17 mai 2011 Par Rédacteur en chef. PORTAIL DES SOUS-MARINS

Dans la marinée du 16 mai, les forces maritimes engagées dans l’opération Unified Protector de l’OTAN, ont détecté 2 embarcations gonflables qui semblaient avoir été mises à l’eau dans le voisinage de Zlintan et se dirigeaient vers Misrata.

Les forces de l’OTAN ont réagi en envoyant des bâtiments et des hélicoptères pour investiguer et identifier les embarcations. Alors que les forces de l’OTAN s’approchaient, une embarcation a stoppé, pendant que la seconde s’enfuyait à grande vitesse vers l’ouest, en direction de Zlintan.

Une équipe de déminage embarquée sur un bâtiment allié a été envoyé pour inspecter l’embarcation abandonnée, et a découvert une grosse quantité d’explosifs (environ une tonne) et 2 mannequins d’apparence humaine. Compte-tenu de la menace évidente que constituaient les explosifs, la décision a été prise de détruire l’embarcation en mer.

Le bâtiment allié l’a détruite à l’aide d’armes de petit calibre. Cet incident présente des similarités avec un incident récent, au cours duquel des forces pro-Khadafi avaient posé des mines dans les approches du port de Misrata.

Cependant, il s’agit de la première preuve d’une tentative d’utiliser un engin explosif de circonstance avec des mannequins d’apparence humaine pour menacer le trafic commercial et humanitaire dans la région de Misrata.

Référence :OTAN

May 16, 2011 defpro.com

Podgorica, Montenegro | Montenegro is making notable progress in meeting all NATO accession criteria, most notably in the legislative and oversight activity of the Parliament, state administration reform, fight against corruption and organised crime, rule of law and freedom of the media, said Prime Minister Luksic in his meeting with several NATO member-states’ ambassadors (Bulgaria, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia and Spain).

“Our European agenda goes hand in hand with our NATO integration, and the sooner we fulfil our European commitments the closer we will be to Alliance membership, since EU integration reforms will bring us closer to NATO standards,” PM Luksic summed up Montenegro’s integration vision.

Montenegro wishes to contribute to global peace and security and to global combat against organised crime, corruption and terrorism, PM Luksic said underlining that Montenegro has deployed soldiers and medical teams in peace-keeping operations and will soon take part in the regional team of instructors to be deployed in Afghanistan.

The ambassadors welcomed Montenegro’s involvement and stressed that Montenegro is setting a good example for the region.

11 mai 2011 par info-aviation Source : Armée de l’air

Après des mois de préparation, l’exercice annuel Tiger Meet 2011 rassemblant les escadrons de combat de l’Alliance atlantique et de ses partenaires ayant pour emblème un tigre, a officiellement débuté à Cambrai.

Tiger, Tiger, Tiger ! Ces quelques mots prononcés sur le tarmac de la base aérienne de Cambrai par le colonel Sébastien Vallette, commandant l’escadron de chasse 1/12 «Cambrésis», marque l’ouverture, le 9 mai 2011, du Nato Tiger Meet  2011.

L’exercice Nato Tiger Meet rassemble des participants de 17 nations différentes.

Au programme de la cérémonie, les couleurs des 17 nations participantes, ainsi que celles de l’Otan, ont été hissées avec pour toile de fond les chasseurs peints aux couleurs du tigre.

Le 211e  escadron tactique des Forces aériennes tchèques, vainqueur du «Silver Tiger» l’année dernière en Hollande, a ensuite traditionnellement remis en compétition son trophée prestigieux. Le «Bronze Tiger» a, quant à lui, été aéroporté à bord d’un J3 Piper «tigré» de l’aéroclub de Niergnies afin d’être remis à l’organisateur, le commandant de l’escadron 1/12.

BRUXELLES, 4 mai - RIA Novosti

Malgré des difficultés dans les négociations entre la Russie et l'Otan sur la conception d'un système territorial de défense antimissile en Europe, le chef du Comité militaire de l'Otan, l'amiral Giampaolo Di Paola, a néanmoins souligné que les deux parties étaient intéressées au succès de ce projet. "Il y a des difficultés et des différences d'approches, mais il y a également le bon sens commun: si les systèmes de défense antimissile fonctionnent conjointement, cela profitera aux deux parties", a-t-il déclaré aux journalistes à Bruxelles à l'issue d'une réunion du Conseil Russie-Otan au niveau des chefs d'états-majors. Les négociations entre la Russie et l'Otan sur la mise en place d'un système commun de défense antimissile se déroulent suite à la décision de la Roumanie d'accueillir sur son territoire des missiles intercepteurs susceptibles de constituer une menace pour les missiles balistiques intercontinentaux russes. Les experts russes estiment que le bouclier euro-atlantique doit être structuré de telle sorte que chaque pays participant au projet assume la responsabilité de la destruction d'une cible détectée dans son secteur. L'Alliance atlantique insiste pour sa part sur la mise en place de deux systèmes de défense antimissile autonomes, mais coordonnés: l'un russe, l'autre otanien. Ceci étant, l'Otan refuse de garantir que son bouclier antimissile en Europe ne sera pas dirigé contre le potentiel stratégique russe.

Russian General Staff Chief, Army General Nikolai Makarov

Photo RIA Novosti. Vladimir Vyatkin

MOSCOW, May 4 (RIA Novosti)

Russian General Staff Chief, Army General Nikolai Makarov, will discuss Russia-NATO cooperation in missile defense and other international security issues with his NATO counterparts on Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said. A two-day NATO-Russia Council meeting at the level of chiefs of staff begins in Brussels on Wednesday. Russia and NATO agreed to cooperate on a European missile shield during the NATO-Russia Council summit in Lisbon in November 2010. NATO insists there should be two independent systems that exchange information, while Russia favors a joint system with full-scale interoperability.

26 April 2011  by defenseWeb – Reuters

Italy, which has been playing a limited role in NATO operations in Libya, decided yesterday that its air force will be allowed to bomb selected military targets in the former Italian colony.

The surprise decision immediately opened a fresh crack in Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government, with a minister in a key coalition party, the Northern League, saying he strongly opposed it. Other League officials also dissented.

Italy was one of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's best friends in Europe until his violent suppression of an uprising prompted the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution authorising the use of force to protect civilian lives.

A statement from Berlusconi's office said he had informed U.S. President Barack Obama in a telephone conversation of the government's decision, and that he would call other European leaders to tell them personally as well.

It said the government had decided to "increase the operative flexibility of its aircraft with actions aimed at specific military targets on Libyan territory with the aim of protecting the civilian population".

Rome has made several air bases available for NATO forces and has contributed eight aircraft to the Libya mission.

But until now only it has taken part only in reconnaissance and monitoring of the U.N.-mandated no-fly zone rather than attacks on military infrastructure, which have principally been carried out by Britain, France and the United States.

"We have already done enough by offering the bases and logistical support and anti-radar activity," said Roberto Calderoli, minister for legislative simplification.

He said that, if Italy's allies wanted Rome to do more in Libya, they should help Italy turn back illegal immigrants and take some of the migrants from north Africa who land in southern Italy.

Italo Bocchino, a parliamentarian from a group that split with Berlusconi's party, said Calderoli's breaking of ranks was a precursor to a government crisis. Calderoli denied this, saying the League would convince other parties it was right.

Berlusconi was to inform British Prime Minister David Cameron and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Italy's new position soon, and also explain the decision with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who visits Italy on Tuesday to discuss immigration, the statement said.

Just 10 days ago, Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa said Italy would not order its aircraft to take part in military operations, despite pressure from Britain and France for NATO allies to contribute more to the air operations against Gaddafi's forces.

21 Apr 2011 By PIERRE TRAN DefenseNews

PARIS - Countries in the NATO-led air campaign have enough precision munitions and aircraft to attack ground targets and keep military pressure on the Libyan government forces, a senior alliance official and national defense officials said. Adm. Giampaolo Di Paola, the chairman of NATO's military committee, denied that the air operation in Libya was running short of aircraft or munitions. "Assets are important; the alliance welcomes any contributions, including strike assets, but there is no substantial lack," Di Paola said April 20. "Any added contribution is welcome, and there is no commander who does not ask. But beyond these alarmist rumors, there is no lack. The operation continues."

Apr 14, 2011by Stefan Nicola (UPI)

Berlin  - NATO needs more high-precision fighter aircraft to strike weapons the Libyan regime is hiding in populated areas, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Thursday in Berlin. After NATO pilots have flown around 900 strike missions and destroyed many of the Libyan army's tanks and armored vehicles, the armed forces led by Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi are now changing their tactics. "They're hiding their heavy arms in populated areas," Rasmussen said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin. "To avoid civilian casualties, we need a few more high-precision fighter aircraft for air-to-ground attack missions." Rasmussen said he didn't get specific pledges from NATO member states on new planes yet, but added that Thursday's talks in Berlin made him "confident that nations will step up to the plate." The meeting comes amid increasing frustration among Western politicians that Libyan rebel forces aren't able to hold ground despite Gadhafi's crumbling military power, and rising concerns that NATO airstrikes in Libya could lead to civilian casualties. Over the past days, France and Britain have complained that NATO member states aren't doing enough to defeat Gadhafi's forces. France had been one of the most outspoken proponents of military action against pro-Gadhafi forces and last month became the first nation to officially recognize the Libyan opposition. It was against a NATO lead after it became clear that the United States would pull its combat jets from the front lines, favoring a British-French operational command instead. Currently, only six of the alliance's members are carrying out airstrikes against ground targets in Libya, a NATO diplomat told The New York Times. On Thursday, the rebels asked for more NATO airstrikes to destroy forces attacking Misurata, a Mediterranean port city of roughly 300,000 that is being shelled by government artillery. Rasmussen Thursday underscored NATO's commitment to keep up the military pressure on Libyan forces. The alliance would "provide all necessary resources and maximum operational flexibility within our mandate," to strike regime forces until Gadhafi pulls all of them, Rasmussen said, including snipers and foreign mercenaries, out of areas they "have forcibly entered, occupied or besieged." Strikes will be flown until the regime commits to "immediate, full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all the people in Libya in need of assistance," Rasmussen said. "We will not stand idly by and watch a discredited regime attack its people," he added. With the fighting so far resulting in a stalemate, Western leaders hope for Gadhafi to eventually leave the country. At a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of the NATO meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said NATO members were united in their goal to "seek the end of the Gadhafi regime in Libya." Germany had angered its allies when it abstained from a U.N. Security Council vote that green-lighted the airstrikes in Libya. The meeting in Berlin runs through Friday.

TBILISI, April 11 (RIA Novosti)

Georgia is taking part in computer-assisted war games as part of the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, the Georgian Defense Ministry said on Monday. The VIKING-2011 is the 6th in a series of major joint peacekeeping exercises that brings together military and civilian personnel from 24 NATO and partner countries. The drills started last week and will continue until April 15. "The aim of the exercise is to deepen cooperation, interoperability and credibility between NATO/PfP countries and military, civilian, international and non-governmental organizations," the ministry said on its website. Georgia is hosting the VIKING-2011 at the Vaziani military base near the capital, Tbilisi, while the main coordination center of the exercise is located in Sweden. All activities in the exercise are simulated through computers and role-played by personnel via the PfP Simulation Network. The simulation is modeled on current conflict environments, including in Africa and Central Asia. Georgia has long been pursuing NATO membership, but its bid to get a Membership Action Plan - an essential step on the path to membership - at the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008 was rejected due to pressure from Germany and France. Instead, the alliance merely stated that the country would join at an unspecified date in the future. Georgian Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration Issues Giorgi Baramidze said last week that his country would meet NATO membership standards in two to three years.

Apr 1 2011 By Dave Pugliese - Defence Watch

Press release from Allen Vanguard:

OTTAWA -- March 31, 2011 -- Allen-Vanguard Corporation announced today that it has just completed the delivery of its first field deployable laboratory for a NATO military customer that provides complete forensic and biometric, technical and tactical intelligence against IEDs. “This large-scale system is field-deployable and permits full-spectrum forensic collection and analysis in theaters of conflict,” said Dennis Morris, President and CEO.  “This is a vital part of the counter-terrorist effort, including defeating the networks behind IEDs which have become such a persistent and deadly threat.” Allen-Vanguard has specialized capability in scalable forensic systems including equipment, training and facilities operation on an outsourced basis tailored to customer requirements.   In response to growing demand Allen-Vanguard is also introducing a “reach-back” service that provides remote or on-site identification and analysis of forensic material including IEDs and components.  This complements the actionable threat intelligence service the Company provides to NATO customers drawing on its active analytical database covering more than 150,000 incidents of IED and other terrorist and criminal attack around the world.

01/04/2011 DGA

Découvrez quelques-unes des missions réalisées par les ingénieurs de la DGA en Afghanistan.

 

En octobre 2010 -Thierry Puig et Alain Prugne se sont rendus à Kaboul, Bagram et Tora pour anticiper le futur déploiement du missile antichar Javelin. La mission organisée conjointement avec la section technique de l'armée de terre (STAT) et le soutien sur place de l'attaché d'armement de l'ambassade américaine en France

En mai 2010 - Antoine Torres a eu pour mission l'adaptation réactive sur les équipements à Kaboul, Bagram, en Kapisa et en Surobi. Cette mission a été organisée conjointement avec la STAT et l’état-major de l'armée de terre (EMAT).

En mars 2010 -Norbert Fargère a assuré la mise en place du partenariat DGA / armée de terre sur les urgences opérations (UO) à Kaboul, Nijrab et Tora. Mission organisée conjointement avec la STAT et l’EMAT

En juillet 2009 -Patrick Dufour et Pascal Marchandin ont effectué le maintien en condition opérationnelle du matériel à Kaboul, Kandahar, Bagram et Tora. Mission organisée avec le soutien logistique interarmées (SLI) de l’état-major des armées (EMA).

En mars 2009 -Sylvie Gravelines s'est rendue à Kandahar pour le soutien au déploiement du Rafale.

En février 2009 -François Moysan, Jacques Doumic et Emmanuel Canton ont eu pour missions la lutte contre les engins explosifs improvisés (EEI), les moyens d'ouverture d'itinéraires et les drone.

En novembre 2008 -Joël Reingewertz s'est chargé du déploiement du AASM (armement du Rafale) à Kandahar.

30 Mar 2011 DefenseNews AFP

BRUSSELS - NATO on March 30 began to take command of Libyan air bombing operations from a U.S.-led coalition, as warplanes and other assets from several allies came under the military organization's control. "NATO aircraft are flying under NATO command in the Libyan sky," NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said. "This is a phased process, which will be completed as soon as all allies and partners have transferred authority for their assets." The 28-member alliance is gradually replacing the United States at the helm of aerial missions that have been conducted by U.S., French, British and other coalition planes since March 19 to protect civilians from Moammar Gadhafi's ground forces. Britain, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands placed all or part of their military assets under NATO's authority on March 30, an alliance official said on condition of anonymity. NATO's combined air operations centre in Poggio Renatico, northern Italy, transmitted flight plans to units involved in the aerial campaign, the official said. A NATO diplomat has said that the alliance would effectively be in full command of the operations on March 31. NATO has enforced an arms embargo off Libya's coast since last week and also is policing Libya's skies to prevent hostile jets from flying. NATO agreed to take on the broader mission - strikes against forces threatening civilians - on March 27 after overcoming Turkish concerns about the air strikes and French reluctance to hand the lead to the alliance.

An artist concept showing the Global Hawk RQ-4B Block 40 configured for the NATO AGS core capability. Photo: Northrop Grumman

March 29, 2011 by Tamir Eshel DEFENSE UPDATE

Northrop Grumman Corporation submitted its final proposal for the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) core capability. NATO AGS system will employ an air segment consisting of six Northrop Grumman Block 40 Global Hawks specially missionized to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to ground, maritime and air commanders, anytime and anywhere in the world. These Global hawks will be equipped with Northrop Grumman’s Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) ground surveillance radar sensor, which will be capable of detecting and tracking moving objects throughout the observed areas, as well as providing radar imagery of target locations and stationary objects.

The primary ground segment component will consist of a number of ground stations in different configurations, such as mobile and transportable configurations, which will provide data link connectivity, data processing and exploitation capabilities, and interfaces for interoperability with Command, Control Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance(C2ISR) systems. The AGS Core ground segment will also include dedicated mission support facilities at the AGS Main Operating Bases (MOB), and ground stations for flight control of the UAVs. The Main Operating Base will be located at Sigonella Air Base, Italy. The Core system will be supplemented by interoperable national airborne stand-off ground surveillance systems from NATO countries, thus forming a system of systems.

NATO AGS program was approved by European heads of state and government as a priority capability initiative at the 2010 Lisbon Summit. In support of the new strategic concept, system will establish a network-enabled sensor system, supporting interoperability with national systems in support of all possible missions, including force protection, border and maritime security, counter- and anti-terrorism, crisis management, peacekeeping and enforcement, and natural disaster relief.

The current proposal is based on refinements introduced by the team to meet NATO requirements. “Our updated proposal offers an affordable, executable program that will provide an operationally relevant system to the Alliance,” said Pat McMahon, sector vice president of Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems’ Battle Management & Engagement Systems Division. Northrop Grumman is expecting contract award by July 2011.

NATO embarked on the AGS program in 1995, when the NATO Defence Ministers agreed to develop a pooled NATO asset, consisting of both manned and unmanned platforms, as well as ground control stations in various configurations. The manned platform was to be based on the Airbus A321 commercial airliner, and the unmanned platform on the Global Hawk high altitude long endurance UAV. Both the manned and unmanned platforms were to carry the Transatlantic Cooperative AGS Radar (TCAR). In November 2007, however, due to declining European defense budgets, NATO chose to move forward with a UAV-only solution based on the Global Hawk RQ-4B and the multi-platform radar technology insertion program (MP-RTIP). With this revision, the number of cooperating nations was reduced from 24 to 14.

NATO AGS is the first international sale of the Block 40 Global Hawk. The ground element, which provides real-time data, intelligence and target identification to commanders within and beyond line of sight, will be wholly produced by the team’s European industry partners, offering the potential for national re-use in other programs as well as direct work in the program for the participating nations. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the program, leading a team which includes companies from each of nations participating in the acquisition.

The program is managed by NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Management Agency (NAGSMA) and being implemented by the AGS Implementation Office (AGS IO) at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). The agency was established in September 2009 after all participating nations signed the AGS Program Memorandum of Understanding. NAGSMA, was chartered to acquire the NATO-owned and operated core capability, and is responsible for the procurement of the NATO AGS capability until it has reached full operational capability at the NATO AGS main operating base in Italy.