* Russian president Vladimir Putin wants to use loans to support armament sales but:
“these loans must be based on market principles and not be like the loans the Soviet Union used to accord for ideological reasons, and that no one ever saw again. Our work in this area is built on market principles and we need to develop it. This is a normal practice around the world, including in countries with recognised market economies.
Timely loans made on market terms will help to promote our goods and create markets for subsequent maintenance of goods and for later sales of additional equipment and spare parts.”
* Putin also sounds like Rosoboronexport’s monopoly on Russian military exports may come to an end:
“We authorised some defence industry companies not just to sell goods through the organisation that operated essentially as a monopoly in this area, but also to make direct export sales of spare parts, repair and modernisation services for military goods, and carry out joint research and development. Military exports have increased as a result. This is a positive experience and we should keep this in mind.”
* The United Nations’ General Assembly approved the Arms Trade Treaty with a 154-3 vote. Iran, North Korea and Syria were, as expected, the 3 votes against the treaty. It now needs to be ratified by 50 countries to come into force. That the necessary two-thirds majority will be found to do so in the US Senate is not a done deal.
* US defense contractors with plans for joint development and/or production programs with Indian partners are invited by the Pentagon to share ideas with Director for International Cooperation Keith Webster. Webster was formerly a Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) staffer, then Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation, before moving to OSD last month where he reports to Frank Kendall.
* Tom Enders not only got reappointed as EADS’ CEO, but also got his way with the appointment of Denis Ranque, a former CEO of Thales, as Chairman, rather than the politically-connected Anne Lauvergeon. Impressive show of strength and independence from Enders after the fumbled merger attempt with BAE last fall. Moving the group’s headquarters from Munich, Germany, to Toulouse, France, probably helped sweeten the blow to the French government.
