Photo: Lockheed Martin

Jan 9, 2012 By Andy Nativi - aerospace daily and defense report

ROME — The Italian government is ushering in a new round of defense cuts in which, for the first time, the fate of Rome’s participation in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program will be seriously threatened.

The newly launched defense review not only has sweeping implications for Italy’s defense ambitions but also rings in a further belt-tightening in Europe among countries that are just beginning to come to grips with the scale of their budget and debt problems.

In Italy, much of the work on the military review remains to be completed. Nevertheless, a sharp reduction in the number of F-35s Italy will buy is virtually certain, military officials say. At least a third of the 131 fighters slated for procurement will likely fall under the budget ax, with some minority parties arguing for an outright program termination.

Rome is one of the largest international buyers of the F-35 — after the U.K. drastically cut its procurement objective in its 2010 spending review. Italy plans to spend €13 billion ($16.7 billion) to buy and sustain both the F-35A conventional-takeoff-and-landing and the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing versions, though it has not ordered any aircraft yet.

Other major procurement projects are also under scrutiny, but the F-35 has received the lion’s share of attention because of the size of the planned outlays.

Although Italy assessed its spending needs in 2010 in light of an era of fiscal austerity, the change late last year to a technocratic government, led by Mario Monti, specifically put in place to handle the country’s financial problems more aggressively, has put military spending back in the crosshairs. The government, although not elected, enjoys broad support in the parliament to carry out sweeping reforms.

Also potentially affecting the JSF debate is the fact that the government is very much focused on budget considerations rather than foreign policy ambitions. Cancelling the 22 navy F-35Bs would leave the service without fighters to put on its aircraft carrier after the AV-8B Harriers are retired. While that would crimp the ability to project forces, those considerations may not hold much sway with the Monti government. Such a move would likely cause the Italian air force also to drop plans to buy 40 F-35Bs and focus instead entirely on the F-35A.

On the other hand, working in the JSF’s favor is that even at reduced numbers, the F-35 procurement would allow Italy to capitalize on the €2.5 billion it spent or pledged to the development and construction of a JSF final assembly and check out (FACO) facility at Cameri air force base. Work on the FACO is progressing quickly to be ready by 2014 to meet original JSF production schedules.

Avion d'entrainement américain T-45 Goshawk
crédits : US NAVY

09/01/2012 MER et MARINE

En déplacement aux Etats-Unis, Philip Hammond, ministre britannique de la défense, a signé le 5 janvier avec son homologue américain, Leon Panetta, une lettre d'intention en matière de coopération autour des porte-avions. L'accord prévoit que les Américains apportent leur aide aux Britanniques dans le domaine de la formation et de l'entrainement des pilotes. Fin 2010, Londres a, en effet, décidé d'abandonner le concept des bâtiments dotés d'un tremplin pour la mise en oeuvre d'avions à décollage court et appontage vertical, au profit d'un porte-avions doté de catapultes, d'une piste oblique et de brins d'arrêt. Cette décision se traduit par l'abandon, pour la Grande-Bretagne, de la version F-35B du Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), auquel doit se substituer, au sein de la Fleet Air Arm, le F-35C, qui sera également déployé sur les porte-avions américains.


Les porte-avions britanniques devaient disposer du F-35B (© : THALES)


Le futur porte-avions britannique à catapultes (© : THALES)

Coopération avec les Etats-Unis et la France

Cette « communalité » de moyens justifie le rapprochement entre Londres et Washington, une voie évoquée dès l'an dernier par le gouvernement britannique. Ce dernier avait également affirmé son souhait de se rapprocher des Français, seuls à disposer avec les Etats-Unis d'un porte-avions à catapultes. A l'avenir, les avions de combat et de guet aérien embarqués français et britanniques pourront donc opérer sur les porte-avions de la Marine nationale et de la Royal Navy. Cette capacité sera très intéressante pour renforcer l'interopérabilité des deux forces de projection des deux pays, et maintenir les niveaux d'entrainement et de qualification des pilotes lors des arrêts techniques du porte-avions français ou de son homologue britannique (la Royal Navy ne conservera qu'un porte-avions sur les deux en construction, le premier gardant le design initial avec tremplin. Le HMS Queen Elizabeth, prévu pour être livré vers 2015/2016, ne servira que de porte-hélicoptères en attendant l'arrivée vers 2018 du HMS Prince of Wales, dont les plans ont été modifiés pour l'embarquement d'avions catapultés).

Malgré la perspective d'une coopération franco-britannique, qui pourrait se traduire à terme par le déploiement d'un corps expéditionnaire binational, le rapprochement sur ce sujet avec les USA est indispensable pour la Royal Navy. En effet, les Américains sont aujourd'hui les seuls à disposer de moyens de formation pour l'aviation embarquée sur porte-avions à catapultes. Même les Français, après le retrait du service, en 1994, de l'avion école Fouga Zéphyr (version embarquée du Fouga Magister), ont décidé d'envoyer leurs pilotes de chasse suivre leur formation initiale aux Etats-Unis, où ils réalisent leurs premiers appontages et catapultages sur les porte-avions de l'US Navy à bord d'avions d'entrainement T-45 Goshawk.


T-45 Goshawk à l'appontage (© : THALES)


Le futur F-35 britannique (© : ROYAL NAVY)

Inquiétudes autour du programme JSF

En dehors de la lettre d'intention en matière de porte-avions, Philip Hammond a profité de sa visite aux Etats-Unis pour exprimer l'inquiétude de la Grande-Bretagne au sujet du programme JSF, qui accumule les retards et les surcoûts. Londres craint, en effet, que les restrictions budgétaires devant être imposées au Pentagone (487 milliards de dollars sur 10 ans) n'impactent le F-35. Alors que l'opinion publique anglaise s'interroge sur la volte-face du gouvernement concernant le passage du F-35B au F-35C, ce qui privera la Royal Navy d'une aviation embarquée jusqu'en 2018 au moins, Philip Hammond estime qu'un nouveau retard dans le programme, ou une réduction du nombre d'appareils devant être acquis par les forces américaines aboutissant au renchérissement du coût unitaire des avions, serait « inquiétant ».

Evidemment, il y a bien une solution de secours, qui consisterait pour Londres à abandonner le F-35 pour adopter le Rafale de Dassault Aviation. Mais une telle décision, qui n'est pas forcément à exclure si le programme JSF tourne au vinaigre, constituerait une décision politique majeure de la Grande-Bretagne par rapport à son partenaire historique. Et il faudrait, pour Londres, assumer les conséquences de ce revirement face aux Américains.


Rafale au catapultage sur le Charles de Gaulle (© : MARINE NATIONALE)

Le HMS Ocean et le BPC Mistral au large de la Libye

photo Royal Navy - source Mer et Marine

7 janvier 2012 by Nicolas Gros-Verheyde (BRUXELLES2)

L’accord franco-britannique a pris un nouveau coup de canif. Lors d’une visite à Washington, le jour même où Obama annonçait une nouvelle orientation stratégique pour les armées américaines, les ministres de la défense britannique et américain ont signé, jeudi (5 janvier), une « déclaration d’intention sur la coopération en matière de projection de la puissance maritime et la coopération dans les portes-avions« .

Un accord qui va servir de cadre au renforcement de la coopération et l’interopérabilité dans l’utilisation des portes-avions entre Londres et Washington, explique-t-on des deux cotés de l’Atlantique. « Un exemple de coopération utile entre proches alliés pour permettre dans une période d’austérité d’avoir la capacité nécessaire pour maintenir notre avantage militaire mondial », a précisé le porte-parole du Pentagone, George Little, après la rencontre. « Cela donne des bases (solides) à la marine US pour assister la Royal Navy dans le développement de la prochaine génération des portes-avions» a-t-il ajouté. « Les Etats-Unis sont le partenaire militaire le plus proche pour les Britanniques » a précisé, de son côté, Philip Hammond, le ministre britannique de la Défense. Les deux nouveaux porte-avions britanniques doivent, en effet, entrer en service en 2016 et 2018 ; ils emporteront le nouvel avion de combat F-35 (JSF). Mais dans ce laps de temps, la marine britannique est sans porte-avions et ne dispose que de portes-hélicoptères.

Commentaire : La coopération en matière de porte-avions était justement un des points de l’accord franco-britannique qui devait permettre aux seconds de pallier l’absence de porte-avions pendant ces quelques années. Certes un exercice, annoncé comme une démonstration de force majeure, est attendue pour la fin 2012 entre les deux marines en Méditerranée avec l’engagement coté français du Charles de Gaulle et coté britannique du HMS Ocean et du HMS Illustrious, comme le rapporte Mer et Marine. Mais c’est à peu près tout. Les Britanniques restent ainsi fidèles à leur idéal de double alliance, avec les Américains d’un coté et avec les Européens de l’autre. Mais la première l’emporte toujours sur la seconde. Le ministre britannique de la Défense l’a justement rappelé à Washington.

Lire également : Les 13 points de l’accord franco-britannique sur la défense

L'EDA-R 1 en manoeuvre, hier à Toulon

crédits : MER ET MARINE - JEAN-LOUIS VENNE

06/01/2012 MER et MARINE

Le nouvel engin de débarquement amphibie rapide (EDA-R) de la Marine nationale embarquera peut-être à bord du bâtiment de projection et de commandement (BPC) Mistral pour l'exercice Bold Alligator, qui se déroulera du 24 janvier au 13 février au large des côtes américaines. Le Mistral appareillera lundi de Toulon pour mettre le cap sur les Etats-Unis. D'ici là, on saura si l'EDA-R 1 se joindra à lui. Livré le 24 novembre, le nouveau catamaran de débarquement français subit actuellement une phase de vérification des capacités militaires. Hier, il était notamment en manoeuvre, en rade de Toulon, avec des éléments de l'armée de Terre, dont des véhicules (camion, char AMX10 RC). Suivant les essais menés d'ici la fin du week-end, la marine décidera, ou non, d'engager l'engin durant Bold Alligator. Si ce n'est pas le cas, le Mistral partira pour les Etats-Unis uniquement avec les traditionnels chalands de la flottille amphibie.


L'EDA-R 1 (© : MER ET MARINE - JEAN-LOUIS VENNE)


L'EDA-R 1 (© : MER ET MARINE - JEAN-LOUIS VENNE)

Pour Bold Alligator, le Mistral va embarquer un état-major armé par la cellule amphibie de la Force aéromaritime française de réaction rapide (FRMARFOR) et un groupe tactique de l'armée de Terre. Ce dernier sera principalement composé d'éléments du 21ème Régiment d'infanterie de marine et d'autres unités de la 6ème Brigade légère blindée, ainsi que des hélicoptères de l'aviation légère de l'armée de terre (ALAT). En comptant l'équipage du BPC Mistral, l'état-major du FRMARFOR et le groupe tactique de l'armée de terre, la participation française à Bold Alligator s'élèvera à plus de 650 personnes, 70 véhicules et 6 hélicoptères (4 Puma et 2 Gazelle).


Le BPC Mistral, à droite (© : MER ET MARINE - JEAN-LOUIS VENNE)

crédits : MAERSK LINE

06/01/2012 MER et MARINE

Au terme d'un accord avec les autorités US, la compagnie danoise Maersk Line a versé un dédommagement de près de 32 millions de dollars au gouvernement américain. Le litige portait sur une surfacturation de plusieurs prestations de livraisons de conteneurs à l'US Army en Afghanistan et en Irak entre 2001 et 2009. Il était notamment reproché à Maersk d'avoir "facturé des services au-delà des tarifs prévus contractuellement, surévalué le poids des containeurs transportés et négligé de retrancher des rabais accordés par des sous-traitants".

photo Marine Nationale

5 janvier 2012 Par Rédacteur en chef. PORTAIL DES SOUS-MARINS

Du 24 janvier au 13 février 2012, la marine et l’armée de terre participeront ensemble à l’exercice amphibie Bold Alligator 2012, organisé par les forces armées américaines.

Le bâtiment de projection et de commandement (BPC) Mistral appareillera de Toulon le lundi 9 janvier à 9h pour rejoindre la côte Est des Etats-Unis, avec à son bord un état-major armé par la cellule amphibie de la Force aéromaritime française de réaction rapide (FRMARFOR) et un groupe tactique de l’armée de terre. Ce dernier sera principalement composé d’éléments du 21ème Rima et d’autres unités de la 6ème Brigade légère blindée, ainsi que de l’aviation légère de l’armée de terre.

Constituant le plus important entraînement amphibie de ces dix dernières années, Bold Alligator 2012 réunit plus de 20000 militaires américains du corps des Marines (USMC) et de l’US Navy, ainsi que 4 LHD (bâtiments amphibies US) et le porte-avions USS Entreprise, accompagnés de leurs frégates d’escorte et de chasseurs de mines.

Ouvert pour la première fois aux partenaires internationaux, Bold Alligator 2012 verra une forte implication des capacités militaires françaises en matière d’amphibie. En comptant l’équipage du BPC Mistral, l’état-major du FRMARFOR et le groupe tactique de l’armée de terre, la participation française s’élève à plus de 650 personnes, 70 véhicules et 6 hélicoptères.

L’envergure de Bold Alligator 2012 traduit l’importance de la coopération internationale et de l’intéropérabilité dans la résolution des crises actuelles. La participation active de la France démontre quant à elle la capacité à s’insérer de façon autonome à une opération alliée de grande ampleur et l’intérêt de la marine et de l’armée de terre de développer ensemble les savoir-faire amphibies à l’éclairage des engagements actuels. Elle fait aussi la démonstration des excellents liens de coopération entre les deux pays.

Une centaine de marines britanniques et autant de hollandais participeront également à la manœuvre, ainsi que des observateurs italiens, néo-zélandais ou encore australiens, insérés dans les états-majors américains.

Les BPC constituent aujourd’hui des outils privilégiés en matière d’opérations amphibies, permettant la projection et le soutien de forces aéromobiles et terrestres depuis la mer, sous la conduite d’un état-major embarqué.

Source : Marine Nationale (Force aéromaritime française de réaction rapide)

03 January 2012 by defenceWeb

BAE Systems Land & Armaments has received two contract awards totaling more than US$150 million to provide RG31 and RG32M vehicles to the United Arab Emirates and Sweden. The company adds the manufacturing work will be done in South Africa.

"These awards mark a significant success in our land business," said Chris Chambers, vice president and general manager of tactical wheeled vehicles for BAE Systems. "The RG31 and RG32M have consistently delivered superior levels of protection from mines, improvised explosive devices and other threats to many customers world-wide and mark a standard of operational effectiveness."

The US Marine Corps Systems Command in September awarded General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada an US$87.3 million contract to modify 425 RG-31 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. 70% of that work was to be carried out in South Africa, while the remainder was to be carried out at Trenton in the US. Work was expected to be completed by the end of July next year.

The RG31 is a mature, combat proven mine protected armored personnel carrier designed, developed and manufactured by BAE Systems in South Africa. In total, over 2166 RG31 vehicles have been delivered. The RG32M, which is extensively in service with the Swedish Armed Forces, has various military and non-military applications to fulfill a wide spectrum of command, liaison, scouting, patrol and peacekeeping roles.

The BAE Systems Land Systems OMC’s RG-31 was the first mine-resistant vehicle deployed by American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 4x4 RG31, with its a V-shaped hull, was introduced in the mid-1990s and is superficially similar to the South African Army's Mamba. It is certified to protect its crew from rifle and light machine gun fire, anti-tank land-mine detonations and improvised explosive devices. In its standard troop carrying configuration the Mk 5E variant can carry up to ten troops (a driver plus nine others), although it can be configured for many other roles. The vehicle is equipped with a remote-controlled weapon station armed with a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun.

According to the Wikipedia, the vehicle, in various marks, has been used by the Canadian Forces; Colombia; France, the Netherlands; Rwanda; Spain; United Arab Emirates; and the US: Special Operations Command, US Army and the USMC. In addition the United Nations operates 30.

January 2, 2012 defpro.com

Minister of National Defence Rasa Jukneviciene and a delegation from January 3 to January 8 will conduct a work visit in the United States of America (USA) where formal meetings with the new US Secretary of Defence Leon Edward Panetta and other top-ranking US defence officials will be arranged. It is the third National Defence Minister’s visit in the United States. The aim of the visit is to shed some light on the security situation in the Baltic region, and to discuss perspectives of collaboration in defence and security areas.

“My view is that Lithuania’s partnership with USA in defence area is a key condition for fortifying and preserving Lithuania’s statehood, therefore I am really moved about the opportunity to look into the most important security points for our region together”, said R. Jukneviciene.

In the meetings with the US officials regional security challenges, US-Lithuanian defence cooperation, NATO Air policing, accreditation of the NATO Centre of Excellence, the upcoming NATO Summit in Chicago, and transfer of responsibility in Afghanistan will be addressed.

Minister of National Defence will also meet with Alexander Vershbow, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs to L.E. Panetta, who is expected to be assigned as NATO Deputy Secretary General in spring, with Deputy

Secretary of State William J. Burns, and with Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Europe Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall.

Moreover, R. Jukneviciene and her delegation will take part in a series of discussions with scientists who work on security and defence in Washington and Chicago: a discussion will be arranged in the Atlantic Council and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Lithuanian Minister will also conduct meetings with Maj Gen Wesley Craig, the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania and Commander and the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Lithuanian-American Community.

24.12.2011 DRS Technologies - army-guide.com

PARSIPPANY, N.J. -- DRS Technologies, Inc., a Finmeccanica Company, announced that it received a follow-on FY11 Reset contract valued at up to $22.8 Million from TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC), Warren, MI.

This contract is to provide the Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS) with Reset services for M1200 Armored Knight Systems for use by the U.S. Army Field Artillery units.

This order is a follow-on award to the inaugural FY10 M1200 Reset program where more than 80 M1200 Armored Knights were successfully Reset and deployed to Field Artillery units.

This work will be executed by the company's DRS Sustainment Systems Inc. (SSI) business unit at its facilities in St. Louis and West Plains, Missouri with completion expected in April 2013. As part of the contract, DRS SSI has entered into cooperative relationships with Textron Marine and Land Systems (TMLS) for the Reset of the M1200 Armored Security Vehicle ASV) chassis and Raytheon for the Reset of the Fire Support Sensor Subsystem (FS3).

Additionally, DRS will also provide logistic fielding and training services for operation and maintenance of the M1200 system.

The M1200 Armored Knight is used as a precision targeting fire support vehicle developed specifically for the Combat Observation Lasing Teams (COLT) in both the heavy and medium divisions by the US Army Field Artillery Units. The Armored Knight system increases force protection over legacy systems by combining DRS-SSI fire support Mission Equipment Package (MEP) into a modified Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) chassis which uses the Fire Support Sensor Subsystem (FS3) as its primary optical sensor. Armored Knight provides the COLTs with an automated enhanced surveillance, target location/designation, self-location/command, and control/communications package.

"We are proud to provide critical support of this equipment,” says Joe Matteoni, vice president and general manager of DRS SSI. “This ensures the continued use of a premier Fire Support Platform that our soldiers use for their mission."

ILAV

22.12.2011 Spartan Chassis- army-guide.com

CHARLOTTE, Mich. -- Spartan Chassis, Inc., a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc., has received a multi-million dollar subcontract award from defense contractor BAE Systems to support the production of advanced tactical vehicles and spare parts under the International Light Armored Vehicle (ILAV) Program.

"We appreciate our ongoing relationship with BAE Systems," said Tom Gorman, Chief Operating Officer of Spartan Motors, Inc. "This opportunity—which is smaller in volume with greater product variation—is in direct alignment with our strategic and operational strengths of leveraging our expertise, speed and agility to produce reliable vehicle solutions."

Under the terms of the ILAV program, the Michigan-based custom chassis manufacturer will produce 10 ILAVs in two different configurations and supply ILAV spare parts. These mine protected vehicles, provided to the United States Government as part of a Foreign Military Sales contract with BAE Systems, are scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2012 and delivered to Iraq in the second quarter of 2012.

Spartan has a proven history of building ILAVs for BAE Systems since 2006 and has delivered over 700 of these vehicles to Iraq, Yemen and United States military customers. The ILAV features a 4x4 v-shaped hull and has five variants which include: International Light Armored Vehicle (base vehicle), Interrogator Arm, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Joint Surrogate Vehicle and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Training.

In addition to this new award, Spartan also continues its ongoing support of MRAP prime contractors and the U.S. Government by providing spare/replacement parts for many of the vehicles built at Spartan during the MRAP program.

photo Darkone

Dec. 22, 2011 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Finnish Broadcasting Corp. YLE; posted Dec. 22, 2011)

Wednesday's seizure by Finnish Customs officials of a cargo of explosives and high-tech missiles aboard a Manx-flagged ship has aroused a number of questions. Not only is the final intended destination of the 69 American-made Patriot missiles still unclear, it is being asked why such a valuable cargo was poorly packed and shipped with faulty documents.

The Patriot missiles, purchased from Germany, were on their way to Asia via the Finnish port of Kotka. Finnish Customs and the National Bureau of Investigation are trying to determine who ordered the weapons, who sold them and exactly where they were headed.

Their journey was interrupted when a spot check of the cargo aboard the M/S Thor Liberty showed that the shipment lacked a permit from the Ministry of Defence that is required for the export or transit of military materiel.

Customs and police turned their attention to the vessel after being informed by the Finnish Transport Safety Agency (TraFi) that it had received advance information that it was possibly carrying explosives.

Arms shipments transit Finnish territorial waters regularly, but few ships with such cargoes sail without the proper documentation.

"Exceptional incident"

"This incident is exceptional because of the amount of the materials and the type. Personally I cannot remember a case of this magnitude in recent years," head of Finnish customs anti-crime unit Petri Lounatmaa told YLE.

The transport of explosives back and forth across the Gulf of Finland has raised safety concerns. Emergency Services in Kotka set up a one-kilometre restricted zone around the vessel while its cargo was being handled by officials. Even so, the ship had already carried 150 tonnes of improperly secured explosives across the Gulf of Finland without informing anyone.

"When this huge amount of explosives are being transported and safety measures are not observed, it does indeed arouse suspicious and concerns," says Lounatmaa. (ends)

Finland Seizes Unauthorised Shipment of Patriot Missiles

(Source: STT Finnish government news; issued Dec. 22, 2011)

The Finnish government said Wednesday it had ordered the Defence Forces to seize 69 US-made Patriot surface-to-air missiles from MS Thor Liberty, a ship detained in port in Kotka in southeastern Finland since last week.

The government also revealed that the missiles had been listed as fireworks on the manifest. The ship lacks permits to enter a Finnish port with arms cargo.

Päivi Räsänen (cd), the Finnish interior minister, said she believed the incident was unique in Finnish history.

Räsänen confirmed that the missiles were in the possession of the military and that about 150 tonnes of military-grade explosive propellant remained onboard.

"My understanding is that the fate of the missiles is undecided," Räsänen said.

Räsänen added that Finnish authories had contacted their counterparts in Germany where the missiles had been loaded.

The government believes the missiles were to be shipped to South Korea and the propellant to China.

The Finnish police and Customs have launched an investigation into the incident, with the captain and first officer questioned suspected of arms export and seaworthiness offences.

Dec 21, 2011 by Roddy Thomson AFP - ASDNews

HELSINKI - Finland has launched a probe after 69 surface-to-air Patriot missiles were found in a ship bound for the Chinese port city of Shanghai, police said.

"An investigation found 69 Patriot missiles, explosive material and propelling charges," a police statement said.

The missiles, produced by US firm Raytheon, were discovered following a customs search on the British-registered Thor Liberty, owned by Danish firm Thorco, at the port of Kotka, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) from Helsinki.

Finnish customs are investigating the case as one of illegal export of defence material.

"There are grounds for customs to open an investigation into crime concerning the export of these items to third countries," head of Finnish customs anti-crime unit Petri Lounatmaa told AFP.

Finnish law requires permission from defence officials to move such material across the country's borders.

Lounatmaa noted that Finnish police, who are part of the investigating team, will investigate any other possible misconduct in the case.

A team of customs, police and defence force experts conducted a detailed probe of the ship's cargo Wednesday when routine checks by Finland's traffic safety authority revealed a load of 150 tons of improperly packed nitroguanidine -- a low-sensitivity explosive with a high detonation speed.

Following the discovery, police and customs are now conducting further investigations to determine the reason for the military cache.

"We have started questioning the crew...As the investigation continues decisions will be made about possible arrests," Lounatmaa explained.

The customs official said that there were roughly 32 crew members on board the vessel, and that questioning could continue into Friday.

Thorco managing director Thomas Mikkelsen expressed surprise, telling AFP from Denmark that he was unaware of the case.

Another company official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the ship had been detained in Finland and said the missiles could have been loaded on to the vessel by mistake.

photo US DoD

Dec 21, 2011 By Sakthi Prasad, Ludwig Burger and Maria Sheahan/Reuters - AviationWeek.com

BENGALURU and FRANKFURT - Germany’s Siemens named Stanley McChrystal, a former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, to head a new unit aimed at winning U.S. government contracts.

The appointment of McChrystal, who was fired by President Barack Obama last year after disparaging remarks in a magazine interview, comes at a time when Siemens is eager to improve relations with Washington, D.C., following a bribery scandal settled in 2008.

McChrystal, a retired four-star general in the U.S. Army, will become chairman of the board of directors at Siemens Government Technologies, Siemens said in a statement Dec. 19.

He will be joined by former Army Lt. Gen. John Sylvester and retired Lockheed Martin and General Electric executive Robert Coutts, who will serve as board members, Siemens said.

Obama fired McChrystal, then commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, in July 2010 over remarks he and his aides made in a Rolling Stone magazine article that disparaged the president and other civilian leaders.

The U.S. is Siemens’ biggest single market, accounting for almost 20% of group revenue in the company’s last fiscal year.

Its image there was tarnished by a U.S. investigation of allegations that for years it paid bribes to win contracts, which ended in a $1.4 billion settlement with U.S. and German authorities in 2008 and prompted its CEO to step down.

Three years later, the past is still coming back to haunt Siemens. Last week, U.S. prosecutors charged eight former Siemens executives with paying $100 million in bribes for more than a decade to officials in Argentina to help win a $1 billion contract to produce national identity cards.

The company set up Siemens Government Technologies—based on an existing business called Siemens Government Services—this year to win federal military and civilian contracts.

Its products include security systems based on face recognition from closed circuit television or iris-scans, as well as data networks, power plant and transmission equipment, competing with General Electric.