The Defence industry briefing
The month in defence in news, views and numbers
In numbers
$942.9m
Value of US Army contract awarded to Oshkosh for Stryker 30mm medium calibre weapons systems
25
Number of Boxer vehicles delivered to Australis so far
$6bn
Value of India’s programme to build six new submarines
$832m
US Space Force’s request for classified spending
$8.9bn
The US Missile Defense Agency’s 2022 budget request
From our sites
US Air Force announces Rocket Cargo as fourth Vanguard programme
The US Air Force is launching Rocket Cargo as the fourth Vanguard programme to explore the rocket cargo transportation capability for the Department of Defense logistics.
Rheinmetall begins production of UK’s Boxer vehicles
Welding work began today at Rheinmetall’s Kassel plant for the production of the UK’s first prototype Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicles. Series production of the vehicles will begin in Germany before transitioning the bulk of production work to the UK in 2023.
UK confirms selection of JAGM over Brimstone for Apache
UK Minister for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quinn has confirmed the UK's decision to equip its new AH-64E Apache helicopters with the US-made Joint Air-to-Ground Missile rather than the Brimstone missile made by MBDA in the UK.
In quotes
I am extremely disappointed to see Brimstone overlooked for this programme, especially as it was established back in 2016 that Brimstone could be effectively integrated into Apache AH-64E at low isk. The government must urgently restrain its tendency to ‘buy American’ and support UK PLC in maintaining these critical capabilities onshore.
Labour MP and Former Shadow Defence Minister Kevan Jones talking to Army Technology about the UK’s decision to equip new Apaches with JAGM over Brimstone.
Credit: U.S. Air Force
"This budget provides us the ability to create the right mix of capabilities to defend this nation and to deter any aggressors. It adequately allows us to begin to prepare for the next fight ... it in fact does provide us the ability to go after the capabilities that we need."
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, talking about the FY22 Budget Request during testimony before the House Appropriations Committee, subcommittee on defence.
Credit: L3Harris
On TWitter
In Pictures
HMS Queen Elizabeth (front) and French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle during Exercise Gallic Strike. Credit: MOD
Pictured is Display pilot Flight Lieutenant James Sainty in the newly painted Typhoon Display Team jet at RAF Coningsby. Credit: MOD
US Army Master Sgt. Joshua S. Heaton, assigned to 1-214th Field Artillery Battalion, ground guides a M109A6 Paladin howitzer onto a Royal Moroccan Armed Forces M1070 heavy equipment transport system for transport to Tantan, Morocco from Tifnit Morocco in preparation for African Lion 2021 June 2, 2021. Credit: US Army
A US Army UH-60 Black Hawk of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, Wings of Victory, flies over the Black Sea for maritime operations crew certification flights off the coast of Bulgaria on May 5, 2021, during Exercise Swift Response 21, part of DEFENDER-Europe 21. Credit: US Army
The British Army has sent almost 2,000 troops to Liverpool to help with the mass testing of residents for Covid-19. Image: Crown Copyright / MOD