Dassault Reports Strong Growth, Still Pursues Rafale Leads in Canada, Qatar, Malaysia

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* Dassault Aviation reported 16.4% Y/Y growth with 2013 sales at 4.59 billion euros ($6.4B). Defense accounts for 31% of total revenue, though 87% of that comes from just France. The recent workshare deal with HAL in India, confirmed by Dassault CEO Eric Trappier, should change this dramatically in years to come. In the meantime […]

* Dassault Aviation reported 16.4% Y/Y growth with 2013 sales at 4.59 billion euros ($6.4B). Defense accounts for 31% of total revenue, though 87% of that comes from just France. The recent workshare deal with HAL in India, confirmed by Dassault CEO Eric Trappier, should change this dramatically in years to come. In the meantime and in stark contrast, Falcon business jets – the remaining 69% of the company’s revenue – are mostly an export story. PDF | Video.

US Business

* Lockheed Martin continues its push into the energy market with the acquisition of Industrial Defender, a provider of cyber security solutions used in the petrochemical and utility world.

* If you’re still wondering why US defense programs tend to be so expensive, the number and complexity of contract clauses and regulatory references in this amendment [PDF] to the US Navy’s solicitation for LCS planning yard design services should set things straight.

Progress with US Space Programs

* The Government Accountability Office (GAO) notes efforts made by the Pentagon and the US Air Force to revisit how they approach space programs and find ways to drive their costs down through increased competition. Of course, this being a GAO report, it wouldn’t be complete without noting that “challenges persist.”

* The GAO might be on to something: Bad Soldering Pushes 3rd MUOS Satellite Toward End of the Launch Queue.

Ukraine

* AP: Ukraine accuses Russia of military buildup.

* CNA provides a quick overview of Russia’s Black Sea fleet:

“…40 combat ships, 28 of which are on active duty while the others are undergoing repair or modernization. The average age of these ships is 25, though the largest and most capable ships that are based in Sevastopol are also the oldest. (The average age of Sevastopol-based ships is 32.5)”

Middle East

* The UN’s secretary general implored the world (in their own words) to reenergize Syrian peace talks. Good luck with that given the situation in Ukraine, but at least the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was recently able to report some level of progress in the program depriving Syria of its chemical weapons.

* Reuters: Israel bombs Gaza militants after intensive rocket fire.

Pakistan’s Tactical Transport

* Pakistan requested [PDF] from the US authorization for a possible modernization of its 5 C-130Bs and 11 C-130Es, for a total of about $100M.

UK Shipbuilding

* In today’s video BAE Systems explains the improvements it plans for its shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, where Astute class submarines are built:

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