The Shephard Defence Podcast

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we discuss the suitability of unmanned platforms for the anti-submarine warfare mission, look at Germany’s long -running attempts to find a replacement of its ageing Tornado fleet and hear how the US Army is using video demonstrations to assess equipment.Newsround (00:39)In the news this week, Germany plans to extend procurement within the future soldier programme beyond the end of this year, when deliveries were scheduled to finish.  There’s plenty of life left in the Cold War-era B-1 Lancer bomber, as the US Air Force aims to upgrade a squadron to carry some of the most advanced long-range munitions in the US inventory.Saab has conducted a landmark flight trial of its X-band AESA radar, which is planned as an upgrade on Gripen C/D aircraft in service with five air forces worldwide. In the Middle East, Iran claims to have developed two new 3D, long-range, phased-array radars for air defence. News focus:News Editor Ben Vogel reports on the Libyan National Army finding a dismantled fuselage from a Polish-made Warmate loitering munition in the northwest of the country. He considers how these incidents reflect a broader failure of export controls and how that the UN arms embargo on both sides in the Libyan civil war appears porous and almost non-existent. Air Editor Tim Martin dives into another side-effect of the current pandemic, as the US Army has approved for the Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) competitors to video test flights of their systems as an alternative to in-person review. Deep Dive – Germany’s Tornado fleet replacement (12:34)Tim Martin is on the line with Torben Schütz, Research Fellow for Armament Policy at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) Security and Defence Programme, to understand more about the politics involved in the replacement of Germany’s Tornado fleet. Interview: SEA (24:02)Senior Editor - Naval Richard Thomas speaks to business development director at SEA Peter Hodgkinson about how the proliferation of submarines in the world’s oceans calls for a rapid response in the development of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities and the role that unmanned platforms can play.Music and sound mixing by Fred Prest

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast we examine America’s counterterrorism wars and its record of drone strikes across a number of conflicts, cast a spotlight on the external contractors in defence procurement and discuss the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on the defence industry. Newsround (00:39)The US Army aims to develop its Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle to fuel a five-way competition for the replacement of the Bradley IFV by 2027. The latest OMFV announcement outlines steps the US Army is taking to reduce barriers to foreign competition.On the naval domain, the COVID-19 outbreak has hit the annual budget of the Royal Thai Navy. With the government ordering a reduction in spending by 10%, the military is suffering cuts which will inevitably impact ongoing contracts.Azerbaijan has signalled its intent to order M-346 Master advanced jet trainer aircraft from Leonardo, while long-running negotiations continue with Pakistan on potential procurement of the JF-17 fighter. But before Azerbaijan signs a firm contract with Leonardo, Russia may try to promote its Yak-130 trainer aircraft instead.News focus:Air Editor Tim Martin looks at the latest on the Finnish HX Fighter Programme for the replacement of its F/A- 18C/D fleet.  A select number of former high-ranking military and political officials have been excluded from making direct contact, or acting in a negotiating capacity, with Finland’s MoD for the remainder of the HX Fighter tender.Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira discusses the latest from Scandinavia where the Norwegian government has announced a new long-term strategic development plan for its armed forces across land, air and naval domains. The country will increase defence spending by $1.57 billion by 2028 compared with its current budget of around $6 billion.On the naval front, Norway will procure three new coast guard vessels and receive new Type 212CD submarines between from the end of the 2020s. For the Royal Norwegian Air Force, the government intends to upgrade the NASAMS II air defence system in the short term. Deep Dive – America’s counterterrorism Wars (18:24)Air editor Tim Martin speaks with Melissa Salyk-Virk, co-author of America’s Counterterrorism Wars, about the proliferation of armed UAVs and the US counterterrorism strikes in countries such as Yemen, Pakistan and Libya. Industry Voice: Nammo (46:23)VP content Tony Skinner is on the line with Endre Lunde, SVP of Communications at Nammo, for an analysis of the long-term effects of the pandemic as the industry and the world face questions on how long this is going to last and adjustments industry needs to make.Music and sound mixing by Fred Prest.

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast we dive into the current status of Australia’s submarine procurement programme, talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging the Russian armed forces and discuss all the news from the week.•  Newsround (00:37)In the UK, several vendors have confirmed they will participate in the programme to replace the Royal Navy’s Harpoon 1C anti-ship missile system.The German Army has plans to enhance its indirect-fire capability by upgrading its legacy PzH 2000 155 mm/52 calibre self-propelled (SP) howitzer, procuring new systems and enhancing its key target acquisition capability.The Polish Armament Inspectorate is preparing to buy new lightweight disposable anti-tank missiles systems for the country’s armed forces.  New requirements call for up to 150,000 anti-tank missile systems to replace the Soviet-era RPG-7 currently in service and the Saab AT4.In the Middle East, the Israel Navy has terminated a programme to use unarmed and armed USVs for maritime patrol missions. While unmanned underwater systems remain under evaluation, there is currently no alternative plan for Israel to deploy unmanned surface assets.n the US, a statement this week revealed that the US Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter programme is ‘back on track’ and the service envisages introducing newer ships into the fleet as Easter Shipbuilding work to deliver the first-in-class USCGC Argus in 2022. News focus:As the French Army deploys the MBDA MMP fifth generation man-portable anti-tank guided missile in Mali, news editor Ben Vogel discusses what the new systems is going to replace and what it means for the French forces in West Africa. Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira discusses the Czech MoD’s intention to procure more than 39,000 assault rifles and small arms for its armed forces. With an investment of $94 million, the purpose is to equip Czech units deployed on overseas missions. · Deep Dive – Australia’s submarine programme (11:50)Senior Editor Richard Thomas is on the line with Shephard’s special correspondent Tim Fish to discuss the latest development on Australia’s Attack-class submarine programme. They talk delays, budgets and a possible discrepancy between Australian defence expectations and anticipated deliveries. · Interview: Impact of COVID-19 on the Russian Army (28:08)As the COVID- 19 pandemic continues to strike around the globe, News Editor Ben Vogel speaks to freelance contributor Leonid Nersisyan on the impact of the crisis on the Russian armed forces. What is the Kremlin doing, or not doing, to tackle the current issues that are affecting the military? In view of the Victory Day Parade that should take place in Moscow next month, Leonid discusses possible delays or cancellations. Music and sound mixing by Fred Prest

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast we bring you the latest defence news from Asia Pacific and around the world, we talk situational awareness on the modern battlefield and we consider the outlook for defence events in 2020.Newsround (00:40)In the air domain, Air Editor Tim Martin discusses the US Army’s delay of a first recoverable flight for the X-61-A Gremlins Air Vehicle following Dynetics’ reveal of an ongoing reshaping of flight test activities at the US Army’s Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. In naval news, Senior Editor-Naval Richard Thomas discusses the resignation of the Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly on 7 April. The decision came after Modly removed the captain of the coronavirus-hit USS Theodore Roosevelt from command for writing a letter raising concerns on the safety of sailors onboard. In the land domain, Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira talks us through the challenges of the Brazilian Army‘s new procurement programme which includes the acquisition of four new types of vehicles and upgrade to its Leopard MBTs.Deep Dive – News from the Asia- Pacific (20:33)Asia Pacific editor Gordon Arthur is on the podcast this week to discuss the major news from the region over the past few weeks.AustraliaLeidos Australia announced on 7 April the UAV platform that it is offering for the Australian Army's Project Land 129 Phase 3 requirement for a new tactical UAV to replace the in-service Shadow 200.JapanOn 19 March, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) commissioned the first of two Maya-class destroyers in Yokohama. With a budget of over 1.3 billion US dollars for its construction, JS Maya (DDG-179) is a guided missile destroyer capable of ballistic missile defence (BMD).News from Japan also include news plans for the country’s air forces to develop a new air superiority fighter as its fleet of F-2A and F-2B fighter ages.China Despite the COVID-19 outbreak China announced on 25 March that the country begun its first export deliveries of the man-portable HJ-12E ATGM to an undisclosed customer.The HJ-12E is an export version of the regular Red Arrow 12 (HJ-12) missile system.Interview: Roke (34:53)VP content Tony Skinner speaks to Tom Eskriett, the campaign lead for information advantage at Roke, about the cruciality of situational awareness on the modern battlefield.Industry Voice: Nammo (54:08)As defence industry events continue to suffer the impact of the pandemic with ongoing cancellation affecting major tradeshows around the globe, Tony grabs a chat with Endre Lunde, senior vice president communications at Nammo, to consider the long-term implications.

 In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast we bring you the latest news from the air, land and naval domains: we explore how the industry continues to respond to COVID-19 in the UK and around the world, and dive into military technologies and latest developments from Europe, Middle East and Australia. We also include an interview about UK air power and key RAF acquisitions.Newsround (00:18)EuropeNorway has become the first country in the world to receive the Vehicle Reconnaissance System (VRS) variant of the Black Hornet nano-UAV. The VRS is designed to equip armoured vehicles with a self- contained  surveillance system and is currently being tested by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment.   Despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow is expected to go ahead on 9 May, with the TOS-2 Tosochka MLRS to be displayed for the first time. The MLRS includes an improved fire control system with AI, as well as an increased maximum firing range. The German MoD has not concluded discussions on its Tornado replacement acquisition as the COVID-19 crisis continues. This is despite indications that a mixed fleet buy of 90 Eurofighter Typhoon, 30 F/A-18 Super Hornet and 15 EA-18G Growler combat aircraft will be approved.The EU on 31 March announced the launch of a new Common Security and Defence Policy operation in the Mediterranean. Operation Irini replaces Operation Sophia, as the effort continues to enforce the 2011 UN Security Council arms embargo on Libya.  Middle East In Israel, technology originally developed by SafeShoot to prevent friendly fire incidents among ground troops has been modified and extended to include helicopter pilots and UCAV operators. Green Shield uses sensor fusion to measure the position and weapon direction of all connected devices. Focus:Four US Navy Littoral Combat Ships  – two each from the Freedom and Independence classes – will be taken out of service by the end of March 2021. Senior Editor - Naval Richard Thomas and News Editor Ben Vogel discuss the factors behind this decision and the implications for the USN, which also faces broader questions over sustainment costs for key programmes.-Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira talks about recent developments in Australia, where the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation Coordination Office (RICO) has allocated A$5 million ($3.6 million) to accelerate the adoption of disruptive technologies.Established within the Future Land Warfare Branch of Land Capability Division, RICO will work to advance knowledge in AI/machine learning, autonomous leader-follower trucks and optionally crewed combat vehicles.Deep Dive (17:18)In an exclusive interview, Air Editor Tim Martin speaks to Brian Burridge, CEO of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) about UK air power and key RAF acquisitions like the E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C platform and Protector UAV. They also discuss the role of the RAeS and its members on the next-generation Tempest fighter programme. Music and sound mixing by  Fred Prest 

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we focus on how some countries such as Germany continue to run their domestic procurements as scheduled despite the COVID-19 crisis; we take a deep dive into China’s military modernisation; and we consider the challenges for the defence media industry due to defence exhibitions being postponed or cancelled. Newsround (00:22)In the news this week…The US DoD has established five new ethical principles to operate in a future where AI technologies are fielded at scale. A group within the DoD will provide procurement guidance, test and evaluation capabilities, training strategies and a range of other measures.DARPA’s Collaborative Operations in Denied Environments (CODE) has reached a new stage with its transition to NAVAIR’s supervision. The software, which will allow UAVs to retain their mission data, could ultimately be installed on existing and new unmanned air vehicles in the next five years.The Czech Army is improving the mobility and situational awareness of its ground forces as the Czech MoD announced the delivery of four new command-staff and communication variants of the 8x8 Pandur II to provide better communication on the battlefield. The vehicles were procured under a $650 million contract awarded to Tatra Defence Vehicle in 2017.On the naval side, we hear how senior former UK defence officials have called for the country to renew its MCM fleet once the current Hunt and Sandown classes leave service, given the importance of their role in the Arabian Gulf and the key capability its US ally relies heavily upon.Focus: Air Editor Tim Martin focuses on the latest news on the air domain coming from Germany this week. The German MoD’s has announced that their domestic procurements schedule is coping with the COVID-19 pandemic with just a few hints of running behind schedule.  Deep Dive – Interview IISS (17:09) Senior Editor - Naval Richard Thomas interviews Meia Nouwens, IISS Research Fellow for the Chinese Defence Policy and Military Modernisation, to discuss China’s military modernisation efforts, how its doctrine supports its aims and the strategic intentions over key infrastructure programmes such as the Belt and Road and String of Pearls initiatives.  Interview – Shepard Media CEO (35:35)VP content Tony Skinner talks to Shepard Media CEO Darren Lake about the implications of defence exhibitions around the world being cancelled or postponed due to coronavirus.Industry Voice: Nammo (45:05)Tony grabs a chat with Endre Lunde, senior vice president communications at Nammo, about some tips on working from home and how to approach this extended period of remote working as smoothly as possible.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest 

 In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we focus on how the defence industry has been affected by COVID-19 at an operational level, as we begin to see consistent evidence that business fortunes are swaying faster than last week; and we bring you the latest on the air, naval and land domains across the world.Newsround (00:31)Japan continues to look for an indigenous next-generation fighter to enter service by the mid-2030s, as a replacement for the ageing F-2A/B fleet.The Japanese MoD has confirmed that it will not pursue a derivative of an existing fighter, thus cementing the pathway for a brand new design with overseas assistance. We look at the 14 March attack by suspected Iranian groups on Camp Taji and the US and UK response following the deaths of three service personnel.The US Navy will maintain a two-carrier fleet in the Central  Command area of operations for an indeterminate period of time, following increased tensions between the US and Iran. This month, the Brazilian Army began testing the indigenously developed Proteus-SGP system for centralised management of subsystems on its 6x6 Guarani platforms.Focus: Air Editor Tim Martin discusses the impact of COVID-19 on major aerospace companies.  Airbus, for example, has introduced a companywide four-day pause on production and assembly activities across all of its Spanish and French sites. Elsewhere other manufacturers are not taking just as drastic action – Saab told Shephard that its Gripen facility in Linkoping is ‘working as normal’.Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira gives us a general overview of the situation in South America - troop deployments, border restrictions and the impact on the region’s defence industry. Senior Editor - Naval Richard Thomas looks at how naval shipbuilders in the UK and mainland Europe are taking steps to protect their businesses from the effects of COVID-19.  Deep Dive – Interview with Swedish Defence Minister (14:57)Air Editor Tim Martin sits down for an exclusive interview with Swedish Minister of Defence Peter Hulqtvist to discuss the urgent matter of how the spread of COVID-19 will affect the Swedish defence industry or cause potential complications for future equipment acquisitions of Gripen E fighters and A26-class submarines.  Interview – ST Engineering (29:51)VP Content Tony Skinner grabs a chat with ST Engineering to discuss the latest developments and capabilities of Singapore’s primary defence company.This episode was produced by Noemi Distefano with music and sound mixing by Fred Prest. 

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we consider how COVID-19 is impacting the defence sector, and look at what to expect next. We also focus on the latest SIPRI report on international arms sales; Turkish electronic warfare operations in northern Syria; capability and technology developments in the Spanish Army; and the continuing US budget debate. ·        News Round (00:45)  Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira reports on developments in Spain with the plan to introduce the Light Vehicle for Special Operations (VLOE). This vehicle is expected to replace variants of the Nissan ML-6 currently in service, with the ability to operate off-road.  Deliveries are to be concluded by 2024. The Spanish Army is also looking to improve its military training as it has recently been awarded a contract by MASA Group to provide its Sword software. Air Editor Tim Martin delves into a new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on arms exports. SIPRI describes a surge in arms sales between the US and the Middle East over the last five years, whereas Russia experienced a noticeable slump in exports.News Editor Ben Vogel talks about electronic warfare after Turkey deployed its truck-mounted KORAL radar system to support its operations in northern Syria. KORAL can potentially adversely affect the performance of radars onboard Russian aircraft.Senior Editor - Naval Richard Thomas gives us more details from ongoing US budget debates and its effect on the naval domain. One of the main points of the FY2021 Presidential Budget Request was to divert funding from DoD programmes to support construction of the US-Mexico border wall. If the budget is approved, the US Navy and the other armed forces will receive fewer platforms to strengthen their military capabilities. Deep Dive - Boats of the Future (17:15)Freelance journalist and author Gerrard Cowan discusses the latest developments in the sub-surface domain. Submarine fleets are undergoing new mission sets as navies around the world prepare for high-intensity conflicts. How far is the “silent service” from replacing manned vessels with underwater unmanned vehicles? Interview - Raytheon (32:16)VP Content Tony Skinner grabs a chat with Bryan Rosselli, vice president of mission systems and sensors at Raytheon, about counter unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS).Industry Voice - Nammo (46:36)Tony also talks to Endre Lunde, senior vice president communications at Nammo, about an intriguing recent development in the defence media.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest 

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we bring you the latest from the land, air and naval domains in the UK and provide you with an insight of the most relevant defence stories of the last month in the Asia-Pacific region.News Round (00:42)  This week our domain journalists focus on the UK after the MoD released its latest Defence Equipment Plan, covering the period 2019-2029. The plan, which was rated ‘unaffordable’ by the National Audit Office (NAO), reveals a fiscal black hole that threatens future investments in procurement of new equipment across the land, sea and air domains.In depth:Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira touches on the potential implications for the British Army as it attempts to implement a challenging modernisation programme. Officially, £32 billion is set aside for army equipment projects in 2019-2029, but the NAO report raises questions over the fate of programmes such as Ajax, Boxer, the Challenger 2 replacement, MRV-P (JLTV) and Warrior. Editor – Air Tim Martin highlights some potential impacts on UK air programmes. A lack of funding is likely to result in significantly delayed deliveries of the MQ-9B Protector UAV, for example. RAF procurement of E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and P-8 Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft could also be affected, which in the first case could translate into a serious capability gap. Tim also delves into the Sea Venom design: the Defence Equipment Plan mentioned design problems with the anti-ship missile, resulting in a 15-month in-service delay.  Senior Editor - Naval Richard Thomas updates our listeners on how the senior service fares under the Defence Equipment Plan. Naval Command expects to spend around £30.9 billion over the next ten years. This includes the completion of build and trials activity of the carrier HMS Prince of Wales and work-up of HMS Queen Elizabeth for its first operational deployment in 2021. However, costly problems on the construction of HMS Audacious (boat four in the seven-boat Astute class of submarines) are having a knock-on effect for the delivery of the next boat, HMS Anson.Deep Dive – The latest from Asia-Pacific (18:23)Asia-Pacific Editor Gordon Arthur brings our listeners the latest news from the region, looking at some of the biggest stories of the last month following shows in India and Singapore.Gordon talks about Singapore’s plan to increase its naval capacity by investing in more littoral vessels and upgraded patrol boats. He also mentions the prospects for Indian procurement of MH-60R helicopters, in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s recent visit. Elsewhere, in China the PLA is placing a major order for body armour; and in Australia the RAAF faces a problem after the USN suspended acquisition of the MQ-4C Triton for two years. Interview- Schiebel (31:35)Gordon Arthur talks to Hans Schiebel, chairman of the eponymous Austrian company, about a recent contract from the Royal Thai Navy to supply its Camcopter S-100 VTOL UAS. Gordon also asks about future plans and investments from Schiebel in South East Asia.  Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest 

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we bring you the latest from the land, air and naval domains. We talk about the LTAMDS milestone, the SB>1 Defiant test flight and coronavirus concerns. News Round (01:03)  Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira talks through a landmark for Raytheon in the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) programme, with completion of the first radar antenna array.  LTAMDS will ultimately replace Patriot in the US Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense network, and the new array is expected to perform twice as efficiently as its predecessor. The army expects that LTAMDS will bring enhanced protection to defeat advanced air and missile threats such as hypersonic weapons.   Air Editor Tim Martin looks back on his visit last week to West Palm Beach, where three experimental test aircraft performed at a Sikorsky flight test demonstration event. One of these was the SB>1 Defiant that has been jointly developed by Sikorsky and Boeing as a candidate solution for the US Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) requirement. Defiant is moving towards increased speed flight tests, having overcome a gearbox joint issue that affected it last year. Turning to the UK, Tim discusses news from an RAF briefing in London this week, where senior officers raised concerns that the quest for accelerated data transfer techniques could lead to the loss of important information.News Editor Ben Vogel looks back on the resignation of Pentagon policy chief John Rood, effective from 28 February. No official reason has been given for this development, but some analysts regard Rood’s ejection as the latest example of retribution being meted out to executive branch officials linked to the recent unsuccessful impeachment proceedings. Deep Dive - Sirkorsky defiant test flight (18:07)Tim Martin grabs a chat with Sikorsky test pilot Bill Fell who flew the SB>1 Defiant coaxial demonstrator.Interview - Talks on submarine rescue systems with JFD (30:10)Richard Thomas, Senior Editor – Naval, speaks with Richard Devlin, Head of Global Sales at submarine rescue system provider JFD, on the technological and environmental complexities encountered in the sector, and time constraints that dictate the conduct of subsurface rescue operations. Industry Voice - Nammo (40:00)VP Content Tony Skinner is on the phone with Endre Lunde, Senior Vice President Communications at Nammo, to talk about the ongoing coronavirus crisis and its potential long-term effects on the defence industry.This episode was produced by Noemi Distefano with music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest