10 mars, 2015 Pierre Brassart (FOB)

Après une trêve de plus de 20 ans, assiste-t-on à un renouveau de la Guerre froide ? Pendant près de 50 ans, entre la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale et la chute de l’URSS, l’OTAN et l’URSS se sont fait face en Europe, l’arme au pied, tout en luttant directement l’un contre l’autre sur des champs de batailles éloignés et via des armées tierces. Ce fut le cas en Corée, au Viet Nam bien sûr, mais aussi en Afrique, au Moyen-Orient, en Asie Centrale, etc…

Avec la chute du mur de Berlin ainsi que celle du communisme soviétique, on a pensé que la paix et la démocratie allait se répandre sur le monde. Erreur… Aujourd’hui, si l’URSS a cessé d’exister, la Russie est bel et bien sortie de sa torpeur et a repris sa place de grande nation. La guerre de Géorgie  en 2008 a été une première claque pour l’Europe et les USA.  La Russie ne compte pas laisser l’alliance atlantique s’étendre sans réagir.

En 2013, l’Ukraine s’enflamme. Poutine, fin stratège, sait qu’il ne peut intervenir ouvertement. C’est ainsi que l’on a vu des troupes en uniforme, sans signe distinctif, s’emparer des points clés en Crimée, région stratégique pour la Russie. Le fait que ces soldats étaient russes ne faisait aucun doute, mais cette ruse a permis à Poutine de rattacher la Crimée sans que, concrètement, personne n’intervienne. L’affaire aurait pu s’arrêter là, si les provinces orientales et russophones d’Ukraine ne s’étaient pas soulevé à leur tour, entrainant le pays dans une guerre civile longue et sanglante qui n’est pas prêt de s’arrêter. Mais la Russie ayant joué une fois la carte des « troupes inconnues », elle se doit de faire profil bas. C’est ainsi que les séparatistes ukrainiens recevront, comme par magie, suffisamment d’équipement que pour tenir en échec l’armée ukrainienne. Les pays occidentaux se sentiront également menacé par les vols de provocation menés par l’armée de l’air et par l’aéronavale russe. (Mais quand même pas au point de revoir à la hausse leur budget militaire, ou au moins, à la baisse les coupes qui frappe ces derniers dans toute l’Europe).

Mais l’OTAN ne compte pas laisser Poutine faire ce qu’il entend. Si la Russie s’est réveillé, l’OTAN, États-Unis en tête, compte bien lui montrer qu’il y a des limites à ne pas franchir.  L’Ukraine va devenir le nouveau champ de bataille des anciens adversaires russe et américain.

Lancée en 2014, l’opération Atlantic Resolve, menée par les États-Unis, a pour but de démontrer la résolution américaine à contribuer à la sécurité collective des membres de l’OTAN. Ainsi, depuis plusieurs mois, les Américains multiplient les exercices avec les membres orientaux de l’alliance (pays baltes, Pologne), et n’hésitent pas à fournir un soutien à l’Ukraine. D’autres pays de l’OTAN se joignent au mouvement. Le Royaume –Uni va fournir des conseillers à l’armée ukrainienne, la France parle de déployer des Leclerc et des VBCI en Pologne.

Si les pays européens sont encore un peu frileux à l’idée de déployer un grand nombre de troupes et de véhicules, les Américains n’ont pas peur d’envoyer des brigades entières en Europe de l’Est. Après le 2 Cavalry Regiment (monté sur blindés Stryker), c’est au tour de la 1ère brigade blindé de la 3ème division d’infanterie américaine à se déployer en Lettonie. 3000 hommes et plus de 750 véhicules (y compris des chars de combat Abrams et des véhicules de combat d’infanterie Bradley) viennent prendre leur tour de garde à quelques kilomètres de la frontière russe et permettre aux armées baltes de poursuivre leur entrainement.

Maintenant que la Guerre froide est relancée, quels seront les prochains pions que les protagonistes avanceront ?

Mar 10, 2015 ASDNews Source : Airbus DS

Electronic Jamming System Deactivates Detonation Signals in Real Time

Airbus Defence and Space will equip vehicles of the German Armed Forces with an electronic system for the protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The German procurement authority BAAINBw has awarded the company a contract worth several million euros to supply 36 jammers of the type VPJ-R6 (VPJ = Vehicle Protection Jammer). The systems are intended to be integrated into protected vehicles of the German Armed Forces.

The Vehicle Protection Jammer uses the ultra-fast SMART Responsive Jamming Technology developed by Airbus Defence and Space to substantially enhance protection compared to conventional systems. It detects and identifies radio signals intended to detonate roadside bombs. After detection and classification, it transmits real-time jamming signals, which precisely match the hostile frequency band, thus interrupting the connection between assassin and bomb.

Thanks to new digital receiver and signal processing technologies, the system achieves reaction times of well below a millisecond. Up to 750.000 threat signals in all common frequency bands can be detected and jammed each second. The jamming power is focused on the detonation signal’s specific frequency instead of being distributed over the whole frequency range, as is the case in conventional systems. In this way less energy is required, while the jamming effect is increased at the same time. Moreover, this also reduces the impact on friendly forces’ radio communication, which means that reliable command and control can be ensured.

March 3, 2015 By Gerard O'Dwyer - Defense News

HELSINKI — As Russia strengthens its naval, air and ground forces in its northern territories, Norway has responded by scaling-up manpower, equipment and Arctic combat units as part of a broader reinforcement of its High North defenses.

Norway's program, part of the Norwegian Defense Forces' (NDF) Smart Defense strategy, comprises a strong Arctic-focused dimension in funding and resource allocation.

The Smart Defense approach to High North military reinforcement has, since 2010, placed higher priority on Arctic-class specialized equipment procurement coupled with more intensive training for High North-deployed units. The goal is to produce combat-ready modular units that can fight independently or alongside NATO forces.

The NDF's August 2009 decision to relocate the Army's headquarters functions to the Arctic town of Bodø — 1,700 kilometers north of Oslo — bolstered Norway's commitment to establishing an integrated High North defense system. That decision led to the establishment of the Joint Operational Command Headquarters (JOCH).

This new approach is centered around more compact units equipped with the best available Arctic fighting equipment and capable of delivering greater firepower.

The JOCH is overseeing the evolution of Norway's High North defenses into a centralized command and coordinated fighting structure that will be able to call upon an Air Force equipped with F-35s, forward Army battalions deploying CV90 tracked armored fighting vehicles and high mobility Archer artillery units, and a stronger Navy operating anti-aircraft and submarine-hunting Arctic-class Fridtjof Nansen frigates and Skjold corvettes.

The scaling-up of Norway's defense capabilities in the High North is happening while the military intelligence services are urging the government to adopt a more cautious posture toward Russia's increasing militarization in the region.

Although the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) believes Norway is under no "short- to medium-term threat" from Russia, its latest open threat evaluation assessment, FOKUS-2015, advocates vigilance.

"Threat is a combination of two factors; capacity and intention," NIS chief Lt. Gen. Kjell Grandhagen said. "Although capacity is increasing, it is difficult for the time being to see a rational reason for Russian military activity against Norway in a short- to medium-term perspective. But intentions can change over time, and it is therefore now increasingly important for Norway to follow Russia's long-term political, economic and military development."

The NIS' intel-gathering capacity will be enhanced once its new advanced signals intelligence ship, the Marjata 11, enters service in the High North and Barents Sea in 2016.

Under the Smart Defense program, Ørland, located on the mid-Norway coast, and Evenes, above Norway's Arctic Circle, will become the main operating bases for F-35 aircraft and, during more regular joint exercises, NATO aircraft and forces. Evenes also will house a Quick Reaction Alert squadron.

Ørland, Evenes and the NDF's core High North battalions will also be equipped with an updated Norwegian advanced surface-to-air missile system, which is being deployed primarily to protect key military installations, warfare units and infrastructure against air-to-surface attacks.

The system uses active missiles and different types of sensors, boosting firepower for the NDF's Smart Defense and High North strengthening program.

Archer, the next-generation self-propelled artillery system developed as a joint project with Sweden, also increases firepower. Norway plans to deploy 24 Archer systems complete with fully automated 155 mm/L52 howitzer guns and M151 Protector remote-controlled weapon stations. These are mounted on modified Volvo A30 six-wheel-drive chassis all-terrain articulated haulers.

The Arctic-class Archer's operational strike-and-run capacity makes it ideal in the hilly and forested terrains of the High North. Moreover, Archer can fire Nexter Bonus and Raytheon/Bofors XM982 Excalibur guided rounds over respective distances of 34 kilometers and 60 kilometers.

The NDF also is establishing a specialized Arctic-trained "professional" rapid reaction force north (RRFN), set to become fully operational in 2017. The RRFN unit's core will comprise an existing armored battalion and a motorized infantry battalion equipped with CV90 infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 2 tanks

Norway's ability to defend its High North territories also received a boost from the Defense Ministry's US $1.6 billion program to re-equip its core forward armored brigade units with CV90 tracked infantry fighting vehicles, part of the NDF's biggest fighting vehicle modernization project investment.

The vehicle fleet upgrade, with delivery scheduled from BAE Systems in 2015-17, will include 74 modernized and armor-strengthened infantry fighting vehicles, 21 reconnaissance, 16 multirole (mortar carrier or cargo), 15 command and control, 16 engineering, in addition to two driver training vehicle types.

The new and updated vehicles are expected to make the NDF's forward armored battalions in the High North more mobile with improved firepower. The infantry vehicles also will have better protection against armor-piercing weapons and rounds, including improvised explosive devices.

The infantry and reconnaissance vehicles will also be equipped with better sensor systems, surveillance and communication capabilities, and fitted with integrated technologies that will extend to dismounted infantry troops. Norwegian company Kongsberg's Protector remote weapon stations are to be fitted to all IFV variants.

The need to prioritize military readiness and defense capability in the High North helped drive Norway's decision to raise spending on defense above that of any of its Nordic neighbors, said defense analyst Thorvald Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian defense minister.

"Russia is rebuilding its naval and Air Force strength, as well as its Arctic fighting capability, in the High North," Stoltenberg said. "While this is understandable from a Russian perspective, its growing level of activity regionally is causing problems and concerns among all Nordic governments and militaries. This is unfortunate, as the emphasis should be on building more, not less, bilateral cooperation with Russia on defense and security in the Arctic."

Norway's defense budget will run to $8 billion in 2015.

March 10, 2015 by navyrecognition.com

MOSCOW, -- Pictures have emerged on Russian social networks showing the first test flight of the new Ka-52K Naval Attack helicopter. Based on the Ka-52 "Alligator" the K version has been specifically modified for the Russian Navy to operate the helicopters from the Mistral class LHDs.

Intended originally to be deployed from the two Mistral class LHDs built in France, it is not clear what the Russian Navy will do if the two amphibious vessels are not delivered.

Read more

Mar 7, 2015 ASDNews Source : MoD Australia

Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert, today announced that a collaborative research program between the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the US Navy has resulted in upgrades to the radar warning receiver in the Royal Australian Air Force’s F/A-18F Super Hornets.

“A significant improvement to a defence capability has been realised through the exceptional collaborative work of Australian defence scientists and our US allies,” Mr Robert said.

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March 9th, 2015 By US Defense Security Cooperation Agency

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Jordan for M31 Unitary Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) Rocket Pods and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $192 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on March 4, 2015.

The Government of Jordan has requested a possible sale of 72 M31 Unitary Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) Rocket Pods (6 rockets per pod for a total of 432), support equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical data, personnel training and equipment, systems integration support, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $192 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the U.S. by helping to improve the security of a partner country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. It is vital to the U.S. national interest that Jordan develops and maintains a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with the U.S. regional objectives and will not impact the regional stability in the Middle East.

The proposed sale of GMLRS will improve Jordan’s capability to meet current and future threats on its borders and provide greater security for its economic infrastructure. The GMLRS will provide the Royal Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) a long-range precision artillery support capability that will significantly improve U.S.-JAF interoperability and provide for the defense of vital installations. Jordan will have no difficulty absorbing these additional systems into its armed forces.

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

The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control in Dallas, Texas. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Jordan.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

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

10/03/2015 Sources : État-major des armées

Depuis le 16 février 2015, les Forces Armées en Guyane ont lancé la mission de lutte contre l’orpaillage illégal AMBAKI, aux côtés des gendarmes, sur le territoire guyanais.

Cette mission ciblée sur la région Est de la Guyane, dans les bassins de l’Abounami et de l’Inini, vise à agir sur l’attractivité et la rentabilité des sites d’orpaillages illégaux. Elle a déjà donné lieu à d’importantes opérations de contrôle de zone et des sanctions ont été dressées à l’encontre des orpailleurs illégaux : libre circulation suspendue, exploitation des sites majeurs dans cette zone interdite pour une durée de quatre semaines.

Ces actions, regroupant près de 400 hommes et femmes, se sont traduites par des manœuvres pérennes de contrôle de secteurs clés et d’axes logistiques, ainsi que par l’engagement de détachements héliportés, entraînant la déstabilisation des orpailleurs illégaux. La mise en place de sous-groupements aéromobiles et de détachements interarmées a contribué à exercer une pression continue sur leurs structures logistiques. Au cours de ces différentes interventions, les FAG et les gendarmes ont ainsi procédé à la destruction de plusieurs puits et à la saisie de nombreux matériels, jugulant ainsi la capacité des orpailleurs à poursuivre leur activité illicite.

Ces efforts permanents exercés par les légionnaires du 3erégiment étranger d’infanterie (3eREI), les marsouins, soldats et sapeurs du 9erégiment d’infanterie de Marine (9eRIMa) et les forces de gendarmerie, ont déjà permis de réduire de 30% le nombre de sites d’orpaillage illégal ces 6 derniers mois.

A 7 000 km de la métropole, les forces armées en Guyane (FAG) garantissent la protection du territoire national et de ses ressources. Fréquemment engagées en appui de l’action de l’Etat dans des missions au caractère interministériel, les FAG agissent sur un territoire rendu exigeant par son étendue (1 100 km de frontières terrestres), son littoral difficile et sa forêt équatoriale.

10 mars 2015 Quelle: Redaktion der Bundeswehr 15E10502 03/2015

Mar 9, 2015 ASDNews Source : US Navy

Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) successfully undocked USS Maryland (SSBN 738) Feb 21. SSBN 738 is now pier-side to finish its Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO), a complex, major shipyard availability at the submarine's mid-life point that enables the submarine to operate for its entire design service life. Maryland has been at NNSY since Dec. 2012.

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SOUTHWEST ASIA, March 10, 2015 – From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of the latest strikes, which took place between 8 a.m. yesterday and 8 a.m. today, local time, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Airstrikes in Syria

Fighter, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft conducted four airstrikes near Kobani, which struck four ISIL tactical units and destroyed nine ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle.

Airstrikes in Iraq

Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted eight airstrikes in Iraq:

-- Near Fallujah, three airstrikes struck two ISIL large tactical units and destroyed three ISIL vehicles.

-- Near Kirkuk, four airstrikes struck three ISIL large tactical units, an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL fighting positions, four ISIL buildings, three ISIL vehicles, three ISIL vehicle bombs, an ISIL culvert crossing and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

-- Near Mosul, an airstrike suppressed an ISIL vehicle.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

March 8, 2015 By Pierre Tran – Defense News

PARIS — Industry is expecting France to soon launch a tender worth an estimated total €250 million for two types of vehicles for its special operations forces, sources close to the deal said.

The procurement reflects a need for a speedy equipping of the special forces, which have been widely engaged in foreign missions and have worn out the Panhard Véhicule de Patrouille Spéciale.

"The special forces can't wait," said a source who declined to be identified.

The tender comprises two orders, one worth €100 million and the other €150 million, a second source said.

Two sources said such a deal would be expensive for a relatively small order. But a company that wins the bid could promote itself in the market as supplier to the elite French special forces.

The Defense Ministry will hold a tender to choose a vehicle and develop it to meet special forces requirements, procurement chief Laurent Collet-Billon told journalists on Feb. 9.

No off-the-shelf vehicle meets the specifications, which calls for two years of development, he said. The development will adapt the vehicle, which will then undergo a certification to show the weapons and radio will be fit for use, he said.

Special forces command, the chief of the armed forces and the Direction Générale de l'Armement procurement office will conduct the acquisition.

"I hope a solution can be found that meets the urgent needs of the operational forces and the realities of the procurement procedure," French senator Jacques Gautier said.

Gautier, Daniel Reiner and Gérard Larcher co-wrote a Senate report on the special forces published in May. An off-the-shelf acquisition of heavy and light vehicles was planned under the multiyear budget law, the report said.

The special forces command has highly specific requirements, which makes it hard to find a vehicle already on the market, the sources said. Sources said the vehicle likely will be of French, not foreign, manufacture.

One of the specifications is that two of the vehicles can be loaded on the C-130 Hercules transport.

Renault Trucks Defense (RTD), part of the Volvo group, has filed papers to qualify for the tender, which is expected to be launched soon, an industry executive said.

RTD is pitching its four-wheel drive Sherpa Light, which was on display last year at the Eurosatory trade show and at the special operations forces innovation network seminar (SOFINS) the year before.

RTD declined comment.

The SOFINS website refers to "the must-go biennial event for collaboration between the Special Forces community and French industrialists."

RTD had fitted a naval version of a pintle-mounted Nexter 20mm gun on the Sherpa Light displayed at SOFINS two years ago. A second special forces show is due to be held April 14-16 at the Souge army base, near Bordeaux, southwest France.

The special forces drew on lessons learned in the Mali campaign, when insurgents drove pick-ups armed with a Russian 14.5mm gun, which has a range of 1.2 kilometers, greater than that of the 12.7mm, or .50-inch, NATO standard weapon.

Under the public markets law, the Defense Ministry must hold a tender for off-the-shelf acquisition, yet a certification is not always needed. For example, the AWACS and Hawkeye did not need French certification as the spy planes had already been certified by the US authorities.

The special forces also have a requirement for a heavy vehicle in the 10-ton category to replace a current fleet of 212 units.

A second major equipment project for the special forces is an upgrade of avionics and further tactical capabilities on the C-130. The avionics must conform with rules that go into effect from 2020 and set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

2015-03-09 wantchinatimes.com

A People's Liberation Army Navy official has confirmed for the first time that China is building its second aircraft carrier, reports Duowei News, a US-based Chinese political news outlet.

Ding Haichun, a deputy political commissar of the PLA Navy, acknowledged during an interview with Hong Kong media on March 8 that China's second aircraft carrier is currently under construction and will be more advanced than the country's first carrier, the Liaoning, which was retrofitted from the Soviet-era carrier Varyag and commissioned in September 2012.

Once the industrial manufacturing department has completed construction, the carrier will be handed over to the PLA Navy to commence training, Ding said.

Naval power and electrical engineering specialist Ma Weiming added that China's catapult launch technology has absolutely no problems and can compete with that of the United States.

When questioned by reporters, former PLA Navy political commissar Liu Xiaojiang refused to confirm media speculation that the second aircraft carrier would commcence sea trials as early as this year, noting that the manufacturing process and schedule is highly complex.

Liu admitted he is uncertain just how many aircraft carriers the country intends to build. While some have claimed as many as six carriers are needed to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and interests abroad, Liu said the answer will ultimately lie in how much research and development funding is available.

10 mars 2015 par Jean-Dominique Merchet