Leonardo, Bell and Russian influence fail to deter Airbus Helicopters

Pakistani veterans lead race for contracts as defence ties with US relaunched 

Sales agents are redoubling their efforts to benefit from current favourable defence relations between Washington and Islamabad. Among them, Pakistan Aviation & Aerospace has won a contract to act as the local representative of Texan helicopter manufacturer Bell.

Vietnamese coast guard anti-corruption trial jeopardises Western defence deals 

Five Vietnamese senior coast guard service officers are currently being tried for corruption, while the Communist Party and defence ministry are taking back control of the service's procurement.

Vietnamese air force sounds out French firms on training cooperation at Paris Air Show 

The Vietnamese air force, which has traditionally turned to Russia for its hardware and pilot training needs, is looking for new international partners, particularly for cooperation on training. This was the guiding principle for the visit made to the Paris Air Show by its deputy commander.

• VIETNAM - To Lam wants to further condense public security hierarchy

• IRAQ/IRAN - Qassem Al Araji defuses Sulaymaniyah security issues before return to Tehran

• FRANCE/VIETNAM/ROMANIA - Olivier Brochet tipped to succeed ambassador Warnery in Hanoi

• RUSSIA - FSB's new technical director settles in

Thales and Leonardo fight for influence in Hanoi 

Defence giant Thales suspects competitor Leonardo of derailing a major contract the group had secured in Vietnam. At the heart of the conflict lies a French hotel developer who was operating covertly for the Italian rival.

Leonardo and Airbus wage battle for Malaysian skies 

Competition for the helicopter market in Malaysia is ramping up with the arrival of a local newcomer backed by Airbus, which is upsetting the monopoly previously enjoyed by Leonardo's local partner, Weststar.

Bell flies full speed ahead on helicopter sales in Vietnam 

US manufacturer Bell was part of a large business delegation that travelled to Hanoi in March. It hopes to sell helicopters to the Ministry of Public Safety in Hanoi. For the first time since the two countries were at war, Vietnamese helicopter pilots are being trained on US soil.

Not over for Lockheed Martin on spy satellite tender  Free

The US defence giant Lockheed Martin is back in the running for a contract to provide Vietnam with an observation satellite. With the US willing to evoke ITAR to block the initial winner of the contract, Israel Aerospace Industries, and Airbus seeming to have fallen behind, its chances of taking the lead have increased.

Vietnam baulks at Airbus's observation satellite proposal 

While the French embassy in Vietnam is still hoping that Airbus might land an earth observation satellite order, the Vietnamese government appears unready to commit, marking what could be the end of this central project in the two countries' bilateral defence cooperation and a blow to French chances of further defence contracts in Vietnam.