Malaysia has launched its new National Defence Industrial Policy through which the country seeks to reduce its dependence on foreign technology by improving local capabilities. The new policy warrants a minimum 30 percent indigenous content in defence procurement and requires all MRO activities to be carried out by local companies.
South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean and Germany’s TKMS have expanded partnerships with Canadian companies to support their respective bids for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. Hanwha Ocean signed strategic MoUs with Algoma Steel, Telesat, MDA Space, Cohere, and PV Labs on 26 January, while TKMS signed a teaming agreement on 29 January with Seaspan Shipyards to support submarine sustainment activities.
UK prime Babcock has signed an agreement with Indonesia for the export of two Arrowhead 140 frigate licences under the Indonesia-UK Maritime Partnership Programme (MPP), a framework intended to strengthen Indonesia’s defence and civil maritime capability. The agreement was signed alongside a Letter of Intent which outlined Indonesia’s procurement aims.
Italy’s Leonardo signed an MoU with India’s Adani Defence & Aerospace to develop, manufacture, and sustain an integrated helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India. Signed on 3 February, the MoU is aimed at bidding for Indian military tenders with the offer to localise two of Leonardo’s helicopters, the AW169M and the AW109 TrekkerM.
China Electronics Technology Group Corporation International (CETC International) has entered a G2G partnership with the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) to establish a domestic unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturing and assembly capability, with a transfer of technology to the BAF. Under the agreement signed on 27 January, CETC International will support the establishment of a UAV manufacturing plant near the New Bogra Airbase in Bangladesh.
Nigeria has intensified localisation efforts through partnerships with more than ten Turkish defence firms. DICON-D7G, a joint venture between the state-owned Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and D7G Nigeria Limited signed cooperation agreements on 26 January with Türkiye’s Aselsan, TAIS Shipyard, Turkish Aerospace, Kalandor Dış Ticaret ve Savunma Sanayi Limited, MKE, Roketsan, ZSR Patlayıcı Sanayi ve Anonim Şirketi, and Ateşçi Machinery.