Mil News Western Europe Military News

[Fish&Chips]

The plane was actually short before crashing into the tower of the airport at one point and a collision could only be avoided in the last seconds. One of the pilots allegedly said if they wouldn't have had extensive military training they presumably wouldn't have made it alive.

In follow-up news, it turned out that this near-crash situation in April this year was caused by sloppy maintenance work by the private Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services. (news in German)

I served in army logistics and frankly, I've never understood why anyone would consider it a good idea for an armed service to rely that heavily on civilian companies.

There you go...

 

[muck]

13 French troops die as Tiger attack helicopter, Cougar utility helicopter collide during anti-militant operations in Mali ()

Repose en paix. ?

 

[Chazman]

13 French troops die as Tiger attack helicopter, Cougar utility helicopter collide during anti-militant operations in Mali ()

Repose en paix. ?

Sad to hear. RIP.

 

[muck]

German Navy won't start operating Sea Lion helicopter in 2019 since Airbus failed to provide a complete manual ()

The German Navy has refused to commission its first Sea Lion helicopters originally scheduled to start operations before the end of year. A spokesperson said that even though the Navy is convinced of the helicopter's capabilities and suitability, the manufacturer has provided only incomplete manuals missing important information and maintenance instructions on no less than 150 pages. As a result, the service sees itself unable to operate the aircraft safely.

What the heck? ?

 

[Picanha]

Not my fault!! I always delivered complete manuals....the issue might be blown out of Proportion as I know the BW as customer

Sometimes you receive certain manuals later because their Content is only needed eventually or in a revised form.

There's aplethora of documentation 150 pages is Nothing.

It sure ain't Flight Manuals or similar important Manuals as they must be ready for certification.

Could be some SRM missing some things that might then only become actual through MSG-3 analisys.

Edit: I read a bit more about it, it is not 150 pages ist 150 items...one example was a non existing maintenace schedule for greasing "something" could be a seat hinge or really something important. I am a bit biased since I had an officer check manuals who had absolutely no clue what he was doing so he measured with a ruler if the layout was done correctly.

 

[BravoZulu]

Germany:
Rheinmetall and its joint venture partners Diehl Defence and Rafael have won an order to supply the Bundeswehr with the advanced MELLS antitank guided missile. Rheinmetall is tasked with supplying key components to Eurospike, the company that manufactures the MELLS multirole lightweight guided missile system. For Rheinmetall, this represents an order intake of over €30 million without valued added tax. Delivery begins in 2020 and continues through to 2023. A framework agreement contains an option for the fabrication and delivery of around 100 additional weapon systems and a five-figure number of component sets for the MELLS guided missile during the 2024-2031 timeframe. This would mean incoming orders for Rheinmetall in the three-digit million-euro range.

The MELLS missiles now ordered by the Bundeswehr are intended for infantry operations. Rheinmetall will be supplying over a hundred integrated command and launch units, including transport and storage containers, as well as 1,500 sets with components for the long-range Spike LR missile produced by Rafael.

Produced by Eurospike – a joint venture of Rheinmetall, Diehl Defence and Rafael – the MELLS is a state-of-the-art effector capable of engaging armoured targets at ranges of up to 4,000 metres.

Rheinmetall can point to abundant expertise and experience with the MELLS. The Düsseldorf, Germany-based company has already integrated this advanced missile system into the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, and is doing so again in the Puma IFV. In addition, another contractor is currently integrating the system into Rheinmetall’s air-portable Wiesel/Wiesel weapons carrier.
https://www.rheinmetall-defence.com...ic_relations/news/latest_news/index_22144.php

 

[Junglejim]

Airbus filed at delivering manuals? Half the time all Airbus does is make manuals, i get updates weekly on our FCOm for the A320

 

[muck]

Acquisition of about 100 additional Boxer APCs, armed with a 30mm autocannon

German Army confirms Boxer with Lance turret is going to come ()

The vehicles will be similar to the ones just ordered by Australia. They are intended to replace the Wiesel weapons carrier in Jäger usage, where the latter form a battalion's fires company. The parachute and mountain infantry, however, will retain their Wiesels which are scheduled to receive an upgrade (as @BravoZulu mentioned above). The purchase is expected to comprise some 80 vehicles plus spares for training and evaluation.

This announcement is very interesting for several reasons:

1. It highlights Germany's commitment to the Boxer platform, making more purchases of other variants eyed by the army even more likely.
2. It reaffirms the process of transition started by the Afghanistan War of the Jäger into a connecting link between the infantry proper and the mechanised infantry (which is actually considered a part of the armoured corps in Germany). I guess we could start to distinguish between light, intermediate and heavy infantry now.

 

[muck]

Switzerland buys 100 Eagle V's ()

The vehicles will be outfitted with the Swiss' TASYS reconnaissance mast and a remote-controlled .50 calibre machine gun for self defence. They're to replace the Eagle II used in the same role in Switzerland's reconnaissance battalions from 2023 onwards.

 

[Kaiserschlacht]

The Belgian army renews the equipments of its soldiers.

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

 

[Fish&Chips]

The Belgian army renews the equipments of its soldiers.

That's interesting. Looks like the days of the multicoulored Belgian combat uniform are over and they're going back to olive drab.

 

[Fish&Chips]

German WWI wreck Scharnhorst discovered off Falklands

German WWI wreck Scharnhorst discovered off Falklands

Armoured cruiser SMS Scharnhorst was sunk by the British in the 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands.

www.bbc.com

 

[Kaiserschlacht]

That's interesting. Looks like the days of the multicoulored Belgian combat uniform are over and they're going back to olive drab.

In the video they say it's waterproof clothing,not the new standard uniform. The Jigsaw will still be used although there are rumours and discussions within the army to replace it ,but nothing official.

 

[muck]

Swiss parliament gives consent to purchase of new combat aircraft for air force ()

A purchase is to be made in early 2021. The opposition tried to avert this resolution with a counter-offer dismissed by experts; they'd been advocating buying Leonardo's M-346FA armed trainer as a cheaper alternative to the contenders included in the current offer (Boeing's F/A-18E/F, Lockheed-Martin's F-35, Airbus' Typhoon and Dassault's Rafale). However, the resolution is tied to a facultative referendum; the Swiss voter can still reject the deal, as indeed he did a previous bid several years ago.

 

[muck]

Germany's air force takes first delivery of new H145 SAR helicopters ()

Three months ahead of the contractually fixed handover date! Wonders never cease. The seven helicopters will stand ready 24/7 to respond to air traffic emergencies in Germany and adjacent countries and provide helicopter emergency medical services in a secondary role.​

Italy's Customs Guard welcomes first two of future four P-72Bs maritime patrol aircraft ()

The P-72B is a MPA based on the latest version of the ATR-72 turboprop airliner. The two aircraft were also delivered ahead of time.​

The Guardia di Finanza operates under the authority of the Italian Ministry of Economy, but its members have combattant status and are deployed militarily in the event of war – that's why I'm posting this news here.​

First RQ-4D RPV for NATO's Alliance Ground Surveillance Force lands on Sicily ()

The RQ-4D remotely piloted surveillance vehicle has a service ceiling of 60,000 ft and and an endurance of 1½ days. It is a derivative of the RQ-4B operated by the United States but equipped with an advanced sensor package. The five aircraft will be jointly owned by Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United States, who control them in keeping with their financial contribution to the programme (e.g. pay ⅕ of the costs ≈ control ⅕ of the flight time).​

 

[Kaiserschlacht]

This needs to be confirmed officially but France has reportedly chosen the glock 17 and the scar h-pr as new standard pistol and precision rifle respectively. The two weapons will replace respectively the pa mac 50 and the frf2 currently in service within the French army.

 

[muck]

This needs to be confirmed officially but France has reportedly chosen the glock 17 and the scar h-pr as new standard pistol and precision rifle respectively. The two weapons will replace respectively the pa mac 50 and the frf2 currently in service within the French army.

France selects FN SCAR H-PR as new designated marksman rifle ()

The French military has selected Fabrique Nationale Herstal's SCAR-H-PR precision rifle as replacement for its ageing FR F2 standard-issue precision rifles. The order for 2 600 rifles, dubbed the Fusil de Précision Semi-Automatique (FPSA) in French service, includes as many scopes by Schmidt & Bender. OIP sensor systems of Belgium will provide 1 800 clip-on night sights (Tigris-IL) and 1 000 thermal sights (Tigris-IR) to complement the package.

It's an interesting choice, considering the HK417 platform had strong synergetic effects going for it.

 

[Kaiserschlacht]

France selects FN SCAR H-PR as new designated marksman rifle ()

The French military has selected Fabrique Nationale Herstal's SCAR-H-PR precision rifle as replacement for its ageing FR F2 standard-issue precision rifles. The order for 2 600 rifles, dubbed the Fusil de Précision Semi-Automatique (FPSA) in French service, includes as many scopes by Schmidt & Bender. OIP sensor systems of Belgium will provide 1 800 clip-on night sights (Tigris-IL) and 1 000 thermal sights (Tigris-IR) to complement the package.

It's an interesting choice, considering the HK417 platform had strong synergetic effects going for it.

I think everyone thought we would go for the HK417,given we ditched the FRF2 for the 417 in Afghanistan,not to forget several units had recently replaced their FRF2s with 417s. But it's a good choice nonetheless,hey Germany you can't have everything !

As for the pistols three companies were shortlisted,Glock,CZ and HS Produkt.

 

[Bombardier]

UK approves £4bn US takeover of defence company Cobham

Critics say the announcement was "cynically timed", but Boris Johnson defends the decision.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[muck]

Oh, Boris. Has that fᴜckwit never heard of ITAR? Washington presumes to have jurisdiction over every company owned by an American natural person or corporate entity, even if it's still a legally separate foreign body. Cobham is a significant supplier of Airbus, though. And when last I checked, Airbus was a pillar of what remains of Britain's industry. Good luck trying to export aircraft like a sovereign nation now. Particularly when there's a rival American corporation eyeing a contract as well.