07/08/2013  Andrew Elwell - defenceiq.com

One of the big questions relating to the reorganisation of the Armed Forces following the withdrawal from Afghanistan relates to the future of Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). Will it still be an operational necessity or is the argument for its continued economic outlay too fragile?

The unit was formed in 2006 after a spate of deadly incidents involving the roadside bombs forced the US government to act. JIEDDO has been central to informing opinion on IEDs for a decade but senior US defence officials are now discussing its future. There are three options being considered: maintain JIEDDO’s capabilities but split its duties between the military forces; scale down its operations and house it within the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD); or shut it down.

Colonel Gareth Bex, Head of Army EOD & Search at the UK MoD, is a man who would have an opinion on JIEDDO’s future effectiveness. He spoke at the Counter-IED conference in London last month and insisted that “the genie is out of the bottle [for insurgents and their effective use of IEDs], and there’s no way it’s going back in.”

Col Bex went on to say that the UK failed to continue the investment it made in this area after Northern Ireland and lost the mainstay of its C-IED capabilities as a result. When protection against IEDs and mine blasts wasn't top of the agenda anymore it was easy for that investment to be directed into other avenues. Bex wonders if the same may happen again post-Afghanistan, especially considering the current economic climate. But it mustn't. The lessons learned from Afghanistan must not be allowed to be forgotten like they were after Northern Ireland - the only way to do that is maintain investment in the area and continue to take the threat seriously.

“IEDs are certainly an enduring global threat,” said Col Bex.

With that in mind, how can the US justify the elimination of JIEDDO? It would be imprudent, and short-sighted.

While breaking up the organisation and spreading it out through the military services – a process known as disaggregation – is a viable option, the best, and perhaps most likely option for the JIEDDO may be to roll it into the OSD.

JIEDDO has spent in the region of $20 billion since 2006, including the largest and most ambitious UOR programme ever for the design and acquisition of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) family of vehicles.

7/8/2013 Strategy Page

A 2013 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior competitor, Sgt. Camille Kleparek, 63rd Regional Support Command (63rd RSC), fires her M4 rifle during the night fire qualification event at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 26. The night fire is one of the many events that will help determine who will move to the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition. U.S. Army photo by Staff. Sgt. Amanda Smolinski

July 8, 2013 Source: Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic

Chief Kicks Off the Reorganisation

The reorganisation of management and command structures of the Czech military explains Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Petr Pavel at a Command Meeting in Prague.

New requirements for the military and resources the Czech Republic can allocate for defence of this country including meeting of allied and international commitments called for a substantial reorganisation of management and command structures of the Czech defence department which was outlined in the White Paper on Defence 2011.

The new structure came in effect on 1 July 2013. The most visible change is dismantling both tactical operational headquarters - Joint Forces at Olomouc and Support Forces at Stara Boleslav - and incorporating their duties into structure of the General Staff of ACR in Prague.

General Pavel explained changes, new relations, links and responsibilities of newly formed agencies, centres and institutes in a bid to enable a smooth transition of command, logistic and support services into the new structure.

At the end of the meeting, General Pavel said: “The military must work forward. We must meet our tasks regardless political turbulence, regardless there is or is not the government."

July 8, 2013 Source: Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated

Erickson Air-Crane Announces Two Contract Extensions with SOCAFRICA

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated, a leading global provider of aviation services to a diverse mix of commercial and government customers, and the vertically-integrated manufacturer and operator of the powerful heavy-lift Erickson S-64 Aircrane helicopter, announced today that it was awarded option period extensions with Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA).

The option awards were made to Evergreen Helicopters, a recently acquired, wholly owned subsidiary of Erickson, to provide a fleet of fixed and rotary wing aircraft for personnel and cargo transport for the Department of Defense in Central Africa. The total value of the contract options is in excess of $8 million.

Udo Rieder, Chief Executive Officer of Erickson, commented, “We are excited to continue to develop a strong operational capability and strategic presence in Africa for the Department of Defense. We believe this region, with its vast territories and relatively undeveloped infrastructure, is becoming an increasingly large and diverse market for aviation services across a broad range of missions and types of customers.”

Mr. Rieder concluded, “Each new contract award brings us incremental visibility and furthers our confidence in the Evergreen business portfolio’s strength. We continue to push toward a cohesive integration of our organizations, and expect significant financial and strategic benefits to emerge.”

Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated is a leading global provider of aviation services. The Company currently operates a diverse fleet of 85 rotary-wing and fixed wing aircraft, including a fleet of 20 heavy-lift S-64 Aircranes. The Company also maintains a vertical manufacturing capability for the S-64 Aircrane, related components, and other aftermarket support and maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for the Aircrane and other aircraft.

Founded in 1971, Erickson Air-Crane is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and maintains facilities and operations in North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

July 8, 2013 Source: Deloitte Aerospace & Defense Group

NEW YORK --- A new study released by Deloitte today analyzed 24 metrics of financial performance for the global aerospace and defense (A&D) Industry. The study found that in 2012, commercial aerospace revenues significantly increased and more than made up for declines in the defense segment. Commercial aircraft segment revenues increased 16.2 percent or US$38.4 billion in 2012, while defense segment revenues decreased 1.3 percent, for a combined increase of 5.9 percent, up from a 1.6 percent increase in 2011.

Global defense is heavily weighted towards the U.S. defense sector, which continues to be impacted by budget reductions – US$487 billion across 10 years under the Budget Control Act of 2011, and an additional US$42 billion annual budget reduction associated with the automatic "sequester," which took effect on March 1, 2013. Operating profits declined for this segment by only 1.6 percent and operating margins were flat, considering that defense companies had significant one-time charges, reflecting aggressive cost cutting in the face of declining revenues. Innovations in cybersecurity, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technologies, among other areas, offer attractive pathways for a return to growth. In addition, as noted in the study, foreign military sales offer some upside potential, as certain geographies face increasing national security threats.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Airbus Commercial surpassed their previous year's combined production with the delivery of 1,189 aircraft in 2012. This is the highest production level achieved in large commercial aircraft history. In 2012, commercial aerospace accounted for 45.9 percent of the total revenue posted across the global A&D Industry, up from 41.9 percent in 2011. Combined revenue increases for commercial aircraft for these two companies was $20.5 billion, and were it to represent a stand-alone company, it would have ranked as the 10th largest A&D firm globally, underscoring the astonishing growth of the commercial aerospace sector in 2012.

"The global A&D market is shifting, and we may see the commercial aerospace segment reach parity with defense in the next few years, after many years of being overshadowed by military spending. Our study found that European A&D companies are recovering from systemically lower financial performance compared to U.S. A&D companies, although operating margins and return on invested capital (ROIC) continue to lag for European A&D companies," said Tom Captain, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and global aerospace and defense sector leader.

The Deloitte Global Aerospace and Defense Industry financial performance study includes analysis of 105 A&D companies or segments of industrial conglomerates with A&D businesses that recorded revenue greater than US$500 million in 2012.

Deloitte's A&D sector focuses on top issues facing the industry. Deloitte A&D practitioners have deep industry experience and are actively involved in various segments of the industry, including: M&A, advanced technology programs, airplane program launches, and acquisition reform and economic assistance packages.


Click here for the full report (44 PDF pages) on the Deloitte website.

09/07/2013 Armée de Terre

Fin juin 2013, les forces spéciales de l’armée de Terre ont suivi pendant une semaine la campagne d’entraînement à l’infiltration sous voile (ISV) Albatros dans le sud-ouest de la France.

Organisée par la brigade des forces spéciales Terre (BFST), cet entraînement a rassemblé une vingtaines de soldats de toutes les composantes du commandement des opérations spéciales (COS). Ces unités sont les seules en France à détenir l’expertise OXY c'est-à-dire d’infiltration sous voile à très grande hauteur (TGH).

Cette technique pointue consiste à effectuer de jour comme de nuit des sauts en parachute sous oxygène (d’où le terme de capacité OXY), dans la plus grande discrétion. Le largage peut aller jusqu’à près de 10 000m d’altitude. Le parachute s’ouvre peu après la sortie de l’avion et les soldats dérivent sous voile sur plusieurs dizaines de kilomètres en fonction des conditions météo et de la situation au sol. Le posé de nuit se fait sans balisage, dans des zones non reconnues et souvent exiguës.

Ce procédé de mise en place est particulièrement efficace et adapté aux exigences des opérations spéciales car il permet d’assurer à la fois la sûreté de l’aéronef volant à très grande hauteur et une totale furtivité dans l’infiltration des opérateurs.

Jul 8, 2013 ASDNews Source : BAE Systems

BAE Systems is advancing the ability of today’s warfighters to securely and reliably communicate battlefield information via jam-resistant waveforms. As the developer of the Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) Anti-Jam (AJ) mode for the Department of Defense, the company tested its mid-tier PHOENIX™ networking radios at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (Fort Dix) in New Jersey.

“Protecting tactical communications is fundamental to maintaining battlefield advantage. Our expertise with the Anti-Jam mode of WNW is evident in the positive results of our field testing at Fort Dix,” said Christopher A. Ager, director of Networked Communications at BAE Systems. “During this testing, each PHOENIX radio successfully and securely communicated across uneven terrain.”

The over-the-air test was conducted within the scope of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC), and BAE Systems. The CRADA provides industry with unique opportunities to collaboratively work alongside government engineers, allowing BAE Systems access to government facilities and resources at Fort Dix. The Product Director for C4ISR and Network Modernization — a directorate of CERDEC — provided the venue to host, instrument, and observe the BAE Systems-led tests.

Using PHOENIX radios, soldiers can communicate voice, data, and video for enhanced battlefield awareness. This family of software-defined radios includes three programmable variants, each of which uses the next-generation, government-owned WNW and Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW), and allows multiple configurations: two-channel with SINCGARS, two-channel, and four-channel. With the robust WNW, all PHOENIX variants provide full anti-jam modes to protect communications in hostile environments and when using jammers. This off-the-shelf radio system offers a low size, weight, and power design that integrates easily with the SINCGARS radio space already allotted on U.S. Army ground combat vehicles.

BAE Systems is planning additional WNW-AJ tests on networks of up to 30 nodes in the coming months. In November 2012, PHOENIX-2C radios successfully provided tactical networking capabilities during U.S. Army exercises at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, enabling soldiers to communicate more than 20 kilometers in moving vehicles, which is double the mid-tier network requirement.

03.07.2013 Nexter Group
 

A l’occasion des journées Wagram, et après plusieurs mois de travaux de réaménagement et de modernisation, le nouveau musée de l’Artillerie de Draguignan a été inauguré ce mercredi 3 juillet en présence notamment du Général Ract-Madoux, Chef d’Etat-Major de l’armée de Terre, et d’Olivier Audibert-Troin, Député du Var et membre de la Commission de Défense de l’Assemblée Nationale. Le Groupe Nexter, partenaire historique du musée et principal acteur de l’artillerie, était bien entendu présent à l’évènement, représenté par Philippe Burtin, Président Directeur Général, et du Général Jacques Grenier, conseiller militaire du Groupe.

Grâce à une surface portée à plus de 2 500 mètres carrés, contre 1 800 auparavant, et une muséographie retravaillée, le nouveau site pourra exposer une collection plus importante et valorisée. L’accès est également facilité, notamment pour les personnes à mobilité réduite. En effet, une passerelle de 100m de long assurera une entrée directe depuis l’avenue de la Grande Armée.

Ce soutien confirme l’engagement de Nexter auprès de la communauté des artilleurs et de son patrimoine historique, et plus globalement du domaine terrestre.

Une équipe de France 2 a pu suivre, en exercice, le 4é régiment d'hélicoptères des forces spéciales de Pau. Un reportage étonnant de J. de la Mornais, JS. Monier et S. Malin.

08/07/2013 by Paul Fiddian - Armed Forces International's Lead Reporter

French defence officials have carried out the MdCN (Missile de Croisière Naval - Naval Cruise Missile) weapon's first simulated ship-borne launch, with successful results.

While this was a land-based trial, the missile was launched from infrastructure designed to replicate a French Navy frigate at sea. According to MdCN's developer, MBDA, it was a rigorous trial as, beyond the launch phase, the missile's navigation and infrared target recognition capabilities were also put to the test.

Once in French Navy service, the MdCN will be part of the armament carried by its FREMM (multi-mission frigate) vessels and Barracuda submarines.

The joint French/Italian FREMM design is an anti-submarine, anti-ship and anti-aircraft frigate now being supplied to each nation's navy. The Barracuda submarine is still in development. It is expected that six will be built, joining the French Navy between 2017 and 2027.

Sea-Launched Naval Cruise Missile

The MBDA sea-launched Naval Cruise Missile has an extensive range and is designed to strike targets well inside national boundaries. Based on the air-launched SCALP missile, the Naval Cruise Missile is compatible with a range of different ship types and MBDA has been working on this technology since 2006.

The SCALP (or Storm Shadow, in other air arms' service) has more than a decade's operational use behind it. It has a 250 mile range and a maximum speed of Mach 0.8, while it weighs 1,400 kilograms and is around 6.5 metres in length.

According to MBDA: 'Carried on combat vessels positioned for lengthy periods at a safe distance in international waters, either overtly (on frigates) or discretely (on submarines), MdCN is designed to carry out missions calling for the destruction of high value strategic targets'.

The new weapon is due to enter service next year but won't be twinned-up with the Barracudas until 2017, according to current scheduling.

08/07/2013 by Paul Fiddian - Armed Forces International's Lead Reporter

36 new ships will enter Russian Naval service this year: a record number. That's according to a statement made by Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov - the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy - on 7 July 2013.

The total includes warships, support vessels and fast attack craft and their arrival was announced during the International Maritime Defense Show, staged in St Petersburg.

Looking further ahead, almost 80 warships and submarines are set to be pressed into service by 2020, further boosting Russia's naval capability when, even now, some 60 Russian combat ships are operationally deployed at locations around the world.

New Russian Navy Ships

"As a result of the implementation of the state rearmament program to 2020, the navy should receive eight nuclear-powered strategic submarines, 16 multirole submarines and 54 warships of various classes", Sergei Shoigu - the Russian Defense Minister - explained in a statement on the new Russian Navy ships.

Included in this group of nuclear submarines are three Borei and five Borei-A class machines, equipped with Bulava missiles. The other submarines are made up of Graney, Kilo and Lada-class designs while the warships comprise of Buyan-class corvettes, Ivan Gren-class landing ships and Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates.

Speaking last year, Vladimir Putin - the Russian President - stressed the importance of acquiring new naval assets. To that end, more than $160bn - 25 per cent of Russia's defence budget - has been allocated to introduce new or upgraded technologies into the Russian Navy.

Russian Navy Re-equipment

In news related to the Russian Navy's re-equipment, Russia and Italy have given their joint S-1000 submarine programme new inertia by announcing design changes in early July 2013. Initiated in 2004, the S-1000 programme involves the development of a multirole-capable submarine weighing 1,000 tons, with a top speed of 14 knots and the capacity to transport 12 troops.

Externally, the S-1000 will retain its earlier form but, now, its developers say its interior will be heavily modified. Almost a decade in development, this submarine might finally now move forward to prototype stage.

Cyclone-Class Patrol Ships         

05/07/2013 by Paul Fiddian - Armed Forces International's Lead Reporter

The United States Navy has started to rapidly increase its permanent presence in the Gulf Region and, on 4 July 2013, three additional Patrol Coastal vessels arrived in Bahrain.

Together, the USS Thunderbolt, the USS Squall and the USS Tempest joint the five Patrol Coastal vessels already deployed there and, next year, two more - the USS Hurricane and the USS Monsoon - will arrive on the scene.

All ten vessels are Cyclone-class patrol ships developed during the early 1990s. Each one is around 55 metres long and displaces 336 tons of water.

Cyclone-Class Patrol Ships

Equipped with four Paxman diesel engines, the Cyclone-class patrol ships have a maximum speed of 65 kilometres per hour and are crewed by 28 naval personnel, including four officers.

Armament is supplied by six FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missiles, five .50 calibre machine guns and pairs of Mk 38 25mm cannons, Mk 19 40mm grenade launchers and M240B machine guns.

In all, 14 Cyclone-class patrol ships were constructed. The USS Tempest, USS Squall and USS Thunderbolt were the second, seventh and twelfth to be built, respectively. Previously based at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia, they are now permanently stationed in Bahrain.

Increased Gulf Patrol Vessel Presence

"Having additional PCs here in Bahrain will give us incredible flexibility in the Fifth Fleet area of operations since they are uniquely capable of operating in this dynamic environment", explained US Navy representative Vice-Admiral John Miller - Commander of the US Naval Forces Central Command - in a statement on the increased Gulf patrol vessel presence. "They will allow for continued maritime security operations to security co-operation in the Fifth Fleet."

"The shift to permanent PC crews alleviates the significant strain placed on the crews and their families while ensuring capacity and capability stays strong here in the area of responsibility (AOR)", added Captain Joseph Naman - the Commander of Destroyer Squadron 50. "These ships are ideal for working with partner navies in the Gulf."

08.07.2013 par P. CHAPLEAU Lignes de Défense


Le Bilan social 2012 qui présente les grandes orientations du ministère de la Défense en matière RH est désormais disponible en cliquant ici. Pour résumer, et en attendant d'avoir épluché le lourd document, voici les têtes de chapitre:

Chapitre 1 – Le personnel de la Défense
L’évolution des effectifs liée à la réduction pluriannuelle des emplois, amorcée en 2008, se poursuit en 2012, conformément aux objectifs fixés au ministère de la Défense par la loi de programmation militaire 2009-2014. En 2012, l’effectif du ministère sous plafond ministériel des emplois autorisés (PMEA), exprimé en équivalent temps plein travaillé (ETPT), est de 288 066 personnes, soit une réduction de 2,8 % par rapport à 2011. Il se compose de 77,1 % de militaires (222 215 ETPT) et de 22,9 % de civils (65 851 ETPT). Le taux de féminisation du personnel militaire s’élève à 15 % et celui du personnel civil à 38 %.

Chapitre 2 – Les mouvements de personnel
En 2012, malgré la baisse des effectifs militaires et civils, le ministère de la Défense conserve un fort niveau de recrutement. Pour le personnel militaire, 15 364 recrutements sont effectués principalement dans l’armée de terre (65 %). Les recrutements concernant les militaires du rang représentent 63,7 % de l’ensemble des catégories. A l’inverse, 19 660 militaires ont quitté définitivement les armées. S’agissant du personnel civil, 2 319 recrutements sont réalisés, dont 53,6 % de personnels de catégorie C ou de niveau III. Parallèlement, 3 538 civils ont quitté définitivement le ministère.

Chapitre 3 – Les dépenses liées au personnel
Les dépenses de personnel, imputées sur le titre 2, s’élèvent en 2012 à 20,1 Md€, soit une augmentation de 2,3 % par rapport à 2011, du fait de l’accroissement des contributions au compte d’affectation spécial (CAS) pensions (6 127 M€ pour le personnel militaire et 562,3 M€ pour le personnel civil) et au fonds spécial des pensions des ouvriers des établissements industriels de l’Etat (FSPOEIE), soit 1 045,6 M€ (en hausse de 42,5 M€ par rapport à 2011). Outre les dépenses salariales, 374,6 M€ sont consacrés à l’accompagnement de la politique des ressources humaines (action sociale, reconversion, etc.).

Chapitre 4 – La formation
La formation du personnel au ministère de la Défense est en constante évolution afin de garantir la capacité opérationnelle des unités, tout en s’adaptant aux réformes ministérielles en cours au sein du ministère et aux évolutions des métiers et des matériels. En 2012, 4 326 742 journées de formation ont été conduites pour le personnel militaire, correspondant à 83 259 actions de formation, réparties entre les actions de formation d’adaptation à l’emploi (48 923), les actions de formation initiale (21 296) et les actions de formation donnant accès au grade supérieur (13 040). S’agissant du personnel civil, 48 468 actions de formation ont été réalisées au cours de l’année 2012, au profit de 30 410 agents. En outre, 276 personnes handicapées au sein du ministère de la Défense ont pu bénéficier d’une action de formation.

Chapitre 5 – La reconversion
En 2012, 22 310 militaires (hors gendarmerie et hors décès) quittent l’état militaire. Dans le même temps, le nombre de candidats inscrits auprès de l’agence de reconversion "Défense mobilité" atteint 16 512 personnes, en diminution de 3,1 % par rapport à 2011. Le nombre global des prestations de reconversion dispensées (orientation, accompagnement direct vers l’emploi et formation professionnelle) diminue de 11,1 %, alors que celui des congés de reconversion acceptés augment de 2,2 %. Par ailleurs, 9 784 militaires ont été reclassés dans le secteur privé et 2 174 ont accédé à la fonction publique.

Chapitre 6 – Les conditions de travail
Le nombre d’accidents de service et de trajet du personnel militaire a augmenté de 33,5 % en 2012 par rapport à 2011. Il en est de même pour celui des maladies professionnelles (+ 2,5 %). S’agissant du personnel civil, la diminution du nombre d’accidents du travail avec arrêt amorcée depuis 2009 se poursuit de manière accrue en 2011 (- 19 % par rapport à 2010), ainsi que le nombre des accidents de trajet (- 23,5 %), et plus particulièrement ceux ayant entraîné un arrêt de travail (- 31,7 %). Le nombre de maladies professionnelles reconnues enregistre également une forte baisse en 2011 par rapport à 2010 (- 31,2 %).

Chapitre 7 – Les relations professionnelles
Un groupe de liaison permanent entre le Ministre de la Défense et le conseil supérieur de la fonction militaire (CSFM) a été créé en décembre 2012. Il est destiné à entretenir un lien continu avec le Ministre de la Défense sur des sujets concernant directement les militaires. Le CSFM est composé de 85 membres titulaires dont 16 femmes (18,8 % des effectifs). S’agissant du personnel civil, 2012 est la première année de mise en œuvre de la réforme relative à la rénovation du dialogue social dans la fonction publique. Au cours de l’année, plusieurs projets de textes visant à valoriser la carrière des agents de l’Etat et à améliorer leurs conditions d’emploi ont été examinés par le comité technique ministériel (CTM). Le CTM est composé de 15 membres titulaires dont 4 femmes (26,7 % des effectifs).

Chapitre 8 – La politique sociale
Le budget de l’action sociale s’élève en 2012 à 203,3 M€, dont 104,2 M€ consacrés aux prestations sociales. La petite enfance a de nouveau constitué une priorité de la politique sociale avec l’ouverture de trois nouvelles structures d’accueil de jeunes enfants pour un total de 112 places supplémentaires en 2012. Par ailleurs, le soutien des militaires en opérations extérieures (OPEX) a été renforcé par la mise en place du dispositif "dossier unique blessé en OPEX", visant à assurer un meilleur suivi des blessés en OPEX et à coordonner l’action des différents intervenants institutionnels, afin de permettre le paiement plus rapide des indemnités et réparations financières.

Chapitre 9 – La réserve
Au 31 décembre 2012, la réserve opérationnelle compte 56 328 volontaires (y compris gendarmerie) ayant souscrit un engagement de service dans la réserve (ESR). Pendant cette période, les volontaires servant sous ESR ont accompli en moyenne 20,6 jours d’activité de réserve (contre 22,9 en 2011), pour un total de 1 158 271 jours d’activité. La part des jours d’ESR effectués dans le cadre des opérations extérieures (OPEX), soit 18 778, représente 1,6 % des jours d’ESR réalisés, soit une baisse 0,8 point par rapport à 2011. Fin 2012, le nombre de réservistes citoyens s’élevait à 3 001 contre 2 660 en 2011 marquant ainsi une progression de 12,8 %.