Switzerland’s Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) is reviewing the country’s planned acquisition of F-35 jets from Lockheed Martin under its Air2030 programme, following additional payment demands from the US government. Under the review, the DDPS will consider partial compensation for these additional costs through offset initiatives, alongside assessing the cost-benefit returns of existing projects.
Kongsberg Defence Australia (KDA) is reaping offset benefits through two European export contracts for Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) launchers and command-and-control consoles. KDA will produce the NSM launchers for delivery to Denmark and Spain under an AUD50m (USD32m) contract, and has secured a separate AUD30m (USD19.5m) contract to supply NSM consoles to Poland.
The Czech MoD has approved the acquisition of 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks from KNDS Deutschland under a joint procurement agreement with Germany. The Czech government is also negotiating an industrial cooperation agreement with the prime to ensure the involvement of its local defence industry in the production and maintenance of the tanks.
Egypt is on the verge of joining Turkey’s fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet programme. According to reports, Turkey has given Egypt the approval to become a co-producer of its indigenous fighter jet. If Egypt joins the programme, its local defence industry would cooperate with Turkey, in an arrangement that would include a transfer of technology.
US defence technology firm Anduril is expanding its footprint in South Korea. It has announced new partnerships which involve co-production with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Korean Air.
India’s SMPP has signed an MoU with the Philippines’ Asia Defence and Firepower Corporation (ADFC) to establish a joint venture in the Philippines. The proposed JV will locally manufacture, assemble, and distribute customised SMPP defence products to the Philippines.