source European Defence Agency

The European Defence Agency aims to raise awareness, transfer know-how and build capacity across the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base on how to access EU funding opportunities, with particular focus on European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), the new EU COSME (Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs) Programme and Horizon 2020.

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AgustaWestland Merlin Mk3i helicopters arrive at their news base at RNAS Yeovilton, from where they will support the Royal Marines until their intended aircraft, the Merlin Mk 4, becomes available in 2017. (RN photo)

Oct 15, 2015 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Royal Navy; issued Oct 14, 2015)

On a very wet day in Somerset, the first of seven next-generation Merlins which will carry Royal Marines into battle arrives at its new home.

This is Merlin iMk3 – ‘i’ for interim – better suited to supporting the green berets on amphibious operations than the ‘basic’ Mk3.

The Merlin is taking over from the venerable Sea King as the workhorse of the Commando Helicopter Force.

A big step forward from its predecessor (it’s 30 years more modern), battlefield Merlin Mk3 – which has been transferred to the Fleet Air Arm from the RAF – prefers operations over land than sea, whereas the Royal Marines operate in both environments.

The iMk3 plugs the gap between the Sea King bowing out of service at the end of March and the arrival of the ‘fully marinised’ Merlin Mk4 in late 2017, when the first of 25 fourth-generation helicopters join the force at their base in Yeovilton.

The interim model features a folding main rotor head, strengthened undercarriage and communications upgrades – but outwardly looks pretty much the same as a normal Mk3.

The Mk4 goes further – enhanced avionics suite, automatic folding main rotor head and folding tail, making it perfect for operations at sea.

For the time being, however, the iMk3, delivered by the Merlin’s constructor AgustaWestland in Yeovil, fills the Sea King’s boots quite nicely.

“Today marks another key milestone in the history of the Commando Helicopter Force.

"With more iMk3s due to arrive soon, we’ll be well on our way to delivering real capability to our primary customer – the Royal Marines,” said Lt Cdr Ben McGreal, 846 Naval Air Squadron’s Merlin Flight Commander.

“It’s also not often that you can say that you’re the first to fly a new type of aircraft in the Royal Navy, so today is a very special day.”

15 octobre 2015 Romandie.com (AFP)

Washington - Les Etats-Unis, qui viennent d'annoncer le maintien de plusieurs milliers de soldats en Afghanistan après 2016, attendent maintenant les contributions de leurs alliés, a déclaré jeudi à Washington le chef du Pentagone Ashton Carter.

Nous nous attendons à ce que l'engagement américain suscite l'engagement d'autres membres de la coalition de l'Otan en Afghanistan, a déclaré le secrétaire à la Défense dans une brève conférence de presse.

J'ai déjà engagé des consultations avec nos principaux alliés pour assurer la poursuite de leur soutien à cette mission en Afghanistan, a-t-il dit.

Le porte-parole du Pentagone Peter Cook s'est montré confiant concernant de futures contributions des alliés pour une présence militaire en Afghanistan.

Nous avons une assez bonne vision sur la volonté des autres pays de faire un pas, a-t-il dit.

Ils l'ont fait dans le passé, et beaucoup d'entre eux se sont déjà exprimés sur leur volonté de poursuivre leur engagement en Afghanistan.

Le secrétaire général de l'Otan Jens Stoltenberg a indiqué jeudi que l'Alliance prendrait dans les semaines à venir des décisions clefs sur l'avenir de Soutien résolu, l'opération de l'Otan en Afghanistan.

La mission de l'Otan dans ce pays comprend actuellement 12.500 soldats, dont près de 10.000 Américains.

Le président Barack Obama a annoncé jeudi une pause en 2016 dans le retrait de ces soldats, prolongeant encore une intervention militaire qui a débuté il y a 14 ans. Au-delà de 2016, 5.500 soldats seront maintenus sur un petit nombre de bases.

Le président américain a jugé que les forces afghanes n'étaient pas encore assez fortes pour assurer la stabilité du pays. Il avait été élu en 2008 sur la promesse de mettre fin aux guerres en Afghanistan et en Irak.

14.10.2015 par Info-Aviation
 

Le groupe chinois AVIC a officiellement dévoilé les spécifications de son avion de combat furtif J-31. Cette annonce ouvre implicitement la voie aux contrats d’exportation bien que les travaux de conception ne soient pas encore terminés (source : China Daily).

L’avion est développé par Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (filiale d’AVIC) depuis 2010 pour la supériorité aérienne et l’attaque au sol en réponse au F-35 américain. Il a effectué son premier vol le 31 octobre 2012.

Le J-31 sera capable d’effectuer des vols à une altitude de 16.000 mètres, atteindre une vitesse de 2.200 km/h et emporter jusqu’à 8 tonnes de munitions. Son rayon d’action s’étend à 1.200 km, et la durée de vie s’établit à 30 ans.

À titre de comparaison, la version modernisée du MiG-29 vole jusqu’à 2.500 km/h et transporte 4,5 tonnes d’armes, tandis que son rayon d’action est de 1.000 kilomètres. Le F-16 américain peut transporter jusqu’à 7,7 tonnes de charge utile, sa vitesse maximale atteint 2.300 km/h et son rayon d’action s’établit à 600 kilomètres. Mais il s’agit d’avions commercialisés depuis les années 80.

Début 2015, l’hebdomadaire allemand Der Spiegel citant des données fournies par Edward Snowden a rapporté que la Chine aurait volé des informations concernant la construction du chasseur américain de cinquième génération F-35 pour les utiliser dans la conception de son avion J-31.

Le F-35 peut emporter 6,8 tonnes d’armements, vole à 18.500 mètres d’altitude à une vitesse de 1.930 km/h (Mach 1,6+).

MOP enhancements are tested against specially created underground test bunkers at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. This image is of a test conducted in 2009. - Defense Threat Reduction Agency

15 October, 2015 by James Drew – FG

Washington DC  - Boeing can expect a sole-source contract for redesign, qualification and testing of the US Air Force’s largest non-nuclear penetrating bomb, the 13.6t GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP).

A redacted notice published by the air force this week says Boeing is being put on contract for the second phase of a classified MOP modification programme, called Enhanced Threat Reduction IV. The specialised weapon began development in 2004 and was never intended for serial production. Instead, GBU-57 is built in small quantities by Boeing through the air force’s direct attack office at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. MOP is specifically designed to destroy deeply buried bunkers, and the components are continually modified as those targets, such as Iran’s underground nuclear sites, dig deeper or are reinforced against US weapons.

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ALBACETE, Spain, Oct. 14 By Ryan Maass (UPI)

Fighter pilots from seven NATO countries completed the NATO tactical Leadership Program designed to enhance combat and coordination skills. The pilots came from the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The program prepared pilots to become mission commanders and lead coalition airstrike packages, also instructed allied flying and ground personnel in tactical air operations. The program also emphasized cooperation between different air forces.

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Oct 14, 2015 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Ireland Ministry of Defence; issued Oct 13, 2015)

Minister Coveney today announced the allocation of €904m in Defence funding for 2016. With an increased allocation for 2016, this represents a new very significant commitment to Defence and will allow Defence to deliver on the commitments outlined in the recently published White Paper on Defence.

Minister Coveney stated: “Today’s Budget announcement marks a new chapter in spending and commitment for the Defence Forces. For the past number of years it has been necessary to stabilise the economy and put the national finances on a sound footing but now Defence expenditure, linked to the White Paper on Defence, is increasing again.

“The White Paper on Defence sets out the roles that Government have assigned to the Defence Forces and looks at associated capability requirements. The allocation of over €900 million to Defence will enable the Defence Forces to undertake these roles with professionalism and dedication. It will also facilitate the implementation of the White Paper proposals, including the replacement of major equipment platforms and other priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service.”

Minister Coveney emphasised the significance of the Capital allocation of €66m in 2016 and €437m over the period of the ‘Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021 Plan’. This will allow Defence to prioritise and plan for significant capital investment programmes over the coming years.

Minister Coveney stated: “We have had a very good outcome from the capital plan announced recently, where, over the next six years, we will see an increase in capital expenditure for Defence to a total of €437m over the life of the Capital Investment Plan.

The 2016 budgetary allocation will allow Ireland to continue to deliver on all roles prescribed for the Defence Forces, both domestically and overseas and Minister Coveney highlighted, in particular, the role played by the Naval Service in their deployment to the Mediterranean this year, as he stated: The people of Ireland can truly be proud of the work the Naval Service has done and is continuing to do and I wish them every continued success with their work. This is in addition to the ongoing high standard of performance by the Defence Forces on other overseas missions and in their various security roles at home.

Financial Overview:

The gross allocation provided to the Defence Sector in 2016 is €904m: comprising of some €680m for Defence (Vote 36) and €224m for Army Pensions (Vote 35). Some €498m of the Defence Vote provides for the pay and allowances, of over 10,500 public service employees. This pay provision will allow for ongoing recruitment and the Minister has re-affirmed his commitment to maintain the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at a level of 9,500.

The non-pay allocation of €182m (including €66m in capital) provides mainly for essential and ongoing Defence Forces standing and operational costs together with the necessary procurement and upgrading of defensive equipment. The Naval Vessel Replacement Programme continued in 2015 with the addition to the fleet of the LÉ James Joyce and the third ship purchased under the programme, the future LÉ William Butler Years, is scheduled for delivery in July 2016. This programme was advanced without recourse to additional funding and was financed through careful management of financial resources.

The Defence Vote also includes funding for the Reserve Defence Force, Civil Defence and a grant to the Irish Red Cross Society.

As regards the Army Pensions Vote, there are over 12,100 military pensioners paid by the Department of Defence. Army Pensions expenditure is largely non-discretionary and demand-driven.

The launch of the White Paper on Defence has established the strategic parameters within which Defence will operate over the next decade and Defence policy will need to be responsive to any emergent changes in the domestic and international peace and security environment.

Oct 14 , 2015 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Elizabeth Pineau -Reuters; published Oct 13, 2015)

RIYADH --- French Prime Minister Manuel Valls trumpeted 10 billion euros ($11 billion) worth of contracts with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, although few had actually been finalised as he concluded a visit to the kingdom. (.../…)

"10 billion euros of contracts," Valls, who was leaving the Middle East after a four-day trip, said on his Twitter feed. "The government is mobilised for our companies and our jobs." (…/…)

But behind the initial euphoria, the document agreed between France and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday suggested that little had been sealed.

Among the potential deals in the document, the kingdom is expected to order 30 military patrol boats by year-end. An announcement of that plan was already made in June, and had been due to be concluded this month.

Saudi Arabia has also entered exclusive negotiations to buy spy satellite and telecommunications equipment worth "billions of euros" from Thales, the document added. (…/…)

Valls looked to play down the lack of deals. "What's important is the perspective, the movement," he told reporters. "Step by step, we are deepening each time our partnership. We don't doubt for a second that the letter of intention will be finalised." (end of excerpt)


Click here for the full story, on the Reuters website.


(Defense-Aerospace.com EDITOR’S NOTE: In addition to a contract for 30 Airbus AS-332C1e utility helicopters, Valls was also widely expected to sign other arms deals which had been leaked in advance of the trip to French media, including Gowind corvettes, satellites and low-level air-defense.
In fact, there has been little progress since June, when the Saudi deputy crown prince and defense minister, Mohammed Ben Salman, visited Paris, and a similar announcement was made of deals worth 12 billion euros that have still not been signed.
As one observer noted “there are a lot of projects, but precious few contracts” as most of these potential projects are only mentioned as “agreements” in the joint final communiqué – even less binding than a letter of intent.
These include the 30 patrol boats and observation and telecommunications satellites, but none of the other expected contracts is even mentioned.
Consequently, Valls’ claim of “€10 billion in contracts” was, at best, intended to mislead.)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 By Richard Tomkins (UPI)

AeroVironment is to supply RQ-11B Raven unmanned aerial vehicles to seven U.S. allies.

AeroVironment Inc., a manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles, is supplying its hand-launched RQ-11B Raven system to seven allied countries. The countries, which were not identified, are obtaining the Raven -- together with spare parts and contractor logistics services -- through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.

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"Le problème avec les drones, c'est que plus on en a, plus on en a besoin", selon l'ancien chef d'état-major de l'armée de l'air, le général Denis Mercier – crédits Dassault Aviation

15/10/2015 Par Michel Cabirol – LaTribune.fr

Sur le futur drone européen MALE, l'Allemagne devrait détenir 31% du programme. Les trois autres pays partenaires - la France, l'Italie et l'Espagne - auraient chacun 23%.

Les négociations sont allées bon train ces derniers mois sur le futur drone de surveillance et de reconnaissance de type MALE (Moyenne altitude, Longue endurance) européen entre l'Allemagne, la France, l'Italie et l'Espagne, un tout nouveau partenaire dans ce système de troisième génération. "Nous avons longuement discuté cet été avec l'Allemagne, qui souhaite être leader sur ce programme : elle aura une part d'un peu plus de 30 %, sachant qu'il existe trois autres coopérants ayant chacun 23 %, la France, l'Italie et l'Espagne", a expliqué le 7 octobre le Délégué général pour l'armement, Laurent Collet-Billon devant les députés de la commission de la défense de l'Assemblée nationale.

15.10.2015 European Defence Agency
 

Thirty two participants representing eleven countries and twenty-four industrial and governmental organisations met for the second edition of the European Reference Open Architecture Standard for a Modern Integrated Electronic Mission System in Military Land Vehicles (LAVOSAR II) workshop, held at the European Defence Agency (EDA) on 9 July 2015. 

Very positive comments after the first LAVOSAR workshop organised in 2014 resulted in the continuation of an initiative to promote and develop an open architecture standard for military land vehicles. It is important to underline the fact that previously involved industry unanimously supported the idea and joined in for the second session.

Whilst LAVOSAR I focused mainly on mission systems of land vehicles of participating member states, LAVOSAR II went one step further to specify in more detail areas not covered before, e.g. selected aspects of maintenance and logistics. Several work packages which are currently under investigation in the ongoing LAVOSAR II study were incorporated in the workshop agenda. These included elements such as Architectural Domain Analysis and Requirements, Workflow and Procedure Update, Through Live Capability, Open Reference Architecture Standards Update, Alignment with NATO General Vehicle Architecture (NGVA) and Architecture Contribution to the EDA Repository.

An important aspect of the LAVOSAR project is how it dovetails with NATO General Vehicle Architecture (NGVA) standardization efforts. As highlighted by Member States at the CapTech Ground Systems meetings, the LAVOSAR work should  complement other international organisations’ efforts regarding the construction of an efficient open architecture Marek Kalbarczyk, EDA moderator of the CapTech stressed the importance of the initiative: “Implementation of open architecture to mission systems for land vehicles would bring not only whole life cost savings of between 10 - 25% to Member States, but would also simplify logistics and increase operational functionalities.”

Lively and fruitful discussions held throughout the workshop added substantial value to the ongoing LAVOSAR II study and will be integrated in the study results to advance work in the open architecture domain.

More information: 

• LAVOSAR II Industrial Workshop Study Presentation
• LAVOSAR II Industrial Workshop 1
• LAVOSAR II Industrial Workshop 2 
• LAVOSAR II Industrial Workshop 3  
• LAVOSAR II Industrial Workshop 4
• LAVOSAR II Industrial Workshop 5
• LAVOSAR II Industrial Workshop 6
• LAVOSAR II Industrial Workshop Minutes  
• News "LAVOSAR Study Delivers Results" (16 June 2014)

15/10/2015 Sources : État-major des armées

Cette semaine confirme le retour au calme et la reprise de la vie économique dans la capitale. Composée de 11 000 militaires et policiers, la MINUSCA assure la protection des populations et participe à l’apaisement des tensions.

Pour autant, la situation sécuritaire demeure fragile avec, en province la persistance de tensions, en particulier dans le couloir central. Le 10 octobre en début d’après-midi, dans les environs de Sibut, les troupes de la MINUSCA ont été amenées à ouvrir le feu en réponse aux attaques perpétrées par des groupes armés. Lors de cet accrochage, la MINUSCA a demandé l’appui de la force Sangaris qui a engagé un hélicoptère Tigre pour fournir du renseignement et un appui-feu aux troupes au sol.

Tout en conduisant des patrouilles conjointes dans Bangui avec la MINUSCA, la force Sangaris maintient une posture de vigilance. Dimensionnée pour agir en qualité de force de réaction rapide, elle se tient prête en permanence à soutenir et appuyer les Casques bleus de la MINUSCA.