New opportunities for defence firms as EU steps up support for Ukraine
The European Commission is looking for startups and other innovators to address challenges across the land, air and sea domains.
Hawaiian Airlines has signed a new four year contract extension with handheld inflight entertainment provider digEcor, to upgrade the airline’s IFE offering from the digEplayer 5500 to the digEplayer XLP.
digEcor president Brad Heckel commented, “The implementation of the digEplayer XLP is the first step in a longer term strategic partnership between Hawaiian and digEcor. We are dedicated to providing our clients with a robust IFE solution including flexible hardware, low cost content, and revenue generative programmes. These customer benefits are a result of the continuous improvement programmes, such as lean manufacturing and software development, that we have implemented.”
The first phase of the new agreement includes the replacement of approximately half of Hawaiian’s current digEplayer 5500 inventory, with the remaining stock being replaced in phase two. Also, the digEplayer XLPs will be initially offered on longer, premium routes.
Fully committed to revenue sponsored entertainment, the agreement also includes provisions to implement new revenue generative programmes such as shopping and advertising. “Hawaiian has one of the most impressive and well-oiled IFE rental programmes that we have seen in the industry,” Heckel observed. “Currently, the revenue just from the rental programme makes the digEplayer one of the best ancillary revenue programmes that Hawaiian has inflight. The addition of our new programmes will further increase the profitability for Hawaiian.”
digEcor content administrator Jed Thompson noted, “Our close relationship with the studios allows us to pass content cost savings to Hawaiian and our other customers.”
Hawaiian’s vice-president Louis Saint-Cyr added, “The wide range of inflight content choices that we are able to provide our customers through our digEplayer programme is one of the great reasons our customers love our IFE.”
The European Commission is looking for startups and other innovators to address challenges across the land, air and sea domains.
Multiple countries have been deploying small arms as the last line of drone defence due to their multiple operational and tactical advantages.
The Singapore-based technology company unveiled its new rifle family at this week’s airshow. Chen Chuanren spoke with the ST Engineering’s head of small arms to find out more about how the weapons have been refined.
Any potential ‘Arctic Sentry’ mission would be months in the planning, but with tensions high in the region given the US’s push for Greenland, NATO countries will need to continue to emphasise their commitment to the region, analysts have said.
Defence Minister Gen Vladimir Padrino López has declared that the Venezuelan armed forces “will continue to employ all its available capabilities for military defence”.
The UK’s defence spending commitments remain uncertain as the government’s Defence Investment Plan, which had been due by the end of 2025, is yet to be published.