source opex360.com

25.08.2011 french.peopledaily.com.cn Source: xinhua

Des missiles très développés destinés aux avions de chasse F16 commandés par le Maroc au constructeur aéronautique américain Lockheed Martin pour 2,5 milliards de dollars, devraient être bientôt livrés aux Forces Armées Royales (FAR), selon un rapport américain cité mercredi par des médias marocains.

Le Maroc devrait recevoir également un important arsenal pour l'armement des F16, dont les quatre premiers sont arrivés début août à la base militaire de Benguerir à 50 km au nord de Marrakech (318 km au sud de Rabat).

Cette transaction comprendrait aussi des équipements pour les entraînements et d'autres destinés à l'entretien et aux expérimentations. La commande engloberait également des publications et des données techniques, dont l'objectif serait d' actualiser les techniques de combat des Forces Armées Royales (FAR) .

L'agence de coopération américaine en matière de défense et de sécurité, avait d'ailleurs adressé une correspondance au congrès américain, l'informant du détail de cette transaction qui comprend notamment vingt missiles air-air, de marque Sidewinder et des missiles d'entraînement de marque Captive Air, ainsi que d'autres équipements militaires, indique la même source.

24/08/2011 LeFigaro.fr -  AFP

L'état-major des armées a évalué à "quelques dizaines" le nombre de conseillers militaires français qui assurent en Libye "la liaison" avec le Conseil national de transition (CNT), qui représente les insurgés.

"Il n'y a pas d'intervention française au sol. Nous avons des équipes de conseillers militaires placées auprès de l'envoyé spécial de l'ONU qui assurent la liaison pour les affaires militaires avec le CNT", a indiqué le porte-parole de l'état-major, le colonel Thierry Burkhard.

Peu auparavant, Nicolas Sarkozy avait lui aussi assuré qu'il n'y avait "pas de forces spéciales françaises au sol", à l'issue d'un entretien à l'Elysée avec le numéro 2 de la rébellion libyenne, Mahmoud Jibril.

Mardi, le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Alain Juppé, avait fait état "de quelques instructeurs qui ont permis d'encadrer et de former les troupes du CNT".

L'état-major souligne qu'il ne s'agit pas d'une force combattante. "A trente, ils peuvent juste assurer leur protection", fait-on valoir de source militaire.

"Ils sont placés là où ils peuvent assurer le mieux possible la liaison avec le CNT", a indiqué le porte-parole, sans plus de précision. Selon la même source, les opérations de l'Otan en Libye vont continuer dans les zones encore tenues par les forces pro-Kadhafi, au moment où les rebelles s'emparent de Tripoli.

Le porte-parole a précisé qu'un drone Harfang des forces françaises a été utilisé pour la première fois en Libye mercredi, au dessus de Tripoli. "Nous sommes dans une phase où il est de plus en plus important d'avoir des capacités de renseignement renforcées", en raison notamment de l'imbrication des forces combattantes en zone urbaine, a-t-il souligné.

24 Aug 2011 By GERARD O'DWYER DefenseNews

HELSINKI - Sweden is prepared to send an air-supported ground troop contingent to Libya, independently or as part of a joint Nordic force, to help guarantee the country's long-term security in the post-Gadhafi era, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said.

Reinfeldt said his government is open to discussing the size of the force, while the Swedish government is in contact with the other Nordic states to appraise their intentions.

"The important immediate issue for Libya is to establish civilian rule that can take the country in a democratic direction," Reinfeldt said. "We will consider requests made on us for troops and cooperation with other countries."

Sweden, along with the NATO-aligned Nordic nations of Denmark and Norway, contributed fighter jet squadrons and support crews as part of NATO's Unified Protector no-fly zone operation launched in March.

Only Finland among the Nordic countries did not contribute a fighter squadron, although the country has informed the U.N. and NATO that it is ready to discuss sending ground troops and civilian crisis-management units to Libya, said Erkki Tuomioja, Finland's foreign minister.

Tuomioja said it was too early at this stage to talk about when such a deployment would take place, or if it would be a Finnish or a joint Nordic force.

"Finland is prepared to contribute to a U.N.-led operation," Tuomioja said. "Obtaining U.N. authorization for such an operation will be a key matter, and at this juncture, I do not consider a NATO-led operation in Libya to be likely. We may also see a European Union-led initiative, both from a military and civilian crisis management context."

For military contributions to the U.N. or NATO to take place, Nordic governments, unlike the U.S., Britain and France, must first recognize the Transitional National Council, Libya's rebel government, as the country's legitimate representative.

Denmark will discuss Libya's post Gadhafi security needs, Foreign Minister Lene Espersen said.

"The issue of troops and security is for later," he said. "What is vital is that the United Nations Security Council, NATO and the Libya Contact Group meet to guarantee international support for reconciliation."

24.08.2011 par P. CHAPLEAU Lignes de Défense

Les pirates somaliens sont-ils en train de mettre en place une nouvelle tactique de chasse? Deux récents incidents au large des côtes de l'Erythrée, tendent à le laisser craindre.

Le 7 août, une douzaine de skiffs, avec de 5 à 8 hommes à bord de chaque embarcation, ont tenté de capturer un vraquier en mer Rouge. En dépit des tirs d'avertissement de l'équipe de protection embarquée (EPE) , ils se sont approchés à 300 m du navire. Le capitaine a alors donné l'autorisation d'effectuer des tirs préventifs. Tirs auxquels les pirates ont riposté. Après une fusillade de 30 mn et plusieurs tentatives de deux skiffs pour aborder le navire, l'attaque a cessé.

Le 17 août, à 22 nautiques du port d'Assab, un groupe de 7 skiffs avec à bord un total d'une vingtaine d'hommes en armes a tenté d'attaquer un autre vraquier. Celui-ci n'était pas protégé par une EPE; le capitaine a réussi, en augmentant la vitesse et en zigzaguant, à éviter que les pirates ne montent à bord.

Les deux attaques ont eu lieu à quelque 25 km de distance, ce qui peut laisser penser qu'un groupe local a décidé d'innover et de chasser en meute. Une tactique qui pour l'instant ne s'avère pas payante.

Depuis le début de l'année, selon l'International Maritime Bureau, 22 navires ont été capturés au large de la Somalie et du Yemen.

Royal Air Force Typhoon and Tornado GR4 aircraft at Gioia del Colle air base in southern Italy

Picture: Senior Aircraftwoman Sally Raimondo, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011

August 23, 2011 UK MoD – defpro.com

As street fighting continues in Tripoli between Free Libya Forces and members of Colonel Gaddafi's former regime, British and NATO military aircraft are maintaining a presence in the air.

In the lead up to Free Libya Forces entering Tripoli this weekend the RAF continued to strike at key Colonel Gaddafi targets within the city as part of NATO's Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR.

On Sunday morning RAF Tornado and Typhoon aircraft mounted a precision strike before dawn on the military intelligence operations room in Tripoli, close to the Baroni intelligence facility which the RAF had successfully bombed 24 hours previously.

Nine Paveway guided bombs were delivered with great accuracy to the target.

Later in the day, an armed reconnaissance patrol identified and destroyed one of Gaddafi's main battle tanks positioned on the outskirts of the city.

At sea, HMS Liverpool was conducting surveillance off Tripoli when she sighted a small Maltese-registered vessel which had been damaged by hostile fire while leaving Tripoli port, apparently with evacuees embarked.

The vessel was under way but her manoeuvrability was impaired. HMS Liverpool passed a line to the vessel and towed her to open water where she was able to proceed safely. Liverpool alerted the Maltese authorities to the vessel's condition, and was then able to return to her duties off the coast.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, RAF Tornado GR4s conducted a precision strike on a key communications facility in south west Tripoli, used by the former regime intelligence organisations headed by Abdullah Senussi, concealed in a building known as the Baroni Centre.

Major General Nick Pope, the Chief of the Defence Staff's Communications Officer, said: "As ever, with a target in the heart of the city, extreme care was taken in planning the mission to ensure any risk of civilian casualties was avoided.

"Five precision-guided Paveway bombs made direct hits on the building.

"Heading south from Tripoli, the RAF aircraft then detected one of Gaddafi's main battle tanks on the outskirts of the city and destroyed it with a further Paveway weapon."

During the course of Saturday afternoon, an RAF patrol successfully engaged an artillery piece on the western edge of Tripoli, and attacked a nearby command and control facility.

Around midnight, Tornado and Typhoon aircraft destroyed another command and control facility, located in south west Tripoli, then proceeded east to Sirte, 240 miles (386km) away, to destroy a third such installation.

In the early hours of Friday morning, three formations of RAF aircraft mounted a co-ordinated strike on a group of warehouses at the site of the Central Organisation for Electronic Research (COER) in Tripoli.

The main buildings of the COER, a long-standing cover organisation for Libyan intelligence activities, including the development of weapons of mass destruction prior to 2003, were destroyed by an RAF attack on 24 July.

However, NATO surveillance demonstrated that the adjoining warehouses remained in use as an intelligence command and control node. One main battle tank, spotted by our aircraft in the vicinity of Tripoli, was also targeted successfully.

On Friday evening, two more formations of RAF Tornado and Typhoon aircraft returned to Tripoli. Their target was the main operations room for the Ministry of Interior's security forces, which NATO intelligence had identified as located in a compound in the Abu Salim district. Eight Paveway guided bombs scored direct hits.

On Thursday morning, RAF patrols successfully attacked two staging areas used by Gaddafi's forces at Zlitan, as well as a mobile radar system positioned nearby at Al Khums.

In the course of the afternoon, further armed reconnaissance patrols conducted precision strikes on a total of three locations in and around Az Zawiyah.

Fleet Air Arm Sea Kings from HMS Ocean, equipped with the very capable Searchwater radar, supplemented NATO's fixed wing surveillance capabilities.

Major General Pope added: "The strike missions flown by the RAF and other allied fast jets were only made possible by the large fleet of combat support aircraft mustered by NATO, including Royal Air Force VC10 and TriStar tankers, plus Sentry, Sentinel and Fleet Air Arm Sea King surveillance platforms."

Since the start of military operations on 19 March, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps strikes have damaged or destroyed over 890 former regime targets which posed a threat to the Libyan people, ranging from secret police and intelligence headquarters to several hundred tanks, artillery pieces and armed vehicles.

UK missions over Libya are undertaken as part of NATO's Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 and protect Libyan civilians at risk of attack.

UK forces currently deployed on this operation include:

• RAF Tornado and Typhoon aircraft based at Gioia del Colle in Italy

• RAF VC10 and TriStar air-to-air refuelling tankers based in Sicily and the UK

• RAF Sentry and Sentinel surveillance aircraft based in Sicily and Cyprus

• HMS Ocean (helicopter carrier)

• HMS Liverpool (Type 42 destroyer)

• HMS Bangor (Sandown Class minehunter)

• Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Fort Rosalie

• British Army Apache attack helicopters

• Fleet Air Arm Sea King helicopters (Airborne Surveillance and Area Control role)

• RAF air transport aircraft providing extensive logistic support to the deployed bases in Italy, Sicily and the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus.

23 August 2011 by defenceWeb

Denel Integrated System Solutions (DISS), a business unit of the state arsenal, has been awarded a R9 866 184.24 contract to provide “industry support during preparation and execution of operational test and evaluation (OTE) up to the establishment of the interim operating baseline” for the first phase of the long-running ground-based air-defence system (GBADS) project that last month successfully completed its Level 5 System Factory Acceptance Test (FAT).

DISS, the Project Guardian prime contractor, said in a statement the tests were conducted at Mobile Deployment Wing and Swartkop Airfield over a four week period with support from both the South African Air Force and the Army. The tests were completed July 21.

The South African Army recently also awarded the DPSS unit of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) a R227 552 extension of a R4.493 million June 2009 contract for staff support “during the project study for Project Fellowship which addresses the integration, command, control and sensor needs for the GBADS.

The equipment is currently being prepared for the final training of the crews in Kimberley and then on to the Operation Test & Evaluation (OT&E) at Combat Training Centre in Lohatla from next month after which the system will be delivered into service.

SA ordered two 20km-range Thales Page continuous-wave (CW) low-observable battery air defence local warning radars, eight Lightweight Multiple Launchers (LML) as well as about 100 VSHORAD (very short range air defence) high-velocity missiles in December 2002. The entire system can be parachute dropped. Denel credits the VSHORAD missiles with a range of 5km (Thales says 7km). At the time (2002) state arms acquisition agency Armscor in a statement said the cost was R796 700 389 and deliveries would be complete in 36 months. It was reported in October 2007 that Starstreak missiles cost about R1 million each and that GBADS Phase I had by then cost R801 million. defenceWeb has not been able to verify the figure. Since then a further R77 271 614 has been spent according to the Armscor Bulletin System.

104 Battery of 10 ADA Regiment fired an undisclosed number of Starstreak at a firing camp at the Overberg Test Range near Cape Town last year November to allow its operators to develop experience in firing live missiles. The missiles were fired against the indigenously manufactured BAE Systems Land Systems Dynamics Locats (low-cost aerial target system) aerial targets. Thales Defence Systems, which supported the exercise, says in a media statement the ADA “took the opportunity to conduct day and night firings, introducing their new Starstreak thermal imager to provide a full 24-hour air defence capability.

“The success of the camp, underlined by an unprecedented number of target kills, is even more impressive given that the Locats targets destroyed were totally un-enhanced, proving Starstreak’s capability against unmanned air vehicle targets,” the statement added. Locats has a maximum speed of 310 km/hr, a wingspan of 3.2m and length of 2.9m.

Starstreak was designed to counter low-flying high-performance aircraft and helicopters. It employs semi-automatic command line of sight guidance consisting of a stabilised tracking system and an automatic guidance system. While the operator tracks the target using the stabilised tracking system, a laser beam for missile guidance is transmitted along the target sight line. The system compensates for crosswinds and low-level targets and a lead-angle is automatically generated to launch the missile ahead of crossing targets.

In its simplest form, Starburst is a man-portable, shoulder-launched system consisting of an aiming unit and a missile. The missile is contained in a canister that acts as a recoilless launcher when firing takes place. The aiming unit is clipped on to the canister and together they provide the firing and guidance control for the missile. At the end of the engagement, the aiming unit is quickly detached, the used canister discarded and a new canister fitted for the next engagement. The system can be operated by a single person. However, a second person reduces reaction time.

Armscor in March 2007 told Parliament that when finally delivered at the end of November 2009, the project would be 54 months over deadline. Armscor told MPs the project was extensively delayed by problems with subcontracts with local suppliers, by challenges in translating systems specifications and by design shortcomings affecting the thermal imager, radar power supply and radio interface module. As a result, Denel was to pay a R80 million penalty.

Noteworthy is that the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms records SA imported 96 Starstreak missiles in 2005. There are no previous or subsequent references to the Northern Irish-made VSHORAD.

In May 2008 Denel Dynamics CE Jan Wessels said about 30 companies were involved with the project. “The missile and radar are European and the software was written by five companies, some in SA,” says Wessels. “Our job [as prime contractor and systems integrator] is to put it all together to make it work.” (At the time DISS was still part of Denel Dynamics.) Wessels added the delays and problems encountered have made the project one “where you have to grind your teeth”. “There are 32 entities that must deliver. We'll just have to take the pain until they all do so satisfactorily. Although there is a lot of contractual baggage, we are quite chuffed about progress with the programme.”

Provisioning of industry support during preparation and execution of operational test and evaluation up to the establishment of the interim operating baseline

EBEB/2011/78 18 Aug 2011 R9 866 184,24 Denel Integrated System Solutions

Staff support during the project study for project fellowship which addresses the integration, command, control and sensor needs for the Ground Based Air Defence - extension of EBEB/2008/425

BEB/S2011/2470 4 Aug 2011 R227 552,00 CSIR t/a DPSS

Industry support for the local warning segment of the Ground Based Air Defence Systems for the operational test and evaluation and products system commisionning phase - extension of EBEB/2001/421

BEB/S2010/2388 29 Jul 2010 R349 202,48 Denel t/a Denel Dynamics

BEB/S2009/2321 29 Oct 2009 R4 970 000,00 Denel t/a Denel Aerospace Systems

BEB/S2009/2317 29 Oct 2009 R4 945 391,16 Denel t/a Denel Dynamics

BEB/S2009/2307 3 Sep 2009 R4 942 400,64 Denel t/a Denel Dynamics

BEB/S2009/2300 6 Aug 2009 R1 113 636,00 Denel t/a Denel Aerospace Systems

BEB/S2008/2220 2 Oct 2008 R1 035 496,02 Denel t/a Denel Aerospace Systems

BEB/S2008/2213 4 Sep 2008 R533 520,00 Denel t/a Denel Aerospace Systems

BEB/S20082192 12 Jun 2008 R96 672,88 Denel t/a Denel Aerospace Systems

BEB/S2007/2140 1 Nov 2007 R1 828 530,70 Denel t/a Denel Aerospace Systems

Supply of Starstreak missiles

EBEB/2009/459 10 Mar 2010 R34 216 705,88 Thales Air Defence Limited

Staff support during the Project study for the integration, command and control and sensor needs for Ground Based Air Defence System

EBEB/2008/425 12 Jun 2009 R4 493 000,00 CSIR t/a DPSS

Evaluation of new generation digital radios performance as Air Defence Control network provider for the mobile Air Defence System

EBEB/2008/218 26 Mar 2009 R8 482 410,00 Denel t/a Denel Aerospace Group

Staff support for local warning segment - extension of EBEB/2003/461

BEB/S2007/2118 16 Aug 2007 R170 912,00 Armscor Defence Institutes (Pty) Ltd

t/a Defence Decision Support Institute

source worlddefencenews.blogspot.com

23/08/2011 LeFigaro.fr AFP

Les forces loyales à Mouammar Kadhafi ont tiré hier un missile Scud depuis les environs de Syrte, bastion du régime et ville d'origine du dirigeant libyen, en direction de Misrata contrôlée par les rebelles, indique aujourd'hui l'Otan, en dénonçant un acte "irresponsable".

Dans un premier temps, la porte-parole de l'Otan, interrogée par l'AFP, avait fait état du tir de trois missiles. Mais l'Alliance atlantique a ensuite revu à la baisse ce chiffre. "De premières informations indiquaient que 3 missiles de type Scud pouvaient avoir été lancés, mais une analyse complémentaire n'en a confirmé ultérieurement qu'un", a indiqué un responsable de l'Otan, parlant sous couvert de l'anonymat.

Selon la porte-parole de l'Otan, Oana Lungescu, le missile a touché la région côtière de Misrata, "très probablement en mer ou sur la côte". "Nous n'avons pas connaissance de dégâts ou de victimes" causés par ces tirs, a souligné la porte-parole, mais l'usage de tels missiles "est complètement irresponsable". "Il s'agit d'armes de terreur" qui "représentent une menace pour les civils", a-t-elle dit.

Les rebelles libyens tiennent depuis la mi-mai le port de Misrata, situé à 200 km à l'est de la capitale Tripoli, après avoir repoussé une vaste offensive des pro-Kadhafi et subi deux mois de siège. Certains de ces insurgés, venus par la mer, ont infiltré la capitale et participent aux combats qui s'y déroulent actuellement, selon la rébellion. Déjà le 15 août, les Etats-Unis avaient affirmé que les forces pro-Khadafi avaient lancé un missile Scud sur des positions rebelles depuis Syrte, qui reste sous le contrôle des partisans du "guide" libyen Mouammar Kadhafi. Il s'était écrasé dans le désert sans faire de victime, alors que selon un responsable américain il visait Brega, une ville située à 240 km au sud-ouest de Benghazi (est).

L'Otan a estimé hier que "les forces pro-Kadhafi ont été affaiblies de manière significative" par l'intervention de l'Alliance atlantique dans les airs depuis cinq mois en Libye et par les offensives des insurgés. "Mais elles représentent encore un danger", a souligné Oana Lungescu, alors que la confusion règne à Tripoli sur l'ampleur de l'avancée des rebelles dans la capitale libyenne.

22 August 2011 defenseWeb

South Africa has distanced itself from reports that it has sent planes to Libya to allow the embattled Colonel Moammar Gaddafi to leave that country. “The South African government would like to refute and dispel the rumours and claims that it has sent planes to Libya to fly Colonel Gaddafi and his family to an undisclosed location,” Minister of International Relations Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told reporters.

She did confirm today, however, that a charter aircraft was on stand-by in Tunisia to rescue South Africans and embassy staff trapped in the conflict-riddled Libya, the state BuaNews agency reports. This contrasts with media reports that SA evacuated  ambassador Mohammed Dangor and other embassy staff from Tripoli last week Thursday. Dangor told al Jazeera he left Tripoli on a World Food Programme jet before making his way to Tunis, Dubai and finally Johannesburg.

Media reports have quoted a rebel spokesman as saying the rebels now control over 95% of Tripoli, including the Libyan state radio building. Gaddafi's two sons have also reportedly been arrested, with his eldest son Mohammed Al-Gaddafi apparently surrendering to rebel forces. But Gaddafi, who had remained defiant, earlier had made two audio addresses over state television calling on Libyans to fight off the rebels. The unfolding situation in that country could bring an end to Gaddafi’s rule of more than 40 years. South Africa says it will support the will of the people of Libya. “With the imminent fall of the government of Colonel Gaddafi, we wish to urge the interim authority in Tripoli to immediately institute an all-inclusive inter-Libyan political dialogue aimed at building a truly representative and people-centred dispensation,” said a statement issued by the Department of International Relations and Co-operation on Monday.

The statement also made it clear that Pretoria had no knowledge of Gaddafi’s whereabouts, with Nkoana-Mashabane saying officials in South Africa were also “sure that he will not be coming here.” If he did, government would be forced to arrest him in terms of the International Criminal Court Act of 2002. Gaddafi is currently wanted by the ICC in The Hague for war crimes and other offences.

Government said the political and socio-economic transformation of Libya “held real prospects of ushering in a new era based on the will of people in which Libya should take its rightful place in the community of nations. As Libya turns a new leaf in its history, the transitional government has the immediate responsibility of building national unity and reconciliation, restoring public order, reconstruction and reviving the economy.” President Jacob Zuma is part of the African Union special mission to end the conflict in Libya and has visited that country twice.

Nkoana-Mashabane reiterated South Africa’s position that the way forward for the oil rich country would be the drafting of the new constitution, an event that would hopefully be followed by a referendum and the holding of democratic elections. “All along we have steadfastly maintained that the future of Libya should be decided by the Libyans themselves. This is what the AU (African Union) roadmap is all about. An inclusive durable political solution to the Libyan crisis on the basis of the will of the Libyan people. In this regard the AU High Level Committee will convene this coming Thursday, August 25 to review the current situation in Libya. The AU Peace and Security Council will meet the next day...”

22 Août 2011 par Jean-Dominique Merchet

Premières leçons d'une guerre en train de s'achever

Même si Kadhafi n'est pas encore tombé, les insurgés sont en train de remporter la partie, six mois après le premier soulèvement (17 fevrier) et cinq mois après le début des frappes aériennes (19 mars).

 Au final, la stratégie politico-militaire a bien fonctionné, même si les choses ont duré nettement plus longtemlps que prévu. On se souvient d'Alain Juppé parlant de "quelques semaines". Les semaines se sont transformées en mois, mais le résultat final est là. Sauf pour les prophètes de mauvais augure (dont nous n'avons jamais fait partie), l'issue du conflit ne faisait aucun doute : le régime de Kadhafi finirait par tomber. Nous y sommes presque. Il y a lieu de s'en réjouir, même si l'avenir du pays reste incertain.

On peut déjà tirer quelques leçons militaires de cette affaire.

1) Sur la stratégie aérienne. Contrairement à ce qu'on a pu entendre, il n'a jamais été question pour personne - et surtout pas pour les aviateurs - de prétendre que cette guerre serait gagné uniquement par des bombardements. La stratégie a toujours marché sur deux pieds : en l'air et au sol. En l'air, c'était le domaine de l'Otan, au sol, celui des troupes insurgées. Si les forces alliées ont très vite répondu à l'appel, avec des frappes à longue distance (Saint-Dizier-Benghazi le samedi 19 mars), les troupes insurgées ont mis nettement plus longtemps à se constituer puis à passer à l'offensive. A noter que la maitrise du ciel s'est accompagné d'un contrôle de la mer, qui a permis de ravitailler Misrata librement et, vraisemblablement, d'infiltrer des combattants à Tripoli.

2) Les insurgés ont été aidés militairement par l'Otan et quelques pays arables (Qatar, Jordanie, Emirats...) Des armes ont été livrés par la France, grâce à des parachutages, dans le djebel Nefoussa avant que des avions (non-français) puissent s'y poser. Par ailleurs, des équipes de liaison (COS) ont été dépêchées dans l'est du pays (Cyrénaïque).

3) Cette stratégie (maitrise de l'air et de la mer, très faible présence au sol où l'affaire est confiée aux forces locales) s'avère particulièrement efficace dans le cas libyen, même si elle a mis du temps à produire ses effets. Or le temps est devenu un élément clé dans les actions militaires : au bout de quelques jours ou quelques semaines, les opinions s'impatientent et le spectre de "l'enlisement" surgit.

4) La stratégie aérienne a impliqué, pour la France, les trois armées (Air, Marine, Terre). C'est une grande réussite de l'interarmées. L'emploi des hélicoptères de l'armée de terre, décidé quasiment au premier jour, a un peu trainé (plus de six semaines) à cause de problèmes logistiques qu'un coup de gueule de l'état=major des armées a finalement réglé. Les systèmes permettant de replier les pâles ont été trouvés... Comme quoi, quand on veut, on peut.

5) Pour la France, cette guerre coutera sans doute de l'ordre de 200 millions d'euros. Pour une victoire, ce n'est pas cher payé. Jamais les munitions n'ont manquées, même si la question de reconstituer les stocks - et à quel niveau - va se poser rapidement.

6) Autre réussite spectaculaire : l'extrême précision des tirs et l'absence quasi totale en cinq mois de campagne aérienne de "bavures", comme dit la presse. Certes, il y a en eu quelques unes mais jamais dans l'histoire de l'aviation, une telle précision avait été atteinte. C'est à mettre au compte de la qualité des équipements et de celles des personnels.

7) La France avec la Grande-Bretagne (et quelques autres comme les Belges, les Canadiens, les Danois, etc) ont mené l'essentiel de l'effort militaire. Les Etats-Unis n'ont pas été leaders dans cette affaire, même s'ils ont fourni une aide précieuse et discrète. Un échec de la coalition aura sonné le glas de la puissance militaire en Europe. On en est heureusement pas là.

August 19, 2011 Johan Brolin Swedish Armed Forces - defpro.com

Although the number of airframes has been limited in accordance with Parliament's decision, the unit FL 02 (Flying operation Libya 02) continues to provide information to the higher staff of NATO with the same frequency as before. The unit's technicians FSC, Fighter Support Coy, must work hard in the heat.

“We soon realized that a precondition to keeping the aircraft fleet running was to introduce a shift system for staff. We are now working with one shift between the hours of 0700 and 1600 while the second shift starts at 1500 and continues until the work is done. It often adds up to 12 to 14 hours”, says Kent Stråhle, Head of the FSC.

The heat in Sicily is something that the staff has to deal with.

“There are few of us who are accustomed to working in this heat. Almost every day we have temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees on the tarmac”, continues Kent.

In an attempt to limit the effect of the heat on the staff there are air conditioned vehicles on the tarmac, which staff can jump into to cool off a bit during their shift.

“It is also important to drink plenty of fluids. We drink about 4-6-litres of water per day”, concludes Kent.

But it is not only the staff that is affected by the heat. The wear and tear on the equipment is also harder than normal. The tyres are the most affected by the heat as they wear out quickly on the hot track. The strain during take-off and landing considerably shortens the lifespan of the tyres.

“We bring spare parts and tools to change tyres and repair the wheels here on the base. It takes about three hours to dress a wheel and so far we have changed just over ten tyres,” says Cit Claesson.

19 August 2011 by Leon Engelbrecht defenceWeb

The South African National Defence Force has placed two orders with two Cape-based companies for rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) and associated equipment. TF Design (Pty) Ltd was contracted for the manufacture and supply of Zodiac hurricane 753 boat trailers and steel cradles and Cape Advanced Engineering (Pty) Ltd to “manufacture of Barracuda Mk1 boats for the SANDF.”

The value of the first deal is R629 000 and the second R2 260 583. The work follows a R5.294 million contract awarded in June – and a similar, R1 million contract in December last year – for the acquisition of a further, undisclosed, number of Zodiac Hurricane 753 air-deliverable RIBs for the Special Forces (SF).

The website of the state arms acquisition agency, Armscor, shows the Special Forces in November 2009 also placed an order worth R9 934 700 with the Parachute Industries of SA (PISA) for an unknown number of semi-rigid 7.53m Zodiac boats as part of an “ medium range air deliverable boat system.” The contract was placed on November 26. It followed an order, on October 8, 2009, for a number of same-sized inflatable boats, worth R333 740. It takes the value of RIB-related acquisitions to R20 861 841.31 since 2007.

The boats are to be launched from South African Air Force C130BZ Hercules transports using US-company Airborne Systems' Maritime Craft Aerial Delivery System (MCADS). Airborne Systems says MCADS is the only airdrop system for large RIBs certified for use with the C-130. In an operational scenario, an extractor parachute pulls the load from the aircraft. The boat and airdrop platform separate immediately after exit. The boat lands in the water ready for use and is generally followed by Special Forces parachutists who land near and board it for immediate operations. The platform can be prepared to float for recovery or to sink for covert operations.

MCADS was designed, developed and tested by Airborne Systems in response to US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) operational requirements and is now in use with a number of countries. The company adds that a successful airdrop of a new Zodiac 7.5m RIB for the South African SF last year September resulted in the purchase of a number of PURIBAD platforms, and associated spares.

Zodiac Hurricane first supplied high speed outboard powered assault RIBS in the 1994, a company bochure explains. The Zodiac Hurricane 753 OB FC is typically used by a two man crew to transport an eight person commando team in ship-to-shore, ship-to-ship and shore-to-ship assault missions. The deep Vee fibreglass hull and inflatable collar combined with jockey style seating; provides the seaworthiness, shock mitigation, stability, maneuverability and low signature required to operate reliably and effectively in a hostile maritime environment. The ruggedised hull and collar construction and highly responsive twin outboard motor propulsion system allows the Hurricane 753 to operate safely in heavy weather and alongside larger craft during ship boarding operations.

The boats will likely be delivered to the seaward-orientated 4 SF Regiment at Langebaan in the Western Cape. PISA is a Zodiac subsidiary.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Length overall – 8.05 meters (26.4 ft.)

• Beam overall – 2.74 meters (9.0 ft.)

• Beam (collar deflated) – 2.03 meters (6.7 ft.)

• Collar diameter - 0.56 meters (22 in.)

• Collar volume – 3633 liters (128 cu. Ft.)

• Fuel capacity – 503 liters (133 US gal.)

• Displacement (with full fuel) – 2100 kg. (4000 lbs.)

• Max Speed – 44 Knots with 1500 kg. payload, range 145 NM; Max HP 2 x 200 HP

FROM THE ARMSCOR BULLETIN SYSTEM:

Manufacture and supply of Zodiac hurricane 753 boat trailers and steel cradles

EMTM/2011/61 18 Aug 2011 R629 000,00 TF Design (Pty) Ltd

Manufacture of Barracuda Mk1 boats for the SANDF

EMTM/2010/539 18 Aug 2011 R2 260 583,00 Cape Advanced Engineering (Pty) Ltd

Supply and delivery of Zodiac Hurricane 753 air - deliverable boats and associated equipment.

EMTM/2010/541 30 Jun 2011 R5 294 602,00 Parachute Industries of SA (Pty) Ltd

Zodiac inflatable boats and accessories

ESCW/2010/260 27 Jan 2011 R243 026,71 Zodiac International

Supply and delivery of Zodiac Hurricane 753 air-deliverable boats and associated equipment

M/2010/327 2 Dec 2010 R1 048 020,00 Parachute Industries of SA (Pty) Ltd

Supply and delivery of medium range air deliverable boat systems

EMTM/2009/33 26 Nov 2009 R9 934 700,00 Parachute Industries of SA (Pty) Ltd

Zodiac inflatable boats

ESCW/2009/41 8 Oct 2009 R333 740,00 Parachute Industries of SA (Pty) Ltd

Parachute universal rigid inflatable boat aerial delivery sub-systems and components

ESDS/2007/210 21 Nov 2007 R562 432,00 Parachute Industries of SA (Pty) Ltd Lelebotse Projects & Engineering

Zodiac inflatable boats

ESCW/2007/269 1 Nov 2007 R555 737,60 Parachute Industries of SA (Pty) Ltd

MOSCOU, 18 août - RIA Novosti

L'Algérie souhaite que ses importations d'équipements militaires russes soient accompagnées d'un transfert des technologies, a annoncé jeudi aux journalistes Viktor Komardine, vice-PDG de l'Agence russe d'exportation d'armements Rosoboronexport.

"La partie algérienne plaide pour le transfert de nos technologies militaires. Ils veulent produire des pièces de rechange pour les équipements déjà fournis", a fait savoir M.Komardine au cours du salon aérospatial MAKS-2011 qui se déroule à Joukovski, ville proche de Moscou.

Selon le responsable de Rosoboronexport, la Russie et l'Algérie ont créé un groupe de travail qui comprend, entre autres, des représentants de sociétés industrielles des deux pays, et a pour but de suivre la réalisation des contrats signés.

Aug. 18, 2011 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: British Forces Broadcasting Service; issued Aug. 18, 2011)

The US military has sent two more armed Predator drones to the Libya conflict in response to requests from commanders seeking more intelligence-gathering capabilities.

Defence officials say it will give commanders more flexibility as well as the ability to have several unmanned aircraft in the air at one time to cover more ground.

President Barack Obama approved the use of armed drones in the Libya conflict in April. Since then, they have flown routine surveillance operations, but they can strike targets when needed.