December 24, 2018 | International, Naval
RIO DE JANEIRO — The incoming Brazilian government is poised to follow through on a plan to funnel oil and gas revenue toward new defense spending, leaving European shipbuilders hopeful that the country can afford its new corvette program.
Directing 2 percent of royalties from offshore drilling to the military has been a national policy for some time, but previous governments have never fully applied it, according to Eric Berthelot, who heads the Brazilian subsidiary of French shipbuilder Naval Group. Officials under outgoing president Michel Temer first moved to tap the oil fund and have so far forwarded roughly $650 million to state-owned Emgepron to manage new naval projects like the $1.5 billion Tamandaré frigate program.
The government of President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right politician who will take office in January, is expected to further implement the policy, according to several industry officials in Europe. They said Brazil's ability to pay for the program will be closely watched as the Bolsonaro government makes its first moves next year.
Naval Group is competing against Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Dutch shipbuilder Damen and Italy's Fincantieri. The Brazilian Navy and the four bidders are in the final stages of coordination before the proposals are due on March 8. The Navy is expected to pick a winner later that month, though it is possible officials will await the LAAD defense expo here in early April to announce results.
The Tamandaré program is for four ships and an initial eight-year maintenance package. The warships are meant to help protect Brazil's resource-rich waters up and down its vast coastline, dubbed the Blue Amazon.
European vendors tussling for business in the same competitions worldwide has become a recurring theme, fueling calls for consolidation of the continent's shipbuilding industry to retain a competitive edge.
“The Europeans are more divided than ever,” Naval Group Hervé Guillou told reporters at one of the company's offices here. But, he cautioned, “you have to wait for the right moment to consolidate.”
Naval Group and Fincantieri already have decided to join their businesses to some extent, but so far nothing concrete has sprung from those aspirations.
December 5, 2023 | International, Aerospace
Aerospace group Motor Sich has little to show so far for a wartime effort to woo potential partners in the West, as it seeks new direction after it lost Russia as its biggest client and had a China tie-up blocked.
September 21, 2018 | International, Aerospace, Land
Par Challenges.fr La ministre des Armées Florence Parly a annoncé que le budget des armées 2019 qui sera présenté lundi sera de "35,9 milliards d'euros, soit 1,7 milliard de plus qu'en 2018", dans un entretien au Parisien paru vendredi. La ministre des Armées Florence Parly a annoncé que le budget des armées 2019 qui sera présenté lundi sera de "35,9 milliards d'euros, soit 1,7 milliard de plus qu'en 2018", dans un entretien au Parisien paru vendredi. "Cette année, ce sera la première fois que l'on démarre une nouvelle programmation sur des bases très saines," se réjouit la ministre qui précise que la part des investissements dans ce budget s'élèvera à 19,5 milliards d'euros. "Un budget sincère" Mme Parly affirme qu'en 2025 "l'engagement pris par le président de la République de consacrer 2% du PIB à notre défense (NDLR : 1,82 % aujourd'hui) sera bien atteint." Elle assure également qu'il ne devrait pas y avoir de surcoût lié aux opérations extérieures et à Sentinelle. "Dans le budget 2019, la provision sera de 850 millions d'euros. Nous aurons un budget sincère", précise-t-elle en relevant que "sous la précédente mandature, une provision notoirement insuffisante avait été inscrite en 2017." A l'époque, c'est l'actuel ministre des Affaires étrangères, Jean-Yves Le Drian, qui était à sa place à la Défense. Six drones armés en 2019 La ministre a également annoncé la livraison de six drones armés en 2019, l'arrivée en octobre à Istres du "premier avion ravitailleur de nouvelle génération, un Airbus A330", ainsi que de 89 véhicules blindés "Griffon" (nouvelle génération) en 2019. (avec AFP) https://www.challenges.fr/entreprise/defense/le-budget-des-armees-2019-en-hausse-d-1-7-milliard-d-euros_614271
July 30, 2020 | International, Aerospace
Nato's Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) Force has received the fourth RQ-4D Phoenix remotely piloted aircraft at the Italian Air Force Base (AFB) in Sigonella. After taking off from Edwards AFB in California, US, the aircraft landed at Sigonella following a 22-hour journey. The arrival marks another step towards the completion of Nato AGS Force's fleet of five total aircraft. The third RQ-4D Phoenix remotely piloted aircraft was delivered less than two weeks ago. Nato AGS Force Commander Brigadier General Houston Cantwell said: “The arrival of the fourth aircraft enhances our capabilities with greater redundancy and flexibility. “The Nato AGS Force continues our advance in becoming Nato's key provider of regional ‘indications and warning' information to members of the Nato Alliance.” The AGS System was procured by the Nato AGS Management Agency (NAGSMA). Movement of the aircraft from California to Italy was controlled by industry pilots at the AGS Force's Main Operating Base in Sigonella. The first three aircraft were transported similarly. Following arrival, the remotely piloted system will be handed over to the force after the NAGSMA and the Italian Airworthiness Authorities finalise the required documentation. The Agency general manager Brigadier General Volker Samanns said: “Having now four out of five Nato AGS aircraft in SIGONELLA demonstrates the commitment and ability of the AGS procuring nations and of NAGSMA to deliver the Nato AGS system while increasing our flexibility in testing the system. “It also provides the Nato AGS Force additional equipment for familiarisation and training.” https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/nato-accepts-delivery-of-fourth-remotely-piloted-aircraft-in-italy/