01.07.2013 Mariama Diallo - journal-aviation.com

Thierry Weulersse, 41 ans, a été nommé directeur de l’établissement Thales Systèmes Aéroportés à Brest. Il prend également en charge le domaine patrouille et surveillance maritime, guerre électronique navale et terrestre. Thierry Weulersse succède à Luc Battesti qui prend de nouvelles fonctions au sein du groupe Thales.

Sa carrière

Diplômé de l’École Polytechnique et de l’École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris, Thierry Weulersse a commencé sa carrière en 1997 chez Alcatel au sein des activités spatiales. En 2003, il entre dans le groupe Thales : d’abord comme responsable du développement d’outils et processus au sien des activités systèmes aériens, puis responsable des opérations industrielles pour les gammes de radars, responsable du programme de démonstrateur de radar multi-mission et de l’offre Radar d’Alerte Avancée et en 2010 directeur du Bureau gestion de projet et de l’ingénierie du programme de surveillance maritime Meltem, à l’établissement de Thales à Brest.

01 July 2013 by Guy Martin - defenceWeb

A production contract for the Badger infantry fighting vehicle for the South African National Defence Force has been approved and is currently with Armscor, which will send it out to industry.

According to Dr Sam Gulube, Secretary for Defence, the Badger production contract under Project Hoefyster was approved in February this year. He said he hoped to see the first production Badger vehicle roll off the assembly line by the end of 2013 and the last in 2023.

Up until recently the programme was in the development phase. Gulube said the approval of the production phase, worth R8 billion over the next ten years, had been taken to Armscor. “Right now Armscor is contracting production and ensuring local production etc. I don’t know where they are today,” he told journalists last week.

The production order is believed to be for 264 vehicles, to be placed with prime contractor Denel Land Systems (DLS), which sees it as a make or break contract for the company, as two thirds of its energy is directed towards this programme.

DLS is concurrently developing five different variants of the Badger infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). Project Hoefyster is utilising five modular combat turret variants, armed with the home-grown GI-30 (30 mm CamGun) and 60 mm breech-loading long-range mortar system. The Ingwe anti-tank missile system is integrated into the anti-tank variant of the 8x8 armoured modular vehicle platforms.

The industrialisation and production of the Badger will be done in South Africa, creating an estimated 2 000 jobs and benefiting more than 100 subcontractors in the supply chain. It will also see the South African Army gain a replacement for its rapidly ageing Ratel infantry combat vehicles.

Hoefyster has led to spinoffs, the most important of which is a contract from Malaysia for turrets. In July last year it was announced that Malaysia had signed a 343 million euro (R3.5 billion) contract for turrets and weapons to be integrated onto their 8x8 armoured vehicles. This includes 69 x two man turrets fitted with the South African GI30 30mm main gun and 54 x missile turrets equipped with the GI30 30mm gun and Denel Dynamics Ingwe anti-tank missile system. The order also includes the supply of 216 laser-guided Ingwe missiles and 54 x remote control weapons systems. This contract would not have been possible without Hoefyster.

The Malaysian turret deal means six years of work on this project for DLS. Malaysia ordered 257 FNSS/Deftech AV-8 8x8 armoured vehicles, to be manufactured by Deftech of Malaysia, which will be fitted with the Denel turrets.

01.07.2013 Par Frédéric Lert (FOB)

« Nous avons les briques technologiques, nous maîtrisons l’architecture du système, nous maîtrisons la vétronique, nous avons le canon de 40mm qui convient, nous avons le démonstrateur de levée de risque avec la tourelle T40… Nous avons les moyens, la compétence et la volonté : nous sommes prêts ».

L’industriel de Satory n’y va pas par quatre chemins pour expliquer à ses visiteurs, parlementaires, opérationnels ou journalistes, qu’il est prêt, bien calé dans les starting blocks pour donner à la France, et à d’autres si affinités, le véhicule « roue-canon » du 21ème siècle. En l’absence d’un programme de développement, Nexter multiplie les études amont pour bien évaluer les enjeux techniques et industriels et commencer à réfléchir aux bonnes réponses. Il faudra faire vite si l’objectif d’une première livraison en 2020 et la fabrication des 125 premiers véhicules (sur les 250 pressentis pour équiper les armées françaises) d’ici 2025 doit être tenu. A commencer par la commande d’un prototype que l’industriel souhaite voir inscrite dans la prochaine loi de programmation militaire. Recevant quelques invités triés sur le volet, Nexter a détaillé quelques-uns de ses choix techniques autour d’une maquette de grande taille préfigurant ses options techniques. Pour respecter le devis de masse, 25 tonnes en ordre de combat avec un système anti-RPG, le recours au châssis du VBCI, trop lourd, est exclu. L’EBRC sera bien un 6×6 dont les essieux avant et arrière seront directionnels. Le compartiment moteur sera dimensionné pour une large gamme de moteurs, Nexter citant en exemple celui du VBCI ou celui du Porteur Polyvalent Terrestre tout juste entré en service. Le constructeur annonce également une importante capacité d’évolution avec une réserve de masse de deux tonnes, un volume d’1m3 gardé en réserve et une puissance électrique de 9 à 10 kW permettant de faire face à l’ajout de futurs équipements.

C’est bien évidemment autour de la tourelle que se focalisent également bon nombre d’études, avec déjà de nombreuses itérations entre les maquettes exposées sur les salons ou montrées sous le manteau…

Pour Nexter, le mot clef est « modularité », avec l’idée de proposer différents niveaux de capacités offensives et de protection suivant le client final. Car bien entendu, la tourelle de l’EBRC sera déclinée pour pouvoir être embarquée sur différents véhicules porteurs, 6×6, 8×8 ou même engin chenillé. La solution aujourd’hui retenue est l’accrochage d’une rampe double de missiles à gauche de la tourelle dans un caisson protégé, découvert simplement au moment du tir. A droite de la tourelle, Nexter évoque la possibilité d’installer un armement non létal ou à létalité réduite utilisable après les combats,  pendant les phases de « stabilisation ». Détecteurs de départ de coup, brouilleurs anti-missiles seront également installés sur la tourelle. Mais à l’instar des missiles et de l’armement non létal, ils pourront en être absent sur une version « low cost » de la tourelle.

28 June 2013 by Guy Martin - defenceWeb

The South African defence industry needs to be strengthened, particularly through consolidation and domestic orders, according to industry players and the Secretary for Defence.

“A vibrant, focused and successful defence industry is a major asset to our country,” Secretary for Defence Dr Sam Gulube said. “The defence industry is important in supporting the foreign policy of government and supports the national development agenda of our country.”

He was speaking yesterday during the official unveiling of DCD Protected Mobility’s new factory in Isando. Gulube said it was as an example of a proudly South African company that could meet the needs of the SANDF and contribute to socio-economic development.

“As the Department of Defence, we understand that we need to urgently stimulate the defence industry in this country…by ensuring that contracts are placed timeously to meet our objectives.” Gulube said the four main objectives of the Department were border security, anti-piracy patrols/maritime security, peacekeeping operations and the protection of South Africa’s people and resources.

In the short term, investing in local capacity is expensive but it pays off in the long run, Gulube pointed out. “From a government standpoint, we have learnt lessons from the Strategic Defence Package. I think despite all attempts to emphasise industrial participation, we could have done better. We could have gone for better local content,” he said, noting that the submarines, fighters and frigates were “forklifted” into South Africa and that they are proving expensive to maintain because when they need to be serviced, components have to be shipped outside the country. “It is not always cheaper to buy overseas as maintenance is very expensive.”

DCD Protected Mobility General Manager Andrew Mears yesterday said that his company was ready to support the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF’s) requirements for military vehicles. DCD Group Managing Director Rob King said that, “We can support Denel, Armscor, and the Department of Defence in consolidating South Africa’s defence industry by enabling SANDF contracts to be awarded to local manufacturers.”

Mears emphasised that creating a sustainable global business needs cooperation with the state, suppliers and traditional competitors. “This will likely result in industry consolidation,” he said. “If we realistically look at the South African market, it is too small for existing players,” Mears said and pointed to Paramount’s acquisition of ATE as an example of industry consolidation. “This industry is not going to work in the future without partnerships.” This is especially true given the global economic situation, as going it alone will be difficult. “Due to the global economic downturn…there are challenging times ahead,” he said.

Mears applauded the draft Defence Review, which supports local industry. “We are excited by the Defence Review…The Department of Defence is going to guide the restructuring of the South African defence industry. We stand by with the government and international industry to revive South Africa’s defence industry.”

The comments on industry consolidation were echoed by Paramount Group Executive Director Ivor Ichikowitz, who said earlier this month that South Africa has to present an SA Incorporated face to the rest of the world. “The defence industry really isn’t a place in some countries like South Africa for a huge amount of competition,” he said, adding that it didn’t make sense for companies to duplicate efforts. If companies competed against each other, they would lose business.

“It is absolutely imperative that big players in South Africa look at consolidation. There is no option to compete in the international market,” Ichikowitz said. The Executive Chairman told journalists that Paramount will work with Denel to consolidate the rest of South Africa’s defence industry – not necessarily through acquisition but also by supporting smaller companies.

Les Forces armées canadiennes reçoivent leur premier hélicoptère Chinook CH 147F (Photo Nicolas Laffont 45eNord.ca)

28/06/2013 par Nicolas Laffont – 45eNord.ca

Le premier hélicoptère CH-147F Chinook des Forces armées canadiennes a été officiellement livré jeudi 27 juin.

À l’occasion d’une cérémonie à l’aéroport d’Ottawa, la ministre associée de la Défense nationale, Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay, et le ministre de la Défense nationale, Peter MacKay, se sont réjouis de la livraison du premier hélicoptère de ce genre.

«La livraison aujourd’hui du nouvel hélicoptère Chinook démontre clairement l’engagement de notre gouvernement à doter les Forces armées canadiennes de l’équipement approprié pour les nombreuses tâches exigeantes qu’on leur demande d’exécuter», a déclaré la ministre Findlay qui est responsable des achats militaires au sein de la Défense. «L’hélicoptère Chinook canadien de modèle F – conçu spécialement pour les exigences opérationnelles et environnementales uniques – offrira une mobilité et une souplesse plus grandes à l’Aviation royale canadienne.»

M. MacKay a souligné l’augmentation des capacités qu’amèneront ces hélicoptères. «À mesure que l’instruction initiale à l’intention des membres d’équipage progressera, les nouveaux Chinook, auxquels des améliorations considérables ont été apportées, augmenteront assurément la capacité des Forces armées canadiennes à mener des opérations militaires, peu importe l’endroit où elles doivent le faire, y compris l’intervention rapide en cas d’urgence au Canada», a-t-il ainsi souligné.

En interview pour 45eNord.ca, le major-général Richard Foster, commandant-adjoint de l’Aviation royale canadienne, a précisé que la quinzaine de Chinook qui seront livrés entre 2013 et 2014 serviront tant aux opérations domestiques, en cas d’incendies, d’inondations ou de séismes par exemple, mais également aux opérations à l’étranger dans des zones plus dangereuses ou qu’il est impossible d’atteindre par voie terrestre.

Le CH-147F Chinook est un hélicoptère de transport moyen à lourd avancé à missions multiples. Même si sa mission principale consiste à transporter de l’équipement et du personnel durant les opérations au pays et à l’étranger, il fournit également une capacité essentielle d’intervention en cas d’urgence nécessitant une aide humanitaire (p. ex., incendies, inondations, séismes). Ces Chinook canadiens ont été modifiés afin de satisfaire aux exigences opérationnelles nationales. Notamment, ils ont été munis de réservoirs de carburant à long rayon d’action, ce qui leur permet de parcourir une distance deux fois plus grande que les modèles précédents. Cette augmentation marquée du rayon d’action est particulièrement importante pour les missions dans les vastes régions du nord du Canada.

Ils sont également équipés d’un système électrique à la fine pointe de la technologie, de systèmes d’alerte laser et radar perfectionnés, de trois mitrailleuses défensives et d’un système de contre-mesures de missiles actifs à laser pour neutraliser les missiles de défense aérienne. Cet équipement permettra d’utiliser plus efficacement les Chinooks canadiens dans de nombreux milieux présentant une menace, tout en augmentant la sécurité des équipages et les chances de succès des missions.

Lors de la mission de combat en Afghanistan, le Canada avait acheté six Chinook de type D aux États-Unis. Ils ont été employés au sein de l’escadre aérienne du Canada à Kandahar et a permis «de sauver de nombreuses vies», comme l’a rappelé le ministre MacKay.

Le coût total pour l’acquisition et le soutien en service du projet d’hélicoptère de transport moyen à lourd est estimé à 5 milliards $. Ce montant inclue 2,3 milliards $ pour le projet d’acquisition et 2,7 milliards $ pour le programme de soutien en service sur 20 ans. Le contrat avec Boeing a été signé en 2009. Les montants susmentionnés n’incluent pas les coûts de personnel, de fonctionnement et de maintien en service.

Dans le cadre du programme d’hélicoptère de transport moyen à lourd, Boeing s’est engagé à générer des retombées industrielles et régionales de 1,25 milliard $, de sorte que l’industrie canadienne profite grandement de cet approvisionnement. Boeing est actuellement en voie de respecter ses engagements.

Démantelé dans les années 1990, puis remis sur pied en 2012, le 450e Escadron tactique d’hélicoptères, situé sur la Base des Forces canadiennes Petawawa (Ontario), accueillera cette nouvelle flotte de 15 hélicoptères et comptera environ 400 militaires d’ici 2016.

En attendant, il faudra dons s’attendre à voir de plus en plus de Chinook dans le ciel canadien… et peut-être à l’étranger.

Spécifications

Longueur            15,9 m (fuselage), 30,18 m (de l’extrémité du rotor avant à l’extrémité du rotor arrière)

Envergure de chaque rotor        18,28 m

Hauteur              5,77 m

Masse maximale brute                24 494 kg (selon le site Web de Boeing)

Puissance (moteurs)     Deux moteurs Honeywell 55‑GA‑714A, 3 529 kW (puissance sur l’arbre de 4 733 hp)

Vitesse                315 km/h (au niveau de la mer)

Rayon d’action                 Un rayon d’action opérationel de plus de 1 100 km

Équipement      Réservoirs de carburant de grande autonomie, système de contremesures de missiles actifs à laser, système de largueur de paillettes et de fusées éclairantes, système d’alerte laser et radar, blindage complet, capteur électro optique et infrarouge, trois mitrailleuses défensives (deux canons latéraux à l’avant et un sur la rampe arrière).

Quantité             15

Années d’acquisition    2013 et 2014

Base      BFC Petawawa (Ontario)

19.06.2013 Par Guillaume Belan (FOB)

Appel d’offres remporté par Renault Trucks Défense (RTD) fin 2011 pour le Service des Essences des Armées (SEA), l’industriel a livré les deux premiers camions citernes polyvalent tactique aérotransportables (CCPTA), qui ont débuté leurs essais de qualification. Basé sur le Sherpa Medium 6X6, ces camions destinés a assurer le ravitaillement des hélicoptères (et drones) en zones difficiles subiront leurs essais jusqu’à la fin de l’année, pour des livraisons prévue en 2014. Le contrat prévoit la livraison de 30 CCPTA plus 20 en tranche conditionnelle. Doté d’un moteur de 350 chevaux, le châssis est celui du Caesar doté de suspension renforcée, offrant une forte mobilité. Le véhicule est actuellement présenté au salon du Bourget sur le stand du constructeur.

Par ailleurs, toujours pour le SEA, RTD a livré en juin les dernier la livraison des 30 tracteurs citerne Kerax, achetés en 2008a, avec des cabines blindées. Point faible des forces de la coalition en Afghanistan, les convois logistiques étaient des cibles faciles car peu ou pas protégés. Le blindage (protection balistique et anti-mines) des cabines des camions citernes (30 000 litres ) du constructeur français avait fait l’objet d’un crash programme lancé en 2010. A noter que ces camions Kerax ont été déployés au Mali.

PARIS, June 20, 2013 PRNewswire

New precision munition will protect against swarming boat threats

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has initiated an internally funded program to enhance its combat-proven 155mm Excalibur GPS-guided projectile with a new guidance and navigation unit (GNU) with a semi-active laser (SAL) end-game targeting capability. Addition of the SAL seeker will allow the munition to attack moving targets, attack targets that have re-positioned after firing, or change the impact point to avoid casualties and collateral damage.

"No other gun-launched GPS-guided artillery round is as precise as Excalibur, which in its current design gives one the ability to hit within 4 meters of the target 90 percent of the time," said Kevin Matthies, Excalibur program director for Raytheon Missile Systems. "Now we're ready to take this to the next level, giving the warfighter the ability to not only re-target the munition in flight, but leverage Excalibur's maneuverability to use the pinpoint precision of a semi-active laser seeker to hit targets on the move."

This new Excalibur variant using SAL guidance paves the way for GPS-guided Excalibur Ib customers to upgrade their Excalibur Ib guidance and navigation units with a GPS/SAL capability. Recent tests of the SAL seeker have demonstrated the robustness of the design in a severe gun-firing environment.

In addition to 155mm artillery land forces worldwide, the GPS/SAL capability will be available for both 155mm and 5-inch (127mm) naval guns to address moving targets on land and at sea. Counter-swarming boat capability will be the prime focus of the at-sea moving target capability using a high-firing rate, large caliber, affordable munition that can be fired from land or sea platforms. The transition to the naval 5-inch configuration is easily made as the existing 155mm Excalibur Ib GNU design also fits in a 127mm projectile body.

"Excalibur has proven itself an invaluable asset for avoiding collateral damage while defeating targets that may otherwise be out of reach or cannot be quickly engaged," said Michelle Lohmeier, vice president of Land Combat for Raytheon Missile Systems. "The need for this degree of precision to attack moving targets is there, and we now have the ability to leverage demonstrated Excalibur Ib technology to make this happen."

About Excalibur

First fielded in 2007, the Excalibur 155mm precision-guided, extended-range projectile is a revolutionary capability for U.S. and allied forces. Using GPS precision-guidance technology, Excalibur provides accurate, first round fire-for-effect capability in any environment. With Excalibur's level of precision, there is a major reduction in the overall mission time and cost of delivering precision. Excalibur provides these benefits while offering the most flexible artillery solution for reducing collateral damage. Excalibur was named one of the U.S. Army's "Greatest Inventions" in 2007 for the Increment Ia-1 and in 2011 for the Increment Ia-2.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2012 sales of $24 billion and 68,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 91 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems; as well as a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @raytheon.

Jun 24, 2013 Spacewar.com (UPI)

Tel Aviv, Israel - The U.S. Congress is pushing for U.S. participation in developing Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system and, if it succeeds, make the Americans partners in all the systems that constitute the Jewish state's missile defense shield.

The House of Representatives this month tripled U.S. President Barack Obama's request to boost U.S. funding of Israeli missile defense systems from $96 million to $284 million.

This followed earlier increases in U.S. support, which began in the 1980s with the high-altitude Arrow program for which the Americans have paid the lion's share of the $1 billion development costs.

All this is separate from the $3 billion in military aid Israel receives from the United States every year.

The House Armed Services Committee approved the $284 million funding hike June 6, including an additional $15 million in funding for Iron Dome.

That system was developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Haifa. It's the only one of the Jewish state's anti-missile weapons that's been tested in combat, with a claimed kill rate of 85 percent.

It's also the only one of those programs in which U.S. defense companies have not participated, and thus had no access to the advanced technology involved.

Iron Dome, the bottom tier of the Israeli anti-missile shield, is designed to intercept short-range missiles and rockets, the only such system in service in the world.

Its unique feature is its computerized fire-control system, which can determine the trajectories of hostile missiles. It only engages those that will hit populated areas and ignores those that won't.

U.S. defense contractors, and members of Congress, have wanted to participate in Iron Dome for some time.

The House committee's funding increase stipulated, in an amendment proposed by Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., that "it may be obligated or expended for enhancing the capability of producing the Iron Dome system program in the United States, including for infrastructure, tooling, transferring data, special test equipment and related components."

In March, the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency for the first time included in its annual budget funding of $220 million for Israel to buy more Iron Dome batteries in fiscal 2014.

That was the first time the MDA has specifically sought funds for Iron Dome, underlining the U.S. Defense Department's effort to maintain military aid for Israel despite major cutbacks in defense spending.

The agency is also expected to seek $520 million to fund other Israeli anti-missile systems, including the David's Sling and the high-altitude Arrow-3 currently in development.

The House of Representatives and the Senate indicated in 2012 they wanted to approve spending as much as $680 million for Iron Dome through 2015.

The U.S. has long sought access to the Israeli-developed technology and is clearly using military aid to the Jewish state as leverage.

The Raytheon Co. has been working with Rafael for some time on developing David's Sling, designed to counter medium-range missiles.

Arrow-3, being developed by state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries and the Boeing Co., is intended to intercept Iranian and Syrian ballistic missiles outside Earth's atmosphere.

Neither participation involves co-production.

The Israelis, although concerned that joint development of these systems with the Americans, could inhibit export sales -- India and South Korea are interested in Iron Dome and Arrow -- would seem to have little choice but to accept U.S. participation.

In 2012, the House Armed Services Committee called on the MDA to "explore any opportunity to enter into co-production" of Iron Dome, given the scale of U.S. funding, even though Washington had no legal rights to the Israeli technology.

Israel initially opposed that and ruled out co-production. It offered Washington data on the technologies used in Iron Dome's Tamir interceptor rockets, provided intellectual property rights were observed.

But this was not enough for the House, or U.S. companies that saw the prospect of blunting the impact of the cutbacks in U.S. defense spending and the layoffs these would cause.

However, in March, possibly because of Israel's own defense budget cuts, Brig. Gen. Shachar Shohat, a senior officer in Israel's missile forces, said setting up a parallel U.S. factory to make Tamirs could be a "win-win situation for both countries."

He stressed this would allow the Americans to benefit from their financial support for Israel.

June 26, 2013: Strategy Page

Recently, after 14 years of effort the British Army finally got its first Terrier engineer vehicle. Think of this as an armored bulldozer that has lots of attachments that enable it to do all sorts of construction jobs on the battlefield. Britain needed the 30 ton Terrier to replace the elderly (entered service in 1976) 17 ton FV180s.

The British Army officially began the Terrier procurement program in 1999. In 2002 the army signed the contract to have the Terrier designed and manufactured. The price went up (from $5 million each to $9 million) and the quantity went down (from 100 to 60). It’s not unusual for projects like this to take over a decade, while getting a lot more expensive.

Most other nations do not require as much time to develop new combat engineering vehicles because they take recently retired (or currently in service) tanks, remove the turret (and replace it with a fixed armored structure) and add the engineer attachments (bulldozer blade, drills, hoists and so on). This takes much less time, providing a more robust vehicle and, if you are using older tanks, does not cost much more (to refurbish and rebuild the old tank chassis.)

The Terrier has an advantage in that it can more easily be moved by air (since it is not based on the chassis of a tank). Beyond that it has all the usual engineer capabilities. It can act as a bulldozer, dig trenches, drill into and shatter concrete and, like many current combat engineer vehicles, be operated by remote control. Also, like other current armored vehicles, the Terrier has five vidcams that lets the crew (of two) see all around the vehicle. In addition there is a thermal imager enabling the vehicle to safely make its way through a combat zone. The only weapons on these engineering vehicles are some machine-guns and, in some models, a short range cannon for firing demolition shells (to destroy obstacles or structures).

25 juin 2013 Romandie.com (AFP)

LONDRES - Malgré la crise économique, le commerce mondial des armes a augmenté de 30% en quatre ans et pourrait doubler d'ici à 2020, mais la croissance des exportations de l'Asie-Pacifique menace la domination américaine et européenne, selon une étude publiée mardi à Londres.

Deux choses sont en train de se produire, explique Paul Burton, analyste auprès du groupe de consultants spécialisés dans la défense IHS Jane's. Les budgets de défense se déplacent à l'est et la compétition internationale s'accroît dans le marché de l'armement. On assiste à la plus grande explosion du commerce mondial d'armes que le monde ait jamais connue.

Les exportations et les importations d'armements dans le monde sont passées de 56,5 à 73,5 milliards de dollars (de 43 à 56 milliards d'euros) entre 2008 et 2012, selon l'étude publiée par IHS Jane's.

A ce rythme, le marché pourrait atteindre 100 milliards de dollars d'ici 2018 et avoir plus que doublé d'ici 2020.

Mais la part de l'Europe occidentale a baissé, tombant à 27,5% en 2012 contre 34,5% en 2008, alors que celle de l'Asie-Pacifique, Chine incluse, grimpait de 3,7% à 5,4% sur la même période.

Beaucoup de pays d'Asie ont ainsi vu leurs exportations doubler, à l'instar de la Chine qui a nettement amélioré ses capacités de production et qui est passée de la 10e à la 8e place des exportateurs mondiaux.

La percée des exportations de la région Asie-Pacifique menace la domination américaine sur l'industrie de défense mondiale, souligne ce rapport.

Cependant, tempère Ben Moores, analyste à IHS Jane's, si la Chine se débrouille plutôt bien pour exporter auprès de ses voisins régionaux, elle n'est pas présente au Moyen-Orient, notamment à cause de la qualité de ses armements. Un pays sud-américain a récemment renvoyé un système de radars à une entreprise chinoise car il ne fonctionnait tout simplement pas.

Les États-Unis, actuellement premiers exportateurs devant la Russie et la France, ont eux importé 10,5 milliards de dollars d'équipements et de services militaires depuis 2008. Ces importations devraient continuer à augmenter en 2013, d'après ces analystes.

Les budgets de défense des pays d'Asie-Pacifique devraient en outre dépasser ceux des États-Unis et du Canada d'ici 2021, atteignant 501 milliards de dollars (+35% par rapport à 2013). Avec en tête dans cette région, la Chine, suivie par l'Inde, le Japon, l'Australie et la Corée du Sud.

Globalement, la progression des budgets de défense dans le monde devrait aussi se poursuivre: ils pourraient atteindre 1.650 milliards de dollars d'ici 2021 (+9,3% par rapport à 2013).

Israël, pour sa part, devrait devenir le premier exportateur de drones d'ici la fin 2013, devançant les États-Unis, et en vendre deux fois plus que les Américains d'ici 2014.

Les exportations israéliennes sont vraiment impressionnantes, alors que de nombreux pays musulmans refusent de faire affaire avec eux, constate Ben Moores.

20 June 2013 ukti.gov.uk

British defence exports rose by 62% in 2012 – the largest increase for five years.

New figures published today by UK Trade & Investment’s Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) show that UK defence exports totalled £8.8 billion over the past year, a rise of 62% from 2011 in a global market that grew by 45%.

These results mean the UK maintains its position as the second most successful defence exporter after the United States. As in 2011, the UK continues to benefit from a strong defence supply chain, which contributed to the success in 2012.

Orders contributing to the strong results included Typhoon and Hawk aircraft. The Typhoon programme alone supports an estimated 8,600 jobs in the UK, across companies including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Selex-Galileo and their supply chains – with an estimated further 1,500 jobs dependent on export opportunities.

The UK continues to capture 20% of the global defence export market. Maintaining this level and growing security exports to 5% by 2015 are the key targets for UKTI DSO. Last year’s expansion in the defence sector was supported by UK export growth of 4% to £2.7 billion in the security sector, in a global market that grew by 3%.

Combined defence and security exports rose to £11.5 billion in 2012, up from £8 billion in 2011.

Business Minister Michael Fallon said:

“Defence exports are helping to safeguard much needed high quality jobs in UK industry at a difficult time for the economy and these robust figures demonstrate Britain's ability to successfully compete in the global race. The UK government has pledged its support to the defence industry which has an outstanding record of export success. We have a proven ability to help UK exporters to win business overseas and achieve their international business potential.

“These export results reflect the importance of the high technology sector and its contribution to advanced manufacturing trade. The UK’s defence industrial base is rich in innovation, largely thanks to the vital contribution of smaller firms.

“The increase in the security sector reinforces a consistent picture of year on year growth in a highly competitive market. Growth is particularly strong in the cyber security sector which is critical to the UK’s national security.”

Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence, Equipment Support and Technology said:

“This is welcome news for the UK Defence Industry, and demonstrates that they remain world leaders in an increasingly competitive global market place. The Ministry of Defence has continued to play a key supporting role in the promotion of defence equipment and services, recognising that defence exports make a significant contribution to the government’s growth agenda. These results also demonstrate the high regard in which our Armed Forces, and the equipment they use, are held by our allies and partner nations overseas.”

James Brokenshire, Home Office Minister said:

“Last year the UK delivered a safe and secure Olympic Games showcasing our security expertise to the world. I am delighted that UK security exports have showed continued growth for the fifth successive year. This critical industry supports thousands of jobs across the country and we are determined to build on this excellent performance, working with the industry to maximise our reputation and identify new opportunities for growth.”

Notes to editors:

1. Case studies highlighting UK companies that have been successful at winning defence and security export business over the last year can be found here: http://www.ukti.gov.uk/defencesecurity/defence/casestudy.html

2. The government's economic policy objective is to achieve 'strong, sustainable and balanced growth that is more evenly shared across the country and between industries.' It set four ambitions in the ‘Plan for Growth’ (PDF 1.7MB), published at Budget 2011:

• to create the most competitive tax system in the G20

• to make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business

• to encourage investment and exports as a route to a more balanced economy

• to create a more educated workforce that is the most flexible in Europe.

Work is underway across government to achieve these ambitions, including progress on more than 250 measures as part of the Growth Review. Developing an Industrial Strategy gives new impetus to this work by providing businesses, investors and the public with more clarity about the long-term direction in which the government wants the economy to travel.

3. UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. For more information on UKTI, visit www.ukti.gov.uk or visit the online newsroom at www.ukti.gov.uk/media.