The Shephard Defence Podcast

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we head deep into the UK countryside to attend the 3CDSE event and see the special forces kit on display, speak to AAR about its support of the US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon and, in our Industry Voice segment, our sponsor Nammo considers the future of NATO.News Round Up (01:17)This week in the news…Air domain editor Helen Haxell considers the retention of UK defence sovereignty, in light of the progress of the BAE Systems-led Tempest future fighter programme.Editor-in-chief Richard Thomas was at Naval Group’s facility in Cherbourg on 12 July for the launch of the first of the French Navy’s Suffren-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, the product of a generation of intellectual and physical labour from French industry, government and military agencies.The first of the nuclear-powered Barracuda design from Naval Group, Suffren will eventually be joined by five other boats all of which are currently at various stages of construction or development.In the land domain, reporter Kate Martyr details coverage of the force-on-force portion of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019, which kicked off on 16 July with the largest-scale Australian-led amphibious landing since World War II. A notable part of the pivotal beach assault was the inclusion of Japanese troops for the first time.During the event, around 300 members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) came ashore via AAV7s and hovercraft, representing a dramatic scaling-up of its contribution to this biennial and bilateral Australia-US exercise.Show coverage – the Three Counties Defence and Security Expo (15:55)The Shephard team this week attended the Three Counties Defence and Security Expo in picturesque Mavern in the UK to see the special forces-focused technology on display.The Three Counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire comprise a hub of defence and security with the MoD-based in Herefordshire, Qinetiq and the Malvern Cyber Cluster in Worcestershire and GCHQ in Gloucestershire, plus all the satellite industries which have grown up around them.As VP of Content Tony Skinner found, special forces applications were at the fore of most companies displays. Among the companies we spoke to were EZ Raider, Iceni Labs, Level Peaks, Prometheus Medical and Ultra Electronics.Interview – AAR Corporation (38:00)We speak to Brian Sartain, SVP Repair and Engineering at AAR Corporation about the company’s support to the US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon and other opportunities. Industry Voice – Nammo (45:40)In this week’s Industry Voice Tony Skinner, our VP of Content, and Endre Lunde, SVP of Communications for Nammo, discuss the future of NATO.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we speak to our analyst team about their research into the 8x8 armoured vehicle sector, the group president of CAE’s Defence & Security Group outlines his vision for military training and simulation and, in our Industry Voice segment, our sponsor Nammo considers future relevance of major defence exhibitions.News Round Up (00:51)This week in the news…In land warfare news, during the Army-2019 defence exhibition held in Kubinka, Moscow, the production version of the Sosna short-range mobile short-range air defence system (SHORAD) was revealed newly-installed on a tracked chassis from the BMP-3 new-generation IFV. Land Reporter Kate Martyr considers the implications.Elsewhere, Taiwan has decided to order 108 M1A2 Abrams tanks plus ammunition from the US. These MBTs will equip two armoured battalions in the northern sector of Taiwan, to replace some existing M60A3 TTS and CM11 tanks.Deputy Land Domain Editor Beth Maundrill also outlines how as the first fleet of 32 Austrian BvS10 all-terrain vehicles (ATV) edge towards Initial Operational Capability (IOC), doubts have been cast as to whether there will be a follow-on order for the new ATVs.In the aviation realm, the Australian Army has begun its search for a successor to the troubled Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), with an RFI issued on 1 July. The effort is labelled Project Land 4503, and the number of aircraft being sought is 29. Significantly, this figure is higher than the 22 Tigers that were ordered in 2001.Senior reporter Tim Martin looks at the potential contenders for the new requirement.Market analysis – 8x8 armoured vehicle market (16:25)Matthew Smith, Director of Analysis, and Sonny Butterworth, the Land Domain Analyst here at Shephard Media, their research into the 8x8 armoured vehicle market and the trends that have emerged.The report, which will be published as part of our Armoured Vehicle handbook, outlines the renewed investment in the 8x8 sector through the purchase of new platforms and the emergence of major developmental programmes to replace long-serving legacy fleets. For more on information on the sector, our ten-year Armoured Vehicles Market Report and Forecast is available for purchase.Interview – (26:12)Helen Haxell, Air Domain Editor, speaks to Gene Colabatistto, Group President of CAE's Defence & Security Group, about training, simulation and new technologies.Industry Voice – Nammo (36:37)In this week’s Industry Voice Tony Skinner, our VP of Content, and Endre Lunde, SVP of Communications for Nammo, discuss the continued relevance of the large defence exhibitions in the annual calendar.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

What equipment does the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) have in Hong Kong? What will be the role of AI and cyber offensive capabilities on the future battlefield? In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we hear from our Asia Pacific Editor about China’s Hong Kong garrison and the military equipment on display at a recent base open day. We speak to a former Commandant of the French Foreign Legion about his vision of collaborative combat.The team look at the implications of the major defence stories of the week and our sponsor Nammo considers the trend of governments entering into long-term supply agreements with industry.News Round Up (00:48) This week in the news…On the naval front, Editor-in-Chief Richard Thomas outlines Russian plans to procure two Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines and two Project 677 diesel-electric submarines to boost its sub-surface fleet.China is also growing its submarine fleet. The US credits the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) with currently having six SSBNs, six SSNs and 50 diesel-electric submarines.An analysis by Asia Pacific Editor Gordon Arthur shows how China has developed a more modern submarine force, optimised primarily for regional anti-surface warfare missions near major sea lines of communication.On the aviation side of the house, Air Domain Editor Helen Haxell explains how the Philippine Air Force (PAF) used the celebration of its 72nd anniversary on 2 July to highlight new platforms that the force is expecting in the coming year or so.Land-side, in the wake of the final formation of Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), Deputy Land Domain Editor Beth Maundrill considers how this development could affect the British Army's Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme (CR2 LEP).Behind the news – a visit to the Hong Kong Garrison of the People’s Liberation Army (16:00)Over a three-day period from 29 June to 1 July, the Hong Kong Garrison of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) opened the gates of three of its military camps to ticket-carrying members of the public.Our Asia Pacific Editor Gordon Arthur was there and explains to host Helen Haxell how, in light of ongoing civil tensions and mass public protests in Hong Kong, the PLA was on even higher alert than normal, with several new pieces of equipment on display. You can read Gordon’s full story here: PLA shows varied capabilities in Hong KongInterview – General Alain Bouquin (30:48)Tony Skinner, VP Content, speaks to General Alain Bouquin – a former Commandant of the French Foreign Legion and now strategic advisor to Thales – about the use of cyber attack and AI on the battlefield and his concept of collaborative combat.Industry Voice – Nammo (42:38)In this week’s Industry Voice Tony Skinner, our VP of Content, and Endre Lunde, SVP of Communications for Nammo, discuss the trend of governments entering into long-term supply agreements with industry and the implications for international cooperation.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

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

What is the Future Combat Air System and TF-X? How is Embraer positioning the KC-390? In this week’s episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we come to you from the tarmac at the sweltering Paris Air Show, covering the unveiling of FCAS and the Turkish TF-X sixth generation fighters.We also take a flight in the Embraer KC-390, speak to Cubic Global Defense about the future of air combat training and hear about the teaming agreement between our sponsor Nammo and Boeing.News Round Up (00:51)This week in the news…The Shephard Media team covers all the major announcements and trends from Paris Air Show 2019.Senior Reporter Tim Martin describes how two new fighter jet mock-ups unveiled in a matter of minutes at Le Bourget left many at the Paris Air Show to react with a degree of scepticism. Tim also reviews the helicopter presence at the air show and provides an update on the Airbus Helicopters H160M multirole helicopter, which was one noteworthy aircraft on static display.Meanwhile, Richard outlines how a rapidly maturing unmanned VTOL industrial base is pushing its platforms into contention for naval test and procurement programmes where it was thought only fixed-wing capabilities would suffice.Paris Air Show: Future fighter hard sell undermined by soft detailParis Air Show: H160M mock up demonstrates payload options (video)Paris Air Show: Unmanned VTOL eyes fixed-wing real estateParis Air Show: Carry on Poseidon (video insight)Paris Air Show: Eurofighter launches long-term capability driveParis Air Show coverage – flying in the KC-390 (12:20) Air Domain Editor Helen Haxell takes a flight in the Embraer KC-390 military transport aircraft and talks to Walter Pinto Junior, Vice President of the KC-390 at Embraer Defense & Security.Interview - Mike Knowles, president of Cubic Global Defence (21:16)Mike Knowles, president of Cubic Global Defence, provides an update on the ‘laser tag in the sky’ system, also known as the P5 Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) training device..  Industry Voice – Nammo (36:10)In this week’s Industry Voice Tony Skinner, our VP of Content, and Endre Lunde, SVP of Communications for Nammo, talk about the company’s strategic agreement with Boeing.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

What can we expect from the upcoming Paris Air Show? What is the state of the military unmanned systems market? And how is the defence industry meeting the rising wave of consolidation?In this week’s episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we talk about our expectations regarding the Paris Air show, hear about the Shephard Plus Unmanned Systems Report, and hear from our sponsor Nammo about the United Technologies and Raytheon merger.News Round Up (00:51)This week in the news…We cover the Angolan military’s acquisition of a number of upgraded 2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful) surface-to-air missile systems, as well as look at how Iran has also been bolstering its air defence with a demonstration of the Khordad 15 system.Meanwhile, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will increase the size of its military and acquire new amphibious ships under the latest Defence Capability Plan (DCP) released on 11 June. The New Zealand military also has chosen Lockheed Martin’s C-130J-30 Super Hercules as the preferred option to replace its fleet of C-130H tactical airlifters that have been in service since the mid-to-late 1960s.Finally, we talk about the US Army Security Assistance Command completing the delivery of 70 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed reconnaissance helicopters and one CH-47D Chinook heavy-lift helicopter to Greece's Hellenic Army.Angola received upgraded SA-6 systemsDefence Capability Plan expands NZ’s militaryNZ replaces Hercules with....Greece gets ex-US military helicoptersEvent – Paris Air Show Preview (08:48)With the Paris Air Show coming up, Air Domain editor Helen Haxell and Senior Reporter Tim Martin discuss what we can expect from the event, and what they believe some of the highlights will be. Shephard Media reports from the 53rd Paris Air Show (PAS 2019)Market Report – Unmanned Systems Report (26:03)Helen speaks to our director of analysis, Matt Smith, about the upcoming Shephard Plus forecast covering the unmanned systems sector, which uncovered trends such as an increased focus on indigenous programmes resulting in few platforms being exported.There is concurrently an enormous expansion in the provision of every type of UAV imaginable, and the competition is extraordinarily fierce as new manufacturers pile into the market.Matt explains how our forecast for military unmanned system procurement shows the market for new air, land and naval vehicles almost doubling over the next ten years.View latest market forecastsIndustry Voice – Nammo (37:29)In this week’s Industry Voice Tony Skinner, our VP of Content, and Endre Lunde, SVP of Communications for Nammo, talk about the consolidation taking place throughout the industry, such as the Raytheon and United Technologies merger. Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest.

What emerged from the main industry event for Special Forces? How is the Canadian Army preparing for the future digital battlespace? And what is being done to tackle the rising threat of drone incursions?This week in a jam-packed Weekly Defence Podcast, we check out the latest technologies on show at SOFIC 2019, speak to Colonel Mark Parsons of the Canadian Army about how networked technologies are changing the way war is waged, and hear from our sponsor Nammo about the growing threat of drone incursions.News Round Up (01:17)With US president Donald Trump visiting the UK this week, we touch upon his recent comments regarding NATO spending, and hear the responses of attendees at the Land Warfare Conference in London hosted by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). We hear the opinions of Shashank Joshi, Senior Research Fellow at RUSI, and Professor Anne Applebaum, American journalist and Director of ARENA.We also take a look at the recently approved sale of eight Lockheed Martin F-16s to Bulgaria, with a maximum projected price of $1.6 billion. The sale will include support, training, documentation, spare parts and a modest weapons package. Lockheed Martin has also been in the news recently for withdrawing from the US Navy’s FFG(X) process, and instead focusing on the programme’s weapon systems while also working to build up the capabilities of the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) on which its offering was designed.Finally, there is an update regarding the US Army’s Improved Turbine Engine Programme (ITEP) for their AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk fleets. Although General Electric’s T901 turboshaft has been confirmed as the engine of choice, their competitor ATEC (a joint venture between Honeywell and Pratt and Whitney) continues to protest the decision.The price is right for US F-16s to SofiaCombat system concentration for Lockheed Martin after FFG(X) withdrawalInsight: ITEP thaw heats US Army enginesEvent – SOFIC 2019 (22:33)Scott Gourley, our special forces editor, reports on the themes, trends, and technologies on show at SOFIC 2019, from new lightweight ammunition to more effective night vision goggles. Interview – Colonel Mark Parsons, Canadian Army (32:14)Helen Haxell sat down with Colonel Mark Parsons, the Director of Land Command Information in the Canadian Army, to discuss the various effects the ongoing evolution of network-enabled technologies has had, and how the armed forces are preparing themselves to handle them.Industry Voice - Nammo (52:34)In this week’s Industry Voice Tony Skinner, our VP of Content, and Endre Lunde, SVP of Communications for Nammo, talk about the issue of drone incursions and the ways industry is responding. Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

What is the Arctic Challenge Exercise? How is Raytheon positioning itself for changes in the space sector? This week on the Weekly Defence Podcast, we head to Sweden to see the Arctic Challenge Exercise, and talk to the vice-president of Raytheon’s Space Systems about its space sector activities. News Round-Up (01:10)This week in our News Round-Up:The US Marine Corps is still considering its options for the Future Vertical Lift programme, seeking to replace their UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper platforms, with the V-280 Valor in contention. Air reporter Tim Martin discusses the options.The Spanish Foot-Soldier System (SISCAP) soldier modernisation effort will soon enter its test readiness review (TRR) phase. The programme is the latest effort to improve soldier equipment following the collapse of the earlier COMFUT (Combatiente Futuro) soldier modernisation programme. Deputy land editor Beth Maundrill outlines how SISCAP is focused on developing fire control and targeting systems and communications systems for dismounted troops within the Spanish Army.The US Coast Guard is awaiting a report from Eastern Shipbuilding Group, the prime contractor for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC), on how a major hurricane last year will affect the programme’s cost and schedule. Sea editor Richard Thomas has the details.USMC weighs up FVL optionsSpanish Army's soldier modernisation efforts advanceReport to assess hurricane’s impact on US Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol CutterEvent coverage – ACE 2019 (12:28)Helen Haxell attended the Arctic Challenge Exercise 2019 (ACE 2019) in Sweden this week, and spoke to representatives of both the Swedish Air Force and the US Air Force about the platforms they were using and the challenges of the exercise. The Air Forces of Sweden, Finland and Norway are hosting the multinational Arctic Challenge Exercise 2019 (ACE 19) with more than 100 aircraft from nine nations participating in the air power exercise carried out in the airspace over the northern areas of the host countries.Interview – Wallis Laughrey, Raytheon (20:30)Helen also met with the vice-president of Raytheon Space Systems, Wallis Laughrey, to talk about the company’s activities in the space sector and how it is positioning itself for future opportunities.Among the programmes covered are the US Overhead Persistent Infrared constellation programme and DARPA’s “Project Blackjack”, which looks to research ways to create a LEO constellation of small-sats that will be cheap and easily replaceable. Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest

How is Rheinmetall positioning its Lynx infantry fighting vehicle for current programmes? How prepared is the US Navy to face the cyber threats of the future? And just how is the defence industry involved in the climate change debate?This week on the Weekly Defence Podcast, we take a look at the Lynx KF41 IFV and how it is being offered for Australian and US requirements, talk to the J6 Deputy Director at US Indo-Pacific Command about the US Navy’s cyber capabilities, and hear from our sponsor Nammo in our Industry Voice segment.News Round-Up (01:00)With the continuing tensions between the US and Iran dominating the news, the team considers the wider ramifications of the issue, before moving on to what else caught their eye this week.Helicopter manufacturer Bell has successfully completed all of the main performance standards associated with its Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) flight test efforts, having now demonstrated a low-speed agility key performance parameter on its V-280 Valor. The Romanian Air Force has taken delivery of an unspecified number of counterterrorism Gryf UGVs designed and manufactured by the Polish Lukasiewicz-PIAP Institute, which will be used to detect, identify and neutralise explosive ordnance, as well as protect strategic assets and infrastructure located in the country and abroad.Australia is again on the hunt for a new self-propelled howitzer (SPH), seven years after it abruptly cancelled the Project Land 17 Phase 2 tender process that had selected the South Korean AS9 (a variant of the K9 Thunder used by the Republic of Korea Army) as preferred tenderer. The Australian Army is now seeking 30 SPHs, all of which are to be indigenously built and maintained at a new green-field facility in Geelong, Victoria from 2022/23.Meanwhile, air domain editor Helen Haxell is in Sweden, where she spoke to Saab about the company's development of S-band radar technology.Bell hits last of JMR-TD key performance targetsRomania acquires Polish C-IED robotsAustralia resuscitates howitzer ambitionsSaab's Arexis jamming pod nears flight testingInterview – Oliver Mittelsdorf, Rheinmetall (17:50)Kate Martyr sits down inside the Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle with Oliver Mittelsdorf, Rheinmetall Head of Sales Tracked Tactical Vehicles, to discuss recent developments of the Lynx platform and how the company is positioning the vehicle for the Australian Army’s Land 400 Phase 3 - Mounted Close Combat Capability requirement and the US Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) programme.Interview – Captain Erik Pittman, US Navy (26:00)Tony Skinner, our VP of content, talks to Captain Erik Pittman, J6 Deputy Director at US Indo-Pacific Command, about the US Navy electromagnetic manoeuvre warfare concept, and their response to the growing cyber threat.Industry Voice (37:00)Tony also talks to Endre Lunde, the SVP of Communications for Nammo, about how the defence industry is increasingly looking to go green and the reasons why.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest   

What is it like to fly the King Stallion? What’s the naval news from IMDEX Asia 2019? What was covered at the co-located UDT/EW Europe/ITEC show in Stockholm? This week on the Weekly Defence Podcast, we cover the ITEC, UDT and EW Europe shows in Stockholm, talk to Sikorsky’s CH-53K test pilot and our sponsor Nammo features in our Industry Voice segment. News Round Up (01:14)At IMDEX Asia 2019, the team saw numerous companies touting their naval wares – ST Engineering was present, showcasing their Vanguard 130 vessel, which seems to tick all the requirements the Singapore Navy has recently announced regarding their next multirole combat vessel. Drass Galeazzi, an Italian defence company, revealed that it was building multiple ‘midget submarines’ (ranging from 30m to 40m). However, the company was tight-lipped regarding who the submarines were for, not even hinting at a region. Meanwhile, Vard Marine has identified a possible replacement for the Protector-class OPVs operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy - the Vard 7-110 platform, itself the basis of the US Coast Guard’s future Offshore Patrol Cutter. The team also cover the various conferences that took place at the event, reporting on topics such as the threat of increased connectivity between maritime vessels and how it may be subverted, the threats posed by contractors accessing ships during their maintenance cycles and the continuing demand for innovation. IMDEX Asia 2019: Vard Marine identifies design for possible Protector replacementIMDEX Asia 2019 Daily News – Day OneIMDEX Asia 2019 Daily News – Day TwoIMDEX Asia 2019 Daily News – Day ThreeEvent Attendance – UDT, EW Europe and ITEC Report (13:17)Helen Haxell, air editor, Beth Maundrill, deputy land editor, and Kate Martyr, staff reporter, were in Stockholm attending the co-located UDT, EW Europe and ITEC events. They cover Leonardo’s BriteCloud being picked up by the US for trials, Sweden upgrading its naval fleet with two A26 submarines, as well as speaking with the CEO of JFD Sweden, Anders Magnerfelt, about military diver capabilities and CAE’s VP and general manager, Europe and Africa, Marc-Olivier Sabourin about military pilot training demands and key European training programmes.EW Europe 2019: Leonardo’s BriteCloud squares up to US testingUDT 2019: Swedish navy re-equips to face future challengesITEC 2019: CAE addresses pilot shortage (video)Interview – John Rucci, Sikorsky (25:37)Tim Martin, our senior reporter, met with John Rucci, Sikorsky test pilot, to talk about the CH-53K King Stallion. Set to replace the CH-47 Chinook, they discuss the capabilities of the prototype helicopter, what it’s like flying such a platform, and the current status of the program.Industry Voice (45:50)This week in our Industry Voice, Tim Martin talks to the SVP of Communications for Nammo, Endre Lunde, about new technologies and the state of innovation as displayed at the Sea Air Space show in Maryland. Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest