Poland has embarked on a spending spree for big-ticket platforms, with nearly all deals imposing high localisation requirements. However, offset negotiations are taking place outside of the procedures outlined by the Ministry of Defence’s decision No. 367, the standard route for establishing offset.
Germany and Lockheed Martin are discussing industrial participation in connection to the prospective procurement of 35 F-35 fighter jets. “[W]e want to deliver a capability, not just a piece of metal,” says J.R. McDonald, vice president of F-35 business development.
India and Safran are making progress in negotiations to co-develop an indigenous combat engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). “Everything [is] almost there, and it is just about to happen,” Air Vice Marshal Hilal Ahmed Rather, the Indian air attaché in Paris, told CTO. The deal would leverage the offset credits accrued from India’s 2016 deal with Dassault to purchase 36 Rafale jets.
A key member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) is pushing to codify recent “Buy American” amendments into law. Donald Norcross, chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittee, is lobbying to increase domestic content thresholds in the annual defence bill for 2023, in accordance with President Joe Biden’s “Make in America” executive order of January 2021.
Drone services provider Volatus Aerospace Corporation is leveraging offset to secure sales in South America. The Canadian company has formed a joint venture with Peru’s EOLO Drones to target government and commercial customers across South America, the companies announced on 8 June.