China's statement of intent, new vehicles, Saudi ship visit and all the news from IDEX

In our fifth episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we once again provide a round-up of all the news from across the defence sector. We discuss all the developments from IDEX 2019 in Abu Dhabi, which included a strong Chinese presence, a variety of new vehicles and naval news from NAVDEX.

We also get updates from Raytheon and Bell, while our sponsor Nammo takes the stage in our Industry Voice segment.

• News Round Up (00:55)

In the middle of a bustling IDEX 2019, Shephard Media’s VP Content Tony Skinner sits down with Editor-in-Chief Richard Thomas and Deputy Land Editor Beth Maundrill to discuss all the news from the event.

Nimr revealed its new multirole Ajban 447A vehicle following just three months of vehicle development while Paramount successfully sold its Mbombe 4 mine protected armoured vehicle to the UAE. IDEX 2019 was also the first time the Patria AMV XP 8x8 was showcased with the Leonardo Hitfact 120mm turret.

Richard discusses the heavy presence of Chinese companies and ships on display, and the statement of intent that implies. Meanwhile, Executive Officer of Al Yarmouk, Commander A al Abaidi, invites Shephard aboard the ageing Saudi Arabian Badr-class missile corvette.

• Interview – Raytheon on RAM and ESSM (10:00)

Our VP Content Tony Skinner takes the opportunity at IDEX 2019 to get an update from Raytheon on the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) and Evolved Seasparrow Missiles (ESSM).

Raytheon has teamed with Abu Dhabi Ship Building, the UAE Navy’s prime provider of maritime logistics support, to install RAM missiles and launchers, as well as Evolved Seasparrow Missiles, onto the UAE’s Baynunah-class corvettes and other ships.

We spoke with Raytheon’s Jeff Meyer, BD Manager for Naval and Area Missile Defense, and Gerard Hueber, VP Business Development for Strategic and Naval Systems.

• IDEX coverage (21:18)

Also, at IDEX 2019, we sat down with Bell’s Scott Clifton, the company’s H-1 International Program Manager, inside an MV-22 from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to discuss all the latest from the V-22 and H-1 helicopter programmes.

With both the V-22 and AH-1Z/UH-1Y programmes well into their production runs for the US services, Scott discusses the future upgrade efforts now being planned for all three types, as well as current international interest in the rotorcraft.

• Industry Voice (28:18)

In light of the recent IDEX exhibition, in this week’s Industry Voice segment, Endre Lunde, SVP of Communications for Nammo, discusses the balance that Western companies must adopt when doing business in the Middle East.

Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest