BCE Consulting (BCE)

Shortly after taking office in July 2024, the Labour Government commissioned a Strategic Defence Review (SDR) to assess the current state of the UK armed forces and their capabilities, relative to the threats we face. The output of the SDR will highlight areas where funding will be allocated, including the uplift from the Defence budget increase to 2.5% GDP we have committed by 2027.   BCE’s UK and European Defence lead, Anirudh Suneel sat down with Maj Gen Richard Spencer MA CEng FIET MAPM (Ret’d) to discuss critical areas the Defence Secretary of State needs to consider to efficiently deliver any outputs from the SDR. Anirudh Suneel Craig Belanger Joe Giandomenico Kristin Robertson Jerry Spruill Robyn Pirie Richard Mascolo Mark Kipphut Ben Osterholtz BCE Consulting (BCE) #UK #MoD #Defence #BritishArmy #NATO #Transformation #DefencePrimes #SupplyChain #Skills #Funding #Decisions #Disruption #Transformation #Industry #Strategy #BCEConsulting

Let's wrap up the first month of 2025 by assessing news of #China's new #sixthgen fighter platform, Chengdu J-36. On December 26, a new fighter demonstrator was photographed near the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation's testing facility in Chengdu, Sichuan. News broke soon after.   The design is a tailless trijet flying wing in a double delta wing diamond configuration. It is almost certainly a prototype.   The fighter(?) has a large frame with a thin, wide nose, chine lines extending to the wings, a canopy, EO/IR windows, dual-wheel nose landing gear, and trijet engine bays with segmented exhausts but no vertical stabilizer. Its estimated dimensions are 20–26 m in length, 20 m wingspan, over 190 m² wing area, and MTOW at100,000–120,000lbs, with propulsion details unknown but likely bespoke WS-10 and/or WS-15 engines.   The design, form factor, and propulsion support all-aspect, all-frequency stealth, aligning with AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Research and Design Institute's December 31 reveal of higher stealth standards for the PLAAF's next-gen fighter. The large weapons bay allows for carrying the latest PL-21/XX missile, with 400km+ range.   It’s also speculated the demonstrator may be the PLA's second sixth-gen bomber program, the JH-XX regional fighter-bomber.   While no authorities confirmed the images' authenticity, loose control over their release and state media coverage suggest intentional coordination. The PLAAF has a history of demonstrating unachieved capability, but but given the prototype is documented in flight, this isn’t like the Sharp Sword supersonic UCAV at the 2019 military parade celebrating the PRC’s 70th anniversary. J-36 is almost certainly a mature demonstrator or one of several parallel prototypes for the PLAAF's future platform.   Comparisons with F-35’s form factor or NGAD concept art raised concerns about technology leaks, but without evidence or details on J-36, these remain unsubstantiated. Only so many shapes are both aerodynamic and stealthy, hence convergent evolution in engineering.   J-36 is the first photographed live flight demo of a sixth-gen prototype. A planned 2035 service entry could upset the regional power balance, threatening Allied interests in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.   BCE Consulting (BCE)'s Global A&D Practice monitors global defense industrial developments. Our cohort of leading experts and researchers study these platforms to enable our clients in Allied industry to retain their edge in scaled production of advanced capabilities. Visit our website to read our 7-part study on the PLA's cross-branch development since 1990. Craig Belanger, Robyn Pirie, Anirudh Suneel, Joe Giandomenico, Ben Osterholtz, Kristin Robertson, Jerry Spruill, Scott Bethel

BCE is lucky to have Matt as a Senior Advisor within our Retail & Apparel practice. Well done, Matt Powell!

BCE Consulting (BCE) congratulates three of our Insights Practice analysts as they begin their first rotations in our Leadership Development Program. Two of our Boston office team members, Ingrid K. and Caleb Kern, and one of our London office team members, Rachel Lewis, will start their new leadership roles when BCE gets back to work on January 2, 2025. We congratulate all three on this professional accomplishment and look forward to all they will achieve in 2025 and beyond. Ingrid will be working with Richard Crumb on key Diagnostics industry vertical client relationships. Rachel will be teamed with Rachel Eschle in our Materials industry vertical team. Both Ingrid and Rachel will be responsible for project scoping, account management, client interface, and project delivery. Caleb will spend his first rotation working with BCE's management committee as the firm's Chief of Staff. In this role Caleb will coordinate between BCE's two operating divisions - Healthcare & Consumer and Technology & Industrials - our wholly-owned subsidiary, BCE UK, and internal functions like finance, HR, marketing, operations, and other special project teams. BCE's Leadership Development Program is a rotational opportunity for emerging leaders to become fully immersed in BCE industry vertical teams, one of BCE's four practice areas - Growth Strategy, M&A, Strategic Transformation, and Insights - or firm management for one year rotations. Our young leaders gain valuable process management, people management, and thought leadership skills while continuing to master core management consulting capabilities. After 12 to 15 months each manager can rotate to a new assignment over the course of their 3 to 5 year tenure. The culmination of the program is acceptance of a senior role in one of our Industry Vertical or Practice Area teams or admission to a graduate program or senior role outside the organization. One of our existing Leadership Development Program team members, Elizabeth Dana, has accepted one of those outside senior roles. Elizabeth is a fantastic leader with an extremely bright future. We are excited to see all she accomplishes in industry at Berkadia. One of our other Boston office analysts, Yusuke Fukuda, has accepted a dream job with the Los Angeles Dodgers. We wish Yusuke the best as he moves across the country and begins his new career with the Dodgers.

The C-UAS market is expected to grow nearly tenfold over the next decade. Download our in-depth study now to see how vendors can succeed in this rapidly emerging capability area. https://lnkd.in/edGRVqYs

AeroVironment is acquiring BlueHalo, an Arlington Capital Partners portfolio company, for $4.1 billion. Below is a quick overview and top growth drivers. #UAV #UAS #uncrewedsystems #Replicator #DOD #CUAS #cyber #EW #AI #autonomy #DefenseTech #Acquisition #Innovation Craig Belanger, Joe Giandomenico, Anirudh Suneel, Ben Osterholtz, Scott Bethel, Mark Kipphut, Kristin Robertson, Jerry Spruill, Richard Mascolo, James Hvizd, Jim Walker, Doug Reep, Aaron Prupas, Martin J. Bowling, @Dennis Carroll, Paul Blackwell, Jeff Snyder, Lee Cooper, Adam M., BCE Consulting (BCE)

The Replicator initiative is advancing autonomous and counter-UAS systems through nontraditional and faster procurements. As the program expands, companies must develop defensible business cases that support internal investment in tech innovation and scalable manufacturing. Anduril Industries is a great example of a company that has made the requisite investments and has captured most of Replicator Tranche 1 and 2 opportunities. AeroVironment and PDW have also captured portions of Replicator funds. #DoD #Replicator #DefenseIndustry #AutonomousSystems #BusinessStrategy #DefenseInnovation #DIU #CUAS #counterUAS #UAS #innovation #unmannedsystems #counterunmanned Craig Belanger, Joe Giandomenico, Anirudh Suneel, Ben Osterholtz, Scott Bethel, Mark Kipphut, Kristin Robertson, Jerry Spruill, Richard Mascolo, James Hvizd, Jim Walker, Doug Reep, Aaron Prupas, Martin J. Bowling, @Dennis Carroll, Paul Blackwell, Jeff Snyder, Lee Cooper, Adam M., BCE Consulting (BCE)