The UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), has launched a £1m fund aimed at fast-tracking innovative ideas to support the fight against the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The call for innovation is open to ‘any idea or novel approach’ that could assist the UK’s Armed Forces in their response to the spread of the virus. Director …

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9 April France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is heading to its home port after suspected coronavirus (Covid-19) cases were found onboard. The nuclear-powered carrier was originally intended to return to Toulon on the 23rd of this month. The French Ministry of Armed Forces posted on Facebook that around 40 sailors were showing Covid-19 symptoms. …

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Global: The World Trade Organisation has predicted the drop in global trade caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will be worse than that caused by the global financial crisis in 2008. Europe: The European Commission is preparing a “roadmap” for a co-ordinated lifting of lockdown restrictions, which member states are advised to extend until 15 May. The …

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The US Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) has rescheduled the launch of GPS III SV03 (GPS III-3) to minimise the exposure of coronavirus (Covid-19) to the launch crew and early orbit operators. The launch was originally scheduled for late April 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The projected launch date is …

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The Acting Secretary of the US Navy (SECNAV), Thomas Modly, has resigned drawing to a close a week of leaks and speeches that have left the Navy with a new acting head, and a carrier without a captain. Modly resigned on Tuesday after an audio recording surfaced of him describing the former captain of the …

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United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spent a second night in intensive care, where he has not been diagnosed with pneumonia or required mechanical ventilation, the government has said. Dominic Raab, in his role as First Secretary, has been deputising for the Prime Minister, but needs the agreement of the Cabinet in order to …

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8 April The Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed protective equipment for medical, paramedical and other personnel who are fighting the spread of coronavirus in the country. According to The Times of India, the research body has partnered with industry to produce the safety equipment. Some of the products being produced in …

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Alexion Pharmaceuticals is set to enter the COVID-19 drug development race in the next few days via a single-arm, 100-patient Phase II trial investigating Soliris (eculizumab), a source familiar with the trial has revealed to GlobalData. If this Phase II trial delivers a positive risk-benefit ratio, it would then pave the way for a 300-patient, …

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French defence contractor Thales has suspended its annual dividend, keeping €430m in the company to help maintain cash flow throughout the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The company has also withdrawn its 2020 financial outlook delivered earlier this year, and extended its credit line to help see its way through the crisis. Since early March the company …

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7 April The US Army has announced plans to temporarily pause basic combat training for new recruits in a bid to slow down the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in the armed forces. The pause will be last for a minimum of two weeks, following which the plan will be reviewed again, said General Paul …

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