* It seems recent outreach efforts from US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and his deputy Ash Carter might be paying off: according to the Times of India a $1.4B order for 22 AH-64D Apache helicopters (and assorted weapons) is about to be signed. However such reports that Boeing had won the competition already surfaced up in October last year, while the initial DSCA request dates from December 2010.
* Separately the Indian Navy has issued an RFP for 56 light naval utility helicopters that may be worth $1B. Induction planned for 2016.
* Russia will deliver 55 Mi-171E transport helicopters to China at an estimated $10M+ each.
* The Philippine Navy wants to buy 4 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters over the next 4 years. Eurocopter has recently been ramping up its local presence and sold 10 Fennecs to the Air Force back in June.
* India is building a modular shipyard meant to accelerate warship construction. They plan to commission it in June next year.
* Last week the US Army’s Cruise Missile Defense Systems (CMDS) issued a request for information (W31P4Q-CRAMCUAS-CMDS1) on platoon-level mobile systems that may counter Rockets/Artillery/Mortar threats up to 300mm as well as lightweight UAS. That latter part seems a new challenge for the likes of C-RAM/Centurion or Iron Dome. Last year the Marines Corps expressed interest in lightweight mobile systems that can take down UAVs.
* The British MoD shortlisted 3 consortia as potential partners to support its Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO): Telereal Trillium / KPMG / Mace, Serco / DTZ / Bechtel, and Capita / URS / PA Consulting. Capita Symonds hired Vice Admiral Tim Laurence in April last year, who concluded his public service carrier as Chief Executive of Defence Estates… “where he oversaw the three year change programme which led to the formation of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.” (hat tip to Think Defence.)
* South Africa’s Denel is restructuring.
