Spain has shut down the Directorate for Industrial Cooperation (DICOIN), the specialised unit responsible for advising the Ministry of Defence (MINISDEF) on industrial cooperation. Sources close to MINISDEF have advised CTO that the closure forms part of a broader restructuring in industrial policy.
Sweden is requesting access to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), the intercontinental alliance between Italy, Britain, and Japan to develop a sixth-generation fighter. Within two months of the programme’s announcement, Sweden met with two of the three partners to showcase Swedish industry and ink parallel deals.
As European nations purchase HIMARS multiple rocket launchers en masse, German giant Rheinmetall is inviting Lockheed Martin to shift production into the EU bloc. The move would not only relieve Lockheed Martin’s backlogs, but may also pave the way for further sales in European states seeking greater self-sufficiency and shorter delivery times.
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has prevailed over Hyundai Rotem in the bid to supply Norway with 54 Leopard 2A7 main battle tanks for NOK19.7bn (US$1.6bn). Hyundai lost out despite a showy offset package which would have seen Norway build Black Panther MBTs in-country.
Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer met with the Hellenic Air Force on 28 January to discuss the possibility of Greece procuring the C-390 Millennium as a replacement for its ageing C-130Hs. The Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Material Association (SEKPY) is already moving to request local content on the potential contract
Brazil has agreed to help Argentina purchase 156 6x6 Guarani armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from Iveco Defence Vehicles, the Italian multinational manufacturer. The Brazilian Army and Iveco have been jointly developing and exporting the vehicles for nearly 15 years and have agreed to relocate component production to Argentina under a potential export contract.