Hamish Mundell

UK Defence Reviews: Ancient and Modern A week after the new Government announced a fresh Strategic Defence Review, the House of Commons Library has just published https://lnkd.in/d6VF3VpM, a handy 60 page guide to all defence reviews since 1957. Such reviews never start with a clean sheet of paper, most prove contentious (it was the Nott "Navy Cuts" Review of 1981 that strengthened my own youthful defence and political interests), few prove affordable in the medium term, others rapidly overtaken by events. However, their difficult role, in the words of this particular briefing, is to "enable[s] a government to present a forward-looking assessment of Britain’s strategic interests and requisite military requirements. It examines the defence and security landscape, identifies current and emerging threats and then decides how best to organise and equip the Armed Forces". No pressure then George Robertson, John Healey, Fiona Hill and Sir Richard Barrons! #strategicdefencereview #mod #britishstrategichistory #contemporaryhistory #politics #houseofcommonslibrary #geopolitics

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📋 Fresh - and last - formal MOD Acquisition Pipeline published (30/10/24) 📋 View - https://lnkd.in/eFypnMZN - for what is now on offer from 14 distinct MOD buyers. The Army alone lists 23 programme opportunities. 📋 But please note the usual caveats, including the new one, that this list will no longer be refreshed on a six monthly basis - will be replaced by Pipeline Notices as per the Procurement Act 2023. #MOD #defencespending #defenceindustrialbase #ukmfg #makeukdefence #defenceprocurement #ukdefencemarket

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Last week National Armaments Directors met at NATO HQ, bringing together the 32 leaders responsible for the capability development and procurement needed to deliver NATO’s strategic-military requirements, and intensifying delivering of military kit in support of Ukraine. With NATO representing 55% of the world’s military expenditure (SIPRI) and more Allies hitting the 2% target and then some, NATO’s National Armaments Directors have a seriously weighty task for the Alliance and spent two days charting progress and taking decisions on: 🎯 sustainably increasing transatlantic defence industrial capacity 🎯taking further steps to enhance multinational procurement and international cooperation 🎯implementing new and focused processes including funds to speed up procurement and incentivise industry 🎯cementing closer dialogue and partnership with industry through the #NATO Industrial Advisory Group. Major programmes were closely reviewed followed by National Armaments Directors giving guidance and direction for ambitious and much-needed steps forward for NATO’s ISR, the commercial Space agenda, the maritime situational awareness programme, known as Digital Ocean, and our climate change agenda. NATO’s Armaments community is at the forefront of meeting today’s challenges and we anticipate further important announcements about boosting capabilities to Ukraine and Allied production in the coming weeks and months. #nodefencewithoutindustry #NATOCNAD #NATO #NATOIndustry Ron Nulkes Joachim Hofbauer Giorgio Cioni Michael Callender Holger Ziegler Daniel H. Greg Ivey Simon Baumann Per Christensen Big thanks to the crack squad who delivered the event: Anna Furs Balša Vujošević Andreas Paraskevopoulos Stilianos Arvanitopoulos Marco Vento Antonia Maria Mann Tommaso Borzacchini Ana Shkembi

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Key Stat: "£1 spent by surveyed companies, 70p was spent with UK suppliers to produce defence goods and services, outlining the strong domestic impact of the defence ecosystem". #defenceindustrialstrategy #strategicdefencereview #socialvalue #MOD #UKeconomy #MakeUKDefence

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Sovereign capability must be a top priority for the UK's defence and space industries at this time. Great to read the thoughts of my colleague, Martin Rowse, in ADS Advance on why self-reliance in an increasingly unstable world must be a priority. You can read the full article here: https://shorturl.at/gsO89 ADS Group Ltd, Airbus Defence and Space

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Space-based enablers continue to enhance Ukraine’s efforts on the backfoot against invading Russian forces. Rheinmetall and ICYEYE will work together, with support from the German government, to provide Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imagery data. Russia’s autumn offensive in the Donbas is centred around Pokrovsk, a town the invading forces are pursuing at great costs. This information can bring decisive advantages for Ukraine’s armed forces in terms of surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance or their own positioning on the battlefield. https://lnkd.in/eCVCivD6

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At Explosive Ordnance Knowledge HUB (EOKHUB), we strive to be the central exchange point for knowledge and expertise in the Explosive Ordnance (EO) sector. As an independent and transparent platform, we cover various topics—from machines to policy, from dogs to unmanned aerial systems. We offer webinars, exclusive interviews with subject matter experts and policymakers, and equipment and site reviews to bring valuable insights to the field. Why? Because in our line of work, knowledge saves lives. Some have asked, “Who’s behind EOKHUB?” The answer is simple: all of us—followers, colleagues, and friends—contribute to this shared mission. We make every effort to highlight your contributions while maintaining strict attention to sensitive data and information. With nearly 7,000 active followers on our social platforms, we’re grateful for your daily feedback, helping us grow and improve. When we make mistakes, your constructive responses drive us to improve. This open communication fuels our commitment to excellence, even as we recognise that the journey to perfection is ongoing. Thank you for being part of EOKHUB. Together, we’re advancing safety, knowledge, and collaboration in the EO community. P.S We are preparing something new for 2025 😊 #ExplosiveOrdnance #EOKHUB #KnowledgeExchange #EOCommunity #Transparency #SafetyFirst #HumanitarianWork #FieldExperts #EOD #MineAction #LifeSavingKnowledge #InnovationInAction #Collaboration #ContinuousImprovement #IEDD #HMA #Demining

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The Future of Warfare: Analysis of the UGV Market UGVs aren’t just another military tool – they represent a fundamental shift in how conflicts are fought and lives are protected on the frontlines. In our latest Defence Insight Brief, Sam Hart, Senior Land Analyst at Shephard Defence Insight, explores the rapidly evolving UGV market, covering everything from the latest trends in hybrid power systems, autonomy, and military applications across NATO and beyond. Watch now for insights into UGVs’ role in last-mile resupply, combat operations, and the political hurdles shaping their development: https://lnkd.in/efbN7N3X #defenceinnovation #UGV #autonomoussystems #militarytechnology #hybridpower #robotics #ShephardDefence #NATO #defenceindustry

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The Future of Warfare: Analysis of the UGV Market UGVs aren’t just another military tool – they represent a fundamental shift in how conflicts are fought and lives are protected on the frontlines. In our latest Defence Insight Brief, Sam Hart, Senior Land Analyst at Shephard Defence Insight, explores the rapidly evolving UGV market, covering everything from the latest trends in hybrid power systems, autonomy, and military applications across NATO and beyond. Watch now for insights into UGVs’ role in last-mile resupply, combat operations, and the political hurdles shaping their development: https://lnkd.in/efbN7N3X

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The FT is reporting that the proposed €500bn defence fund looks like being inter-governmental & voluntary rather than an EU mechanism. This would circumvent the need for the consensus of all 27 EU member states, which always looked a stretch. The fund would be supported by tapping bond markets, backed by national guarantees from the participating countries, rather than the EU. The EIB would provide technical support, but would seemingly not need to change its longstanding defence lending exclusion. This seems a stretch ideologically and would be far from ideal, given that the EIB’s current stance is contributing to the reluctance of financial institutions to lend to the defence industry. This mainly impacts SMEs, but as anyone familiar with the industry knows, SMEs are vital elements of primes’ supply chains. The FT notes that the €500bn fund would be open to European countries outside the EU to join, such as the UK. The UK government is said to be aware of the proposal, but has yet to take a view on whether it should participate. There’s no detail on requirements for how the money would have to be spent. For example, would it only be usable for joint development and/or procurement by 3+ countries (in line with current EU defence instruments like EDF)? Similarly, would it be limited to European products and as such would it allow products with non-European content up to a certain level?

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Following the exchange of projectiles between Israel and Iran in the last couple of weeks, many nations will be pondering the effectiveness of their air defence. Surely none more so than the #UK given the inadequate capacity of its ground-based air defence. While Sky Sabre is highly effective, there are simply not enough systems. Moreover, there is a growing need to fuse data across the #Nato alliance and invest in an effective command and control architecture that will enable to UK to contribute to a greater continental anti-air picture. https://lnkd.in/e-8i_9KT

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📯 MOD regional expenditure with industry 2023-4 - and other stats - published 21/11/24 📯 Viewers may wish to absorb the following, latest official set of UK defence industry statistics issued last week by MOD, https://lnkd.in/eJN4YZFq Highlights include: ➡️ £28.8 billion as the total MOD expenditure with UK industry and commerce in 2023/24, an 8% real terms increase compared to the previous year ➡️ 4% (down a point) is the proportion of direct MOD expenditure with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), £1.3 billion in practice. ➡️ 84% the proportion of MOD global expenditure with industry in the UK, inclusive of direct payments to UK industry, and indirect spend via foreign governments and Foreign Military Sales agreements with the US government where work subsequently takes place in the UK. 🏭 Below is Fig 2, the "heat map" of total Defence Expenditure with UK industry by Region. If nothing else, it helps to illustrate the continuing significance (and inconsistent legacy) of "place" in (defence) industrial strategy. 🏭 Take the North East: the £380m identified in the map below drops to a mere £140m if adjusted for regional population and yet it has the largest proportion (of that poor £1.3 bn cited above) spend with SMEs, at 15%. #MOD #defenceindustrialpolicy #MakeUKDefence #ukmfg #defenceindustrialstrategy #socialvalue #devolution

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🎺 New MOD Labour Ministerial Team, detailed portfolios allocated 🎺 📑 Do scan the "Our Ministers" section of the MOD website, https://lnkd.in/e_ShaG_K, for the details of who's covering exactly what within the new Labour Ministerial Team. 📑 For ease of reference, I append all the responsibilities of the two senior (John Healey and Maria Eagle) Ministers below, my own [ ]: 📑 John Healey, Secretary of State : strategic campaign and operational oversight including as a member of the National Security Council  Nuclear Deterrent (CAS-D) and operations policy and enterprise Strategic Defence Review Euro-Atlantic strategy and planning  defence strategy, planning, programme, and resource allocation relationships with strategic international partners: US, France, Germany, Australia, Ukraine [AUKUS lead?]  One Defence reform oversight of Veterans Strategy Afghan Inquiry service personnel deaths on duty and letters of condolence  strategic multilateral programmes regulatory functions 📑 Maria Eagle, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry ["and Industry" is a telling sign of fresh priorities] defence procurement defence industrial strategy [nb specifically included as a function]  economic growth and export campaigns export licensing and controls defence industry relationships acquisition reform equipment plan defence estates Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)  Defence Digital science and technology  research and development single source contract regulations shipbuilding [so a “Tsarina” post Ben Wallace’s having this role himself - and reduced to MoS level as such] multi-lateral capability programmes and organisations 📑 That's a lot of reading-in! And a lot to do, with a defence review beckoning. #defencepolicy #mod #politicaltransition #politics #defenceindustrialstrategy

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UK Strategic Defence Review: glass half empty? I give credit to the "Defence Geek" and UK Defence Journal for identifying some of the key issues and capabilities at stake in the on-going Government defence review. View https://lnkd.in/eZXmb7hy Mr Geek argues for example that the war in Ukraine and renewed conflict in the Middle East have underscored the urgency of military readiness, yet the Royal Navy and Army are grappling with critical shortfalls. There remain problems with submarine and destroyer/frigate availability, whilst the Royal Fleet Auxiliary struggles with crew shortages. The Army has dwindled to its smallest size since the 1800s, with only 73,000 full-time personnel. Plans to upgrade tanks and introduce new AFV look impressive on paper but will they all happen? The RAF faces its own challenges, with uncertainty around future F-35 orders and the future of GCAP. With Chancellor Rachel Reeves often highlighting a £20 billion financial blackhole, the prospect of any defence settlement not meeting existing plans raises alarms about the military’s ability to meet both national and NATO commitments. Other nations, like Poland and South Korea, are ramping up military spending in response to global threats. What is the real UK strategic posture? How "full" is it? The Budget on 30 October may start to tell us. #MOD #StrategicDefenceReview

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