12.02.2015 Le Monde

7/2/2015 Amir Rapaport - israeldefense.com

On the eve of the year when IMI is to be sold, CEO Avi Felder speaks about the privatization project, a cooperative with Rafael and the lessons derived from Operation "Protective Edge": “Urban wars will continue”

At the outset of 2015, Avi Felder faces a series of unusual challenges: completing the structural revision within IMI, assimilating the lessons of Operation Protective Edge with regard to the Company’s product range, and above all – facilitating the privatization of IMI, after some elements possessing secret information on the manufacture of rocket engines have been separated from it, and a new company, "Tomer" has been established.

Felder is confident that the coming year will end with IMI, one of Israel’s longest running government companies, under a different ownership, either private or public.

“2015 will be a year at the end of which we should emerge as a privatized company under private, or more precisely non-government ownership,” says Felder.

Does the fact that the Knesset has been dissolved and elections will be held next March change the privatizing plans?

“The train has already left the station. The process will not stop because of the elections. The Government Companies Authority is in charge of this process. We assist it in order to comply with all of the terms. So far, the Company has complied with 100% of the plan prescribed for it. I assume this compliance will remain the same. Later on, the process will be more technical and not one that calls for decisions that could be influenced by the elections.”

Where are we in the process right now?

“In January 2015, an advertisement will be published, calling for companies that would like to participate in the purchase to submit their bids. Subsequently, the regulator should approve the companies included in the bidding and it is planned that by the end of March or in early April at the latest, those companies will receive a detailed RFP and submit their responses to it. By the end of the year, the process will be concluded. We are currently working on the establishment of information rooms, to be opened in late March, for the benefit of the bidders, so that they may use the information to make a decision regarding the tender without compromising details that may adversely affect our on-going competitive position vis-à-vis the companies that may eventually purchase us. At the same time, other processes are progressing as well. During that period, IMI will be split into ‘IMI Systems’ – which would accept all of the Company’s assets and activities, and the residual IMI, which will keep all those things that I refer to as the ‘sins of the past’ – contaminated soil, environmental issues and so forth. The State will assume responsibility for the employees’ pension debts. The split should take place around March. That’s the general direction.

“At the information rooms, the potential buyers will receive all of the information in the most transparent and clear manner that would still protect the Company, as in the end, only one buyer will be selected. In any case, according to the decision of the ministerial committee, IMI Systems will be privatized as a single ‘block’ – it will not be broken down, but sold with all of the production plants and subsidiaries.

“At the same time, we are still working on the establishment of ‘Tomer’ – on the basis of our ‘Givon’ plant (the Rocket Systems Division). Just before IMI is handed over to the buyer, ‘Tomer’ will be separated from it. At this time, we are cooperating with IMOD on the characterization of ‘Tomer’. This plant will deal with all aspects of rocket engines and propulsion, and would sell the engines to IMI just as it is currently done by Givon. It will be a government company – 100% owned by the State of Israel.”

Will the other knowledge centers be privatized?

“Yes. Only the Rocket Systems Division will still be owned by the State of Israel. All of the rest is for sale. We are also working intensively on the relocation of ‘IMI Systems’ to the Negev, which is to take place immediately following the privatization. By 2022 we would no longer be in Ramat HaSharon. To accomplish the relocation to the Negev within seven years – that is a challenge in itself. The relocation process will consist of several phases. Now we are working on the planning of the area we will transfer to. We are considering which activities should be located there. We intend to evaluate what IMI would look like in the coming years, and ensure that some space will be reserved for future development in the context of the relocation to the Negev.”

Will the buyer be required to relocate to the Negev? Will he not be able to change his mind about it?

“There is an agreement, and it will happen. The Government of Israel decided to privatize the Company. In April 2014, 12 contracts were signed between the Company and the trade union and the employees – and the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Defense. These contracts specified everything that had been agreed – the retirement agreement, the agreement regarding the relocation to the Negev – all of these agreements are elements of the privatization process. Now, we take all of those framework agreements and break them down into details, and most importantly – we execute them!”

According to Felder, out of 3,700 IMI employees in early 2014, 700 have already agreed to retire by the end of the year. 500 additional employees will retire over the next few months, and 380 will transfer to ‘Tomer’ after the privatization. At the same time, 250 new employees have been recruited for all positions – from production workers to engineers and marketing managers.

At the bottom line, is the company offered for sale healthy and profitable?

“Yes.”

What is your backlog of orders?

“We are entering the coming year with a backlog of orders of about eight billion NIS. As far as I can remember, this is a record for the Company. It gives us solid working prospects for the next four years. Beyond that backlog, we are taking into account an internal growth of something like 10% a year. The Company will be profitable in 2016.”

Does the backlog include Givon?

“Yes, but not in considerable numbers – around 200-300 million NIS, as over there they have many things that come in over the year and are executed promptly. The backlog also includes our subsidiary ‘Ashot Ashkelon Industries’, which has a backlog of orders of 900 million NIS. ‘Ashot’ is a profitable company with 15% holdings on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange, and it will remain profitable.”

What is the ratio between foreign and domestic business?

“About 40% of IMI’s sales are to IMOD and 60% to overseas clients.”

Investments & Structural Change

Avi Felder says that apart from the preparations for the tender, IMI is undergoing some major changes: “We are investing in the purchasing of machines for the production floors in all of the Company’s plants, and have launched a three-year plan for upgrading the Company’s IT system. We have not made any investments in infrastructure for many years, owing to the budget restrictions we were under.

“Another major change is the completion of the establishment of the business administrations within the Company. In 2014 we initiated the establishment of business administrations for infantry, armored forces, engineering, artillery, air and HLS. The function of these administrations is to deal with project management, system engineering and marketing, and be client-driven. In my view, the administrations are the locomotives of the Company. In 2015, these locomotives will pull out and start off.”

How long will "IMI Systems" remain independent?

“I do not know. I assume that a wise and reasonable buyer will continue to operate ‘IMI Systems’ as a business entity and lead it to new horizons. Even under the new ownership, the Company will operate under government regulation, as it operates today.

“There is no difference in the regulative work, regardless of whether it is a private or a government company, small or large.”

In the event that the buyer turns out to be Elbit Systems, will IMI be merged into the group?

“Elop remained Elop even under Elbit’s ownership, and Elisra also remained a separate company. I cannot step into the buyer’s shoes, whoever he may be, he is committed to a certain period of time when ‘IMI Systems’ will continue to be a company. In any case, I do not foresee any dramatic changes initially. In such a process, when a buyer enters a company, he will first of all familiarize himself with it.

“IMI, in particular, is like an aircraft carrier. It is not a small company. The buyer will have to study all of its obscurities, familiarize himself with its engine. Subsequently, he will have to determine whether he can create a synergy with other activities. In my opinion, this stage will take a reasonable amount of time.”

Regardless of the Privatization, has your product range changed over the last five-year period?

“Yes. I think that the similarity between our products today and the range of products we had five years ago is only in the names of the activities, but not in the products. In the field of infantry, for example, we have introduced over the last few years the MPRS system for firing rifle grenades with a high degree of precision, a high-accuracy mortar shell and a new hand grenade with improved safety devices. In the armored forces field, we introduced the 120mm APAM-MP-T M329 tank cartridge, 105mm APAM-MP-T M117/1 tank cartridge and 120mm HE-MP-T M339 tank cartridge. The latter cartridge was used operationally for the first time during Operation Protective Edge, and proved to be a fantastic success.

“Another activity which has developed significantly is artillery rockets. In that field, too, we have introduced a range of completely new products. We now have rockets to ranges of 40 to 250 kilometers, with a CEP of a few meters.”

You surprised everyone with your Predator Hawk guided artillery rocket to a range of 250 km, which you unveiled at the KADEX exhibition in Kazakhstan last summer

“As far as I am concerned, it was no surprise. Anyone who is familiar with our capabilities only asks us ‘when will you introduce the next rocket’.”

What can you say about the sales of the Extra rocket to a range of 150 km?

“This rocket has already been sold to several countries around the world, having passed several perfect trials. This is one example of the change the Company underwent. This deal was signed and delivered very quickly. We fully accomplished our objectives and our clients were satisfied, and even more importantly – satisfied clients come back. In this context, the Predator Hawk is an example of a satisfied client who came back.

“It is important to understand further that we are not just talking about the rocket itself, but rather about a layout of rockets. We sell a complete battalion or brigade, fully equipped from head to toe – the rockets for the launchers, the command centers, the ammunition, the meteorology, the UAV as well as a training and instruction package. The nice thing about the clients who purchased such layouts is that they currently use the rockets without us, in their training exercises.

“In the air category, we introduced the MPR-500 bomb, which was also used operationally for the first time during Operation Protective Edge. As far as we know, it was also tremendously successful.”

What are the sales of this bomb like, apart from sales to the IDF?

“We have had a few sales transactions as well as distribution agreements with some major corporations in the global market – these cooperative alliances apply to manufacturing as well as to sales. For obvious reasons, I cannot name the corporations with whom we entered those agreements.”

What about the continued manufacturing of "loitering weapons", after you developed the Delilah in the last decade?

“It is not our field. We have had no presence in the world of loitering weapons after the Delilah.”

Where do you stand in the field of active defense?

“We are currently engaged in a dialog with Rafael with the intention establishing a cooperative alliance on the issue of active defense. IMOD convened both Rafael and us recently, and at this time both companies are cooperating with the aim of developing the best system for IDF.”

According to Felder, the intention is to combine between Rafael’s Trophy system and IMI’s Iron Fist system, so that the interceptor will be made by IMI, the radar will be made by IAI (as in the Trophy system) and Rafael will serve as the primary contractor and integrator of the project. “We are currently working on the agreement between the companies,” said Felder. “The ownership structure for the project has not been finalized yet, but the general direction is a partnership.”

A partnership with 40% for Rafael, 30% for IAI and 30% for IMI?

“That is the general direction.”

Technologically, can a combination of the Iron Fist and Trophy systems really work?

“The engineers of these companies can do anything. All you have to do is just provide them with a suitable working environment.”

Will the system be available for the future Namer (Merkava) APCs?

“That is for IDF to decide.”

Will it be relevant to export sales as well?

“Provided we receive export permits.”

Generally, in your view, has the transition to the manufacture of precision munitions proved itself?

“Without a doubt, Operation Protective Edge proved to IMI that our development directions were correct. The entire subject of precision guided munitions suitable for urban warfare, on which we have been focusing all these years, has proven itself. The emphasis has been on inexpensive precision munitions that clients can afford. Every two years we prepare a strategic plan for five years ahead. After Operation Protective Edge we set up a team to check whether we are on the right track or need to make adjustments. We came to a sweeping conclusion that the trends were correct. Naturally, some adjustments were required, but no substantial changes.”

What about the fields of cyber and HLS?

“These are new activities which we entered recently. HLS had already existed (within IMI), on the basis of the IMI Academy for Advanced Security & Anti-Terror Training. The Academy provides an excellent basis for soaring and reaching better places. Thus far, the Company has not dealt with it very intensively, but the establishment of the HLS administration is a clear indication of the fact that we want to go in that direction, and take advantage of suitable products that we already have and of the Company’s marketing and integration capabilities.

“We established the cyber element for two reasons: firstly, to defend our products. Obviously, you cannot sell anything today without cyber defense. Secondly, we expanded our cyber defense activity on the basis of a more comprehensive perspective.”

Did you identify a business potential in this field?

“Certainly.”

And what about the more traditional fields of activity? Upgrades for armored still a business potential there?

“There is business in all of those fields. In the field of armored vehicle upgrades we are currently engaged in several projects around the world. In small arms ammunition, our sales to the IDF provide the primary basis for us, but we also sell to retail chains in the USA. In the USA we are regarded as manufacturers of premium ammunition. Our ammunition has excellent reputation. This market is twice as large as the military market, and is very stable.” Felder noted that IMI will once again participate in the SHOT Show, to be held in Las Vegas in January 2015.”

Regarding the new infantry vehicle, Combat Guard, developed by IMI, Felder said: “We developed one vehicle prototype that we showcased at the exhibition in Paris, and received a very serious response. We regard infantry mobilization as one of the legs the Company stands on. We are also involved in the Namer APC, the Body Guard and another off-road vehicle designated Wildcat. The advantage of these off-road vehicles is that they can operate on any terrain, under any conditions. For these vehicles, we also developed weapon systems that can promptly engage any threat based on identification data provided by the active defense system.”

In your view, has the era of wars between regular military forces ended?

“I always say – the unexpected is the only expected element in wars. I assume the military is being prepared so as to provide a solution to any potential scenario, and we attempt to be present at any niche that may prove attractive to the client. The primary characteristic of the battlefield today is the fact that it is constantly changing.”

What trends do you see evolving in the global defense market in the coming year?

“We regularly analyze the global trends. You see the defense budget in the USA, which once was at the highest level and is now being maintained at a certain level. The budgets in Europe have decreased drastically, with the exception of Russia – where the budget has increased by approximately 50%. China has also increased its budget by 50%. The budgets have moved eastward. The increase in the Russian and Chinese budgets has led to a boost in defense expenditure in the entire region. The drop in oil prices has also had a profound influence on the market.

“Generally, Israeli industry and the entire defense industry of Israel are at the technological top. We must retain that by investing in R&D, which yields a very high added value.”

13.02.2015 Par Jean-Pierre Stroobants (Bruxelles, bureau européen) - Le Monde.fr

S’il n’y avait eu les négociations sur la guerre en Ukraine et la résurgence de la crise grecque, c’est le dossier de la lutte contre le terrorisme qui aurait essentiellement occupé les chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement réunis jeudi 12 février à Bruxelles. Il s’agissait initialement, lors de ce sommet informel, de publier une déclaration commune rappelant « les valeurs, la liberté et la tolérance des Européens, ainsi que leur unité », comme le soulignait une source diplomatique française.

Le texte publié jeudi rappelle dès lors les grands principes et fixe des objectifs : une meilleure détection et une meilleure identification des terroristes ; une lutte accrue contre le financement des réseaux ; une politique de prévention censée endiguer la radicalisation — notamment sur Internet — ; une meilleure coordination des actions locales et nationales dans les prisons et les écoles ; des contacts accrus avec les pays tiers du Moyen-Orient, d’Afrique du Nord, du Sahel ou des Balkans, etc.

Au-delà des principes, des problèmes politiques concrets étaient posés. La France insistait notamment sur la nécessité de permettre le contrôle « systématique » de toutes les personnes entrant ou sortant de l’espace européen sans passeport de Schengen, ressortissants de pays tiers ou de l’Union. Paris demande en conséquence une révision du code Schengen, même si celui-ci permet déjà des contrôles renforcés dans certaines situations. La Commission est réticente, craignant une remise en cause du principe de la liberté de circulation et estimant que les dispositions actuelles sont suffisantes.

Suite de l'article

12 février 2015 45eNord.ca (AFP)

La milice chiite des Houthis, au pouvoir à Sanaa, a dénoncé jeudi la fermeture d’ambassades et s’est déclarée prête à remettre des véhicules américains saisis, alors qu’Al-Qaïda s’est emparé d’un camp militaire et de grosses quantités d’armements.

Des combattants d’Al-Qaïda ont conquis le camp de la 19e brigade d’infanterie à Baihan, une ville de la province Chabwa, dans le sud, après de violents combats qui ont fait au moins sept morts, dont trois soldats, selon un responsable local.

Suite de l’article

12 February 2015 by defenceWeb

The French Navy is supportive of tentative plans to sell its FREMM frigate Normandie to Egypt at short notice, with the vessel to be delivered before August.

The vessel, built by DCNS, is currently undergoing sea trials. French Navy chief Admiral Bernard Rogel said earlier this week that Normandie could be handed over to Egypt later this year if its transfer does not affect French Navy operations.

"Just for now it's not a done deal," Rogel said. "Everyone is talking about it, so it's no secret that today we are working on a request from Egypt, the purchase of a multimission frigate with a very quick delivery, for the summer 2015," he told the French defence journalists association.

In order for this to happen, the French Navy would have to extend the life of one of the F70 anti-submarine frigates due to be replaced by the FREMMs (this would be the Motcalm, due to be decommissioned this year), and DCNS would have to deliver six FREMMs by 2018.

"There should not be an overall impact on the Navy, which is already very extended," Rogel said. "The shipbuilder must be able to guarantee we will have four FREMM frigates by 2016 and six FREMM frigates by 2018. I have been seriously told that could be done. With those conditions, the Normandie can be sold," he said.

The speeded up schedule necessitated by a sale to Egypt goes against the French government’s plans of slowing down FREMM deliveries in order to feel less of a financial impact, Defense News reports.

The French ministry of defence is facing a 2.2 billion euro budget shortfall this year, and as a result is considering selling and leasing back up to six Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft and two or three FREMM frigates. The money from the sales would go to the defence budget while the defence ministry would lease back the equipment from state-owned companies. France’s defence procurement budget faces a 5.5 billion euro shortfall between 2014 and 2019.

French defence procurement head Laurent Collet-Billon on Monday said that France plans to later extend the sale and leaseback model to other equipment like C295 transport aircraft and military helicopters.

Egypt is currently negotiating the sale of 24 Dassault Rafale fighter jets as well as the FREMM and Mica and Aster 15 missiles from MBDA in a combined deal worth five to six billion euros. A French source on Tuesday said the deal was imminent.

Egypt is keen to acquire the Rafales and FREMM in time for the planned opening of a new waterway for the Suez Canal in August. It also hopes to get the Rafales from French military stocks.

Last year Egypt ordered four DCNS Gowind corvettes worth around 1 billion euros from France, with options for two more.

France has eight FREMM frigates on order plus three options. The first of class, Aquitaine, was commissioned in November 2012 while the third vessel, Provence, was launched in September 2013 with sea trials beginning in September last year. The fourth vessel, Languedoc, is due for delivery in 2016.

The multirole FREMM frigates have been designed for several roles, including anti-air, anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare. They feature Herakles multifunction radar, Aster surface-to-air missiles, MdCN cruise missiles, Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles, MU90 torpedoes and an Otobreda 76 mm gun. Each vessel is 142 metres long, has a beam of 20 metres and displaces 6 000 tonnes.

Although there is accommodation for 145 personnel, the standard complement is 108 including the helicopter crew - the frigate has an aft helicopter hangar and deck able to accommodate medium helicopters like the NH90, EH101 and Cougar.

The FREMM's hybrid CODLOG (COmbined Diesel eLectric Or Gas) power package combines electric motors for low-speed silent-mode propulsion and a gas turbine for high-speed mechanical propulsion, with a maximum speed in excess of 27 knots. This gives a range of 6 000 nm at 15 knots.

10.02.2015 Par Olivier Berger, grand reporter à La Voix du Nord – Défense Globale
 

Déjà satisfait des 8,06 milliards d'exportation des industriels français de défense en 2014, Laurent Collet-Billon, le délégué général à l'armement, affichait lundi un grand optimisme pour l'année 2015. Surtout pour un futur contrat de 24 Rafale et de la frégate multimissions Normandie (photo DCNS) avec l'impatiente Egypte...

L'Egypte, depuis l'arrivée à la présidence d'Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, tient à moderniser d'urgence ses équipements militaires très vieillissants. Après un premier contrat de quatre corvettes de patrouille Gowind de DCNS, signé durant l'été 2014, on évoque l'achat de 24 avions de chasse muti-rôles Rafale de Dassault et d'une frégate multi-missions (FREMM), toujours du fleuron industriel marin français, mais aussi de missiles de MBDA.

Les Egyptiens sont si pressés pour la FREMM (livraison été 2015 !) que la France évoque que la Normandie, prévue pour la Marine nationale, bifurque vers la Méditerranée orientale. Et que l'équipage prévu attende la sortie de la frégate suivante...

" Les négociations sont en cours mais on peut le faire sous certaines conditions, assure l'amiral Rogel, rencontré ce lundi. On peut prolonger d'un an une frégate en fin de vie (la Montcalm) et le constructeur (DCNS) nous garantit la livraison de quatre FREMM avant 2016 et six avant 2018. Dans ces conditions, la Normandie peut être cédée. "

Lundi à Paris, lors du bilan annuel de la Direction générale de l'armement, son Délégué général, Laurent Collet-Billon, n'a pas caché de grands espoirs. " Pour l'Egypte, on a franchement le sourire ", a-t-il dit en regardant ses proches collaborateurs l'œil gourmand. En principe, les premiers avions égyptiens seraient livrables en 2018.

Après les échecs aux Emirats arabes unis, en Corée du Sud, au Brésil, au Maroc, au Pays-Bas, à Singapour, en Suisse, 2015 sera-t-elle l'année de la délivrance à l'exportation pour le Rafale ? Après l'Egypte, le DGA observe que " les travaux sont en cours avec le Qatar " (36 appareils) , que " le processus est un peu compliqué " avec l'Inde (responsabilité industrielle au-delà des 18 construits en France) mais " qu'il est préférable de prendre en compte les cultures locales pour réussir " (126 avions).  Car au bout du compte, " nous avons toujours l'objectif d'alléger la Loi de programmation militaire d'une quarantaine d'avions ". Et ça, personne ne l'oublie.

11 février 2015 libération.fr (AFP)

Les Français sont invités à quitter la pays. Les Etats-Unis et la Grande-Bretagne ont eux aussi fermé leurs ambassades.

La France a appelé mercredi sa centaine de ressortissants au Yémen à quitter le pays «dans les meilleurs délais» et a annoncé la fermeture «provisoire» de son ambassade à Sanaa à compter de vendredi, dans un message publié sur son site diplomatique.

Suite de l’article

10 February 2015 By Omar Ashour University of Exeter – BBC Middle East

Messages written on Jordanian air-to-surface missiles before they were fired at alleged Islamic State (IS) positions in Raqqa, Syria, summed up the mood of many in the country.

They included "This one is for the enemy of Islam, Omar Shishani", a reference to a Chechen IS commander, and "Our soldiers will be victorious", a Koranic verse.

The air strikes were a reaction by the Jordanian authorities to the immolation by IS of the Jordanian pilot, Flight Lt Moaz al-Kasasbeh, whose F-16 was allegedly shot down near Raqqa in December.

They were preceded by the executions of two operatives from al-Qaeda in Iraq, a precursor to IS. Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziyad Karboli, both Iraqis, had previously been sentenced to death in connection with attacks in the kingdom in 2005 and 2008.

What will the current escalation between IS and the Hashemite regime mean for Jordan?

Read full article

10 février 2015 Romandie.com (AFP)

Paris - Les négociations sur la vente de 24 avions de chasse français Rafale à l'Egypte, soit un contrat de 4 à 5 milliards d'euros, sont suspendues à un feu vert du président Abdel Fattah al-Sissi et vont nécessiter encore plusieurs jours de dialogue, a indiqué mardi le ministère français de la Défense.

Contrairement aux informations relayées ici ou là sur une approbation ou une signature de l'offre francaise par le président égyptien Sissi, aucune officialisation, signature ni approbation de cette offre n'a été émise au Caire, a relevé un porte-parole du ministère.

Il reste encore plusieurs jours de dialogue pendant lesquels nous restons extrêmement prudents quant à toute annonce intempestive, a-t-on ajouté de même source.

Les discussions pourraient aboutir cette semaine, a-t-on indiqué de source diplomatique française. Nous leur avons fait des conditions financières intéressantes. On devrait y arriver. Dans la semaine. Mais tant que ce n'est pas signé, ce n'est pas signé, a souligné cette source.

Ce contrat, très attendu, représenterait le premier succès à l'exportation du Rafale, qui équipe depuis 2004 l'armée française mais n'a jamais trouvé jusqu'ici preneur à l'étranger. Les discussions ont notamment tourné court avec le Brésil, les Emirats arabes unis, la Suisse et le Maroc.

Des succès à l'export sont cruciaux pour le constructeur Dassault Aviation, afin de pérenniser la chaîne de production de l'appareil, tout comme l'Etat français qui doit s'engager dans le cas contraire à en acheter un certain nombre d'exemplaires alors que le budget de la Défense est déjà calculé au plus près.

Le fait d'avoir une vente à l'export est important car cela ouvrira la porte à d'autres ventes à l'étranger, explique Philippe Plouvier, du Boston Consulting Group. L'Inde et le Qatar sont également en négociations pour acheter des Rafale.

Le PDG de Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier, avait affirmé samedi dans le quotidien Le Figaro que l'avionneur était en passe de réussir le premier contrat export du Rafale.

Le ministre de la Défense, Jean-Yves Le Drian, a souligné dans la foulée que les discussions avec l'Egypte étaient bien avancées mais pas conclues. J'espère que ça se fera, a-t-il dit dimanche.

L'Egpyte est aussi en discussions pour l'achat d'une frégate multimissions FREMM. La Marine française pourrait ainsi renoncer à la prochaine FREMM qu'elle doit recevoir, le Normandie, au profit de son homologue égyptienne.

Selon le quotidien Les Echos, l'accord prévoit que la Coface, organisme français d'assurance-crédit, garantisse 50% de la commande, hors paiement de l'acompte, qui représente en général 15% du montant de ce genre de contrat. Le Caire, qui souhaitait au départ une garantie portant sur 90% du montant hors acompte, aurait ainsi accepté de revoir ses prétentions à la baisse, affirme le quotidien.

Amnesty International France a appelé pour sa part Paris à suspendre tous les transferts d'armes à l'Egypte en raison de la répression, sans précédent depuis 30 ans qui sévit dans le pays.

A la veille du quatrième anniversaire de la chute du président Hosni Moubarak, le 11 février 2011, l'ONG a demandé, dans un communiqué, la libération d'Ahmed Maher, Mohamed Adel et Ahmed Douma, figures de proue de la révolution qui a conduit au renversement du Raïs, emprisonnés pour avoir appelé à manifester il y a plus d'un an.

04.02.2015 Shani Poms – IAF

In addition to the new C-130J, the "Elephant" squadron is now being equipped with new Tablets in order to ease data access and save paper

The worldwide environmental revolution did not skip the IAF and many environmentally-friendly projects are gradually implemented in its lines. A great example is the change in the "Elephant" squadron which recently upgraded to tablets called "iPill". From now on, the entire protocols of the squadron will be summed up in tablets instead of books, saving a large amount of paper.

"The main advantage of the project is the easy access to data", explains Captain Ofer, one of the managers of the project in the squadron. The tablets will be carried to every flight and instead of browsing through thick books in case of a malfunction or a dilemma, the aircrew members would be able to find the relevant answer in an instant, using the tablets. "Beyond the time the tablets save, the accessibility helps the learning process".

From time to time, the squadron is required to update the knowledgebase and now it can be done easily and without wasting any paper. "The update is done very quickly and no paper is thrown away".

The absorption of the tablets is still at the outset, but it seems like the responses are positive. "The feedbacks are positive, especially on the part of accessibility. We keep thinking of ways to improve and everybody shares their ideas", concluded Captain Ofer.

9 February 2015 Ministry of Defence

British forces have continued to conduct air operations to assist the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIL.

Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft operating in support of the Iraqi government have conducted further successful attacks on ISIL terrorists.

On the morning of Friday 6 February, an RAF Tornado GR4 patrol worked closely with a coalition surveillance platform to provide overwatch for Kurdish peshmerga, who were engaged in close combat with ISIL – also known as Da’ish – terrorists near Mosul. When an ISIL mortar position opened fire on the pehsmerga, the GR4s were able to respond with a Brimstone missile which scored a direct hit.

Early on Saturday morning, another Tornado pair patrolled western Iraq, near Al Qa’im, close to the Syrian border. Two heavily armed ISIL trucks were identified and attacked with Brimstone missiles. The GR4s also located an ISIL armoured personnel carrier and conducted a further Brimstone attack; initial analysis indicates that all three vehicles were destroyed.

An armed reconnaissance patrol by a Reaper on Monday morning over western Iraq spotted a checkpoint manned by ISIL, denying the local population any freedom of movement. Having checked the area for any risk to civilians, the Reaper’s crew attacked the checkpoint with a Hellfire missile.

Previous air strikes

2 February: Early on Monday, Tornado GR4s provided close air support to Iraqi army operations approximately 70 kilometres north west of Baghdad, and dropped 2 Paveway IVs on ISIL positions engaged in a firefight with the Iraqi troops.

4 February: In the afternoon, a pair of RAF Tornado GR4s conducted an armed reconnaissance patrol to assist the Iraqi armed forces in their offensive operations against ISIL around Bayji. Two ISIL armoured vehicles were identified in a building and were attacked with two Paveway IV precision guided bombs, scoring direct hits.

Military support is just one part of the UK Government’s contribution to the global coalition strategy to defeat ISIL – we are also taking action to counter the terrorist network’s finances, are restricting the flow of foreign fighters and have provided vital humanitarian relief to help those affected by ISIL’s brutality. The RAF contribution includes Reaper remotely piloted aircraft, which, like the Tornados, provide reconnaissance and close air support to the Iraqi ground forces; a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker; a Sentry airborne surveillance and command aircraft; and air transport aircraft as necessary. British military training teams continue to teach infantry and first aid skills to the Kurdish peshmerga, and liaison teams are embedded within Iraqi and coalition headquarters. Having previously provided military equipment to the Iraqi forces, Britain plans to gift Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detectors to help the Iraqi and Kurdish soldiers protect themselves against the numerous improvised explosive devices on which ISIL are increasingly relying as they are forced back by successful offensives. In the Gulf, the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless is operating in direct support of the US Navy’s aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, which provides a significant part of the coalition’s air effort.

Details of previous airstrikes can be found here.

For more information see ISIL: UK government response page on GOV.UK

1.  The Council strongly condemns the recent attacks, which have been carried out by terrorist groups and individuals in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Terrorism poses a direct threat to all countries and all people regardless of their ethnic background, religion or belief. In a globalised world, such threats can only be countered through international cooperation and determined national action. In this context, the Council reiterates the EU's strong support to relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, in particular Resolutions 2170 and 2178, and calls on all countries to take the necessary measures to ensure their swift implementation with full respect for human rights and the Rule of Law.

2.  The Council calls for comprehensive action against terrorism in line with the 2005 EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy and in full compliance with international law, fundamental values and international human rights standards. While Member States have the primary responsibility for addressing terrorism, the EU as such can add value in many ways. The actions taken in the area of justice and home affairs need to be complemented by external engagement and outreach, especially to countries in the Middle East, North Africa, the Sahel and the Gulf. Close coordination between internal and external action on the one hand, and between relevant EU actors and EU Member States on the other hand, will enhance the impact of our common efforts. We need to put more emphasis on the prevention of terrorism, in particular countering radicalisation, on recruitment, equipment and financing of terrorism, and address underlying factors such as conflict, poverty, proliferation of arms and state fragility that provide opportunities for terrorist groups to flourish.

3.  Against this background, the Council decides to step up, as a matter of urgency, its external action on countering terrorism in particular in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, including Yemen, and North Africa, in particular also Libya, and the Sahel. Counter-terrorism (CT) will be mainstreamed fully into EU foreign policy. It calls for accelerated implementation of the EU Syria and Iraq and Counter-Terrorism/Foreign Fighters Strategy (adopted on 20 October 2014) with a particular focus on foreign terrorist fighters and the EU's Maghreb Communication. The Council welcomes the Joint Communication on EU regional strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the Da'esh threat and looks forward to its implementation as soon as possible.

4.  More specifically, the Council welcomes the following initiatives to be implemented in the course of 2015, building on those actions that are already taking place in the field of Justice and Home Affairs and in Foreign and Security Policy.
 

Strengthening partnerships with key countries
- Mainstreaming counter-terrorism in the EU's political dialogue with third countries to promote international cooperation and implementation of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

- Conducting targeted and upgraded security and counter-terrorism dialogues with Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Cooperation with Turkey should also be enhanced in line with the GAC conclusions of December 2014.
- Strengthening political dialogue with the League of Arab States, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union and other relevant regional coordination structures, such as the G5 Sahel.
- Developing counter-terrorism action plans starting with Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, including on measures to dissuade and disrupt foreign terrorist fighters' travel as well as to manage their return. Attention will also be given to targeted CT/CVE cooperation with the Western Balkan countries as well as with other countries affected by foreign terrorist fighters phenomenon. Given the importance of the creation of networks of policy makers and security experts on both sides of the Mediterranean, a Ministerial segment will be added to the Euromed group on foreign terrorist fighters established by the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator and the EEAS.
- Deploying security/counter-terrorism experts in a number of key EU Delegations to strengthen their capacity to contribute to European counter-terrorism efforts and to liaise more effectively with relevant local authorities, while further building-up of counter-terrorism capacity within the EEAS.

Supporting capacity building
- Launching further capacity-building projects and activities with interested MENA countries addressing law enforcement, criminal justice, security sector reform, including crisis infrastructure, crisis and emergency response, border control and aviation security, strategic communication, radicalisation, dealing with the foreign terrorist fighters threat, recruitment and financing of terrorism, paying due regard to international human rights standards, in close cooperation with Europol, Eurojust, Frontex and CEPOL.
- The EU will respond positively to Iraq's request of CT assistance. Projects will be launched shortly to assist countries in the MENA region to implement UNSCR 2178 on foreign terrorist fighters, to prevent radicalization in Jordan and the Maghreb. Further CT capacity building assistance to countries in the region will be provided in the coming months, in particular related to the threat of foreign terrorist fighters, including fighters returning to their countries of origin and security sector reform. The Radicalization Awareness Network will work with interested countries in the region on prevention of radicalization.
- The EU will work to develop frameworks for information exchange and ways for the EU agencies to engage more strategically with the countries in the region to strengthen law enforcement and judicial cooperation.

Countering radicalisation and violent extremism
- Supporting international initiatives on countering radicalisation and terrorism such as the first International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism ("Hedayah") in Abu Dhabi, and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) in Geneva, while the successful EU Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) offers expertise to engage with local communities as well as with third countries. The High Representative, the Commission and the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator will participate in the upcoming Summit on Countering Violent Extremism and related side events in Washington DC on 18-20 February 2015.
- Improving strategic communication, developing an outreach strategy to the Arab World, including developing counter-narratives to terrorist propaganda, promoting fundamental rights, and taking into account the increasingly frequent misuse of the internet in radicalisation, engaging through social media and enhancing communication in Arabic. In this process, we can draw on the expertise of the Syria Strategic Communications Advisory Team.
- Facilitating interfaith dialogue, civil society dialogue, people-to-people contacts, academic and cultural exchanges. Exploring the possibility of creating a Round of Eminent Persons from Europe and the Muslim world, to encourage more intellectual exchanges and promote wider thematic dialogues on the roots and ramifications of terrorism and radicalisation on our societies. In this context, inviting relevant EU Institutions to explore further cooperation opportunities with actors such as the Anna Lindh Foundation for the Dialogue of Cultures in Alexandria, the UN Alliance of Civilisations in New York and the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and intercultural dialogue in Vienna.
- Addressing the underlying factors of radicalization by supporting initiatives across the region with regard to youth, education, vocational training, job opportunities, civil society, security sector reform, role of women. The EU will work with faith-based organizations, as appropriate.
- Inviting the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to continue his efforts to defend and advocate freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief and other universal values in particular in the MENA region.

Promoting international cooperation
- Continue supporting cooperation with the UN on counter-terrorism capacity building initiatives in the MENA region. The EU will enhance further its engagement in the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF), including by actively shaping GCTF inspired initiatives such as Hedayah in Abu Dhabi, the Global Community Engagement Resilience Fund (GCERF) and the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law in Malta.
- Enhancing cooperation with key partners and countries on countering financing of terrorism, in particular Da'esh financing. The EU hosted a workshop to counter Da'esh financing together with US, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, and UN agencies in Brussels on 4-5 February 2015 with the aim to step up outreach and capacity building efforts in third countries. The EU will engage with countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council in a dialogue on countering financing of terrorism, in particular Da'esh financing, and will closely cooperate with partners, including in the anti-ISIL coalition.
- Reinforcing, within the existing parameters, the role of EU INTCEN as the hub for strategic intelligence assessment at EU level, including on counter-terrorism.
- Regarding the Passenger Name Record data (PNR), we fully endorse the Riga JHA Ministers Joint Statement, and are looking for sound solutions to the exchange of PNR with relevant third countries.
- Combating illicit accumulation and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition in line with the 2005 EU Strategy, in particular in the Western Balkans and Libya, and promotion of the Arms Trade Treaty in our Southern Neighbourhood.

Addressing underlying factors and ongoing crises
- Given the role unresolved conflicts play in the context of radicalization and recruitment, the EU will mobilize even more to attempt finding solutions and re-think current policies and approaches. The EU will mitigate terrorist and stability threats through its comprehensive approach combining diplomatic, socio-economic, development, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and crisis management tools.
- Inviting the High Representative and the Commission to continue to ensure sufficient funds and coherent use of instruments to address the threat of terrorism and move effectively from early warning to early action. CT, including prevention of radicalization, will, where appropriate, be mainstreamed into programming of assistance, making full use of the OECD guidelines on terrorism prevention. The EU delegations in the region have been asked to work with their host governments to identify quickly opportunities for twinning and TAIEX projects in the CT context.

5.  These Conclusions will serve as an input of the Foreign Affairs Council for discussion at the informal meeting of EU Heads of State and Government on 12 February 2015. The Council agreed to review progress in implementation at its next meetings, also in view of upcoming European Council meetings.