Main headlines from this issue

Australia raises threshold – Industry capability programme working well

Australia has raised its threshold for industrial participation. All tender responses to Australian defence equipment RfP’s worth more than A$50m ($34m) should now include plans that maximise opportunities for local industry where cost-effective. The requirement will be particularly important when adapting existing products to meet Australia’s requirements since local firms will have to provide through-life support. The previous threshold was A$10m but was not a fixed entry level...

New Zealand: MoD must campaign for foreign primes to engage with domestic suppliers

New Zealand’s Defence Industry Committee will be asked to confirm annually that the MoD and its agent, the Industry Capability Network (ICN), have appropriately promoted domestic suppliers’ capabilities to prospective overseas prime contractors...

India: Bell withdraws, citing an impossible offset requirement

Bell Helicopters has withdrawn its bid from the competition for India’s 197 light utility helicopters, citing expected to be implemented under an offset programme, the Ambassador noted...

Offset conference in UAE boycotted

The conference organised by IQPC on Defence Industry Partnerships in the Middle East flopped badly when speakers and delegates apparently boycotted the event. We hear that speakers who had taken exception when asked to pay attendance fees rang delegates to express their displeasure...