20/11/2015 Armée de l'air

Le 11 novembre 2015 la Tunisie a accueilli l’exercice international de défense aérienne.

Pour cette édition 2015, la Tunisie a conduit l’exercice international de défense aérienne « Circaète » depuis la base aérienne « El Aouina » (Tunis). Cet exercice de sûreté aérienne de l’Initiative 5+5 de défense (voir encadré) a pour objectif de coordonner les actions contre une menace aérienne non militaire de type « Renegade » dans l’espace de la Méditerranée occidentale. Pour ce faire, les pays de l’initiative mènent des interceptions de l’avion classifié « Renegade » dans leurs espaces aériens respectifs ; les nations européennes, quant à elles, mettent en application leurs accords transfrontaliers.

Scénario

Un C130 tunisien a joué le rôle de plastron. Les patrouilles opérationnelles des différents pays survolés (Tunisie, Algérie, France, et Italie) se sont ainsi entraînées à son interception. Lors du survol de la France, la permanence opérationnelle de la base aérienne 115 d’Orange a fait décoller un Mirage 2000. Le chasseur français a été relevé par un Eurofighter italien au-dessus de l’Italie.

L’exercice « Circaète » a, une fois de plus, permis de conforter la confiance mutuelle entre les pays participants et de démontrer l’existence d’un réseau pérenne de surveillance et d’alerte avancée en Méditerranée.

L’initiative 5+5 de Défense késaco ?

L’initiative 5+5 de Défense, créée en 2004 par les ministres de la Défense de cinq pays du Maghreb (Algérie, Libye, Maroc, Mauritanie et Tunisie) et de cinq pays de l’Union européenne (Espagne, France, Italie, Malte et Portugal), vise à renforcer le dialogue, la sécurité et la stabilité en Méditerranée occidentale.

L’exercice « Circaète » est la concrétisation de cette initiative et met plus particulièrement en œuvre les coordinations et les procédures en matière de lutte contre une menace aérienne terroriste.

Quelques évolutions

Cet exercice multinational a été mis en place en 2007 sous le nom de « AIR 2007 ». Il porte aujourd’hui le nom de « Circaète ». Organisé pour la première fois par la France en 2007, il est reconduit annuellement par un des dix pays de l’initiative selon un calendrier prédéfini.

November 17, 2015: Strategy Page

The Russian intervention in Syria involves some 4,000 troops and about fifty warplanes and helicopters. The small size of this force exposes a sad fact of post-Cold War Russia; the military no longer has much in the way of combat capability and few post-Cold War weapons. Thus Russia has few smart bombs and is mostly relying on unguided bombs built in the 1980s, just before the Cold War ended in 1991. Through the 1990s some 80 percent of the huge Cold War Russian (Soviet) armed forces melted away. The Russian air force and navy are now less than ten percent of their Cold War strength and the army has fewer combat brigades than it did armies during the Cold War. But there is one important thing that Russia does have and that the Syrian armed forces desperately needs; support for maintaining and upgrading Syria’s largely Russian weapons and equipment. Russian maintenance and technical personnel are pouring into Syria, largely unnoticed, along with spare parts, upgrade kits and special maintenance equipment. Thousands of Syrian army weapons and vehicles that had become inoperable, or only partially functional are now being returned to usable condition. Russia is also sending in a lot of the new UAVs it has been building, apparently pulling a lot of them out of the Ukraine fighting, along with a lot of their world-class electronic warfare equipment. With new and repaired radios, more medical supplies and equipment as well as military field rations in abundance Syrian forces get daily reminders that things are looking up even if they are not in combat. This makes the Syrian forces more effective when fighting and is a big boost for Syrian morale in general.

Russia is using the experience in Syria to upgrade its own armed forces. The Russians have already found that they are not as good at keeping combat aircraft ready (the “readiness rate”) in a combat zone as Western air forces are. American military aircraft in the Middle East have a readiness rate of about 90 percent while the Russian rate is 70 percent. The Americans have a lot more experience, especially in the Middle East. The Russians are learning, especially from the Syrians who are showing them how to deal with the dust, sand and heat. Meanwhile Russia is hustling to build more satellite (GLONASS/ GPS) and laser guided bombs and missiles. Russia is now learning which of their smart bombs work best in combat and are modifying the designs even as they try to increase production. Russia never had a lot of these and now there is a need and it will take until the end of the year before new production will start to make a difference. Even then Russia will not be able to use smart (laser or GPS) guided bombs as often as Western and some Arab (oil rich Gulf States) air forces do. These countries tend to use such weapons in over 90 percent of their air strikes.

Russia was known to have had smart weapons since the 1970s, many of them based on American smart bombs (or fragments) captured in Vietnam. The problem was that Russia never built or used a lot of these weapons. For a long time Russia considered these special weapons for rare special occasions and there were few such occasions until now. Russia has known since the 1990s that these smart weapons can make a big difference but throughout the 1990s Russia had no money for new bombs of any kind.

Even in the United States it wasn’t until the 1991 Gulf war that the full impact of these weapons was noted. There only 16 percent of the 250,000 bombs dropped were guided. But analysis of the battlefield later revealed that the guided bombs had done 75 percent of the actual damage. This pattern kept repeating itself and by the late 1990s the U.S. was on its way to using nothing but smart bombs. Not so Russia. While new smart bombs were developed in Russia very few were built. Moreover few Russian warplanes were equipped to use smart bombs and few pilots had any experience with these weapons. So it should be no surprise that Russia is using few smart bombs in Syria. The simple fact is that Russia has few of these weapons and even fewer aircraft and pilots able to handle them.

Meanwhile China is building a lot more smart bombs and equipping more (than Russia) of its aircraft to use them. Since the 1990s China could afford to do so while Russia could not. Meanwhile China is still learning from Russia. In 2010 China introduced a new laser guided bomb; the LT-2. This weapon looked very similar to the Russian KAB-500L 1100 pound laser guided bomb. The KAB-500L in turn is very similar to the American Paveway series of laser guided bombs. That is, a dumb bomb has a guidance kit attached. In 1994 China introduced a laser guided bomb that appeared to be reverse engineered U.S. Paveway. These apparently did not perform very well, so China apparently used Russian smart bombs as a model.

November 18, 2015: Strategy Page

In early October something rare and strange happened in eastern Afghanistan; an American F-16 came back to base shot up by bullets fired from the ground. That rarely happens. The air force would not say what the circumstances of this incident were, meaning that the F-16 was probably coming in low to strafe targets that were threatening a commando operation. The enemy may have been so close to a small team of SEALs or Special Forces that it was too risky to use a smart bomb. But with current gunsight technology an F-16 pilot can come in low and hit a small target with the 20mm autocannon. In this case there were a lot of bad guys down there with machine-guns because many of them must have been firing on the F-16s. The pilot was forced to jettison two drop tanks, a missile and two bombs before returning to base. Normally F-16s stay high enough to avoid machine-gun fire but train to come low and strafe, just in case.

As the air force is planning to retire the A-10C ground attacks aircraft more attention is being paid to preparing some F-16 pilots to replace A-10s for low altitude work. The A-10 was designed for low level strafing, using a 30mm cannon, but F-16s, with a new, and more capable gun sight, have proved to be very effective at strafing. However, F-16s moves faster than the A-10, and it is more difficult to control on the deck. That's a necessary trade-off, because the F-16 is a multi-mission aircraft, while the A-10 just does ground support.

There are other dangers for F-16s that come in low. In 2006 an F-16 pilot was killed when, on a low level strafing run in Iraq, when he was momentarily distracted and his aircraft crashed. The U.S. Air Force considers it an acceptable risk to come in that low to use its 20mm cannon on a ground target. Because of safety concerns, pilots are not allowed to perform that kind of maneuver during peacetime training. Since it's now wartime, such training is allowed. That training can be risky in other ways. In 2008 an F-16 was practicing firing at ground targets at night (where much of the action takes place in Iraq), became momentarily distracted, and shot up an SUV on a nearby highway.

While F-16 pilots are willing to come in low and use their cannon, the F-16 was not designed for this sort of thing. The aircraft is too fast. An F-16 coming in low to use cannon on ground targets is going at least 400 kilometers an hour. The A-10 can slow down to 250 kilometers an hour. In addition, the A-10 is designed to more easily maneuver down low and slow, and is armored to better survive ground fire. Not so the F-16. But the air force insists the F-16 can do the job, and pilots die as a result.

What the F-16 can do is carry a dozen or more smart bombs, and in that role it is very useful to the ground troops. The newly upgraded A-10Cs can also carry smart bombs.

En 48 heures, la France a procédé à trois raids aériens qui ont permis de détruire "six objectifs d'importance contrôlés par Daech", selon le ministère de la Défense - photo EMA / Armée de l'Air

18/11/2015 Par Michel Cabirol – LaTribune.fr

En 48 heures, la France a procédé à trois raids aériens qui ont permis de détruire "six objectifs d'importance contrôlés par Daech", selon le ministère de la Défense.

C'est la réaction de la France à la suite des attaques terroristes de vendredi à Paris. En 48 heures, la France a procédé à trois raids aériens qui ont permis de détruire "six objectifs d'importance contrôlés par Daech", selon un communiqué publié mardi soir par le ministère de la Défense. Ces raids interviennent alors que la France a prévenu ce weekend qu'elle serait "impitoyable" dans la "guerre" contre Daech, qui a revendiqué les attentats sanglants ayant frappé Paris vendredi.

"Nous allons mener le combat, il sera impitoyable", avait déclaré vendredi soir François Hollande près du Bataclan, la salle de concert où 89 personnes ont été tuées. "Parce que quand des terroristes sont capables de faire de telles atrocités, ils doivent être certains qu'il y aura en face d'eux une France déterminée, une France unie, une France rassemblée et une France qui ne se laissera pas impressionner même si aujourd'hui elle exprime une émotion infinie."

Troisième frappe en 48 heures

En début de soirée à partir de 19h30 (heure française), l'armée de l'air française a de nouveau frappé Daech à Raqqah, le fief de l'organisation terroriste en Syrie située dans le nord de la Syrie à moins de 400 km de Damas. La force Chammal a successivement bombardé deux centres de commandement de Daech. Le raid était constitué de 10 avions de chasse (Rafale et Mirage 2000), qui ont été engagés à partir des Emirats arabes unis et de la Jordanie.

S'exprimant mardi soir sur TF1, le ministre français de la Défense, Jean-Yves Le Drian, a souligné que les secteurs de Raqqah mais aussi de Daïr az Zour, à 150 km au sud-est le long de l'Euphrate, constituaient les cibles principales de ces frappes. Il s'agit, a-t-il ajouté, des "sites principaux de la formation des combattants étrangers".

Des frappes aériennes avaient déjà touché Raqqah

Dimanche entre 19H50 et 20H25, la force Chammal avait déjà frappé des infrastructures opérationnelles tenues par Daech à Raqqah. Les deux objectifs visés par les frappes avaient été détruits. Le premier objectif détruit était utilisé par Daech comme poste de commandement, centre de recrutement djihadistes et dépôt d'armes et de munitions. Le deuxième objectif abritait un camp d'entraînement terroriste.

Ce premier raid était constitué de 12 aéronefs français, dont 10 avions de chasse, qui ont été engagés simultanément à partir des Emirats arabes unis et de la Jordanie. 20 bombes ont été délivrées. Il s'agissait d'un raid d'une ampleur sans précédent en raison du nombre d'appareils engagés, depuis le début des frappes françaises en Syrie fin septembre. Planifiée sur des sites préalablement identifiés lors des missions de reconnaissance réalisées par la France, cette opération a été conduite en coordination avec les forces américaines.

L'aviation française avait de nouveau bombardé Raqqah dans la nuit de lundi à mardi, détruisant un centre de commandement et un centre d'entraînement, selon le ministère français de la Défense. "L'armée française a conduit pour la seconde fois en l'espace de 24 heures un raid aérien contre Daech (acronyme de l'Etat Islamique en arabe) à Raqqah en Syrie", a indiqué le ministère dans un communiqué.

Les Russes ont bombardé Raqqah

Deux semaines après l'attentat contre un avion commercial qui a explosé au-dessus du Sinaï et qui a fait 224 morts, Moscou a procédé à d'intenses frappes contre Rakka. La Russie a lancé un "nombre significatif de frappes sur Raqqah", qui "pourraient" avoir impliqué des missiles tirés depuis des navires en mer et des bombardiers à long rayon d'action, a affirmé mardi un responsable américain sous couvert de l'anonymat. Les forces russes ont prévenu les États-Unis avant le lancement de ces frappes dans le cadre d'un accord pour assurer la sécurité des appareils des deux armées opérant au-dessus du territoire syrien.

De son côté, le commandement de l'armée américaine a annoncé de son côté que les avions de la coalition avaient aussi frappé la ville ces derniers jours. Pour organiser la riposte militaire, François Hollande rencontrera Barack Obama à Washington mardi prochain et Vladimir Poutine deux jours plus tard à Moscou, dans l'espoir d'une coalition unique visant à "détruire" l'Etat Iislamique (EI). Le président russe a ordonné à sa marine de "coopérer" avec la France.

33 morts parmi les djihadistes

Les frappes menées depuis trois jours par des chasseurs de l'armée française et d'autres nations ont fait au moins 33 morts dans les rangs de l'organisation Etat islamique (EI) à Raqqah, rapporte mercredi l'Observatoire syrien des droits de l'homme (OSDH). L'Observatoire, qui s'appuie sur un réseau de sources en Syrie, fait également mention du départ de djihadistes et de dizaines de membres des familles des cadres du mouvement vers Mossoul, la grande ville du nord de l'Irak que contrôle l'EI depuis juin 2014.

A l'instar de Mossoul pour l'Irak, la ville de Raqqah est devenue le quartier-général et le centre politique des opérations du groupe djihadiste en Syrie. Les combattants de l'EI et leurs familles représentent désormais une partie importante de la population.

17 novembre 2015 45eNord.ca (AFP)

Le gouvernement américain a autorisé la vente de bombes et de bombes guidées à l’armée de l’air saoudienne pour près d’1,3 milliard de dollars, a annoncé le département d’État lundi.

Le Congrès devrait donner son feu vert à cette vente, qui a lieu au moment où des avions de l’Arabie saoudite bombardent les rebelles houthis au Yémen.

En dépit des critiques sur ces frappes accusées de coûter la vie à de nombreux civils, les États-Unis soutiennent leur allié saoudien, également engagé dans la coalition anti-djihadiste menée par Washington en Irak et en Syrie, où sévit le groupe État islamique.

Interrogé sur cette vente à la monarchie du Golfe accusée par les groupes de défense des droits de l’homme de bombarder hors du cadre légal, le porte-parole de la diplomatie américaine a expliqué qu’il «ne peut pas y avoir de solution militaire au conflit» au Yémen.

«Nous appelons les Houthis à cesser de harceler et d’attaquer les citoyens et le territoire saoudiens et soutenons le processus de l’ONU, soit une résolution pacifique», s’est borné à dire Mark Toner.

L’arsenal saoudien est faible «en raison de la cadence soutenue des nombreuses opérations de contre-terrorisme» dans lesquelles est engagée l’armée de l’air, a de son côté souligné l’agence américaine de coopération militaire (DSCA).

La commande saoudienne comprend 12.000 bombes de 200 à 900 kg, 1.500 «bunker busters» qui peuvent pénétrer des cibles fortifiées ou souterraines et 6.300 bombes guidées de type Paveway II et Paveway III.

En plus de ces bombes, les Saoudiens doivent recevoir des équipements permettant de guider les bombes par satellite.

«La vente proposée accroît la capacité de l’Arabie saoudite à faire face aux menaces actuelles et futures», a souligné la DSCA, assurant que la livraison «encourageait la stabilité dans la région».

Fin octobre, le gouvernement américain avait aussi approuvé la vente de quatre navires de guerre dernier cri à l’Arabie saoudite pour 11 milliards de dollars.

Riyad veut moderniser sa flotte au moment où s’accroissent les tensions dans la région, où les navires saoudiens sont notamment confrontés aux bateaux iraniens dans le Golfe, à l’est du pays.

L’Arabie saoudite est actuellement à la tête d’une coalition militaire arabe qui bombarde, depuis mars, les positions des rebelles chiites houthis au Yémen.

Selon l’ONU, ce conflit a fait quelque 5000 morts, dont plus de la moitié des civils, depuis le début de cette intervention en soutien au gouvernement yéménite de Khaled Bahah, reconnu par la communauté internationale.

151117-saudi_arabia_15-57_0

16 novembre 2015 Romandie.com (AFP)

Beyrouth - La coalition antijihadistes conduite par les Etats-Unis a détruit 116 camions-citernes utilisés par le groupe Etat islamique (EI) dans l'est de la Syrie, a affirmé lundi le Pentagone.

Ces camions ont été détruits dimanche près de Boukamal, une localité tenue par l'EI à la frontière avec l'Irak, selon le communiqué.

L'EI contrôle la majorité des champs pétroliers de Syrie, notamment dans la province de Deir Ezzor. Selon une enquête publiée en octobre par le Financial Times, la contrebande de pétrole rapporte aux jihadistes 1,5 million de dollars par jour lorsque le prix moyen s'établit à 45 dollars le baril.

Selon le site du New York Times, deux avions F-15 ont lâché des tracts une heure avant l'attaque appelant les chauffeurs à quitter leur véhicule.

13.11.2015 Romandie.com (AWP)

Berlin (awp/afp) - L'Allemagne réclame à Airbus des dédommagements à hauteur de 13 millions d'euros pour compenser le retard dans la livraison de ses deux premiers avions de transport militaire A400M, affirme vendredi le site internet du magazine "Der Spiegel".

"Selon des informations de Spiegel Online, la secrétaire d'Etat à l'Armement Katrin Suder a négocié que l'armée allemande reçoive 13 millions d'euros comme compensation pour le retard de la livraison de deux A400M cette année", écrit le site internet.

Principal acheteur de l'appareil, l'Allemagne a commandé au total 53 A 400M, une commande ferme réduite en 2010 face aux retards et aux problèmes rencontrés par ce programme d'Airbus.

Pour l'heure, un seul appareil est en cours d'essai. "Au lieu de plusieurs, l'Armée de l'Air ne recevra encore cette année qu'un autre ou maximum deux autres A400M", affirme Spiegel Online.

L'Airbus A400M, dont les vols ont été un temps interrompus après le crash d'un appareil à Séville (Espagne), faisant quatre morts en mai, est un avion polyvalent, capable d'assurer le transport de troupes, parachutistes et matériel sur de longues distances et à grande vitesse tout en atterrissant sur des terrains sommaires.

Contacté par l'AFP, le ministère allemand de la Défense n'était pas joignable vendredi en début d'après-midi.

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle departs RAF Lakenheath to support Operation Inherent Resolve, Nov. 12, 2015. Aircraft from the 48th Fighter Wing deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, to conduct counter-ISIL missions in Iraq and Syria. This dual-role fighter jet is designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions in all weather conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Erin Trower)

November 12, 2015 EUCOM

STUTTGART, Germany — In a demonstration of our continued commitment to the fight against ISIL in Iraq and Syria, United States European Command directed the U.S. Air Force to deploy six F-15Es to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.  The F-15Es from the 48th Fighter Wing based at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, arrived today at approximately 3:50 p.m. Eastern European Time (EET).  These aircraft will conduct counter-ISIL missions in Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.  These F-15Es join six F-15Cs currently deployed to Incirlik AB, also from the 48th Fighter Wing.  The F-15Cs are conducting combat air patrols in Turkish air space to help secure sovereign Turkish airspace.  Turkey and the U.S. are long-time NATO Allies and the U.S. Air Force has a long history of working closely with Turkey. As always, we are guests of the government of Turkey at Incirlik Air Base, and there are no plans for a more permanent U.S. presence at this location.  We will continue to work closely with our Turkish partners on supporting the sovereignty of Turkish airspace and our shared

efforts to degrade and destroy ISIL.  The U.S. and Turkey, as NATO allies, share a commitment to peace and stability in the region.

10.11.2015 IAF Site | Translation: Ohad Zeltzer Zubida & Ofri Aharon

It executed hundreds of operational flight hours during Operation "Protective Edge" over Gaza strip, but was grounded immediately upon completion of the operation in order to be fully operationally integrated. A year later, the Hermes 900 ("Kochav" Hebrew for Star) UAV is airborne again and joins the ranks of the UAV Division. "The 'Kochav' will revolutionize the world of unmanned flight"

The IAF's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Division will receive a significant reinforcement this week: tomorrow, the "Kochav" (Hermes 900) UAV will officially become operational and will strengthen the division, which is becoming more and more dominant in the battle field.

In the receiving squadron, the excitement is noticeable. A new aircraft isn't an everyday occasion. The last time was 16 years ago, when the "Hermes 450" UAV - which was then considered a technological wonder - was operationalized.

Try to imagine what has occurred in a decade and a half of technological advancement, add The Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Daniel's quote "The 'Kochav' will revolutionize the world of unmanned flight" and there you have it.

Clearly, most of the new aircraft's interesting details cannot be shared. Its name was upgraded from "Hermes 450" to "Hermes 900", and its abilities have probably not only been doubled.

It is possible to say that we're talking about a major technological step forward that introduces many new capabilities and arenas. A UAV is measured by its ability to bring a large amount of complex systems to the field and carry out numerous missions. So it is possible to say that the "Hermes 900" significant improvements are its carrying capacity and large fuselage that allow the aircraft to carry numerous operational systems simultaneously.

The UAV was designed to carry payloads on its wings, a fact that strengthens its carrying abilities. Its endurance (more than 24 hours, accordingly to the amount of cargo) allows very long and far range missions in only one sortie.

First Operational Activity: Operation "Protective Edge"

Following the beginning of Operation "Protective Edge" in the Summer of 2014, the IAF tried to operationalize as many capabilities as possible, led by the "Hermes 900" as the UAV squadrons flew nonstop during the operation and every aircraft was crucial to the success of the mission.

"A few days after the order, we managed to enable a single 'Kochav' for temporary activity", described Major Amir, the "Kochav" Project Officer in the IAF Headquarters. On July 15, 2014 the UAV took off on its first operational mission in the IAF service, a mission that was a link in a chain of operations that finally led to a fighter jet attack that destroyed terror infrastructure. The "Kochav" flew hundreds of hours during the operation during which it successfully executed the missions assigned to it over 100 times. Simultaneously, it made other UAV's available for activity.

"Operation 'Protective Edge' was the 'Kochav's' 'baptism of fire'", shares Lt. Col. Daniel, the Squadron Commander and proudly notes the partnership and cooperation with "Elbit Systems" the manufacturer of the aircraft, in the reception process. "In the midst of an operation, without an organized reception process, shoulder to shoulder with the 'Elbit' team, the 'Kochav' showed impressive results on every scale".

During the operation, the maintenance of the aircraft was done by "Elbit", because the IAF's ground teams had not yet been qualified to maintain the aircraft, moreover, in the mission stations there were "Elbit" representatives that guided the operators in real time.

In the passing September, the "Kochav's" technical division sent out an independent sortie for the first time and noted a significant mile stone on the way to renewed operational integration.

Not unmanned - manned from afar

The biggest challenge for the squadron today is to absorb a new platform while still conducting operational activities in the squadron. Lt. Col. Daniel understands that it isn't possible to halt activities and the schedule was left unchanged while the reception was conducted.

In a division that continues to expand, as over half of the flight hours in the IAF are conducted by the division, there is not a moment in the day or night that a UAV is not in the sky.

The UAV world is comprised of many layers, however Lt. Col. Daniel would prefer to name it "manned from afar". There is a lot to say about the advancing technologies and although there isn't someone sitting in the cockpit, the squadron is still filled with people and the distance to the battlefield only intensifies the dilemmas.

Lt. Col. Daniel doesn't hesitate to tackle this issue; he himself experienced its complexity in recent operations in Gaza. Something that he emphasizes during UAV training is the necessity to build a set of values that indicate its influence on the future battlefield and the fate of those involved in the arena. When he considers the future, he knows that as technology continues to improve, the division members will be expected to think what appropriate capabilities a "machine" will have and who will hold the relative power.

The division's issue of advantages is complicated: on the one hand operational effectiveness and economic efficiency and on the other hand moral and mental issues of the combat soldier in the field.

However, there is a clear direction for missions that are currently "manned" to soon be conducted by UAVs. Amount of air time, availability for sudden outbursts, endangerment of human life and economic efficiency are all part of this equation.

The new "Kochav" is bigger, stronger and can conduct multiple missions simultaneously. Its current impressive performances indicate a strong future and the squadron is ready to push the "Kochav" to its limits. Today, the squadron's soldiers will stand together in a short ceremony to show their respect.

This will be personal closure for Lt. Col. Daniel, who was part of the establishing team in the squadron that absorbed the "Hermes 450" as today he is guiding the squadron through a new era. "It's a great privilege" he stated with pride.

November 8, 2015 David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen

Defence Watch has been running a back and forth debate on the F-35 between defence analyst Richard Shimooka and Alan Williams, the former ADM Materiel at DND, who signed the original MOU committing Canada to the research and development aspect of the F-35. On Sept. 24 Richard Shimooka had an opinion piece in the National Post arguing that the F-35 is still the best bet for Canada.

Read more

Nov 10, 2015 ASDNews Source : Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to France for C-130J aircraft and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $650 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of France has requested a possible sale of:

Major Defense Equipment (MDE):

    Two (2) C-130J aircraft with Rolls Royce AE-2100D Turboprop Engines

    Two (2) KC-130J aircraft with Rolls Royce AE-2100D Turboprop Engines

    Four (4) Rolls Royce AE-2100D Turboprop Engines (spares)

Non-Major Defense Equipment (Non-MDE):

    Six (6) AN/ALE 47 Electronic Countermeasure Dispensers (1 per aircraft, plus 2 spares)

    Six (6) AN/AAR-47A(V)2 Missile Warning Systems (1 per aircraft, plus 2 spares)

    Six (6) AN/ALR-56M Radar Warning Receivers (1 per aircraft, plus 2 spares)

    Ten (10) Embedded Global Positioning/Inertial Navigation Systems (2 per aircraft, plus 2 spares)

    Ten (10) AN/ARC-210 Radios (2 per aircraft, plus 2 spares)

    Ten (10) AN/ARC-164 UHF/VF Radios (2 per aircraft, plus 2 spares)

    Two (2) HF Voice Radios

    Ten (10) KY-100 Secure Voice Terminals (2 per aircraft, plus 2 spares)

    Ten (10) KYV-5 Secure Voice Equipment Units (2 per aircraft, plus 2 spares)

Also provided are support and test equipment; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated MDE value is $355 million. The total overall estimated value is $650 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the capability of a NATO ally. It is vital to U.S. national interests to assist the French Air Force to increase its airlift, air refueling, and air drop capabilities. These aircraft will provide these capabilities and will be used to support national, NATO, United Nations, and other coalition operations. Providing these aircraft to the French Air Force will greatly increase interoperability between the U.S. Air Force and the French Air Force, as well as other NATO allies.

The C-130Js will provide critical transport, airdrop, and resupply to thousands of French troops in support of current and future operations. The KC-130Js will provide crucial air refueling capability to France's fighter aircraft, light transport aircraft, and helicopters. France will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

France requests that Lockheed Martin be the sole source provider for the C-130J aircraft. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale may require multiple trips for U.S. contractor representatives to France and potentially to deployed locations to provide initial launch, recovery, and maintenance support.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

11 November 2015 by Guy Martin - defenceWeb

The Spanish Air Force continues to support the European Union’s Operation Atalanta anti-piracy operation off the Horn of Africa, using CN235 and P-3 aircraft, with the CN235s accumulating 100 hours per month during these deployments.

First Lieutenant Alejandro Nemo of the Spanish Air Force’s 48 Wing (804 and 402 Squadrons) said his unit uses CN235 maritime patrol aircraft for this task, converted to D.4 standard with the Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS). These aircraft feature a maritime radar, forward-looking infrared, electro-optical sensor and ship Automatic Identification System (AIS), among others. The radar can track the distance, bearing, and geographic position of up to 200 targets, including marine surface and airborne targets. Nemo said it is very helpful as the radar gives 360 degrees coverage.

The electro-optical turret carries a FLIR, colour camera and laser illuminator. Other equipment includes a digital camera with a 70-200 mm zoom lens, digital video recorder capable of recording up to 10 hours and a datalink/satellite communication system that can transmit and receive pictures, data and text.

The AIS system is used to monitor its mandatory use. Some vessel owners choose to switch the system off to avoid having to pick up refugees in the Mediterranean – international laws stipulate that they are required to assist refugee boats but some switch their systems off in order to avoid taking responsibility. If caught, vessels can be fined hundreds of thousands to millions of euros.

A search and rescue kit can be dropped to people in distress from the rear ramp of the CN235. The kits are made up of two rafts and three survival equipment containers tied together with a rope. Before being dropped, a flare is launched to determine wind direction and then the kit is dropped, although there are very few times this has actually been used in practice – a few times helicopters have been dispatched to assist stricken vessels.

Nemo said that Atalanta patrols are usually flown at around 2 000 feet above sea level, and at 140-150 knots, for best surveillance, but this does result in fairly high fuel burn. The minimum crew is two pilots, two sensor operators and two observers. Missions typically last 8-10 hours and cover 1 800 nautical miles. Operation Atalanta CN235s have flown some 1 525 flight hours during 179 sorties, with usually 100 hours being flown a month during 12-15 missions.

In addition to the standard Atalanta crew deployment of four pilots, three FITS operators, one tactical coordinator, two observers and two flight engineers, six ground mechanics are deployed to support the single CN235 D.4 deployed. Nemo said the environment is harsh on the aircraft, with salty, dirty, hot air requiring the aircraft to be washed after every flight.

The primary goal of Atalanta missions is to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) in support of Atalanta vessels. This involves not only monitoring the Somali coast but also pirate bases. As the pirates are now targeting ships away from the heavily patrolled transit corridor in the Gulf of Aden, the CN235s are searching outside this area as well. Nemo noted that 20 000 ships pass through the Gulf of Aden a year, including 17 oil tankers a day, which carry 30% of Europe’s fuel.

Nemo noted that piracy has reduced from its high between 2008 and 2012 due to best practices by ship operators and the strong naval presence in the region. At the moment there is almost no pirate activity, he said, but noted that intelligence reports pirate activity moving elsewhere. As a result, the CN235s are increasingly being used for ground surveillance such as looking out for drug and people smuggling activities. If a ship is seen to be in trouble, the standard procedure is to orbit to avoid detection by the pirates, report activity and circle the area to report the position and heading of the vessels.

Although Atalanta continues, and the mission has been extended to the end of next year, 48 Wing is not currently deployed there. Instead, 801 Squadron is flying out of Djibouti at the moment. CN235s are usually deployed for two month periods, but every other year P-3 Orions take up the task.

Apart from Operation Atalanta, 48 Wing also took part in Operation Noble Centinela to stop illegal migrants in the Canary Islands. The aircraft flew 396 flight hours over 125 sorties. Another 389 flight hours were flown during 56 missions under Unified Protector around Libya. Operation Active Endeavour, ongoing in the Mediterranean, has seen the CN235s fly 350 flight hours over 55 sorties. Around five 9-10 hour long sorties are carried out a month.