Mar 05 2015 - By David Cenciotti - theaviationist.com

If you thought aircraft carriers were invincible you were wrong.

On Mar. 4, the French Ministry of Defense released some interesting details, about the activity conducted by one of its nuclear-powered attack submarine (SNA) in the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.

According to French MoD website (that is no longer online, even if you can still find a cached version of the article titled “Le SNA Saphir en entraînement avec l’US Navy au large de la Floride” [or read it on RP Defense website] ), the Saphir submarine has recently taken part in a major exercise with the U.S. Navy off Florida.

The aim of the exercise was joint training with U.S. Carrier Strike Group 12 made by the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, several Ticonderoga cruisers or Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and a Los Angeles-class submarine, ahead of their operational deployment.

The scenario of the drills saw some imaginary states assaulting American economic and territorial interests; threats faced by a naval force led by USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Read more

12 mars 2015 par FASM Primauguet – Marine Nationale

Le Primauguet a pu aujourd’hui démontrer son excellent savoir-faire dans son domaine de lutte spécialisé : la lutte anti-sous-marine. L’exercice a consisté à envoyer depuis le bâtiment une petite cible programmable pouvant se comporter comme un sous-marin. Celle-ci peut avoir la route, la vitesse que l’on souhaite à l’avance. Ce petit submersible imite l’écho d’un vrai sous-marin grandeur nature.

Le but de l’exercice est d’entraîner les équipes à tenir le contact sonar et d’effectuer un engagement simulé dès que le submersible est clairement identifié.

L’autonomie de la cible est suffisamment conséquente pour effectuer plusieurs passes. En l’occurrence, les équipes de détection Anti-sous-marine ont simulé des tirs de torpille qui ont fait mouche sur la cible à trois reprises lors des différentes passes ! L’exercice a duré 4h et fut effectué dans de très bonnes conditions environnementales.

Pendant ce temps, en passerelle supérieur, les équipes de canonniers étaient au poste de combat artillerie pour faire feu sur des cibles aériennes. Fait notable, un servant d’une 12.7 mm du Primauguet a prématurément fin mis fin à l’exercice en touchant un ballon et dès la première salve, exercice difficile avec les 12.7mm, censées faire un mur de feu. Bravo à notre tireur d’élite !

Brussels - 18 March, 2015 European Defence Agency

18/03/2015 Sources : État-major des armées

Du 9 au 13 mars 2015, la compagnie d’infanterie des Forces Françaises en Côte d’Ivoire (FFCI) a réalisé un exercice de contrôle de foule au camp de Port-Bouët à Abidjan, en étroite collaboration avec une section de sécurité incendie et sauvetage des pompiers de l’aviation légère de l’armée de terre (ALAT).

Le but de cet exercice était d’entretenir les qualifications de la compagnie dans ce domaine, qualifications acquises lors de la mise en condition opérationnelle préalable à son déploiement en Côte d’Ivoire.

La compagnie d’infanterie des FFCI est principalement composée de militaires du 1er régiment de Tirailleurs d’Epinal, d’un groupe du 132ème bataillon cynotechnique de l’armée de Terre ainsi que d’une section du génie du 3ème régiment du Génie de Charleville-Mézières.

Equipés de protections spécifiques, les soldats de la compagnie ont d’abord été déployés face à des manifestants calmes, joués par un peloton de l’escadron blindé des FFCI. Ils ont ensuite été mis en face d’une situation de plus en plus tendue et dégradée, les obligeant à manœuvrer en permanence et à apporter une réponse toujours graduée et proportionnelle.

Les soldats se sont aussi entraînés à la mise en œuvre de plusieurs procédés, comme les vagues de refoulement, bonds offensifs, charges, et relèves. Les sapeurs-pompiers ont ensuite conduit un dispositif d’appui, utilisant le canon à eau pour repousser une foule hostile. Enfin, en appui des fantassins, les équipes cynotechniques se sont aussi relayées afin de réaliser des neutralisations ciblées au sein de la foule, les chiens d’intervention assurant une présence dissuasive.

Les Forces Françaises en Côte d’Ivoire (FFCI), créées le 1er  janvier, assurent la protection des ressortissants français et aident à entretenir la coopération militaire régionale, notamment bilatérale avec les Forces de la République de Côte d’Ivoire (FRCI). Ces forces constituent le point d’appui principal de nos forces de présence sur la façade ouest-africaine, et sont un réservoir de force rapidement projetable en cas de crise dans la région.

March 18, 2015 By: Greg Waldron - FG

Langkawi - Maritime patrol and surveillance were the most prominent themes of this year's LIMA show, as big manufacturers jockeyed to promote their various solutions for the mission.

Industry sources say that Kuala Lumpur is in the process of crystallising a requirement for six to eight long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA).

The potential requirement attracted attention from a range of companies including Boeing, Saab, Dassault, and Indonesian Aerospace.

Boeing brought its Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) technology demonstrator to the show. The type appeared on the static line, and the US airframer briefed media and officials on the MSA's capabilities. A modified Challenger 604 business jet, the unarmed MSA is optimised for high altitude, broad area surveillance.

Saab, Dassault, and Indonesian Aerospace also displayed models of MSA and MPA solutions on their stands.

Mar 2015 By: Greg Waldron - FG

Langkawi - A unit of Malaysian maintenance, repair and overhaul firm Airod has proposed an upgrade programme for Malaysia’s fleet of 10 RAC MiG-29 aircraft.

The upgrade, which an industry source says is being considered by the air force, would see the type upgraded to what it refers to as the “MiG-29NM” standard.

It is not clear how receptive Kuala Lumpur will be to the proposal. For several years major international fighter makers have vied for the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) requirement, which will lead to the MiG-29s being replaced with 18 newer types. Still, the government has yet to issue a request for proposals for MRCA, and funding remains a challenge.

Read more

March 19, 2015 By: Beth Stevenson - FG

Images released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) depict a crashed General Atomics Aeronautical Systems unmanned air vehicle, which it claims was shot down over Latakia in Syria on 17 March. The “hostile UAV”, believed to be a US Air Force MQ-1 Predator, was brought down by a Syrian air defence system, and Syrian authorities are said to be carrying out investigations “to verify the side which the drone is affiliated to”.

Read more

17 Mar 2015 By: Craig Hoyle - FG

European guided weapons specialist MBDA is waiting on a decision from the US government on whether to acquire its Brimstone air-to-surface missile, with the company’s chief executive warning that a rejection of its offer will call into question the openness of Washington’s defence acquisition policy.

Speaking about the company’s inability so far to meet growth targets for its MBDA Inc unit in the USA, Antoine Bouvier says: “The most significant opportunity we could have short-term is the Brimstone, for some US customers.”

A UK-developed weapon capable of striking moving ground targets in all weather conditions from fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned air vehicles, the dual-mode seeker-equipped Brimstone early last year completed a bilateral firing campaign from a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper in the USA. A potential order for the missile has also been the subject of discussions between British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama, industry sources confirm.

Read more

Mar 18, 2015 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: U.S Department of Defense; issued March 17, 2015)

Destruction of WWII-Era Chemical Stockpile Set to Begin

WASHINGTON --- The process of destroying the chemical stockpile at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot is set to begin today in Colorado, defense officials said.

Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall granted final approval to begin destroying 2,611 tons of World War II-era mustard agent stored near Pueblo.

“After months of preparation, testing and scrutiny by oversight and regulatory agencies, the Pueblo team is ready to play its part in meeting our nation’s commitment to the 100 percent destruction of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile,” Conrad F. Whyne said. Whyne is program executive officer for Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, the responsible government agency.

Explosive Destruction System

An Army process called the Explosive Destruction System, located on the depot near the Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant was chosen to destroy an estimated 1,300 chemical munitions that can’t easily be processed by the main plant’s automated equipment.

The stockpile include munitions that have leaked in the past and are now packed in sealed containers, plus some from the pilot plant that have physically deteriorated and may not be easily processed through the main plant, officials said.

The problematic munitions account for about 0.2 percent of the total Pueblo chemical weapons stockpile.

The EDS works by using explosive cutting charges to access the mustard agent inside a munition. Neutralization chemicals are then added and heated to destroy the mustard.

Blast, Vapor and Fragments

Detonating the cutting charge also eliminates the explosive components of the munition. The blast, vapor and fragments from the process are contained inside a heavy, sealed stainless steel vessel, defense officials said.

Before the vessel is reopened, laboratory sampling of liquid and air from inside the vessel confirms the chemical agent’s destruction.

EDS has a documented history of safe, successful operations at sites across the United States, including the former Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Colorado. There, it was used to destroy several recovered non-stockpile chemical munitions.

The Army designed the EDS with Sandia National Laboratories to treat chemical warfare materiel on site in a safe, environmentally sound way.

This week’s destruction operations will begin with Department of Transportation bottles that contain chemical agent drained from munitions over the years to assess the condition of the stockpile.

The bottles are made of seamless stainless steel and are about 25 inches high with a 7-inch diameter. They were developed under federal guidelines to transport hazardous chemicals.

Safe, Smooth Destruction Operations

The Defense Department’s Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program selected the Bechtel Pueblo Team to design, build, operate and close a plant to destroy the chemical weapons stockpile stored at the Pueblo Chemical Depot.

Bechtel, with headquarters in San Francisco, is a global engineering, project management and construction company.

The full-scale plant, built by the Bechtel Pueblo Team, is undergoing systemization, which encompasses all the planning, technical work, training and testing activities required to ensure that destruction operations run safely and smoothly.

Afterward, the plant will destroy the remaining stockpile of chemical weapons located at Pueblo, Colorado, beginning in late 2015 or early 2016, officials said

Mar 18, 2015 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Indian Express News Service; published Mar 17, 2015)

Technical Glitches: Astra Test-Fire Fails

BALASORE, India --- A fresh trial of beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) Astra was deferred on Monday, reportedly due to a technical snag. The missile could not be launched though an unmanned aerial vehicle which was to be used as a target for the missile was flown from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Odisha coast.

Defence sources said the missile was initially planned to be tested on March 12, but was rescheduled for Monday. A defence official associated with the mission said though the pilotless target aircraft was flown as per schedule, the missile could not be fired due to technical glitches in the system.

ITR Director MVKV Prasad said there was a possibility of the trial on Tuesday or Wednesday. As part of induction phase trials, the test was aimed at checking the control system and its stability which would have propelled its quick induction into the Armed Forces.

However, it is not for the first time that the missile has developed problem. In 2011, it had failed twice, but in 2012 and 2014, a series of developmental tests, captive flights and trials from fighter aircrafts was successful.

The indigenously developed Astra is designed for an 80-km range in head-on mode and 20 km-range in tail-chase mode.

March 18, 2015 Defense News (AFP)

WASHINGTON — US warplanes have bombed a small drone used by Islamic State extremists in Iraq, marking the first time American-led forces had targeted an unmanned aircraft flown by the jihadists, officials said Wednesday.

The strike took place on Tuesday near the western city of Fallujah, destroying "a remotely piloted aircraft" and a vehicle with the IS forces, according to a statement from the US military command overseeing the campaign against the group.

The drone, used for battlefield surveillance, was "small-scale" and not a sophisticated aircraft equivalent to some US-made robotic planes that can fly at high altitudes or launch missiles, US defense officials said.

After flying the drone for a short period, Islamic State militants placed it on a vehicle. American aircraft then struck the vehicle near Fallujah, officials said.

The United States relies heavily on its own fleet of drones for air operations in Iraq and Syria, using them to bomb targets as well as provide intelligence on IS movements on the ground.

The Syrian regime said Tuesday it had shot down an American drone near the coastal province of Latakia and Pentagon officials acknowledged that a robotic aircraft had lost contact in the area.

The airstrike on the IS drone was among 11 carried out by US-led aircraft in Iraq and two conducted in Syria on Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

The strikes included five air raids near the western town of Ramadi in Iraq, with two IS-held bridges targeted along with a sniper position, an excavator and an IS "tactical unit," the military statement said.

Mar 18, 2015 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Nexter; issued Mar 17, 2015)

Nexter: Confirmed Strong Growth

VERSAILLES, France --- In 2014, Nexter confirmed its strong growth, founded on its solid industrial, economic and financial fundamentals. The sustained innovation and sales activity at the heart of its organic development, combined with a targeted external growth strategy, with the acquisition of Mecar in Belgium and Simmel Difesa in Italy, allowed the Group to increase orders taken two-fold in the course of the financial year. International markets accounted for 56% of orders taken.

With a book-to-bill of 1.2, the order book totaled €5 billion at the end of December 2014, of which €2.8 billion of intentions to order for the conditional tranches of firm contracts on December 31, 2014. These orders represent more than 2 years of activity, with firm export orders now accounting for 53.2% of the order book.

The share of the ammunition sector increased to €883 million, as a consequence of the external growth in the course of the year, positioning the Group's ammunition activity amongst the top three ammunition manufacturers in Europe.

Turnover was €1.048 billion in 2014, up 33% on the preceding financial year. International activity progressed significantly, now accounting for 53% of turnover. On a like-for-like basis, and excluding external growth, turnover increased by about 25%.

For the ninth consecutive year, the Nexter Group posted an operating margin in excess of 13% of its turnover, reflecting the fact that it has honored its contractual commitments to its customers.

In 2014, Nexter Systems and KMW, convinced of the need to reinforce the defense sector on a European scale, announced their intention to share their future road ahead. On July 1, 2014, the shareholders of the two French and German companies signed a memorandum of understanding for an equally owned alliance. This project is progressing and should produce concrete results in 2015.

Nexter’s business includes the supply of weapons systems and ammunition for Army, Air Force, Navy and law enforcement applications. The range of products offered by Nexter includes: Artillery systems CAESAR, TRAJAN and, 105LG1, Leclerc MBT, VBCI IFV, ARAVIS highly protected armoured vehicle, TITUS, an armoured 6x6, BONUS smart ammunition, all backed up by customer service, support and recycling.