The defence industry briefing

The news, views and numbers you need to know about this month

News in numbers

$1,917bn

Total global military spending in 2019, according to data from SIPRI

-85%

EBIT-adjusted earings of Airbust Defence and Space in Q1 2020, compared to Q1 2019

5-7%

Rheinmetall's sales outlook for its defence business in 2020 following robust Q1 results

27%

Increase of Norway's defence budget by 2028 under the Long-Term Defense Plan

$1.4bn

Potential per-ship cost of US Navy's FFG(X) frigates intended to replace the LCS

4,569

Number of surplus MRAP vehicles the UAE is looking to buy from the US

19

Number of Iranian sailors killed by a missile hitting a warship during an exercise

REader survey

This month we asked readers on our sister website Army Technology:

When will military exercises return to normal after the coronavirus outbreak?

Further reading

Data, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomy, space, hypersonics, quantum, biotechnology and materials are areas of technology development that will become 'strategic disruptors', according to a new report by NATO’s science and technology organisation.


We take a closer look at the report's finding on our sister website. Read more >>

This month on twitter

DASA seeks counter-drone tech

https://twitter.com/DASAccelerator/status/1260198508445020163

The Loyal Wingman arrives

https://twitter.com/DeptDefence/status/1257475637087858688

We're sad we missed it... staying home

https://twitter.com/rafredarrows/status/1258844742546317313

THeMIS in action in Estonia

https://twitter.com/MilremR/status/1260095694985138176

We'd like to join the Space Force now

https://twitter.com/SpaceForceDoD/status/1258067536509317128

Cool cyber tools for the US Army

https://twitter.com/ArmedwScience/status/1259815518841733122