we take a more detailed look at what was revealed during the PLA’s recent parade through Tiananmen Square, speak to Leonardo about the capabilities of the AW149 and the rotorcraft opportunities the company is pursuing, and assess the current Somali pirate threat for ships transiting the Red and Arabian seas.

• News Roundup (00:42)

On the news this week…

In advance of AUSA 2019, Land Editor Beth Maundrill outlines the questions surrounding the US Army’s contest to develop an Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV), which was launched in earnest at the beginning of October but drew only a single industry participant. 

This casts a long shadow over the adequacy of competition in the high-priority, fast-track, project that is estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars to replace the venerable Bradley IFV fleet.

Questions raised as Bradley replacement becomes one-horse race

On the aviation front, the German MoD has strongly hinted that ‘mutually consented’ issues have prevented an anticipated FCAS demonstrator contract being issued to Airbus and Dassault, following pressure on decision-makers from the manufacturers to deal with the matter urgently, as Deputy Air Editor Tim Martin explains.

Germany claims mutual consent forced FCAS demonstrator impasse

On the sea side, Editor-in-Chief Richard Thomas takes a deep dive into the current Somali pirate threat for ships transiting the Red and Arabian seas. The latest reduction in the size of the industry-created High-Risk Area (HRA) in May 2019 that stretched from the Red Sea through to the Gulf of Oman could indicate a reduced risk of hijacking, although maritime security observers point to a depleted but still present threat of pirate attack.

Investigative report: Industry waits on the ebb and flow of Somali piracy

• Deep Dive – People’s Liberation Army (PLA) armaments (14:40)

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 – Tony Duthie, Leonardo (32:42)

With the AW149 pride of place of the Leonardo exhibit at the recent DSEI exhibition, Shephard Media’s VP Content Tony Skinner talks to Tony Duthie, Leonardo’s Head of Land and Maritime Marketing, about the capabilities of the aircraft and the rotorcraft opportunities the company is pursuing.

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest