Four shipyards across ICE Pact nations to jointly pursue US Arctic Security Cutter program
“Together, the four companies represent the world’s premier icebreaker shipbuilding companies,” the shipbuilders said in a joint statement.
“Together, the four companies represent the world’s premier icebreaker shipbuilding companies,” the shipbuilders said in a joint statement.
Former President Joe Biden presented ICE Pact last year as a pathway to compete with Russian and Chinese icebreaker production. President Donald Trump has continued the effort, but with a twist.
“It's more challenging to defend than to attack,” when it comes to air defense, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson told Breaking Defense.
Patria's wheeled vehicle was selected by Japan in 2022 to replace the Type 96 wheeled armored personnel carrier that is in service with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF).
“We are stepping up as one ready to secure Ukraine's future following any peace deal, we advance the momentum of that planning here today, planning to put Ukraine in [the] strongest possible position to protect its sovereignty and to deter any future Russian aggression," John Healey, UK defense secretary, said.
The new funding decision lets Finland “answer to the current security situation in Europe and the military threat posed by Russia," according to defense minister Antti Häkkänen.
Michigan’s defense ecosystem and expertise makes it a special asset for production.
“[C]onceivably, based on where we are buying long-lead parts for Lot 21 we could make that happen,” said J.R. McDonald, Lockheed’s vice president of business development for the F-35 program.
"There's a defense industrial base reality to this, certainly as it pertains to shipbuilding and shipyard capacity," Adm. Linda Fagan told Breaking Defense.
The signing comes one week after Russia launched another one of its own icebreakers.
"We’re aiming for cross-development, cross-buying and cross-use basically, because we need to align and ease up the supply chains and be able to sustain the vehicles," Maj. Gen. Jonny Lindfors, Commander of the Swedish Army, told Breaking Defense.
In addition, the State Department announced three other Foreign Military Sales approvals, for the Netherlands, Finland and Australia.
Russia has the world's largest icebreaker fleet, and China is investing. Here's how many icebreakers the US and its allies have - and how they intend to compete going forward.
Five defense leaders from across the alliance share their thoughts directly with Breaking Defense readers.
"Without this arrangement, we'd risk our adversaries developing an advantage in a specialized technology with vast geostrategic importance," a White House official said.