Defence takes centre stage virtually and in reality

Defence takes centre stage at this week’s news and feature programme for the Middle East and Africa’s aerospace, aviation and defence podcast.
Times Aerospace’s defence editor Alan Warnes sniffs out the only airshow taking place in the world and heads to the eastern reaches of the Czech Republic in search of stories from Africa and the Middle East.
And all works out well. A coffee with Micael Johansson, CEO of Swedish manufacturer Saab reveals more about the company’s relationship with the UAE as the second Global Eye aircraft is delivered to the emirates this week.
Local Czech OEM Aero Vodochody were celebrating the European certification of the L39ng – the next generation of the Albatross. Jakub Hoda explained to Alan how the Nigerian Air Force was upgrading its existing Albatross aircraft and could be in the market for the new aircraft with its light attack potential.
Host Alan Peaford also found defence on the agenda at the Global Aerospace Summit which broadcast the virtual edition of the biennial event from its normal home in Abu Dhabi. We hear from the head of Edge, the UAE defence conglomerate; from the president and CEO of Lockheed Martin and get some encouraging words of comfort from Etihad Airways’ chief executive Tony Douglas.
Plus, of course, all the news headlines from across the region.