MAIN HEADLINES FROM THIS ISSUE:

• Portugal: “General Dynamics / Steyr in blatant breach of offset obligation — our MOD doesn’t care”

  A Portuguese producer of armoured vehicles, Fabrequipa, has written to Defence Minister Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco alleging that General Dynamics’ Austrian subsidiary, Steyr, is in “clear and blatant breach” of its offset agreement.

• Malaysia picks up offset, battles to work it

  As Europe distances itself from civil offsets, Malaysia is moving steadily in the other direction. The country’s national offsets policy is focused on defence and on civil offsets, with all ministries asked to engage in the process. But delivering real benefits has not been straightforward….

• Poland declares its hand – EC declares its indignation

  Poland, which has been leading a delicate rearguard action against the demands of Directive 2009/81/EC, continues to tease out legislative proposals that the EC are likely to find objectionable.

• Finland is revising legislation, but offsets will continue

  Henrik Raiha, Director, Ministry of Employment and the Economy and Secretary of the Finnish Committee on Industrial Participation, said that Finland has not been asking for offsets since August 21, 2011, when Directive 2009/81/EC came into force. “But we certainly will be.”

• Japan’s F-35 procurement and relaxation of the export ban signals new chapter in industrial participation

  Japan’s selection of Lockheed Martin F-35s will begin a new chapter in Lockheed’s long-standing partnership with Japanese industry.