Business Ebbs and Flows
* Cobham’s 2013 interim results [PDF] point to delays in some land system awards as a source of pressure on their US-based defense revenue. They see growth opportunities outside of the US in air-to-air refueling, supporting the export efforts of American primes, and aviation services.
* ATK reported Q2 FY14 sales up 6.8% to $1.14B, thanks to a mix of organic and external growth in its sporting group. Revenue from the defense group was down 9.4% to $471.9M because of declining small caliber sales.
* Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems plans to add more than 150 jobs at its radar plant in Forest, MI.
Fat Leonard & Friends
* The Glenn Defense Marine Asia scandal continues to deepen, with serving captains relieved of command and revelations that ship movements weren’t just monitored, they were diverted to ports with lax oversight. The US Navy suspended the classified access of Vice Adm. Ted Branch, Director of Naval Intelligence, and Rear Adm. Bruce Loveless, Director of Intelligence Operations. The Navy underscores that they are on temporary leave but haven’t been charged.
Ukrainian Sales
* Thailand traditionally bought American weapons, but the last few years have seen new aircraft from Sweden, helicopters bought from all over, China’s growing naval supplier role, and the Ukraine’s emergence as an important supplier of tanks and armored vehicles.
* Poland plans to purchase Ukrainian-produced anti-tank missiles.
Indian Acquisitions
* Defence minister AK Antony further delayed long-pending missile acquisitions from Rafael.
* The Indian Army issued an expression of interest (EoI) into the development of a homegrown Battlefield Management System (BMS), to be plugged on top of another “make” project, the Tactical Communications System (TCS). Several vendors were sent the EoIs for both projects.
Indian Air Force: 81 Years Young
* Some great footage from the IAF in the video below:
