UK recommits to aerospace excellence
New aerospace headquarters that will help allocate £2bn of funding to research and technology projects across the country has officially opened.
US Defence Secretary urges NATO to increase defence spend
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has called upon NATO members to increase their defence spending budgets and ‘invest in our collective defence’.
£125m contract to maintain Tornado jets awarded
The MOD has announced a new £125m contract to maintain, repair and upgrade the RAF’s Tornado jets until they are retired in 2019.
MOD invests £36m in new Army defence missile
The British Army could be set for a new multimillion-pound short-range air defence missile system after the Ministry of Defence signed a deal with MBDA to start assessment phase work on the programme.
Royal Navy to refit navy ships and submarines
The MOD has awarded a £5m contract to overhaul the interiors of all the Royal Navy’s ships and submarines.
Expert defence intelligence yearbook now 15% off
Defence Contracts International is proud to offer an exclusive 15% discount on the Defence Suppliers Service Yearbook 2014 this April.
Military spending rises in emerging markets
Global military spending outside the USA increased by 1.8% in 2013, highlighting the wealth of opportunities on offer in emerging markets.
Government launches cyber security division
The UK Government has officially launched a new cyber security team which aims to manage cyber security threats and will function as a hub for sage and considered security response thinking.
Cameron to outline support to international defence organisations
Prime Minister David Cameron is set to outline his commitment to sharing best practice with international organisations on the issue of nuclear defence at the third Nuclear Security Summit in the Netherlands.
Labour urge new UK defence priorities
The Labour Party has unveiled their recommendations for the future of UK defence if they win the next General Election.
MOD unveils new facilities management contract
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has unveiled a new contract with US Forces for building and facilities management worth approximately £350m.
MOD selects outsourcing giant for £400m military estate contract
The Ministry of Defence has selected outsourcing firm Capita as the preferred bidder for a £400m contract to manage the UK government’s military estate.
US budget outlines shifting defence priorities
US President Barack Obama’s recent Budget announcement has revealed a shift in the country’s national security priorities.
MOD to re-invest in submarine fleet
Summary: The Ministry of Defence is to invest around £270m in Britain’s nuclear submarine fleet.
An initial £120m will be used to refuel the reactor of UK’s oldest nuclear submarine, HMS Vanguard, while a further £150m will be used to implement contingency work to refuel other submarines if necessary.
Defence maintenance
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond told the House of Commons that HMS Vanguard will be refuelled in Devonport during its planned deep maintenance refit in 2015.
A decision on refuelling the next oldest submarine, HMS Victorious, will not be taken until 2018.
The decision to refuel the vessel has been described by Mr Hammond as the ‘responsible option’ after an internal radiation leak was discovered at the Dounreay nuclear facility in Caithness, Scotland.
Although the leak was classed as a ‘zero risk incident’, the decision to not inform Scottish ministers of any potential threat to environmental safety for two years has been met with sharp criticism from politicians north and south of the border.
The SNP and Yes Scotland have long advocated the decommissioning of the Trident nuclear deterrent and have made the issue a central tenant of their campaign for Scottish independence in the upcoming referendum.
New defence industry opportunities
In place of Trident, campaigners envision a nuclear-free Scotland, with the money spent on renewing the deterrent instead invested in equipment, personnel, the modernisation of military headquarters and training programmes to establish a new Scottish Defence Force, with a potential of £2.5bn worth of opportunities to defence contractors as a result.
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Poland defence spend set to grow in 2014
After announcing a boost in military expenditure at the start of 2014, Poland has announced details of equipment and vehicle expenditure for the coming years, including fighter jets, light tanks and infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).
Aerospace projects to receive massive funding boost
Innovative aerospace projects designed to keep the UK at the leading edge of the global aerospace market will receive almost £60m in a new funding boost, it has been announced.
Report highlights emerging defence markets
A new report has found that Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey are set to become the most attractive defence markets in the coming years, with defence and related spending increasing from US$40.6 billion to US$61.1 billion by 2019 in these economies.
Reports examine affordability of MOD Defence Equipment Plan
Two new reports released by the National Audit Office have outlined the affordability of the MOD’s ten-year Equipment Plan, concluding that work to lay the foundations for future stability in the spending plans has had a positive effect on the Department’s ability to maintain an affordable Equipment Plan.
EU Procurement Directives: a supplier perspective
On 15 January 2014, the European Parliament adopted three new Procurement Directives for public contracts, utilities and concessions which aim to reform the public procurement regime.
Defence Suppliers Service offers industry advice in official MOD Yearbook
Supplying to defence can seem like a daunting prospect, but huge opportunities exist for those organisations with knowledge of the prime contractors and key industry contacts needed to ensure success in this huge marketplace.
