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[muck]

Procurement periodical 'Behördenspiegel' now reports that the German Army has not yet decided to ditch the Tiger attack helicopter in favour of Airbus' lighter H145M after all. Instead, the service is reportedly still seeking to buy at least 55 attack helicopters, with the following types being considered as potential replacement candidates: From Airbus, the H145M or a new variant of the Tiger; Boeing's AH-64 Apache; and the AH-1Z Viper from Bell. The Viper actually seems to be favoured now, with low costs, easy training and synergetic effects due to Czechia's and Slovakia's buying the type speaking for it. Moreover, Bell has offered to build all helicopters in Germany. (Source, German)

This comes as a big surprise to me, especially after ES&D's recent piece suggesting a doctrine change away from attack helicopters. It's also surprising that Leonardo's AW249 isn't being considered at all.

 

[BravoZulu]

Procurement periodical 'Behördenspiegel' now reports that the German Army has not yet decided to ditch the Tiger attack helicopter in favour of Airbus' lighter H145M after all. Instead, the service is reportedly still seeking to buy at least 55 attack helicopters, with the following types being considered as potential replacement candidates: From Airbus, the H145M or a new variant of the Tiger; Boeing's AH-64 Apache; and the AH-1Z Viper from Bell. The Viper actually seems to be favoured now, with low costs, easy training and synergetic effects due to Czechia's and Slovakia's buying the type speaking for it. Moreover, Bell has offered to build all helicopters in Germany. (Source, German)

This comes as a big surprise to me, especially after ES&D's recent piece suggesting a doctrine change away from attack helicopters. It's also surprising that Leonardo's AW249 isn't being considered at all.

I can understand the attraction of the Viper when considered against the Apache, I love the Viper however, any nation choosing it has to accept its limitations first and foremost. The AH-1Z airframe is now almost maxed out for modifications, upgrades and weight. There is hardly a spare kilo of weight to be saved in the frame, certainly no space left for further upgrades. The Apache is an generation ahead of the Viper and whilst it is in a different weight class it has mountains of room for further upgrades and tons of space to do so also.

As I said, I love the Viper but the savings and the difference between the two US competitors come with a big caveat

 

[muck]

Agreed. In Germany's case, there's also the argument to make that the Netherlands use the AH-64; and considering that both countries have just officially merged their land forces into one, the Apache should be a natural candidate for Germany to ensure interoperability.

 

[Mike1976]

Dutch Army to Merge Land Combat Units With Germany This Year​

Netherlands to integrate last brigade into German army this year: NRC - DutchNews.nl

The Netherlands and Germany have taken a big step towards combining their armed forces with the integration of the last Dutch brigade into the German army, NRC reported on Thursday. The 13th Light Brigade, based in Oirschot, will come under the command of Germany’s 10 Panzer Division, creating...

www.dutchnews.nl

Happy Verbinding!

Awesome. Now they can be underfunded, underequipped and understaffed together

 

[Mike1976]

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[Mike1976]

Netherlands announces €2-3,2B investment in long range firepower.

- 20 Israeli-made Elbit Lynx PULS rocket artillery vehicles, not the Himars as reported earlier. According to the secretary of defence Israel is able to deliver systems substantially faster than the US can and that was a primary reason for choosing the PULS system. Also it can carriy more missiles and the missiles are cheaper. I'm guessing one additional factor is that the PULS system can be mounted on the same chassis as the rest of the truck fleet instead of having to integrate the FMTV truck. It can fire a wide range of projectiles including soon European produced ones.

Denmark has already bought the system and Germany is also considering purchasing them (considering the integration of Dutch and German forces I think this purchase has already been coordinated with Germany);
- Tomahawk LAMs for the LCF frigates and new subs. 1000km+ range was the main deciding factor;
- JASSM-ER for the F-35s, 1000km+ range and stealth.
- 4 new ASW frigates, two for the Netherlands and two for Belgium to enter service starting in 2029. Belgium still has to vote on this AFAIK.

So no Himars even though it was the frontrunner for much of the race. The Biden administration would fail at selling ice cream during a heat wave

 

[TheKiwi]

Finland to purchase David's Sling from Israel.

New Long-Range Air Defence System for the Finnish Defence Forces - Finnish Government

valtioneuvosto.fi

David's Sling - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[muck]

Why not just call it 2A8 instead and won't adding an Israeli system make exports even more complicated since Israel now gets a veto on top of already stringent German standards for arms export?

Germany's minister of defence, Boris Pistorius, has just announced the Leopard 2A8. The vehicle will feature an active hard-kill protection system, a more powerful engine, additional armour, an all-round vision system, better kinetic ammunition and automated target tracking. Pistorius says he has placed an immediate needs-based order for 18 vehicles in order to replace the same number of 2A6M's donated to Ukraine, and prepares another order "in the middle three-figure range". Other Leopard users are welcomed to join the programme. (Source, in German, behind paywall)

 

[Soldier35]

German UAV Luna NG carrier of kamikaze drones. The German concern Rheinmetall, in cooperation with the Israeli UVision, presented the concept of the latest Luna NG reconnaissance UAV, which is capable of carrying and dropping 8 kamikaze drones on the enemy. The new development was named the Rheinmetall Combat drone, and the kamikaze drones are designated Hero R. The Hero R drones were developed jointly by German and Israeli specialists. So far, it is known that the drone-carrier of drones is capable of operating within a radius of up to 100 kilometers and stay in the air for up to 12 hours.

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[muck]

Germany's parliament has given consent to a blanket order for 229 Puma infantry fighting vehicles today, authorising the German Army to place an order for 50 Pumas immediatedly. Further orders are to follow in 2023 and 2024, respectively, with production lasting until 2028. (Source, German)

 

[BravoZulu]

Denmark plans to equip its armed forces with a new mobile short-range air defense system based on Rheinmetall’s Skyranger.
The Skyranger is equipped with anti-aircraft missiles and a 30-millimeter gun that can intercept ground-based and aerial threats at short and very short ranges.

Once delivered, the turret will be mounted on the army’s Piranha 5 armored personnel carriers to maintain their mobility and protect them during combat.

 

[BravoZulu]

Elbit Systems has received a $305 million deal to supply Precise & Universal Launching System (PULS) artillery rocket systems to the Royal Netherlands Army.

The award is part of an agreement supporting the ongoing military cooperation between the Israeli and Dutch defense ministries.

 

[BravoZulu]

The Portuguese Air Force (FAP) formally activated its new transport squadron on May 20.

Five Embraer KC-390 Millennium multimission transport aircraft will be operated by 506 Squadron at Beja Air Base No 11. The aircraft were acquired in August 2019 under an $894 million contract to replace the C-130H Hercules aircraft of 501 Squadron.

The first aircraft, which is undergoing final certification by the Portuguese National Aeronautical Authority, will be formally received in 2023. The final aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2027.

 

[BravoZulu]

The Royal Navy (RN) has revealed plans to install the Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launching system (VLS) into its five new Type 31 Inspiration-class general-purpose frigates.

The fit will expand the range of missiles and capabilities the ships can deliver. The Type 31s are already being built with the foundation structural seats for four 8-Cell Mk41 Strike-Length VLS modules.

 

[Soldier35]

NATO military exercise Northern Forest 2023 in Finland. Military exercises of NATO countries "Northern Forest 2023" are held in Finland. About 8,000 military personnel are involved in the exercises, including more than a thousand soldiers from the United States, Great Britain, Sweden and Norway. The ground forces, the Air Force and the Border Guard forces from Finland will take part in the exercises. During the Northern Forest 2023 exercises, the tasks of coordinating the actions of units from different countries will be worked out, as well as the readiness for effective interaction in the provision of military assistance by the armies of NATO member countries and Sweden will be tested.

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[muck]

Germany's minister of defence, Boris Pistorius, has just announced the Leopard 2A8. The vehicle will feature an active hard-kill protection system, a more powerful engine, additional armour, an all-round vision system, better kinetic ammunition and automated target tracking. Pistorius says he has placed an immediate needs-based order for 18 vehicles in order to replace the same number of 2A6M's donated to Ukraine, and prepares another order "in the middle three-figure range". Other Leopard users are welcomed to join the programme. (Source, in German, behind paywall)

A new framework contract has been signed for up to 123 Leopard 2A8. (Source, German)

Czechia and the Netherlands have expressed interest in filing further orders for about 70 tanks each.
The more orders pile up, the cheaper it'll be for everyone involved.

 

[av405]

A new framework contract has been signed for up to 123 Leopard 2A8. (Source, German)

Czechia and the Netherlands have expressed interest in filing further orders for about 70 tanks each.
The more orders pile up, the cheaper it'll be for everyone involved.

Good to see the Netherlands getting back into the tank game.

Regarding the German tanks: I know part of the 123 is meant to backfill the 18 donated to Ukraine, but will the rest constitute an expansion of Germany's tank force or are they meant to replace older models? Also, isn't this Germany's first purchase of new build tanks since the early 90's?

 

[Fish&Chips]

The German Navy will replace their three ageing 50-years-old offshore tugboats with at least one second-hand solution that was quickly available. The navy website announced that the purchase of "Rota Endurance" has been finalised. The vessel itself is already 20 years old and appears to have been used for offshore mooring and tug services. It will be militarised in the Rostock navy yards in July 2023 and is then going to be integrated into the fleet.

The tender for a second offshore tug is also ongoing.

News in German

 

[muck]

Regarding the German tanks: I know part of the 123 is meant to backfill the 18 donated to Ukraine, but will the rest constitute an expansion of Germany's tank force or are they meant to replace older models? Also, isn't this Germany's first purchase of new build tanks since the early 90's?

Yes, it is. Earlier this year, rumours were in the wind that Germany was preparing orders for up to 500 main battle tanks, though not entirely for her own needs. A moderate build-up becomes apparent now: from currently 328 to some figure starting with a '4'. There are no plans to raise new tank battalions, but the existing ones are to receive a "cold-start capability" of 130%. A battalion which per its table of organisation requires 44 tanks would be equipped with 56 instead, ensuring at least 44 are always available regardless of maintenance, defects and so on.

Additionally, they want to do away with this impracticable zoo of like ten different versions and use only the A7 and A8 in the future.

No substantial build-up of mechanised forces should be expected. For better or for worse, the German Army now intends to focus on so-called medium forces, the idea being units with tracked vehicles cannot deploy to the Baltics quickly enough if needed. They'd either have to move there under their own power, which could take a week, or be shipped via train – on a railroad well and truly within the range of Russian artillery at Kaliningrad. So in the medium term, I'd expect to see the Boxer become the most numerous armoured vehicle in German service.

 

[Fluff]

Yes, it is. Earlier this year, rumours were in the wind that Germany was preparing orders for up to 500 main battle tanks, though not entirely for her own needs. A moderate build-up becomes apparent now: from currently 328 to some figure starting with a '4'. There are no plans to raise new tank battalions, but the existing ones are to receive a "cold-start capability" of 130%. A battalion which per its table of organisation requires 44 tanks would be equipped with 56 instead, ensuring at least 44 are always available regardless of maintenance, defects and so on.

Additionally, they want to do away with this impracticable zoo of like ten different versions and use only the A7 and A8 in the future.

No substantial build-up of mechanised forces should be expected. For better or for worse, the German Army now intends to focus on so-called medium forces, the idea being units with tracked vehicles cannot deploy to the Baltics quickly enough if needed. They'd either have to move there under their own power, which could take a week, or be shipped via train – on a railroad well and truly within the range of Russian artillery at Kaliningrad. So in the medium term, I'd expect to see the Boxer become the most numerous armoured vehicle in German service.

I’m assuming the old tanks will, at some point end up in Ukraine, even if this is after the war is over.