Weekly Defence Rundown 4th – 10th August 2025

by CMS Team on 11 August, 2025

While Defence in Parliament remains quiet as summer recess continues, news from industry and overseas continued to fill headlines.

In a major blow to Boeing, defence workers at the aircraft manufacturer have gone on strike for the first time in nearly 30 years, after members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in the St Louis area voted to reject a four-year labour agreement proposed by the company.

Over the weekend, it was revealed that the government’s Chagos deal will cost ten times more than the £3.4bn figure that has been claimed. According to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act, the Government’s estimated cost of giving the British Indian Ocean territory to Mauritius and leasing back the Diego Garcia military base is almost £35bn.

Defence Brief: Key Insights from the Week

Second F-35B jet forced to make emergency landing (The Telegraph)
Move defence budget outside fiscal rule, says Gordon Brown (The Times)
Stella Rimington, first female head of MI5, dies aged 90 (The Times)
Boeing defence workers strike over pay (The Times)
Iran asks Taliban for ‘kill list’ so it can hunt down MI6 spies (The Telegraph)

Industry Latest:

Hanwha Systems rolls out AESA radar for South Korea’s KF-21 jet (Airforce Technology)
RAF airmen develop app to calculate high altitude parachute jumps (Airforce Technology)
Nine C-UAS platforms named in British Army’s Project Vanaheim trials (Janes)
BFBS granted first look at contenders to replace British Army’s SA80 assault rifle (Forces News)
18 countries sign up to claim SAFE fund (DSEI Gateway)
Moog showcases larger gun variant of RIwP in UK (Army Technology)
Portugal eyes joining sixth-generation fighter programme (Janes)

Direct from Government:

Armed Forces to mark VJ Day 80 with flypasts, music and commemorations around the world (MoD Press Release)
Scotland at the heart of defence investment as small and medium businesses get a seat at the table (MoD Press Release)

News from Further Afar:

F-35s were the topic of conversation last week. As reported by Politico, both Spain and Switzerland have turned against the fighter jet in response to Trump and his tariffs. In Spain, talks to purchase F-35s have been suspended “indefinitely”, and the government will explore European alternatives. Meanwhile, a Swiss order for 36 F-35s may be on the rocks after backlash against the decision by Trump to hit Swiss exports with a 39% tariff – more than double the rate imposed on the EU.
However, in Canada, it is being reported that Canadian defence officials are arguing that the country should continue with a plan to buy 88 F-35s (Reuters)
US Vice-President JD Vance has told Europe to step up in funding Ukraine. This comes as European leaders scramble to present a united defence behind Ukraine and President Zelenskyy, after Trump suggested that a deal with Putin may include Ukraine conceding territory. Trump and Putin are due to meet in Alaska on Friday (The Times)
The Italian government, under Giorgia Meloni, has approved the construction of a €13.5bn bridge, which will link Sicily to the Italian mainland. For decades, the 3.3km-long suspension bridge over the Messina Strait has been put on hold. However, the project has been reframed as national security, and will therefore help the country meet its new NATO defence spending commitment of 5% (Financial Times)
In a win for Japan’s defence industry, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has been selected as the preferred bidder to build a new fleet of up to eleven Australian frigates. Worth as much as A$10bn in its first phase, Mitsubishi beat German rival Thyssenkrupp, marking Japan’s first deal to export warships (Financial Times)
Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, taking place in Australia, officially concluded after three weeks of extensive military operations and training exercises. At its peak, the exercise saw 43,000 personnel from 19 countries, and the participation of the UK Carrier Strike Group marked the first time a non-US aircraft carrier played a role in Talisman Sabre (Naval Technology)

CMS Podcast of the Week:

Council on Geostrategy Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage | Equipping defence for the future: Acquisition and exports

Coming Up This Week:

The key event to keep an eye on this week is the upcoming meeting between President Trump and President Putin in Alaska on Friday. While many speculate that conditions for a ceasefire deal may include Ukraine being forced to cede territory, only today it has been announced that an emergency virtual summit organised by Germany’s Friedrich Merz will be held on Wednesday, ahead of Friday’s meeting. It is believed that Trump and Zelenskyy will both be present on this call. As ever with Trump and his policy on Ukraine, the situation evolves rapidly and remains unpredictable.

CMS Strategic specialises in defence communications and government relations, helping clients operating in the cybersecurity, aerospace, maritime, land, and defence technology fields stay ahead. CMS Strategic supports defence companies of all sizes in navigating policy changes, engaging with key stakeholders, and aligning their messaging with evolving government priorities.

By continuously monitoring the defence landscape, CMS Strategic ensures its clients stay informed, proactive, and strategically positioned in a fast-changing industry.