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25 septembre 2013 3 25 /09 /septembre /2013 17:35

RAF team keeps rotors turning over Afghanistan

RAF team keeps rotors turning over Afghanistan

Senior Aircraftwoman Joanna Tomsett refuelling an Army Lynx helicopter (Picture Sergeant Dale Hunt RAF, UK MoD)

 

24 September 2013 Ministry of Defence

 

An RAF team is providing pit-stop-style refuels at Camp Bastion to keep military helicopters in the air over Afghanistan.

 

On front line operations in Afghanistan helicopters are in high demand. The ‘rotary wing assets’, in military language, are the lynchpins of tactical mobility, able to operate at much lower heights and speeds than fixed-wing aircraft. In a theatre environment the quick turnaround of aircraft at the pumps is essential.

The RAF Tactical Supply Wing (TSW) provides 24-hour aviation fuel support to both UK and visiting coalition helicopters from the flight line at Camp Bastion airfield.

Chinook helicopter refuelling
An RAF Chinook helicopter is refuelled [Picture: Sergeant Dale Hunt RAF, Crown copyright]

At a moment’s notice, the TSW personnel are ready at the Helmand base’s aerial gas pumps, or ‘bulk fuel installations’, to carry out the specialised pit-stop-fast ‘rotors turning refuels’ (RTRs). Within a matter of minutes an aircraft can be ready to head off on its next flight.

On average, the TSW refuels more than 300 aircraft a week, pumping over 300,000 litres of fuel in that time.

In addition to providing refuels from Camp Bastion, TSW personnel are also ready to assist in the recovery of unserviceable aircraft anywhere in the area of operations. Within 30 minutes they can be refuelling or defueling a stranded helicopter in order for it to be transported back to a main operating base.

The TSW comprises 19 personnel from supply, engineering or military transport backgrounds. From senior aircraftmen to officers commanding, all are trained primarily in RTRs, ensuring each team member is capable of delivering this fundamental service.

Thumbs up after a successful Chinook helicopter refuel
Thumbs up after a successful Chinook helicopter refuel [Picture: Sergeant Dale Hunt RAF, Crown copyright]

Senior Aircraftwoman Joanna Tomsett is a supply specialist on her second deployment to Afghanistan; her first with the TSW:

I am really enjoying TSW,” she said. “There are lots of different parts to the job, and that keeps things interesting. Working with the rotary wing I feel a lot more involved in it all.

We work as a close-knit team on TSW, train as a team in the UK, and then deploy together. The guys are great.

Corporal Neil Sinclair refuelling an American Black Hawk helicopter
Corporal Neil Sinclair refuelling an American Black Hawk helicopter [Picture: Sergeant Dale Hunt RAF, Crown copyright]

Corporal Neil Sinclair, a military transport driver, is on his second deployment with the TSW. He said:

The main job out here is delivering fuel to the aircraft and that takes priority over everything we do. The best thing about the job is actually putting the fuel into the aircraft.

A lot of people may actually question why they are here in Afghanistan, but you really get a feeling of worth doing this job. We refuel an aircraft and know that it is going back out on operations to support ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) or ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) troops. It really does give you a sense of achievement.

The Officer Commanding TSW, Supplier Warrant Officer Gaz Barlow, said:

TSW is all about teamwork. We train together and work together. It is even more important as we deploy as a formed unit … and it really does work.

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23 septembre 2013 1 23 /09 /septembre /2013 12:35

US, South Korea and Allies Should Prepare for Eventual Collapse of North Korea

US, South Korea and Allies Should Prepare for Eventual Collapse of North Korea

September 23rd, 2013 By RAND  - defencetalk.com

 

Like the collapse of East Germany, the collapse of North Korea could occur suddenly and with little warning. But a North Korean collapse could be far more dangerous and disastrous than the actual collapse of East Germany, especially given the inadequate preparations for it, according to a new RAND Corporation report.

 

The current North Korean government, led by Kim Jong Un, has showed signs of instability for some time and most experts agree that a collapse is likely. It is more a matter of “when” than “if” it will occur, says Bruce Bennett, the study’s author and a senior defense analyst at RAND, a nonprofit research organization.

 

The study describes many of the possible consequences of a North Korean government collapse, including civil war in the North, a humanitarian crisis, the potential use and proliferation of the nation’s chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, and even war with China.

 

Failure to establish stability in North Korea could disrupt the political and economic conditions in Northeast Asia and leave a serious power vacuum for a decade or longer, Bennett said.

 

The study examines ways of controlling and mitigating the consequences of a North Korean government collapse, recognizing that the Republic of Korea and the United States almost certainly will need to intervene in the North, even if only to deliver humanitarian aid. They will likely seek Korean unification as the ultimate outcome.

 

Preparation is required because the situation in North Korean could deteriorate rapidly. Food and medicine already are in short supply, and a collapse would lead to hoarding that would leave many people starving. A simultaneous deterioration in internal security could force people to leave their homes, making it even more difficult to deliver humanitarian aid.

 

The Republic of Korea and the United States must be prepared to rapidly deliver food supplies throughout all of North Korea, Bennett said. Prompt delivery requires preparing stockpiles of food and practicing delivery methods.

 

The nations also must also be prepared to quickly achieve a degree of stability and security in the North. This requires co-opting North Korea military and security service personnel. A failure to do so would lead to military battles with North Korean forces and a defection of some of those forces to insurgency or criminal activities, which could disrupt local security for years and perhaps even frustrate unification.

 

The North Korean personnel must be convinced that they will be treated well and can achieve better lives after unification. Already, information is leaking into North Korea that challenges the regime’s propaganda claiming that people in the Republic of Korea lead lives that are even worse than people in the North.

 

North Korean troops also pose a serious threat in the potential use of weapons of mass destruction. These weapons appear to be dispersed among a large number of facilities, at least some of which have not been identified, making it difficult to quickly eliminate the threat. Prompt, prepared action is more likely to secure much of the weapons of mass destruction, especially with Chinese help.

 

Potential Chinese intervention also must be addressed, ideally leading to cooperation with forces from the Republic of Korea and the United States. A North Korea collapse would heighten Chinese fears of both a massive influx of North Korean refugees and U.S. intervention into an area directly adjoining China’s border.

 

China recognizes that the United States will want to promptly reach the North Korean weapons of mass destruction sites north of Pyongyang to prevent their use or proliferation. This U.S. interest could force China to seek to secure these facilities before the United States does.

 

China also may try to create a buffer zone inside North Korea to contain the refugees and prevent them from reaching China, where there are large pockets of ethnic Koreans. North Korean ports on the East Sea and North Korea’s mineral wealth are other economic targets China will want to secure. The Republic of Korea also has concerns that if China intervenes in North Korea, it might not be reversible, and China may end up annexing some significant portion of the North.

 

China has been reluctant to discuss the possibility of a North Korean collapse, for fear of appearing disloyal to its ally and adding to the stability problems in North Korea. But some Chinese attitudes are changing, opening new opportunities for dialogue, according to the RAND report.

 

A final concern is the military capabilities of the Republic of Korea. The Republic of Korea’s army will be reduced from its current size of 22 active-duty divisions to approximately 12 by 2022 because of very low birthrates. Action must be taken to curb these reductions and compensate for the loss through measures such as building the capabilities of the reserve forces.

 

Full Report in PDF format: U.S., Republic of Korea and Allies Should Prepare for Eventual Collapse of North Korean Government (51)

 

Research for the report was sponsored by the Smith Richardson Foundation and was conducted within the International Security and Defense Policy Center of the RAND National Security Research Division. The National Security Research Division conducts research and analysis on defense and national security topics for the U.S. and allied defense, foreign policy, homeland security and intelligence communities and foundations and other nongovernmental organizations that support defense and national security analysis.

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2 juillet 2013 2 02 /07 /juillet /2013 18:20

Lockheed Martin-Led Team Lays Keel on Nation's Ninth Littoral Combat Ship

Modern warships are now largely built in a series of pre-fabricated, complete hull sections rather than a single keel, so the actual start of the shipbuilding process is now considered to be when the first sheet of steel is cut and is often marked with a ceremonial event.

Modern warships are now largely built in a series of pre-fabricated, complete hull sections rather than a single keel, so the actual start of the shipbuilding process is now considered to be when the first sheet of steel is cut and is often marked with a ceremonial event.

Jul 02, 2013 (SPX)

 

Marinette WI - A Lockheed Martin-led industry team officially laid the keel for the U.S. Navy's ninth Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Little Rock, in a ceremony held at Marinette Marine Corporation.

 

The industry team is building the Freedom-variant LCS for the U.S. Navy on budget, has delivered two ships with four others under construction and two in the early material procurement stages.

 

With the nation's first LCS, USS Freedom, currently on its maiden deployment to Southeast Asia, the Lockheed Martin-led team is addressing the Navy's need for an affordable, highly-networked and modular ship unlike any other in the world, designed to conduct a variety of missions including anti-surface, mine and submarine warfare.

 

In keeping with a time-honored tradition, ship sponsor Janee Bonner authenticated the keel by having her initials welded into a sheet of the ship's steel. She was assisted by Marinette Marine Corporation's President and CEO Chuck Goddard.

 

"It is an honor to serve as the sponsor of the future USS Little Rock, the ninth ship in a class that's so vital to our national defense strategy," said Janee Bonner. "This marks the beginning of my commitment to support her, as well as the brave crews that will serve on the ship to defend our country."

 

The Lockheed Martin-led LCS team includes ship builder Marinette Marine Corporation, a Fincantieri company, naval architect Gibbs and Cox, as well as nearly 900 suppliers in 43 states, including approximately 30 small businesses in Wisconsin and Michigan.

 

 

"This is a great milestone for the U.S. Navy's future USS Little Rock and for the program as we continue to deliver ships," said Joe North, vice president of Littoral Ship Systems at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training.

 

"As we transition into serial production, we're applying lessons-learned to the construction process that our team has learned from supporting the U.S. Navy in maintaining the team's first and second ships."

 

Lay the keel is a shipbuilding term that marks the beginning of the module erection process, which is a significant undertaking that signifies the ship coming to life.

 

Modern warships are now largely built in a series of pre-fabricated, complete hull sections rather than a single keel, so the actual start of the shipbuilding process is now considered to be when the first sheet of steel is cut and is often marked with a ceremonial event.

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25 avril 2013 4 25 /04 /avril /2013 07:20

ATK to supply guided advanced tactical rocket for USSOCOM testing

MH-60L helicopter

MH-60L helicopter

 

24 April 2013 army-technology.com

 

Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has been awarded a contract for the supply of a low-cost, lightweight, precision-guided missile for evaluations by the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), as part of the Defense Acquisition Challenge (DAC) programme.

 

Under the terms of the $3.2m contract, ATK will deliver its guided advanced tactical rocket (GATR) and precision-guided rocket launcher (PGRL) for both environmental and operational evaluation on the USSOCOM's MH-60L/M rotary-wing platforms.

 

ATK Armament Systems vice-president and general manager Dan Olson said: "Our ongoing investment and expertise in precision strike weapons, including the GATR system, provide a mature capability that fulfils the requirements of our military customers using innovative approaches that minimise integration costs."

 

Manufactured in collaboration with Elbit Systems, the GATR is a 70mm precision system designed for air-to-ground and ground-to-ground missions against soft, lightly armoured, stationary, moving and manoeuvring targets, and for military operations in urban terrain.

 

Incorporating a semi-active laser seeker similar to the one used in combat-proven joint direct attack munition (JDAM), the system enables pilots to lock-on targets before launch to ensure engagement of only the target of interest, with minimum collateral damage and at reduced operational costs.

 

Compatible with the existing 2.75in rocket-launcher hardware, the system features a digitally fused M282 multi-purpose warhead that is programmed from cockpits to provide super quick, point detonating fusing to defeat soft targets or delayed fusing for hardened targets penetration.

 

Available in three, seven and 19-tube versions, GATR is launched from PGRL digital launcher, and supports seamless integration into all fixed and rotary-wing platforms using existing digital and analogue fire control systems to offer digital stores management for all loaded weapons.

 

The DAC programme seeks validation of GATR and PGRL's desired operational and ballistic performance, while deployed from USSOCOM's airborne platforms.

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23 avril 2013 2 23 /04 /avril /2013 07:20

More Raytheon decoy-jammer systems for U.S. Air Force

More Raytheon decoy-jammer systems for U.S. Air Force

TUCSON, April 22 (UPI)

 

Raytheon is producing more miniature air launched decoy-jammers for the U.S. Air Force under exercise of a contract option.

 

A total of 202 MALD jammers, with containers, will be produced and delivered. The value of the firm fixed-price Air Force contract is $81.7 million. A 10-year warranty is included in the deal.

 

"MALD-J adds a jamming capability to the current decoy function of the MALD that disrupts enemy integrated air defense systems using jamming and radar signature technology," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Air Warfare Systems for Raytheon Missile Systems.

 

"This weapon will provide unprecedented capability and flexibility to the U.S. Air Force and improve the survivability of our airmen and their aircraft."

 

MALD is a modular, air-launched and programmable flight vehicle that protects aircraft by duplicating the combat flight profiles and radar signatures of U.S. and allied aircraft. A unit weighs 300 pounds and has a range of about 500 nautical miles

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23 avril 2013 2 23 /04 /avril /2013 07:20

Hornet In The Mist

Hornet In The Mist

4/20/2013 Strategy Page

 

U.S. Navy Lt. Mary Gresko, front, directs an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 154 before a launch from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the Pacific Ocean, April 9, 2013. The Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing 11 are underway for a training exercise to prepare for an upcoming deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacquelyn D. Childs

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22 avril 2013 1 22 /04 /avril /2013 19:00

Finlande: une partie de la flotte de F-18 clouée au sol

Finnish Air Force F-18C Hornet (code HN-450) starts its takeoff run at the 2009 Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, Gloucestershire, England. Photographed by Adrian Pingstone

Finnish Air Force F-18C Hornet (code HN-450) starts its takeoff run at the 2009 Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, Gloucestershire, England. Photographed by Adrian Pingstone

HELSINKI, 22 avr 2013 marine-oceans.com (AFP)

 

L'armée de l'air finlandaise a annoncé lundi qu'une partie de ses avions de combat F-18 Hornet de Boeing était clouée au sol afin de changer une pièce défectueuse dans le système de siège éjectable.

 

"La raison (de l'interdiction de vol) est l'existence d'une cartouche défectueuse sur le siège, dont le bon fonctionnement est nécessaire pour l'éjection", a précisé l'armée dans un communiqué.

 

C'est la marine américaine, l'US Navy, qui a alerté la Finlande, a indiqué à l'AFP un porte-parole de l'armée de l'air finlandaise, Joni Malkamäki.

 

Le nombre exact des avions cloués au sol n'a pas été rendu public mais, selon la télévision publique YLE, il s'agirait de la "grande majorité" des appareils.

 

L'armée a indiqué que ses techniciens vérifiaient l'ensemble des sièges des 62 avions concernés afin de savoir si les cartouches incriminées fonctionnaient correctement ou si elles étaient défectueuses. Des cartouches défectueuses ont déjà été identifiées dans les premiers appareils examinés.

 

Le ministre de la Défense Carl Haglund a assuré à YLE que l'interdiction de vol n'affectait pas les activités opérationnelles de l'armée de l'air mais qu'il s'agissait d'une mesure de précaution. "Il n'y a aucune raison de s'inquiéter", a-t-il confié. Un exercice d'entraînement prévu entre le 23 et le 25 avril a été annulé.

 

En cas de besoin, l'armée devra commander des pièces détachées aux Etats-Unis. Le délai de livraison sera de quelques semaines.

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19 avril 2013 5 19 /04 /avril /2013 07:35

Phalanx Close-In-Weapon-System Delivered To Adelaide

Phalanx Close-In-Weapon-System Delivered To Adelaide

April 18, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Australian Department of Defence; issued April 18, 2013)

 

 

A key piece of the combat system for the Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers - the Phalanx Close-In-Weapon-System (CIWS) - has arrived in Adelaide.

 

The Phalanx system for the future destroyers Hobart and Brisbane have been shipped from the United States to the AWD Alliance, CEO Rod Equid said today.

 

“The Phalanx CIWS includes a fast-reaction 20mm Gatling gun that will provide the destroyers with a line of defence against anti-ship missiles, littoral or close to shore warfare threats, and aircraft at short range,” Mr Equid said.

 

“It has the ability to automatically carry out functions usually performed by separate systems including target detection, evaluation, tracking and engagement.

 

“The weapon system is made up of a rotating cluster of six barrels that fire ammunition at a rate of up to 4,500 rounds per minute, as well as search and track radars, with an integrated electro-optic sensor.

 

“The AWD Phalanx CIWS, the Mk15 Block 1B, is integrated into the Aegis Weapon System and is an updated version of the equipment already in use by the Royal Australian Navy on the Adelaide Class guided-missile frigates.”

 

The Phalanx is located at the rear of the ship on top of the helicopter hangar, overlooking the flight deck.

 

The Phalanx CIWS, built by Raytheon Missile Systems USA, was acquired by Raytheon Australia on behalf of the AWD Alliance. The $35 million contract includes the manufacture and delivery of the Phalanx weapon system for all three Air Warfare Destroyers.

 

The AWD Alliance is executing an innovative program to design, integrate and test the Hobart Class combat system. The combat system for the destroyers is made up of the Aegis weapon system with the Australian-selected additions, interfaced with Aegis using the Australian Tactical Interface.

 

The Alliance is responsible for delivering three destroyers to the Royal Australian Navy. The Alliance is made up of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) representing the Australian Government, ASC as the lead shipbuilder and Raytheon Australia as the mission systems integrator.

 

The AWDs are being built for Australia’s specific defence needs and will provide a significant increase in Australia’s defence capabilities.

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 17:35

USS Freedom Arrives in Singapore

The littoral combat ship USS Freedom - photo U.S. Embassy Singapore

The littoral combat ship USS Freedom - photo U.S. Embassy Singapore

Apr. 18, 2013 - By Christopher P. Cavas – Defense News

USS Freedom, the U.S. Navy’s first littoral combat ship, arrived in Singapore on Thursday, just over six weeks after leaving San Diego for the type’s first major overseas deployment, the U.S. Navy announced.

“Freedom has met every milestone of this deployment on time and with the professionalism you would expect of U.S. Navy Sailors,” Cmdr. Timothy Wilke, commanding officer of the ship’s Gold Crew, said in a press release. “I’m proud of Freedom’s accomplishments to date, but I’m also looking forward to putting the ship through its paces over the next several months while deployed more than 8,000 miles from homeport.”

U.S. Navy officials said the ship arrived at Changi Naval Base around 11:00 a.m. (0300 GMT) in Singapore, a long-standing U.S. ally that is providing assistance supporting the Freedom’s deployment.

The Freedom’s arrival in Singapore is a major milestone in the development of the LCS, a new type of warship the Navy is counting on to execute several key missions, including anti-mine and anti-submarine warfare. For the planned 10-month mission to the southwest Pacific, the Freedom is equipped with a surface warfare module, including two 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boats, two 30mm remote-controlled gun mounts, and an MH-60R helicopter.

“We plan on spending most of our time here in Southeast Asia. This will be Freedom’s neighborhood for the next eight months,” Wilke said. “We are eager to get out and about, work with other regional navies and share best practices during exercises, port visits and maritime security operations.”

In May, the ship will take part in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference in Singapore. Operating with the U.S. Seventh Fleet over the spring and summer, the Freedom will take part in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) and Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercises with international partner navies. Both series of exercises have multiple phases.

The 378-foot-long, 3,300-ton Freedom is considerably smaller than the U.S. Navy’s next-larger surface combatants, 9,500-ton destroyers of the Arleigh Burke class. The U.S. has been looking forward to having the LCS operate with comparably-sized ships of other nations, which are far more typical of many navies in the western Pacific.

Midway through the deployment, the ship will conduct a crew swap, and the Blue Crew commanded by Cmdr. Patrick Thien will take over.

Commissioned in November 2008, the LCS has spent the past four years training, being modified and refitted. She left San Diego on March 1 and called at Guam and Manila, Philippines before reaching Singapore.

After the Freedom returns to San Diego early in 2014, the U.S. expects to base four more LCSs in Singapore.

U.S. officials have said another eight LCSs are to be based in Bahrain by 2020. All told, the Navy plans to buy 52 of the high-speed craft.

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 16:09

US military aid supports SAAF C-130s

US military aid supports SAAF C-130s

18 April 2013 by Guy Martin - defenceWeb

The military aid that South Africa receives from the United States every year largely goes towards supporting the Air Force’s fleet of nine C-130 Hercules aircraft.

According to an official from the US military’s Africa Command (Africom), most of the $750 000 per year of the US government’s Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant money is used to support Hercules aircraft, and includes things like buying spares and providing aircrew training. Aircrew use simulators in the United States to practice emergency procedures that would be too risky with real aircraft.

In 2010 and 2011 South Africa was scheduled to receive $800 000 in Foreign Military Financing, according to the US Department of State. Foreign Military Financing to South Africa topped out at around $1 million but now stands at around $750 000 per annum, according to the Africom official.

Other foreign military financing goes towards the South African Navy - money goes towards an adaptor on a submarine hatch collar, the official said.

In addition to Foreign Military Financing, the SAAF has also benefitted from excess defence articles, which are received at a fraction of the original cost. The SAAF took delivery of seven new C-130B Hercules in 1963, of which six remain in use. Three ex-US Navy C-130F aircraft were acquired in 1996, with a further two ex-US Air Force C-130Bs delivered in 1998, all under the United States Excess Defence Articles Programme. The F models were retired shortly after delivery, but the nine C-130Bs were upgraded and modernised between 1996 to 2009 to the C-130BZ configuration, incorporating a modern glass cockpit.

The South African Air Force has nine C-130s in its inventory, with an average of three flying at any one time and the rest undergoing maintenance and checks.

The US FMF programme provides grants and loans to assist foreign nations in purchasing US-made weapons, defence articles, services and military training. US Congress appropriates FMF funds in the International Affairs Budget, while the Department of State allocates the funds for eligible friends and allies, and the Department of Defence executes the programme.

The FMF programme in Africa has grown from $16 million in fiscal year 2008 to $45 million in fiscal year 2011. Approximately 18 nations receive grants through the FMF program. In FY2011, the largest benefitting country in the Africom area of responsibility was Tunisia with an allocation of $17 million, followed by Morocco with $9 million and Liberia with $7 million.

The countries within the AFRICOM area of responsibility that receive FMF include: Botswana, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda.

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 16:08

First French Fremm Frigate Working Up with US Navy

photo Marine Nationale

photo Marine Nationale

Apr 18, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: French navy; issued April 17, 2013)

(Issued in French only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)

As part of the process leading to its admission to active duty, the European multi-mission frigate Aquitaine, the lead ship of the FREMM class, which handed over to the French navy in November 2012 to the Navy, is performing an extended deployment from February 9 to 10 May 2013. This is the second phase of the "verification of military capabilities" (VCM) process.

This is an extended period at sea, at long distances from home waters, and with its full crew to test and evaluate the ship and its systems, and to ensure its crew have mastered its capabilities.

Thus, during the North American leg of its deployment, Aquitaine joined several U.S. Navy vessels off the coast of South Carolina to take part, from March 30 to April 4, 2013 in the training exercise "Independent Deployer."

This exercise has helped to highlight the versatility of Aquitaine.

Opposed to a group of vessels and aircraft of the U.S. Navy, the FREMM and its Caïman helicopter accompanied several American ships and were able to detect, track and engage fictitious coalition enemies.

The interoperability of tactical data links enabled the Aquitaine, as well as the other ships, to share with the entire force data and information collected by its own sensors, which is indispensable for effective joint operations. Thanks to secure "chats," the operations center crew kept in permanent contact with the task force command and with allied vessels, and perfectly assumed their role within the task force.

The Caïman naval helicopter (NFR90) proved especially valuable. Its long range and state-of-the-art surface search radar effectively multiplied Aquitaine’s detection ranges, and formed a particularly effective and promising addition to France’s naval forces.

After several days of a full and varied workout, the FREMM demonstrated that it had earned its place in a combined force. Its valuable technical capabilities, combined with those of her Caïman helicopter and the expertise of its sailors, allowed the ship to fully meet the challenge of her first Allied exercise.

For Captain Benoit Rouvière, commander of the Aquitaine, "This confrontation is essential: it should provide a clear measure of the state of maturity of the combat system and, more generally, confirms the ability of the most modern ship in the French fleet to take its place in a demanding environment. The result exceeded my expectations.”

FREMM Technical Characteristics

- total length: 142.2 meters

- beam: 19.7 meters

- displacement: 6,040 tonnes

- maximum speed: 27 knots

- Crew: 108 officers and ratings

- 4 x 324mm torpedo tubes (MU90 torpedoes)

- 1 x 76mm gun turret

- 2 x 20mm automatic cannons

- 4 x 12.7mm machine guns

- 8 MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles

- 1 x SAAM surface-to-air and anti-missile system (Aster 15 missiles)

- MDCN naval cruise missiles.

photo Marine Nationale

photo Marine Nationale

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 13:29

RP Defense- defence industry review is out! Edition of 18 April 2013

RP Defense- defence industry review

RP Defense- defence industry review, by RP Defense: updated automatically with a curated selection of articles, blog posts, videos and photos.

http://fb.me/2ggEV4KMK

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 12:37

US budget cut grounds joint air combat exercise

US budget cut grounds joint air combat exercise - Indian Express

A showcase air combat exercise of the Indian Air Force with some of the best fighters in the world, scheduled to be held in July, has been called off after a series of budget cuts by Washington have affected the US military training programme.

http://fb.me/2CrZSyxmn

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 12:15

Raytheon: No US block on Patriot sales to Turkey

BUSINESS - Raytheon: No US block on Patriot sales to Turkey

BUSINESS - Raytheon: No US block on Patriot sales to Turkey

Burak Bekdil ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News Looking to sweeten the pot before a multibillion dollar tender, Raytheon says there would be no US block on a defense transfer to Turkey if it wins the bid A senior executive at U.S. defense company Raytheon has ruled out the possibility of a U.S.

http://fb.me/Pd55qhtr

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 12:09

Boeing to supply AH-64E Apache helicopters to South Korea

Boeing to supply AH-64E Apache helicopters to South Korea - Army Technology

Boeing to supply AH-64E Apache helicopters to South Korea - Army Technology

18 April 2013 Boeing has been awarded a multi-billion dollar contract for the supply of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army, the country's Defense Acquisition Procurement Administration (DAPA) has announced.

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 12:04

Colombia to expand S-70i fleet with new order

Colombia to expand S-70i fleet with new order

Colombia to expand S-70i fleet with new order

Colombia's army is to expand its fleet of five Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk utility helicopters, with a further two of the Polish-built aircraft to be delivered...

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 12:03

UK - Follow-On Support for Tomahawk Weapon System

UK - Follow-On Support for Tomahawk Weapon System

UK - Follow-On Support for Tomahawk Weapon System

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress April 16 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Kingdom for follow-on support for the Tomahawk Weapon System (TWS) and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $170 million.

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 12:02

NATO - C-17 Follow-On Support

NATO - C-17 Follow-On Support

NATO - C-17 Follow-On Support

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress April 16 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to a NATO consortium for follow-on contractor logistics support for NATO Airlift Management Program C-17 aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $300 million.

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 11:57

Israel - JP-8 Aviation Fuel, Diesel Fuel, and Unleaded Gasoline

Israel - JP-8 Aviation Fuel, Diesel Fuel, and Unleaded Gasoline

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress April 16 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel for 864,000,000 gallons of petroleum based products for an estimated cost of $2.67 billion. The Government of Israel has requested a possible sale of 864,000,000 gallons of petroleum based products consisting of JP-8 aviation fuel, diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline.

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 11:49

Scan Eagle At Sea

Scan Eagle At Sea

Scan Eagle At Sea

Posted 4/17/2013 GULF OF ADEN (April 15, 2013) Civilian contractors from Insitu, Inc., launch an unmanned aerial vehicle from the flight deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17). Scan Eagle is a runway independent, long-endurance, unmanned aerial vehicle system designed to provide multiple surveillance, reconnaissance, and battlefield damage assessment missions.

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 11:29

USS Freedom Arrives in Singapore

Pacific Sentinel: USA: USS Freedom Arrives in Singapore

Pacific Sentinel: USA: USS Freedom Arrives in Singapore

From Logistics Group Western Pacific Public Affairs << Sailors observe the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) as it arrives in Singapore, April 18, during an eight-month deployment to Southeast Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Jay C.

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 00:39

Oshkosh Defense Delivers 15,000th FMTV Truck

News : Oshkosh Defense

Oshkosh FMTV program sets records for quality and vehicle delivery speed OSH KOSH, Wis. (April 17, 2013) - Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has delivered the 15,000th Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles ( FMTV) truck to the U.S. Army and National Guard - setting quality and delivery records for the program.

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18 avril 2013 4 18 /04 /avril /2013 00:01

U.S. House Panel Chair Looks To A ‘Seapower’ Decade

U.S. House Panel Chair Looks To A 'Seapower' Decade

With the Congressional budget season swinging fully into gear, one key lawmaker is zeroing in on a shift from providing a land-oriented defense posture to one relying more on seapower. "We're tying to change the debate on how to do this," Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., said in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon.

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17 avril 2013 3 17 /04 /avril /2013 23:35

Darpa Finally Shrinks Massive Thermal Cameras Into Handheld Devices

Darpa's Tiny Infrared Cameras Let Individual Soldiers See In The Dark | Danger Room | Wired.com

Darpa's Tiny Infrared Cameras Let Individual Soldiers See In The Dark | Danger Room | Wired.com

If the U.S. military wants to spot an enemy creeping up at night using only his body heat, it relies on bulky thermal cameras that need to be lugged around in tanks, planes and helicopters. Only now the Pentagon's far-out researchers think they've developed infrared cameras and targeting systems small enough to fit in a soldier's hand.

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17 avril 2013 3 17 /04 /avril /2013 23:29

Software Integration Remains One of the F-35 Highest Risks - GAO

Software Integration Remains One of the F-35 Highest Risks - GAO | Defense Update - Military Technology & Defense News

Software Integration Remains One of the F-35 Highest Risks - GAO | Defense Update - Military Technology & Defense News

Last month we published a review of a preliminary report prepared by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) about the F-35 program. The report revisited four of the 10 key management objectives mentioned previously, indicating seven were met or made substantial progress. However, two objectives on aircraft deliveries and a corrective management plan were not met.

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