Defence`s Feeds

Belarus' Minotor-Service has developed a new tracked light armoured vehicle (LAV), IHS Jane's has learned. Designated Breeze, the vehicle consists of an upgraded one person turret - originally installed on the Volgograd Tractor Plant BMD-2 airborne assault vehicle (AAV) - that is integrated onto a

Rolls-Royce is to increase its presence in Poland following the signing of a partnership agreement with Polish defence industrial conglomerate PGZ on 28 November. According to the partnership agreement, PGZ and Rolls-Royce will look to undertake co-operation on the design, supply, maintenance, and

Russia has promised to provide Tajikistan with "a large quantity" of aircraft in 2017. If implemented, the move would revive the Central Asian country's nearly moribund air forces. Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu met with his Tajikistan counterpart, Sherali Mirzo, on 30 November at

Key Points The risk of terrorist attacks will remain elevated in Russia in the one-year outlook. Terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism measures by the authorities will remain concentrated mostly in North Caucasus, increasing death and injury risks in the area. Islamist militants are likely to

Units from the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the United States commenced the six-day 'Vigilant Ace 17' aerial exercise on 30 November, an official of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) in Seoul told IHS Jane's . The manoeuvre is the latest in a series of joint air, land, and sea drills around the

Leonardo displayed its new low/medium frequency active towed array sonar solution at Exponaval 2016, and revealed an initial two customers for the system The new Active Towed Array Sonar (ATAS) system comprises a towed body with the active source frequency transducers, an in-line passive towed

Key Points The EU has unveiled its sweeping European Defence Action Plan to boost collaboration on defence in Europe The plan could see EUR5.5 billion spent centrally each year on collective defence issues The European Union unveiled its 'European Defence Action Plan' (EDAP) on 30 November. The

Key Points Hong Kong has yet to give a reason as to why it is detaining the SAF' infantry vehicles, said Singapore Vehicles' movement may be in contravention of Hong Kong's strategic commodities regulations The Hong Kong government has yet to provide formal reasons behind the detention of nine

India signed a deal with the United States on 30 November for the procurement of 145 BAE Systems M777A2 155mm/39 calibre lightweight howitzers being acquired under the US Foreign Military Sales programme. Indian Ministry of Defence officials said the delivery of 25 towed M777s in completed form

A delegation from the Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has concluded a visit to Russia during which a discussion to acquire Mi-26 helicopters for the Indonesian Army (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Darat: TNI-AD) was held. The matter was disclosed to IHS Jane's on 1 December by sources

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is set to upgrade the Segev unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) it currently operates on the border with the Gaza Strip with a remote weapon station and an autonomous navigation capability, the commander of the Unmanned Surface Vehicle Company has told IHS Jane's .

Americas

• Defense officials from Bolivia are exploring the possibility of purchasing A-29 Super Tucanos from Brazil. The Embraer-made light attack aircraft will be used to clamp down on illegal activity, namely drug and mineral trafficking, along both nation’s 3,423 km shared border. According to Brazil’s defense ministry, Bolivian interest in the counter-insurgency plane was raised during a meeting to deepen bilateral relations.

• Saab will provide further training and simulation systems under a contract awarded by the US Army. According to the company, the contract falls under the service’s Program Executive Office of Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), and will provide OSAG 2.0 interoperability upgrades for the 7th Army Training Command’s Deployable Instrumentation System, Europe (DISE) and Combat Vehicle Tactical Engagement Simulation System (CVTESS). The new capability will allow the US, who use the MILES Communicaton Code (MCC), to train seamlessly with the European partners, who mostly utilize the OSAG 2.0 standard.

Middle East & North Africa

• Tunisia’s government has admitted that US drones are patrolling its border with Libya, to help fend off attacks from the Islamic State. Speaking on television, President Beji Caid Essebsi maintained that the UAV’s were unarmed and denied that they took off from Tunisian air bases. Essebsi also stated that the surveillance drones would be given to Tunisia after training conducted by 70 US soldiers, although exact numbers remain unclear.

Africa

• The Nigerian Air Force has announced that they have refurbished 13 aircraft, some of which have returned to active duty putting down an insurgency led by the jihadist group, Boko Haram. In addition, ten more aircraft will be added to their fleet, including four new Mi-35N attack helicopters, at least three ex-Brazilian Air Force Super Tucanos, and three JF-17 Thunders from Pakistan. This will add to a recent order of Super Mushshak trainers and a soon to be completed refurbishment program of older helicopters and light aircraft to carry out surveillance and counter-insurgency missions.

Europe

• Plans by Ukraine to test fire missiles near Crimea have been met with protest from Russia. Having annexed the peninsula in 2014, Moscow is regarding the planned tests as violating “Russia’s sovereign air space,” summoning the Ukrainian defense attache to hand over a protest note ahead of the December 1 & 2 launches. Meanwhile, Russian military buildup in Crimea continues.

• The US State Department has cleared the potential sale of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles – Extended Range (JASSM-ER) to Poland. Estimated at $200 million, if passed Warsaw will receive 70 AGM-158B JASSM-ER missiles, 2 AGM-158B Flight Test Vehicles, 2 AGM-158 Mass Simulant vehicles, and 1 Captive Carry variant of the AGM-158B Flight Test Vehicle. F-16 C & D upgrades, along with training services, and additional supporting equipment are also included in the deal.

• In the wake of Brexit and Trump, the European Union unveiled its biggest defense funding and research plan in more than a decade as part of a broader push to revitalize defense cooperation within the bloc. Also included is the European Commission’s proposed plan for a 5 billion-euro ($5.3 billion) fund to let governments club together to buy new helicopters and planes to lower costs. Another plan, according to EU officials, to let the EU’s common budget and its development bank invest in military research, would open the door to new drones, cyber warfare systems and other hi-tech gear.

Asia Pacific

• Raytheon has been contracted by the USAF to provide upgraded missile warning radar centers to Taiwan in a $22 million foreign military sale. Under the deal, the company will upgrade Taiwan’s Early Warning Radar Surveillance Radar Program Missile Warning Center to address obsolescence concerns. The new system will warn operators of incoming ballistic missile attacks, as well as track threats, and provide accurate determination of threat versus non-threat objects.

Today’s Video

Aster 30 SAMP T:

Leidos has commenced operational testing of the US Navy’s first autonomous unmanned surface vessel, Sea Hunter, developed under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)'s Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) pr…

Cohort's subsidiary SEA is set to start upgrading the combat systems highway (CSH) infrastructure on-board the Chilean Navy’s three frigates.

T-27: Smoke & Mirror
(click to view full)

Brazil has kicked off the LAAD 2013 expo with a pair of announcements related to their Super Tucano fleet. The first is a 5-year, BRL 252 million (about $127.4 million) contract for Embraer to support the FAB’s 92 remaining “A-29″/EMB-314 Super Tucanos, of the 99 originally purchased. Programa de Suporte Logístico Integrado (PSLI) is a fixed-price contract with performance requirements, mirroring Britain’s recent advances in reducing support costs using “contracting for availability.” PLSI covers materials and planning, supplies for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, repairs, and overhauls of components, support for the landing gear and propeller groups, and specialized technical support. The basic service package is BRL 223 million, with BRL set aside for unexpected services. Embraer.

The number of combat-capable Super Tucanos is about to shrink, however, as Brazil’s national “Esquadrilha da Fumaca” (“Smoke Squadron”) aerobatic team will get 12 of the FAB’s A-29s. They’ll replace the current “T-27″/ EMB-312 Tucanos with a larger, higher performance aircraft. Embraer received BRL 26.1 million ($13.2 million) guaranteed: a BRL 16 million contract to convert the Super Tucanos for aerobatics by stripping off unneeded weight and adding provisions for smoke pods, etc., plus a BRL 10.1 million service package. Another BRL 5.9 million ($3 million) could be added if the FAB picks up the option for ground support equipment and additional services. Embraer.

Update

December 1/16: Defense officials from Bolivia are exploring the possibility of purchasing A-29 Super Tucanos from Brazil. The Embraer-made light attack aircraft will be used to clamp down on illegal activity, namely drug and mineral trafficking, along both nation’s 3,423 km shared border. According to Brazil’s defense ministry, Bolivian interest in the counter-insurgency plane was raised during a meeting to deepen bilateral relations.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Since the 14th of November the 10th EDA Helicopter Training Programme Exercise (Black Blade) has been underway in Florennes Airbase in Belgium. 

Photographers from the participating Member States have been embedded with participating aircrews during the exercise. They have kindly provided the EDA with their work which is available on our Flickr page. 

Exercise Black Blade will officially conclude on December 2.
 

More information:

• BLACK BLADE 2016 exercice pictures
• Video by Belgian Air Force
• EC Audiovisual Services pictures
• Helicopter Initiatives (EDA project page)
• Fact Sheet Exercise BLACK BLADE 2016

American Caterpillar D7 Bulldozer

The US Navy’s Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMRON) 7 members and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) MCM units have jointly conducted the final phases of the bilateral mine countermeasures exercise, (MCMEX) 3JA.

The Lithuanian Navy is set to take delivery of a new Flyvefisken-class patrol ship, P15, from Denmark.