Defence giant Thales faces UK bribery and corruption probe November 21, 2024 The Serious Fraud Office has launched an investigation into French defence giant Thales for suspected bribery and corruption. Authorities in the UK and France said they are carrying out a joint probe into the firm, which employs more than 7,000 staff in the UK. Thales is one of the government’s key defence contractors, and built hundreds of lightweight [...]
Elon Musk and Fox News host chosen for Trump cabinet and advisory roles November 13, 2024 Tech billionaire Elon Musk and Fox News host Pete Hegseth have been asked to serve as advisors and in Donald Trump’s cabinet. Musk is set to lead a new US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which will advise the President on how to reform and make savings in the government, after he previously claimed he [...]
US election: Badenoch calls on Starmer to reopen US-UK trade talks November 6, 2024 Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged Keir Starmer to reopen trade talks with the US, after Donald Trump swept to victory over Democrat rival Kamala Harris.
Nato supplier Chemring reveals £278m boost as geopolitical tensions fuel boom November 4, 2024 Shares in Chemring are up over 26 per cent in the last 12 months and rose nearly two per cent in early trading on Monday.
BAE Systems plots £220m transformation to create hundreds of jobs October 29, 2024 Defence company BAE Systems is planning to invest £220m to transform its Rochester base into an “advanced technology” factory. The century-old site, which specialises in aerospace technologies and electronic systems, will be revamped into a “state-of-the-art” 32,000sqm facility. BAE Systems expects the bigger and “more efficient” factory will create 300 jobs over the next five [...]
Government: Israel’s escalation in the Middle East ‘in no one’s interest’ October 26, 2024 The government said it is monitoring the unfolding situation in the Middle East “closely” after Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting military sites in Iran. The attacks did not target nuclear or oil facilities, two Israeli officials confirmed to the Associated Press. A government spokesman said on Saturday morning: “We are monitoring this situation [...]
Qinetiq inks deal with Ministry of Defence for military communications October 11, 2024 Security and defence contractors Qinetiq have won a three-year contract with the Ministry of Defence worth around £150m to deliver military communications. The initial contract, with UK’s Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence Digital organisation, is worth £39m, but includes options for extensions for up to two further years. The Farnborough-based firm, which in May hiked its [...]
UK defence tech investment surges September 26, 2024 Venture capital in European defence technology is set to reach $1bn annually by 2024, with the UK leading the charge alongside Germany and France.
Cohort cashes in on defence boom with record year for orders September 24, 2024 Cohort said it secured a closing order book of £518.7m last year, its highest ever and stretching to at least 2037.
Italian firms Leonardo and Marcegaglia to invest £485m in Britain, Starmer reveals September 16, 2024 Two Italian companies Leonardo and Marcegaglia are set to invest £485m into the UK, Sir Keir Starmer has announced. The news came during a joint press conference in Rome with the Prime Minister of Italy, Georgia Meloni, as part of Sir Keir’s trip to strengthen ties on migration, trade and defence. Aerospace firm Leonardo will [...]