Trade unions in Poland have expressed anger following an announcement by the Polish defence minister that the country will buy 250 M1A2 Abrams tanks from the U.S. The announcement did not mention an industrial participation package. The unions warned that the deal could result in the loss of thousands of Polish jobs.
Member nations contributing to NATO’s Airborne Early Warning and Control Programme Management Organisation (NAPMO) are receiving compensation through direct and indirect transactions. The indirect transactions can be defence-related or commercial. NAPMO contributors insist on industrial returns in recognition of their contributions to the programme.
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has agreed a new offset schedule with Israel’s Industrial Co-operation Authority (ICA). The plan will see TKMS spend more than €300m in Israel over the next five years.
India’s “atmanirbharta” policy, an attempt to increase self-reliance in defence production by demanding local content in procurements, has come under withering attack. Writing in India’s Financial Express, Amit Cowshish, a former Financial Advisor (Acquisition), at the MoD, described the policy’s goal as “nebulous” and criticised the expense and waste of trying and failing to achieve it.
Australia is conducting an independent review of its Global Supply Chain Programme. The review started work last month and is led Lisa Paul, a former government official. The GSCP aims to increase the number of Australian companies and academic institutions in the supply chains of multinational defence contractors.