The country that canceled an agreement with Russia and may purchase weapons from Israel

Turkey is still far from launching its new fighter jet, but is already developing the plans for production infrastructure. At the same time, a coalition of Western countries will supply tens of thousands of UAVs to Ukraine, and France is celebrating a jump in its defense exports during the year 2024. All this and more, in Globes’ weekly defense industries corner.

Israel benefits from the boycott of Russia

Serbia is indeed a friend of Russia, but in the shadow of the international sanctions against it, Serbia was forced to cancel the security agreements between them – as admitted by Chief of Staff General Milan Moisilovic. Defense News reported that following that constraint, the Serbs turned to various countries, such as China and Israel, As reflected in the purchase of PULS cannons from Elbit for $335 million.

“When it concerns remittances from Russia, they are currently impossible,” Moisilovich told the local newspaper Vochernia Novosti. “We are trying to find a way through diplomatic channels to overcome the current situation. We canceled some contracts, and postponed others, with a certain hope that the situation in the international arena would settle down and allow us to realize them.”

Turkey is preparing infrastructure for the production of its fifth generation aircraft

Although Turkey is expected to deliver its fifth generation aircraft, the Kaan, only at the end of the decade, it is already holding negotiations with Pakistan for the purpose of establishing production lines in its territory. Although the aircraft is still in the stages of development and testing, the talks also deal with the development of a version of the aircraft that will be adapted to the needs the Pakistani ones, in a way that is similar, for example, to the versions of the planes that Israel receives from companies like Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

While the powers are engaged in the development of the sixth generation aircraft, especially China, Ankara is working to create independence in the fifth generation aircraft, with Kaan designed to replace theF-16. Kaan is expected to include several features, including high carrying capacity, high-quality maneuverability and an advanced radar. In the case of the Pakistani version, it is expected to use an engine WS-10G Made in China. Beijing and Islamabad already have a close security relationship, which includes the fourth-generation JF-17 aircraft, which the two countries developed together.

Western countries will send 30 thousand UAVs to Ukraine

The Russia-Ukraine war constitutes an “experimental laboratory” for unmanned warfare in general, and unmanned aircraft in particular, with the rate of deployment and interception of the means significantly higher than anywhere else in the world. Therefore, Great Britain and Latvia decided to join forces in creating a coalition, which will provide Kiev with 30 thousand new unmanned aerial vehicles. The funding for those unmanned aerial vehicles will come from Great Britain and Latvia, but also from Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden.

In fact, this coalition manages an investment fund that purchases UAVs for Ukraine, which has so far raised a total of about $89.6 million. This is a relatively small amount from a wider fund for military procurement for Kiev, which raised about $1.6 billion. Of this, The United Kingdom provided approximately 614 million dollars, while the Labor government announced that it would provide Ukraine with 3 billion pounds (about 3.6 billion dollars) per year, in favor of military aid to Ukraine until the end of the decade.

Germany is interested in purchasing 300 APCs

Germany has turned to the Patria company with a request for a price quote for 300 units of the “Cubs” 6 APCX6, as part of a plan to purchase 1,000 new APCs. Cubs is 7.5 meters long, 2.6 meters wide, and 2.5 meters high. The choice of the APC occurs at the expense of a Fox model produced locally by Rheinmetall, with Patria’s holdings being divided between the Finnish government (50.1% ) and the Norwegian company Kongsberg (49.9%).

According to estimates, such an extensive deal will result in additional German purchases made by Patria. The company, which employs more than 3,000 people, operates offices in the countries of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia and Japan, with its total sales in 2023 amounting to approximately 733.8 million euros. Along with means of transportation, the company also deals in other areas, such as collection and intelligence systems, and even underwater technologies.

France’s defense exports are growing

France ended the year 2024 with defense exports totaling 18 billion euros, led by sales in the areas of fighter jets and submarines – an amount more than double the export in 2023, which was 8.2 billion euros. This was announced by Defense Minister Sebastian LeCorno. This is the second best year of Paris ever, during which President Emmanuel Macron decided to go head-to-head against the Israeli defense industries, and to work to limit their presence in the prestigious exhibitions in his country.

In the coming year, the French aim to strengthen their capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), with expectations for continued growth in defense exports also stemming from sales of ships, radars and artillery. According to the Stockholm Institute for Peace Studies (SIPRI), France ranked second in global defense exports after the US between 2019-2023, during which they accounted for 11% of all world trade. After that, France sold Rafale fighter jets and submarines last year, for a total of close to 10 billion dollars.

The US will need more than a trillion dollars of investment for the development of the fleet

The US Navy will be required to invest $40.1 billion annually until 2054, and a total of more than a trillion dollars, in order to comply with warship development plans – according to a new analysis carried out by the Congressional Budget Committee. Washington plans to increase the number of warships in the navy to 381, compared to 295 today and 283 expected in 2027, following the disposal of old ships.

The report also shows that the plan will require a 46% growth in the financing of fleet purchases, compared to the amount in the past five years. The navy’s budget will be required to stand at 340 billion dollars, much more than 255 billion dollars today. Of the difference, 40 billion dollars will be invested in the construction of the ships and 45 billion dollars in operation and maintenance. Current congressional estimates are 8-16% higher than earlier Navy projections.