Defence`s Feeds

The US Army expects to issue a request for proposals (RfP) within the next week or two for another Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) 'rebuy' programme. Army officials plan to seek better ride quality and performance to accommodate heavier armour, and will look for better power generation

Key Points The Finnish defence ministry has authorised the commencement of work on the navy's 'Squadron 2020' future OPVs The ships are likely to be constructed by local shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions The Finnish Ministry of Defence (MoD) has given its mandate to start work on the

Thailand has ordered two more EC725 Caracal multirole helicopters to augment the six already procured, Airbus Helicopters announced on 4 October. The order represents Phase III of the EC725 procurement plan for the Royal Thai Air Force (Kongtap Agard Thai - RTAF), with the first four medium-lift

General Motors (GM) and the US Army on 3 October unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle based on a Chevrolet Colorado truck. The vehicle is being jointly developed by General Motors and US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), and is to undergo army testing

Japan is ready to be flexible with the cost of ShinMaywa Industries' US-2i amphibious search-and-rescue (SAR) aircraft in order to push through a deal to export the platform to India. Talks between the governments of Japan and India about the sale of the aircraft have been continuing for several

The Taliban launched a co-ordinated assault on the Afghan provincial capital of Kunduz on 3 October, briefly overrunning central neighbourhoods of the city before being driven back by Afghan security forces. The NATO-led 'Resolute Support' mission said on its Twitter account that government forces

The US Army is beginning a new programme to add weapons to Stryker wheeled combat vehicles and is preparing to accept its first 'upgunned' Stryker vehicle for testing in December under an urgent effort. In mid-September the Pentagon approved a second engineering change proposal (ECP2) programme to

US Army leaders are considering how to modernise and structure the service to deal with potentially major shifts in the nature of ground combat, which could be considerably more dispersed and less dependent on current technology, according to the service's top officer. "We're on the cusp of a

BAE Systems unveiled a next-generation Bradley fighting vehicle demonstrator, built with internal research and development (R&D) funding and intended to showcase technology options as the US Army considers how it will replace its ageing but still operational Bradley fleet. The platform takes

The US Army is to receive its first prototypes for an 'upgunned' Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) in December under an urgent lethality upgrade project, according to contractor General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). GDLS was awarded a USD329 million contract modification in May to provide a 30

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) on 3 October unveiled a medium-weight tracked vehicle demonstrator called the Griffin that meshes elements of the turret and 120 mm cannon from the company's M1A1/M1A2 Abrams main battle tank with its Ajax Scout Specialist Vehicle. In fiscal year 2017 (FY 2017)

Trijicon has unveiled a new mounted machine gun optic, the Machine Gun Reflex Sight (MGRS), to provide mounted machine gunners with a sight similar to the company's legacy Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG). John Rupp, Trijicon's vice-president for business development, told IHS Jane's the

US Army Europe (USAREUR) is shifting from a deployment model whereby troops fall in on existing equipment, to rotating in a brigade with its own gear early next year. The next heavy brigade to deploy in Europe is to be the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and it is scheduled

UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has announced an investment of £1.3bn with defence fim BAE Systems for the Royal Navy’s Successor nuclear submarine programme.

The Australian Ministry of Defence has contracted companies to proceed with the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) $50bn Future Submarine programme.

Japanese Aikizuki Class Destroyer

EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq held talks today (3 October) in Bucharest with Romanian Minister of Defence Mihnea Ioan Motoc. Romania’s participation in EDA projects, the Security & Defence Implementation Plan of the EU Global Strategy and the European Commission’s upcoming European Defence Action Plan were among the main topics on the agenda.

During the meeting, Mr Domecq welcomed Romania’s involvement in EDA projects and activities, for example: EU Satcom Market, the Joint Deployable Exploitation and Analysis Laboratory (JDEAL) project and the European Air Transport Fleet (EATF) programme. Romania was also the first contributing Member States to join the EDA’s ‘Sharing of Spare Parts’ project which allows it today to share military spare parts with eight other Member States who have also joined. The EDA is currently also providing technical assistance to three Romanian dual-use research project proposals as candidates for co-funding by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF).
The upcoming Preparatory Action for CSDP-related research, to be launched in 2017, as well as the planned future European Defence Research Programme will open many interesting R&T opportunities, also for Romania, it was stressed at the meeting.
Mr Domecq commended Minister Motoc for Romania’s overall support to EDA and encouraged further engagement in the Agency’s work in the future.
“In the light of Romania's 10 year development plan in which it committed to devote 2% of GDP for defence expenditure, EDA is ready to provide all the necessary support as effectively and efficiently as possible, making use of opportunities for cooperation and the EU tools available in support of defence”, Mr Domecq stated.

Tailored approach for CEE countries

Mr Domecq recalled that EDA takes into account the ‘diversity’ of the European Defence Industrial and Technological Base and that it supports the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in the same way as it does the V4 or LoI countries.
Based on a specific CEE study which was commissioned by the EDA in 2015, the Agency is currently exploring a number of recommendations for providing more tailored expertise and support to CEE MoDs and industry, especially on defence industry policy and collaborative programmes.
As part of this effort, one idea is to try to identify a pilot collaborative programme which could be undertaken by interested CEE countries, enhancing interoperability among them. CEE countries are currently being consulted on these ideas. Mr Domecq encouraged Romania to participate and to take the lead in some areas.

Copyright picture: Romanian MoD

More information:

• EDA Chief Executive travels to Romania (EDA webnews April 2015)

On 30 September, EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq visited Greece for meetings with the Hellenic Minister of Defence, Panos Kammenos, the National Defence General Staff Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis HN, and other senior officials in the Ministries of National Defence and of Foreign Affairs. Mr Domecq also used the occasion for discussions with industry representatives.

Discussions with the Minister of Defence mainly focused on the implementation of the Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy which was published by the High Representative Federica Mogherini in June, with focus on EDA’s role on the implementation. The meeting also provided the opportunity to assess progress in a number of EDA projects in which Greece participates such as in the areas of maritime, energy efficiency, logistic support or cyber defence. Additionally, possible involvement in additional EDA initiatives were discussed.

This visit is a follow-up of meetings in Greece in spring 2015 and the Minister's visit to EDA last February.

Copyright picture: Greek MoD

More information:

• News "Jorge Domecq welcomes Greek Minister of Defence at EDA" (9 February 2016)
• News "EDA Chief Executive visits Athens" (22 April 2015)

 

Americas

• An SM-6 air defense missile interceptor fired from the USS Princeton has set a new distance record for an intercept during testing at the Point Mugu Test Range on September 22. Using data from a remote airborne sensor and equipped with the latest Aegis Baseline 9, the missile beat the previous long-distance intercept record held by the USS John Paul Jones’ test in January.

• The US Air Force Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has requested funding in the FY 2018 defense budget for the modification of an AC-130W with a laser weapon. If approved, modifications will start in FY 2020 using an existing aircraft now stationed at Cannon Air Force Base. However, the plan has received skepticism from some quarters with Frank Kendall, the Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer, noting airborne lasers continue to face issues with weather and atmospheric conditions.

• Airbus has delivered the first batch of AS565 MBe variant helicopters to the Mexican Navy. The service ordered ten back in 2014 as the variant’s launch customer, coming with a new Safran Arriel 2N engine that improves its performance in hot & high conditions and enables it to achieve a top speed of 278 km/h and a range of 780 kilometers. Three more are to be delivered before the end of 2016 and the remaining six by early 2018.

Middle East & North Africa

• Bahrain’s purchase of F-16 fighters are believed to come with strings attached, with the Pentagon set to include a “declaration of concern” into the draft notification of the sale. Prior to the sale proceeding, Washington wants Bahrain to improve their human rights, although they did not specify what steps they want the Gulf kingdom to take. Other Gulf nations awaiting US fighters, namely Kuwait and Qatar, have not been required to undergo such conditions.

• Houthi rebels fighting in Yemen’s ongoing civil war have claimed the successful sinking of an HSV-2 Swift hybrid catamaran operated by the UAE. The UAE military said on Saturday that a boat under their command was involved in an “incident” in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, but also stated that no casualties were suffered. It’s believed that the vessel was carrying aid.

Europe

• A decision on Germany’s small transport requirement is expected for later this fall. The winner will replace existing Transall aircraft, due to be retired in 2021, for missions that the new Airbus A400M could not perform due to its larger size. A likely candidate touted by Reuters is Lockheed Martin’s C-130J, which could be purchased and used jointly with France or bought second-hand from the UK.

Asia Pacific

• A spokesperson for the Philippine Air Force has said the service is looking to acquire 36 additional FA-50PH fighter jets from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The official said the procurement is needed “to meet a requirement specified in Flight Plan 2028 to “detect, intercept, and neutralise” any perceived threat in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).” This adds to 12 FA-50PH fighters already ordered in 2014, with deliveries set to conclude in late 2017.

• Iran has unveiled a new unmanned combat aerial vehicle supposedly based on a captured American RQ-170 Sentinel. Dubbed “Saegheh”, or lightening, the UCAV will be able to carry up to four guided munitions, according to Iranian state media. In 2011, a US RQ-170 reconnaissance UAV was captured in eastern Iran which Tehran claim was taken over and landed by its cyberwarfare unit.

Today’s Video

Maiden flight of the Yak-152:

Chinese Type 052D Class Destroyer