Defence`s Feeds

Cubic Global Defense has been contracted by the US Naval Air Warfare Centre (NAWC) to support aviation training for the US Navy and the US Marine Corps (USMC).

More than 1,000 personnel from 21 countries and organisations as well as non-European observers participated in the multinational Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED) exercise Bison Counter 2016 (BC16). The exercise was hosted by the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Göta Engineers Regiment from 15 to 27 August 2016. It was the first time the EDA’s Joint Deployable Exploitation and Analysis Laboratory (JDEAL) was successfully integrated into a multinational exercise. A Visitors Day with the participation of high-level guests from participating countries and organisations was organised on 26 August. 

The main aim of the exercise was to evaluate the full C-IED concept from the first responders’ perspective until delivery of C-IED related intelligence production, so as to tackle all C-IED work strands. A large number of different C-IED enablers ranging from Military Search, Military Working Dogs, Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Improvised Explosive Devices Disposal (IEDD), EOD divers, Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and explosives (CBRNe) experts, Military Engineers and Weapon Intelligence Teams (WIT) from land, maritime and air domains took part in the exercise. 

One of the key elements of the exercise was to practice the hand over process of responsibilities and duties in C-IED operations such as route clearance to EOD operators to WIT teams and the transfer of collected samples to the JDEAL. The exercise scenario foresaw training such processes in high threat environments and between multinational units. 

The inclusion of the Joint Deployable Exploitation and Analysis Laboratory (JDEAL) marks the first time the laboratory deployed in its full operational mode. It was successfully integrated in the exercise chain of command. The laboratory was manned by around 30 JDEAL permanent staff, non-permanent staff, observers and trainees leading to the processing and exploitation of more than 50 cases which ranged from car bomb exploitation to cell phones and electronic media data recovery. 

The results of the exercise will now be thoroughly analysed however initial feedback from participants was very positive, highlighting especially the benefits obtained on a tactical and operational level. 

The first Bison Counter exercise took place in The Netherlands in 2013. Building on this experience, the EDA’s C-IED Project Team decided to institutionalise Bison Counter as a bi-annual C-IED dedicated activity under the umbrella of the EDA. The next exercise is scheduled for 2018. 

Copyright picture: Jimmy Croona/Swedish Armed Forces

More information:

• Bison Counter 2016 information on the website of the Swedish Armed Forces
• C-IED project page
• JDEAL project page

The Katanpää Class mine countermeasure vessels (MVMVs) are built by the Italian shipyard, Intermarine, for the Finnish Navy.

Following approval by the EU Member States in July, 14 military projects on SESAR deployment will receive a total of € 53.5 million in EU funding under the 2015’s call for proposals of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) published by the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA-call). This represents around 10% of total funds awarded to the related SESAR clusters. In its role of military coordinator for SESAR deployment, the European Defence Agency (EDA) had supported Member States to identify and prepare bids for this call.

In preparation of the INEA-call, around 100 projects were identified in close cooperation with Member States, NATO and Eurocontrol. Early 2016 over 20 key military projects were submitted to INEA through the EDA ranging from ground systems, to air platforms and also specific studies. This is the first time, the military benefits of financial instruments previously not at reach.

The next stage for the funded stakeholders, including the military, will be the formalisation of this award decision, turning it into the Specific Grant Agreements required under the SESAR Framework Partnership Agreement in order to have the projects coordinated by the SESAR Deployment Manager (SDM) and to receive the awarded funding through SDM.

Building on the lessons learned from the 2015 call and the priorities identified in the Deployment Programme 2016, EDA is already working with Member States and other stakeholders, to encourage and facilitate increased participation in the 2016 CEF Transport INEA Call on the basis of high quality military projects. Early identification of relevant candidate projects is essential in this perspective.

 

More information: 

• Single European Sky project page

Spanish CETME Model L Assault Rifle

Americas

• The Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress’ watchdog, has stated that it wants more oversight into the Army’s Patriot upgrade. With $1.8 billion in funding allocated for the next five years, the GAO stated that the service’s plan, which is expected to remain in operation until at least 2050, lacks oversight mechanisms as the Army carries out its strategy in the coming years. Congress has consistently taken issue with what it sees as the Army’s inability to estimate the cost of the system in future years, and has regularly withheld funds to upgrade portions of the system, demanding the Army provide more clarity to its plans before shelling out all of the requested cash to fund it.

Middle East North Africa

• Israeli firm Rada Electonic Industries are to provide radars as part of the US Army’s Iron Curtain close-in active protection system (APS). The US DoD gave approval to Virginia-based defense solutions company Artis for the use of two Israeli Compact Hemispheric Radar-based RPS-10 radars “to support Artis’ active protection against rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and other shoulder-launched threats.” Optimized to detect fire from RPGs and anti-tank guided missiles, the compact, multi-mission Rada radar has been validated dozens of times in live-fire tests of another hard kill system, the Israeli-developed Iron Fist by state-owned IMI Systems.

Europe

• Heckler & Koch are to provide a $14 million shipment of G-36 rifles and 40mm under-barrel grenade launchers to the Lithuanian Army in the Baltic nation’s latest round of defense procurements. The company was dropped as Germany’s main rifle supplier last year following criticisms that the G-36 was unable to shoot straight in hot conditions. But with winter fast approaching and relations between Russia and its former-Soviet neighbors continuing to frost, it doesn’t seem to be too much of a concern for Vilnius (Lithuania).

• Russia’s VPK has announced the introduction of their own life-size remote control 4×4 based on their armored Tigr vehicle. Fitted with a a combat module and a 30-mm automatic gun, the unmanned Tigr can move and fire via an operator’s commands and can also identify and track targets on its own. Since its introduction in 2006, the Tigr has been spotted in Syria and has even gained attention from King Abdullah II of Jordan.

• A Swiss Air Force jet has gone missing, according to military officials. The F/A-18C, disappeared on Monday afternoon during a routine training mission. According to Defense Ministry sources, the suspected accident site in the mountainous Alpine region was difficult to access, with bad weather and darkness hampering the search efforts.

Asia Pacific

• In response to THAAD coming to South Korea, Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece the People’s Daily reports on Beijing’s plans to boost their missile defense capabilities. A PLAAF spokesperson made the announcement Monday, indicating that such an increase would be a solid step in increasing national security. Monday also saw the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) award Lockheed Martin a $19 million contract modification for the production of two additional Lot 8 interceptors for THAAD. The modification to the previously awarded contract increases the total value to $916 million.

• Datron World Communications has been awarded a $495 million contract to provide the government of Afghanistan with radios and support equipment. The US Army deal is expected to be completed by August 2021. Datron provides an array of HF and VHF military voice and data radio products, rapidly deployable IP networking solutions and vertical take-off and landing drone systems with customers in over 80 countries.

• Three Taiwanese Naval officers have been indicted in relation to last month’s accidental firing of an HF-3 supersonic anti-ship missile. The mishap resulted in the destruction of a fishing vessel and the death of its captain. Petty Officer Second Class Kao Chia-chun was charged with negligence and causing the captain’s death while Kao’s supervisor, Chief Petty Officer Chen Ming-hsiu, and the ship’s weapon systems officer Lt. Hsu Po-wei were indicted for neglecting their duties.

Today’s Video

Remote control Tigr firing tests:

Raytheon has been contracted to supply anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon MK 54 lightweight torpedo common parts kits to the US Navy and Thailand.

Navantia has signed an agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia for the risk reduction and design study (RRDS) phase of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) SEA 5000 Future Frigate programme.

Skylark C autonomous mini unmanned aircraft system (UAS) was unveiled in August 2016. It is the latest variant of the Skylark family of UAS and is developed by Elbit Systems, an Israeli-based provider of defence and electronics-related products.

The US Navy has taken delivery of the 13th Virginia-class submarine, Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Illinois (SSN 786), ahead of the initial contract schedule.