Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) 2024–2025 on 16 July. Key issues covered in the review are to include an assessment of the UK’s domestic defence technological and industrial base. The review, which will be due in the first half of 2025, will also identify and recommend changes to foster new investment and greater economic growth for the UK.
The Royal Thai Air Force has recommended to the Thai Government that Saab’s Gripen E be selected over Lockheed Martin’s F-16 jet to replace its ageing fleet of F-16s at the Korat RTAF Base. However, this does not mean that Saab has won the contract. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on 16 July that he wanted to see the offset offers from both Saab and Lockheed before finalising the winner.
An Indian contract to build six submarines for its navy has boiled down to a competition between two joint ventures. German shipbuilder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), in partnership with defence shipyard Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), is competing with Spanish shipyard Navantia, which is bidding in partnership with Indian engineering giant Larsen and Toubro (L&T). The first submarine must have a minimum of 45 percent indigenisation, with indigenous content going up to 60 percent by the sixth submarine.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed an MoU with Peruvian firm SEMAN for the local production of 250 components and parts for the FA-50 light combat aircraft (LCA). Under the agreement, SEMAN will conduct work on the joint production of the aircraft’s machinery and sheet metal.
Alkath Group, an Australian engineering SME, has entered a partnership with UK-based MSubs Ltd to develop maritime autonomous system capabilities. This cooperation, announced on 23 July, will focus on R&D activities in uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) with a transfer of technology to the SME.
As part of Czech–Ukrainian intergovernmental consultations, two subsidiaries of firearms company Colt CZ Group SE signed ammunition and firearms production agreements with the Ukrainian Defense Industry (UDI) on 16 July. The Czech Republic and Ukraine also signed a ten-year security cooperation agreement on 18 July.