May 30, 2013: Strategy Page

Azerbaijan has ordered ten AW139 helicopters from Britain (Agusta Westland) for $148 million. These are for civilian use and military use. These eight ton choppers carry up to 15 passengers and can get by with just one pilot. Cruise speed is 288 kilometers an hour and endurance averages 3.2 hours. The AW139 competes with the U.S. UH-60 and another European helicopter, the slightly larger NH90.

Azerbaijan is getting several different AW139 variants; four AW139 and two AW189 as navy transports, two AW139s as ambulances, one AW139 for search and rescue and one AW139 for VIP transport. This purchase is the part of a military buildup by the oil rich Turkic nation of Azerbaijan, which has more than doubled its defense budget in the last three years (to nearly $4 billion). Nearly half the budget will be spent to modernize the armed forces. Outside of the defense budget many dual-use items, like these ten helicopters, are also being purchased.

Brussels | May 29, 2013 European Defence Agency

28 May 2013 Ministry of Defence

The contract to maintain the eyes and ears of the Navy's ships and submarines will sustain 530 defence jobs across the UK.

TALLINN, May 26 (RIA Novosti)

Estonia completed on Saturday large-scale military drills, which began on May 9 and involved some 5,000 military personnel, including from NATO allies, the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces said.

The Spring Storm (Kevadtorm) drills have been held annually in different parts of Estonia since 2003. This year they were held in northern and central Estonia and involved for the first time units from the UK, Belgium and Poland as well as the Estonian navy.

“Our military servicemen gained experience of cooperation with pilots from Poland, air defense experts from Belgium, infantrymen from Britain, Latvia and Lithuania by participating in joint drills,” Estonian Commander in Chief Gen.-Maj. Riho Terras said at a line-up in the village of Kuusalu.

NATO allies were represented by an infantry company from the UK and Latvia each, a reconnaissance platoon from Lithuania and an anti-aircraft missile platoon from Belgium.

The exercise also involved Polish attack aircraft SU-22, Estonia's training jets L-39, light helicopters R-44, light transport planes An-2 and French Mirage F-1 aircraft, according to Estonian newspaper Postimees.

President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves attended the large-scale military exercise on May 17.

Estonia, as well as two other ex-Soviet republics in the Baltics - Latvia and Lithuania, joined NATO in March 2004.

May. 28, 2013 - By ANDREW CHUTER – Defense News

LONDON — BAE Systems has struck a teaming deal with state-owned Polish Defense Holding to compete for the Central European country’s upcoming tracked fighting vehicle program.

The companies are expected to formally join forces Wednesday, when the deal is to be officially signed to offer a family of 25-ton-plus tracked fighting vehicles to meet the Polish military’s Universal Tracked Platform requirement.

With an eventual requirement for more than 600 vehicles, the competition for heavy tracked machines is set to be Europe’s biggest upcoming export competition in the sector.

Poland is one of the few European nations still increasing defense spending. It has a number of significant capability improvements in its defense spending plans, including implementation of a national armor program that encompasses the heavy requirement being addressed by BAE and Polish Defense Holding and a light armored vehicle requirement.

No mention is made of the platform to be offered by the new team but it almost certainly will draw on BAE’s CV-90 vehicle technology, particularly the chassis.

Technology from the unsuccessful Anders armored vehicle program previously developed by Polish Defense Holding will also likely find its way onto the machine.

Polish Defense Holding was formerly known as the Bumar Group.

With the first production vehicle required for delivery to the Polish Army in 2018, the winning contender likely will be largely an off-the-shelf solution.

Requirements for the multibillion zloty program are expected to be released by the Polish Defense Ministry later this year. The program is scheduled for completion by 2022.

“Polish Defense Holding’s experience as an in-country prime contractor will be instrumental in developing solutions for this new family of armored fighting vehicles that will meet the military’s requirements and facilitate production in Poland,” said Erwin Bieber, president of BAE’s Land & Armaments sector.

28/05/2013 Marine nationale

Depuis le 21 mai et jusqu’à la fin du mois, l’entraînement «Air Defense Week» réunit sur la base de l’aéronautique navale de Landivisiau les forces suisses, britanniques et françaises. Air Defense Week est un entraînement interarmées de défense aérienne, de maîtrise de l’espace, de détection et d’attaque autour des frégates française Cassard et britannique HMS Diamond.

Premier entraînement de ce type depuis 2008, cet exercice permet d’éprouver la coordination et l’interopérabilité des forces et des équipements, dans un environnement stratégique où la coopération interalliées et interarmées est de plus en plus nécessaire. Les forces armées évoluent dans un environnement lors des engagements réels.

La Marine nationale a déployé à cette occasion la frégate anti-aérienne Cassard, le groupe aérien embarqué avec 12 Super Étendard Modernisé, 12 Rafale Marine et 1 Hawkeye et des avions de patrouille maritime Atlantique 2.

Les entraînements, interrompus pour préserver l’environnement riverain de la base pendant le week-end, ont repris dès lundi matin et se poursuivront jusqu’à la cérémonie de clôture, le 30 mai

À la fin de la première semaine d’entraînement, le lieutenant de vaisseau Matthieu Boulinguez, responsable opérations de la planification et de la conduite de l’exercice, et «Teddy», chef des opérations du détachement suisse, tirent un premier bilan.

(Question au LV Boulinguez) Pouvez-vous nous dire quel était l’objectif de cette semaine du point de vue du GAÉ (groupe aérien embarqué)?

«Ce type d’entraînement est capital pour le GAÉ, afin de maintenir un niveau 100 % opérationnel pendant l’arrêt technique actuel du porte-avions. L’opération fait d’ailleurs suite aux exercices d’appui aérien « Gallic Marauder » organisés au pays de Galles en mars par le GAÉ, et au déploiement «Joint Warrior» en Écosse, centré sur la projection de puissance. Cette semaine, nos pilotes se concentrent sur les missions air-air, la protection des forces navales, et les scénarios d’attaque.»

Comment se passe l’organisation des entraînements dans le cadre de cette coopération internationale et interarmées?

«Au moment de lancer les invitations aux forces suisses et britanniques, nous avons demandé à nos partenaires quels étaient leurs besoins d’entraînement réels. Nous avons organisé ensemble la répartition des forces sur les 4 vols journaliers de niveau de difficulté divers.

Par exemple, il y a des entraînements à 2 contre 2, qui sont parfaits pour les jeunes pilotes, mais aussi des scénarios plus complexes, avec une vingtaine d’avions mobilisés pour simuler une attaque contre une frégate. Nous conservons une grande souplesse pour que chacun et chaque délégation y trouve son compte.»

L’armée de Terre prend également part à cet entraînement de défense aérienne. Quelles sont ses activités?

«Grâce à la liaison 16 mise en place sur la base de Landivisiau, l’armée de Terre, les chasseurs et les bâtiments bénéficient d’un réseau commun. L’armée de Terre s’est déployée avec ses stations NC1 reliées au radar Martha. Son entraînement est centré sur le maniement des missiles sol/air Mistral, grâce aux aéronefs qui circulent dans leur volume de portée.»

Quel bilan tirez-vous des vols de ces premiers jours et quelles sont vos attentes pour la suite?

«Le bilan est très positif. Notamment sur la disponibilité globale des appareils et la réalisation des sorties prévues, qui sont excellents. Le retour des flottilles et des bâtiments engagés est également très satisfaisant : chacun a le sentiment de retirer de ces entraînements ce qu’il était venu y chercher.

Concernant le reste de la semaine, nous allons profiter de la confiance consolidée par les premiers vols communs pour renforcer l’interopérabilité et la synergie des forces des différentes armées britannique, suisse et française.»

(Question à «Teddy») Teddy, quelles sont les raisons qui ont poussé la Suisse et 7 de ses chasseurs F18 à participer à cette semaine d’exercice?

«Tout d’abord, nous avons beaucoup de jeunes pilotes et une volonté de perfectionner notre capacité de défense et de combat aérien dans un profil de vol différent du profil habituel suisse : au dessus de la mer.

Nous avions l’habitude de travailler avec l’armée de l’Air française, mais c’est la première fois depuis 2003 que nous rejoignons des exercices d’une telle ampleur également avec la Marine. L’expérience est fructueuse.»

Quel est votre ressenti sur ce début d’exercice et vos attentes pour la suite?

«Les premiers jours de vol ont donné lieu à beaucoup d’échanges entre français, britanniques et suisses. Les pilotes suisses peuvent apporter une expertise forte concernant la défense aérienne, leur domaine de prédilection, et retirer beaucoup d’expérience de ces exercices maritimes.

Dans les jours qui suivent, nous allons continuer à améliorer l’interopérabilité et la coordination entre les participants.»

28 May 2013 Thales UK

Thales UK has today signed a 10-year contract with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), worth up to £600M, for the in-service support of the Royal Navy’s major sensor systems.

The new Sensors Support Optimisation Project (SSOP) builds on the proven success of Thales’s Contractor Logistics Support contract, originally signed in 2003, which has provided support to the Royal Navy’s sonar and electronic warfare systems for the past 10 years.

Under the terms of SSOP, the in-service support contract has now been extended to include all of the Royal Navy’s submarine visual systems, including periscopes for the Vanguard and Trafalgar Class submarines and the non-hull-penetrating optronic masts for the Astute Class submarines, previously supported under separate contract arrangements with Thales UK’s optronics business in Glasgow.

This means Thales is now providing significant in-service support to the ‘eyes and ears’ of the submarine fleet, as well as across the major surface sonar and electronic warfare systems.

The contract will be run through the Equipment Support Delivery Team, which is a joint MOD/Thales UK team based in Abbey Wood, Bristol. This team is augmented by several Thales and J+S Ltd waterfront engineers in the Royal Navy’s three naval bases (Portsmouth, Plymouth and Faslane), who together ensure that specialist technical advice and support is delivered whenever it is needed to ensure the continued availability of the sensor systems, both at home and overseas.

Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, signed the contract during a visit to Thales’s facility in Crawley today.  He said: “This contract is good news for the Ministry of Defence and UK industry. Not only will it secure a number of jobs across the UK whilst delivering savings but will also provide essential support for the combat equipment that helps give the Royal Navy’s fleet of ships and submarines a vital technological edge wherever they are based in the world.”

Victor Chavez, CEO of Thales UK, said: “This contract recognises the value that can be achieved and the savings that can be delivered through a long-term services agreement. It also reflects the successful way in which Thales UK has delivered the required outputs over the past ten years. This project refines that approach to optimise performance over the next ten years, and reinforces our positive well-established relationship with the Royal Navy.”

During the previous support contract, the levels of equipment availability have improved significantly and substantial overall savings in the cost of support have been achieved. The new SSOP contract builds on this experience and success, from the outset delivering further savings to the MOD whilst continuing to deliver high levels of available and serviceable equipment.

The new contract secures employment for 230 Thales employees and a further 300 people within the extended supply chain across the UK.

Major suppliers to Thales include J+S Ltd (Barnstaple, Devon), MacTaggart Scott (Loanhead, Scotland), Atlas Elektronik UK (Newport, South Wales and Winfrith, Dorset), Parkburn Ltd (Telford, Shropshire), AB Precision (Poole) Ltd (Dorset), and Defence Support Group (Sealand, Flintshire).

Thales UK will support the project from its sites in Templecombe, Cheadle Heath, Glasgow and Crawley, where ongoing development of these important systems will enable yet further improvements to be made in the levels of capability and availability.

May 26, 2013: Strategy Page

A British and a Turkish firm are collaborating to offer a ship mounted remote control launcher for British-made LMM (Lightweight Multi-role Missile) weapons. The Aselsan Missile Launching System (MLS) has eight LMMs in sealed containers plus some sensors. The launcher can be mounted on small warships, shore installations or oil rigs.

The LMM is a 13 kg (28.6 pounds) missile with a range of eight kilometers that uses laser (beam riding) guidance. It can be fired from the air or the ground. Small missiles like this are more common. Three years ago the U.S. introduced the 15.6 kg (34.5 pound) Griffin in Afghanistan, fired from UAVs and gunships. The Griffin came about because the existing small missile (Hellfire) was often too big.

The Hellfire II weighs 48.2 kg (106 pounds), carries a 9 kg (20 pound) warhead and has a range of 8,000 meters. The Griffin has a 5.9 kg (13 pound) warhead which is larger, in proportion to its size, than the one carried by Hellfire. Griffin has pop-out wings, allowing it to glide, and thus has a longer range (15 kilometers) than Hellfire. UAVs can carry more of the smaller missiles, typically two of them in place of one Hellfire. There are similar arrangements for LMM. The LMM is believed to have the same design approach as the Griffin, including a fairly large warhead (over 5 kg).

The British Royal Navy has become the first customer for the LMM, ordering a thousand of them two years ago for its new Lynx Wildcat helicopter. The LMM enters service by 2015.

WIMBORNE, England, May 24 (UPI)

Britain's Ministry of Defense has extended Cobham PLC's contract for providing essential operational readiness training for the Royal Air Force and Navy.

The extension is for a five-year base period of performance and is worth about $248.5 million. Cobham, however, said the anticipated value if worth were to carry through to 2019 would be about $301.2 million.

"We have successfully adapted our operational readiness training to meet the needs of the Armed Forces through to the end of 2019, using the extensive technology and know-how we have developed since the service was first introduced in the mid-1980s," said Cobham Chief Executive Officer Bob Murphy.

"We look forward to further developing this highly effective partnership with the MoD."

The operational readiness training services are provided to personnel operating Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft and Type 45 destroyers.

Cobham said most of the training for fighter personnel is conducted in Britain. Its services will also support overseas detachments.

21/05/2013 by Paul Fiddian - Armed Forces International's Lead Reporter

The British Army is getting more AGM-114 Hellfire supersonic air-launched missiles from manufacturer Lockheed Martin, it's been announced. The Hellfires will be used to equip the British Army's Apache AH1 attack helicopters, supplementing those already in service, and the contract value is £15m.

In British Army service, the Hellfire air-to-ground missile has seen extensive operational use. Recently deployed during NATO's Libyan no-fly zone enforcement sorties, during which British Army Apaches launched from HMS Ocean, it's also been used in Afghanistan.

"Hellfire has proved itself in Afghanistan and Libya, providing our Apache crews with state of the art precision firepower", explained the UK Minister for Defence Equipment Support & Technology, Philip Dunne, adding: "This order will ensure the Apache's attack capability remains in place for current and future operations."

British Army Apache Hellfires

Each British Army Apache Hellfire missile complement extends to 16 examples, arranged in groups of four. Twinned to each of these missiles is a guidance system, to enhance their precision strike capability.

First introduced in 1984, the AGM-114 Hellfire is a staple of modern warfare. Able to be launched from a variety of airborne platforms include combat aircraft, helicopter and UAVs, it has a top speed of Mach 1.3 and a maximum range of five miles.

A recent Hellfire development is the AGM-114R 'Romeo' Hellfire II, equipped with a semi-active laser homing guidance system. No less than 24,000 of these upgraded Hellfires are now being produced, both for domestic and foreign customers.

AGM-114 Hellfire Missile

In related news, it's been reported that the RAF's MQ-9 Reaper UAVs are set to be fitted with heavily-modified Hellfire missiles. Initial Reaper UAV missile launch trials are tentatively scheduled for late 2013 and they'll involved the MBDA Brimstone weapon, whose roots lie in the AGM-114 Hellfire missile.

These Reapers already have the capacity to launch Hellfires, along with GBU-12 laser-guided bombs.

The RAF ultimately plans to have 10 Reapers in service, split between RAF Waddington-based No. 13 Squadron and No.39 Squadron, which operates from Nevada's Creech Air Force Base.

23/05/2013 Armée de l'air

L’exercice franco-britannique Titanium Falcon 13 se déroule du 14 au 24 mai 2013, sur la base aérienne britannique de Leeming. Il sera suivi de Joint Warrior 13-2, exercice de type « livex » (avec mission réelle), au mois d’octobre.

Faisant appel à plus de 250 personnes dont 60 Français, il a nécessité le déploiement d’un élément précurseur SIC (systèmes d’information et de communication) du groupement de télécommunications (GT) d’Orléans et du GTSIC aéronautiques d’Évreux, depuis le 26 avril.

Cet exercice de type CPX/CAX (command post exercice/computer assistedexercice - poste de commandement assisté par ordinateur) a pour objectif d’entraîner les deux nations, dans le cadre de la préparation à la force franco-britannique interarmées projetable (Combined Joint Expeditionary Force - CJEF) et à la montée en puissance d’un commandement interarmées de la composante «air» (Joint Forces Air Component Command - JFACC) commun aux deux nations.

Mis à profit pour confronter les différents modes de fonctionnement des JFACC français et britannique, il favorise le développement des procédures opérationnelles communes et améliore l’interopérabilité des moyens SIC qui seraient utilisés pour une opération réelle conjointe.

Au-delà des aspects opérationnels et techniques, cet exercice a également été l’occasion, par les échanges entre les personnels, de renforcer la connaissance mutuelle de nos deux armées de l’air.

21 May 2013 Ministry of Defence

Royal Marines from 42 Commando have been exercising their hostile action skills with EU partner forces on Salisbury Plain.

The Royal Marines and personnel from Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden and the Netherlands all form the EU Battle Group (EUBG) which provides a military rapid response force. All these countries took part in the exercise which took place last week.

The EUBG is made up of an infantry battalion with additional combat support, combat service support, and enablers, totalling between 1,500 and 3,000 military personnel.

During the exercise, the EUBG personnel were faced with a number of scenarios including dealing with hostile action at a checkpoint and controlling a public disturbance.

Minister for International Security Strategy, Dr Andrew Murrison, who attended the exercise, said:

Our primary focus remains on delivering European capabilities through NATO, but the EU can have a very important role in taking on tasks that are not suitable for NATO.

The UK supports the EU’s complementary defence role and has consistently made it clear that we would like to see many of our European partners do more to generate greater deployable capability, whether that’s through mechanisms such as the EUBG or bilaterally through arrangements such as the UKNL [UK/Netherlands] Amphibious Force, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.

I found the capabilities demonstrated on Salisbury Plain deeply impressive. The EUBG is an adaptable and capable force and also an effective vehicle for improving the armed forces of member states. It is very clear that the militaries of the 5 contributing nations are at ease with one another and ready to deploy together if the need arises.

The UK supports the EUBG and our participation this year follows similar contributions in 2005 and 2008, when we provided battle groups on a UK national basis, and in 2010, when the battle group was based on the UKNL Amphibious Force.

Salisbury Plain Training Area is maintained by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), which delivers the Training Service.

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Hiskett, Principal Training Safety Officer, DIO Ops Training South West, said:

DIO’s priority is to support our Armed Forces and their allies as they prepare for operations. This exercise was the first of its kind for us and was an essential opportunity for these disparate organisations to come together and conduct joint planning and training.

The size and nature of Salisbury Plain means that it offers excellent training facilities, ideal conditions and the perfect backdrop for complex and diverse exercises such as these.

At over 38,000 hectares (94,000 acres) the Plain is the UK’s largest training area and offers first-class and diverse training facilities to enable the British Army to meet its training requirements to prepare for operations worldwide.