source tresor.economie.gouv.fr/

16/01 Alain Ruello, avec Thibaut Madelin (Correspondant à Berlin) - Les Echos

Le 50 e anniversaire du traité de l'Elysée ne devrait pas marquer une relance de la coopération militaire entre les deux pays.

« Je voudrais que ce moment puisse consacrer une nouvelle étape de la construction de l'Europe de la défense », a déclaré François Hollande mercredi dernier au 12 e régiment de cuirassiers d'Olivet, près d'Orléans, en présentant ses voeux aux militaires. Le « moment » en question, c'est la célébration, les 21 et 22 janvier prochain, des cinquante ans du traité de l'Elysée, qui a marqué le renouveau de l'amitié franco-allemande. Les espoirs du Président risquent d'être déçus : des mois d'efforts pour relancer la coopération militaire entre les deux pays sont partis pour déboucher sur une déclaration a minima.

A peine nommé, Jean-Yves Le Drian a pourtant fait de l'axe Paris-Berlin une de ses priorités. Il rencontrera son homologue, Thomas de Maizière, demain après-midi pour évoquer l'anniversaire du traité de l'Elysée et la situation au Mali. Sur ce dernier point, les discussions portent notamment sur la mise à disposition d'avions de transport, qui viendraient en soutien logistique à l'intervention française.

En juin dernier, un document avait été signé entre les deux capitales, listant huit champs de coopération potentiels, des satellites espions aux blindés du futur, en passant par l'A400M ou encore la défense antimissile. Les termes de la déclaration étaient très peu engageants, et faisaient la part belle à des sujets au long cours. Mais l'optimisme était de rigueur.

Le doigt sur la couture du pantalon, militaires, ingénieurs de la DGA et industriels ont creusé le sujet dans les mois qui ont suivi. Pour quel résultat ? Maigre, assure-t-on de sources concordantes. « La relation franco-allemande en matière de défense ? Elle est passée de zéro à epsilon », résume, côté français, un bon connaisseur du dossier. Traduction : on est passé de rien à presque rien. Même son de cloche à Berlin où l'on souligne qu'il ne faut pas attendre, mardi, d'avancée concrète par rapport aux déclarations de juin. Et de rappeler que les programmes d'armement s'inscrivent dans le temps long…

Peu de chose en commun

Si on en est arrivé là, c'est pour de multiples raisons. La principale tient au fait que la relation franco-allemande dans son ensemble ne se porte pas bien. Qui plus est, en matière militaire, les deux pays n'ont que peu de chose en commun et leurs intérêts industriels sont souvent difficilement conciliables. Les contrainte budgétaires limitent ensuite le lancement de nouveaux projets. Enfin, le « nein » d'Angela Merkel à la fusion d'EADS avec BAE a refroidi les plus optimistes à Paris, même si cela a débouché sur une refonte de la gouvernance du groupe aéronautique.

Même habité de la meilleure volonté, l'activisme français des premiers mois pour relancer le franco-allemand tirait aussi sa source dans la volonté de se démarquer du « tout franco-britannique » des années Sarkozy, matérialisé par le traité de Lancaster House de novembre 2010. Pour réaliser aujourd'hui que c'est avec Londres que Paris a le plus à partager en matière militaire, même si entre les deux capitales cela ne va jamais de soi. « Ce n'est pas par hasard si on a fait Lancaster House », résume un officier général.

15/01/2013 Par Jean-Jacques Mevel Envoyé spécial à Strasbourg – LeFigaro.fr

Les pays membres de l'UE doivent se réunir jeudi pour tenter de concrétiser leur soutien diplomatique.

L'europe de la défense, source inépuisable de fières ambitions et de longs débats, n'en sort sûrement pas grandie: cinq jours après avoir donné un coup d'arrêt à l'offensive djihadiste au cœur du Mali, la France se découvre à peu près seule dans la bataille, bien que son entrée en scène jouisse d'un soutien diplomatique unanime.

Implicitement, François Hollande vient de reconnaître l'absence durable des Européens dans la bataille en expliquant que Paris s'est donné pour objectif de «donner aux Africains la possibilité de chasser les terroristes»hors du Mali. Laurent Fabius, chef de la diplomatie, veut encore croire que la France n'a pas vocation à agir seule. Mais Alain Vidalies, ministre des Relations avec le Parlement, déplore ouvertement «une mobilisation minimale» du côté de l'UE et des «absences un peu regrettables».

Au sens large, la crise malienne marque un nouveau rétrécissement de l'envergure militaire de l'Europe, moins de deux ans après l'offensive alors controversée lancée contre Kadhafi - avec le soutien de l'Otan. L'enthousiasme à dépêcher des troupes se trouve aujourd'hui inversement proportionnel à la légitimité reconnue de la cause.

«La France n'a que de bonnes raisons de vouloir mettre hors d'état de nuire les bandes de gangsters et de trafiquants qui occupent le nord du Mali. Là-bas, le refus de se battre confine à la lâcheté», reconnaît l'eurodéputé Vert Jean-Paul Besset, à rebrousse-poil de l'argumentaire non-violent des écologistes. Et pourtant. «Le soutien politique est unanime, mais lorsqu'il faut agir, on ne trouve plus personne, enchaîne Arnaud Danjean, expert des questions militaires et eurodéputé UMP. Au bout du compte, la France ne peut vraiment compter que sur les Américains ou sur les Anglais…»

Prêcher dans le désert

Où qu'ils regardent en Europe, la diplomatie française et l'état-major risquent de ne trouver que de bonnes excuses. L'Allemagne, dernière puissance européenne à accroître son budget militaire, ne peut pas engager un soldat ou un blindé sans un vote au Bundestag, scénario dont Angela Merkel se défie en période électorale. L'Italie, elle aussi en pleine campagne législative, et l'Espagne, financièrement lessivée par la crise, ne montrent aucun enthousiasme. Au Nord, les contributeurs aguerris de l'Otan que sont les Pays-Bas et le Danemark s'intéressent assez peu à l'Afrique. À l'Est, la Pologne rappelle qu'elle reste engagée en Afghanistan…

Ni le débat lancé mardi au Parlement européen, ni le rendez-vous des 27 ministres des Affaires étrangères de l'UE convoqué jeudi à Bruxelles ne bouleverseront la donne sur le front malien. Tout au plus les chefs de la diplomatie pourront-ils tirer le bilan décevant d'une «Initiative pour le Sahel», lancée à grand fracas en mars 2011 pour renforcer des pays comme le Mali. Si Bruxelles a effectivement alloué les crédits, le volet militaro-sécuritaire n'a jamais suivi. «Cela fait deux ans que Paris prêche dans le désert», dit Arnaud Danjean. Avant de lancer l'opération «Serval», la France espérait sûrement un appoint militaire européen, même si elle n'en a pas fait un préalable. L'absence de renforts de l'UE vient en tout cas compliquer les calculs de l'état-major sur la «deuxième phase», après plusieurs jours de bombardements qui ont réussi à bloquer l'avancée djihadiste.

La voix singulière de la Tunisie critique l'intervention française

Par la voix de son ministre des Affaires étrangères, Rafik Abdessalem, la Tunisie s'est dite opposée par principe à toute opération militaire non africaine sur le continent, au moment où la France mène une intervention armée au Mali contre des combattants islamistes. «Nous considérons que les problèmes qui se posent en Afrique doivent être résolus dans un cadre africain», a déclaré le chef de la diplomatie tunisienne. «D'une façon générale, nous sommes contre une intervention étrangère dans tous les cas de figure», a-t-il ajouté. Rafik Abdessalem est issu du parti islamiste Ennahda, qui dirige le gouvernement tunisien. L'opération menée parla France a été montée à la demande des autorités maliennes en attendant la formation d'une force africaine.Elle a reçu le soutien unanime du Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU et des membres de l'UE. Le président tunisien, Moncef Marzouki, s'était déjà gardé le week-end dernier d'apporter son soutien à l'intervention française, indiquant qu'il aurait «préféré une solution politique négociée». Il a cependant jugé que le nord du Mali, sous contrôle des djihadistes, était aussi un danger pour la Tunisie, le pays étant devenu «un corridor» pour approvisionner les forces islamistes en armes.

LIRE AUSSI:

» Mali: François Hollande en président de guerre

» Les discrets préparatifs de l'armée française à Bamako

» Pourquoi la France a passé la vitesse supérieure au Mali

» Mali: Berlin rappelé à son devoir de solidarité

Berne, 15.01.2013 – news.admin.ch

Le général Micael Bydén, commandant des Forces aériennes suédoises, effectue une visite de travail de deux jours en Suisse.

A l'invitation de son homologue suisse, le commandant de corps Aldo C. Schellenberg, l'hôte suédois rend visite aux Forces aériennes suisses les 16 et 17 janvier 2013. Le programme prévoit notamment la visite de l'école de pilotes et du simulateur du PC-21 ainsi que la présentation de drones. Durant le second jour de sa visite, le général Bydén assistera à la présentation du programme d'armement 2012.

French industry needs Germany to authorize its Mercedes Unimog chassis for use with Nexter's Aravis armored vehicle (shown) and the Multi Purpose Combat Vehicle from MBDA and the Lohr group, both under export contracts to Saudi Arabia. Ties between France and Germany have become tense over doubts that Berlin will allow French industry to deliver on two vehicle deals to Saudi Arabia, political sources said.

Jan. 14, 2013 - by PIERRE TRAN  - Defense news

PARIS — Ties between France and Germany have become tense over doubts that Berlin will allow French industry to deliver on two vehicle deals to Saudi Arabia, raising questions over the viability of European defense cooperation, political sources said.

The problem: French industry needs Germany to authorize its Mercedes Unimog chassis for use with Nexter’s Aravis armored vehicle and the Multi Purpose Combat Vehicle (MPCV) from MBDA and the Lohr group, both under export contracts to Saudi Arabia, political sources said.

As problems emerged, and on advice from a German defense official, the heads of the French Senate and National Assembly defense committees, Jean-Louis Carrère and Patricia Adam, sent a letter to the head of the Bundestag defense committee, Susanne Kastner, asking for help on delivering on the Saudi deals Dec. 19.

But the high level parliamentary letter seems to have failed.

Kastner’s reply landed here Jan. 8, saying the Bundestag committee has no oversight of arms exports, which are the federal government’s responsibility, a French parliamentary official said. In addition, German deputies have tabled motions calling for timely, detailed information on arms exports, the source said.

“Relations are under strain,” a second French parliamentary official said.

Arms sales to Saudi Arabia generate political controversy in Germany because of human rights concerns. Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, however, is reportedly in talks to sell 30 Dingo armored vehicles and the Leopard 2 heavy tank to Riyadh.

The French Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, on Dec. 8 condemned the decapitation in Saudi Arabia of Mohamed Kheir Hussain Darwish, as part of Paris’ universal campaign against capital punishment. The Foreign Ministry noted on its website that Saudi Arabia executed 76 people in 2012.

For French industry, at stake are Saudi orders for 347 vehicles, with 279 Aravis units, including 15 in an ambulance version, and 68 MPCV air defense systems, armed with Mistral 2 missiles, business daily Les Echos reported.

Because the German government had not given clearances, Mercedes missed deliveries for Nexter on Oct. 15 and Lohr on Sept. 15, the French parliamentary letter said.

“Manufacturing has been disrupted, which carries a cost,” said Robert Lohr, chairman of the privately owned company. Lohr said he is optimistic clearance will be given, as the matter is still going through the procedure.

Lohr, based in Strasbourg, eastern France, integrates the Unimog chassis, a Rheinmetall turret and MBDA missiles on the MPCV.

European Cooperation

The parliamentary letter was sent in the framework of a Franco-German defense parliamentary working party, which mirrors a similar Anglo-French body.

As part of efforts to strengthen Franco-German ties, a Bundestag defense committee delegation visited Paris on Dec. 10. German Defense State Secretary Stéphane Beemelmans visited Dec. 12.

A German veto on the Saudi deals has sparked concern among political circles here.

A German refusal would be “amazing,” a parliamentary official said. “It would be a blow to Franco-German friendship.” There is talk among French senators of “retaliation” if Germany withheld clearance, the official said.

Some senators are still annoyed that Germany sank the proposed merger between BAE Systems and EADS last year, and in the restructuring of EADS’ capital, Berlin won the right to buy an equity stake without a countervailing concession for France.

Doubt over German cooperation on the Saudi deals raises questions over how far French hopes to relaunch a European defense system will go, the parliamentary official said.

“Cooperation with Britain makes sense because Paris and London are the two defense actors in Europe, while the other countries play their defense industry cards,” the official said.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, pointing to the U.S. pivot to the Pacific and defense spending cuts across Europe, hopes to boost cooperation among the Weimar Plus group — France, Germany, Poland, Italy and Spain — and also work with Britain under the Lancaster House Treaty.

A mutual interdependence of capabilities, which would be part of the European defense framework, requires a level of confidence that a partner country will deliver when the need arises, but critics question the reliability of partners.

For Nexter, the clearance process is still underway, as the Aravis deal is to come this month before the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control, the licensing authority known by its German acronym BAFA, an industry executive said.

Nexter and MBDA declined to comment.

It is not clear why France needs German approval for the Mercedes chassis, as the European Union in 2009 adopted directives on defense and security, and intra-EU transfers of defense-related products, said Jean-Pierre Maulny, deputy director of think-tank Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques.

The EU measures, which allowed two years for transposing into national laws, included a general license aimed at promoting an internal market for defense products, Maulny said.

Under the German system, the Federal Security Council decides on export licenses. The decisions of the council are treated as top secret. Sitting in the council are the chancellor, head of the chancellery, and ministers for foreign affairs, defense, finance, interior, justice, economics and development cooperation.

The German Ministry of Economics and Technology said, “The federal government does not, as a matter of principle, release any information on possible individual license applications for certain export projects.

“Those are protected by the operating and business secrets of the companies involved in accordance with [Section] 30 of the Administrative Procedure Act.”

———

Albrecht Müller in Bonn, Germany, contributed to this report.

Jan. 14, 2013 by Craig Hoyle – FG

London - Eurofighter partner company BAE Systems has released video footage showing the first test firing of an MBDA Meteor beyond visual-range air-to-air missile to have been conducted from a Typhoon combat aircraft, almost six weeks after performing the milestone event in the UK.

One Meteor test round was released from the UK's Typhoon Instrumented Production Aircraft 1 over the Aberporth test range off the west Wales coast on 4 December, with the Typhoon having been flown from BAE's Warton manufacturing site and flight test facility in Lancashire for the activity.

BAE's video shows the weapon being prepared and then loaded onto the combat aircraft, with its release occurring almost 2min 30sec into the film. Neither the company or MBDA have disclosed further details, such as the missile's flight duration, but BAE has said that data gathered during the test will be used to support further such firings in the future.

Jan. 14, 2013 defense-unmanned.com

(Source: Sunday Telegraph; published Jan. 13, 2013)

British Stealth Drone to Undergo First Test Flight (excerpt)

An unmanned combat aircraft has been built for the British military is to undergo its first ever test flight later this year.

It can fly faster than the speed of sound, cannot be detected by radar and has no pilot. This is the new robotic plane that will become the next generation of front line bombers for the British military.

The drone, which is named Taranis after the Celtic god of thunder, has been designed to fly intercontinental missions to attack targets and can automatically dodge incoming missiles.

The aircraft, which has cost £125 million to build, is intended to be the first of a new generation of aeroplanes that will reduce the need to risk human lives on long, dangerous missions.

It is to be flown for the first time in a series of tests over the Australian outback in the spring in an attempt to demonstrate the technology to military chiefs.

Currently the Royal Air Force uses Tornado GR4 bombers as its front line strike aircraft, although the Typhoon Eurofighter is expected to replace it in the coming years. Remote controlled drones such as Reaper are also used by the Ministry of Defence and US military to attack targets.

But the Taranis is expected to provide a prototype of a new kind of bomber that will replace piloted planes and the current drones.

With a shape more similar to the US B-2 Stealth bomber, it intended to fly automatically using an on-board computer system to perform manoeuvres, avoid threats and identify targets. Only when it needs to attack a target will it seek authorisation from a human controller.

Nigel Whitehead, group managing director of programmes at BAE Systems, which has been developing Taranis, said the new drone could change the way aircraft are used by the MoD in the future, which currently uses manned planes for combat missions.

He said: “I think that the Taranis programme will be used to inform the UK MoD thinking, regarding the make up for the future force mix. I anticipate that the UK will chose to have a mix of manned and unmanned front-line aircraft.

“This decision will have a major impact on the future of the UK military.” (end of excerpt)


Click here for the full story, on the Daily Telegraph website.

Jan 14, 2013 ASDNews Source : Saab AB

Defence and security company Saab Bofors Dynamics Switzerland Ltd (SBDS) has signed two contracts for initial deliveries of MAPAM (Mortar Anti Personnel Anti Material) in new developed configurations and calibers.

The order, which was signed in 2012, has a total value of MSEK 11.2 and comprises production and delivery of MAPAM 60mm ER (extended range) with proximity fuze and MAPAM 81mm standard configuration.

“This is a big milestone for MAPAM due to the fact that both types of MAPAM are completely new on the market. Within the past only standard 60mm has been available. Now that SBDS has not only a new product with the 81mm but is also able to provide different configurations e.g. extended range, for both calibers, a new market has been opened”, says Mr. Kai Schlegel (Area Sales Manager and Product Manager for MAPAM).

The industry’s nature is such that depending on circumstances concerning the product and customer, information regarding the customer will not be announced.

MAPAM has a long and successful history. All existing customers are convinced that MAPAM is the mortar of choice. With the new possibilities of configuration and calibres SBDS offers a variety of solutions. The customers are therefore able to choose not only the state-of-the-art mortar but are also able to adapt MAPAM to the individual demands of their forces.

Deliveries will take place during 2013.

13.01.2013 par P. CHAPLEAU Lignes de Défense

Un C-17 en partance pour l'Afrique a fait escale sur la BA d'Evreux cet après-midi. C'est un des deux avions engagés par Londres dans le cadre du soutien aux forces de la CEDEAO.

Plus d’informations : ICI

13 Jan 2013 By Richard Gray, Science Correspondent -telegraph.co.uk

An unmanned combat aircraft has been built for the British military is to undergo its first ever test flight later this year.

It can fly faster than the speed of sound, cannot be detected by radar and has no pilot. This is the new robotic plane that will become the next generation of front line bombers for the British military.

The drone, which is named Taranis after the Celtic god of thunder, has been designed to fly intercontinental missions to attack targets and can automatically dodge incoming missiles.

The aircraft, which has cost £125 million to build, is intended to be the first of a new generation of aeroplanes that will reduce the need to risk human lives on long, dangerous missions.

It is to be flown for the first time in a series of tests over the Australian outback in the spring in an attempt to demonstrate the technology to military chiefs.

Currently the Royal Air Force uses Tornado GR4 bombers as its front line strike aircraft, although the Typhoon Eurofighter is expected to replace it in the coming years.

Remote controlled drones such as Reaper are also used by the Ministry of Defence and US military to attack targets.

But the Taranis is expected to provide a prototype of a new kind of bomber that will replace piloted planes and the current drones.

With a shape more similar to the US B-2 Stealth bomber, it intended to fly automatically using an on-board computer system to perform manoeuvres, avoid threats and identify targets. Only when it needs to attack a target will it seek authorisation from a human controller.

Nigel Whitehead, group managing director of programmes at BAE Systems, which has been developing Taranis, said the new drone could change the way aircraft are used by the MoD in the future, which currently uses manned planes for combat missions.

He said: “I think that the Taranis programme will be used to inform the UK MoD thinking, regarding the make up for the future force mix. I anticipate that the UK will chose to have a mix of manned and unmanned front-line aircraft.

“This decision will have a major impact on the future of the UK military.”

The Taranis uses stealth technology, including a highly secretive coating that helps it slip through radar undetected. It will be able to carry a series of weapons on board including missiles and laser guided bombs.

The use of drones, however, has come under intense criticism from human rights groups, who claim their use as weapons contravenes international laws as often innocent targets can be killed.

The Reaper and Predator drones currently used by the British and US military are operated by remote control using pilots based at a command centre.

Although they fly relatively slowly, with a maximum speed of 287 miles per hour, less than half the speed of sound, their ability to perform “hunter-killer” missions or support ground troops in Afghanistan without risking human pilots has seen them increasingly used.

Unmanned aircraft are now being seen as a way of producing planes that can fly further, faster and higher than is currently possible with human pilots, who can grow tired or blackout in manoeuvres that produce high g-forces.

There are concerns, however, that as drones are made more autonomous, they will pose more of a risk if they go out of control and leaving computers to make life or death decisions is highly controversial.

Taranis, however, will still rely on instructions from a central command centre before attacking targets.

The tests on Taranis, which is powered by a Rolls-Royce Adour 951 engine used on Hawk training jets, will see it flying a simulated mission where it must automatically avoid unexpected threats such as ground to air missiles and seek out potential targets.

Once identified, the operators will send instructions to Taranis to attack the targets before performing a flying past to confirm the damage and then landing safely.

Mr Whitehead added: “There is one demonstrator aircraft. The mission plan will be loaded onto the vehicle. The aircraft will then fly the mission. Taranis will fly to the search area and sweep the area to identify targets.

“The air vehicle will be presented with unexpected “pop up” threats and its evasive response will be monitored.

“Target information will be relayed to mission command and the aircraft will hold off until given the next instruction to prosecute, send more data or ignore the identified target.

“In the event of a command to attack, this will be carried out followed by a battle damage inspection and then further interaction with command to confirm the instruction to attack again, prosecute other targets or to come home, avoiding further pop-up threats.”

A spokesman for the MoD added: “Taranis is the first of its kind in the UK. Unmanned Air Vehicles play an important role on operations, helping to reduce the risks faced by military personnel on the front line.

“Forthcoming Taranis flight trials will provide MoD and industry with further information about the potential capabilities of Unmanned Combat Air Systems.”

Tornado GR4

Thrust: 32,000lbs

Max speed: Mach 1.3

Length: 56ft

Wingspan: 28ft

Max Altitude: 50,000ft

Taranis:

Thrust: 6,500lbs

Max speed: Classified but supersonic

Length: 37ft

Wingspan: 32ft

Max Altitude: Classified

Jan. 11, 2013 by Craig Hoyle – FG

London - The UK Royal Navy will encounter a potential four-year gap in its ability to deliver organic airborne surveillance and control (ASaC) services late this decade, following the retirement in 2016 of its last Westland Sea King helicopters, the government's National Audit Office (NAO) has warned.

Thirteen Sea King 7 ASaC aircraft are operated by the RN's Fleet Air Arm, with the type having provided airborne early warning cover from surface ships and also currently flying overland surveillance missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Nicknamed "Baggers", the helicopters carry a Thales Searchwater radar.

The Ministry of Defence's "Crowsnest" effort to buy a replacement capability should enter its assessment phase this year, with current plans calling for some of the RN's upgraded AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 multimission helicopters to be adapted to carry an ASaC equipment fit. Options are believed to include integrating systems currently flown aboard the Sea King, or ordering a new mission system from Lockheed Martin, including active electronically scanned arrays being developed by Northrop Grumman using technology also found on Lockheed's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

In its annual Major Projects Report, published on 10 January, the NAO says the RN also faces the prospect of a two-year gap in its commando helicopter force capability, between the retirement of its Sea King HC4/4+ transports (one picture above) and the full availability of an upgraded fleet of Merlin HC3/3As, which are due to be transferred from Royal Air Force ownership in 2014-15.

"The department is examining alternative means of closing these capability gaps," the government's spending watchdog says. A replacement ASaC system would be available in time to coincide with the operational availability of the RN's first of a possible two 65,000t Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, according to its four-year estimate.

Meanwhile, the report also reveals that the Merlin HM2 upgrade programme encountered a four-month schedule slip during its 2011-12 study period. This was due to a suspension of about three months of non-operational flight activities involving the type from November 2011, plus new certification demands imposed by the UK Military Aviation Authority, it says.

The modified HM2 should now achieve in-service status in June 2014, and is expected to remain in operational use until 2029.