Main headlines from this issue

Tech transfers help China penetrate Saudi defence market

Saudi Arabia's Technology Development and Investment Company (TAQNIA) and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology are leading efforts to transfer technology from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp and its subsidiary Aerospace Long-March International Trade Co. CATIC has made significant progress since opening an office in Riyadh in March 2017.

Saudi Arabia: Conflict of interest raised as Navantia’s former president joins SAMI

Esteban García Vilasánchez, 52, a former president of the Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia, has joined Saudi Arabian Military Industries. The appointment of Mr Vilasánchez, who was Navantia’s vice president between 2014 and 2018, follows lengthy negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Navantia for the construction of five corvettes for €1.8bn. Mr Vilasánchez played a significant role in the management of the deal...

Czech IFV tender must include 40 percent offsets

The Czech MoD has released a request for proposals (RfP) for 210 Tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicles for about 53 billion crowns ($2.3bn). The RfP asks for industrial participation worth at least 40 percent of purchase contract value.

India to publish DPP 2020 by March

India’s MoD has said that a new defence procurement policy is in preparation and is likely to be issued by March 2020. Defence minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Committee, which approved a number of amendments to the new offsets policy.

Thailand considers 90 percent local content “for megaprojects”

Two Thai ministries are in talks to elevate the local content requirement for state megaprojects from 40 percent to 90 percent. The Finance Ministry and the Industry Ministry were approached by the Federation of Thai Industries which is lobbying for the change to support domestic supply chains.