“Capital follows confidence” as defence courts private money
Outside investment and the direction in which venture money flows may reveal what defence will buy years before formal programmes begin.
Video Display Corporation has announced that its Simulation and Training Division, VDC Display Systems (VDC DS), has been awarded a contract and received a purchase order from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics for multiple display system upgrades for existing F-35 engineering simulators.
Under the agreement, VDC DS will deliver and install new display systems for existing F-35 engineering simulators. The display systems to be provided include Screens, Mirrors, Sony High Resolution Projectors, Optical Edge Blending, an Auto Calibration System and Structures.
The company said the display system upgrades will commence installation in the fourth quarter 2012.
David Rushton, VP business development for VDC Display Systems said of the award: ‘This award is the culmination of a combined efforts by VDC DS and Sony Corp over an extended of time and is the result of a very detailed testing and evaluation process. VDC DS is extremely pleased to have been selected for this purchase order and very much look forward to additional purchase orders and building on an excellent relationship with the Lockheed Martin team.’
Outside investment and the direction in which venture money flows may reveal what defence will buy years before formal programmes begin.
The Department of National Defence expects initial contracts to deliver thousands of uncrewed systems, but has yet to establish the quantities, capability mix or deadline behind Ottawa’s promised tenfold expansion.
The company told Shephard that Ukraine is operating modified Protector weapon stations originally supplied for armoured vehicles, with human operators authorising engagements from hundreds of kilometres away.
A report from the Council on Geostrategy argues the UK should move away from a traditional balanced force and shift investment to naval, air and space capabilities, backed by a larger fleet of attack submarines and deeper AUKUS integration.
At its technology summit in London, attended by Shephard, Thales UK examined the importance of speed to delivery, the growing focus on cross-domain capabilities and how procurement reform could be crucial for future battlefield advantage.
Are all systems ready for the next mission? Have upgrades been applied? Are all assets aligned to deploy together, on time and fully prepared? In modern defence operations, readiness is no longer measured platform by platform. It is measured by how well people, assets, data and decisions move together — across land, sea and air.