Supplying to defence can seem like a daunting prospect, but huge opportunities exist for those organisations with knowledge of the prime contractors and key industry contacts needed to ensure success in this huge marketplace.
The UK and French Governments have agreed to strengthen defence cooperation following a recent summit.
The Ministry of Defence has recently deployed a change to the way in which suppliers bid for defence contracts, which should streamline the process and allow for greater efficiency and reduced bidding costs.
The Ministry of Defence has awarded two contracts worth £760m which will secure 1000 jobs in the UK.
The UK and Russia could be set to sign an historic arms agreement in the first half of 2014, enabling British and Russian defence industries to work together on ‘unclassified’ issues.
The MOD has said that the UK’s defence forces are ‘formidable’ and that cuts to budgets have not affected military standards or capabilities.
The MOD has announced that engineering group AMEC Plc has secured a position on a framework agreement to provide a range of technical services.
The MOD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is funding research into the growing culture of computer hackers as well as crowd behaviour and how social media can impact upon behaviours in crises.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has appointed five companies for the design and build of up to £400m worth of defence construction projects across the UK defence estate.
Plans have been presented for the restructuring of EADS into the Airbus Defence and Space Division (Airbus DS).
Plans by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond to transform the Government’s defence procurement arm into a Government Owned, Contractor Operated (GOCO) concern have been scrapped after two of the three bidders withdrew from the procurement process.
According to a report published by Lord Levene into the structure and management of the Ministry of Defence, significant progress has been made to transform MOD into a more professional and responsible organisation.
A programme which aims to raise the capability of UK aerospace suppliers and create at least 5000 new jobs is seeking 40 UK companies to share in a £110m training and development fund.
The new EU Public Procurement Directive is a landmark piece of legislation that will shape the public procurement landscape for years to come.
As the Scottish Government unveil an historic White Paper setting out their plans for an independent Scotland following a ‘yes’ vote in next year’s referendum, Supply examines the Scottish Government’s proposals for the future of defence in Scotland.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has unveiled details for the reorganisation of the Army, following the collapse of an attempt to delay the Government’s plans to reduce the size of the Army and increase the number of Reservists.
Prime Minister David Cameron has stated that the UK is in with a chance of securing lucrative defence contracts with the United Arab Emirates.
The Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne recently chaired a forum at the Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE) which sought to support small and medium-sized enterprises to win more business in the defence sector.
Following the BAE Systems announcement that it is to cut 1775 jobs in Scotland and England and end shipbuilding altogether at Portsmouth, the DCI blog looks at what the impact might be for the whole of the UK and what long-term effects might be felt in the UK defence industry.
There is now just over two weeks left to go until Defence Procurement Research, Technology and Exportability (DPRTE) 2013, the leading defence procurement conference and exhibition in the UK.
