May 05, 2014 (ESA)

Kourou, French Guiana - The Spaceport is busy with launch campaign activity in support of Arianespace's record 2014 mission pace, with parallel preparations now underway for three heavy-lift Ariane 5 flights, as well as another with the medium-lift Soyuz; all to be conducted from French Guiana.

With the activity underway - and the four launches already performed since January, using its complete family of the heavyweight Ariane 5, medium-lift Soyuz and lightweight Vega - Arianespace is on track to perform 12 missions during the year from the Spaceport, setting a new operational record that would surpass its 10 flights in 2010.

Key steps this week for the upcoming flights included arrival of the second payload for Arianespace's next workhorse Ariane 5 launch: the Optus 10 satellite, which has since joined the MEASAT-3b co-passenger, delivered in mid-April, for checkout at the Spaceport.

These two spacecraft will be lofted May 28 on a mission designated Flight VA218 in Arianespace's numbering system, signifying the 218th launch of an Ariane-series vehicle. The mission's launcher, an Ariane 5 ECA version, is located inside the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building, where it stands ready for MEASAT-3b and Optus 10's upcoming integration.

Another major milestone achieved during this week's activity involved the vehicle for Flight VA219 - an Ariane 5 ES variant, tailored for missions to low-Earth orbit - which completed basic assembly at the Spaceport's Launcher Integration Building with installation of its vehicle equipment bay and EPS storable propellant upper stage.

Flight VA219 is to loft the fifth, and final, European Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) for servicing of the International Space Station. Ariane 5's EPS upper stage is designed to be reignited during flight, a capability required in the mission profile to deliver this ATV resupply craft - named Georges Lemaitre after the Belgian physicist and father of the Big Bang theory - for its space station rendezvous.

Once this Ariane 5 has been processed in the Spaceport's Launcher Integration Building, it will be delivered to Arianespace for installation of ATV Georges Lemaitre and the final operations leading to launch.

Rounding out the on-going Ariane 5 mission preparations was this week's delivery to French Guiana of launcher components for Arianespace's Flight VA220. Arriving aboard the MN Colibri sea-going vessel, these elements were unloaded at Paricabo port for transfer to the Spaceport - where they are to be assembled for flight.

The Spaceport activity isn't limited to Ariane 5, as preparations also are advancing for the next medium-lift Soyuz flight from French Guiana - designated VS08 - on Arianespace's second mission loft a cluster of four O3b Networks spacecraft.

This launch follows Arianespace's June 2013 orbiting of the initial four O3b satellites, which were produced by Thales Alenia Space and provided the first step in O3b Networks' creation of a space-based constellation for Internet services over Asia, Africa, South America, Australia and the Middle East.

Arianespace's four missions conducted so far this year have utilized its full launcher family: Ariane Flight VA217 in February, which orbited ABS-2 and Athena-Fidus; March's Flight VA216, using an Ariane 5 to deploy ASTRA 5B and Amazonas 4A; Soyuz Flight VS07, which orbited Sentinel-1A in April; and this week's Vega VV03 success with Kazakhstan's first Earth observation satellite, KazEOSat-1.

April 22, 2014 by CESA

En dépit de contraintes budgétaires, les forces aériennes latino-américaines s’efforcent aujourd’hui de se moderniser.

Le marché des drones apparaît en particulier comme un secteur en plein essor dans la région. Ces vecteurs sont utilisés par les forces aériennes, aux côtés des forces terrestres et de police, pour assurer des missions de surveillance des frontières, de lutte contre le crime organisé et de protection des ressources naturelles.

La Colombie, en raison du conflit armé auquel elle est confrontée depuis un demi-siècle, est précurseur dans ce domaine (18 Scan Eagle, 2 Hermes 450 et 1 Hermes 900). Elle est suivie de l’Equateur (2 Heron et 4 Searcher), du Brésil (4 Hermes 450) et du Chili (3 Hermes 900). Le Pérou met en œuvre également des mini-drones (Microfalcon et Orbiter) pour lutter contre le groupe armé du Sentier lumineux.

Au vu des besoins croissants, la plupart des pays ont entamé des projets de développement locaux, comme au Brésil (partenariat entre Embraer et Elbit pour adapter l’Hermes 450), en Equateur (projet de drone de haute altitude intégrant un satellite de communication et un radar), au Pérou (drones en cours de tests) et en Uruguay (utilisation d’un drone local léger, le Charrua, dans le cadre d’opérations de maintien de paix à l’étranger et pour lutter contre les incendies).

Source : International Defense News, 24 mars 2014, Special report « Latin American defense »

25/04/2014 Sources : EMA

Le 19 avril 2014, un C160 Transall en provenance de la base aérienne 367 de Matoury, située à proximité de Cayenne, s’est posé sur la piste d’atterrissage de Saul, dans le centre de la Guyane, pour y livrer un véhicule d’incendie.

La commune de Saul, difficilement accessible autrement que par voie aérienne, avait besoin d'un véhicule d'incendie depuis plusieurs mois. Le C160 Transall, qui dispose d'une soute adaptée à un colis de ce volume et qui est capable de se poser sur une piste sommaire, a été mis à contribution pour remplir cette tâche.

Offrant un volume sensiblement supérieur au besoin de la mission, le cargo du Transall a été rempli avec plusieurs articles supplémentaires, tels qu’un four à pain et du matériel de restauration collective.

A 7000km de la métropole, les forces armées en Guyane (FAG) garantissent la protection du territoire national et de ses ressources. Fréquemment engagées en appui de l’action de l’Etat dans des missions au caractère interministériel, les FAG agissent dans un cadre exigeant par son étendue (1100 km de frontières terrestres), son littoral difficile et sa forêt équatoriale.

Après le Chili, le Pérou s'offre un satellite d'observation français.

24/04/2014 Michel Cabirol – LaTribune.fr

Lima achète un satellite d'observation de haute résolution dual à la France. Un contrat qui doit beaucoup à l'Etat français, qui s'est beaucoup investi.

10 avril 2014 pm.gc.ca

Ottawa (Ontario) - Le gouvernement du Canada est résolu à renforcer ses relations en matière de défense avec des partenaires des Amériques, à l’appui de sa Stratégie d’engagement dans les Amériques, une priorité de sa politique étrangère depuis 2007. À cette fin, le 10 avril 2014, le Premier ministre Stephen Harper et Son Excellence Ollanta Humala Tasso, Président de la République du Pérou, ont annoncé que le statut du Pérou en tant que membre du Programme d’instruction et de coopération militaires (PICM) du Canada était élevé à la catégorie « A » à compter d’aujourd’hui.

En tant que pays de catégorie « A » du PICM, le Pérou aura maintenant accès à la gamme complète des activités d’instruction du programme, y compris aux occasions de suivre des cours destinés aux officiers supérieurs au Collège d’état-major du Canada à Toronto. Plus particulièrement, le Pérou se verra offrir une place dans le Programme de sécurité nationale au Collège des Forces canadiennes, une place dans le Programme d’instruction et d’éducation pour les officiers subalternes et un plus grand nombre de places aux cours offerts dans le cadre du PICM.

Les relations de défense Canada-Pérou se sont accrues au cours des dernières années en raison de leur coopération dans le cadre du PICM, d’exercices multilatéraux comme les manœuvres navales internationales et de forums liés à la défense, comme la Conférence biennale des ministres de la Défense des Amériques, qui se tiendra au Pérou en 2014.

La visite du ministre de la Défense Pedro Cateriano Bellido à Ottawa en mars 2013, a donné lieu à la signature d’un protocole d’entente bilatéral sur la coopération en matière de défense, qui vise à orienter et à stimuler la coopération dans des domaines comme les politiques liées à la défense, la recherche et le développement, les approvisionnements de défense, les opérations humanitaires et de paix ainsi que l’instruction et les études militaires.

Le PICM du ministère de la Défense nationale permet de coordonner et d’offrir des programmes de formation à des forces militaires étrangères de pays en développement ne faisant pas partie de l’OTAN. Cela permet de promouvoir la diplomatie de défense, d’accroître la contribution du Canada à la paix et à la sécurité internationales, et d’étendre et de renforcer les relations bilatérales du Canada en matière de défense.

Depuis l’instauration du programme dans les années 1960, plus de 4 400 candidats d’Amérique latine et des Caraïbes ont reçu une formation dans divers domaines – langues, communications, leadership, perfectionnement professionnel et soutien de la paix. Depuis l’admission du Pérou au PICM en 2005, 88 officiers péruviens ont suivi une formation dans le cadre du programme. En 2014-2015, à cause de l’obtention de son statut de catégorie « A », le Pérou se verra offrir 21 places dans des cours du PICM dans les domaines des opérations et de l’instruction, de l’apprentissage de l’anglais et des relations civilo-militaires.

April 7th, 2014 By Swedish Radio - defencetalk.com

The Defence Minister of Sweden, Karin Enström, Sweden, and the Defence Minister of Brazil, Celso Amorim, held an official meeting in Stockholm, upon the kind invitation of the Swedish side, on April 3rd, 2014.

The Ministers recalled the 2009 Plan of Action of the Sweden-Brazil Strategic Partnership, which early identified the potential of bilateral cooperation in the defense area, including joint projects, industrial partnerships, technology transfer, education and training, particularly in the aeronautical field.

The Defence Ministers of Brazil and Sweden welcomed the decision by the Brazilian government – taken on December 18, 2013, and based on technical criteria, in particular the ones related to technological and industrial offsets – to select the proposal presented by Swedish company SAAB in the bidding process called FX-2, related to the provision of fighters to equip the Brazilian Air Force.

The Ministers announced the opportunities for a fruitful long term association between Brazil and Sweden in the field of military aircraft, its technologies and its market.

The Ministers expressed that this association is not only limited to the equipping of the Brazilian Air Force but rather a long-term, strategic cooperation.

The Ministers of Defense of Brazil and Sweden thus decided to launch the Brazilian-Swedish Strategic Partnership in Military Aeronautics.

In that regard, the Defence Ministers of Sweden and Brazil took note of the agreements that are already in force and that offer solid base to the conformation of the Strategic Partnership in Military Aeronautics:

    the Memorandum of Understanding Brazil – Sweden on Cooperation in Defence Matters, signed in São Paulo in July 7, 2000;

    its Amendment, signed in Rio de Janeiro on 24 April 2001;

    Agreement between the Administration for Swedish Defence Material – Forsvarets Materielverk – and the Brazilian Air Force on the Protection of Military Classified Information on the JAS 39 Gripen program, adopted in September 1997 and its Supplement No. 1, adopted in 1998.

With a view to providing continuous strength to the Strategic Partnership, the Defence Ministers agreed to sign today a new Framework Agreement for Defense Cooperation between Brazil and Sweden, which shall replace, when it enters into force, the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation.

The Ministers also saluted the signature, on the same date, of the Agreement on the Exchange and Protection of Classified Information by the Chief Minister of the Cabinet of Institutional Security of the Presidency of the Republic and the Head of Military Intelligence and Security Service of the Armed Forces of Sweden.

The Defence Ministers agreed that the next steps include:

    a deepened political dialogue on defence issues, as well as global topics of mutual interest;

    adoption of a Protocol on Cooperation in Military Aeronautics, which shall define specific terms for, among others, the bilateral cooperation between Air Forces;

    a process forward on export control to third countries; and

    creation of the Office of the Brazilian Defense and Air Force Attaché in Stockholm, in reciprocity to the creation of the Office of the Swedish Defence Attaché in Brasilia.

In reiterating their high expectations regarding the Strategic Partnership between Brazil and Sweden in Military Aeronautics, the Ministers saluted the broader bilateral cooperation in defense and military issues.

The ministers reaffirmed the intentions of their Governments to jointly explore synergies regarding the testing, training, logistics, operations and future upgrades of the Gripen system. They looked forward to the inaugural meeting of a Joint Working Group on Military Cooperation within the Framework Agreement, scheduled to meet in Brasilia in August, 2014.

With a view to following up on the bilateral cooperation agenda, the Minister of Defense of Brazil invited the Minister of Defence of Sweden to undertake a visit to Brazil in 2014.

04/02/2014  Richard de Silva – Defence IQ

In March, the 33rd Motorized Infantry Battalion, under the15th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, will be receiving the first 13 VBTP-MR Guarani armoured personnel carrier, making it the first regular army unit to be issued with the new vehicle.

The initial 86 vehicles will eventually begin trials to build the doctrine for its use in service. Overall, 2,044 units have been put into production, with deliveries beginning in 2012 and due to carry on until 2030.

The delivery further marks the period of transformation taking place across the nation’s military, in conjunction with the rapid upturn of Brazil’s economic health seen in the past ten years.

Lieutenant General Luiz Felipe Linhares Gomes, head of the Army’s Project Management Office, told a Defence IQ conference this year that while the Army undergoes its sweeping transformation, the first and main area to transform is the “hearts and minds” of its own service personnel and the general public, all of whom will need to understand the intrinsic value that the military has on the wider economic and cultural make-up of the nation.

Presenting the official update to the Guarani Project at the International Armoured Vehicles event in London, Linhares explained that “here, we have the opportunity to meet several companies that maybe can work with us. In parallel, we have the opportunity to showcase our projects and maybe even to sell our products. It’s perfect.”

The General will also be speaking at the Armoured Vehicles Latin America conference in Rio de Janeiro in May, alongside other decision makers from the Army and Marine Corps as the drive continues to modernise its vehicle fleets.

Old lessons, new partners

There are seven key army modernisation projects inducing transformation, of which Guarani is just one. Linhares jokingly describes these programmes as “like my daughters – beautiful but very expensive,” but it is has been a valid concern from the outset that the endeavour has paid heed to long-term cost implications.

For the Guarani Project, specifically, a chief aim has been to transform military organisations involved in mechanised solutions for infantry and cavalry for purposes of productivity, efficiency and value for money. To accomplish this, several new families of armoured wheeled vehicles are being developed with the capacity to increase deterrence and homeland defence.

The VBTP-MR is replacing the Urutu CASCAVEL originally manufactured by ENGESA, and which have been in use for over 40 years. Designed by the Science, Technology and Innovation System of the Army, the new vehicle was developed in partnership with IVECO Defence, a subsidiary of FIAT Cars SA based in the city of Sete Lagoas.

Throughout the process, simplicity has been an important factor governing design decisions, with most of the eq coming through COTS. As a requirement, at least 60 per cent of the vehicle components have to have originated from local industry. This decision has not just been a proactive one – Engesa’s bankruptcy in 1993 has served as a dire warning, having left the country without the Urutu equipmentmanufacturing and design skills to continue development of the fleet.

“The memory of that is still raw,” Linhares admits. “We lost everything. So this approach is a safeguard.”

Other regional nations are watching Guarani developments with heightened interest and an eye to procure their own fleet. Test and evaluation of the vehicle has been taking place in a collaborative capacity between Brazil and Argentina, with the latter the next most likely recipient to purchase.

Others, including Colombia and Ecuador, are understood to be placing the vehicle in its list of possible ventures over the coming years.

Recent developments

At present, the vehicle is preparing to begin work on its 8x8 variant for the Marines, of which the funding and initial design have already been confirmed.

Recent reports have also confirmed that the Army’s range of 4x4 vehicles, another part of the Guarani project, is now set to be deployed in early 2015. International tender is due to be released in the second quarter of 2014, aiming towards contract finalisations in the latter part of the year. The first delivery will see “32 vehicles in a patrol configuration, along with training services, spares, and initial logistic support,” according to IHS Jane’s.

In February, the Army selected Thales for its vehicle intercom systems contract, which will see communication systems integrated onto the Guarani vehicle, as well as on the Cascavel, M113, and the refurbished Urutus, by June2014.

The system, known as ‘Sotas’, provides the hub for all data and voice communications inside the Guarani, including sensors, terminals and radios.

Hervé Derrey, Vice-President of Thales’s Radio Communication Products Business, said “Sotas is one of the most advanced communication solutions for the digitisation of the battlespace and will enable Brazilian Forces to dramatically increase situational awareness at all levels of the command structure,”

April 1, 2014 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Damen Shipyards Group; issued April 1, 2014)

Mexican Navy Orders Sixth Damen Stan Patrol 4207

The Mexican Navy and Damen Shipyards Group (the Netherlands) signed another contract for a license, material package and technical assistance of a Damen Stan Patrol 4207. The agreement also includes crew training in the Netherlands.

This contract, the sixth patrol vessel of the Tenochtitlan class, underlines the excellent ongoing relationship between the Mexican Navy (Secretaria de Marina or SEMAR), and Damen. As all five previous vessels, this vessel will be built in the Mexican Navy Yard ASTIMAR 1 in Tampico, a city and port on the Gulf of Mexico.

Damen Shipyards Group operates 40 ship- and repair yards, employing 8.000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 5.000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers approx. 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.

Selon nos informations. Montevideo a pris la décision il y a une dizaine de jours environ d'acheter trois patrouilleurs hauturiers de type Adroit

02/04/2014 Michel Cabirol – LaTribune.fr

La famille Gowind se vend bien à l’exportation. C’est au tour de l’Uruguay de sélectionner les patrouilleurs hauturiers du groupe naval.

Airbus Helicopters a engrangé six nouvelles commandes ou intentions de commande pour un montant de 54 millions de dollars au salon aéronautique et défense de FIDAE au Chili

01/04/2014 Michel Cabirol, de Santiago (Chili) – LaTribune.fr

Airbus Helicopters détient 50 % de parts de marché sur les livraisons lors des cinq dernières années et 35 % sur la flotte totale en service en Amérique Latine.

April 1, 2014 defense-unmanned.com

(Source: Brazilian air force; dated March 27, 2014)

 (Issued in Portuguese; unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)

Hermes 900 Enhances FAB’s Electronic Reconnaissance Capability

The rationale for buying a single large UAV to patrol several cities during the World Cup is unclear, but at least the Hermes 900 (above) is at least twice as capable as the Hermes 450s that Brazil now operates. (Elbit photo)

Purchased for use during the World Cup, this equipment is among the most modern in the world and will strengthen border monitoring

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has acquired a unit of the Israeli Elbit Systems Hermes 900 remotely piloted aircraft (RPA). The contract signed last week (March 19) includes logistical support and a one-year warranty of the equipment.

The purchase was closed by the Air Force Logistics Center (CELOG) which has been negotiating the deal since last year. According to CELOG commander, Air Brigadier Ricardo César Mangrich, the new UAV will arrive in Brazil in early May, and will be ready for use during football the World Cup. The competition starts in June.

The new aircraft will be operated by the “Horus” Squadron (1º / 12º GAV), which has been operating the FAB’s RQ-450 Hermes unmanned aircraft since 2011. Headquartered in Santa Maria (RS), the squadron has begun theoretical training courses for Hermes 900 crews. Acquiring a UAV which belongs to the same “family” as the ones already in service facilitates the service introduction process. So much so, in fact, that the crew will operate the new aircraft during takeoffs and landings from the same ground station (shelter) currently used. The acquisition is also part of the FAB’s plan for UAV acquisition.

New Features

In addition to the well-known RQ-450 Hermes, among the main advantages of operating Hermes 900 is its “SkEye.” This is a set of 10 high-resolution cameras which allow surveillance of an entire region. The software which processes the set of images, allows them to be viewed independently, and so different targets can be monitored simultaneously within a given area. About 10 people will be needed to operate the new equipment. This sensor fitted to the Hermes 900 bought by Brazil was, until now, only available to the Armed Forces of Israel.

Classified as a category-4 equipment, the Hermes 900 is operated using satellite communications. The link will allow the machine to fly well beyond the 250 km range of the Hermes 450. In addition, the 900 can fly at 30,000 feet (over 9000 meters high) and has an endurance of over 30 hours of flight time -- about double that of the RQ-450. These advantages are important allies in the toolset used by FAB for the electronic monitoring of borders.

In the Americas, the Hermes 900 is operated by Mexico, Colombia and Chile.

Les deux constructeurs Airbus Defence and Space et Thales Alenia Space vont partir chacun de leur côté dans les compétitions en Amérique latine.

27/03/2014 Michel Cabirol, de Santiago (Chili) – LaTribune.fr

Les satellites d’observation est l’un de marchés de défense les plus dynamiques de la région. Tous les constructeurs se sont donné rendez-vous à Santiago au show FIDAE, le plus grand salon de défense d’Amérique latine, qui a ouvert ses portes mardi.

Mar. 26, 2014 By JOSÉ HIGUERA – Defense News

SANTIAGO — The Chilean Army has selected the Galil ACE from Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) in 5.56mm caliber as its new standard assault rifle, sources told Defense News during the FIDAE international aerospace show.

It brings to an end the protracted Project Titanio launched in 2007 to select and procure an assault rifle for both the Army and the Navy’s Marine Corps.

A selection team including experts from both services evaluated weapons but preferences and requirements were divergent.

The marines wanted a rifle able to stand prolonged service under extreme environmental conditions in different geographical arenas, including maritime, desert and semi-arctic conditions.

The Army favored the 556 rifle from Swiss maker SIG Sauer, for reasons including familiarity with previous models, including SIG’s 510 and 540, which were procured and partially manufactured locally by Fábricas and Maestranzas del Ejército (FAMAE), a state-owned firm under Army administration.

Since no agreement was possible, the marines dropped out of the Titanio project in 2011, and the Navy subsequently ordered the SCAR-L from Belgium’s Herstal in 2013

Meanwhile, in 2010, FAMAE launched production of an initial series of the SIG Sauer 556 under license to meet an initial order from the Army.

But the performance of the weapon was not satisfactory, especially in Chile’s northern desert of Atacama, and the search was renewed for a new weapon leading to the selection of IWI’s Galil ACE.

According to the sources, the Israeli-designed rifle will be assembled in Chile by FAMAE, including a number of locally manufactured parts.

Earlier model Galil rifles were procured by the Chilean Air Force and the Chilean Army Special Forces in the late 1980s and are still in use.

The Galil rifle is also in service with the military and law enforcing organizations in other South American and Central American nations, both in original AR variant and upgraded ACE versions. The latter is produced under license by INDUMIL in Colombia.