Defence`s Feeds

Pilot Lt Dan Burnett has received a commendation from the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society for his actions in safely recovering a Wildcat AH1 helicopter to its ship after it developed a major engine fault while carrying three medical evacuation patients. In an incident which was previously unreported, the Royal Navy has revealed that in September 2023 […]

The post Royal Navy Wildcat Pilot Awarded After Landing Helicopter Safely With Major Engine Fault During MEDEVAC Flight appeared first on The Aviationist.

Aurora Flight Sciences’ Fan-in-Wing technology development progresses: flight testing of the final design is targeted for 2027. Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has just unveiled new renderings showcasing its new X-plane concept supporting airborne logistics and personnel recovery operations in areas where traditional runways are unavailable. The new aircraft leverages cutting-edge fan-in-wing (FIW) […]

The post New Renderings Unveiled for Aurora’s X-Plane Concept Featuring Fan-in-Wing Technology appeared first on The Aviationist.

The F-35Bs of 809 Naval Air Squadron have joined HMS Prince of Wales in the North Sea for a month of training as they prepare for the first deployment next year. The Royal Navy is finally back at sea with its own fast jets after 15 years since the last aboard the HMS Ark Royal. […]

The post Royal Navy’s Fast Jets Are Back On A Carrier After 15 Years appeared first on The Aviationist.

The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider was chased by an F-16 from Edwards Air Force Base during its test flight when it was caught on camera. Following its first flight from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, on November 10, 2023, the secretive B-21 Raider stealth bomber has undergone extensive flight testing at Edwards Air Force […]

The post Photographer Captures Cool Shot Of B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber During Test Flight appeared first on The Aviationist.

The State Department approved the FMS to Italy of an unspecified number of EA-37B aircraft, two years after the MoD first mentioned the intention of acquiring the Electronic Attack system. The U.S. State Department has approved on Oct. 7, 2024, the Foreign Military Sale to Italy of the EA-37B and its Electronic Attack Mission System. […]

The post U.S. Approves EA-37B Compass Call Foreign Military Sale to Italy appeared first on The Aviationist.

C-47 Skytrains “Placid Lassie” and “Chalk 40” and a pair of UH-1 Hueys are among the many unique aviation assets helping to deliver supplies and aid in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Helene left a trail of devastation along the east coast of the United States. Stepping up to the plate are two World […]

The post Historic U.S. Military Aircraft Join Hurricane Helene Relief Operations appeared first on The Aviationist.

The U.S. Air Force has released more photographs and details about the pretty unique the B-52H in orange paint scheme. The U.S. Air Force has just released the first aerial photographs of the B-52H 61-0028 “Wolfpack” sporting a retro dayglo orange paint scheme. Along with the images, the U.S. Air Force has also posted an […]

The post First Air-to-Air Images Of The B-52H In Distinctive ‘Test Orange’ Paint Scheme Released appeared first on The Aviationist.

Making a flyover appearance at the 1950 Soviet May Day parade, the Il-28 went on to become one of the most prolific, reliable, and adaptable bombers in the arsenals of the Soviet Union, the Warsaw Pact,  and client states. A New Bomber The result of a requirement to replace the Tupolev Tu-2 piston engine bomber, […]

The post The Soviet Union’s First Jet Bomber: The Ilyushin Il-28 ‘Beagle’ appeared first on The Aviationist.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group have reinforced their partnership to boost financing for Europe’s security and defence capabilities. 

Building on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2018, the updated agreement was signed on 3 October 2024 during an informal meeting of National Armaments Directors at EDA in Brussels.

The enhanced MoU will enable both organisations to identify financing needs for collaborative defence projects involving EU Member States and their defence industries to support capability developments, research, development and innovation (RDI), technology, and infrastructure in the area of security and defence in the EU. It will also better address the financing needs of collaborative defence projects in areas such as RDI, involving EU Member States and their defence industries.

A key feature of the revised agreement is the reinforcement of mechanisms such as the Cooperative Financing Mechanism (CFM), designed to support pan-European defence initiatives with a comprehensive package that includes facilitation, procurement, and funding.

The MoU also promotes greater knowledge-sharing between the EIB, the European Investment Fund (EIF), and EDA, allowing for more robust assessments of market demand and industrial capacities across Member States. Under the new framework, EDA will provide industrial defence advice to the EIB Group, while the EIB will contribute its financial market expertise to support EDA’s objectives.

The right tools

This strengthened collaboration comes at a critical time, as Europe faces increased calls for greater investment in security and defence. The partnership between the EIB Group and EDA aims to provide increased investments to strengthen the EU collective defence capabilities.

EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý said: “European defence spending has been increasing for eight consecutive years and EU Member States are on course to hit collective spending targets. Yet we still need to pull together our resources to finance joint efforts and boost defence capabilities. The updated Memorandum of Understanding with the EIB will give us the right tools to help Member States meet their goals, namely in securing access to financing for Europe’s defence industry."

“The updated Memorandum of Understanding is an important element of our Defence Action Plan, which includes strengthening Europe’s industry through collaborative initiatives,” said EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot. “By partnering with EDA, we leverage the unique expertise of each institution in investing in peace and security across Europe. The EIB Group is implementing its objectives outlined in the Defence Action Plan, and is committed to helping scale up this industry.”

The EIB Group includes the EIF.

“We are committed to continuously adapting our approach to meet the dynamic challenges of the defence sector,” said EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt. “Our collaboration with EDA will ensure that the EIF is equipped with the expertise necessary to drive impactful initiatives that reinforce our shared goal of enhancing European security.”

Picture: EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý and EIB Vice President Robert de Groot.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The European Defence Agency (EDA) joined the large-scale military exercise ‘Robotic Experimentation Maritime Unmanned Systems (REPMUS)’ for the first time as a co-organiser, running several initiatives. 

REPMUS, now in its 14th year, took place from 9 to 27 September 2024, with a focus on maritime autonomous systems, testing various types of drones and using artificial intelligence for a range of military applications, such as attacking vessels, detecting mines, and combating submarines. 

The exercise in Portugal, organised by the Portuguese Navy alongside the University of Porto, the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation, and the NATO Joint Capability Group for Maritime Unmanned Systems, also brought together NATO allies, technology companies, and academic institutions. The gathering was the largest of its kind, with over 2,000 attendees from 23 nations, including seven observer countries. Organisations involved included NATO's Allied Command Transformation, the European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen), Frontex, the European Fisheries Control Agency, and the European Maritime Safety Agency. 

At a time when unmanned systems are gaining growing importance in modern warfare, one of the main goals of REPMUS, an annual exercise, is to ensure autonomous systems can operate together, sharing data between aerial, land, and underwater drones to coordinate operations efficiently. 

The primary focus of REPMUS 2024 was on Maritime Unmanned Systems technology, with an emphasis on multidomain command and control (C2), counter-unmanned systems (C-UxV), and underwater battlespace capabilities. The exercise involved extensive testing and experimentation, culminating in live demonstrations that included kinetic strikes, coordinated manned-unmanned amphibious operations, and advanced sense-and-avoid exercises to showcase maritime drone collaboration. 

'Sense-and-avoid' experimentation 

EDA played a significant role in the exercise, with several initiatives: 

• Sense-and-avoid experimentation with unmanned surface vehicles, conducted in a dedicated experimentation range;
• The 47th CapTech Naval Systems Technologies (CapTech Maritime) meeting was held, bringing together nearly 100 participants from governmental and non-governmental organisations, both in person and online, to discuss the diverse activities undertaken by this EDA working group in the naval domain, including a range of initiatives focused on maritime autonomous systems;
• An experts group meeting on unmanned systems, which outlined implementation roadmaps for capability development and collaborative opportunities for EU Member States;
• An EDA workshop on sense-and-avoid technologies, presenting experimentation results.

 

During the exercise, EDA also hosted a high-level panel discussion on the challenges of protecting critical maritime infrastructure. The panel, moderated by EDA Deputy Chief Executive André Denk, featured speakers from the European Maritime Safety Agency, the European Commission, NATO, and the University of Ghent. The discussion addressed the policy, operational, and legal aspects of protecting infrastructure. 

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

A deployable military facility to help counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs) is celebrating 10 years of operations in the Netherlands. First conceived during multinational land operations in Afghanistan, the Joint Deployable Exploitation and Analysis Laboratory (JDEAL) has trained more than 900 personnel from 14 European Union Member States. Now, the facility and its expertise could potentially be used in a much broader context, including Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV), in Ukraine or for any potential threat in Europe. 

JDEAL, which has been managed by the European Defence Agency (EDA) and lead nation the Netherlands, also brings together Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden – as well as Norway. The United States, the United Kingdom, and the NATO Counter-IED Centre of Excellence have also sent observers over the project’s lifetime. JDEAL began operating in mid-2014.

JDEAL, which built on EDA’s temporary lab deployed to Kabul in September 2011, comprises a permanent joint training facility in the Dutch town of Soesterberg, and two deployable laboratories equipped with tools such as a Rapid DNA machine. They can be deployed on five days’ notice, either as a container or a tent, depending on conditions in the field.

The Netherlands is now donating one of the deployable laboratories to Ukraine and will partly finance the cost of its replacement to ensure two laboratories for the Member States once again.

Fit for new threats

At a ceremony at JDEAL’s permanent technical exploitation training facility on 11 September 2024, Rear Admiral Ad van de Sande of the Royal Netherlands Navy said the project was a testament to what Member States can achieve together.

He urged countries to develop military capabilities and cooperation further to keep Europeans safe. “In the past 10 years, our geopolitical context has changed considerably. We have war in Europe. We are facing the most serious threats to global security in decades, and because of this, we are shifting from wars of choice to wars of necessity.”

 

He said the work of EDA was vital, citing the Agency’s work on the 2023 Capability Development Priorities (CDP). “Our transatlantic alliance is a cornerstone of European security. But Europe needs to take more responsibility. This means building credible deterrence and collective defence ... strengthening our position in NATO and fostering more European cooperation, with the help of the European Defence Agency,” van de Sande told the gathered military personnel and IED experts.

Paul Vos, Chairman of the JDEAL Management Committee, said the facility would need to keep innovating, and could be used to study aerial and possibly maritime IEDs to help protect against hostile drones. “Through JDEAL, we can potentially study radio techniques and frequencies used in UAVs, the types of explosives they carry, their chemical substances – and which country they come from.” 

Giuseppe Dello Stritto, EDA’s Head of Unit for Land and Logistics at the Agency’s Capability Directorate, said that JDEAL needs to stay ahead of the challenges in a fast-changing operational environment. “Counter-IED has evolved as a threat, and our military capabilities and postures need to evolve as well. So JDEAL may need to be adapted.”

 

 

More information 

CDP: qu-03-23-421-en-n-web.pdf (europa.eu) 

JDEAL: Activities Search (europa.eu) 

JDEAL in 2014: New facility to help in fight against IEDs opens in the Netherlands (europa.eu)    

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Americas Saab has won a $494-million contract to supply the US Army with XM919 Individual Assault Munitions (IAM). According to the US Department of Defense, the Swedish company’s proposal bested two others, but it did not reveal the names of the losing firms. Several reports indicate that General Dynamics and Norwegian-Finnish defense conglomerate Nammo also submitted bids. Lockheed Martin won a $3 billion deal, which procures training system and simulation design, development, integration, test, production, deployment, modifications/upgrades, and sustainment in support of the F-35 Lightening II aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, non-US Department of Defense Participants, and Foreign Military Sales countries. Work is expected to be completed by September 2028. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa The Iraqi military said it downed a Turkish drone over the northern city of Kirkuk on Thursday as Ankara kept up its operations against Kurdish militants inside Iraq. Falling debris damaged a house in the city center, police and army officials told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. There were no reports of […]

Americas The Mayor of Iwakuni, Yoshihiko Fukuda, has agreed to the US Navy’s deployment of CMV-22 Osprey aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, marking the first stationing of this tilt-rotor variant in his city. The decision aligns with a broader realignment of U.S. military assets in the region, which includes the rotation of aircraft carriers and the introduction of F-35C stealth fighter jets. This deployment will add to the existing Osprey presence in Japan, complementing the Marine Corps’ MV-22s at Futenma air base in Okinawa and the Air Force’s CV-22s operating from Yokota base near Tokyo. Mayor Fukuda’s acceptance comes amid lingering safety concerns surrounding the Osprey platform, which has been involved in several incidents both in Japan and abroad. The mayor cited assurances from Japanese and U.S. officials regarding the aircraft’s safety as a key factor in his decision. He also noted that the overall number of aircraft at the base is expected to decrease by approximately 10 following the deployment, potentially mitigating environmental impacts such as noise levels. The US Army has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems another low-rate initial production contract for the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle. The $322.7-million contract modifies an identical contract awarded in June, […]

Americas Technology company Shield AI has conducted a “groundbreaking” demonstration of coordinated autonomous flight on two Kratos MQM-178 Firejets. The planes were flown by the company’s Hivemind artificial intelligence pilots, collaborating to execute coordinated maneuvers under realistic combat scenarios.  All computing was executed on board, and communication “seamlessly integrated” on board the aircraft, the San Diego-based firm said. The US Army has awarded Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) a $93.5-million contract to lead systems integration for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program. The deal supports the service’s efforts to employ a next-generation intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (IRS) aircraft with improved geographical coverage and faster global deployment capabilities. SNC will take on the role for 12 years, with the agreement amounting to $991.3 million if all options are exercised. Middle East & Africa South Africa’s government has halted the supply of artillery shells from Rheinmetall’s plant to Poland. According to Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, South Africa’s National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) indefinitely suspended the approval of an export permit to Poland, leading to the cancellation of Poland’s order for 155 mm artillery ammunition from Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM). Europe Denmark has finalized the procurement of over 100 CV9035 MKIIIC infantry fighting […]

Asia-Pacific L3 Technologies won a $587.4 million contract for the design, production and delivery of electronic warfare test articles and fleet prototypes to include 11 pod simulators, eight operational prototype pods, four jettison mass model pods, two captive mass models, two mission system prototypes, and two technique development systems as well as engineering support, integration, test and maintenance resulting in a low-band capability in support of engineering and manufacturing development of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band program for the Navy EA-18G Growler and Royal Australian Air Force. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. A Cessna 208B utility aircraft flew more than 3,900 miles without a pilot during a recent US Air Force demonstration. Part of the Agile Flag military exercise, the demo allowed the plane to showcase Joby Aviation’s autonomy system in conducting a remote cargo transport operation. According to the company, the aircraft traversed various military bases and public airports across California and Nevada while being monitored by a “safety pilot.” It also completed an autonomous taxi, take-off, and landing at nine different locations, including those it had not visited before. Middle East & Africa The White House said Monday that Gaza truce talks […]

Americas Thomas Instrument won a $9 million firm-fixed-price requirements contract for the remanufacture of the B-1B lower rudder and master pitch/roll servo-cylinder. Work will be performed in Brookshire, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 22, 2029. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and one offer was received. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity. Technology company Shield AI has conducted a “groundbreaking” demonstration of coordinated autonomous flight on two Kratos MQM-178 Firejets. The planes were flown by the company’s Hivemind artificial intelligence pilots, collaborating to execute coordinated maneuvers under realistic combat scenarios.  All computing was executed on board, and communication “seamlessly integrated” on board the aircraft, the San Diego-based firm said. Middle East & Africa Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel early on Sunday, as Israel’s military said it struck Lebanon with around 100 jets to thwart a larger attack, in one of the biggest clashes in more than 10 months of border warfare. Missiles were visible curling up through the dawn sky, dark vapour trails behind them, as an air raid siren sounded in Israel and a distant blast lit the horizon, while smoke rose over houses in […]