Main headlines from this issue

ITAR “flaws” and AUKUS Pillar II barriers to persist despite proposed amendments

A proposed rule to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) was published by the US Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) last month to advance the goals of the trilateral AUKUS partnership between the US, the UK, and Australia. The new rule proposes to amend ITAR and introduce an exemption that will reduce export authorisation requirements for defence articles, services, and brokering activities for authorised users in the UK and Australia.

EDGE & Adani sign cooperation agreement amidst growing UAE-India ties

EDGE Group, UAE’s state-owned defence conglomerate, signed a cooperation agreement with India’s Adani Defence and Aerospace on 11 June to establish a “global platform” leveraging the two defence giants’ defence and aerospace capabilities. The two parties will explore the establishment of R&D facilities in both India and the UAE as a part of the deal.

Norway to assemble, repair and export German tanks, while tank deal in Italy risks collapse

While Norway is set to assemble 37 Leopard 2 tanks locally for the first time, an Italian deal to procure the tanks is at risk of collapsing because of an impasse over technology transfer between industry partners.

KNDS sets up subsidiary in Ukraine, signs agreements with local firms

On 7 June, the Franco-German prime KNDS announced the setting-up of a new subsidiary, KNDS Ukraine, which will produce military equipment and ammunition in Ukraine. KNDS Ukraine will work with local firms to set up equipment maintenance, manufacture spare parts, and produce 155mm artillery shells domestically. The new unit is expected to be established by the end of the month.

Thales and PT LEN to launch a joint venture in Indonesia

France’s Thales has signed an agreement with Indonesia’s state-owned defence electronics company PT LEN Industri (Persero) to launch a joint venture. As part of the deal, signed on 30 May, the two firms will establish a centre of excellence and work together on air surveillance radars and command & control (C2) systems. They will also undertake the co-development of a national air operations centre.

Hanwha Ocean builds local partnerships for Canadian submarine project bid

Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has signed an MoU with Canadian provider of propulsion system integration services, Gastops, to explore domestic and international collaborative opportunities within the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). The prime also signed a Teaming Agreement with Canadian firm CAE and an MoU with Curtiss-Wright Indal Technologies.