Defence`s Feeds

The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) has joined the French flagship FS Charles de Gaulles carrier strike group in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea to support the fight against the terrorist group, ISIS.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has conducted long-term unmanned aircraft systems operations of the ScanEagle in the Christmas Island, Australia.

The US Army expects to issue a request for proposals (RfP) within the next week or two for another Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) 'rebuy' programme. Army officials plan to seek better ride quality and performance to accommodate heavier armour, and will look for better power generation

Key Points The Finnish defence ministry has authorised the commencement of work on the navy's 'Squadron 2020' future OPVs The ships are likely to be constructed by local shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions The Finnish Ministry of Defence (MoD) has given its mandate to start work on the

Thailand has ordered two more EC725 Caracal multirole helicopters to augment the six already procured, Airbus Helicopters announced on 4 October. The order represents Phase III of the EC725 procurement plan for the Royal Thai Air Force (Kongtap Agard Thai - RTAF), with the first four medium-lift

General Motors (GM) and the US Army on 3 October unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle based on a Chevrolet Colorado truck. The vehicle is being jointly developed by General Motors and US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), and is to undergo army testing

Japan is ready to be flexible with the cost of ShinMaywa Industries' US-2i amphibious search-and-rescue (SAR) aircraft in order to push through a deal to export the platform to India. Talks between the governments of Japan and India about the sale of the aircraft have been continuing for several

The Taliban launched a co-ordinated assault on the Afghan provincial capital of Kunduz on 3 October, briefly overrunning central neighbourhoods of the city before being driven back by Afghan security forces. The NATO-led 'Resolute Support' mission said on its Twitter account that government forces

The US Army is beginning a new programme to add weapons to Stryker wheeled combat vehicles and is preparing to accept its first 'upgunned' Stryker vehicle for testing in December under an urgent effort. In mid-September the Pentagon approved a second engineering change proposal (ECP2) programme to

US Army leaders are considering how to modernise and structure the service to deal with potentially major shifts in the nature of ground combat, which could be considerably more dispersed and less dependent on current technology, according to the service's top officer. "We're on the cusp of a

BAE Systems unveiled a next-generation Bradley fighting vehicle demonstrator, built with internal research and development (R&D) funding and intended to showcase technology options as the US Army considers how it will replace its ageing but still operational Bradley fleet. The platform takes

The US Army is to receive its first prototypes for an 'upgunned' Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) in December under an urgent lethality upgrade project, according to contractor General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). GDLS was awarded a USD329 million contract modification in May to provide a 30

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) on 3 October unveiled a medium-weight tracked vehicle demonstrator called the Griffin that meshes elements of the turret and 120 mm cannon from the company's M1A1/M1A2 Abrams main battle tank with its Ajax Scout Specialist Vehicle. In fiscal year 2017 (FY 2017)

Trijicon has unveiled a new mounted machine gun optic, the Machine Gun Reflex Sight (MGRS), to provide mounted machine gunners with a sight similar to the company's legacy Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG). John Rupp, Trijicon's vice-president for business development, told IHS Jane's the

US Army Europe (USAREUR) is shifting from a deployment model whereby troops fall in on existing equipment, to rotating in a brigade with its own gear early next year. The next heavy brigade to deploy in Europe is to be the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and it is scheduled

UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has announced an investment of £1.3bn with defence fim BAE Systems for the Royal Navy’s Successor nuclear submarine programme.

The Australian Ministry of Defence has contracted companies to proceed with the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) $50bn Future Submarine programme.

Japanese Aikizuki Class Destroyer

EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq held talks today (3 October) in Bucharest with Romanian Minister of Defence Mihnea Ioan Motoc. Romania’s participation in EDA projects, the Security & Defence Implementation Plan of the EU Global Strategy and the European Commission’s upcoming European Defence Action Plan were among the main topics on the agenda.

During the meeting, Mr Domecq welcomed Romania’s involvement in EDA projects and activities, for example: EU Satcom Market, the Joint Deployable Exploitation and Analysis Laboratory (JDEAL) project and the European Air Transport Fleet (EATF) programme. Romania was also the first contributing Member States to join the EDA’s ‘Sharing of Spare Parts’ project which allows it today to share military spare parts with eight other Member States who have also joined. The EDA is currently also providing technical assistance to three Romanian dual-use research project proposals as candidates for co-funding by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF).
The upcoming Preparatory Action for CSDP-related research, to be launched in 2017, as well as the planned future European Defence Research Programme will open many interesting R&T opportunities, also for Romania, it was stressed at the meeting.
Mr Domecq commended Minister Motoc for Romania’s overall support to EDA and encouraged further engagement in the Agency’s work in the future.
“In the light of Romania's 10 year development plan in which it committed to devote 2% of GDP for defence expenditure, EDA is ready to provide all the necessary support as effectively and efficiently as possible, making use of opportunities for cooperation and the EU tools available in support of defence”, Mr Domecq stated.

Tailored approach for CEE countries

Mr Domecq recalled that EDA takes into account the ‘diversity’ of the European Defence Industrial and Technological Base and that it supports the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in the same way as it does the V4 or LoI countries.
Based on a specific CEE study which was commissioned by the EDA in 2015, the Agency is currently exploring a number of recommendations for providing more tailored expertise and support to CEE MoDs and industry, especially on defence industry policy and collaborative programmes.
As part of this effort, one idea is to try to identify a pilot collaborative programme which could be undertaken by interested CEE countries, enhancing interoperability among them. CEE countries are currently being consulted on these ideas. Mr Domecq encouraged Romania to participate and to take the lead in some areas.

Copyright picture: Romanian MoD

More information:

• EDA Chief Executive travels to Romania (EDA webnews April 2015)

On 30 September, EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq visited Greece for meetings with the Hellenic Minister of Defence, Panos Kammenos, the National Defence General Staff Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis HN, and other senior officials in the Ministries of National Defence and of Foreign Affairs. Mr Domecq also used the occasion for discussions with industry representatives.

Discussions with the Minister of Defence mainly focused on the implementation of the Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy which was published by the High Representative Federica Mogherini in June, with focus on EDA’s role on the implementation. The meeting also provided the opportunity to assess progress in a number of EDA projects in which Greece participates such as in the areas of maritime, energy efficiency, logistic support or cyber defence. Additionally, possible involvement in additional EDA initiatives were discussed.

This visit is a follow-up of meetings in Greece in spring 2015 and the Minister's visit to EDA last February.

Copyright picture: Greek MoD

More information:

• News "Jorge Domecq welcomes Greek Minister of Defence at EDA" (9 February 2016)
• News "EDA Chief Executive visits Athens" (22 April 2015)