The Shephard Defence Podcast

 ·        News Roundup (00:35) On the news this week…We hear from Deputy Editor – Air Tim Martin about the contenders for the US Navy’s (USN) TH-73A trainer helicopter contract. Land Analyst Sonny Butterworth looks at the sale of 500 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles to Lithuania. Meanwhile, Senior Editor – Naval Richard Thomas explains that Iran has announced that it is installing a VLS onboard the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) destroyer Dena, ahead of stated plans to introduce the technology more widely across its surface fleet.·        Deep Dive – D&S 2019 (14:55) Senior Editor – Naval Richard Thomas and Asia Pacific Editor Gordon Arthur discuss all the news from the recent D&S exhibition in Bangkok.·        Interview – General Electric (38:48) We speak to General Electric about its solution for the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) that will replace the engine on the UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters. Tom Champion, ITEP Program Manager and Mike Sousa, Director of Turboshaft Business Development, provide an update.·        Industry Voice – Nammo (53:00)VP Content Tony Skinner and Nammo SVP of Communications Endre Lunde discuss technology management – the challenges related to managing technological developments and progress.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, Tim Martin, Deputy Air Editor, reflects on the news from this week’s Dubai Air Show and we speak with Mark Bauman, VP of Global Gorwth at Insitu, about its unmanned platforms.News Roundup (00:35)On the news this week…Land Editor Beth Maundrill chats with Richard Thomas, Sea Editor, about the UK’s investment into various modernisation programmes in the Middle East, including Jordan and Lebanon, and the team talk about the finalisation of the contract for the UK Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates. https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/uk-details-security-support-jordan-and-lebanon-ano/https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/imps-news/deal-done-uks-future-type-31-frigates/Meanwhile, on land the team looks at the latest from Mercedes-Benz special trucks including its presence at Defence and Security Bangkok. And in the unmanned domain, the latest Common Robotic System contract has been awarded by the US Army to Flir’s Endevor Robotics. https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/mil-log/ds-2019-unimog-relaunches-itself-asia/https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/uv-online/endeavor-robitics-awarded-us-army-crs-h-contract/Deep Dive – Dubai Air Show (17:00)With Dubai Air Show coming to a close this week, Tim Martin speaks about some of the highlights from the event including the UAE’s decision to acquire more GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft and how Leonardo’s AW609 may be delayed regarding certification because of changes to FAA requirements. https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/dubai-airshow-uae-enters-final-stages-air-power-do/https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-helicopter/dubai-airshow-2019-stress-tells-uae-aw609-deal/Interview – Insitu (25:41)Mark Bauman from Insitu and Shephard’s Tim Martin speak about the long-standing ScanEagle UAV programme and its evolution over the past 15 years to today’s latest variant of the unmanned aircraft. Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest. 

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we speak with Airbus Helicopters about the US helicopter training market and its business growth path and Raytheon provides insight into the space domain and its importance to the military. News Roundup (00:45)On the news this week…Land Editor Beth Maundrill chats with Richard Thomas, Sea Editor, about Egypt’s growing naval ambitions and how neighbours in the region are keeping a close eye on those developments. The team also discusses the findings from the Accident Investigation Board Norway following its review of the November 2018 sinking of frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad. Meanwhile, on land the team looks at the latest in mortar technology from Spain and the operational use of the Alakran by two of its first customers. With Defence and Security Bangkok to begin on 18 November the team touch on the 2020 defence budget approval from the Thai government and what demands the Thai Armed Forces have. Deep Dive – Airbus Helicopters (16:13)Airbus Helicopters recently hosted media at its site in Manching, Germany, Deputy Air Editor Tim Martin speaks with Matthieu Louvot, Executive Vice President of Airbus Helicopters Programmes during the visit about the company’s key military programmes. Interview – Raytheon (25:48)As discussed on previous podcasts, the space domain is an important frontier for armed forces around the world. We speak to Wallis Laughrey, VP Space Systems at Raytheon about how this area. Industry Voice (44:20)Beth Maundrill speaks to Nammo’s SVP of Communications Endre Lunde, who provides his insights into the area of defence export controls.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest.https://twitter.com/fprestmusic

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we speak to Raytheon and Saab about the Guided Carl-Gustaf Munition and take a deep-dive with Defence Insight’s Matt Smith into military fixed-wing aircraft and the upward tick in investment over the next decade.News Roundup (00:00:35)On the news this week…On the vehicle front, Land Market Analyst Sonny Butterworth outlines the recently announced contract that will see the British Army provided with more than 500 Boxer armoured vehicles at a cost of some £2.8 billion.Boxer contract announced for British ArmyWhile at sea, Naval Editor Richard Thomas provides insight and analysis into the suspension of the UK’s Fleet Solid Support Ship programme, as calls grow to ensure the country maintains a sovereign shipbuilding capability.FSS suspension indicative of wider push for sovereign naval industryAir Editor Tim Martin details on the news from his recent Airbus visit and developments on key rotorcraft, unmanned and fast jet programmes the company is involved with.Airbus reveals classified ‘untrackable’ low observable UAV​Spanish shares increase non-starter for AirbusDeep Dive – Fixed Wing Aircraft Analysis (21:00)Land Editor Beth Maundrill sits down with Shephard’s Director of Analysis, Matt Smith, to talk about the latest in the series of Defence Insight’s analysis. This time the team looks into military fixed wing aircraft and the upward tick in investment over the next decade.Interview – Guided Carl-Gustaf Munition (32:38)Beth Maundrill speaks with Michael Höglund, head of business unit ground combat for Saab and Ty Blanchard, Guided Carl-Gustaf Munition business development manager for Raytheon about the latest live firing demonstration of the Guided Carl-Gustaf Munition which have been carried out in both Sweden and the US.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest. https://twitter.com/fprestmusic 

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, the team discusses the electronic warfare landscape and UK moves into manned-unmanned teaming, we speak to MetaVR about visualisation technologies as well as defence supplier Inzpire. And our sponsor Nammo provides this week’s Industry Voice segment.News Roundup (00:35)On the news this week…With Editor-in-Chief Richard Thomas away covering the AOC 2019 conference in Washington DC, the team consider the electronic warfare landscape and how the US is scrambling to respond to the expanding threat.Director of Analysis Matthew Smith outlines the projections for the fighter aircraft market over the next ten years and what a lower-cost F-35 could mean for future procurement programmes.Deputy Air Editor Tim Martin explains how the British Army wants to prioritise manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) for its incoming fleet of AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters, but first intends on making sure that such developments can take place without overburdening soldiers.Land Editor Beth Maundrill outlines why the Latvian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is making another attempt to procure a fleet of tactical vehicles. This comes after the previous competition, which saw the selection of Sisu's GTP 4x4, had to be terminated due to the discovery of a number of irregularities in the evaluation process. Deep Dive – Military simulation technologies (13:55)Our Training and Simulation Editor Trevor Nash talks to Garth Smith, President of MetaVR as we take a deep dive into the simulation and training market, and consider the underlying visualisation technologies that enable next-generation training.Interview – Alan Whittle, Director of Strategy and Plans at Inzpire (30:36)Our VP Content Tony Skinner sits down with Alan Whittle, Director of Strategy and Plans at Inzpire, to talk about how the defence supplier has positioned itself to leverage recent wins from the UK Ministry of Defence.Industry Voice – Nammo (40:17)Nammo’s SVP of Communications Endre Lunde provides essential tips and strategies for those listeners that find themselves frequently away on business travel.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Presthttps://twitter.com/fprestmusic

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we are on the floor of AUSA talking lasers, synthetic training and QinetiQ’s expansion into the US, and look at enhancements to the Apache attack helicopter.News Roundup (00:37)On the news this week…Editor-in-Chief Richard Thomas chats to Director of Analysis Matthew Smith about the military fixed-wing aircraft market, following Shephard’s Defence Insight’s team recent study into the sector.Meanwhile, Deputy Air Editor Tim Martin provides an update to the US Army’s replacement of its RQ-7 Shadow under the Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) programme, including an interesting development surrounding hybrid flight kit licensing authority arrangements.AUSA 2019: US Army unconcerned by FTUAS hybrid flight kit permutationsDeep Dive – AUSA walkaround (11:09)With AUSA 2019 such a major fixture on the annual defence calendar, Shephard Media’s Land Editor Beth Maundrill provides coverage from the show floor.QinetiQ – With QinetiQ announcing that it has agreed to acquire Manufacturing Techniques (MTEQ), more than doubling the size of its US operations, Beth speaks to Steve Wadey, CEO of QinetiQ; Jeff Yorsz, President of QinetiQ North America; and Mary Williams, President at Manufacturing Techniques (MTEQ) about the implications of the deal.Cubic – The US Army is developing a new Synthetic Training Environment to enhance LVC training. Robert Kalebaugh, Vice President Business Development at Cubic Global Defense, explains the company’s role.Northrop Grumman – Mark Skinner, Vice President of Directed Energy, and Michael O'Hara, Manager of M-SHORAD Programs, outline the company’s directed energy efforts on M-SHORAD with the US Army.Interview – Lockheed Martin (28:33)The US Army recently awarded Lockheed Martin a $40.6 million contract to produce Modernized Turrets (M-TUR) for the AH-64E Apache helicopter, an upgrade to the current M-TADS/PNVS system.Deputy Air Editor Tim Martin speaks to Tom Eldredge, director of Apache Fire Control programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, about the enhancements.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we report from the floor of AUSA and look at the status of the US Army’s key aviation and land vehicle programmes, including the AVX/L3Harris contender for FARA, and we speak to Raytheon about its Naval Strike Missile, while sponsor Nammo provides its insight into industry developments.News Roundup (00:50)On the news this week…The team provide coverage of all the news at AUSA 2019 in Washington DC this week.Deputy Air Editor Tim Martin outlines how the main contenders were positioning themselves for the US Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme, with several using the show to reveal aspects of their designs.Raider X takes to the stageBell fired up for FARA with 360 InvictusBoeing sticks to FARA vow of silenceDefiant delays return to haunt SB>1On the vehicle front, Land Editor Beth Maundrill explains how while the US Army remains tight-lipped on the status of the OMFV programme, Rheinmetall is still pushing for its Lynx KF41 to be a part of the effort which will see the replacement of the Bradley IFV.Rheinmetall disappointed but not beaten on OMFVLong Range Precision Fires (LRFP) continues to be a top priority for the US Army’s modernisation plan. Part of the tactical level of that effort, BAE Systems, in partnership with the army, debuted the ERCA howitzer test bed at AUSA 2019.US Army gunning for extended range prototype successA number of companies showcased new capabilities integrated on the Stryker armoured vehicle, including General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) with its Initial Maneuver Short-Range Air Defence (IM-SHORAD) Stryker solution.IM-SHORAD paves the way for rapid prototyping effortsDeep Dive – The AVX-L3Harris Compound Coaxial Helicopter  (14:40)Tim Martin speaks to Luke Savoie, the President of Aviation Services for L3Harris, about its proposal for the US Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft that it is developing in partnership with AVX.AVX and L3T show FARA handInsight: What next for the FARA five?Interview – Raytheon's Naval Strike Missile (27:29)VP Content Tony Skinner caught up with Randy Kempton, Raytheon's Naval Strike Missile programme director, to discuss the latest developments and prospects of the weapon.USMC to get Naval Strike MissileIndustry Voice – Nammo (35:32)Tim Martin speaks to Endre Lunde, Nammo’s SVP Communications, about the news and developments revealed during at AUSA.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

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 raceOn 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 impasseOn 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 piracyDeep 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 paradeInterview – 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  

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we head to Brussels to learn about the development of European special forces capabilities, take a look at the Chinese military equipment on display at the PLA's recent parade and find out about Bell’s future attack helicopter contender.News Roundup (00:34)On the news this week…The team outline how 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.On the aviation front, manufacturer Bell has unveiled its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft Competitive Prototype contender – the 360 Invictus – distinguished by a lift-sharing fixed-wing, tandem cockpit, single-engine and integrated with new rotor technology for high-speed flight. Deputy air editor Tim Martin outlines more.On the land front, land editor Beth Maundrill paid a visit to Israel Weapons Industries (IWI), which alongside detailing elements of its future business roadmap, said that configuring its own weapon systems to a new 6.8mm, or even 6.5mm, calibre would be an ‘easy change’ to make.Sea editor Richard Thomas explains how the UK's HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group has formed for the first time on the Westlant 19 deployment. Meanwhile, Newport News Shipbuilding has completed the dry dock portion of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington’s (CVN 73) refuelling and complex overhaul (RCOH).Deep Dive – Belgium’s Special Operations (17:30)We speak with Colonel Tom Bilo commander of Belgium’s Special Operations Regiment, which was established in July 2018, about the country’s heritage in parachute and commando units and how the regiment is now enhancing its SOF capabilities.Interview – General Claudio Graziano, the permanent Chairman of the EUMC (33:37)The European Union Military Committee (EUMC) is composed of the chiefs of defence of the EU member states and provides the Political and Security Committee with advice and recommendations on all military matters within the EU. General Claudio Graziano, the permanent Chairman of the CEUMC, outlines the role the committee plays within EU defence matters.Industry Voice – Nammo (44:52)Nammo SVP of Communications Endre Lunde outlines the challenges the defence industry faces planning for 2020 and beyond given the current global instablility.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest  

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we speak to our Asia Pacific editor about all the defence rumblings across the region, talk innovation with QinetiQ and look at all the news from across the defence sector.News RoundupOn the news this week…Deputy air editor Tim Martin outlines how helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky has held meetings and CH-53K King Stallion flight demonstrations with German and Israeli delegations as it looks to encourage both that the aircraft fits their individual heavy-lift helicopter requirements.Meanwhile, despite the Philippines turning efforts to introduce 16 new combat utility helicopters for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) into a drawn-out saga, Shephard has confirmed that a deal was signed earlier this year for the Sikorsky S-70i.Confirmation of a direct commercial sale came at the MSPO exhibition in Poland earlier this month, with the S-70i aircraft to be assembled at Sikorsky’s PZL Mielec unit in Poland. Editor-in-chief Richard Thomas outlines reports from our roving editor Beth Maundrill in Haifa who has revealed that just four months after the launch of its new OPV design, the OPV-45, Israel Shipyards has secured its first order for the new vessel type.Deep Dive – Developments in Asia Pacific defence Our Asia Pacific editor Gordon Arthur runs through all the major defence developments from the region from recent weeks.Front and centre is the news that China has launched its first landing helicopter dock (LHD) at the Huangpu-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, greatly furthering the future expeditionary capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).Two other neighbouring Southeast Asian countries are adding LPDs to their naval fleets and both are procuring them from Asian shipbuilders in different countries.Meanwhile, in Australia Rheinmetall Defence Australia has handed over the first Boxer 8x8 armoured vehicle acquired under Project Land 400 Phase 2 to the Australian Army.Interview – QinetiQVP Content Tony Skinner speaks to with Mike Sewart, QinetiQ’s Director of Research and Innovation about the company’s innovation activities, including directed energy weapons and the development of lasers, among other technologies.New content teaser – Five Eyes Connectivity podcast (37:06)We preview Shephard Media’s special series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.Over three episodes, we will look at the changing face of modern warfare across the land, sea and air domains through the prism of three key technology areas: Satellite communications, line-of-sight datalinks and cyber securityEpisode one is available hereMusic and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest