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[Hiryu2.0]

Two small (?) interesting facts from the Romanian president's statement before today's NATO summit:
1) "We will also express our concerns regarding the vulnerability of the Republic of Moldova in the security, energy and economic fields."
Translated: Romania absolutely agreed that they are the representatives of Moldovan interests not only in the EU but also in NATO. This is not surprising, but it does suggest that a 'reunification', which many people think is out of the question, may not be so out of the question. Not next year, of course, but within 15-20 years I see it as increasingly likely.
2) As Johannis said, " Security begins at home". Accordingly, at the last meeting of the Romanian Supreme Defence Council it was decided to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP.
I suppose this does not need any special explanation.

Iohannis participă joi la Summitul NATO: Voi prezenta îngrijorările noastre legate de vulnerabilitatea Republicii Moldova - Tion

Președintele României, Klaus Iohannis, aflat joi, 24 martie 2022, la Bruxelles, Regatul Belgiei, a făcut mai multe declarații înaintea participării la reuniunea extraordinară a șefilor de stat și de guvern din țările membre NATO. „Este deja al doilea Summit NATO într-o lună de zile, de când...

www.tion.ro

 

[Hiryu2.0]

Hungarian Defense Ministry Undersecretary Gaspar Maroth said Sunday that 40 tactical wheeled armoured vehicles named Gidran were produced in Turkey and delivered to the Hungarian Armed Forces.

Another 100 will be produced in Hungary, he said.

Gidran is the name given to Turkish company Nurol Makina's Ejder Yalçın 4x4 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, which are being produced under licenses.
View attachment 378916
https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/hungary-receives-turkey-made-armored-vehicle-gidran

This has resulted in forty vehicles now being fitted with radios and this and that in Kaposvár.
According to rumours, the number of units ordered has also decreased.
Well, yeah, the unorthodox economic policy (copyright by Orbán) means that the forint exchange rate is falling, and even the hand-controlled central bank president is predicting 10% inflation for this year... minimum..
I don't know what will happen to the Lynx factory in Zalaegerszeg in the medium term, because the Germans have promised Slovakia a factory if they buy Lynx.

 

[BravoZulu]

Greece:
Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, and Vice-Admiral Aristidis Alexopoulos, Director General of Armaments and Investments of the Greek Ministry of Defence, signed in Athens, in the presence of Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces, and Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, Greek Minister of National Defence, a contract for the acquisition of six additional new Rafale aircraft, Dassault Aviation confirmed.

This new contract, which follows Greece’s acquisition of 18 Rafale in January 2021, will increase to 24 the number of Rafale operated by the Hellenic Air Force.

Following the arrival at Tanagra Air Base of the first six Rafale of the Hellenic Air Force on 19 January 2022, the 18 Rafale relating to the first contract will be fully deployed in Greece by the summer 2023.The six additional Rafale will then be delivered to the Hellenic Air Force shortly thereafter, starting from the summer 2024.

 

[BravoZulu]

Greece:
Greece signed an agreement with France's Naval Group to purchase three FDI frigates with an option for one more for the Hellenic Navy as part of a $5 billion defence package.

It was reported that the Hellenic Navy ships would eventually carry a more extensive weapons fit with launch tubes capable of carrying up to 32 Aster-30 air defence missiles (in 4 Sylver A-50 or 3 A-50 and 1 A-70 for 8 MdCN missile. This will permit the Hellenic Navy eventually to operate three ships with 32 aerial defence missiles plus 21 point defence missiles being also equipped with one Mk31 21-cell launcher of RAM Block 2B surface-to-air missiles, 8 Block 3 Exocet anti-ship missiles, 2 dual launchers MU90 torpedoes and CANTO torpedo countermeasures. Two of the vessels, destined for the French Navy in 2025, now will be delivered to the Hellenic Navy.

 

[BravoZulu]

Serbia:
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, has visited the “Complex Combat Systems“ factory in Velika Plana today. He has announced that this week, six new Nora self-propelled howitzers will be delivered to the Serbian Armed Forces, and that the factory is currently working on six new Lazar multi-role armoured vehicles and new volumes of Miloš armoured combat vehicles.

"Talks with our partners in the defence industry continue, and here you can see the impressive speed with which the Serbian Armed Forces are being armed with our domestically produced weapons. We could see here six new "NORA" howitzers, which will be delivered to our Armed Forces this week, six new "Lazars" and new volumes of "Miloš" armoured combat vehicles that are being manufactured" - said Minister Stefanović, after the tour of the factory.

Nora-B52 M15

Lazar 2 8x8

BOV M16 Miloš

 

[Hiryu2.0]

Half A Dozen Chinese Y-20 Cargo Jets Popped Up Over Europe Last Night (Updated)

The flight of Y-20 transports reportedly delivered weaponry to Serbia but also served as a demonstration of China's growing global reach.

www.thedrive.com

 

[prdalija]

Serbia is in talks with France to buy at least 12 new Rafale fighter jets, President Aleksandar Vucic said.

The biggest former Yugoslav republic has traditionally relied on Russian military aircraft and technology, but may purchase as many as 24 Rafales made by Dassault Aviation SA, Vucic said in comments published on his website.

“We’ve been negotiating with them for a year about purchasing 12 new Rafales, and we’re also negotiating with another country about buying 12 used Rafales,” Vucic said, without providing more details. He spoke after attending a military exercise in central Serbia with top commanders on Saturday.

Bloomberg

 

[BravoZulu]

Slovakia will consider providing Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine if alternative protection of its own air space can be arranged, Prime Minister Eduard Heger said on Monday.

Ukraine has asked for heavy weapons and planes as part of its defence against Russia, which invaded on Feb. 24.

Western nations have increasingly started supplying weapons but earlier discussions on providing MiG-29s – which are also used by Poland and Bulgaria – were halted because those plans were perceived as too risky in increasing tensions between Russia and NATO.

Ukraine’s neighbor Slovakia, a NATO member, operates 12 MiG-29 planes.

Slovakia has already given Ukraine its Soviet-designed S-300 air defense system.

“After how the Russian Federation has behaved now, Soviet-made equipment is becoming very risky. Therefore your question is in place and comes into consideration,” Heger said in response to a reporter’s question about asking allies to help secure Slovak air space and the possibility of giving MiG-29s to Ukraine.

“Post-Soviet equipment is not sustainable without Russian supplies and we do not at this moment even want those,” he said.

Heger said the defense ministry was in talks about securing the airspace with war planes.

Slovakia is expecting first deliveries of U.S.-made F-16 jets in 2024, from a batch of 18 it agreed to buy in 2018.
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-p...r-providing-mig-29s-to-ukraine-prime-minister

 

[BravoZulu]

Serbia took the delivery of a sophisticated Chinese anti-aircraft system in a veiled operation this weekend, amid Western concerns that an arms buildup in the Balkans at the time of the war in Ukraine could threaten the fragile peace in the region.

Media and military experts said Sunday that six Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport planes landed at Belgrade’s civilian airport early Saturday, reportedly carrying HQ-22 surface-to-air missile systems for the Serbian military.

The Chinese cargo planes with military markings were pictured at Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla airport. Serbia’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to AP’s request for comment.

The arms delivery over the territory of at least two NATO member states, Turkey and Bulgaria, was seen by experts as a demonstration of China’s growing global reach.

“The Y-20s’ appearance raised eyebrows because they flew en masse as opposed to a series of single-aircraft flights,” wrote The Warzone online magazine. “The Y-20′s presence in Europe in any numbers is also still a fairly new development.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic all but confirmed the delivery of the medium-range system that was agreed in 2019, saying on Saturday that he will present “the newest pride” of the Serbian military on Tuesday or Wednesday.

He had earlier complained that NATO countries, which represent most of Serbia’s neighbors, are refusing to allow the system’s delivery flights over their territories amid tensions over Russia’s aggression on Ukraine.

Although Serbia has voted in favor of U.N. resolutions that condemn the bloody Russian attacks in Ukraine, it has refused to join international sanctions against its allies in Moscow or outright criticize the apparent atrocities committed by the Russian troops there.

Back in 2020, U.S. officials warned Belgrade against the purchase of HQ-22 anti-aircraft systems, whose export version is known as FK-3. They said that if Serbia really wants to join the European Union and other Western alliances, it must align its military equipment with Western standards.

The Chinese missile system has been widely compared to the American Patriot and the Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems although it has a shorter range than more advanced S-300s. Serbia will be the first operator of the Chinese missiles in Europe.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-china-serbia-nato-682ab79c4239f14ecc1133ff5c7addc9

 

[pigmode]

Poland will get a new air-defense system after the summer

With Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine continuing to stir Poland’s defense posture, Warsaw decided to accelerate the procurement by several years.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Hiryu2.0]

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[Hiryu2.0]

Radizcan | IDEAS Science

www.ideas-science.com

 

[TheKiwi]

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Based on the Australian experience of running Tiger while not being part of the manufacturing consortium, you'd have to be a fool to even consider it for purchase.

 

[santana]

NATO scrambles fighter jets to intercept Russian planes​

NATO fighter jets stationed in both the Baltic and Black Sea regions scrambled "multiple times over the past four days" to track and intercept Russian aircraft near alliance airspace, according to a statement posted by NATO's Allied Air Command. CNN's Barbara Starr reports

NATO scrambles fighter jets to intercept Russian planes | CNN

NATO fighter jets stationed in both the Baltic and Black Sea regions scrambled "multiple times over the past four days" to track and intercept Russian aircraft near alliance airspace, according to a statement posted by NATO's Allied Air Command. CNN's Barbara Starr reports.

edition.cnn.com

 

[Hiryu2.0]

Just briefly:
1. Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky took out a HUF 53 billion loan with a state guarantee from the Hungarian Development Bank and bought the Czech aircraft company Aero Vodochody.
2. The Hungarian state bought 12 L-39NG military training and reconnaissance aircraft from them.
3. He is now appointed Minister of Defence, so he can buy more military equipment - from himself.

 

[Adamicz]

Czech Republic:

We are in talks with Germany to get Leopard 2 tanks instead of T-72's we've sent to Ukraine. Unofficially, it will be 15-20 Leopards 2A4 for training purposes, that could arrive in several months. Additionaly, the Czech government would by another 40 Leopards 2A7, so similar package the Hungarians got.

Czechs in Talks to Get German Leopard 2 Tanks as They Send T-72 Tanks to Ukraine

The Czech Republic has already sent some of its non-modernised tanks to Ukraine after Russia's invasion started on February 24. ...

militaryleak.com

The Czech Defence Minister also revealed there are talks with the US to buy another 12 helicopters of the H1 package (UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper) to make it 24 pieces in our inventory (so probably 12 Venoms and 12 Vipers at the end).

Czech Republic to Order Additional Venom, Viper Helicopters

The Czech Republic is considering the purchase of additional Venom and Viper helicopters for its armed forces.

www.thedefensepost.com

Another talks are about fighters, the current lease of 14 Gripens ends in 2027 but the government wants to make a decision about successor no later then next year. The Czech MoD would like to buy at least 24 fighters now.

 

[Hiryu2.0]

Greece Acquires F-35 Fighter

Greeece will soon begin negotiations with the US on the purchase of fifth-generation F-35 fighters as part of efforts to strengthen both the Greek armed

greekcitytimes.com

 

[Hiryu2.0]

Cseh Lopard-2?
)https://ekonomickydenik-cz.translat...FbCRV4DW8n4IwAR1FbCRV4GYN4GiCrEq4GY04GiPrEqU0

 

[Adamicz]

Czech Republic:

So the tank deal is 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks from stock of the manufacturer plus one recovery vehicle. Interesting thing is, these offered pieces are supposedly currently dismantled so they will be completed and refurbished accordingly by the German side before delivery to the Czech Army, so in pretty great condition, I guess. I expect order for the 40 Leopards 2A7 will follow in the coming years.

https://www.handelsblatt.com/untern...hechien-soll-ende-2022-erfolgen/28360632.html

The Army also wants to buy another 40-50 pieces of Titus armored vehicles (to 62 already ordered) and about 40 more Pandurs, probably in mortar carrier modification:

https://www-e15-cz.translate.goog/b..._sl=cs&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=cs&_x_tr_pto=wapp

The Czech Prime Minister also announced a plan to increase MoD budget to reach 2% of GDP by 2024. So far it looks like we'll see quite a dramatic change in the Czech Army's inventory in the upcoming years. Just what came to my mind from the biggest projects:

155mm CAESAR howitzers / deliveries 2024-2026 / 52 ordered
UH-1Y Venom / 2023 / 8 ordered (with possibly another four pieces in negotiation)
AH-1Z Viper / 2023 / 4 ordered (with possibly another eight pieces in negotiation)
Leopard 2A4 / Q4 2022 - Q2 2023 / 14 MBTs + 1 recovery tank (with possibly another 40 2A7s in the coming years)
SPYDER Air Defence System / 2024 - 2026 / 4 batteries
Mobile Air Defence Radars (EL/M-2084) / 2022 / 8 ordered
Toyota Hilux / 2021 - 2024 / 1200 ordered
Titus armoured vehicles / 2023 / 62 ordered (+ 40-50 additional)
STARCOM electronic warfare vehicles / 2023 / 8 ks

plus upcoming tenders for new BMPs (Lynx, ASCOD2 or CV90), drones (up to 1300kg category), own military satellite, new fighter decision (for post 2027 service), new Pandurs.

 

[av405]

Czech Republic:

So the tank deal is 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks from stock of the manufacturer plus one recovery vehicle. Interesting thing is, these offered pieces are supposedly currently dismantled so they will be completed and refurbished accordingly by the German side before delivery to the Czech Army, so in pretty great condition, I guess. I expect order for the 40 Leopards 2A7 will follow in the coming years.

https://www.handelsblatt.com/untern...hechien-soll-ende-2022-erfolgen/28360632.html

The most recent articles I've read suggest the order will be for 50 A7s.