MOSCOU, 25 septembre - RIA Novosti

Les experts de l'Onu chargés d'enquêter sur les cas présumés d'emploi d'armes chimiques en Syrie sont retournés à Damas, rapportent mercredi les médias occidentaux.

Le groupe d'experts dirigé par le professeur suédois Ake Sellstrom est arrivé en Syrie le 18 août afin d'enquêter sur un recours à l'arme chimique le 19 mars près d'Alep (nord). Cependant, les spécialistes ont dû quitter la région d'Alep le 21 août suite à l'annonce d'une attaque chimique près de Damas avant de quitter le pays pour préparer un rapport destiné à l'Onu.

Le 16 septembre, ce rapport a été soumis aux Nations unies, confirmant l'usage d'armes chimiques près de la capitale syrienne. Le secrétaire général de l'Onu Ban Ki-moon a annoncé le même jour que les inspecteurs retourneraient bientôt en Syrie pour enquêter sur les autres cas de recours à l'arme chimique, dont celui près d'Alep.

Moscou insiste sur la nécessité d'enquêter sur tous les cas signalés d'utilisation d'armes chimiques en Syrie, dont celui d'Alep, ainsi que les cas d'intoxication de soldats syriens survenus les 22, 24 et 25 août.

Sep 24, 2013 ASDNews (AFP)

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday warned that he remained ready to use force over Syria's chemical weapons as he demanded that the United Nations take action.

In a sometimes defensive speech at the UN General Assembly, Obama said the United States was ready to defend interests in the Middle East including ensuring "free flow of energy" and prohibiting weapons of mass destruction.

"The United States of America is prepared to use all elements of our power, including military force, to secure these core interests in the region," Obama told world leaders.

Obama said that the world's credibility was at stake after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons.

"There must be a strong (UN) Security Council resolution to verify that the Assad regime is keeping its commitments, and there must be consequences if they fail to do so," Obama said.

"If we cannot agree even on this, then it will show that the UN is incapable of enforcing the most basic of international laws.

Read more

September 25, 2013 defense-update.com

Aurora Flight Sciences Orion UAS has made its first flight last month, on August 24, 2013 the Orion took off from an unnamed airfield in the western test range, on a flight that lasted three hours and thirty-one minutes. The drone reached an altitude of 8,000 feet above mean sea level on that flight.

This mission was the first step towards demonstrating a 120-hr. flight at 20,000 ft. carrying a 1,000-lb. multi-sensor payload. Such extended endurance would allow the new drone to provide continuous surveillance carrying a Predator-class payload with fewer takeoffs and landings than current medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS flying 24-hr. missions, significantly reducing the manpower burden and operating cost.

Powered by a pair of fuel-efficient Austro Engine AE300 turbo-diesels, the aircraft flew for 3.5 hr., reaching an altitude of 8,000 ft. and airspeed of around 60 kt., says Tom Clancy, vice president of Aurora’s UAS business sector. Within the Defense Department, ownership of the Orion program has changed hands several times.

Aurora declined to identify its current customer, but Aviation Week understands it is the U.S. Air Force’s Big Safari program office, which manages the acquisition and modification of special-mission platforms. Using the composite wing and tail of the original HALL design, the Orion was rolled out at Aurora’s Golden Triangle, Miss., plant in November 2010, when it was expected to fly in August 2011.

In spite of program delays the basic objectives set at the beginning remain: a 120 hr. autonomous UAS carrying 1,000 lb. to 20,000 ft. There was no mission system on board for the Orion’s first flight, but there will be a payload on the aircraft for the 120 hr. demonstration flight, expected to be conducted by mid-2014. A number of different multi-intelligence payloads are potentially part of the program.

24 September 2013 Thales

Thales has signed the first contract to provide through-life support for six MRR (Multi-Role Radar) systems aboard Royal Norwegian Navy Skjold-class corvettes. The five-year contract with the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation (NDLO) highlights the company’s excellent relations with its Norwegian customer.

The Royal Norwegian Navy acquired six Thales MRR radars for a fleet of six Skjold-class corvettes delivered between 2010 and 2013. MRR radars provide long-range 3D air and surface surveillance combined with vessel self-defence and threat evaluation capabilities. This is Thales's first support contract for this type of radar.

The contract is tailored to the exact maintenance requirements of the customer and brings NDLO access to the full range of Thales skills and experience in naval defence and radar systems. It is based on a business model that ensures optimal system performance from service entry and throughout the equipment life cycle.

For Thales, this partnership with NDLO sets up the first worldwide reference for this equipment.

September 24, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Sept. 23, 2013)

Rivet Joint Aircraft

The Sunday Times reported that the RAF's new Rivet Joint 'spy planes' will be painted in US Air Force colours as part of a money-saving scheme MOD has agreed with the US. The paper also flags up concerns about the UK's 'reliance' on the US for such 'a sensitive capability'.

Rivet Joint provides the UK with a greatly advanced capability and it is nonsense to suggest that in joining with the US on this capability and adhering to a common standard the UK will be at a disadvantage. In fact, this close co-operation enhances our shared intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capability.

MOD decided to configure our Rivet Joint aircraft to as close a common standard with the US Air Force as is possible; this has significant support cost benefits through the life of the aircraft.

Major servicing will be conducted in the US at a facility that has the appropriate protection to handle the security classification of the aircraft. Day-to-day maintenance will be done by RAF personnel in the UK supported by contractors provided as part of the US/UK cooperative agreement.

25/09/2013 Sources : EMA

Du 14 au 16 septembre 2013, les militaires de la force PAMIR ont dispensé des cours sur la communication au profit des étudiants du « strategic command and staff course », l’équivalent du centre français des hautes études militaires (CHEM).

Le « Strategic Command and Staff Course » se situe au plus haut niveau de la formation de l'armée afghane. Chaque année, sur une période de 36 semaines, il accueille une promotion de 30 stagiaires, du grade de colonel à général de division. Quatre thématiques y sont enseignées : Guerre et Stratégie, Relations internationales, Questions nationales et Préparation de l'avenir. Le SCSC a pour but de former et d'entraîner les futurs leaders du pays, chargés d’assurer de hautes responsabilités dans un contexte interarmées, interministériel et interallié. Le module de communication s’inscrit dans la composante « préparation de l’avenir ».

Les militaires français de la cellule communication de la force PAMIR ont ainsi consacré 3 demi-journées à la formation de ces élèves particuliers que sont les futurs leaders de l’armée nationale afghane (ANA), mais aussi ceux qui sont appelés à servir au sein d’autres ministères tels que l'intérieur, les frontières, etc. La première demi-journée a été consacrée à l’enseignement théorique sur les différents types de médias et leurs attentes. Les stagiaires ont appris à mieux appréhender le fonctionnement matériel et éditorial des radios, de la presse écrite, des télévisions, ainsi que le fonctionnement des nouveaux médias.

La seconde contribution au profit de SCSC a été l’organisation d’un média training sur deux demi-journées. Un exercice préparatoire à la fonction de porte-parole que la majorité des stagiaires endossera au sein de l’armée afghane ou d’un ministère. Après une rapide présentation des attitudes à adopter lors d’une interview, les 30 stagiaires se sont exercés à l’interview en direct, face à une caméra.

La coopération de la France avec le SCSC s’inscrit dans le cadre de la mission EPIDOTE. Cette formation à la communication contribue au partage des savoir-faire délivrés par les français aux afghans dans le cadre de la formation de leur armée et plus généralement des hauts responsables du pays, en leur apportant l’expérience française en la matière.

NEW YORK (Nations unies), 25 septembre - RIA Novosti

Il y a une forte chance que l'opposition syrienne possède certaines composantes d'armes chimiques, a déclaré mardi à New York le ministre russe des Affaires étrangères Sergueï Lavrov à l'issue d'une rencontre avec son homologue américain John Kerry.

"Il existe de fortes inquiétudes sur le fait que l'opposition possèderait certaines composantes de ces matériaux néfastes. Nous nous basons sur des faits. Et ces faits disent que le gouvernement syrien a rejoint la Convention internationale sur l'interdiction des armes chimiques, qu'il s'est déclaré prêt à respecter immédiatement tous les engagements pris dans ce cadre et qu'il a fourni à l'organisation des informations sur ses stocks d'armes chimiques et sur les lieux de leur emplacement", a fait savoir le ministre.

La situation en Syrie a atteint sa "phase critique" le 21 août, date à laquelle certains médias ont fait état de l'attaque chimique lancée par les troupes gouvernementales syriennes dans une banlieue de Damas. Plusieurs pays occidentaux, dont les Etats-Unis et la France, ont rejeté la responsabilité de cette attaque sur le régime du président Assad.

La Russie estime que l'attaque chimique en question constituait une provocation organisée par l'opposition en vue de susciter une intervention militaire étrangère dans le conflit syrien. Le 18 septembre, Moscou a annoncé avoir reçu des preuves attestant l'emploi d'armes chimiques par les insurgés.  

Les experts de l'Onu chargés d'enquêter sur l'incident ont conclu dans leur rapport qu'il y avait bien eu usage d'armes chimiques le 21 août près de Damas, en particulier de gaz sarin. Le mandat des enquêteurs ne prévoyait pas d'établir qui a fait usage des armes chimiques. D'après le document, les ogives retrouvées près de la capitale syrienne pourraient avoir été fabriquées tant de façon industrielle qu'artisanale.

September 24, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: US Air Force; issued Sept. 23, 2013)

100K & Going: Global Hawk Makes Mark As Safest Platform

GRAND FORKS AFB, N.D. --- Although the days of the bombers and tankers are long gone, Airmen at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., are still finding ways to make Air Force history thanks to the Global Hawk mission.

The Northrop Grumman Corporation recently announced that its high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft systems achieved 100,000 flight hours Sept. 5.

News of the milestone was well-received by the leadership and members of the 69th Reconnaissance Group, the unit at Grand Forks AFB directly in charge of conducting Global Hawk missions.

"This milestone is something in which those of us involved in the Global Hawk mission take great pride," said Col. Lawrence Spinetta, 69th RG commander.

According to the Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M., approximately 85 percent of the 100,000 flight hours for this aircraft were logged by U.S. Air Force Global Hawks. Credit for the remaining flight hours was split among the NASA, German and U.S. Navy versions of the aircraft.

The Global Hawk also has the safest record of any fighter, bomber or reconnaissance aircraft in the Air Force's active inventory.

"The safety record of the U.S. Air Force Global Hawk fleet is remarkable, especially given the fact that the system was rushed to combat and flew 75 percent of its first 100,000 hours supporting our warfighters in Afghanistan and elsewhere," Spinetta said. "These figures prove the reliability of unmanned aircraft technology. More importantly, it's testament to the professionalism of our Airmen and the pride they take in accomplishing our mission."

The Global Hawk is aptly named. Every day, RQ-4s circle the globe, providing critical strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to six combatant commands.

"The jet's long endurance is a significant combat force multiplier," Spinetta said.

The RQ-4, which can fly for upwards of 30 hours nonstop, has the ability to cover almost half the circumference of the world without refueling. That capability makes it a key contributor to the global vigilance, global reach, and global power of the U.S. Air Force.

Spinetta reflected on the recent aviation milestone and contemplated what it means for the history of the Air Force.

He told members of the 69th RG that their hard work is "the realization of an Air Force prophecy" by Gen. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold. As the commanding general for the U.S. Army Air Force in 1945, Arnold said, "We have just won a war with a lot of heroes flying around in planes. The next war may be fought by airplanes with no men in them at all...Take everything you've learned about aviation in war, throw it out the window, and let's go to work on tomorrow's aviation."

Members of the 69th RG will receive patches from Northrop Grumman commemorating the milestone.

"Some people might refer to the patch as badge of honor, however, we know the real honor is knowing we are doing an excellent job protecting our warriors and our nation," Spinetta said. "That's exactly what we will continue to do."

September 24, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Lexington Institute; issued September 23, 2013)

Time to Add A Pinch of Industrial Policy to the Defense Department’s Recipe for Acquisition

Through good times and bad, one near-constant in the Department of Defense (DoD) is its refusal to consider an explicit industrial policy. On occasion, the Pentagon’s leadership will make a rather hesitant foray into the world of industrial planning and policy as in the 1990s when there was an attempt to make performance-based logistics common practice in sustainment contracting or in 2009-2010 when insourcing was prescribed as the solution to rising O&M costs. The only concrete example of industrial policy in recent memory was the so-called “Last Supper,” when then-Secretary of Defense Les Aspin told the assembled titans of industry that with the fall of the Soviet Union and planned decreases in defense spending there would not be enough money for all of them to survive. Consequently, Aspin announced, they needed to merge.

It is long past time for DoD to get serious about its industrial policy and to tie the maintenance of critical parts of the aerospace and defense industrial base to its acquisition policies and programs. The leadership of U.S. companies, regardless of sector but particularly in the defense space, are neither suicidal nor stupid. It does no good for the Pentagon to urge private companies to be more innovative and spend more of their own resources on R&D for products that the military will not have the money to procure. DoD needs to realize that they will have to take concrete steps to maintain a viable, modern and responsive defense industrial base.

Rather than the Pentagon jumping into the deep end of industrial policy, what about taking a baby step? This would be like adding a little salt or pepper to the old family recipe just to spice it a bit. I am thinking specifically about maintaining the C-17 production line which is due to close in the next few years absent major foreign contracts.

The end of C-17 production means that this nation will not be producing a large body military aircraft for the first time in some 70 years. Another large body, purpose-built military aircraft will not come along until such time as the Air Force begins acquiring its new strategic bomber. DoD should seriously consider buying a minimum sustaining number of these aircraft to replace older models. Because these airframes still have life left in them, they could be sold internationally.

September 24, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Northrop Grumman Corporation; issued September 23, 2013)

Northrop Grumman, U.S. Army Incorporate Patriot and Sentinel Capabilities Into Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. --- The U.S. Army and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) have successfully incorporated a key capability of the Patriot family of missiles and the Sentinel radar into the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS).

Under the direction of the IAMD Project Office, the Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Company, the Sentinel Project Office and Lockheed Martin worked together to host the Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) and PAC-3 missile capability into the IBCS. This allows the Patriot family of interceptors to be launched and controlled by an IBCS engagement operations center in a net-centric approach. The government-industry team also added the Sentinel radar to the IBCS Integrated Fire Control Network, validating the common open architecture-based approach to integrating sensors.

"The IBCS open architecture facilitates plugging disparate missiles and sensors into the Army's integrated fire control network," said Kelley Zelickson, vice president of air and missile defense systems for Northrop Grumman Information Systems. "Thus, in addition to affordable integration and expanded capability, IBCS provides the Army with alternatives to buying or upgrading unique command and control systems when it desires to incorporate new missile or sensor components."

Northrop Grumman will participate with IBCS in an Army IAMD demonstration planned for the fourth quarter of 2013 at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. The demonstration is a snapshot of IBCS capabilities in the development process and will show integrated Sentinel and Patriot battle command operations. Development and operational testing planned by the Army to begin in 2014 includes testing the IBCS capability to direct the firing of Army IAMD weapons at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

The IBCS program resulted from analysis of Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom operations to improve mission command as a top priority. By implementing an open, network-centric, system-of-systems solution, IBCS optimizes battle management command and control and significantly improves cost effectiveness and flexibility. IBCS uses an enterprise, plug-and-fight approach to ensure that current and future sensors and weapon systems can be easily incorporated, allowing warfighters to take advantage of integrated Army and joint capabilities. The IBCS program also focuses on warfighter decision processes and tools to ensure intuitive situational understanding for time-critical engagements.

Northrop Grumman's IBCS industry team includes The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Harris Corporation, Schafer Corporation, nLogic Inc., Numerica Corporation, Colsa Corporation, EpiQ Inc., Space and Mission Defense Technologies, CohesionForce Inc., Daniel H Wagner Associates, Qtec Inc., RhinoCorps, Tobyhanna Army Depot, Ultra Electronics Advanced, Sparta Inc., Instrumental Sciences Inc., Intelligent Systems Research Inc., 4M Research Inc. and Cummings Aerospace Inc.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide.

September 24, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Forbes.com; published Sept. 23, 2013)

Five Reasons Defense Companies Need to Start Getting Out of Defense (excerpt)

It’s hard to change when staying the same seems to be working. After listening to warnings of impending doom for the better part of a decade, defense contractors find their share prices at record levels, their margins largely intact, and their dominance of the global arms market growing. So they aren’t showing much urgency about diversifying. Instead, they are buying back stock and raising dividends — the typical behavior of companies that think they are headed for a rough patch ahead, but nothing fundamental in the way of change.

That’s an understandable response, given the performance-driven incentive structure within which industry executives operate. Wall Street wants to hear about the fourth quarter, not the lay of the land four years from now. But such short-term thinking explains why only one of the original Dow Jones 30 industrials (General Electric) is still in the index. It also explains why my hometown of Plymouth, Massachusetts — once home to the world’s biggest rope factory, shipbuilders and textile mills — no longer makes much of anything.

Nothing lasts forever, and that includes the geopolitical forces that forged the modern defense industry in the Cold War. America got along just fine without a big, dedicated military-industrial complex for most of its history, and there are reasons to suspect we are gradually headed back to that state.

Each of the five major factors driving demand for military technology are now pointed downward, a situation that has never existed before in the industry’s history. If defense companies don’t get more aggressive about hedging their bets, they could be headed for a bleak future. (end of excerpt)


Click here for the full story, on the Forbes website.

September 24, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Sagem; issued Sept. 24, 2013)

Sagem to Supply New Mission Planning System for French Army’s Tiger and NH90 Helicopter Units

PARIS --- Sagem (Safran) has signed a contract with French defense procurement agency DGA for the development and production of a new version of the MPME (Module de Préparation de Missions) mission planning system for helicopter crews, to be deployed by the French army’s air arm (ALAT).

The new version of the MPME system is designed to support the service entry of the army’s Tiger HAD (support & destruction) and NH90 TTH Caïman tactical transport helicopters.

The MPME system is operated in a network from transportable tactical modules or in a fixed infrastructure. It allows helicopter crews to plan their mission as a team, and supports formations comprising different types of helicopters. Mission planning is based on advanced functions enabling replay on the ground of flight paths in three dimensions. The MPME multiplies effectiveness during the most critical mission phases: at night, for deconfliction, avoiding known surface-to-air threats (“SAM rings”), use of weapons, landing zones, etc.

An upgraded version of the MPME system already in service, this new version is part of the program contract awarded to Sagem by the DGA in 2005, covering regiments deploying the Puma, Cougar, Gazelle and Tiger HAP (support-protection) helicopters, as well as the French-German Tiger flying school. This latest contract includes life-cycle support services and provides for the modernization of MPME systems already in service.

Part of the digital battlefield, the MPME features greater security and access to new mapping and aeronautical data.

The first systems should be delivered toward the end of 2014.

The current MPME system has been deployed in combat. It has been used for ALAT in Afghanistan, on the French navy’s Mistral and Tonnerre amphibious ships for Operation Harmattan in Libya, and most recently during Operation Serval in Mali this year.

Sagem is prime contractor for the SLPRM (Système local de préparation et de restitution de missions) mission planning and restitution system, designed for combat aircraft of the French air force and navy. Sagem has developed the Helipsys mission planning system for international markets, based on the MPME system.

Sagem, a high-tech company of Safran, holds world or European leadership positions in optronics, avionics, electronics and safety-critical software for both civil and military markets. Sagem is the No. 1 company in Europe and No. 3 worldwide for inertial navigation systems (INS) used in air, land and naval applications. It is also the world leader in helicopter flight controls and the European leader in optronics and tactical UAV systems. Operating across the globe through the Safran group, Sagem and its subsidiaries employ 7,500 people in Europe, Southeast Asia and North America. Sagem is the commercial name of the company Sagem Défense Sécurité.