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[muck]

Germany is reportedly buying 8 new Patriot batteries. (Source)

Compensating donations to Ukraine, the German Air Force would end up operating 18 Patriot batteries plus 3 Arrow 3 batteries in total. For contrast, Germany had 30 long-range SAM batteries during the height of the Cold War.

The German Vice Air Chief, Lt Gen Kohlhaus, announced the Luftwaffe's plans moving forward with its surface-to-air capacities today. Apart from 8 new Patriot batteries (minus more donated to Ukraine), 6 additional IRIS-T SLM batteries are to be acquired. Furthermore, Germany will cooperate with Israel and acquire the Arrow 4 interceptor missile, which can be integrated into the Arrow infrastructure already purchased. This makes for a total of 16 Patriot, 12 IRIS-T SLM, and 3 Arrow 3/4 batteries. Kohlhaus emphasised that this plan constitutes the extent of what the Luftwaffe can manage without additional manpower. (Source)

 

[Mike1976]

Training centre for F-16 maintenance personnel in Romania

The Netherlands wants to contribute to the establishment of a training centre for F-16 maintenance personnel in Romania. The European F-16 Training Centre (EFTC) for pilots is also located in that country. Both countries signed a declaration of intent for this today. This happened during a visit by Minister Ruben Brekelmans to his Romanian counterpart Angel Tîlvăr.

The training centre will be located at Fetesti air base, the same location as the EFTC. With this agreement, the Netherlands once again demonstrates its close involvement with Eastern European allies. The EFTC trains both Romanian and Ukrainian pilots. At the end of last year, the intention was also expressed to formally transfer the 18 Dutch F-16s present at the EFTC to Romania.

Brekelmans: "The Ukrainians are fully deploying the F-16s for air defense. We see every day how much this is needed. Not only pilots, but also well-trained maintenance personnel are indispensable. Together with Romania, we are now taking the next important step in this regard. In this way, we are showing what we are jointly capable of in continuing to support Ukraine and at the same time strengthening European armed forces. This is urgently needed, because we must jointly stop Russian aggression."

Ook trainingscentrum voor onderhoudspersoneel F-16’s in Roemenië

Nederland wil bijdragen aan de oprichting van een opleidingscentrum voor F-16-onderhoudspersoneel in Roemenië. In dat land staat ook het Europees F-16 trainingscentrum (EFTC) voor vliegers. Beide landen hebben hiervoor vandaag een intentieverklaring ondertekend. Dat gebeurde tijdens een bezoek...

www.defensie.nl

 

[PEMM]

Finnish Army has ordered test series of TREMOS 120mm mortar system and will receive them this year.

Finland has some 900 120mm mortars and system like this allows for continuation of their use in more mobile way.

Patria also presented its TREMOS (Traditional Reborn Mortar System) mortar system at the Arctic Event heavy-duty firing. Like ARVE, it utilizes existing weapons by transferring them to an independently moving vehicle. The 81 or 120 mm mortar launcher is mounted on an integration platform sized according to a 10-foot standard container, which can be attached to any vehicle equipped with container locks. The platform can also be made different or omitted altogether.

The TREMOS recoil damping system reduces the forces acting on the platform so that the weapon can be fired completely without ground supports. This speeds up both the opening of fire (approximately 60 seconds after stopping) and the immediate transfer to the change position after the last grenade in the burst.

The system operates with ammunition like a traditional mortar, so there are users in the reserve. The Defence Forces have ordered TREMOS systems equipped with 120 mm mortar under designation 120 KRH M3 (Modular Mobile Mortar). The pre-series will be delivered to the Army, which was involved in the development of the weapon, in 2025.

Patrian TREMOS-esisarja tulossa Maavoimille tänä vuonna - Reserviläinen

Puolustusvoimat on tilannut TREMOS-järjestelmiä 120 mm:n heittimillä varustettuna.

reservilainen.fi

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[muck]

That's just amazing.

 

[Mike1976]

Belgian frigate Louise-Marie confirms full combat capability during NATO’s largest live-fire drill in Europe

Belgian frigate Louise-Marie confirms full combat capability during NATO’s largest live-fire drill in Europe

armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Exclusive | Belgium confirms assembly of future F-35 fighter jets in Italy to balance US partnership and European production

Exclusive | Belgium confirms assembly of future F-35 fighter jets in Italy to balance US partnership and European production

armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Belgium is also considering a joint purchase of NASAMS with the Netherlands.

Belgium Opts for Polish Piorun MANPADS over US Stinger for Short-Range Air Defense Modernization

Belgium Opts for Polish Piorun MANPADS over US Stinger for Short-Range Air Defense Modernization

armyrecognition.com

 

[Connaught Ranger]

Police investigate after three Belgian soldiers injured in shooting incident in UK

Soldiers from the Belgian army’s Third Parachute Battalion are deployed to The Highands on Exercise Red Condor

www.forcesnews.com

 

[PEMM]

Finland increases the upper age limit for soldiers to 65, from current 50 for soldiers and 60 for NCO's and Officers.

I like the clickbaity headline but the size of defense forces is not increasing, just the reserve pool.

The biggest benefit is that this allows specialists to stay in the reserves for longer. Certainly we won't be seeing increase in 50+ aged riflemen.

1,000,000 soldiers for Finland
Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen (Kok): "The strengthening reserve will increase Finland's security."

The Ministry of Defence says it is sending out a proposal for raising the age of reservists to 65 for public comment. Raising the upper age limit would apply to all conscripts born in 1966 and after: crew, non-commissioned officers and officers.

Senior officers would continue to be in the reserve as long as they are fit for service.

Currently, conscripts are in the reserve until they are 50 or 60 years old. Crew members transfer to the reserve reserve at the end of the year in which they turn 50. Officers and non-commissioned officers remain in the reserve until the end of the year in which they turn 60.

A million-person reserve
The size of the reserve would increase by 125,000 conscripts during a five-year transition period, as those aged 60 and over would continue to be conscripts for five more years. In 2031, the size of the reserve would be around one million people.

Finland's defense is based on universal conscription, a trained reserve, and a high will to defend the country.

- By raising the reserve age, we will enable more and more people to participate in national defense and thereby strengthen Finland's defense. A strengthened reserve increases Finland's security, Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen (Kok) commented in a statement from his ministry.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the Defense Forces and the Border Guard have increasingly more tasks that require certain special skills. Reservists are needed for headquarters, support, and training tasks, command system and health care, and other tasks requiring special skills.

With the reform, refresher exercises for conscripts aged 50–65 will target those who have a wartime position. In practice, this involves a relatively limited group of specialists and other experts in various fields.

It would be possible to participate in voluntary national defense activities without the upper age limit stipulated by law. The Civilian Service Act proposes age-limit changes similar to those in the Conscription Act, including with regard to compulsory military service.

The proposal is based on the guidelines of the Conscription Committee and the program of the Petteri Orpo (Kok) government.

Suomelle 1 000 000 sotilasta

Puolustusministeri Antti Häkkänen (kok): ”Vahvistuva reservi lisää Suomen turvallisuutta.”

www.iltalehti.fi

 

[Mike1976]

Certainly we won't be seeing increase in 50+ aged riflemen.

Mikä sääli vanhapoika

 

[Mike1976]

FEINDEF 2025: Spain Considers Replacing its Hundred M109 Howitzers with AGM Artillery Module on Piranha Chassis

FEINDEF 2025: Spain Considers Replacing its Hundred M109 Howitzers with AGM Artillery Module on Piranha Chassis

armyrecognition.com

 

[Picanha]

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[PEMM]

FEINDEF 2025: Spain Considers Replacing its Hundred M109 Howitzers with AGM Artillery Module on Piranha Chassis

FEINDEF 2025: Spain Considers Replacing its Hundred M109 Howitzers with AGM Artillery Module on Piranha Chassis

armyrecognition.com

Do these go with same price tag as the tracked howitzer?

 

[Mike1976]

Do these go with same price tag as the tracked howitzer?

Wheeled vehicles are cheaper (less complex) than tracked equivalents.

Of course if the wheeled version has all kinds of extras and the tracked one does not ...

 

[PEMM]

Wheeled vehicles are cheaper (less complex) than tracked equivalents.

Of course if the wheeled version has all kinds of extras and the tracked one does not ...

I would think so usually, but this is on Piranha and aren't those expensive?

In any case I wonder what is the shape of those 109's. Could be another target for Finnish used car buysmen.

 

[Mike1976]

I would think so usually, but this is on Piranha and aren't those expensive?

In any case I wonder what is the shape of those 109's. Could be another target for Finnish used car buysmen.

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.

 

[PEMM]

Quadcopter with 400kg payload.

I think 400kg is adequate for your daily bombing needs.

Patria and ACC Innovation agreed to cooperate on the militarization of a large quadcopter drones to NATO member country

Patria and the Swedish company ACC Innovation have signed a cooperation agreement for the militarization of drones to NATO member country. In the first phase of the collaboration, the companies will develop a military variant of ACC Innovation's Thunder Wasp GT quadcopter drone, which has a maximum take-off weight of approximately 800 kg.


"Patria's strong background in research and development provides a good foundation for bringing new intelligent features to drone systems. Patria has wide expertise in developing and integrating the capabilities required for military use into the chosen platforms to achieve the desired performance. We see that the militarization of such a completely new type of capability has several potential applications in today's constantly changing operational environment. We look forward to continuing our excellent cooperation with ACC Innovation”, commented Mikko Leino, Executive Vice President, Operations, Patria.


"We are proud to announce our collaboration with Patria, a partnership that represents a significant step forward in the development and deployment of advanced aerial platforms. Our expertise in high-performance quadcopter systems, combined with Patria's vast experience in defense innovation, will allow us to explore new frontiers in autonomous and heavy-lift aerial technologies. While the applications are wide-ranging, we remain committed to ensuring that our technologies are developed and deployed responsibly, with a clear focus on safety, reliability, and mission effectiveness”, says Max Drougge, CTO, ACC Innovation AB.


For several years, Patria has been developing technologies and solutions to enable unmanned operations for military use, considering the highly demanding arctic operational environment of the Nordic countries. The activities have not been limited to platforms but have encompassed the entire chain required to complete the mission, including mission planning, navigation in exceptional conditions, payload management, ensuring communication links, and analyzing mission results. In general, Patria offers platform- and industry-independent solutions for integrating unmanned systems for use by military and security authorities.

Patria and ACC Innovation agreed to cooperate on the militarization of a large quadcopter drones to NATO member country | Patria

www.patriagroup.com

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[muck]

At June's NATO summit, the European member states will be met with demands not only to increase their spending but also bolster the manpower of their armies. It has since been leaked NATO will issue a demand that Germany increase its military's strength to 395,000 troops. This would entail the USA, Great Britain and France declaring the Two-plus-Four-Treaty obsolete, which limits Germany's military to 370,000 solders. (Source)

Against this background, the new German government confirmed today that Berlin will definitely introduce compulsory military service over the course of this legislative term, should recruitment levels remain at their current low. (Source)

Conscription it is, then. There's no other way. We're an ageing society and see a shortage of skilled labour; the state just can't compete with the corporate world's own recruitment efforts. Not without raising soldiers' pay to unrealistic levels.

 

[Mike1976]

Against this background, the new German government confirmed today that Berlin will definitely introduce compulsory military service over the course of this legislative term, should recruitment levels remain at their current low. (Source)

Should do it right away. The capacity to train large numbers (of conscripts) will take years to build up.

 

[PEMM]

Should do it right away. The capacity to train large numbers (of conscripts) will take years to build up.

Unless they want to go the Russias route of buying a bus ticket to the front from the recruiting center.