Main headlines from this issue

Romania prepares new industry strategy amid bureaucratic challenges

As Romania ramps up defence spending and top officials call for stricter localisation, practitioners have expressed concern about bureaucratic hurdles and fractured oversight. Octavian Bujor Raclaru, head of the defence practice at Băncilă, Diaconu și Asociații SPRL, warns against Romania’s “exceedingly low” threshold and uncoordinated management.

Iran and Indonesia sign off on countertrade scheme

Following seven rounds of talks, Indonesia and Iran have signed a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) which includes a countertrade scheme for the exchange of goods and services. The countertrade scheme aims to help Iran circumvent US-led sanctions as well as promote Indonesian commodities on international markets.

Japan and UAE sign first-ever defence industry agreement

Japan and the UAE have signed an agreement to support the export of defence equipment with transfer of technology. The cooperation agreement establishes a legal framework for the transfer of defence equipment and technology between nations – including through joint R&D and co-production – and will regulate "any subsequent transfer to a third party or any extra-purpose use."

Paramount Group offers Greece first-ever indigenous loitering munition

Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS), the state-owned defence company, and Paramount Industries Greece, the local subsidiary of South Africa’s Paramount Group, have signed a strategic partnership for the local production of next generation, long-range loitering munitions. The loitering munition system, known as IRIX, would be the first to be manufactured in Greece.

Czech Republic confirms 40 percent offset for CV90s

The Czech Republic has confirmed 40 percent industrial participation for the purchase of 246 CV90 armoured combat vehicles from BAE Systems Hägglunds, Defence Minister Jana Cernochova told reporters on 24 May. The announcement came just as the Czech government approved CZK22bn (EUR2.2bn) for the procurement.

Indra to supply Indian radars with tech transfer

Spain’s Indra Sistemas is making progress on its offset obligations linked to a INR12bn (USD145m) contract for 23 naval radar systems. The company has partnered with Tata Power SED, a subsidiary of Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), to install Spanish-designed Lanza 3D radars onto the Indian Navy’s guided-missile destroyers (DDG) with transfer of technology.