PODCAST: Lockheed Martin 2021 financials, Slovak IFV and C-UAS trends

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we comment on Lockheed Martin’s Q1 financial results, we delve into IFV procurement in Slovakia, and we talk to Blighter Surveillance Systems about C-UAS market trends. Newsround [01:00]  Just two months after Moscow agreed to extend the New START nuclear arms treaty with the US, Russia is now updating its intercontinental ballistic missile inventory with plans to field a new-generation system to replace the RS-24 Yars.The Budget Committee of the German Parliament has approved investment totalling €600 million in multiple procurement programmes. Israel Aerospace Industries revealed on 19 April that the Barak ER extended-range interceptor missile, tested in March, is now in serial production with the Israeli defence forces most likely to be the launch customer. On 16 April, the French Navy received its first FREMM air defence frigate, Alsace,  from shipbuilder Naval Group. BAE Systems has finished construction of the bow of HMS Glasgow, which is the first City-class Type 26 frigate for the UK Royal Navy.In FocusAir Editor Tim  Martin discusses Lockheed Martin’s  Q1 financial results, in which the company said it can reduce operating costs of the F-35 to $25,000 per flight hour.In news from the land desk, Senior Land Reporter Tim  Fish discussed how the Slovak MoD is procuring new infantry fighting vehicles to replace its old Soviet-era platforms.Interview- Blighter Surveillance Systems [18:15] Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira speaks to Angus Hone, CEO of UK-based company Blighter, about the latest developments in C-UAS platforms and drone detection radars, as well as market trends for these systems. This episode was produced by Noemi Distefano with music and sound mixing by Fred Prest 

Om Podcasten

The Shephard Defence Podcast tells the stories of the defence industry, trends in military technology and the procurement programmes that get the kit into the hands of the warfighter. In a monthly news roundtable, Shephard Media’s team of international journalists and analysts take deep dives into defence issues, focusing on niche market sectors and looking at where the trends are heading. We also feature content developed by Shephard Studio in cooperation with our partners. If you work in the defence sector, have an interest in defence technologies, or are an end-user of military equipment, then the Shephard Defence Podcast is aimed at you.