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[Chazman]

Chinese military deploys armored vehicles to Europe for the first time as Chinese medics train in Germany

China has deployed personnel and armored medical vehicles to Germany for joint exercises.

www.militarytimes.com

 

[Mokordo]

First female general in history of Spanish Armed Forces

First female general in history of Spanish Armed Forces COLONEL Patricia Ortega will become the first female general in the history of Spanish Armed

www.euroweeklynews.com

 

[BravoZulu]

Portugal:
The Portuguese Government announced today a firm order of five multi-mission airlifters Embraer KC-390 as part of the process to modernize Portuguese Air Force capacities to support national Armed Forces operations and increase readiness in missions of public interest. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2023.

The KC-390 is designed to set new standards for efficiency and productivity in its category while presenting the lowest life-cycle cost of the market. The aircraft can perform different types of military and civilian missions including humanitarian support, medical evacuation, search and rescue and firefighting, while fully meeting the requirements of the Portuguese Air Force, adding new superior cargo and troops transport, aerial delivery and aerial refueling capabilities.

https://embraer.com/global/en/news?...rm-order-for-the-multi-mission-airlift-kc-390

 

[BravoZulu]

UK:
A row erupted at a recent Nato conference over the RAF's new £2.6billion transporter planes as it has emerged engine problems mean just two of 20-strong fleet are able to fly at any one time.

The delay in bringing into service the new A400M plane for the RAF and other partner nations led to a major disagreement between Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer, and Nato Ministers.

Stuart Andrew, the MoD’s Minister for Procurement, said that after an “extremely robust meeting” the problems with the A400M aircraft should be fixed by next year.

Concerns have been raised over the new aircraft since its inception in 2003. A recent Defence Select Committee was told that engineering staff at RAF Brize Norton called the aircraft “a dog” and that on occasion only two out of the fleet of 20 aircraft were serviceable
A row erupted at a recent Nato conference over the RAF's new £2.6billion transporter planes as it has emerged engine problems mean just two of 20-strong fleet are able to fly at any one time.

The delay in bringing into service the new A400M plane for the RAF and other partner nations led to a major disagreement between Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer, and Nato Ministers.

Stuart Andrew, the MoD’s Minister for Procurement, said that after an “extremely robust meeting” the problems with the A400M aircraft should be fixed by next year.

Concerns have been raised over the new aircraft since its inception in 2003. A recent Defence Select Committee was told that engineering staff at RAF Brize Norton called the aircraft “a dog” and that on occasion only two out of the fleet of 20 aircraft were serviceable.

In Parliament this week Mark Francois, a former Defence Minister, said: “We have paid £2.6 billion for an aircraft with appalling reliability, bad engines, a virtually broken gearbox, problem propellers, massive vibration problems and an inability to deliver paratroops.”

The former Minister of Defence asked what could be done about the “emerging procurement disaster”.

Mr Andrew replied: “The performance has been totally unacceptable. We are now expecting EuroProp International, the engine manufacturer, to be more empowered to negotiate the support solutions that we need.

“Airbus Defence and Space has also been held to account, but, following the problems with the engines and gear boxes, those parts will be replaced on each of the aircraft by the middle of next year.

The MoD confirmed that there will be no additional cost to the taxpayer and that all reliability improvements will be funded by industry.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...bn/?WT.mc_id=tmgliveapp_iosshare_AsxDSWtmcRBn

”When they work they’re brilliant. They just don’t work that often”

 

[muck]

The irony being, Airbus wanted to equip the A400M with an off-the-shelf engine but was stopped by the governments of Germany and France pushing for a local new development to aid the industry.

There's a light at the end of the tunnel, though. Recently, an engine upgrade was completed in Germany and according to the current report, an average 19 aircraft out of 30 are servicable. That's a ratio of about 63%, which is kind of what's to be expected.

 

[Deleted member 11302]

Reuters | Breaking International News & Views

Find latest news from every corner of the globe at Reuters.com, your online source for breaking international news coverage.

uk.reuters.com

Yes, yes, YES!! As if the universe had listened to my abject pleading. The witch is leaving!! Pop the bottles lads we have to celebrate, be merry..... I command it!!

 

[muck]

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the former governor of the Saarland who replaced Angela Merkel as party chief, becomes new Minister of Defence

Not the worst choice in my humble opinion. "AKK", as she's colloquially referred to, wants to be the next chancellor of Germany. She needs to make her mark now, and quickly. The only option available to her is to style herself as an antithesis to von der Leyen, who in the public's eye has crippled the German Armed Forces. She needs to win the troops' favor, and she's quite likely to oppose Merkel on all things military.

 

[Deleted member 11302]

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the former governor of the Saarland who replaced Angela Merkel as party chief, becomes new Minister of Defence

Not the worst choice in my humble opinion. "AKK", as she's colloquially referred to, wants to be the next chancellor of Germany. She needs to make her mark now, and quickly. The only option available to her is to style herself as an antithesis to von der Leyen, who in the public's eye has crippled the German Armed Forces. She needs to win the troops' favor, and she's quite likely to oppose Merkel on all things military.

My first reaction was "you got to be f***ing kidding me". But you may have the right of it muck. She wants to be chancellor, and she may just do the right things for the military, out of sheer opportunism. I was livid until I read your post, actually.

We'll see. My reaction may be chalked up to may overall disdain for our two ruling parties.

 

[muck]

We'll see, indeed.
My sense of judgement might not be as good as I think it is; for instance, I still believe that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was the best Minister of Defence we've seen over the past two decades. Hardly anyone seems to share that sentiment.
And I'd thought we were off for a good start with von der Leyen back in the day. Turned out I was wrong.

 

[pigmode]

https://aviationweek.com/combat-aircraft/cyprus-deployment-tested-uk-f-35-capabilities

"Once the exercise element of the deployment was complete, the F-35s went on to fly 16 sorties over Syria equipped with Raytheon Paveway IV precision guided bombs and AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (Amraam) for self-defense, although no ordnance was dropped...

In February, construction work began on new facilities to support U.S. Air Force F-35s at RAF Lakenheath, which will be home to 54 F-35s operated across two squadrons. The first F-35As will arrive in late 2021 and operate alongside two units flying the F-15E Strike Eagle and another flying the F-15C Eagle. The addition of the two F-35 units will grow Lakenheath’s 49th Fighter Wing by an additional 1,244 personnel, the first of which will begin arriving in early 2021.

Basing the F-35 at Lakenheath is a “great opportunity to reinforce our strategic relationship with the UK and in particular with the Royal Air Force at Marham,” says Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of the U.S. Air Force in Europe.

“Recent deployments [of the F-35] have reinforced how we are going to operate with our partners here [in Europe],” he tells Aviation Week. “So to be so close to our partners at Marham, we can not only work together from an operational perspective, but garner their lessons and share ours, and really focus on how we best interoperate to achieve the effects we are required to deliver.”"

 

[pigmode]

Italian aircraft carrier Cavour docks for F-35B upgrades

The 2008-built carrier will be fitted with capability to operate the Joint Strike Fighter.

navaltoday.com

"All works on the ship are expected to be completed by the spring of 2020, when the ship’s crew is set to start training for a summer deployment to the US East Coast and shipboard trials with the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter."

 

[BravoZulu]

UK to deploy 250 troops to Mali on peacekeeping operations

In recognition of the increasing instability in the Sahel region, the UK Government has authorised a large-scale British peacekeeping deployment to Eastern Mali. Based in Gao, 250 personnel will deploy in response to a UN requirement and will address a key capability gap for the UN Mission.
Initially deploying for three years as part of a 12,500 strong international force, the UK contribution will assist the UN mission as it seeks to deliver long-term and sustainable peace in Mali.
UK personnel will operate alongside troops from more than 30 countries, and will deliver a long-range reconnaissance capability, providing greater awareness of possible threats and contributing to the protection of civilians.
By working to stabilise fragile states and tackling the root causes of conflict, the UK is preventing conflict spilling over to neighbouring states. This deployment will help address the increasing instability in the region, its impact along the West African coast and the threat to Southern Europe.
Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt said:

In one of the world’s poorest and most fragile regions it is right that we support some of world’s most vulnerable people and prioritise our humanitarian and security efforts in the Sahel.

UK service personnel will work with our partners in the region to help promote peace by combating the threat of violent extremism and protecting human rights in Mali.

This targeted contribution will be complemented by UK staff officers in the UN mission headquarters and new training programmes with troops from other partnering nations who will be deploying to the UN operation.
The UK will support the UN’s mandate in Mali, which includes continuous communication with the Malian population and tackling human security issues, such as operating within a zero-tolerance policy on sexual violence and supporting the rights of women and children.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-deploy-250-troops-to-mali-on-peacekeeping-operations

 

[Navor]

Germany has selected the NH Industries NH90 as the replacement for its navy's 21-strong fleet of Westland Sea Lynx 88A anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters.

Germany picks NH90 to replace Sea Lynx

Germany has selected the NH Industries NH90 as the replacement for its navy's 21-strong fleet of Westland Sea Lynx 88A anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters.

www.flightglobal.com

Apparently, we will get 31 Helicopters+ 18 NH90 sea Lion, which were ordered earlier. Not bad, if you consider that right now we have around 40 Sea King and Sea Lynx.

 

[muck]

I can see the synergetic effects of a one-type fleet, and by all accounts the NH90 has finally matured into a capable rotorcraft. But isn't it much too big as a Sea Lynx replacement? Only the F125's hangar is large enough to host the Sea Lion. The F124 class will have to undergo extensive retrofittings, and we don't even need to have this conversation about the F123 class.

But you're right, what an odd sight it is to see a piece of military equipment replaced at that ratio in Germany. We're accustomed to shameful ratios of perhaps 1 : 0.75. Here though, we get not just 1 : 1 – but actually 1 : 1.13!

?

 

[TheKiwi]

You’ll need those extra NH90s to compensate for all the times they won’t be working.

 

[muck]

Again, I can't help but wonder what's going on down there. The last material report of the German Armed Forces lists an availability rate of 51% for the NH90 - but that was with 8 helicopters temporarily sidelined for the installation of new communications equipment (so there's nothing wrong with them). As a matter of fact, we have more servicable helicopters than air crews right now. And the Belgians and French do much better than we do.

/edit

By the way, disregard my comment above: I'd forgotten that the F123 class is scheduled for retirement; so they'll probably continue deploying the Sea Lynx and never receive the Sea Lion anyway. Still, the F124 class' hangar cannot host the Sea Lion without remodeling.

//edit

Apparently, I've been struck by the stupid today. The NH90 variant to replace the Sea King will be called Sea Lion – but the version that'll replace the Sea Lynx is the Sea Tiger. My bad.

 

[BravoZulu]

The lead boat of a new class of French Navy nuclear-powered attack submarines is now in the water after it was unveiled in a grand ceremony on July 12.
While the “launching ceremony” for the submarine Suffren was held early July, the boat entered water on August 1, according to an announcement from the French Directorate General of Armament (DGA).
Built by French shipbuilder Naval Group, Suffren is the first of a new generation of French Navy boats built to replace the ageing Rubis-class.
Suffren is one of six units in the class funded in 2006. Development of the Barracuda program, as the undertaking is also known, started in 1998.
The lead submarine is scheduled to start first sea trials in early 2020.
France expects to induct all Barracuda submarines – Suffren, Duguay-Trouin, Tourville, Dupetit-Thouars, Duquesne and De Grass – into active service by 2030.

https://navaltoday.com/2019/08/02/french-attack-submarine-suffren-enters-water/

 

[PEMM]

Finnish minelayer violates Russian territorial waters

Finland has reportedly informed Russia and said that it regretted the incident.

Navy chief of staff Tuomas Tiilikainen told local news agency STT that the intrusion occurred west of Suursaari (Gogland), an island in the eastern part of the gulf.

When personnel manning the vessel noticed the error, they immediately returned to international waters and reported the incident in accordance with the operational chain of command, the Navy said in a statement.

Finnish minelayer strays into Russian territorial waters

Finland has reportedly informed Russia and said that it regretted the incident.

yle.fi

Dun dun dun.

Russia just built helicopter base on Suursaari. My tinfoil hat is tingling.

Russia military expansion close to Finnish coast | News Now Finland

The new base will be able to handle all types of combat helicopters used by Russia's wester military command.

newsnowfinland.fi

 

[muck]

Yep. It's the Cold War 2.0, alright.

 

[BravoZulu]

Germany:
Rheinmetall and MBDA Deutschland have agreed to collaborate in the high-energy laser effectors domain. The two companies intend to construct, integrate and test a laser demonstrator for the German Navy’s corvette K130.
Capable of engaging targets at the speed of light with extreme precision and minimal collateral damage, lasers constitute a whole new dimension in defence technology. Now, for the first time ever, this capability is to be investigated under quasi-operational conditions using a demonstrator installed onboard a German corvette. The details and division of responsibilities between the two companies will be determined as soon as the performance specification is made available by the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-service Support, Germany’s military procurement agency.
https://www.rheinmetall.com/en/rheinmetall_ag/press/news/latest_news/index_18112.php