08 February 2022
by Charles Forrester
Saudi Arabia has launched a new strategy to develop the human capital in the defence sector. (Getty Images)
Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) launched the country's first Military Industries Human Capital (MIHC) strategy on 6 February.
The MIHC has six strategic objectives to help develop the country's domestic defence industrial knowledge base: enabling the sector through supporting policies and regulations; enhancing the level of professionalism, skills, and excellence within the sector's human capital development; empowering research and innovation in defence; assuring the availability of requisite and sustainable human capital; developing digital capabilities; and encouraging participation among stakeholders in planning, training, and funding.
The strategy will also contribute to military technology and production transfer to the kingdom, as well as the expansion and establishment of local manufacturing companies.
According to GAMI, the organisation will achieve these goals through education and training, awareness and guidelines, and policy formation. Priority initiatives to be undertaken include broadening technical training programmes, offering defence-related academic scholarships, expanding defence-related disciplines at university level, introducing specialised training programmes, and empowering women in defence.
01 July 2022
by Marc Selinger
Aerojet Rocketdyne tests a rocket engine's thrust chamber assembly. (Aerojet Rocketdyne)
A slate of candidates led by Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO Eileen Drake has won the publicly traded company's contentious election for board of directors, defeating a group led by executive chairman and major shareholder Warren Lichtenstein, the Drake team announced on 30 June.
The eight-member Drake slate received more than 75% of the votes cast, with Drake receiving over 83%, more than any other candidate, the CEO's group wrote in a press release. Drake's slate consists of four incumbent directors, including Drake, and four new directors.
“We look forward to putting this proxy fight behind us so we can continue to focus on creating value for our shareholders,” Drake said.
A spokesperson for the Lichtenstein slate declined to comment.
29 June 2022
by Marc Selinger
Meggitt provides ammunition handling systems for military aircraft, including the Apache attack helicopter. (Crown Copyright)
UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Kwasi Kwarteng is “minded to accept” the commitments that Parker Hannifin Corporation is offering to ease concerns about its proposed acquisition of Meggitt, the UK government announced on 28 June.
Kwarteng will not make a final decision on Parker's legally binding commitments, or “undertakings”, until a public comment period ends on 13 July, the government said.
Parker, which welcomed the announcement, is headquartered in the United States, and Meggitt is based in the United Kingdom. To address UK national security concerns about the deal, Parker has committed to honouring Meggitt's existing contracts with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and will notify the MoD if Meggitt's ability to supply the ministry changes. Parker has also agreed that UK nationals residing in the UK would continue to make up a majority of Meggitt's board of directors.
28 June 2022
by Ridzwan Rahmat
A computer-generated image of the OPV that will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries for the Philippine Navy. (Hyundai Heavy Industries)
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has secured a contract to supply the Philippine Navy with six new 2,400-tonne offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).
The contract, which was signed with the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) on 27 June, is valued at USD573 million, HHI disclosed in a media statement on the same day.
The OPV will have an overall length of 94.4 m and a width of 14.3 m. It will have a maximum speed of 22 kt, a cruising speed of 15 kt, and a maximum range of 5,500 n miles.
In terms of weapons, each OPV will be equipped with a 76 mm naval gun in the primary position and two 30 mm secondary guns, said HHI. The vessel will have a flight deck that can accommodate one helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles.
“The OPV was designed by incorporating the Philippine Navy's OPV requirements to the proven Jose Rizal-class frigate platform,” said the company in reference to the service's two Jose Rizal-class vessels, which were also supplied by HHI.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) launched the country's first Militar...
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