The Brazilian government has announced a new industrial policy plan for the next decade that focuses on national development and innovation, and includes a procurement policy that incentives local content. Brazil’s National Council for Industrial Development (CNDI) handed over the New Industry Brazil document to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on 22 January.
Rosoboronexport is looking to export its UAVs, and has extended an offset heavy offer in the form of local production facilities and MRO services to its customers in the Middle East.
France and India are working towards enhancing their partnership for the second time in a year. India’s TASL has signed an agreement with Airbus to establish a local FAL for the H125 helicopters. Concurrently, India and France have signed a defence-industrial partnership roadmap, and Safran is offering a technology transfer for the domestic production of the Shakti engines for India’s future fighter jet project.
While Indonesia tries to enhance its economy and industry through collaborations with South Korea, the latter has announced an investigation into Indonesian engineers, accusing them of stealing technologies related to the KF-21 fighter jet project.
General Dynamics Land Systems Canada was picked as the preferred bidder for the Canadian Logistics Vehicle Modernisation programme on 10 January. GDLS Canada will lead a ‘Power Team’ of industry consortium, consisting of Marshall Canada, Mercedes-Benz, Manac, and Soframe, to provide the vehicles to the Canadian Armed Forces.
The British government has signed a USD189m contract with the UK wing of Franco-German defence conglomerate, KNDS. The UK subsidiary, previously known as WFEL, will supply new bridging equipment to the British Army. Announced on 25 January, the contract will support 300 skilled jobs and will be delivered through the company’s facilities in Stockport.