16 September 2015 By Franz-Stefan Gady – Pacific Sentinel

At a recent naval conference a Chinese Vice Admiral did not mince words.

Speaking at this year’s First Sea Lord/RUSI International Sea Power Conference in London, Chinese Vice Admiral Yuan Yubai, commander of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) North Sea Fleet, did not shy away from controversy. He emphatically stated that the South China Sea belongs to China.

“The South China Sea, as the name indicates, is a sea area that belongs to China. And the sea from the Han dynasty a long time ago where the Chinese people have been working and producing from the sea,” he said through an interpreter, according to Defense News.

Yubai was sitting on a panel with the U.S. Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Rear Adm. Jeff Harley and the President of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Command and Staff College, Vice Admiral Umio Otsuka, discussing the role of naval power in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Yubai’s statement came in response to Otsuka criticizing the land reclamation activities of “certain state actors” in the region. “Land reclamation conducted by some countries has been a problem in the South China Sea (and) we have to admit that the rule of law is at risk in this region. The JMSDF will secure the credibility of a deterrence capability and seek a multilateral framework in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

09/14/2015 Victor M. S. Barreira - defenceiq.com

Turkish state-owned missile and rocket house Roketsan signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Polish companies Zak?ady Metalowe Mesko and Wojskowe Zak?ady Lotnicze Nr 1 (WZL 1) covering future cooperation on a range of defence industry activities. Both Polish companies are owned by the local armaments group Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ).

The scope of the signed MoU with ZM Mesko is to formalise the intent of collaboration on products and programmes involving capabilities and solutions including Cirit 70mm laser guided rocket and UMTAS (Uzun Menzilli Tanksavar Sistemi) long range air-to-surface anti-tank missile developed by Roketsan, air defence missile, guidance kits for conventional ammunition and other precision guided weapon systems.

The agreement with WZL 1 is to formalise the intent of collaboration on products and programmes involving the integration of Cirit and UMTAS weapon systems and other equipment on various types of platforms in the Polish Army inventory.

Both can be fired from helicopters, unmanned aircraft systems, armoured vehicles, light attack aircraft, surface vessels and stationary platforms. The T129 ATAK helicopter is being offered to Poland’s Kruk programme.

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September 15, 2015: Strategy Page

In early September Iraqi F-16IQ fighter-bombers carried out their first combat missions, using smart bombs against several ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) targets. This comes 16 months after the F-16IQ made its first flight. Four F-16IQs arrived in Iraq in July so that Iraqi pilots and maintainers could undertake final training in preparation for the first combat missions.

The F-16IQ is a custom version of the single seat Block 52 F-16C and the two-seater F-16D. In mid-2014 Iraq ordered another 18 F-16IQs and six will be the D version. The F-16IQ is similar to American Block 52 F-16s except they are not equipped to handle AMRAAM (radar guided air-to-air missiles) or JDAM (GPS guided bombs). The F-16IQ can handle laser guided bombs and older radar guided missiles like the AIM-7.

The first 18 F-16IQs were ordered in late 2011. Iraq originally proposed this deal in 2009 but nothing happened because at the last minute government officials were informed that putting money down for the warplanes would interrupt needed food purchases. If the food did not get paid for it would not arrive and there could be riots. So the F-16 purchase was delayed and it was feared that all Iraqi F-16IQs probably would not be ready for service until the end of the decade. All that changed in mid-2014 when ISIL took Mosul and much of western and northwestern Iraq. Now the F-16IQ had a much higher priority.

Meanwhile, Iraq is slowly building a new air force. At the time ISIL took Mosul the Iraqi Air Force had some 200 aircraft, about half of them helicopters. There were 14,000 personnel in the air force, but Iraq planned to double the size of the air force by the end of the decade and equip it with over 500 aircraft, most of them non-combat types. At that point there would be about 35 squadrons (14 fighter, 5 attack helicopter, 5 armed scout helicopter, 2 transport, 2 reconnaissance, 1 fixed wing training, 1 helicopter training, 3 helicopter transport, 1 utility/search and rescue, and 1 special operations). The Iraqis are eager to buy F-16s partly because neighboring Turkey and Jordan have done well with this model. Since mid-2014 the plans for the Iraqi Air Force have been accelerated and that sense of urgency will last as long as the ISIL threat.

In mid-2014 the Iraqi air force was flying mostly transport and reconnaissance missions. Iraq got its first combat aircraft in 2009, when three Cessna Caravan 208 aircraft with laser designators and Hellfire missiles arrived. Mi-17 helicopters were equipped to fire unguided rockets. Most helicopters have a door gunner armed with a machine-gun. After June 2014 the Iraqis began using a lot more Hellfire missiles and the U.S. made several emergency air freight deliveries of Hellfires to Iraq.

The F-16 is currently the most popular fighter aircraft in service. The U.S. still has about 1,200 F-16s in service (about half with reserve units). Over 4,200 F-16s were produced, and America has hundreds in storage, available for sale on the used warplane market.  The end of the Cold War in 1991 led to a sharp cut in U.S. Air Force fighter squadrons. Moreover, the new F-35 will be replacing all U.S. F-16s in the next decade. So the U.S. has plenty of little-used F-16s sitting around, and many allies in need of low cost jet fighters.

 F-16s are still produced for export, and these cost as much as $70 million each (like the F-16I for Israel). Some nations, like South Korea, build the F-16 under license. A used F-16C, built in the 1990s, would go for about $10 million on the open market. The 16 ton F-16 also has an admirable combat record, and is very popular with pilots. It has been successful at ground support as well. When equipped with 4-6 smart bombs, it is an effective bomber.

In 2010 the U.S. agreed to begin training Iraqi F-16 pilots. The first ten Iraqis began their training later that year. This training covered basic and advanced flight training. After that was completed the new pilots were ready to learn how to operate F-16s.

Starting in 2009 Iraqi ground troops began training with F-16s providing support for Iraqi troops. American F-16s and ground controllers were used, giving Iraqi commanders experience in working with this kind of capability. Iraq ground controller are being trained as well and some are already on the job.

Sep 15, 2015 ASDNews Source : Saab AB

Defence and security company Saab has received an order from the US Army for the shoulder-launched AT4CS RS (reduced sensitivity) anti-armour weapon system. Deliveries will take place during 2016.

The AT4CS RS is a disposable, preloaded weapon with a specially developed, unique shaped-charge warhead that delivers outstanding behind-armour-effects inside the target. Thanks to this new warhead the AT4CS RS also has improved insensitive munition (IM) characteristics.

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12 septembre 2015. Portail des Sous-Marins

Le plus récent porte-avions de l’US Navy pourrait subir un retard de 2 ans avant son premier déploiement, après que des responsables du Pentagone aient annoncé le mois dernier qu’il devrait subir un essai de résistance aux chocs avant d’être envoyé outre-mer.

Dans un premier temps, le Pentagone avait indiqué que cette décision entraînerait un retard de 6 mois. Le contre-amiral Jeffrey Harley,“ assistant deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy” de l’US Navy, annonce désormais que le retard pourrait atteindre 2 ans.

Le Capt. Thom Burke, “director of fleet readiness”, précise que la durée du retard dépendra de la façon dont le porte-avions se comportera lors de l’essai : on fait détoner sous l’eau des explosifs réels pour vérifier la survivabilité des systèmes du navire dans des conditions extrêmes.

« Il y a toujours une marge d’incertitude lors d’un essai de résistance aux chocs, » explique-t-il. « Comment vont se comporter les différents systèmes. Il s’agit d’un navire entièrement nouveau. Si tout se passe comme prévu, rien ne va casser. Et nous n’aurons pas ce retard de 2 ans. Mais si beaucoup d’équipements doivent être réparés, alors ce sera plus long. »

En raison des retards qu’a connu la construction du Ford, l’US Navy préconisait que les essais soient menés sur le 2è porte-avions de ce type, le John F. Kennedy. Mais le bureau du Secrétaire à la défense a rejeté cette possibilité.

Référence : US Naval Institute (Etats-Unis)

14 September, 2015 BY: James Drew – FG

Washington DC  - The US Navy has placed its third order with Rockwell Collins and Elbit Systems of America (ESA) for a night vision cueing and display system that allows pilots to fly and fight as if it were daytime.

The system lets pilots using Elbit’s four-lens panoramic night vision goggle visually cue weapons and sensors and see head-up displaysymbology in the dark, giving them the ability to engage in high off-boresight air-to-air shots and air-to-surface strikes as they would visually during the day. Under a$21 million ceiling contract awarded by the navy last month, theRockwell Collins-ESA Vision Systemsjoint venture will produce120 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) Night Vision Cueing and Display (NVCD) systems, and 30 helmet-mounted display test sets.

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French President Francois Hollande, left, awards U.S. Airman First Class Spencer Stone with the Legion d'Honneur (the Legion of Honour) medal during a ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Aug. 24, 2015. source abcnews.go.com

15 septembre 2015 Romandie.com (AFP)

Washington - Le soldat Spencer Stone, l'un des héros de l'attaque du train Thalys, s'apprête à retrouver une vie ordinaire après avoir connu une vie de star ces dernières semaines, a-t-il expliqué lors d'une conférence de presse organisée par l'US Air Force.

J'ai appris beaucoup. J'ai plus grandi dans les trois dernières semaines que dans les 22 dernières années de ma vie, a expliqué mardi Spencer Stone, qui s'exprimait en marge d'une convention à Washington réunissant tout le gratin de l'US Air Force.

J'avais peur de parler en public, ma voix tremblait, mais maintenant c'est assez facile pour moi, a-t-il dit en souriant, sanglé dans son uniforme bleu marine.

J'ai eu la chance que l'US Air Force me laisse voyager et faire des choses assez cool avec les médias, a-t-il résumé.

L'Air Force a aussi décidé de promouvoir au rang de Staff Sergeant (sergent-chef) celui qui n'était que simple 1ère classe.

Il ne s'agit pas de récompenser le jeune homme pour son acte héroïque, a expliqué le général Mark Welsh, chef de l'armée de l'air, en marge d'une autre conférence de presse.

Il s'agit plutôt de reconnaître le sang-froid dont il a fait preuve dans tous les évènements qui ont suivi, a indiqué le général.

Il a un instinct pour dire et pour faire ce qu'il faut, et ce sera une très bonne qualité pour un jeune sous-officier, a-t-il déclaré.

Le jeune homme a été invité à des talks-shows sur les chaines de télévision américaines, et fêté avec ses amis lors d'une parade à Sacramento (Californie) le 11 septembre.

L'un des talk-shows lui a offert un billet d'avion pour Paris et cinq nuits d'hôtel sur place, et il a indiqué avoir reçu une Chevrolet Camaro, sans dire qui était le généreux donateur.

Début octobre, il reprendra le travail dans la base aérienne Travis en Californie, où se trouve un important hôpital militaire dans lequel il a déjà travaillé.

L'US Air Force lui a accordé cette affectation après l'attaque du Thalys, alors qu'il devait en principe être affecté à une base aérienne du Nevada.

Je connais tout le monde à l'hôpital, mon frère est motard dans la police là-bas (...) et je serai près de mes deux amis qui étaient dans l'attaque, a-t-il dit.

Jeudi, Spencer Stone (23 ans) sera décoré avec ses amis au Pentagone par le ministre de la Défense américain Ashton Carter. Il recevra la médaille Purple Heart.

Ses deux amis, Alek Skarlatos, 22 ans, militaire de la Garde nationale de l'Oregon (nord-ouest), et Anthony Sadler, 23 ans, seront également décorés.

Tous trois ont déjà reçu la Légion d'honneur des mains du président français François Hollande.

15 septembre 2015 Romandie.com (AFP)

Paris - Le groupe jihadiste Etat islamique progresse de manière très importante en Syrie et mène une offensive contre Marea, tenue par l'Armée syrienne libre au nord d'Alep, a déclaré mardi le ministre français de la Défense Jean-Yves Le Drian.

S'exprimant lors d'un débat au Parlement sur l'engagement militaire de la France en Syrie, M. Le Drian a expliqué les raisons du changement d'appréciation de Paris, qui a décidé la semaine dernière de mener des vols de reconnaissance en vue de frappes contre les jihadistes de l'EI. Jusqu'alors, les frappes et les vols français étaient strictement limités au territoire irakien.

M. Le Drian a notamment insisté sur la progression très importante de Daech en Syrie, en particulier dans la région septentrionale d'Alep.

Sur la petite ville de Marea (à une vingtaine de kilomètres au nord d'Alep, ndlr), il y a une offensive extrêmement forte qui, si elle l'emportait, réduirait à néant ce que l'on appelle encore l'Armée syrienne libre ou ce qu'il en reste, a souligné le ministre français.

La volonté affichée de Daech de rompre l'axe Damas-Homs, ville située à 100 km au nord de la capitale syrienne, mettrait en difficulté très forte le Liban, si elle aboutissait, a également relevé M. Le Drian.

Deuxième justification au changement de stratégie de la France, déjà avancée par le président François Hollande: des menaces à la sécurité nationale (...), conçues depuis la Syrie. Enfin, le fait que des frappes contre Daech en Syrie ne permettront pas de renforcer par ailleurs Bachar el Assad, a estimé le ministre de la Défense.

Paris réclame de longue date le départ du président syrien, accusé d'être à la source du chaos dans son pays, et avait jusqu'à présent estimé que des frappes contre l'EI en Syrie pourraient jouer en faveur de Bachar el Assad.

Plus de 240.000 personnes ont péri et des millions d'autres ont fui leurs foyers depuis le début du conflit en Syrie en mars 2011. Celui-ci a été déclenché par la répression de manifestations antigouvernementales pacifiques, qui ont dégénéré en révolte armée puis en guerre civile.

September 14, 2015: Strategy Page

In early 2015 a Swedish firm (Saab) agreed to design and produce warheads for the new French MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée) medium-range anti-tank missile (ATGM). Warhead deliveries are scheduled for 2017. This is a big deal for Saab, a Swedish company that is often a competitor when it comes to anti-tank weapons. Saab is often competing with the French manufacturer (MBDA) of MMP for ATGM business. The French military did the math and concluded that it was cheaper (and more effective) to buy certain key MMP components from the ATGM manufacturer with the best reputation. This was obviously cheaper and faster that having MBDA conducting their own research in that area.

MMP is a new generation of ATGM similar to the American Javelin or Israeli Spike but developed by a local firm because the French like to manufacture key weapons in France. The MMP will replace the older MILAN family of anti-tank missiles, which were also developed in France. The replacement effort goes back to 2009 when France rejected yet another Milan modernization proposal and in 2010 ordered 260 FGM-148 Javelin missiles from the United States. This purchase was quite a shock for French industry but also an incentive to develop an attractive locally made alternative to Javelin. This led to MMP and the Swedish warhead was seen as an asset, not a liability.

The MMP missile itself weights about 15 kg (33 pound), is 1.3 meters (51 inches) long 140mm in diameter. The weight of the firing unit, including tripod and battery, is another 11 kg (24 pounds). The missile can be fired from portable firing posts, vehicles and army aviation platforms (in the future). MMP features a dual-mode seeker incorporating an uncooled thermal and daylight television channel together with inertial reference unit. An uncooled IR seeker is especially useful, because it can be used very quickly, as opposed to cooled seekers like Javelin’s that require some time to become ready. The warhead is a 140mm caliber tandem shaped charge which according to producer is capable to penetrating any modern tank or two meters of concrete. The missile can engage targets 4,000 meters away. MMP also has a two-way datalink which provide fire-and-forget, man-in-the-loop and non-line-of-sight firing modes with either direct or top-attack (flying over a target and sending penetrator through the thin top armor). MMP can also soft-launch (be safely fired from confined spaces like buildings).

A heavier 8,000 meter version (called MLP) is in the works for helicopters and vehicles. MLP will replace the current HOT missiles.

MMP successfully conducted extensive test firings in early 2015. These included live-firing under various conditions. Some additional tests will take place before the end of 2015. The French Army had no doubt that the MMP effort would succeed and in late 2013 ordered 175 firing posts and 450 missiles, which deliveries beginning in 2017. The entire procurement contract for the French Army is for 2,850 missiles and 400 firing posts. MBDA expects MMP and MLP to be competitive export items.

Meanwhile the older (1970s) technology Milan has remained in production, mainly because it can still get the job done if used against lightly armored vehicles and older tanks. India is a major user (building Milan under license) because their likely opponents, until recently, only had tanks that Milan could handle. But now they have an aggressive China massing forces on the border and building much better protected tanks. The basic Milan is a 1.2 meter long, 125mm diameter, 7.1 kg (16 pound) missile. It has a minimum range of 400 meters and maximum range of 2,000 meters. At max range the missile takes about 13 seconds to reach its target. The missile is guided to the target by the operator via a thin wire. The launcher weighs 21 kg (46 pounds). The missile can penetrate about a meter (39 inches) of armor, making it effective against all but the most modern tanks (M-1, Challenger, Leopard 2). Since the 1970s, over 350,000 Milan missiles and 30,000 launchers have been built worldwide. More modern ATGM are wireless and require much less effort on the part of the operator but they are more expensive. Milans are now being phased out in favor of more modern designs although some will remain in service into the 2020s.

15/09/2015 Ministère de la Défense

2015/09/15 AIRheads/EH

In the Czech Republic, the Aero Vodochody L-39NG performed its first flight on Monday 14 September. The flight was successful, the company said. The aircraft will serve to validate the installation of the new Williams International FJ44-4M engine and avionics in the L-39NG project.

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15-09-2015 Par RFI

Les services de renseignements et de sécurité du Mali continuent le démantèlement des cellules jihadistes au sud du pays. En plus des trois personnes récemment arrêtées dans la capitale, trois autres personnes viennent d'être interpellées. Des précisions sur ces groupes sont désormais connues.

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15.09.2015 4e Régiment de Chasseurs - Armée de Terre

Mi-Aout, 06h00 du matin, les barges chargées d’engins blindés et de leurs équipages voguent dans le golfe de Tadjoura pour saisir la plage d’Arta à Djibouti. Un escadron renforcé se déploie simultanément et massivement par voies maritime et terrestre avant de mener un raid blindé dans la vallée de Koron. Voici le thème tactique du camp mené par le 2e escadron pendant quatre jours.
A l’occasion d’un parcours de tir dynamique en AMX 10 RC, l’escadron réduit l’ennemi à Koron en intégrant des appuis aériens d’une gazelle Hot et d’un Mirage 2000. L’appui interarmées se poursuit le lendemain pendant une reconnaissance offensive entre Ali Sabieh et Ali Addé. Un Mirage 2000, guidé par le FAC de l’escadron, effectue un show force impressionnant et largue une bombe sur une patrouille ennemie. Le sous-groupement tactique blindé conduit ensuite une manœuvre rétrograde avant de lancer une contre-attaque et de prendre définitivement l’ascendant sur l’ennemi. Après une dernière nuit blanche en interdiction face à Ali Addé, l’escadron rompt le contact vers Djibouti, fier d’avoir atteint ses objectifs et fort de l’expérience acquise du combat blindé en milieu désertique.
Cet entraînement s’est inscrit dans la montée en puissance de l’escadron pour l’exercice interallié « Ouerka » qui commence fin septembre.

Reportage photos