Mil News Western Europe Military News

[Mike1976]

Exclusive: British Army Conducts First Live Fire with New U.S. Lightweight Launcher for Javelin Anti-Tank Missile

Exclusive: British Army Conducts First Live Fire with New U.S. Lightweight Launcher for Javelin Anti-Tank Missile

armyrecognition.com

 

[Soldier35]

In Britain, the RFDEW microwave weapon was successfully tested against a group of drones. Earlier, we talked about the RFDEW radio frequency energy weapon. It is worth noting that the microwave weapon was tested on hovering drones. One of the problems with FPV drones is the difficulty of detecting them, especially when moving at low altitude. Despite this, according to the test results, we can say that the microwave weapon against drones really works. Considering that drones are beginning to be used with fiber optic control, microwave weapons are becoming more relevant to combat them than electronic warfare systems.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Mike1976]

It has a limited AShM capacity, but no ASW or SAM while the main threat in those seas is from subs, aircraft and shore batteries ...

German Navy's new Augsburg corvette enters final construction stage before deployment in North and Baltic Seas

German Navy's new Augsburg corvette enters final construction stage before deployment in North and Baltic Seas

armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Austria to purchase up to 24 Italian-made M346FA light attack aircraft to reestablish national jet training

{loadposition bannertop} {loadposition sidebarpub} On May 5, 2025, the Italian Mini

armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Finland launches first Pohjanmaa-class multi-role corvette to maintain naval readiness in Baltic Sea

{loadposition bannertop} {loadposition sidebarpub} On May 21, 2025, the first Pohja

armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

HMS Glasgow first new Type 26 frigate to enter service strengthening British Navy anti-submarine warfare capabilities

{loadposition bannertop} {loadposition sidebarpub} HMS Glasgow, the lead ship of th

armyrecognition.com

 

[haze99]

https://defence-blog.com/us-allies-conduct-urban-warfare-exercise-in-poland/?amp

 

[muck]

It has a limited AShM capacity, but no ASW or SAM while the main threat in those seas is from subs, aircraft and shore batteries ...

German Navy's new Augsburg corvette enters final construction stage before deployment in North and Baltic Seas

German Navy's new Augsburg corvette enters final construction stage before deployment in North and Baltic Seas

armyrecognition.com

The K130 class corvettes serve mainly a reconnaissance role. They're enlarged replacements of the Cheetah class fast attack crafts and were never designed to engage in ASW operations.

Austria to purchase up to 24 Italian-made M346FA light attack aircraft to reestablish national jet training

{loadposition bannertop} {loadposition sidebarpub} On May 5, 2025, the Italian Mini

armyrecognition.com

Already close to back-pedalling, according to Austrian media. They have a huge budget deficit and need to save money, and their arms build-up is being attacked from both the pacifist left as well as the neutralist right. A week ago, their premier newspaper on the left accused the government of corruption over the jet trainer purchase. It's emerged that the Austrian Army's own corruption watchdog criticised the tender as "designed so that only Leonardo could win". (Source)

 

[Mike1976]

The K130 class corvettes serve mainly a reconnaissance role. They're enlarged replacements of the Cheetah class fast attack crafts and were never designed to engage in ASW operations.

For a reconnaissance role you'd want defensive armaments. Against any serious warship this corvette will lose simple due to the weight of fire disparity and for instances where the target is a merchant vessel the gun would suffice. Shooting down incoming missiles and keeping aircraft at a distance while flooring it in the opposite direction is the only way a reconnaissance element survives.

 

[Fluff]

For a reconnaissance role you'd want defensive armaments. Against any serious warship this corvette will lose simple due to the weight of fire disparity and for instances where the target is a merchant vessel the gun would suffice. Shooting down incoming missiles and keeping aircraft at a distance while flooring it in the opposite direction is the only way a reconnaissance element survives.

Either you fit small weapons for each Job, or you could fit one with a gun,one with Sam, and one with asw, and in a war they sail together. U.K. is just as bad, patrol ships with one 20mm gun.

 

[muck]

For a reconnaissance role you'd want defensive armaments. Against any serious warship this corvette will lose simple due to the weight of fire disparity and for instances where the target is a merchant vessel the gun would suffice. Shooting down incoming missiles and keeping aircraft at a distance while flooring it in the opposite direction is the only way a reconnaissance element survives.

Not that kind of reconnaissance—I should've been more specific. The class has two roles: Anti-surface warfare, where it replaces the Cheetah fast attack craft with a focus on range and endurance; and establishing situational awareness, for which purpose it's outfitted with far-reaching sensors not usually found on a vessel of this size. They're not supposed to get up close with the enemy, nor do they need to with a 250+ km range main armament (soon to be 400 km with the RBS 15 Mk 4). The class also carries an EW/ELINT suite potent enough to warrant permanent embarkation of BND intelligence analysts. They're pretty neat for what they're supposed to do.

 

[Nathyl]

So would any other tracked or wheeled chassis in today's market. I don't know if the Spanish subsidiary has the capacity to build vehicles from scratch. German labor = expensive compared to Spain (35% or more).

The A5 was introduced in the early 90s. If the Spanish Leopards are anything to go by I dread to think of the condition the majority could be in. Quite possibly cannibalizing into an ever decreasing operational pool.

Mmm...

The condition of the spanish M-109A5E (all 96 are operational) is incomparable to the 54 Leo 2A4s stored for years without more than minimal maintenance at the Casetas barracks (Zaragoza). These tanks were even damaged by a flood that inundated the storage facility several years ago. Refurbishing them to 100% and returning them to service for transfer to Ukraine has cost a lot of money and effor...

The M-109A5E has undergone two modernisation processes in recent decades in Spain and a couple of years ago the barrels of the M284 Howitzers were replaced (2022-2023). Also various improvements to the fire navigation and control systems, such as the integration of the SIPNaP (Integrated Positioning, Navigation and Aiming System), which is currently in the process of being upgraded and replaced by SIPNaP v2 to integrate it with the new version of TALOS (Spanish Artillery Command & Controls System). In addition, a communications systems upgrade is also underway (they were to receive the new E-Linx but tech and political issues surged so in the end it looks like they will receive new L3 Harris equipment).

The only M-109s in storage in Spain, available to transfer/sell at present are the older 6 ex-Marine Infantry M-109A2s. These were replaced some time ago in the BRIMAR Artillery Group by same number of A5Es reconditioned for amphibious operations, on loan from the Spanish Army.

The programme to replace the M109s in Spain is underway but no clear and fixed timeline has been set yet.

The plans are for 109 new self-propelled howitzers on a tracked platform and another 36 on a wheeled platform (Caesar style).

Apart from the media hype with Nemesis during the last FEINDEF, no favourites have emerged from the Spanish Army. It is known that in the past the K-9 was favorably evaluated among other self-propelled artillery systems. Until now, the wheeled solution considered by the Spanish Army has always been considered truck-based.

 

[Mike1976]

Mmm...

The condition of the spanish M-109A5E (all 96 are operational) is incomparable to the 54 Leo 2A4s stored for years without more than minimal maintenance at the Casetas barracks (Zaragoza). These tanks were even damaged by a flood that inundated the storage facility several years ago. Refurbishing them to 100% and returning them to service for transfer to Ukraine has cost a lot of money and effor...

The M-109A5E has undergone two modernisation processes in recent decades in Spain and a couple of years ago the barrels of the M284 Howitzers were replaced (2022-2023). Also various improvements to the fire navigation and control systems, such as the integration of the SIPNaP (Integrated Positioning, Navigation and Aiming System), which is currently in the process of being upgraded and replaced by SIPNaP v2 to integrate it with the new version of TALOS (Spanish Artillery Command & Controls System). In addition, a communications systems upgrade is also underway (they were to receive the new E-Linx but tech and political issues surged so in the end it looks like they will receive new L3 Harris equipment).

The only M-109s in storage in Spain, available to transfer/sell at present are the older 6 ex-Marine Infantry M-109A2s. These were replaced some time ago in the BRIMAR Artillery Group by same number of A5Es reconditioned for amphibious operations, on loan from the Spanish Army.

The programme to replace the M109s in Spain is underway but no clear and fixed timeline has been set yet.

The plans are for 109 new self-propelled howitzers on a tracked platform and another 36 on a wheeled platform (Caesar style).

Apart from the media hype with Nemesis during the last FEINDEF, no favourites have emerged from the Spanish Army. It is known that in the past the K-9 was favorably evaluated among other self-propelled artillery systems. Until now, the wheeled solution considered by the Spanish Army has always been considered truck-based.

Thank you for the information

 

[muck]

NATO wants Germany to raise 7 additional brigades. (Source)

Not happening without conscription, so conscription it'll be.

 

[Mike1976]

NATO wants Germany to raise 7 additional brigades. (Source)

Not happening without conscription, so conscription it'll be.

As I keep saying it's inevitable. Voluntary service models won't cut it.

 

[BravoZulu]

Saab has been awarded a contract by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to equip the Swedish Navy’s five Visby-class corvettes with the Sea Ceptor air defence system from MBDA. This upgrade, valued at approximately SEK 1.6 billion, will significantly enhance Sweden’s and NATO’s air defence capabilities.

The order for Saab is part of FMV’s long-term plan to maintain and modernise the five Visby-class corvettes. This new naval air defence system allows for protection of a considerably larger area and the engagement of air targets at longer ranges compared to the existing weapon systems currently on board the vessels.

“This modification strengthens both Sweden’s and NATO’s air and missile defence by increasing the Swedish Armed Forces' operational capability and ability to operate across the entire conflict spectrum. With the air defence system on board, the Visby-class corvettes will continue to be a vital platform for many years to come,” says Mats Wicksell, Head of Saab’s business area Kockums.

FMV has previously placed an order for the Sea Ceptor air defence system with MBDA. Saab's work on modifying the Visby-class corvettes and installing the system will begin in early 2026.

https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press...vettes-with-enhanced-air-defence-capabilities

 

[Mike1976]

What a Sh*tshow

UK Warns of Critical Delay in SPEAR 3 Missiles for its F35B Fighter Jets

UK Warns of Critical Delay in SPEAR 3 Missiles for its F35B Fighter Jets

armyrecognition.com

 

[Nathyl]

Airbus delivers first two NH90 MSPT (Spanish Naval Tactical Transport Helicopters) to Spanish Navy.

Spanish navy takes first two NH90 TTHs

All three branches of Spain's armed forces are now operators of the NH Industries (NHI) NH90 helicopter following the delivery of a pair of the multirole rotorcraft to the nation's navy.

www.flightglobal.com

For now there are 7 NH-90 MSPT (Std3) already in the process of delivery by Airbus to the Spanish Navy. But the next phase of the NH programme is underway and will increase the number considerably, as well as including the ASW/ASuW variant of the NH-90 (if Airbus finally manages to satisfy the Armada's requests for the ASW suite, preventing more MH-60R purchases).

We will see how many NH-90s end up in the Navy, although it looks like there will be more than originally envisaged in the "Plan Director de Helicópteros 2014" (PDH-2014). Those 28 planned will be increased in the already prepared, but not yet released to the public, new "Plan Nacional de Helicópteros 2025".

The total numbers of the future NH-90 fleet that are being considered are 13 MSTP and around 20/22 ASW/ASuW.

In addition, the Spanish Navy has contracted 8 MH-60Rs and is still in the process of completing deliveries of 8 refurbished SH-60Fs.

 

[Nathyl]

Indra tests its NEMUS system on the Spanish Army's Leopard 2A4.

Indra Nemus radar aces anti-drone tests on Leopard tanks

Indra has completed successful tests of its Nemus radar system, designed to provide active protection against drones and projectiles.

www.army-technology.com

 

[Redav]

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries partners with Portuguese Navy for submarine development
https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-industry/2025/05/30/NOMWVFD5DZG2NFKZLSSRP5W4RU/