Defence`s Feeds

The F-16 with the new special-colored tail has flown for the first time from Aviano Air Base. The 510th Fighter Squadron of the 31st Fighter Wing, based at Aviano AB, Italy, has a new flagship [...]

The post F-16 With Special Tail Celebrates 80th Anniversary Of The “Buzzards” appeared first on The Aviationist.

The UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) announcement on 16 March that the British Army is to receive BAE Systems Bofors Archer self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) will see the...

Experts have recently warned that the PLAAF 5th gen fighter, thanks to the espionage efforts, is more advanced than it otherwise would be. But the real question is: has China been able to catch up? [...]

The post Let’s Talk About Reports That China Used Stolen U.S. Military Technology For The J-20 appeared first on The Aviationist.

Brussels, 20 March 2023. Eighteen states signed on Monday the European Defence Agency (EDA) project arrangement for the collaborative procurement of ammunition. The project opens the way for EU Member States and Norway to proceed along two paths: a two-year, fast-track procedure for 155mm artillery rounds and a seven-year project to acquire multiple ammunition types. Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Norway have signed. More Member States have already expressed their intent to join the initiative soon following national procedures. In full respect of sovereign national decisions and without prejudice to the specific character of the security and defence policy of any EU Member States, the project may be used to replenish Member States’ national stockpiles and/or aid Ukraine. 

The ‘Collaborative Procurement of Ammunition’ project was set up in record time by EDA to answer the call to procure ammunition collectively and more quickly by aggregating, coordinating, and agreeing contracts with the European defence industry. EDA’s project provides a solid framework for Member States’ intention to jointly procure urgently needed ammunition for Ukraine. This project sends a clear message to industry and strengthens the EU’s support for Ukraine following Russia’s war of aggression.

Common procurement is the best option to achieve cost reduction from economies of scale, while allowing Member States to purchase ammunition according to their national needs and supporting Ukraine. The arrangement, which is flexible and inclusive in nature, allows all remaining EDA Member States to join the initiative at a later stage.

Head of the Agency, HRVP, Josep Borrell said: “Today, we take a step forward. We are delivering on our promises to provide Ukraine with more artillery ammunition. With today’s signature, 18 countries have signed up to aggregate orders and place them together with the industry through the European Defence Agency. The Ukrainian authorities have been clear about their needs and this EDA project is part of the EU response. By procuring together through the EDA framework and mobilising financial support from the European Peace Facility, we will deliver to Ukraine more and faster. We are again breaking a taboo and unlocking the potential of EU cooperation in joint procurement.”

FAST TRACK PROCEDURE FOR 155mm ARTILLERY ROUNDS

In the run-up to the informal meeting of the Ministers of Defence Council, which took place in Stockholm on 7 and 8 March, Head of Agency Borrell set out three complementary tracks to deliver more artillery ammunition and to deliver it more quickly: first to help Member States in sending such ammunition from national stockpiles or from pending orders; second to aggregate demand and quickly move to 155mm collaborative procurement; and third to ramp up the manufacturing capacity of the European defence industry.

EDA’s project sets out a path to meet the second track, providing a fast-track procedure, allowing for the tendering process to be simplified and contracts put into place at short notice. Member States can be reimbursed via the European Peace Facility (EPF), the EU’s off-budget instrument in support of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

SEVEN YEAR PROJECT ARRANGEMENT FOR MULTIPLE AMMUNITION TYPES AND CALIBRES

EDA has been working since November 2022 on three areas for common procurement: ammunition, soldier systems and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) equipment, based on the work of the Joint Defence Task Force with Member States to identify their most critical shortfalls.

The ‘Collaborative Procurement of Ammunition’ project provides a seven-year framework for Member States to commonly procure multiple types and calibres of ammunition (5.56 mm to 155 mm) to replenish national stocks.

EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý said: “This is a significant moment in the EU’s support for Ukraine, European defence cooperation and the EDA. The availability of ammunition, as well as the associated stockpiles, are a critical shortfall which affects the readiness of Member States' armed forces and their ability to fulfil their missions while, at the same time, supporting Ukraine. EDA has created a flexible and open project which allows all Member States to join should they choose and I expect additional countries to come on board within the week. Today we have a framework for delivery – it’s now up to Member States to make use of it and for industry to be able to respond”.  

EDA’S WIDER ROLE

EDA supports its 26 Member States in improving their defence capabilities through European cooperation. Acting as an enabler and facilitator for Ministries of Defence willing to engage in collaborative capability projects, the Agency has become the hub for European defence cooperation with expertise and networks  spanning the whole spectrum of defence capabilities.

Member States use EDA as an intergovernmental expert platform where their collaborative projects are supported, facilitated, and implemented. For more details, please see here.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based company Thuraya has unveiled a new tactical radio satellite communications (satcom) solution developed in co-operation with Cobham.

Length of video : 76'

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Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

The US Marine Corps (USMC) is asking for USD705 million more in discretionary spending for its Force Design 2030 priorities in fiscal year (FY) 2024 than enacted in FY...

Turkish Aerospace (TA) marked and announced upcoming major milestones for its four primary combat aviation programmes during Turkey's Gallipoli ‘Victory Day' on 18...

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The administration of Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and opposition activist groups are progressively both working to recover assets from Kazakhstan's previous regime.

The DRSD, on the military side, and the internal intelligence agency DGSI, on the civilian side, claim to be exploring

Brussels/Washington: Italy's chances fade for NATO top post Italy's chances of securing NATO's top job seem to be fading. Intelligence

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Negotiations on Japan's admission to AUKUS, the military and intelligence-sharing alliance between the United States, Britain and Australia, are in

The UK parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, which is becoming increasingly preoccupied by the security issues raised by the question of

Americas Boeing won a $1 billion modification for the Apache AH-64E full-rate production. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2027. The Apache attack helicopter is a combat proven aircraft manufactured by American aerospace and defence company Boeing […]

The ex-Slovak Air Force MiG-29s should be delivered in the next few weeks. Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger announced on Mar. 17, 2023, that the Government of Slovakia has approved the transfer of 13 MiG-29 [...]

The post Slovakia Has Approved The Transfer of 13 MiG-29s to Ukraine appeared first on The Aviationist.

The aircraft will receive an extensive upgrade to the avionic suite, onboard systems and self-protection suite. Leonardo and Armaereo, the Italian Defence Ministry’s Air Force Armament and Airworthiness Directorate, have signed a contract to begin [...]

The post Italy To Upgrade Its C-27J Spartan Tactical Airlifters appeared first on The Aviationist.

On 20 March, SEDE and ITRE Members will consider amendments to the proposal on the Joint Defence Procurement instrument, known as "EDIRPA". By incentivising Member States to procure defence products jointly, the instrument will facilitate the procurement of the most urgent and critical defence capability gaps whilst also strengthening the European defence industrial base.
Two in camera debates will also take place with SEDE Members on the same day: the Holistic Strategic Review of CSDP support to Somalia and a debrief on the outcome of the Informal Meeting of European Defence Ministers that took place on 7-8 March in Stockholm.
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Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

The US Justice Department recently informed the office of Colombia's attorney general that a former CIA officer wanted for questioning