Defence`s Feeds

The Germany Army has stood up a new helicopter command geared at streamlining the decision-making process of the Division Schnelle Kräfte (DSK) Rapid Forces Division.

On Tuesday 16 March, MEPs examined with Rafael Grossi the IAEA's activities and challenges related to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The Subcommittee on Security and Defence, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy focused on the challenges posed by the global non-proliferation regime, questions related to nuclear safety and security, as well as peaceful ways to use nuclear energy, including applications designed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

MEPs also assessed the consequences of Iran's recent decision to suspend the application of its safeguard agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). MEPs questioned the IAEA Director General about how the agency can carry out its monitoring tasks in the future and ensure that the Iranian nuclear programme is being used solely for peaceful purposes.
EP Press release: MEPs quizzed the head of the IAEA about nuclear non-proliferation - 16 March 2021
Opening remarks by Ambassador Rafael GROSSI, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
IAEA statement: IAEA Director General Highlights Global Impact of Cooperation with European Union, Calls for Closer Partnership - 16 March 2021
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The Subcommittee on Security and Defence and the Committee on Foreign Affairs will go over ways of strengthening EU-NATO cooperation to better respond to common security and defence challenges in providing security to citizens in the Euro-Atlantic area. The meeting will take place on 15 March, with the participation of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Security challenges potentially stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities for closer cooperation on military mobility, the fight against hybrid threats and the use of disruptive and emerging technologies are some of the key issues that are expected to be addressed during the debate. In the current context, the question of enhancing cohesion among the Allies, when unilateral initiatives threaten the security of all partners, are also set to be discussed.
Live streaming
Meeting agenda and documents
Opening remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
EU Fact Sheets: External relations policy
EU Fact Sheets: Security and defence
Summary: EU-NATO relations: a stronger partnership to face common dangers
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

SEDE organises a public hearing on 'Defence planning and procurement in the EU - a joint approach' on Tuesday, 16 March 2021 from 14.45 to 16.15hrs in room ANTALL 4Q1 and remotely, with external experts.
Programme
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

On Monday, 1 March and Thursday, 4 March 2021, AIDA will hold a public hearing on the external policy dimension of AI in association with AFET and SEDE. The event will be divided into two panels, with a first panel on "AI diplomacy and governance in a global setting: towards regulatory convergence" and a second panel on "AI, cybersecurity and defence".

The two panels will allow AIDA, AFET and SEDE Members to exchange views with international panelists on a range of emergent policy issues relating to AI, ranging from the developing global regulatory dialogue on AI to the uses of AI in the fields of cybersecurity and defence.
Meeting documents and programme
Follow via webstreaming
AIDA hearings
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence will look into the on-going security crisis in the Central African Republic, on 24 February. The debate will focus on possible ways of enhancing international support and the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy in the region, the involvement of Russia, and the possible implementation of the European Peace Facility to equip the Central African Armed Forces (FACA).
Meeting agenda and documents
Live streaming
EU Fact Sheets: Security and defence
EU Fact Sheets: External relations policy
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

SEDE organised a public hearing on 'Defence planning and procurement in the EU - a joint approach' on Tuesday, 16 March 2021 from 14.45 to 16.15hrs in room ANTALL 4Q1 and remotely, with external experts.
Location : ANTALL 4Q1 and remotely
Draft Programme
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

SEDE organised a public hearing on 'Opportunities and challenges of the use of Artificial Intelligence - enabled systems in security and defence' on 3 December 2019 with external experts.
Location : SPINELLI 3E2
Programme
Poster
Presentation by Jean-François RIPOCHE, Director of Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI), European Defence Agency (EDA)
Presentation by Maaike VERBRUGGEN, Doctoral Researcher at the International Security Cluster, Institute for European Studies (IES) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Presentation by Dr Mariarosaria TADDEO, Researcher Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) and Deputy Director of the Digital Ethics Lab.
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

SEDE organised a public hearing on 'The future of nuclear arms control regimes and the security implications for the EU' on Tuesday 18 February 2020 from 09.00 to 10.30hrs in room SPINELLI 1G3, with external experts.
Programme
Poster
Presentation by Dr Rebecca E. JOHNSON, Executive Director, Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy and founding President of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN, 2017 Nobel Peace Laureate), UK
Written presentation by Dr Rebecca E. JOHNSON, Executive Director, Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy and founding President of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN, 2017 Nobel Peace Laureate), UK
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

SEDE organised a public hearing on 'Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny on EU Defence Affairs' on Tuesday, 2nd April 2019, from 14.30 to 16.00, with external experts.
Location : Altiero Spinelli Room 3E-2
Programme
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

NATO leaders must decide at their next summit, likely to be held in June, whether to hike the organisation’s common funding in order to boost the allies’ deterrence and...

Saudi Arabia is to receive Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters valued at USD99.8 million.

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) announced on 18 March that it has delivered the first Knifefish surface mine countermeasure (SMCM) unmanned underwater vehicle...

North Korea launched what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the East Sea (also known as Sea of Japan) on 25 March, marking the Northeast...

An MBDA Storm Shadow or SCALP cruise missile appears to have failed to reach its target in northern Iraq.

EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý is currently holding a series of bilateral consultations with Member States’ Brussels-based permanent Military Representatives (MilReps). The aim of the meetings is to ensure the best possible exchange of information between the capitals and the Agency and to listen to the advice of Member States’ military end-users.
 
The latest of those meetings took place this week (23 March) with the Swedish MilRep, Rear Admiral Jens Nykvist (picture above). It will be followed by several others in the coming weeks and months. The meetings are part of a wider outreach to Member States which started last summer when the Chief Executive kicked off a ‘tour des capitales’ – currently suspended by the Covid-19 pandemic – which will see him visit all remaining Member States as soon as conditions will allow.   

“It is important that EDA, as an intergovernmental Agency at the service of its Member States, listens carefully to what our stakeholders’ military representatives have to say. They are the end-users of the capabilities we try to develop together in Europe. Their advice, views and aspirations are absolutely crucial to making defence cooperation and European collaborative capability development a success”, Mr Šedivý commented. 

Besides specific country-related topics such as the involvement in EDA projects & programmes and a general update on key Agency activities, the meetings with the MilReps also address the implementation of the EU defence initiatives (CARD, PESCO, EDF) and the ongoing preparations for the Strategic Compass.

 

The Italian Air Force has flown a Eurofighter Typhoon in “Beast Mode” last week. And here are some interesting new photos. As we have already reported, on Mar. 19, 2021, an Italian Air Force (Aeronautica [...]

The post Italian Eurofighter Typhoon Flew In “Full Load” Configuration For The First Time Last Week appeared first on The Aviationist.

UK Royal Navy (RN) aircrews have begun operational training on Merlin HM2 helicopters configured for the Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control (ASaC) role-fit...

The F-35B was damaged by the explosion of the ammunition round leaving the aircraft’s GAU-22 gun pod during a nighttime mission out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. An F-35B with VMX-1, the U.S. [...]

The post Marine F-35B Damaged When Ammunition Round Exploded As It Left The GAU-22 Gun Pod Under The Fuselage appeared first on The Aviationist.

F-14 Tomcat, F/A-18 Hornet, A-6 Intruder, A-7 Corsair and many more types, all done in LEGO bricks. Last month, after publishing the article about the “Top Gun: Maverick” trailer recreated in LEGO bricks, I received [...]

The post Take A Look At This Awesome Collection Of LEGO Naval Aircraft appeared first on The Aviationist.