Defence`s Feeds

On 7 December 2017, AFET/SEDE will hold an extraordinary joint hearing on North Korea to discuss the continuing deterioration of the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. The aim of the hearing is to assess the threat posed by the DPRK's nuclear and ballistic missile build-up and possible consequences for the global non-proliferation regime. Members will also analyse different options for the EU and international community to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
Location : Altiero Spinelli 5E-2
Further information
Draft programme
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Providing a security net for deployed troops, personnel recovery (PR) capabilities are nowadays integral part of any military or crisis management operation under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The European Defence Agency (EDA) is engaged in this field since 2013 when it launched the Personnel Recovery Controller and Planner Course (PRCPC) project. Within this overarching framework the Agency has organised another Personnel Recovery Staff Course (JPRSC), already the 13th since 2013, from 15-24 November at the European Personnel Recovery Centre (EPRC) at Poggio Renatico Air Base, Italy.

Some 20 students from seven countries (Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Norway) attended the course led by instructors from Germany, Italy, Sweden and the EPRC. The main focus was on training officers who will have to support their commanders on personnel recovery related issues. The courses are designed for staff in tactical operation centres (TOCs), personnel recovery coordination cells (PRCCs) and joint personnel recovery cells (JPRCs). The next Personnel Recovery Controller and Planner Course will take place in Karlsborg, Sweden, from 12-22 March 2018 and will be organised in cooperation with the Swedish Armed Forces.
 

Background

The EDA PRCPC project was established on 30 May 2013 as an EDA Category B project under the lead of Sweden. As of today, it includes eight contributing Member States (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands and Sweden). The course cycle has been extended three times and will be finalised on 30 May 2019.

The European Personnel Recovery Centre (EPRC) based at Poggio Renatico Air Base, Italy, closely cooperates with the EDA. It was created on 8 July 2015 by seven nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom) with the aim of improving the four phases of personnel recovery (preparation, planning, execution, adaptation) by developing and harmonising common PR policies and standards and providing support for education, training, exercises and operations.
 

More information:

• Personnel Recovery - EDA project page 

 

 

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

50 helicopter tactics specialists from twelve EDA participating Member States, as well as representatives of the Helicopter Tactics Instructors Course (HTIC), the Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC), the Multinational Aviation Training Centre (MATC) and the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) met recently in Rijen, the Netherlands, for the 8th Helicopter Tactics Symposium, organised under the EDA’s Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP).

This annual event proved once more to be a unique occasion for European helicopter crews to discuss and share expertise and best practices related to helicopter tactics and to learn about new training opportunities under the HEP programme.

A central part of the symposium was devoted to drawing the tactical lessons from recent EDA helicopter exercises, such as ‘Black Blade 16’ (held at Florennes Air Base, Belgium, in November 2016) and ‘Fire Blade 17’ at Papa Airbase in Hungary (May 2017). Other lessons learnt sessions covered examples of counter surface-to-air fire tactics, urban operations, a recent Slovenian MEDEVAC operation, a Czech helicopter door gunner pre-deployment training and the introduction of special operation forces’ helicopters in Germany.

Symposium attendees also received a detailed presentation on the Dutch helicopter aviation training system and discussed various topics related to helicopter techniques, tactics and procedures, including combined tactical operations in which transport helicopters are escorted by attack helicopters during missions abroad. The debate resulted in new concrete proposals for updating the HEP Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), the capstone tactics manual for multinational helicopter operations.

Looking ahead, symposium participants were briefed on upcoming HEP exercises, including Hot Blade 2018 (to be held in Portugal) which will focus on helicopter Composite Air Operations (COMAO) missions in hot, high-altitude and dusty conditions with trooping, live firing and MEDEVAC flights. In 2019, the annual HEP exercise will take place in the Czech Republic under the label ‘Dark Blade’.
 

More information:

• Helicopter Initiatives (EDA project page)
  
  

The “SPACE NOSTRUM - High Performance Dual Satellite Constellation for Maritime Surveillance” study was awarded European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), accessing the highest co-funding rate (50%) available in that region.

This funding supports a broad space system R&T project, with up to 20 satellites aimed at fighting terrorism and smuggling among others. Its economic impact could include the development of entire new technical sector and hundreds of high-value jobs.

This ESIF-funded half-million euro study was initially identified by the French DGA and selected by the EDA to receive tailored technical assistance to access ESIF.
Thales Alenia Space France leads the project consortium with 4 other companies and 2 defence-related clusters.

The award demonstrates that significant defence and security projects initiated by large companies in LOI countries are also eligible for ESIF. It clearly underlines the importance of the EDA’s role, explicitly featured in the project application.
Previous successful EDA-supported R&T projects had already demonstrated eligibility for SMEs in several EU countries. It is now clear that ESIF can fund the entire spectrum of defence stakeholders.

SPACE NOSTRUM delivers on the EU Global Strategy and its Implementation Plan for Defence as well as the EU Maritime Security Strategy. It will be relevant for the defence naval environment and for defence-related radars.

By building on successful pilot projects, the EDA is in the process of developing a specific methodology identifying a spectrum of EU funding sources for both the European Defence Overarching Strategic Research Agenda (OSRA) and Key Strategic Activities (KSA).

More information

• Contact EDA
• ESIF success stories in defence
• EDA’s summary table on EU funding opportunities for defence-related stakeholders
• EDA’s “ESIF web-platform”
• EDA’s work supporting access to EU funding

The European Defence Agency (EDA) Maritime Security Conference under the auspices of the Estonian Presidency of the European Council  and in cooperation with the Hellenic Defence General Staff was organised at the Nato Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center in Crete on 16 November.

The theme of the conference was ‘’The importance of an innovative approach for Maritime Security’’, and in this regard opportunities were exploited to discuss issues related to the broad strategic policy levers for maritime security, the importance of an innovative approach for technology, in particular unmanned systems, and to address  pertinent challenges to maritime domain awareness.

The Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff Admiral E. Apostolakis GRC (N) and the Deputy Chief Executive of EDA Mr. Rini Goos opened the conference with keynote address. In his speech, Mr. Goos highlighted the importance of the maritime domain to Europe's stability and security.

In three panel discussions a good mix of subject matter experts from the private sector, political sphere and public services exchanged on the future challenges for navies, coast guards and other civil services.

The conference was attended by around 100 participants from EU nations, International Organisations, the international academic community, as well as representatives from the defence industry.

 

More information

• Project page CapTech Maritime
• Project page Marsur
• Factsheet Maritime Domain 

Chinese PLZ-07 Self-Propelled Howitzer