Defence`s Feeds

Squadron 201 Falcões of the Portuguese Air Force, based at Monte Real Air Base nº5, celebrates 65 years of operational activity. The Falcões Squadron began its operational activity as 50 Falcões Squadron at Ota Air [...]

The post 201 Falcões: Defending The Skies Of Portugal For 65 years appeared first on The Aviationist.

Spain's Council of Ministers approved the signing of a EUR285 million (USD300 million) contract for 168 Spike LR2 long-range anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) systems, the...

French shipbuilder Naval Group has officially launched the first Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention (FDI) multimission frigate on order for the Hellenic Navy (HN).

The Ukrainian government has agreed with the Turgis & Gaillard group to the in-country production of its Aarok unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The European Defence Agency (EDA)  hosted experts from the Ministries of Defence of participating Member States for in-depth discussion on the latest developments of REACH with representatives from the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency, the European Space Agency, the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), as well as national defence industry associations and individual EU defence companies.

The European Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), along with other relevant EU regulations on chemicals and waste regulations, holds significant implications for the defence sector. In line with the current regulatory agenda at EU level, and given the impacts foreseen on the operational capabilities of participating Member States’ Armed Forces and the competitiveness and innovation of the EU defence industry, the main topics of discussion at this year’s plenary meeting were the REACH revision, the use of Chromium VI substances under REACH after the annulment of the CTACSub authorisation decision, and the REACH restriction proposals for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

With the participation of more than 60 experts, this annual event proved again this year to be a great opportunity for the EU defence community to build a common understanding of recent REACH developments in order to ensure that the objectives of this EU regulation are met, and to identify coordinated actions and best practices for the future. At the same time, the insights gained from this open debate will enable EDA, in its role of interfacing with EU defence stakeholders on wider EU policies, to provide the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency with the relevant messages and proposals to mitigate the impacts for the defence sector.

Background

EDA has been addressing REACH and its defence implications since 2009. The Agency’s work in this field is currently guided by the EDA REACH Roadmap 2021-2023 which was adopted by Member States in 2021 and contains a comprehensive list of activities. In addition to REACH, this roadmap also covers activities related to other related EU chemicals and waste regulations on the basis of the outcome of 2021 EDA study.

EDA closely engages with and regularly invites key stakeholders to EDA REACH meetings, such as the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency, the European Space Agency and EU defence industry (under the overarching comprehensive EDA approach on industry engagement), in order to facilitate closer and more transparent interaction on defence-related REACH issues, which is seen as an important success factor for EDA’s work in this field.

More information

EDA REACH Activities

We have attended Route 604, the first Polish road strip exercise in two decades. The road strips in Poland (and elsewhere) went through their glory period in the 1960s and 1980s. The emergence of these [...]

The post Route 604: Focus On The Polish Road Strip Exercise appeared first on The Aviationist.

Thales UK has sealed a contract with Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) to supply and integrate the core combat suite for Poland's Miecznik (Swordfish) frigate programme.

Ukraine will receive an additional batch of automated reconnaissance systems from Rheinmetall, funded by the German government.

The Australian government is permanently withdrawing its NHIndustries (NHI) MRH90 ‘Taipan' fleet from flight operations.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has handed over the first two-seat Light Combat Aircraft Tejas trainer to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Japan is accelerating efforts to procure selected stand-off weapons, including the US-supplied Tomahawk cruise missile, amid deteriorating security conditions in the...

The Armenian Foreign Ministry has protested the arrests of several former separatist leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan after Baku reclaimed control of the ethnic Armenian-populated breakaway region in a lightning military operation last month.

The Human Rights Council today held a general debate on its agenda item seven on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.

Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir plans to approve measures to authorize police to fire with live ammunition against Palestinian protesters.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has doubled down on Iran's opposition to the opening of the Zangezur Corridor in the Caucasus region, saying Tehran is against any geopolitical changes in the region.

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri says the country is ready to contribute to lowering tensions in the Caucasus region and send observers to the border regions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

U.S. Marine Corps explosive ordnance disposal operators from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in Exercise Northern Challenge 2023 alongside various NATO Allies and partners, Sept. 21 to Oct. 5.

October 4, Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas welcomed State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Defence of Germany Nils Hilmer on a visit in Lithuania to discuss deployment of the German brigade.

Yesterday 3 October, Estonian Ambassador to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg Rasmus Lumi and the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Bjørn Berge signed an agreement, confirming Estonia's support for various projects of the Council of Europe.

The European Union welcomes ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on Tuesday. After the signature by the Armenian President, the decision will enter into force.