Nick Watts writes:

MOD and SMEs

On 28th January, the MOD announced the launch of a bespoke £20 million fund to offer accelerated contracts to small, innovative British startups who have had limited or no business contact with the Ministry of Defence. The fund is part of the government's commitment to make Britain the best place to start and grow a defence business.

As set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy, the government sees defence as an engine for growth, "and small businesses are the backbone of UK defence, bringing the innovation, agility and fresh thinking that UK Armed Forces need to transform and stay ahead of increasing and evolving threats."

Read more...

The loss of the submarine Kursk in August 2000 exposed the fragile condition of Russia's navy at the start of the century. All 118 crew died. Ageing equipment, maintenance shortcomings and a rescue capability so degraded that Norway and Britain had to be asked for help combined to reveal how far the fleet had declined since the Soviet collapse. The disaster did not in itself trigger reform — that required the political will and the revenues that came later — but it became the most visible symbol of neglect and reinforced the case for reinvestment in maritime power that Putin had already begun to make.

Read more...