LONDON, June 27 (UPI)

Defense industry ties between diverse countries and companies have been recently highlighted by four countries in official visits and talks.

British Minister for Defense Equipment, Support and Technology Peter Luff visited South Korea to help in the development of British-South Korean defense industrial ties, while the defense ministers of Italy and Brazil met in talks that included Brazil's desire to acquire modern surface combat ships.

The visit to South Korea by British official coincided with the announcement that the Asian country had selected Rolls-Royce to supply its MT30 gas turbine engine to power a new South Korean frigate.

"I am delighted to be in the Republic of Korea for the announcement of this important contract," Luff said at a news conference in Seoul. "Its MT30 engine is a testament to British design and engineering skills and has already been selected to be fitted to our Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.

"This contract shows that defense is -- and will remain -- a vibrant and successful sector in the U.K."

As part of his visit Luff toured the dockyards of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, which is building four Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability tankers for the British navy auxiliary. The ships will refuel naval vessels at sea in support of British navy missions beginning in 2016.

The contract was awarded to the South Korean company in an open competition. Although Daewoo will do the building, British companies will benefit from associated contracts for the supply of key equipment, systems, design and support services, among others.

On the other side of the world, Brazilian Defense Minister Celso Amorim and his Italian counterpart, Giampaolo Di Paola, met regarding increased military cooperation between the countries and Brazil's Plan of Organization and Equipment of Defense, part of a Brazilian Navy program to acquire 11 ships -- five frigates, five escort vessels and a super support ship.

Italy is interested in developing and building the vessels for Brazil.

The Italian defense minister reportedly told Amorim that Italy wanted to work with Brazil on the project. Amorim stressed the importance of the importance of the transfer of technology to increase Brazil's own national industrial capabilities.

Other comments on the ship-building project weren't disclosed. However, another topic of discussion was the partnership between Italy and Brazil in the AMX light fighter program.

The project began in 1980 and led to Brazil's Embraer company acquiring the skills and technology for subsequent production of civil and military aircraft. Brazil's AMX fighters are currently undergoing upgrading, and the ministers stressed the importance of continued Italian-Brazilian cooperation for the AMX program's logistics needs.

Jun 27, 2012 by Dominic Perry – FG

Marseille - Eurocopter is continuing discussions with three financially stricken European nations as it attempts to resolve doubts over outstanding orders for NH Industries NH90 transport helicopters.

Between them, Greece, Portugal and Spain have ordered a total of 75 of the type, with Greece the only of the three to have begun taking deliveries. It has so far received four in the initial operational capability configuration, with one of these now at Eurocopter's Marignane site near Marseille, France, for upgrade to the full operational capability standard.

Spain is locked in talks with Eurocopter, a partner in the NH Industries joint venture along with AgustaWestland and Fokker, to cut "around eight aircraft" from its 45-unit order, says the airframer.

No timetable has been fixed for resolving the issue, but Olivier Michalon, Eurocopter sales and customer relations vice-president for Europe and central Asia, says he hopes the talks can be concluded "sooner rather than later". However, he notes that "right now Spain has many, many topics to discuss".

Portugal has 10 NH90s on order, but there is no delivery schedule in place. "We are talking to the [Portuguese] authorities and they want this project to go through as their Pumas are close to the end of their lives and need to be replaced. But when you look at the financial situation in the country, it's hard to say when they will take them," says Eurocopter.

Greece is in a similar situation. Deliveries of the 16 remaining NH90s from its 2003 order are "spread over several years", says Michalon, to replace a fleet of 80 Bell UH-1s. But "Greece's financial situation is far from being optimal", he says.

"In all these countries we want to be accommodating and be part of the solution. But at the end of the day a contract is a contract," warns Michalon.

"We need to sit down with them and see if an additional delay can help them with their obligations."

However, better news could be provided by Russia. Eurocopter has five light helicopters - three single-engined AS350B3es and a pair of AS355NP light twins - being evaluated by a private company in the country with a view to a potential requirement for light trainers for the Russian armed forces. An eventual order could comprise as many as 200 units, indicates Eurocopter, with a decision to potentially come by the end of the year.

June 27, 2012 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Thales; issued June 27, 2012)

Royal Netherlands Navy and Thales Sign Contract

Today, the Netherlands Defence Materiel Organization and Thales Nederland signed an agreement to modify the four SMART-L volume search radars installed on the “De Zeven Provinciën” class air defence and command frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The new SMART-L radar will be optimized for the early detection of ballistic missiles.

SMART-L will be able to detect ballistic missiles shortly after their launch. It has this early warning capability simultaneously with its traditional air defence capability. SMART-L will be able to detect and track several threats simultaneously and make an accurate calculation of each missile’s ballistic trajectory, and accurately estimate its point of impact as well as its launch position. SMART-L is a volume search radar that scans large volumes of the air space so that it can detect missiles without external cues.

The SMART-L and its sister, the S1850M Long Range Radar are used by the navies from Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and South Korea. All these radars could in principle profit from the modification package contracted by the Netherlands' Defence Materiel Organisation.

Gerben Edelijn, CEO of Thales Nederland: “This contract confirms our leading position world-wide in naval sensor technology and system integration. Through this contract we support NATO’s long-term plans for a maritime defence against ballistic missiles.”

Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and the Aerospace & Transport markets. In 2011, the company generated revenues of €13 billion with 68,000 employees in more than 50 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements.

Thales Nederland employs about 2,000 staff members. The company, established in 1922, is one of the leading companies in integrated naval systems for surveillance, weapon control, combat management and system integration worldwide.

CBRN exercise (Photo IDF)

26/6/2012 Michael Kadichevski - israeldefense.com

The Israeli IT company will join more than 20 companies and organizations in the project for developing measures and systems to contend with crises involving unconventional substances

The Israeli company Ness Technologies announced today (Tuesday) its participation in the European CATO (CBRN Architecture, Technologies and Operational Procedures) project for managing unconventional terror-related events and crises.

The company, a known developer of command, control, and communication systems, was even chosen to lead the project. CATO will focus on the various aspects pertaining to dealing with and handling chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) events that stem from terror activity involving unconventional weapons or attacks against development, research, or industry facilities containing CBRN substances. The project is co-financed under the European Commission’s 7th Framework Program.

Through its Technologies and Systems Group (TSG), Ness will join more than 20 companies, agencies, and institutes from across Europe that are involved in the project, and will also be responsible for developing components and systems of the crisis toolbox and knowledge base that the project aims to develop.

Michael Zinderman, President of Ness TSG, said, “The company’s appointment as CATO project coordinator is due to its status as a global leader in the field of C4I systems, with unique expertise in command and control solutions for crisis management.” Zinderman added, “In CBRN disasters, every second counts - and immediate and precise situation awareness is crucial.”

June 27, 2012 by Navantia - naval-technology.com

Navantia and the Spanish Navy have started final sea trials of the F-105 frigate 'Cristóbal Colón' last Monday, in Ferrol, Northern Spain.

During these sea trials, which will last all week, the shipyard will test the correct integration of the combat system in the platform, including trials of all sensors and weapons on board, as anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine, electronic war and communications exercises.

For the performance of several combat scenarios, Navantia will count on the collaboration of other surface units, including a F-100 class frigate, as well as land radio stations and communication satellites.

Navantia has integrated the combat system SPY-1D (V) version on board, making the F-105 the most advanced of all the F-100 class.

The sea trials will take place with more than 300 people on board, including Navantia staff, Spanish Navy and auxiliary industry. It is also expected to receive Australian staff, as part of the training program that Navantia is providing regarding the AWD's contract, a design based on the F-105.

Main features:

    Waterline length: 133.20m

    Full load displacement: 6,041t

    Full load draught: 5.00m

    Maximum speed: 28.5 knots

    Cruising speed: 18 knots

    Endurance at cruising speed: 4,500 miles

    Crew: 234 persons

Significant shipbuilding data:

    Number of compartments: 573

    Tons of hull steel: 2.450t

    Metres of cable: 315.000m

    Metres of piping: 37.000m

Un Chinook CH-47D hollandais (EMFA Hotblade 2012)

juin 27, 2012 Mieszko Dusautoy (BRUXELLES2)

Après le transport aérien, ce sont les hélicoptères européens qui vont suivre un entraînement commun cet été, du 9 au 19 juillet. HOT BLADE 2012, c’est le nom (un peu plus attrayant qu’EATT non?) de cet exercice, qui prendra place au Portugal depuis la base d’Ovar près de Porto. Cette fois-ci, ce n’est pas une première, puisque le programme de l’Agence Européenne de Défense en est à sa quatrième édition après celles de Gap en France (2009), Logrono en Espagne (2010) et Viterbo en Italie (2011).

En plus du Portugal qui accueille l’événement et avec le Luxembourg qui apporte « un soutien financier considérable » (comme on explique à l’Agence Européenne de Défense), sept autres pays participeront à l’exercice: l’Autriche, la Belgique, la République Tchèque, la Finlande, l’Allemagne, les Pays-Bas et l’Espagne. Le Royaume-Uni et la Suède seront également présents en tant qu’observateurs. Au total, une quarantaine d’hélicoptères de différents modèles seront déployés à Ovar.

On peut même dire qu’on a une panoplie très diversifiée de modèles existants. On pourrait même se croire dans un salon aéronautique : Agusta-Westland EH-101 Merlin (Portugal), Agusta Bell 212 (Autriche), Agusta A109 (Belgique), CH-53 Sea Stallion (Allemagne), Chinook CH-47D et Cougar AS-532U2 (Pays-Bas), NH90 (Finlande). Coté avions, c’est plus « classique » : 4 avions de chasse F-16 et 2 avions de transport Casa 295. B2 y sera…

NB : En octobre, ce sera au tour des forces spéciales de s’entraîner, lors de l’exercice Green Blade… en Belgique ! Si l’événement sera plus « discret » (en raison de la nature même des forces déployées), des possibilités de visite pour la presse sont, là aussi, prévues. Alors, amis journalistes, à vos caméras !

Voir la « bande annonce » de l’exercice HOT BLADE 2012

Lire aussi: C’est l’été, les pilotes européens s’entraînent (1)

Jun. 26, 2012 - By JULIAN HALE Defense news

BRUSSELS — European Union foreign affairs ministers have voiced strong support for the upcoming U.N. Arms Trade Treaty negotiations in New York from July 2 to July 27.

Following a meeting here June 25, the ministers said in a statement that the treaty “should establish the highest possible common international standards to regulate legal trade in conventional weapons,” and that “the treaty will make trade in arms more responsible and transparent, thus contributing to reinforcing peace and security, regional stability and sustainable social and economic development.”

Arguing for “a robust and strong Arms Trade Treaty, which should be relevant to all U.N. Member States and can therefore be universal,” they add that they want the treaty to include in its scope “all military conventional weapons and systems, including small arms and light weapons, munitions, related technology, and parts and components.

“The Treaty should require controls on transfers and brokering of conventional weapons covered by the scope of the Treaty. Different control provisions for different types of transfers should be foreseen,” the foreign ministers said in the statement.

The ministers also want a treaty with “clear and strong parameters, against which arms exports and brokering should be assessed. The need for strong parameters is particularly relevant to ensure that arms would not be transferred if there is a substantial risk that they might be used to violate human rights or international humanitarian law,” the ministers said.

“In order to make global trade in arms more responsible, the Treaty should contain credible and effective transparency provisions,” and that “States Parties should report on transfers authorized to an appropriate level of detail, as required by the Treaty.”

Jun 26, 2012 ASDNews Source : Indra

    The company has signed a framework agreement with this agency to develop a solution that will give service to several European Armed Forces

    The first contract arising from the agreement is the management system for the Tiger helicopter programme

    This agreement has strengthened Indra's position in the international market as a global supplier of logistics systems

Indra has signed a framework agreement with the European agency OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation) to implement a logistics information and defence programme life cycle management system.

The first order from this framework agreement, which will last until 2022, is to develop the information management system of the Tiger helicopter project and the common functions of the solution. The agency will progressively extend the system to incorporate other programmes.

Indra competed with the leading companies in the sector in the international open tender for this framework agreement. This award has strengthened the company's position as a supplier of IT solutions for logistics management systems in the international market.

The solution is developed for the programmes under OCCAR’s responsibility. This means that it will give services to all countries involved in them.

The main processes it will cover are technical event management, engineering support, spare part analysis, equipment configuration control and the maintenance and integration of systems.

This will enable OCCAR to share information with the countries that have participated in the multinational programmes it manages, such as the Tiger helicopter, in an agile and precise manner.

Accordingly, the armed forces of these countries will obtain maximum performance from the platforms and systems they acquire, achieve maximum operability and slightly reduce their maintenance costs.

Indra's management system also incorporates a Business Intelligence module that provides reports, indicators and other functions to aid strategic analysis and decision making. This will rationalise usage of the systems and their maintenance costs.

The solution proposed by Indra is based on a modular and scalable SOA (Service-oriented Architecture) approach with a flexible data model based on the PLCS (Product Life Cycle Support) standard, with a high integration capacity. The main commercial products used are IBM Maximo Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) and Oracle Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) for the integration of services.

International Success

Indra's strategy to compete in the international market is based on a commitment to develop its own solutions. This approach and its 20 years of experience in the development of similar systems have enabled it to win this major project for the OCCAR.

Indra's close collaboration with the Spanish armed forces and law enforcement agencies includes the development, commissioning and operation of the logistics systems of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Civil Guard. These systems cover everything from material storage and distribution to the maintenance of equipment, vehicles and supplies.

Photo de famille des équipages participant à l'EATT 2012

(© EATC European Air Transport Command 2012)

juin 26, 2012 Mieszko Dusautoy (BRUXELLES2)

Un exercice commun de grande envergure a rassemblé plusieurs pilotes d’avions de transport aérien, de six pays différents (*), à Saragosse, du 4 au 15 juin. Une première ! Baptisé EATT 2012 (European Air Transport Training Event), cet exercice a eu pour objectif d’ améliorer l’interopérabilité, tester en vol les concepts, techniques et stratégies élaborés dans le « concon » de l’agence européenne de défense et de l’EATC, le commandement aérien européen à Eindhoven.

Au cours de ces deux semaines, plusieurs scénarios tactiques ont ainsi été simulés, au rythme de deux sorties quotidiennes: largage de colis, poser d’assaut sur terrain sommaire, navigation basse altitude, vol en patrouille ou encore opérations nocturnes. La deuxième semaine a été consacrée plus particulièrement aux scénarios de combat direct, notamment des missions d’extraction et des attaques en vol par les F-18 espagnols afin de tester les capacités de défense. Un exercice observé avec attention coté américain et de l’OTAN, qui ont largement encouragé cet exercice. Pour les Américains, « l’interopérabilité » de ses alliés, tant en termes de compétences que de matériel, est en effet primordial. Harmoniser au niveau européen représente ainsi pour eux « un intérêt considérable, non seulement au niveau stratégique mais aussi financier » explique un officier européen qui a participé à l’exercice. Le but de l’exercice était donc également de « tester les compatibilités avec l’OTAN » par exemple en effectuant des atterrissages sur du marquage OTAN.

Mais il reste du chemin à faire

 Au niveau matériel, il existe des grosses différences selon les nations et l’exercice ne fait que les pointer du doigt. Il faut ensuite résorber « ces différences ». Au niveau des compétences, même constat : il n’existe pas de certificat européen qui garantirait que les pilotes disposent des mêmes compétences. Mais l’Agence Européenne de la Défense y « travaille ». A partir de 2014, une formation sera dispensée, de manière permanente, au niveau européen (European Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Course, EATTC) sur le modèle de ce que font les Etats-Unis depuis… 1984 ! Et l’EATT devrait être de plus grande envergure en 2013, avec plus de participants mais aussi des scénarios plus variés encore. L’Agence travaille aussi avec les Etats Membres pour développer un système européen de certification des compétences. Reste à savoir à quel niveau de sécurité: car entre la patrouille, les recherches et secours, et le combat direct, le niveau de compétences requis n’est pas le même !

(*) Six Etats Membres ont participé à cet exercice commun : la Belgique avec un Hercules C-130, la République Tchèque avec un CASA 295, la France avec un Hercules C-130, l’Allemagne avec deux Transall C-160), les Pays-Bas avec un Hercules C-130 et enfin le pays hôte, l’Espagne avec un Hercules C-130 et un Casa 235, ainsi que quatre F-18 pour la simulation d’attaques aériennes. L’Autriche, la Bulgarie, l’Italie et la Norvège étaient également présents comme observateurs. Au total, environ 200 personnes ont été directement impliquées dans l’exercice.

Voici une vidéo de l’exercice:

26/06 Les Echos

Burkhart Braunbehrens, copropriétaire avec 49 autres personnes de l'entreprise familiale Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), connue pour sa discrétion, a déclaré au « Financial Times Deutschland » qu'il « serait judicieux d'aller vers une société commune avec Rheinmetall ». « Il en résulterait des synergies et cela serait une condition préalable pour une plus ample consolidation européenne de l'industrie de la défense. » Cet avis n'est pas partagé par le président du conseil de surveillance, Manfred Bode, souligne le journal. KMW réalise un chiffre d'affaires de près de 1 milliard d'euros, contre 4 milliards pour Rheinmetall, dont la moitié dans la défense. Philippe Burtin, le patron du français Nexter, a affirmé début juin que les constructeurs européens d'armement terrestre étaient prêts à se regrouper face à la concurrence des pays émergents.

18 June 2012 Thales

Thales UK today announces that it has been awarded a further four-year contract, valued at £29 million, from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to support their Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition & Reconnaissance Mission Support System (ISTAR MSS).

ISTAR MSS is a vital operational capability that provides users with mission planning, infor­mation management and information exchange in support of military air operations.

    ISTAR MSS is an essential operational capability…

The capability of ISTAR MSS, initially developed for air-platform mission support, has been adopted by a number of units including those involved in command and control, security and intelligence. It has been described by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as “the UK’s mission support backbone that securely delivers mission critical information” to multiple users.

The flexibility and agility of ISTAR MSS enables the rapid deployment and subsequent support of multiple aircraft types and vehicles, using a fully automated data management capability that reduces MoD manpower requirements and logistic support costs.

The system is delivered through a flexible architecture that is tailored to meet the needs of the operational command structure.

MSS underpins the mission lifecycle for all air operations providing personnel at base, wing and squadron levels with all the information they need to:

    understand and contextualise commander’s intent for their mission

    understand the threat environment they will be operating within

    prepare to operate safely with other participants within the operational theatre

    programme onboard mission system equipment

    analyse mission success factors and sensor data

    disseminate intelligence products to other consumers

The accredited security solution at the heart of ISTAR MSS enables the system to be used by a wide range of personnel operating in a coalition environment.

Separating elements of data in complex realtime data sets, and optimising them for the user, has meant that ISTAR MSS has been employed in many recent UK operations.

Sqn Ldr Andy Coe, the MoD UK sponsor, says: “ISTAR MSS is an essential operational capability providing mission planning, information management and information exchange in support of military air operations. It is the UK’s mission support backbone that securely delivers mission critical information on a worldwide network to multiple aircraft types, command and control centres, and other MoD organisations, enabling them to plan and execute their missions in an operationally efficient, holistic environment.”

“ISTAR MSS provides capability built on operational experience and is continually evolving to meet emerging and often urgent operational needs.”

Marion Broughton, head of Thales UK’s military aerospace business says: “This latest contract demonstrates the success of our longstanding partnership with the UK MoD to meet the integrated air mission support challenges they face in all operational theatres.”

“Thales is proud to continue supporting the UK MoD in the secure delivery of mission critical information.”

BRUSSELS, June 25 (RIA Novosti)

The foreign ministers of 27 EU members states condemned on Monday Syria’s shooting down of a Turkish military plane and urged a thorough investigation into the incident.

“The European Union notes that this is a matter which needs to be investigated thoroughly and urgently,” the EU Council of Ministers said in a statement.

Syria downed a Turkish F-4 Phantom jet on June 22, saying that it had violated Syria’s airspace.

Turkey said the unarmed plane, which was on a training flight to test Turkey's radar capabilities, had unintentionally crossed into Syria's airspace, but was a mile inside international airspace when it was shot down.

Syria said it was unaware that the jet belonged to Turkey and that it was protecting its air space against an unknown intruder.

The incident has further increased tensions between the former allies, whose relations have suffered a dramatic setback over the Syrian government’s response to a popular uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.

The EU has called on Syria to “cooperate fully with Turkey and allow full access for an immediate investigation, and for the international community to give its support to such efforts.”

NATO member Turkey has long been seeking membership in the European Union.

Ankara has called a meeting of NATO member states on Tuesday to discuss the incident. In line with NATO’s founding treaty, any ally can request such consultations if they feel their territorial integrity or security have been threatened.

The wreckage of the downed jet has been discovered in the Mediterranean Sea, while its two pilots are still missing.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko expressed hope on Monday that NATO would not take any action that would escalate tensions over Syria and undermine international efforts to settle the 16-month-old crisis there.

“Turkey’s turning to the NATO Council in line with Article 4 [of NATO's charter] can be considered a very alarming signal that there is [a possibility of] escalation around Syria,” Grushko, whose is expected to become Russia’s new envoy to NATO, told RIA Novosti.

The international community should make all efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis, he said, adding “control over the process should remain in the hands of the United Nations Security Council.”

Russian military experts said on Monday the Turkish jet was likely to have been performing a surveillance flight to test Syria’s air defense systems.

“Syria has an effective air defense system,” said Igor Korotchenko, who heads the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Global Weapons Trade.

When the Syrian military made the decision to open fire, they “qualified the target located in the country’s airspace as hostile,” he said.

Turkey’s intelligence has been active in Syria, and “all information obtained in Syria certainly becomes available to other NATO members,” the analyst said.

Another Russian military expert, Said Amminov, agreed that the incident demonstrated the effectiveness of Syria’s air defenses, which largely rely on Russian-produced Buk, Pechora and Pantsyr defense systems, as well as on Soviet-made S-200 complexes.

25 Jun 12UK MoD -  A Defence Policy and Business news article

A delegation from the Libyan Navy recently visited HMS Raleigh and Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) for an insight into the methods used by the Royal Navy to train new recruits.

The delegation was led by Commodore Hassan Ali Bushnak, Chief of Staff of the Libyan Naval Force.

During their time at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint the visitors were able to see recruits undergoing their 10-week initial naval training course.

The visitors were shown the facilities used to teach recruits how to safely handle and fire the SA80 rifle and first aid training.

They were also invited to see the former minesweeper HMS Brecon, which is now used to give recruits their first taste of life on board ship, and for a diverse range of specialist training from seamanship to catering and hospitality.

Commodore Bushnak is no stranger to BRNC Dartmouth, having trained at the College himself in 1973.

During their time in Dartmouth, the Libyan delegation were able to meet with Officer Cadets and witness a demonstration of maritime leadership training on the River Dart.

This demanding four-day exercise is the culmination of the second stage of Initial Officer Training, known as the 'marinisation phase'.

In crews of seven, the Officer Cadets use motor whalers and picket boats in a tactical scenario based on a humanitarian operation, bringing together the skills they have learnt throughout their course, including leadership, navigation and seamanship.

The visit to HMS Raleigh and BRNC formed part of a wider visit by the Libyan delegation to the Royal Navy in the UK to build relations, offer opportunities, and to help understand the enormous challenges Libya faces in creating a modern naval force.