Defense & Security Industry Publications

DEFENSE ANALYSIS SYNOPSIS:

Francis Tusa opens the new year by taking a comprehensive look at the evolving European budgetary and procurement situation. He provides very helpful snapshots of trend lines for various key European players, and how collaboration might help stretch budgets and capabilities.

He starts this month’s issue by looking at the challenges facing European defence industry in the next few years and provides insights into who will survive, who will not and ways success can be enhanced.

He then looks at the scope and the nature of the impact of the UK row with Europe over the Euro crisis and how it might shape UK defence procurement policies in the period ahead.

The Italians and Germans have been publically seeking ways to enhance their arms collaboration programs. Tusa look at what is real and what is not in this effort and what impact this might have on the partners of Italy and Germany.

At the heart of the January issue is examining how European governments are likely to prioritize their requirements in an austere environment. He started the issue with a focus on how European industry might target the right capabilities to navigate the period ahead.

It is very likely that certain core platforms are to be prioritized over systems. The era of the lead systems integrator is likely to be slammed shut in Europe.

Tusa’s look under the hood starts with the UK defense budget and then proceeds to those of Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway.

French industrial moves to prepare for the period ahead are examined along with the evolving fighter market. How will Eurofighter, SAAB and Dassault fare in the period ahead?

In his monthly column, South West One, Tusa looks at a number of issues of interest. What are the actual costs of UK weapons and how does costing affect desirable use of weapons in future conflicts? He then looks at the evolving armored vehicle situation in the UK and then the situation with regard to the carrier and JSF. Is the F-35B still in the picture as the UK government puzzles over the real cost of going to Cs?