Turkish defence industry aims high
By Justin Vela in Istanbul
Turkey is moving up in defence manufacturing with the commercial development of the ANKA, its first domestically-made drone (pictured).
It’s the product of an industry that’s largely state-owned but one that is expanding its $14bn-a-year revenues, and creating investment opportunities through privatisation. First for a likely stock market launch is ANKA’s maker, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the second largest company in the sector. Continue reading »
Tawazun, Abu Dhabi’s state-owned defence company, has this month announced a flurry of deals to supply components to big western businesses, in what analysts see as part of a quid pro quo for contracts multinationals hope to win in the Gulf. Continue reading »
Algeria: on a military spending spree
Algeria’s powerful armed forces, which already run Africa’s biggest defence budget, have requested a 14 per cent spending increase for next year, as the country prepares for security threats on its southern border.
The Algerian defence ministry, still mostly run by the ageing generals who fought for the country’s liberation from France 50 years ago, has requested a $10.3bn budget for 2012, according to the South African news outlet, DefenceWeb. So what’s on the shopping list – and from whom? Continue reading »
Russia: Putin sacks defence minister after corruption probe
Is Vladimir Putin finally getting serious about corruption? The president on Tuesday dismissed defence minister Anatoly Serdyukov following an investigation into an alleged $95m fraud at his ministry.
The televised announcement was clearly designed to send a strong message about Putin’s intentions. Even if he limits his attentions to the defence ministry – as opposed to launching a wider clean-up campaign – it would be a huge undertaking. The military-industrial complex is among the least transparent and most inefficient sectors of the Russian economy. But Putin’s real intentions aren’t clear. Continue reading »
Taiwan to Apple: we prefer it when your maps are wrong…
Even when Apple’s new mapping software gets it right, people are not happy.
The latest complaints come from Taiwan’s defence ministry. Apple’s maps are too accurate, they say, in showing images of a top-secret long-range radar installation in the north of the island. Continue reading »
Corporate watch: Paramount Group takes off with new aircraft
The ‘Ahrlac’ jet may not be an aircraft that you have heard of, but it has its place in aerospace history: it’s the first defence aircraft to be completely designed and manufactured in Africa.
Ivor Ichikowitz, founder and chief executive of its maker, Paramount Group, says proudly: “It’s 100-per-cent homegrown – it’s a big story for Africa, for realising that we don’t have to rely on the west to do things.” Continue reading »
How to profit from the Asian arms race
With tensions rising in the South China sea, gung-ho investors may be looking to add a bit of firepower to their portfolio.
Nomura, the Japanese investment bank, says an “Asian arms race” is sweeping nations from China to Australia, a structural theme that could provide a lucrative opportunity for investors. Continue reading »
India’s latest scandal: defence
India is no stranger to corruption allegations when it comes to defence – see, for example, the 1980s Bofors scandal.
But on Monday, the army chief, General VK Singh (pictured), told The Hindu newspaper that he was shocked when, two years ago, he was offered a $2.73m bribe to approve the purchase of 600 “sub-standard vehicles”, though he did not give the name of the defence lobbyist, an ex-army officer, who made the offer, or of the company allegedly involved. Continue reading »
Embraer contract: the US flip-flops
It was once the norm in the US to casually brand any equatorial Latin American country as a banana republic. But now it is the US that through its erratic decision-making is displaying the tendencies of a banana republic. At least that is the view from Brazil.
What else could explain the fiasco of the Super Tucano contract this week? Continue reading »
India investigates helicopter deal
Another week, another alleged scandal in Indian public life. On Monday, Reuters reported that Indian defence minister AK Antony had ordered an investigation into a $720m purchase of 12 helicopters from AgustaWestland, a part of Italy’s Finmeccanica group, over alleged irregularities.
Finmeccanica’s shares fell sharply on the news and the company denied any wrongdoing. Analysts said the investigation could be a result of paralysis in defence procurement caused by the trauma of previous scandals. Continue reading »
Revolutions across the Middle East have been accompanied by a surge in defence spending.
At this week’s Dubai air-show, all manner of fast jets and attack helicopters were on display as international manufacturers sought to tap into the region’s insatiable appetite for military jets and passenger airliners.
But given the domestic nature of threats to regimes triggered by this year’s popular uprisings, one segment is booming more than most: armoured vehicles. Continue reading »
CEE: a fillip to defence
By Nicholas Watson of business new europe
With many countries making cuts to defence budgets, a series of planned fighter jet purchases in emerging Europe over the next few years is a welcome boost to the beleaguered defence industry.
Up to eight countries are looking at new aircraft over the next decade, which the defence industry expects to generate sales of up to 250 jets. According to industry sources, Bulgaria is looking for 16 aircraft, Romania 24-48, Serbia 18-22, Croatia 12-24, Slovakia 12-15, Poland 32, and Turkey 40-80. Continue reading »
China’s tech-savvy dinosaurs – the PLA app now available on your iPhone
If you are tech-savvy and interested in Chinese military affairs, chances are that you learned of the sea trial of the country’s first aircraft carrier, the Varyag, on your iPhone this morning.
Just in time for Wednesday’s big moment, China’s ministry of defence launched an app in the iPhone app store last Sunday. The app would help users “understand the military hot topics of the day,” said the ministry. Continue reading »
Russian Helicopters: hard landing
Another Russian London IPO has flown into trouble – state-controlled Russian Helicopters on Wednesday cancelled its planned $500 million offering.
Once again the controlling shareholder – in this case the Russian government – sought too high a price. The offering wasn’t ultra-expensive in valuation terms, but some investors were wary of co-investing with the state and others may have been hit by the recent sell-off in emerging markets and a desire to set aside funds for the huge Glencore IPO. Continue reading »
Thailand’s military: bulking up
It’s probably not an arms race, at least not yet, but south-east Asian governments seem to be out shopping for some very expensive military toys.
Submarines seem to be the flavour of the month, sparked perhaps by China’s decision to build a submarine base on Hainan island. Vietnam is buying six fast attack submarines from Russia, Malaysia has controversially bought two French subs, and Burma has been renewing its naval power. The latest entrant to this underwater build up is Thailand. Continue reading »
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