In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we report from DSEI in London, one of the largest defence exhibitions of the year, hear from Team Tempest about the future fighter aircraft programme, and speak to the US Air Force about its new AFWERX innovation hub.
On the news this week…The team report from DSEI in London, where among the announcements was news that Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 has won the £1.25 billion ($1.54 billion) programme for the five-ship Type 31e light frigate programme. Sea editor Richard Thomas and deputy air editor Tim Martin run through the machinations of the long-running Type 31e saga.Tim also looks at the decision by the UK and Italy to partner on the Tempest future fighter programme. A statement of intent has also been agreed at an industrial level between Rome and London, further evidence that engineering and design efforts will involve a formidable and diverse mix of suppliers including BAE, Leonardo, Rolls-Royce and MBDA.Meanwhile, land domain editor Beth Maundrill outlines the progress of the UK’s flagship land programmes, including the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) upgrade and the Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme (CR2 LEP).
- Deep Dive – Team Tempest (13:19)
Tim Martin, deputy air editor, speaks to Team Tempest, about the announcement the UK and Italian governments had formally agreed to partner on the future fighter programme.
Air Commodore Daniel Storr, Head of the Combat Air Acquisition Programme at the UK MoD, outlines the flurry of recent activity on the Tempest programme while Michael Christie, Director of Future Combat Air Systems at BAE Systems, provides an overview of the industrialisation of the project.
- Interview – AFWERX (30:30)
VP Content Tony Skinner speaks to Brian 'Beam' Maue, the AFWERX mission lead, to find out more about the progress of the AFWERX programme, which was announced by USAF secretary Heather Wilson only two years ago.Maue explains how AFWERX had 'started with a classic innovation hub approach where people could come together and perform design thinking or lean startup type methods through facilitation'.
- Industry Voice – Nammo (49:12)
Endre Lunde, SVP of Communications for Nammo, explains how coffee and a link up with the Help for Heroes charity has become a centrepiece of this year’s DSEI for the company.Music and sound mixing provided by Fred Prest
