As every year, the Pentagon publishes its provisional budget for the following fiscal year, to be validated by the American Congress. This subject has already been extensively discussed in our lines, and showed a clear decline in certain equipment allocations in order to allow the financing of other programs. Among other programs impacted by the Pentagon's decisions: Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter intended for the US Air Force, the US Navy and the US Marines Corps. If the F-35 continues to be widely supported by the American armed forces, the Pentagon has seen fit, in the face of program delays, to claim only 79…
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Chinese defense industry shut down following coronavirus outbreak
Beyond the health aspects, epidemics are historically recognized for their undeniable economic impact. If the contaminations themselves put workers out of action until they are cured (in the best of cases), the more or less generalized quarantine systems contribute even more companies to slow down or temporarily stop their activity. Today, in China, the defense sector is of course not spared by this phenomenon caused by the recent coronavirus epidemic, the evolution of which still seems uncertain to say the least. The French press did not fail to report the shutdown of the –civilian– Airbus assembly line in Tianjin, near Beijing. He…
Read the articleImport substitution in the Russian defense industry: challenges and achievements
The division of labor between the different republics of the Soviet Union, organized since the Stalin era, was intended to promote economic interdependence in order to consolidate a culturally and ethnically disparate political structure. With the breakup of the USSR and the massive deindustrialization of the 1990s, this interdependence did not completely disappear. Indeed, the military-industrial sector, mainly concentrated in the Slavic republics of the Union, continued to bind the former socialist republics. An emblematic example of this cooperation was the relationship between Ukrainian and Russian industries, especially in the fields of space, aviation and shipbuilding[efn_note]Владимир Воронов, “Импортозамещение для Рогозина”, on Рогозина, on Рогозина, on Рогозина. , ,…
Read the articleThe European Defense Task Force Defense French SMEs, a good idea?
While the major national defense groups are, for many, engaged in consolidation processes on a European scale, a very large number of SMEs in the sector, providing a very significant share of the technological and economic production of the BITD, fear for their to come up. It is in this context that the deputy Didier Baichère, co-president of the study group on the defense industry of the National Assembly, proposed the creation of a "European Task Force" intended to support French SMEs in Brussels, during European calls for tenders. Indeed, unlike other countries, the French BITD still relies heavily on a galaxy of SMEs and ETIs...
Read the article2 nuclear aircraft carrier for the French Navy: Possible? How to do ? How to finance it?
During his hearing by the Defense Committee of the National Assembly, Admiral Jean-Philippe Rolland, commander of the Naval Action Force, estimated that the construction of a new aircraft carrier would cost France "more than 5 Billions of Euros”, and even more if the option of nuclear propulsion were chosen. Such an investment, in the current circumstances of economic and social tensions, obviously seems out of place. Especially since, even if the French Navy believes it can implement a second aircraft carrier without having to increase its naval air format, escort ships, logistics buildings and attack submarines, such an addition would obviously benefit from a new fighter flotilla, a frigate…
Read the articleSupply Chain Defense, a strategic issue in the United States
As global tensions continue to grow, the resilience of the Defense industry, and the ability of a country to sustain a strong Defense effort, is a key concern. And beyond the major players in the ecosystem, it is also the subcontracting chain that contributes to this resilience, even though it is often ignored by major state plans. In an inspired op-ed published by DefenseNews, the CEO of Harris Corporation therefore calls for the restructuring, consolidation and standardization of the Defense Supply Chain in the United States, representing a third of jobs in the aeronautics and defense sector, generating $400 billion each year. The Defense doctrine at…
Read the articleTX Trainer Program Boeing Shifts US Defense Market Habits
By winning the contract to replace the T-38 Talon of the US Air Force for the training of young fighter pilots, the Seattle manufacturer is regaining a foothold in this market, after having already recorded a great success of $ 800 million for the construction of the MQ-25 Stingray on-board refueling drone…
Read the articleThe Pentagon wants to remove the central entity controlling the F35 program
In a letter dated March 27, 2018 to the United States Congress, the Pentagon indicated its intention to divide the single entity in charge of the F35 program into entities specific to each armed force (Air Force, Navy and Marines). This measure would aim to improve the interaction between the armies and the industrialist, and thus reduce the very high maintenance costs of the Lockheed aircraft, but also to increase its availability, which is very insufficient today. By doing so, the Pentagon wishes to transfer part of the industrial perimeter maintenance operations to the armed forces themselves, and thus hopes to reduce labor costs and delays...
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