May 20, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

Study sees British defense sector hurting after Brexit

BRUSSELS – A report predicts that Brexit will be “more harmful and long-lasting” for the British army and U.K.'s defense sector than for the European Union.

The exhaustive study by the Warsaw Institute, a leading European think tank, warns that the U.K.'s exit from the EU means existing arrangements and defense cooperation agreements “will need to be reassessed, completely changing the defense landscape of Europe.”

It says, however, that an extension to the current transition period, set to end on Dec. 31, would “mitigate damage” caused by the split.

Conversely for the EU side, it suggests that the British departure may have a “healing result,” as both France and Germany will be able to pursue “more comprehensive” defense policies for the remaining member countries.

Such moves, it adds, was often blocked by the UK, “which believed that NATO would be sufficient as European peacekeeper.”

Publication of the report by the Polish Institute is timely as the 1 July deadline set by both the EU and U.K. for deciding if there will be an extension to the talks is fast approaching.

The document paints a largely grim picture for the post-Brexit defense sector, pointing out that companies from across Europe buy or sell parts to various British companies.

A no-deal Brexit, which, given the lack of progress in the ongoing trade talks, most analysts currently say is by far the most likely outcome at the end of the year, “would mean price hikes and possible delays in European projects relying on British parts or know-how.”

Companies likely to be impacted include industry giants like Airbus and products as “complex and important” for European security as the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The independent institute, which specializes in geopolitics and international affairs, notes, “The expected crisis can be averted either by a free trade agreement or, should this option not be possible, a bilateral trade agreement between UK and several if not all EU27 states abolishing tariffs and border checks.

“Should these measures not be in place, many projects run by European companies may be hit with delays or even cancellations.”

The predicted consequences of Brexit for the British army and U.K.'s defense sector are more harmful and long-lasting than those expected to be felt by the EU.

This, the non-profit Institute argues, is because Brexit “will strip the U.K. from valuable training opportunities and will take away some of its international power-projection abilities.”

“The U.K. will no longer be able to affect the policies that are agreed upon as the part of the Common Security and Defence Policy," or CSDP.

But the “biggest downside” of the divorce will be that fewer resources will be available to make up the future peacekeeping and advisory operations run by the EU worldwide.

“There will also be less finances available for these operations coming from the CSDP as there will be less contribution paid towards it.”

The third round of talks between the two sides concluded last Friday with little progress being made. The UK government has ruled out an extension to the transition period.

David McAllister, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the European Parliament, said, “From the very beginning, it was to be expected that the negotiations would not be easy. But we started them from a position of certainty, goodwill, shared interests and purpose.”

The German MEP, also chair of the UK Coordination Group in the Parliament, added, “In my opinion, there is still a strong, shared interest of both the EU and the U.K. to sign an ambitious and comprehensive new partnership governing their future relations.”

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/05/19/study-sees-british-defense-sector-hurting-after-brexit

On the same subject

December 24, 2018 | International, C4ISR

The Army wants new tools to sense, disrupt and protect signals
By: Mark Pomerleau The Army will be hosting members of industry in 2019 to discuss opportunities on signals intelligence and electronic warfare, according to a December 2018 notice. The Signals Intelligence/Electronic Warfare (SIGINT/EW) Future Opportunities and Terrestrial Layer System (TLS) Industry Day will be hosted Jan. 23 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The Army has charted a path forward that includes integrating signals intelligence and electronic warfare systems into a single tool for greater synergy between the two disciplines. One of the first systems the Army is building on this front is the Terrestrial Layer System, an integrated EW and signals intelligence system that will provide a much-needed jamming capability to formations. The Army is taking a multitiered approach to TLS, leveraging assessments, exercises and even deployments of quick-reaction capabilities to inform how the service will move forward on prototyping and providing much-needed capabilities, such as this one, to units. Officials have noted that this approach differs from acquisition processes of the past. “We hope to go faster, but with the authorities granted by Congress ... we think this rapid prototyping using the buy, try, decide method is going to be great for this rapid acquisition process,” said Col. Jennifer McAfee, director of the Training and Doctrine Command's capabilities manager for terrestrial and identity at the Intelligence Center of Excellence. “Are we going to field this next week? Not necessarily, but we're talking fielding to the force in the next two to three years, not seven to 10 years.” Industry's role will be to help provide prototypes that will reduce the risk of flaws in the final solution. https://www.c4isrnet.com/electronic-warfare/2018/12/21/the-army-wants-new-tools-to-sense-disrupt-and-protect-signals
February 19, 2020 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR, Security

LONGBOW LLC Secures Contract For Up To $235.8 Million For Fire Control Radar Sustainment Work
Orlando, Fla., February 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - The U.S. Army recently awarded LONGBOW Limited Liability Company (LBL), a joint venture of Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), a five-year sustainment indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for up to $235.8 million to provide post production support services for the AH-64 Apache helicopter AN/APG-78 LONGBOW Fire Control Radar (FCR) to international customers. The IDIQ contract value is estimated over five years and now provides tailorable services as individual orders for foreign military sales customers. Post-production sustainment services include program and logistics management, repair of system modules as required, replenishment of depot parts, field engineering support, and operator and maintainer training for AH-64D and AH-64E configurations."With a tailored sustainment approach, customers have the flexibility to add services as needed based on fleet demands," said Jim Messina, LBL president and Lockheed Martin program director. "This contract also enhances LBL's agility to achieve our customers' sustainability requirements." The sustainment IDIQ contract includes initial task orders for 12 foreign military customers in 11 nations, three of which have been awarded, with others planned for transition by year-end. Additional customers may also be added during the five-year contract period of performance. "A significant benefit of the sustainment IDIQ contract vehicle is rapid contract award timeline for our international allies," said Shalini Gupta, LBL vice president and Northrop Grumman director for LONGBOW programs. "LBL can now be awarded sustainment task orders within weeks after Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) signature, versus the previous timeline of years to complete the contract process." The LONGBOW FCR provides Apache aircrews with automatic target detection, location, classification and prioritization, while enabling rapid, multi-target engagement in all weather conditions over multiple types of terrain and through battlefield obscurants. During the U.S. Army's AH-64E Apache Follow-On Test and Evaluation II (FOT&E II), the modernized Version 6 LONGBOW FCR successfully demonstrated many new operational modes and capabilities, including maritime, single target track, and 360-degree surveillance mode, as well as extended detection range capability against land, air and sea targets. To date, nearly 500 LONGBOW FCR systems have been delivered to the U.S. Army and 12 nations. About LONGBOW LLC Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services. For additional information, visit our websites: www.lockheedmartin.com/fcr or https://www.northropgrumman.com/ SOURCE Lockheed Martin View source version on Lockheed Martin: https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2020-02-18-LONGBOW-LLC-Secures-Contract-for-Up-to-235-8-Million-for-Fire-Control-Radar-Sustainment-Work
April 3, 2023 | International, Other Defence

Taking defense sourcing abroad: How to successfully harness international partners
"For the first time in the recent past US and allied policymakers and industry appear truly aligned on the need to look beyond established domestic supply chains to cross-border sourcing and collaboration," writes Aleksandar Jovovic of Oliver Wyman.

All news