03/14/2013  Andrew Elwell - defenceiq.com

Lieutenant Colonel Stefan Wilson is the Head of Air Operations, J3 at the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters. He was the commander of the first of two Swedish units sent during Operation Unified Protector (OUP) in Libya. Defence IQ recently spoke to Lt Col Wilson about his experience in Libya and how the operation is shaping Sweden’s outlook on acting in future missions.

“One must bear in mind that it was almost 50 years ago since Sweden last participated in a live operation with fighter aircraft [the Congo crisis during the 1960s],” said Lt Col Wilson.

“I think that the speed in which we deployed to Italy, which was just 23 hours after the Swedish parliament made its decision, was quite fast. As a non-NATO country Sweden did not have access to NATO secret systems and it took weeks or even moths to get that. But despite the set-backs we declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) after just two weeks, which during those conditions, was impressive.”

Notwithstanding the complex operational environment and difficult command structure of OUP, Lt Col Wilson listed a number of the key lessons that he took away from the mission. These included: Interoperability on a technical level, with communications and the use of link 16, as well as on the procedure and documentation side; establishing and maintaining a clear chain of command; always ensure you retain an expeditionary mind set; and the understanding that live training exercises both domestically and in collaboration with other nations are essential – tactical evaluation (TACEVAL) of exercises such as Loyal Arrow, Red Flag and Joint Warrior should not be forgotten.

“Regarding operational efficiency and interoperability with other nations Sweden is still participating in international exercises. During this past January and February, eight JAS 39 Gripen from Blekinge wing participated in Red Flag -2 2013. Furthermore, this week Sweden is hosting an exercise in the northern part of Sweden with fighters from both Norway and Finland participating. This is just a few examples of how Sweden maintains and even improves its capabilities in regards to interoperability.”

Considering Sweden’s future fighter capabilities, Lt Col Wilson said that the Swedish government have ordered 60 new JAS 39 Gripen (also known as the E/F version) and that over the next few years will also integrate the GBU 39 (a small diameter bomb) and the new BVR missile (Meteor) to the JAS 39 Gripen system.

The Gripen has been a true success story. I asked if that had played the key role in the rise of the Nordic region as a heavyweight in the fighter aircraft sector. The announcement of the first ever Fighter Nordic conference in May is surely testament to that?

“In Operation Unified Protector, Denmark and Norway also participated with their fighters. At Sigonella NAS we had a very good cooperation with the Danish unit – that collaboration was one of the reasons why we could declare IOC so early.

“I therefore think that all three countries together, not the Swedish Gripen by itself, has led to the Nordic rise that you are referring to.”

March 14, 2013 defense-update.com

Less than 40 months after its maiden flight, the A400M today received full Type Certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This achievement marks a critical step towards delivery of the first aircraft to the French Air Force. The award of the Type Certificate makes the A400M the world’s first large military transport to be designed and certified to civil standards from its inception. Military Initial Operating Clearance is ongoing, paving the way towards first delivery.

Ravitaillement d'un Rafale sur un MRTT allemand.

14/03/2013 Armée de l'air

Le 26 février 2013, le CEAM (centre d’expériences aériennes militaires) a réalisé une expérimentation réussie de ravitaillement en vol d’un Mirage 2000 et d’un Mirage F1, sur un A310 MRTT allemand.

Après l’expérimentation réalisée sur Rafale le 20 février 2013, ce fut au tour d’un Mirage F1 et d’un Mirage 2000 d’évaluer les procédures de ravitaillement en vol sur ce type d’aéronef.

Le vol a été réalisé sur la zone de Mont-de-Marsan en fin d’après-midi afin de tester, entre-autre, le ravitaillement de nuit. La rejointe avec l’avion allemand est facilitée de nuit par les multiples feux présents sur l’aéronef. « L’éclairage de la zone de refuelling sous le tanker est très confortable. Les feux du panier (en croix) sont très efficaces pour estimer le rapprochement. L’éclairage de l’intérieur du Pod est idéal pour la visibilité du chariot de nuit et permet une bonne tenue de place », souligne un des pilotes du CEAM. L’expérience semble donc être une réussite.

Rappelons que le CEAM a pour mission l’étude, l’expérimentation et la définition des futures utilisations des équipements testés. Ce centre est composé d’ « équipes de marques », petites unités d’experts spécialisés dans des domaines bien définis.

Le CEAM a réalisé une expérimentation réussie d’un ravitaillement en vol d’un Mirage F1 sur un A310 MRTT

allemand.

Mar 14, 2013 ASDNews Source : Indra

    Equipped with a complete system for detecting and analysing chemical biological radiological and nuclear agents

Indra has completed the development of a vehicle for recognising Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear threats, in addition to improvised explosives (NRBCe).

The system allows specialised staff to travel to contaminated areas so they may perform tasks for detecting and identifying possible contaminant agents in safe conditions. This R&D project has been backed by the CDTI.

Using a commercial van as the platform, Indra has created a secure work area for two operators, an operations chief and the driver. The vehicle is pressurised, and in the event of an accident that affects its habitability, an oxygen mask system connected to the filtering device makes it possible to breathe clean air.

Mar 14, 2013 ASDNews Source : Airbus

    Military certification and first delivery to follow soon

Airbus Military has today received full Type Certification for the A400M new generation airlifter, marking a critical step towards delivery of the first aircraft to the French Air Force.

Award of the Type Certificate makes the A400M the world’s first large military transport to be designed and certified to civil standards from its inception. Military Initial Operating Clearance is ongoing, paving the way towards first delivery.

The Type Certificate, was presented to Airbus Military by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Certification Director Dr. Norbert Lohl.

Airbus Military CEO Domingo Ureña Raso said: “I would like to thank everyone in Airbus, Airbus Military and at EASA who has worked so hard to achieve this certification. It is an enormously gratifying moment to have confirmation that the A400M has fully demonstrated its compliance with the most stringent airworthiness standards. This is an aircraft that is going to transform the military airlift world in the years ahead and we look forward with great excitement to the first delivery.”

Cedric Gautier, Airbus Military Head of A400M programme, said: “Certifying the A400M to civil as well as military standards has been a huge challenge for us, our suppliers and EASA itself. But by providing a firm framework for certification from day one, to globally accepted standards, both we and the operators will see important benefits as the aircraft matures in service and new customers join the programme.”

During the certification programme the A400M has undergone exhaustive testing of its handling qualities throughout the flight envelope in normal and failure conditions; demonstrated outstanding performance in the heat of the Gulf, cold of Sweden and Canada, and at the high altitude of La Paz, Bolivia; and satisfactorily completed more than 300 hours of function and reliability testing to demonstrate the robustness of its TP400 engines and systems.

Additionally it has begun tests of more advanced military functions such as air-to-air refuelling, air-dropping of supplies and paratroopers, and low-level flight – all with highly encouraging results. The five-strong fleet of “Grizzly” development aircraft has now completed some 4,800 hours in the air during more than 1,600 flights and will continue intensively to expand the A400M’s military capabilities.

13 mars 2013 Romandie.com (AFP)

FRANCFORT - L'Autorité européenne de sécurité aérienne (AESA), à Cologne (ouest), a annoncé mercredi avoir délivré un certificat qui permettra à l'avion de transport militaire A400M de s'insérer dans le trafic aérien civil.

L'A400M est le premier transporteur à turbopropulseur dans sa catégorie à recevoir la certification de l'AESA. Je suis très fier de ce succès, qui est le fruit de la coopération entre l'AESA et les équipes militaires d'Airbus, a déclaré le directeur du département certification de l'AESA, Norbert Lohl, cité dans un communiqué publié en fin d'après-midi.

L'A400M avait reçu une première certification de l'AESA en avril 2012, mais la certification complète était attendue à l'issue des 300 heures d'essais de fonctionnalité et de fiabilité.

Le premier exemplaire de cet avion doit être livré à la France d'ici la mi-juin, après des années de gestation douloureuse.

Airbus Military a reçu aujourdhui le certificat de type complet pour son avion de transport de nouvelle génération A400M, franchissant ainsi une étape essentielle vers la livraison du premier appareil à larmée de lAir française, a commenté pour sa part le groupe, dans un communiqué séparé.

Avec cette certification, lA400M devient le premier grand avion de transport militaire au monde conçu et certifié aux normes civiles dès sa création, a ajouté Airbus, soulignant que la certification au standard militaire IOC (Initial Operating Capability) est en cours.

Pour Cédric Gautier, chef du programme A400M chez Airbus Military, la certification de lA400M à la fois aux normes civiles et militaires a constitué un défi de taille pour nous, nos fournisseurs et lEASA (AESA). Toutefois, en proposant dès le premier jour un cadre fixe de certification aux normes acceptées par tous les acteurs, les opérateurs bénéficieront tout comme nous davantages importants à mesure que lavion évoluera en service et que de nouveaux clients rejoindront le programme.

Dessiné à la demande des états-majors européens après la première guerre du Golfe de 1991, qui avait mis en évidence leur manque de moyens, l'A400M doit remplir des missions stratégiques (transport sur de très longues distances) et tactiques.

Equipé de quatre turbopropulseurs, il sera capable de transporter jusqu'à 37 tonnes sur 3.300 kilomètres, et de se poser au plus près des combats, sur des terrains non préparés, même dans le sable, avec des blindés ou des hélicoptères. Il est aussi conçu pour larguer des parachutistes des forces spéciales à 12.000 mètres d'altitude ou ravitailler en vol deux avions ou deux hélicoptères.

Warrior armoured vehicles waiting to start live firing

[Picture: Crown copyright]

13 March 2013 Ministry of Defence

Soldiers from 5th Battalion The Rifles (5 RIFLES) have spent 3 weeks training with Warrior infantry fighting vehicles on Sennelager Training Area as part of one of the largest armoured deployments in recent years.

In light of the Army 2020 announcement, 5 RIFLES have been training hard to bring their core skills as an armoured infantry unit back up to scratch after their recent deployment to Afghanistan.

 

In their future role, as part of the UK’s reactive forces, 5 RIFLES will be at the forefront of any future armoured deployment.

 

As a result, this training has been designed to ensure the battalion’s primary skill set operating as infantry from armoured vehicles is at the highest standard for any future operations.

 

The exercise, which was conducted in sub-zero temperatures, covered dry training and live firing in the mounted, dismounted and integrated roles within a ‘return to contingency’ scenario.

 

The exercise saw 484 Riflemen deploy onto Sennelager Training Area in Germany where they lived out of their armoured vehicles - of which 99 deployed in total.

A Rifleman packs his kit ready to deploy onto the training area [Picture: Crown copyright]

The aim of the exercise was to prepare the battalion for the forthcoming exercise Bavarian Charger which will take place in Bavaria in June.

 

But more importantly it allowed the Riflemen to get used to fighting from, living off and maintaining their vehicles after their recent deployment as a ground-holding battle group in Afghanistan.

 

Captain Iain Hardman said:

Training in Sennelager has been extremely useful for the battalion after our recent tour of Afghanistan. Although we have not operated from armour in a while, it didn’t take us long to get back into the swing of things.

 

This is the most thorough level one collective training exercise I have been on and I am confident we are not only ready for our level three collective training exercise in Bavaria but also for any challenges the future may hold.

A Titan armoured engineer vehicle makes its way to a bridging site on the Sennelager Training Area [Picture: Crown copyright]

The highlight of the exercise was a manoeuvre called an ‘obstacle crossing’ which involves armoured vehicles crossing a river or a gap with combat bridging mounted on an armoured engineer vehicle.

 

Challenger 2 tanks from C Squadron of the Queen’s Royal Hussars were also used to provide ‘overwatch’.

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Collins, Commanding Officer of 5 RIFLES, said:

This has been a useful field exercise for the whole battalion in order to deliver platoon-level training. The Riflemen have got used to living off, caring for and fighting from their armoured vehicles over a 3-week period in sub-zero temperatures.

 

Each level has been tested, from fire team to company headquarters to our logistic echelons, and we are now in a better position for exercises in Bavaria and Canada later in the year as well as for any return to contingency and our armoured infantry future under Army 2020.

5 RIFLES are an armoured infantry battalion based in Paderborn in Germany and are part of 20th Armoured Brigade. Under the recent rebasing announcement they will be based in Bulford from 2016.

Vol en patrouille illustrant la coopération franco-allemande

12/03/2013 Armée de l'air - Economie et technologie

Les 6 et 7 mars 2013, le général Guillaume Gelée, commandant les forces aériennes (CFA), s’est rendu sur la base aérienne de Nörvenich près de Cologne (Allemagne) à l’invitation de son homologue, le Generalleutnant Peter Schelzig, à la tête du Luftwaffenführungskommando (LwFüKdo).

Les deux généraux, responsables de l’entrainement des forces et de la formation spécialisée au sein des armées de l'air allemande et française ont évoqué la coopération franco-allemande dans le domaine aérien. Ils ont notamment abordé la préparation aux opérations sur le théâtre malien, où l’Allemagne a récemment renforcé son dispositif en déployant au profit de la MISMA (Mission internationale de soutien au Mali, sous conduite africaine), un Airbus A310 MRTT (Multirole Transport Tanker) en plus des deux Transall déjà sur la zone.

Dans le ciel de Cologne au départ de la base de Norvenich, le général Schelzig a pu découvrir, lors d’un vol en Rafale, les capacités opérationnelles « multirôle » du chasseur français. Son pilote pour cette occasion, le commandant Thierry Kubiak, commandant l’escadron de transformation Rafale (ETR) 2/92 "Aquitaine" stationné sur la base aérienne 113 de Saint-Dizier, un des pilotes les plus expérimentés sur la machine, lui a montré la polyvalence du chasseur actuellement engagé dans les opérations au Mali.

Ces rencontres régulières entre les deux grands commandements s’inscrivent cette année à l’occasion du cinquantenaire du traité de l’Élysée signé entre le général de Gaulle et le chancelier Adenauer. Les deux pays ont remis en février dernier les premiers brevets de contrôleurs aériens avancés dont l’action est indispensable dans la conduite des opérations aéroterrestres, comme celles qui se déroulent actuellement dans le cadre de l’opération Serval.

Le général Peter Schelzig en compagnie de son pilote le commandant Thierry Kubiak

Les deux généraux sont responsables de l’entrainement des forces et de la formation spécialisée au sein des armées de l'air allemande et française.

British and French marines taking part in Exercise

Gaelic Venture [Picture: Crown copyright]

12 March 2013 Ministry of Defence

Royal Marines from the West Country recently crossed the Channel to take part in an exercise with their French colleagues.

Members of M Company of 42 Commando, based in Plymouth, took part in Exercise Gaelic Venture - a joint Anglo-French exercise conducted between 3 Commando Brigade and the French 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade.

Both are infantry units which form part of their respective country’s navies.

 

The exercise saw M Company deploy to Le Mans with France’s 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment, with the aim of building on existing Anglo-French military relations and developing an understanding of the different operating procedures.

British and French marines taking part in Exercise Gaelic Venture [Picture: Crown copyright]

These joint exercises are increasingly important as Britain and France strengthen their military ties.

With most of the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment deployed to Mali, the exercise involved M Company working with the French 4 Company around Camp d’Auvours.

 

A 20-kilometre ‘yomp’ preceded communications testing (which was a challenge with 2 languages involved) before the British and French companies set themselves up in harbours and conducted reconnaissance of the area, culminating in a simultaneous assault on 2 ‘enemy’ strongholds.

British and French marines taking part in Exercise Gaelic Venture [Picture: Crown copyright]

The officer commanding the Royal Marines took command of a platoon of French marines whilst a troop of Royal Marines deployed into the field as part of the French company.

 

Having only 1 French speaker in the troop proved a challenge, but demonstrated that language is not the main barrier for joint operations.

 

A spokesman for 42 Commando said:

Once the attacks were over the Royal Marines established themselves on the ‘enemy’ positions overnight.

 

We proved ourselves an impressive surveillance asset throughout, surprising our French hosts as we routinely contacted counter-attacks before they had even successfully located our harbour!

A Royal Marine from 42 Commando on Exercise Gaelic Venture [Picture: Crown copyright]

The final day was spent on a firing range and doing some French-led physical training which the Royal Marines devoured.

 

After the exercise the Royal Marines went on a 2-day battlefield tour of Normandy to sites of several key Second World War amphibious actions, including Port-en-Bessin and where US Rangers conducted a cliff assault on enemy gun emplacements.

MIDCAS, an EDA sponsored €50 million industry project to develop advanced collision-avoidance abilities for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), will see its first demonstration flight by summer 2013.

MIDCAS provides a cornerstone solution for the integration of RPAS in non-segregated airspace. The MIDCAS industry consortium is composed of 13 companies of the five participating Member States: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden (lead nation). Launched in September 2009, the project’s main principles are standardisation support, systems engineering, functional design, demonstrator design, tests & evaluation, as well as safety.

The developed detect and avoid demonstrator will be tested on a conventional manned aircraft in France before summer 2013. In the first half of 2014 the MIDCAS demonstrator will be tested and validated on board of an unmanned demonstrator aircraft. This RPAS flying campaign will take place in Sweden.

The project is significantly supported by the stakeholder community to ensure a harmonised transition from project result to a detect and avoid standard.

• MIDCAS project page
• MIDCAS website

Mar 12, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Diehl Defence; issued March 11, 2013)

Diehl Receives from Sweden Contract for Air Defence

The Swedish Defence Material Administration signed a contract with Diehl Defence to deliver IRIS-T SLS surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems for the country’s armed forces.

The new units comprising the IRIS-T missile, missile launching station and fire control system are to improve the national air defence by protection against air attacks from a large variety of threats including missiles, helicopters and aircraft.

Following deployment, the mobile system allows fully automatic operation 24 hours a day. The Swedish Army will operate the SAM fire units, together with a new Command and Control System as well as modernized sensors from Saab.

IRIS-T SLS employs the standard IRIS-T air-to-air missile and is the short-range complement to the medium-range IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defence system of Diehl Defence.

With the IRIS-T SLS/SLM ground-based air defence systems, Diehl is setting new standards in open system design architectures providing maximum flexibility for new weapon systems as well as for the modernization/upgrade of legacy equipment. IRIS-T SLM is based on the SAM system development in Germany for national air defence.

Delivery of the first IRIS-T SLS systems is scheduled to commence in 2016. As partner of the European missile program, Sweden has already introduced the IRIS-T air-to-air missile for its Gripen fighter aircraft.