Defence`s Feeds

The day after a RAF Typhoon carried out the first ever landing on a road strip in Finland, RNoAF (Royal Norwegian Air Force) F-35A aircraft have operated out of Tervo road base too. Two F-35As [...]

The post Norwegian F-35A Jets Carry Out Type’s First Highway Landing On Finnish Road Strip appeared first on The Aviationist.

The next ordinary meeting of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) is scheduled to take place on Monday, 9 October 2023 from 15.00 - 18.30hrs in Brussels (SPINELLI 1G3).

The meeting agenda and documents will be published here.

SEDE missions 2023:

• Germany and Poland - 24-26 July 2023
  
• Armenia - 19-22 June 2023
  
• Romania and Moldova - 15-18 May 2023
  
• Djibouti and Somalia - 1-4 April 2023
  
• Bosnia and Herzegovina - 20-23 February 2023
  

SEDE meetings' calendar 2023
EP calendar 2023
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

A British Typhoon has carried out the first ever landing on a Finnish road strip. On Sept. 20, 2023, a RAF Typhoon landed on a Finnish road as part of a demonstration that the RAF [...]

The post RAF Typhoon Jet Operates From Finnish Road Strip For The First Time Ever appeared first on The Aviationist.

First Highway Strip Exercise in Poland in 20 years underway. According to a release issued by the Polish General Command of the Armed Forces, the Polish Air Force is going to engage in the first highway [...]

The post ROUTE 604: Polish Air Force’s First Highway Strip Exercise In Decades Has Begun appeared first on The Aviationist.

The saga has ended and debris found. And no, the missing F-35B did not crash in water. Officials have eventually managed to locate debris from the missing F-35B in a field in Williamsburg County, in [...]

The post Debris Of Missing F-35B Found In A Field appeared first on The Aviationist.

During last week’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, the Air Force provided a public update on the next-gen bomber. As we reported in detail last week, during the 2023 Air, Space & Cyber Conference, the [...]

The post New Photo And Details About B-21 Raider Program and Progress Released appeared first on The Aviationist.

U.S. military asking for public’s help finding F-35B gone missing after pilot ejected. But, how do you lose an F-35 after the pilot ejected? As already reported here, a pilot ejected safely from an F-35B [...]

The post US Military Can’t Find Missing F-35B, Asks For Public Help appeared first on The Aviationist.

SEDE organises a public hearing on 'European defence industry and the urgent need to replenish defence stockpiles within the EU' on Tuesday, 19 September 2023 from 9.00 to 10.30hrs in room SPINELLI 3G2, with external experts.

Members will discuss with an independent expert at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and representatives from EU defence industries on the contribution of the recently adopted legislative acts - EDIRPA and ASAP - to strengthen the Member States joint procurement of defence capabilities and to ramp-up European defence industry's production capacity. The discussion will raise questions including how these initiatives help to secure the combat readiness of armed forces, to replace existing Soviet era legacy systems with European solutions, and to provide for specific priority capabilities like European multilayer Air and Missile Defence.

Location : SPINELLI 3G2
Draft programme
Poster
EPRS briefing: European defence industry reinforcement through common procurement act (EDIRPA)
EPRS briefing: Act in support of ammunition production (ASAP)
EPRS briefing: Reinforcing the European defence industry
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

On 19 September, SEDE will organise a public hearing on European defence industry and the urgent need to replenish defence stockpiles within the EU.

Members will discuss with an independent expert at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and representatives from EU defence industries on the contribution of the recently adopted legislative acts - EDIRPA and ASAP - to strengthen the Member States joint procurement of defence capabilities and to ramp-up European defence industry's production capacity. The discussion will raise questions including how these initiatives help to secure the combat readiness of armed forces, to replace existing Soviet era legacy systems with European solutions, and to provide for specific priority capabilities like European multilayer Air and Missile Defence.

Draft programme
Poster
EPRS briefing: European defence industry reinforcement through common procurement act (EDIRPA)
EPRS briefing: Act in support of ammunition production (ASAP)
EPRS briefing: Reinforcing the European defence industry
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

According to the first reports, the pilot is safe after ejecting from a USMC F-35B. An F-35B Lighting II jet belonging to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501) with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing [...]

The post U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Crashes In South Carolina. Pilot Successfully Ejected. appeared first on The Aviationist.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

On 18 September, SEDE Members will discuss with Margarita Robles, Minister of Defence of Spain, the Spanish Presidency priorities in the area of security and defence. In the context of the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the Presidency will focus on strengthening defence capabilities, including the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity and the implementation of the Strategic Compass.

Members will also discuss three draft reports on the implementation of the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence, the Annual Report on the Common Security and Defence Policy and on the Security and defence implications of China's influence on critical infrastructure in the European Union.

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), the EU’s flagship initiative for defence, has achieved a deepening of cooperation across all military domains over the past six years, but the European Union still lacks critical capabilities and strategic enablers for modern warfare, senior EU officials said on Wednesday. 

Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles, EU High Representative Josep Borrell and European Defence Agency Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý all called for new energy to be injected into the EU defence initiative that was launched by Member States in December 2017.

High Representative Borrell - who is also head of EDA - told the PESCO conference on 13 September, organised by the Spanish presidency of the Council, to use PESCO and not work in silos. "Cooperation among Member States is key to strengthening EU defence and the defence industry. On this, PESCO plays a key role in supporting the ambitions set in the Strategic Compass," he said.

PESCO was launched as the “cornerstone of European defence”, Spain’s Minister Robles recalled. Now the war in Ukraine and the critical situation in the Sahel region remind Europeans that the EU needs to preserve peace through solid armed forces, adequate investments and defence capabilities, she said.  

Borrell praised the 68 collaborative projects, including the European Medical Command and the Cyber Rapid Response Teams that have reached full operational capacity (FOC) within PESCO. Twenty-two projects are slated to reach FOC in 2025.  

Some of PESCO’s other achievements include headway in prototyping and testing  unmanned  systems as well as in designing a new class of military ship. PESCO helps Member States to develop new assets together. This helps save money, allows militaries to work closely together, and reinforces NATO for those who are allies.  The framework has also received a boost as Denmark has joined as the 26th Member State.  

The conference in Brussels, attended by some 150 representatives, is part of efforts to feed into a strategic review that will follow after the initiative’s initial phase between 2018 and 2025. EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý said: “We should use this window of opportunity to set its next political objectives, with Member States driving the European capability development process."

He also said: "A bold and concrete PESCO strategic review will be a sound political signal towards our citizens, but also our partners or competitors: governments of EU Member States are politically willing to advance common security and defence."

PESCO has 20 legally binding commitments for Member States, which include increasing defence spending, as well as planning and developing defence capabilities together. For PESCO’s next stage after 2025, Member States can decide to review  the commitments, as well as the number of projects. Performance indicators could also be introduced to measure PESCO  progress, diplomats, military staff and officials heard at the conference. 

To improve the sustainability of future defence mobility while retaining the highest performance demanded by military vehicles, the European Defence Agency (EDA) has been working on the development of hybrid drive trains for military use. EDA has formally kicked-off the HybriDT II (Hybrid Drive Train Demonstrator-phase 2) – project which involves the design of full-scale wheeled and tracked military purpose demonstrators with hybrid drive trains. The aim of HybriDT II is the design of demonstrators to verify simulation results and allow for tactical and logistic testing of new technologies. 

Phase two will work to identify the best technology for a modular and scalable hybrid architecture best fitting for military purpose which meets the objectives of significant weight saving, and space claim, thermal radiation reduction and fuel consumption reduction. Wheeled vehicles will be the primary focus of the research, with 8×8 and 6×6 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) will be considered. In addition, tracked vehicle applications will be investigated just within simulation.

The kick-off meeting, held on 6 September, has officially started the second phase   of the project (HybriDT II) that involves Germany, as lead contributing Member State, Austria, The Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia as contributing Member States. This phase of the project has a duration of 15 months and a total budget 1,7 M€. In the expected follow-on phase (HybriDT III), one or more demonstrators will be developed, manufactured and tested according to the results obtained in HybriDT II.

Pan-European consortium 

The project will be executed by a consortium composed of thirteen industrial and research entities:  the AVL List as project leader and General Dynamics European Land Systems – Steyr from Austria; the German AVL Schrick, AVL Software and Functions and Institute for Chemical Technology Fraunhofer; DNV, TNO and VDL from The Netherlands; the Polish Military University of Technology and Huta Stalowa Wola Ironworks; AVL Slovenia, Elaphe Propulsion Technology and University of Ljubljana (Slovenia).

Hybrid II project, prepared in the CapTech Ground Systems at EDA’s Research and Innovation Directorate, contribute to develop innovative propulsion and drivetrain systems, which could fulfil production of zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV), by introducing the most advanced technological trends in transportation.

EDA’s wider role 

EDA supports all EU Member States in improving their defence capabilities through European cooperation. Acting as an enabler and facilitator for Ministries of Defence willing to engage in collaborative capability projects, the Agency has become the hub for European defence cooperation with expertise and networks spanning the whole spectrum of defence capabilities. 

Member States use EDA as an intergovernmental expert platform where their collaborative projects are supported, facilitated, and implemented. For more details, please see here.

MEPs backed the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA) on Tuesday.
Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee on Culture and Education
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Committee on International Trade
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Committee on Fisheries
Committee on Regional Development
Committee on Transport and Tourism
Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

The European Defence Agency has so far signed eight framework contracts with European industry for the joint procurement of 155mm ammunition. The signing of the latest five contracts took place at EDA headquarters in Brussels on 5 September, during a visit of the European Union’s Political and Security Committee (PSC) ambassadors.  

High Representative Josep Borrell, who is also Head of the European Defence Agency, said: “We are taking another step forward in our three-track ammunition initiative. Member States can now pass orders within eight framework contracts. Time is of essence. Putin does not show any sign of letting up in his aggression against the Ukrainian people. This is why our military support for Ukraine’s defence must continue. ” 

EDA’s Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý said: “The signing of these framework contracts between EDA and the European defence industry shows our capacity to swiftly secure the best deals possible for EU Member States and Norway. 

“We are now offering viable opportunities for Member States to place orders with industry through EDA, either to support Ukraine or to replenish their own national stocks. It is now up to Member States to make full use of these options,” he said.

To date, EDA has negotiated and signed the multiple framework contracts for the procurement of the 155mm ammunition round, also known as all-up-round, for the Panzerhaubitze 2000, as well as for the projectile and fuse components of ammunition for the Krab howitzer system.

More framework contracts will soon materialise for other howitzer systems. 

Collaborative procurement is the best option to achieve cost reduction from economies of scale and interoperability, while allowing Member States to purchase ammunition according to their national needs or in support of Ukraine. The overarching EDA project arrangement has been signed by 26 Member States and Norway. Flexible and inclusive, it allows all EDA Member States to join the initiative.

The ammunition being procured is for the most common self-propelled howitzers that EU Member States have sent to Ukraine: France’s Caesar; Poland’s Krab; Germany’s Panzerhaubitze 2000; and Slovakia’s Zuzana.

To comply with legal obligations and to protect commercially sensitive information, EDA cannot disclose the names of the contractors nor the unit prices at this stage, and does not comment on ongoing negotiations. 

These framework contracts have been signed as part of a three-track approach to deliver more artillery ammunition and missiles to Ukraine, agreed by the EU Council in March 2023. Through these three tracks, the EU is supporting Member States to deliver artillery ammunition and missiles from national stockpiles; to aggregate demand and jointly procure 155mm ammunition; and to ramp up the production capacity of the European defence industry.

EDA’s wider role 

EDA supports all EU Member States in improving their defence capabilities through European cooperation. Acting as an enabler and facilitator for Ministries of Defence willing to engage in collaborative capability projects, the Agency has become the hub for European defence cooperation with expertise and networks spanning the whole spectrum of defence capabilities. 

Member States use EDA as an intergovernmental expert platform where their collaborative projects are supported, facilitated, and implemented. For more details, please see here. 

On 7 September the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, will address Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and its Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE). The discussion will come shortly after the NATO Summit in Vilnius where Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Alliance have again reaffirmed the enduring transatlantic bond, unity, cohesion, and solidarity at a critical time for international peace and stability.
Allies also committed to continue cooperating closely with the European Union in order to make the Euro-Atlantic area and the broader neighbourhood more secure. The exchange will allow Members to discuss with the Secretary General the latest developments in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and highlight the importance of the EU's strategic partnership with NATO.
Meeting agenda
AFET Committee
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

The European Parliament launched a process of monitoring possible future risks for the EU during the COVID-19 crisis, and has developed this further during Russia's war on Ukraine. The annual 'Future Shocks' series provides up-to-date, objective, and authoritative information on global risks through a 360° survey based on risk literature from a broad range of sources. Future Shocks 2023: Anticipating and weathering the next storms discusses 15 risks related to geopolitics, climate change, health, economics and democracy that could occur in the coming decade, and 10 policy responses to address both existing governance capacity and possible ways to enhance risk-response capabilities within the EU.
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Length of video : 81'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP