Germany; Luftwaffe shortlists CH-53K vs. CH-47F

January 21, 2016, 11:28 pm

≫ Next: France; Defense exports soar to €16 billion in 2015

$

0

0

 

Germany is moving ahead with an acquisition program to replace its air force's Sikorsky CH-53 heavy-lift helicopters, with the choice narrowed to two types. 

 

One key driver for Berlin's effort under the fledgling heavy transport helicopter project is the need to purchase a rotorcraft already in production, rather than launching a clean-sheet development programme.

 

 

Maj Thomas Knäpper, Luftwaffe capability manager in charge of the programme, says only two heavy-lift helicopters effectively meet that requirement: the Boeing CH-47F Chinook and Sikorsky's CH-53K King Stallion – being developed for the US Marine Corps

---

France; Defense exports soar to €16 billion in 2015

January 24, 2016, 11:51 pm

≫ Next: France; SAGEM wins Army UAV contract

≪ Previous: Germany; Luftwaffe shortlists CH-53K vs. CH-47F

$

0

0

 

France doubled its arms sale to 16 billion euors in 2015 as against 8.3 billion in 2014 and may be a close third behind Russia as the world’s largest arms exporter for the year.

 

Dassault, MBDA missile, DCNS and Airbus are the four major contributors of export contracts for France in 2015.

 

 

France totalled last year (2015) sales of around 16 billion euros against 8.2 billion in 2014, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drain confirmed, La Tribune news daily reported Monday.

 

France; SAGEM wins Army UAV contract

January 25, 2016, 5:36 am

≫ Next: Armenia; Comprehensive arms deal signed with Russia

≪ Previous: France; Defense exports soar to €16 billion in 2015

$

0

0

 

France appears to have selected Sagem's Patroller for its army’s tactical unmanned air vehicle requirement, defeating the rival Thales Watchkeeper system.

 

 

 

If the deal goes ahead, Paris will be the first customer for the Patroller, under a reported €300 contract, according to French news outlet Air & Cosmos.

 

Armenia; Comprehensive arms deal signed with Russia

January 26, 2016, 11:42 pm

≫ Next: Croatia; New Defense Minister

≪ Previous: France; SAGEM wins Army UAV contract

$

0

0

 

Armenia is to be supplied with refurbished Il-76 and Su-30SM aircraft alongside armored vehicles, artillery and missiles from Russia.

 

The news follows this week’s Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation which discussed further bilateral trade and military-technical cooperation,

 

The series of meetings will also see Armenia develop engineering and development capabilities, allowing them to repair and supply spare parts for Russian made air defense systems and equipment.

Croatia; New Defense Minister

January 27, 2016, 11:10 pm

≫ Next: Russia; Hints regarding new age electronic warfare capacities

≪ Previous: Armenia; Comprehensive arms deal signed with Russia

$

0

0

Josip Buljevic has been appointed as the new Defense Minister of Croatia. 

Oreskovic held a number of executive positions in the international pharmaceutical business.

 

Russia; Hints regarding new age electronic warfare capacities

February 4, 2016, 11:28 pm

≫ Next: UK; MoD confirm Zephyr HALE buy

≪ Previous: Croatia; New Defense Minister

$

0

0

 

Russian military campaigns in Georgia (2008) Ukraine (2014) and Syria (2015) demonstrated extensive use of new electronic warfare systems. Recently, Moscow has intentionally lifted its traditional masking of newly developed electronics arsenals, with designations like Moskva, , Infauna Krasukha, Rtut, Rychag, Lorandit  and Khibiny spiraling in the media.

 

 

 

Little is yet known regarding these new age EW systems. Nevertheless, open media sourcs suggest that jamming and spoofing technologies employed involve Graphene electronics, use of radio photons, coupled with sophisticated cyber attacks and deceit.  

 

A dramatic demonstration of Russian advance in EW systems occurred on 12 April 2014, when   a Su-24 carrying Khibiny pods made a low pass over USS Donald Cook (DDG75) has effectively jammed the vessels' radars. The incident was dismissed by both US and Russian sources as a baseless media hoax.

 

 

 

UK; MoD confirm Zephyr HALE buy

February 5, 2016, 11:33 pm

≫ Next: Netherlands; Police tests eagles as illegal drones hunter

≪ Previous: Russia; Hints regarding new age electronic warfare capacities

$

0

0

 

Defense Michael Fallon has confirmed the planned procurement of two Airbus-DS (formerly QinetiQ) Zephyr HALE category UAV.

Netherlands; Police tests eagles as illegal drones hunter

February 7, 2016, 11:38 pm

≫ Next: Poland; MoD plans to cancel Airbus helicopter award.

≪ Previous: UK; MoD confirm Zephyr HALE buy

$

0

0

 

Dutch police puzzling over how to remove drones posing a public safety threat are testing a way to get the job done in one fell swoop - with trained eagles.

 

 The idea arose because amateur use of drones has boomed and police have begun to worry about unlicensed drones flying into off-limit spaces around airports or above public events such as politician's appearances.

---

Poland; MoD plans to cancel Airbus helicopter award.

February 7, 2016, 11:52 pm

≫ Next: Sweden; Budget increase 2016-2020

≪ Previous: Netherlands; Police tests eagles as illegal drones hunter

$

0

0

 

Polish MoD is likely to scrap $3 billion deal for 50 utility helicopters from Airbus and might buy only a few units, if at all. Poland’s previous government had agreed on a provisional deal with Airbus for 50 EC-725 caracal multirole helicopters.

Sweden; Budget increase 2016-2020

February 8, 2016, 11:51 pm

≫ Next: Russia; KMZ files bankruptcy plea

≪ Previous: Poland; MoD plans to cancel Airbus helicopter award.

$

0

0

 

The Swedish government is pledging additional funding to shore-up the country’s defense capabilities. As a result, more than US $2.1 billion will be invested in strengthening the military's readiness and warfare capabilities in 2016-2020

 

Russia; KMZ files bankruptcy plea

February 11, 2016, 11:48 pm

≫ Next: Greece; P-3B Orion modernizations program

≪ Previous: Sweden; Budget increase 2016-2020

$

0

0

 

Kurganmashzavod (KMZ) - Russia’s only enterprise manufacturing infantry fighting vehicles (BMP) has filed for a bankruptcy with the Kurgan Arbitration Court, the court press service said Tuesday.

 

 

The petition is connected with arrears on lease contracts of MTE Group and KMZ. Earlier the companies struck an amicable agreement, under which KMZ was to pay in two stages 41 million rubles ($515,000) of total debt on lease payments and some 1.9 million rubles ($23,800) of cancelation penalty.

KMZ, making part of Tractor Plants concern, is Russia’s only enterprise producing infantry fighting vehicles being in operational service with the armies of nearly 30 countries.

 

 

 

 

Greece; P-3B Orion modernizations program

February 15, 2016, 1:35 am

≫ Next: Russia; Video footage reveals VTOL UAV armed with RPG

≪ Previous: Russia; KMZ files bankruptcy plea

$

0

0

 

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $141 million modernization contract for the Greek P-3 Orion ASW/MP aircraft. 

 

The awarded contract provides for the reactivation of one P-3B aircraft and the procurement of hardware kits for the upgrade/modernization of four P-3B aircraft to support a structural mid-life upgrade. The contract includes depot maintenance; a Greece indigenous mission integration and management system; new avionics; and other ancillary hardware and services.

Russia; Video footage reveals VTOL UAV armed with RPG

February 15, 2016, 11:03 pm

≫ Next: Poland; MoD plans to cooperate with Czech counterpart in armor acquisition

≪ Previous: Greece; P-3B Orion modernizations program

$

0

0

 

A video of the Russian Armed Forces Robotics conference near Moscow, shows a multicopter/anti-tank armed with an RPG-26 lightweight ATRL that has been developed by United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (Rostec) subsidiary Sistemprom.

Poland; MoD plans to cooperate with Czech counterpart in armor acquisition

February 17, 2016, 11:13 pm

≫ Next: Ukraine; German transmissions for BTR-4

≪ Previous: Russia; Video footage reveals VTOL UAV armed with RPG

$

0

0

 

Polish MoD is planning to cooperate with the Czech counterpart  to jointly acquire armored personnel carriers for the Polish Armed Forces. The program will be one of the priority military procurements that will be launched by Warsaw in the forthcoming months.

 

 

 

Ukraine; German transmissions for BTR-4

February 19, 2016, 11:21 pm

≫ Next: Poland; Leopard 2 MBTs upgrade program budgeted at €200M.

≪ Previous: Poland; MoD plans to cooperate with Czech counterpart in armor acquisition

$

0

0

 

Ukraine’s state owned defense group Ukroboronprom has signed a deal with German producer Deutz AG to acquire engines for the armored personnel carriers (APC) used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The new engines will replace Russian gear, which are to be discarded.

 

 

The engines will be supplied to the Armed Forces' BTR-4 vehicles. The procurement will allow Ukroboronprom to save about US $25 million and use these funds to develop and produce new weapons and equipment, the statement said.

 

---

Poland; Leopard 2 MBTs upgrade program budgeted at €200M.

February 24, 2016, 11:14 pm

≫ Next: Romania; TPS-77 radars order

≪ Previous: Ukraine; German transmissions for BTR-4

$

0

0

 

Rheinmetall has won a 220 million euro contract for overhauling Poland’s 128 Leopard 2 main battle tanks (MBT).

 

 

 

In cooperation with Poland’s Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and ZM Bumar-Łabędy, Rheinmetall will serve as a strategic partner, supplying crucial key capabilities, including electronics and weapon technology, the company said in a statement Tuesday. 

 

During the course of modernization, the 128 Leopard 2 A4 main battle tanks purchased in 2002 by the Polish Army from surplus Bundeswehr stocks will be upgraded to Leopard 2 PL standard, which corresponds to the German Leopard 2 A5 and A6.

 

Romania; TPS-77 radars order

February 24, 2016, 11:15 pm

≫ Next: Belgium; Future fighter fleet program budgeted at $16.4 Billion

≪ Previous: Poland; Leopard 2 MBTs upgrade program budgeted at €200M.

$

0

0

 

US based Lockheed Martin has been contracted to deliver two TPS-77 next-generation radars to Romania, strengthening the country's air surveillance.

 

The company expects to include innovative digital array row transceivers (DART) for energy efficiency and greater performance.

 

Belgium; Future fighter fleet program budgeted at $16.4 Billion

February 25, 2016, 11:47 pm

≫ Next: Estonia; €818Million procurement budget 2016-2019

≪ Previous: Romania; TPS-77 radars order

$

0

0

 

Belgium’s plan to purchase 34 fighter aircraft will cost nearly $16.4 billion which includes purchase and use for over forty years. 

 

The whole ‘life-cycle cost’ (LCC) on an estimated life of about 40 years between commissioning and 2058 is about triple the purchase price, Colonel Harry Van Pee, officer-in-charge of the F-16 replacement program was quoted as saying by RTBF, Belgian news daily Wednesday.

 

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-35 and Saab Gripen are expected to bid for the program.

 

 

 

Estonia; €818Million procurement budget 2016-2019

February 28, 2016, 11:28 pm

≫ Next: Croatia; New C-in-C General Staff

≪ Previous: Belgium; Future fighter fleet program budgeted at $16.4 Billion

$

0

0

 

Estonian Defense Forces will receive €818 million of the existing defence budget for the next four years to buy new weapon systems and other equipment that include new sidearms, unmanned aircraft, and long-range anti-tank systems. 

 

The Defence Forces' tender budget for the next four years is €818 million. This will cover ammunition for all of the forces’ weapons, a complete exchange of sidearms, unmanned aircraft, and long-range anti-tank missile systems.

 

Croatia; New C-in-C General Staff

February 29, 2016, 11:20 pm

≫ Next: Montenegro; AF reverts to rotary wing fleet

≪ Previous: Estonia; €818Million procurement budget 2016-2019

$

0

0

 

The Defense Committee of the Croatian Parliament has confirmed appointment of Lieutenant General Mirko Šundov as the new Chief of the General Staff succeeding General Drago Lovrić as of 1 March 2016.