The Slovakian Ministry of Defense plans to procure 17 3D radars, including six 3D mid-range radars, five 3D radiolocators of small range, and six 3D near-range radars for an estimated sum of 155 million euros (US$181 million) during 2018-2025 time period.
Slovakia; €155M. 3D AD radars tender
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France; Defense budgets 2019-2025
This year will see a €1.8 billion increase in the annual defense budget to €34.2 billion, of which €650 million is earmarked for overseas deployment of combat troops.
The budget sets a target of €295 billion over seven years, with one-third of the funds released after 2023, after a general election held in 2022 and a new government enters power.
France presently commits 1.78 percent of GDP to the military, with spending due to rise to 1.91 percent in 2023 and reaching 2 percent by 2025. The planned annual increase will be €1.7 billion from 2019 to 2022, with an annual €3 billion increase in the succeeding years.
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Germany; MoD plans to establish a DARPA equivalent
Germany Defence and Interior ministry officials are pushing for the creation of a new agency this year that will study disruptive technologies relevant to Germany’s defense and security.
A decision on the way forward is expected “shortly,” a Defence Ministry spokesman told Defense News on Wednesday. Planning is underway to get the green light from the Finance Ministry, a necessary step because the agency would be set up as an “in-house” limited liability corporation, according to the spokesman.
If all goes according to plan, insiders believe Cabinet-level consideration of the effort could come as early as September. While there is no official word on the exact timing, the spokesman said creating the agency is firmly on the calendar for 2018.
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Romania; Coastal missiles replacement program
Romania’s defense ministry is expected to kickstart negotiations to purchase new shore-based, coastal anti-ship missile system this week to replace Soviet P-15 Termit.
the contract for acquisition of Mobile Missile Launchers Mobile System (SIML) has an estimated value of EUR 137 million, VAT not included, to be paid between 2018 and 2023. The systems will be deployed on the Black Sea coast and will be part of Romania’s marine defense.
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Norway; Army orders hand held thermal imagers
French/Swiss Safran Vectronix has been selected by the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency to deliver several hundred Moskito TI and Jim Compact thermal imagers to the Norwegian armed forces, the company announced on 13 July.
The equipment will fulfil the medium and long range requirements of the Norwegian armed forces including day and night observation, target acquisition, artillery correction and fire support, forward observer and joint terminal attack controller.
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Bulgaria; Combat fighter tender – relaunched
Bulgarian MoD has again published an RfP for a new jet fighter to replace the ageing sole MiG-29A squadron, target of signing the contract is desired by the end of 2018. The RfI encompasses 6-8 fighters.
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Russia; Hypersonic missile technologies secrets leak
Russia’s Federal Security Services (FSB) has raided two research facilities linked to space agency, Roskosmos over suspected leak of secret hypersonic missile technology to the West from inside the research labs.
This morning the FSB investigation group started searches in the offices of the employees of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering (TsNIIMash), as well as in the office of Dmitry Payson, Director of the Research and Analysis Center of the United Missile and Space Corporation.
The FSB opened a case on the facts of the state treason, because of which Western special services received data on the latest Russian weapons.
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Ukraine; US DoD approves $200 M for security cooperation fund
The Defense Department announced today that it will provide $200 million to Ukraine in security cooperation funds for additional training, equipment and advisory efforts to build the defensive capacity of Ukraine’s forces.
This reaffirms the long-standing defense relationship between the United States and Ukraine, and brings the total U.S. security sector assistance to Ukraine to more than $1 billion since 2014.
The added funds will provide equipment to support ongoing training programs and operational needs, including capabilities to enhance Ukraine’s command-and-control, situational awareness systems, secure communications, military mobility, night vision and military medical treatment.
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Russia; Ground Effect Vehicle program
The Alekseyev Central Hydrofoil Design Bureau of Russia is developing the next-generation super-heavy airborne transport ground effect vehicle (GEV) named “Rescuer”. After the construction of the vehicle is completed in 2019-20, it will be deployed in the Arctic region, according to Russian media.
A GEV, also known as a wing-in-ground-effect vehicle (WIG), takes advantage of the lift, which is similar to an air cushion formed between the fuselage, the wing and the water surface or the ground. It is a multi-purpose device integrating the advantages of both warships and aircraft as it can fly several meters above the water or ground surface.
According to current data, the design of “Rescuer” is based on the Lun (Harrier) class ekranoplan, but with better airworthiness and ice combat capability. “Rescuer” is known as the “Arctic Monster” due to its outstanding polar suitability.
“Rescuer” uses wheels as landing gear for take-off and landing on ice surface. The previous GEVs developed by the former Soviet Union could only take off and land on water surface. The aircraft also features a special air cushion to help it slide on the surface of the sea and frozen land. With this, it can help Russia’s Northern Fleet and Pacific Fleet form rescue units and deliver supplies to Russian garrisons in remote regions.
Under the current plan, the construction of “Rescuer” will be completed by 2020. Various flight tests and trials will be carried out during the period of 2020-23 and it will enter Russian military’s battle order in 2025.
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UK; Type-31e Frigates contest on ice as MoD runs out of funds
Government plans to buy a “budget frigate” within five years have been thrown into chaos after a competition to build the warship was suspended amid a funding crisis.
Sources warned last night that the Type 31e frigate may never materialise. It is a serious blow for the Royal Navy, which needs at least five of the ships to maintain the size of its surface fleet.
Shipbuilders and yards in the running for the £1.25 billion contract were taken by surprise when the Ministry of Defence announced the freeze on Friday, just as they prepared to finalise their respective ship designs. Defence Equipment and Support, the branch of the MoD in charge of buying kit, claimed that there had not been enough “compliant bids”.
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Italy; Army orders 10 Centauro II wheeled tanks
Iveco-Oto Melara Consortium (CIO), which is 50% owned by Leonardo, signed a contract worth 159 million Euros with the Italian Ministry of Defence for the acquisition of the first 10 new Centauro II armoured vehicles. The signing ceremony took place at Palazzo Guidoni, the headquarters of the Italian Secretariat General of Defence and of the National Armaments Directorate. It was attended by the Secretary General of Defence and National Armaments Director, Aerial Squadron Marshall Carlo Magrassi, the Italian Army Chief of Staff, General Salvatore Farina, and the Director of the Land Armaments, Lieutenant General Francesco Castrataro.
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UK; New self-protection dispenser for Typhoon
Swedish Saab has received an order for self-protection system from BAE Systems for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to defeat radar and IR guided threats.
The order-agreement with BAE Systems consists of development, production, support and future sales of the Smart Dispenser System (SDS) for the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Typhoons and future Eurofighter opportunities.
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Spain; Additional S-80 submarines funding
The Council of Ministers has approved the rescheduling of the annuities that affect the Special Program for the Modernization of the Armed Forces corresponding to the S-80submarine, so as to adapt the financing to the current payment schedule.
With this action, the cost ceiling of the S-80 submarine program is raised to 1.771.703.930,42 euros.
Special Programs have particular financing characteristics that imply the realization of continuous adaptations during their development.
Currently, the Ministry of Defense has the need to reprogram the calendar of annuities corresponding to the submarine program S-80, which aims at the design and construction of four high-tech, non-nuclear submarines with superior capabilities to others in service.
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Greece; Government mulls Japanese fire-fighting aircraft buy
Japan will begin negotiations with Greece to export the US-2 rescue aircraft in a deal that would mark the nation's first sale of finished defense equipment.
Greece is modernizing its aging fleet of firefighting planes and plans to replace several dozen. The European country has expressed interest in buying the amphibious craft produced by ShinMaywa Industries.
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Denmark; Navy orders Standard SM-2 missiles
The United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has approved a possible sale to Denmark of up to 46 Standard Missile, SM-2 Block IIIA All-Up Rounds, RIM BK IIIA (VLS), and other related equipment for an estimated cost of $152 million.
The Government of Denmark has requested to buy up to 46 Standard Missile, SM-2 Block IIIA Vertical Launching Tactical All-Up Rounds, RIM 066M-03-BK IIIA (VLS); up to two Standard Missile, SM-2 Block IIIA Telemetry, Omni-Directional, AllUp Rounds, RIM-066M-03-BK IIIA (VLS); and up to two Standard Missile, SM-2 Block IIIA Telemetry, Omni-Directional Antenna, Warhead Dud Capable, RIM 066M-03-BK IIIA (VLS).
This proposed sale would support Denmark's anti-air warfare capabilities for the Royal Danish Navy's IVER HUITFELDT Frigate Class ships. The SM-2 Block IIIA missiles, combined with the Anti-Air Warfare System (AAWS) combat system, will provide significantly enhanced area defense capabilities over critical Northern Europe air-and-sea-lines of communication.
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Germany; Navy orders Swedish RBS15 anti-ship missile systems
Swedish Saab has received $18 million order from its German partner Diehl Defence for the Anti-Ship Missile RBS15 Mk3 ship system.
Recently the German Navy made a procurement to buy additional K130 class ships, this order comprises onboard ship systems for these. The order contains the necessary infrastructure to equip the ships with the RBS15 missiles. The order was received from Diehl Defence, industrial prime for the RBS15 procurement in Germany. The contractor is a German consortium of three shipyards named ARGE K-130.
The RBS15 is jointly produced by Saab and Diehl Defence GmbH & Co.
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Latvia; Black Hawk helicopter order
The United States State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Latvia of four UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated $200 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale Friday.
The Government of Latvia has requested to buy four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters in standard USG configuration with designated unique equipment and Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), ten (1T700-GE-701D engines and ten Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation Systems. Also included is one Aviation Mission Planning System, five Talon Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR), ten AN/ARC-201D/E, ten AN/ARC-231 radios, five AN/APX-123A Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder, five AN/ARC-220 Radios and twenty AN/AVS-6 Helmet Mounted Night Vision Devices.
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Spain; Single unified command to handle illegal immigration
The Government of Spain has decided to create a single operational command, which will direct a Coordination Center, to centralize the proceedings related to illegal immigration. The step is taken in lieu of recent violent assault on the border of Ceuta, by sub-Saharan Africans who with criminal methods neutralized to the Civil Guard to access Spain.
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UK; Government releases 2017 defense exports figures
British defense companies secured exports valued at £9 billion ($11.59 billion) during 2017, representing a 53% increase over 2016 results. 2017 figures proved the second largest annual export success in the last decade.
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Spain; MoD publishes UAV tender budgeted at €4.3M.
The Spanish MoD has launched a tender with a budget of 4.3 million euros for the urgent acquisition of two Close Range UAV platoons, to serve with Army units stationed at Spanish contingents. According to the planned schedule, the winning company will supply the systems before December of this year.
The contract establishes the delivery of two complete new UAV platoons. Each system will be composed of three air vehicles and three payloads. It will also incorporate two ground control stations; two land data stations; a launch system; a recovery system; and a system video receiving station. Logistical support and spare parts are also included for five years, as well as the necessary documentation, licenses and corresponding certifications.
Among the requirements, the system must have a range of at least 70 kilometers from the point of takeoff, a range of six hours and may operate at an altitude of 3,000 meters. The payment charge will consist of at least: EO / IR dual camera stabilized; laser illuminator and laser rangefinder.
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