Defence`s Feeds

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

The further development of the Common Position 2008/944/CFSP on arms exports control

Tuesday 19/06/2018 - 9:30-10:30
Paul-Henri Spaak building - room P5B001 - Brussels

The Common position 2008/944/CFSP on arms exports dates back to the pre-Lisbon setup of the EU institutional system.
Since then, developments in the EU's geopolitical environment and geostrategic context have taken place. Technological developments in the military sphere also impact the future of warfare.
In this context, and at the dawn of broader and deeper EU-level defence cooperation, an overhaul of the Common position could be necessary.
The aim of the workshop is to present a forward-looking and stimulating reflection on what could be the evolution of the EU arms export control system, in the context of the current and upcoming developments.

Contacts and registration: poldep-expo@europarl.europa.eu
Further information
Programme workshop
Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

With Europe facing the risk of cyber attacks on civilian and military targets, MEPs are calling for more cooperation on cyber defence. We talked to Urmas Paet, the MEP in charge.
Further information
Interview MEP Urmas Paet
Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

German Mercedes-Benz Zetros 3343 Tractor Truck

Last week, the third progress report on the implementation of the common set of proposals on the implementation of the Joint Declaration, signed in Warsaw in July 2016, was presented to the EU and NATO Councils. 
 
In addition to the 42 proposals adopted on 6 December 2016, 32 new actions were added on 5 December 2017 including on topics such as counter-terrorism, women, peace and security and military mobility. EDA is involved in the implementation of 30 out of these 74 actions.
 
The new progress report covers the period January-June 2018 and elaborates on the main achievements of EU-NATO cooperation – also in view of the upcoming meeting of the European Council on 28-29 June and the NATO Summit on 11-12 July – and highlights the added value of EU-NATO cooperation in different areas aimed at strengthening the security of citizens.
 
The next common progress report is foreseen in a year’s time (June 2019).

 

Chinese HJ-9A Anti-Tank Guided Missile

Condition of Pilot Unknown Following Rescue. It’s the sixth USAF crash since the beginning of 2018. A USAF F-15C Eagle belonging to the 18th Wing at Kadena AB, Okinawa has crashed into the ocean off Okinawa, Japan, at approximately 0640 Hrs. Monday morning, June 11, 2018 Okinawa local time. According to the Japan Times the […]

Afghans may, just possibly, have a happier Eid than in previous years. The government, the Taleban and the United States military have all called temporary ceasefires. Meanwhile, seven marchers for peace, who set off from Helmand on 13 May have been walking towards Kabul in temperatures of more than 40 degrees while keeping the Ramadan fast. Their demand for a ceasefire during Ramadan was not met, but as AAN’s Ali Mohammad Sabawoon reports (with input from Kate Clark), their arrival in Kabul will coincide with the Eid ceasefire.

First came President Ashraf Ghani’s 7 June announcement that government forces would not launch any offensive attacks against the Taleban during the last days of Ramadan, from Lailat ul-Qadr, when Muslims believe the Quran was first revealed, to the fifth day of Eid. His announcement came in a series of tweets that referred back to a meeting of ulema in the capital on 4 June, who declared the Taleban’s fight “had no root in Shari’a law.” They called on the government and the Taleban and other insurgent groups to call a ceasefire and urged the Taleban to join the government in talks. (1)

Ghani’s announcement was soon followed by the commander of US and NATO forces, Commander John Nicholson, saying the forces under his command would “honour” the government’s ceasefire.

Then, on 9 June, the Taleban followed suit: “during Eid days,” they would “suspend their attacks against the insider enemy.” The Taleban also announced that all detainees who guaranteed not to fight against them would be freed to mark the holiday.

The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Daesh offshoot in Afghanistan, has made no comment on the ceasefires or said what it would be doing.

The government and US military ceasefires will not apply to ISKP and the Taleban said its attacks against foreign forces would continue. Nevertheless, this ceasefire is unprecedented. Afghanistan has not seen such a ceasefire since the outbreak of the post-2001 insurgency.

The conflict does usually quieten down during Ramadan and particularly during both Eid holidays, but there have been some particularly nasty attacks during previous years when Afghans were marking Eid. In 2012, for example, a 15-year old boy blew himself up as worshippers gathered for Eid ul-Adha prayers in Maimana City, targeting the Faryab Provincial Governor. They boy killed 40 civilians, including six children, and injuring 59. The following year, the governor of Logar, Arsallah Jamal, was killed as he delivered a speech for Eid in the main mosque in Pul-e Alam; the bomb had been hidden in the microphone. So blood can and has been shed during Eid and even in mosques. This year, if all goes well, there will be a silencing of the guns and a breathing space for Afghanistan’s people.

Marching for peace

One of the seven Helmand peace marchers, Bacha Khan Mawladad another organizer of the march who is a youth activist, told AAN they were very happy when they heard that both the government and Taleban made their announcements. “A single bullet,” he said, “can take the life of a human being – that’s why we welcome the ceasefire.” He said it was the first of their demands to be met – despite it only being a temporary ceasefire – but as it had not come in response to their protest, they had decided to carry on marching.

The protesters started their demonstrations demanding peace after a suicide car bomb detonated outside near the door of a stadium in Lashkargah city in Helmand province on 26 March: more than a dozen civilians were killed (AAN’s earlier analysis). Those who had lost family members in the attack were among the demonstrators. “Our tears have not yet dried,” one told AAN. Obaidullah, from Nawzad district had lost two nephews and saw four other family members injured in the stadium attack. “We want the Taleban and the government to stop killing innocent people,” (see here.)

The demonstrators pitched tents in the provincial capital and held a hunger strike, which resulted in  some participants being hospitalised. Demonstrators said they would march to the Taleban stronghold of Musa Qala district to meet insurgent commanders but cancelled their plans after the Taleban warned them not to visit. On 9 May, the protestors held a meeting with religious scholars, tribal elders and youth and presented a four demands asking the parties for a ceasefire in the coming month.

1. Respecting the holy month of Ramadan, all sides of war should declare a ceasefire.

2. Specific channels and addresses for peace talks should be identified among all sides of the war, and peace negotiations should be launched.

3. Considering Islamic and national values and interests, practical steps should be taken for forming a system that is acceptable to all sides.

4. Based upon the agreement of all sides in this war, a specific timeline should be set for the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan.

Both Taleban and government, we reported, appeared wrong-footed by the protests, unsure how to respond. No ceasefire occurred. Instead, the annual onset of the summer fighting season brought a sharp increase in violence across the country. One count of incidents by Pajhwok Afghan News estimated about 3,000 people were killed and injured in the month of May, a 42 per cent increase from the previous month. As usual, Helmand ranked among the most violent provinces. Adding to the intensity of this year’s battles there has been the recent US deployment of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers. The Taleban launched attacks on several district and provincial capitals, including Farah (see AAN reporting here and here and Ghazni, including on Andar (see AAN reporting here).

As violence intensified, the Helmand demonstrators decided to try a different approach. Youth activist and former journalist Eqbal Khaibar told AAN on 13 May: “When our declaration was not listened to by either warring party and they did not offer any response, we decided to start a long march from Helmand to Kabul.” They began marching on 13 May. (2)

Temperatures climb above 40 Celsius in the southern provinces in June, and Highway 1, that snakes northwards to the capital, offers almost no shade from an unremitting sun. Nevertheless, marchers have observed the Ramadan fast, abstaining from water from dawn till dusk. They say they are undertaking this punishing ordeal as a way to make plain the thirst of Afghan citizens for peace. They have also faced the insecurity that Highway 1 has become infamous for, not just the risk of insurgent attack, but also highway robbery.

The peace marchers march in Ghazni city. (2018: the peace marchers)

Warring sides reluctant to stop the fighting?

The government has been, at best, lukewarm in its response to the marchers. Deputy presidential spokesperson Durani Waziri told AAN that, generally speaking, the Afghan government supports any kind of step taken for the sake of peace but it “has yet to reflect on this particular group.” She said they would prepare a response by the time the group arrives in Kabul. Spokesman for the High Peace Council Ihsanullah Tahiri did praise the marchers to AAN, but mentioned the Taleban alone as needing to respond; he said the council hoped they would “welcome the voice of peace and declare their readiness for peace talks.”

Peace marcher Khaiber was scathing about the government’s stance: “[It] has no determination when it comes to peace,” he told AAN. He accused the government of merely making “peace propaganda” in the media, while actually making hurdles for the marchers. He believed that certain posts on social media hostile to the marchers – for example claims that they were funded by ‘the Americans’ – which undermined their security had come from people linked to the local office of the High Peace Council and (un-named) Helmand-based politicians. However, he had scant evidence for this stance and it was denied by the High Peace Council nationally. “We complained to Helmand security department to arrest these people,” Khaibar said. “The security department called them and told them to delete their posts. They did delete them, but have not been arrested.”

As for the Taleban, Khaibar pointed to what he said was a false statement on 20 May from the Taleban spokesman that American money had paid for the protester’s tents. Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taleban spokesman, again appeared to threaten the marchers in this written response to a question from AAN: (3)

If these activists do these actions from the deepest part of their hearts, they should go to the American bases [and demand] they end their invasion and pave the way for a real peace. If they only ask us for a ceasefire while the invaders remain in their positions, then the protestors are examples of [General] Nicolson’s remarks. He said last month that they would pressurize the Taleban on military, social, political and religious bases. Unfortunately, we see that planned pressure… As we have destroyed their conspiracies for 17 long years, we will disable their current weapons as well.

The accusation was clear: the marchers were merely tools of the Americans. There is also the implied warning that the Taleban will ‘disable’ them. The Taleban accusation of US backing, Khaibar said, had hurt their campaign in Taleban-controlled areas. Nevertheless, despite the accusations and the implied threats, they had kept on marching and, the marchers said, found support from ordinary Afghans, not only civilians but also Taleban.

The peace marchers meeting residents of Ghazni in a mosque in the province. (2018: the peace marchers)

Solidarity from ordinary Afghans—including some Taleban fighters

The marchers told AAN the response they had had from ‘the street’ had been very different from either of the warring parties. Religious leaders and tribal elders had praised them for their efforts, and people who live along the highway had opened their homes to them, giving them food and shelter. They had had some hostile reactions, they said. For example, in the Khirqa Mosque in Kandahar, a man had grabbed the microphone, interrupting the meeting to say peace would never happen. However, the response had in general been overwhelmingly positive. That included, on their way through Zabul, Khaibar said, a group of armed Taleban fighters coming to meet and welcome them.

They said they were local Taleban and tired of war.” We accepted the risk of death,” they said “knowing the government forces might attack us [if we came to meet you]. We just came to convey our message. We support you! You go ahead! We do not know who we are fighting with and for. Somebody commands us by walkie-talkie, and we do not know who he is. Sometimes, we are told to go ahead and fight and then we are told to retreat for no [apparent] reason.

The number of marchers has swelled a little along the way. They now include a congenitally blind young man who joined in Zabul. An old woman whose three sons had been killed in the conflict, reported Afghan media, had also wanted to join the marchers, but they encouraged her to pray at home instead of making the arduous journey. They are understood to have reached Qarabagh district of Ghazni province with 37 marchers and arrived in Ghazni city with nearly 60. “The women and men of Ghazni city welcomed us,” he said, telling AAN that they planned to stay there for two more days to talk to different people and will set off Kabul on 11 June. Ghazni-based journalist, Habib al-Rahman Tasir described to AAN how two teams of girls and boys from Nawabad school of Ghazni had come to welcome the marchers by singing anthems of peace. Tasir said majority of boys and girls who sung the peace anthem were Hazara The march organizers said that large numbers of youths from Ghazni and Wardak provinces had also registered their names to join the march, promising to join as it approached the capital.

A dangerous journey

Three of the marchers were hospitalized for two days with exhaustion in Zabul. Doctors urged them to rest, but they carried on. As well as the onslaught on the body they have endured, they have also been shot at and threatened. When they reached the Greshk crossroads in Kandahar and turned toward a village at night, for example, police started shooting at them. When they asked the villagers why, the villagers explained that the marchers had been carrying a lamp, something banned by the police in that village so as to differentiate civilians from insurgents (who do carry lights). On another occasion, the marchers were travelling at night from Daman district to Shahr-e Safa, still in Kandahar, when all of a sudden some people shouted at them and told them to stop and take everything out of their pockets. After hearing about the peace march, however, the villagers apologized for bothering them. The marchers had not informed security officials about their route, but said that after this incident, they had decided to keep the police in the picture about their movements.

Peace to survive and fighting for no outcome

The Helmand marchers have accepted great risks on their path to peace. As they approach Kabul, they have said they will not meet government officials in Kabul, but will keep their protest alive by meeting ulema, young people and tribal elders in the mosques. They insist they want a public presentation of their demands to both the sides in conflict. Mawladad told AAN that the parties to the dispute already know about the declaration. So while the ceasefire is welcome, there are still three other demands from the marchers: talks, forming a ‘system’ acceptable to all and a timetable for foreign troop withdrawal. He said that if their four demands were not met, they would extend the march to other provinces and continue around Highway 1, which rings the country, returning back eventually to Helmand. “We will never give up,” he said.

The marchers have not reached a critical mass where numbers could force action from one or both of the warring parties. Still, the fact that their arrival in the capital is coinciding with the first ceasefire of the post-2001 insurgency feels symbolic. What happens after Eid is another matter. Will Afghans wake up to renewed bloodshed or is there any possibility for this ceasefire – so sweet, but so short – to be extended?

Edited by Graeme Smith, Sari Kouvo and Kate Clark

(1) Ashraf Ghani announced the ceasefire in Dari and Pashto – available here and in a series of tweet:

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announces ceasefire from the 27th of Ramadan until the fifth day of Eid-ul-Fitr following the historic ruling [Fatwa] of the Afghan Ulema.

The Fatwa declared that violence and suicide attacks are not only against Islam but also strictly forbidden in our religion. We also welcome the unprecedented fatwa that only the state can declare jihad thereby rendering violent campaign by any group anything but a holy war.

#Afghan national defense and security forces will only stop offensive manoeuvres against Afghan armed Taliban and will continue to target Daesh and other foreign backed terrorist organizations and their affiliates.

This ceasefire is an opportunity for Taliban to introspect that their violent campaign is not wining them hearts and minds but further alienating the #Afghan people from their cause.

With the ceasefire announcement we epitomize the strength of the Afghan government and the will of the people for a peaceful resolution to the Afghan conflict.

(2) The group initially consisted of the core organizers of the Helmand peace movement: Eqbal Khaibar, Bacha Khan Mawladad, Abdul Malik Hamdard, Sardar Muhammad Sarwari, Abdul Salam Bayan and Bahlol Patyal. Khaibar said when they reached Kandahar eight other youths joined them, including Zmary Zaland, the champion body builder.

(3) An earlier statement by the Taleban on 28 March said the protestors “should go to Shurab and Kandahar airbases of [the] American forces and ask them for peace instead coming to Musa Qala.” The statement warned against protestors visiting Taleban areas because international forces or intelligence services might take advantage of the situation “and something might happen to you.” (Pashto version: here)

Within their partnership, the EU and Japan recognise each other as being essentially civilian (or ‘soft’) powers that share the same values and act in the international arena solely with diplomatic means. However, the evolution of the threats they face and the unpredictability now shown by their strategic ally, the US, have led both the EU and Japan to reconsider the option of ‘soft power-only’ for ensuring their security. They have both begun the — albeit long —process of seeking greater strategic autonomy. The EU’s Global Strategy adopted in 2016 aims clearly to ‘develop a more politically rounded approach to Asia, seeking to make greater practical contributions to Asian security’. Like the EU, Japan has identified ‘a multipolar age’ in which the rules-based international order that has allowed it to prosper is increasingly threatened. In line with its security-related reforms, Japan has decided to ‘take greater responsibilities and roles than before in order to maintain the existing international order’ and resolve a number of global issues. The EU and Japan may increase their cooperation at the global and strategic level and in tackling these challenges at the regional or local level. The Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the EU and Japan will provide opportunities for such cooperation, which should also be open to others. This is an opportunity for the EU to demonstrate that it is a consistent and reliable partner, and a true ‘global player’. The Council Conclusions of 28 May 2018 on ‘Enhanced security cooperation in and with Asia’ are a step in this direction but need to be translated into action.
Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

The Monthly Highlights publication provides an overview, at a glance, of the on-going work of the policy departments, including a selection of the latest and forthcoming publications, and a list of future events.
Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Here’s yet another ultra-low pass of a Ukrainian combat aircraft. The following footage was reportedly filmed in 2014. It shows a Su-24MR Fencer-E performing a low pass over the flight line at an airbase in Ukraine, most probably Starokostiantyniv (or “Staro”) where the Fencers of the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade are based. The Su-24MR is […]

NBVC Point Mugu’s first two Triton drones commence operations (with interesting tail markings). On May 31, Unmanned Patrol Squadron One Nine (VUP-19) DET Point Mugu hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony, marking on track delivery of an Early Operational Capability (EOC) to the Fleet and completion of their new hangar at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) […]

Global Strike Command Issues Safety Stand-Down Following Texas In-Flight Emergency And Ejection Seat Issue. The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command has issued a “safety stand-down” of its B-1B Lancer bomber fleet late Thursday. The safety stand-down, official language for the grounding of an aircraft type, was ordered after a B-1B Lancer made an emergency […]

The European Defence Agency today published five paid 1-year traineeship positions, hereby launching the pilot of its new Traineeship Programme for young graduates.

The European Defence Agency Traineeship Programme is aimed at recent university graduates who want to transition to the world of work in an organisation at the heart of defence cooperation in Europe. The traineeships are offered for a fixed period of one year and aim at providing trainees with an opportunity to gain solid professional experience in their areas of competence. The deadline for submission of applications for 2018 is 9 July 2018 at noon Brussels time. The traineeships will start in October 2018.

The profiles published today cover traineeships in the Land & Logistic domain, Operations Support, Education, Training & Exercises, Single European Sky, Corporate Programmes and Projects and the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR).

For more information on the tasks for each of the profiles, how to apply and financial matters, click here.

 

In the Back Lot of the Pima Air & Space Museum You Can Discover History. 1547 Hrs. December 20, 2009. In the Back Storage Yard of the Pima Air & Space Museum Outside Tucson, Arizona. Most of what is lying around in the dusty expanse of the aircraft graveyards around Tucson, Arizona is readily identifiable […]

On 13 June, the European Defence Agency (EDA) organises an Aviation Cyber Security Seminar, in the wider context of the implementation of the EU-NATO Joint Declaration, that will bring together the civil and military aviation and cyber defence communities, with the intent to develop a common understanding of current and future cyber security challenges for aviation, with a particular focus on military requirements.

The seminar, which will take place at the Eurocontrol premises in Brussels, shall provide a substantial overview of current and future developments in aviation and related cyber security risks, with the intent to promote cross-fertilization between aviation and cyber defence communities.

Moreover, it will offer a forum for EDA participating Member states to engage with expert representatives from relevant civil and military organisations, in view of facilitating the identification and prioritisation of opportunities for intergovernmental cooperation and dual-use approaches to cyber security in military aviation. 

The envisaged outcome of the seminar is the identification and prioritisation of concrete areas requiring urgent engagement, in view of addressing them in a coordinated and collaborative manner.

Speakers include representatives from:

• the European Air Group (EAG)
• the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU)
• the SESAR Deployment Manager (SDM)
• the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
• the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE)
• EUROCONTROL, NATO and the NATO-Eurocontrol ATM Security Coordination Group (NEASCOG)
• the German Armed Forces Cyber Command
• and the European Defence Agency (EDA).

 

Americas

• The Navy is tapping Raytheon for repair work on its rotor aircraft. The $8.2 million firm-fixed-price delivery order provides for repair work of the forward-looking infrared radiometer (FLIR) systems on the Navy’s V-22 and H-53 platforms. FLIR cameras use an imaging technology that senses infrared radiation. They can be used to help pilots to fly their vehicles at night and in fog, or to detect warm objects against a cooler background. Many camera systems use digital image processing to improve the image quality. FLIR systems enable pilots to identify friend from foe at night and during adverse weather conditions. Especially during night operations FLIR systems have a tactical advantage over standard night-vision equipment because they are able to detect a greater wavelength of light. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas and Jacksonville, Florida and is expected to be completed by June 2020.

• General Dynamics Electric Boat Co. is contracting BAE Systems in support of its Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine production. Under the contract BAE Systems will deliver two sets of payload modules, each consisting of four tubes, for the future SSN 804 and SSN 805 submarines. The Virginia Payload Module (VPM) extends the length of the Block V submarines over previous versions of the Virginia-class by adding an additional mid-body section to create more payload space for greater firepower. Each large-diameter payload tube can store and launch up to seven Tomahawk cruise missiles. Work will be performed at the company’s facility in Louisville, Kentucky, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2020.

Middle East & Africa

• The government of Qatar is set to receive further support of its integrated air and missile defense program as part of a US foreign military sale. The $49 million contract modification provides for the procurement of work and material for the Qatar Air and Missile Defense Operation Center (ADOC) program. Qatar, a key US partner and member of the Gulf Cooperation Council had requested the purchase of the Patriot missile defense system back in 2015. The ADOC itself is a command and control center focused on air and missile defenses. It consists of multiple weapon systems and radars, and is composed of a command center, space for operations and planning personnel as well as senior leader offices. The contract also includes the training of Qatari personnel at ADOC. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by May 2020.

• Jane’s reports that Jordan’s defense manufacturer King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) has recently unveiled its two newly developed armored fighting vehicles (AFV’s). The Al-Faris armored vehicle is based on the Volat 6×6 cross-country chassis and comes with advanced ballistic and blast protection. It can be used as a platoon strength troop carrier by providing space for 8 dismounts plus a commander, driver and gunner. It can also be configured as a command and control platform, forward observation vehicle (FOO) or in a convoy support role. The Al-Mared is based on an 8×8 TATRA truck chassis fitted with a fully protected all-welded steel hull that can provide ballistic protection against bomb blasts with the equivalent of 8kg of TNT and Armor-Piercing ammunition. The vehicle has a crew of two and can carry eight infantrymen at the rear of the hull. Both APCs can be equipped with the locally developed Snake Head Cupola which can accommodate a wide range of weapons.

Europe

• The UK Royal Air Force has officially received the first of its F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters. The four jets flew 4.000 miles from Beaufort in South Carolina to RAF Marham and were accompanied by Voyager tankers. Britain is the only Tier 1 partner outside the US and has invested about $2 billion equivalent in the F-35’s development. The F-35B is the most expensive Lightning II fighter variant, with an average flyaway cost of $135 million. The STOVL fighters will be deployed on the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth class carriers. The UK has to date received 15 of its planned 138 F-35 jets.

• The German Bundesrechnungshof, an agency comparable to the US Government Accountability Office is warning that the federal procurement of the new Puma infantry fighting vehicle will take years longer than previously thought. The Puma is jointly developed in a joint venture between Kraus-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall. Rheinmetall is responsible for the development and design of the chassis. The vehicle is operated by a crew of three and carries up to eight equipped troops in the rear troop compartment. The vehicle is of modular construction which allows it to be fully air transportable on an A400M aircraft. The Puma is armed with a remotely controlled weapon station, developed by Kraus-Maffei Wegmann, which is fitted with a dual feed Mauser 30mm MK 30-2 cannon. Rheinmetall is responsible for the integration of the Mauser cannon and the ammunition handling system. At the current rate the integration of all required features into the platform will take until 2029, meaning that German ground forces will have to rely on the predecessor tank, the 40-some-year-old Marder. Preparations for sustaining the Marder beyond its envisioned end of life in 2025 are already underway, including retrofitting the vehicles with the MELLS anti-tank weapon.

Asia-Pacific

• Boeing has outlined its industrial collaboration engagement with Indonesia as part of its foreign military sale contract to supply the nation with eight AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters. The AH-64E Guardian Block III incorporates 26 key new-technology insertions that cover flight performance, maintenance costs, sensors & electronics, and even the ability to control UAVs as part of manned-unmanned teaming (MUT). The contract includes supporting the Indonesian Army with technical reach-back support, spares and repairs. The helicopter purchase also includes the training of Indonesian Army maintenance personnel training provided by Boeing and the US Army. Boeing is currently in negotiations with the Indonesian aerospace firm PT Dirgantara, which is looking to play a role in supporting the Apaches in operation with the Army by providing spare parts and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services. Indonesia will use the helicopters to defend its borders, conduct counterterrorism and counter-piracy operations, and control the free flow of shipping through the strategic Straits of Malacca.

• The Chinese company Yunzhou Intelligence Technology, which specializes in designing and manufacturing unmanned surface vessels (USVs) has recently demonstrated its swarming technology. The demonstration comprised 56 autonomous USVs and was held in the Wanshan Archipelago near Hong Kong. The ME40 USV is a 1.63 m long, 0.71 m wide, and 0.37 m tall modular USV that is typically configured for hydrographic surveys. These systems provide the sea vehicles with real-time decision making and collaborative engagement capabilities, enabling them to perform complex and high-risk maneuvers with minimal human intervention. Swarming technology will mark the next big leap for unmanned platforms, both for the civilian and military market. In 2017 the Pentagon unveiled the Perdix autonomous drone, that operates in cooperative swarms of 20 or more.

Today’s Video

• Indian Air Force Jaguar jet crashes in Kutch

Drivers wanted…
(click to view full)

Germany has always been known for producing excellent armored vehicles. A combination of features that arguably make it the world’s best tank, and fire sale prices stemming from Germany’s rapid disarmament, have made the Leopard 2 the standard main battle tank in Europe and beyond. The same level of innovation and execution was shown in the late 1960s, when Germany’s Marder became the west’s first Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). Designs like the American M2/M3 Bradley, Sweden’s CV90 family and new SEP, Singapore’s Bionix-II, and Korea’s new XK-21 have stepped far beyond that legacy, however, and even the Russian region has continued to update their BMP designs. Meanwhile, the nature of military operations has changed to emphasize modularity, out of country missions, advanced electronic communications, and strong protection against threats like land mines.

The Marders need to be replaced, and this became a priority even within Germany’s limited defense budget. In response, German armored vehicle leaders Rheinmetall & KMW formed a 50/50 joint venture to design and produce a solution that would address these issues, and return Germany to a leadership position in the tracked IFV field. Enter the new Puma IFV – which has just received a EUR 3 billion production order from Germany.

Puma IFV: Platform & Features

Modular armor
(click to view full)

The Puma carries a crew of 3, plus 6 fully-equipped troops and its weapons array. PSM’s design goals for the Puma were simple to state, but difficult to execute:

Optimum protection against any type of threat for maximum survivability of the crew. The Puma features two different levels of protection. The basic ‘Class A’ configuration is qualified in accordance with STANAG 4569. It provides protection against RPG-7 rockets and armor-piercing rounds under 25mm in the frontal arc, and artillery shell fragments and 7.62mm weapons all around. PSM won’t discuss mine-protection techniques, but say that the Puma has full mine protection in its Class A configuration per STANAG 4569 against heavy anti tank mines. As a comparison, PSM states that the Puma’s inherent mine protection is much higher than that of KMW’s Dingo 2 mine-resistant vehicles.

The exhaust is cooled before release to minimize infrared signature, and the company claims that the rear ramp can double as a 2-man fighting station when partly closed. Unlike Israel’s Merkava tanks, however, there is no sniper port in the rear door. The usual array of automatic fire extinguishers, NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) overpressure protection, etc. defends against unconventional threats.

These IFVs can be quickly reconfigured for higher intensity combat by adding separately transported modular armor made of “steel and non-steel elements,” which raises the protection level up to ‘Class C’. The vehicle retains the same anti-mine protection as Class A, but now has strong protection on the sides that will defeat RPG-7 rockets, medium-caliber weapons fire up to 25mm, and Explosively Formed Projectile (EFP) mines. Explosive reactive armor can be added on request, and so can active protection systems (APS) that fire rockets or shockwaves to defeat incoming missiles or tank shells. The EADS/KMW/Buck MUSS APS is already integrated, and others can be added or substituted on request.

Special roof armor elements in Class C can provide protection the crew from air or artillery delivered bomblets, though they will not protect against an explosively formed projectile fired through the top, like Germany’s popular GIWS SMArt shells.

BW on Puma

Optimum armament for escalation and de-escalation in all missions. The Puma has a remote-controlled turret that carries a 30mm MK30-2 ABM stabilized cannon with a 3 km/ 1.8 mil range for fire on the move, elevation from -10 to +45 degrees, and a coaxial 5.56mm MG4 machine gun. The fire control system reaches beyond armored vehicles, and can handle slow-moving aerial targets like helicopters and UAVs.

The remote control turret allows a unified crew compartment, without a turret basket that holds the commander and gunner. The vehicle carries 200 main rounds ready and another 200 in storage, and the dual-feed system allows the gunner to switch seamlessly between APFSDS-T armor piercing rounds and KETF submunition/fragmentation rounds with programmable fuzes. Grenade dispensers are mounted behind the turret for smoke etc.

At present, other commercial remotely-operated small-medium caliber weapon systems have not been integrated with the Puma’s remote-controlled main turret. That’s scheduled to be part of a 2nd stage vehicle upgrade program a few years after acceptance in 2014, along with anti-tank missiles that would bring Puma to parity with American Bradley IFVs, Russia’s BMP… and even the Marder IFVs Puma will replace.

At speed
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Rapid, strategic, global deployability and high tactical mobility. A highly compact 890 series 10-cylinder, 800kW (1,080 hp) diesel engine from Tognum AG subsidiary MTU Friedrichshafen includes a new starter generator developed jointly with the company ESW, and a new transmission from Renk. If the Puma met its weight targets, that engine would offer a specific power-to-weight ratio of 20-25 kW/t, and can drive the Puma at up to 70 km/h/ 42 mph. Reports indicate that the final vehicle is overweight, which would push those performance figures down.

The Puma has 450 mm/ 18 inches of ground clearance despite its mine protection, and aims at an unrefueled range of 600 km/ 360 miles when equipped with full Class C protection. Decoupled running gear with hydro-pneumatic elements offers maneuverability and a smoother ride.

Deployability offers different challenges. The USA has spent billions in a fruitless quest to create survivable vehicles under 20 tons that can fit into a C-130, but Germany set a more realistic goal. The Puma’s Gross Vehicle Weight (max. recommended weight) is 43t/ 47.4 tons.

In its basic Class A configuration, Germany wanted a 31.45t/ 34.667-ton vehicle that can be airlifted in the Airbus A400M; indeed, the ability to carry the Puma is a firm requirement for Germany’s continued participation in the A400M program. If the A400M can meet this specification, the vehicle’s protection will be adequate for any landing strip secure enough to land the aircraft.

Add-on armor modules that improve the Puma’s protection to Class C raise its weight to a target of 41t/ 45.2 tons. A flight of 5 A400Ms could transport 5 Class A vehicles; alternatively, they could carry 4 Class A vehicles, 4 sets of Class C protection modules, and some additional equipment.

Infanterist Der Zukunft
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Network centric warfare capability. The Puma’s benefits from Germany’s world-renowned optronics industry, and uses the Leopard tank’s “hunter-killer” system that lets the gunner and commander acquire targets separately, and then automatically slews the turret to the designated victim upon handover. The hunter killer system is based on fiber glass optical transmission, and PUMA’s electrical architecture uses an “Open-Can-Bus-System” modular design with CPUs and I/O modules designed to be replaceable for future upgrades.

The vehicle will be compatible with Germany’s FuInfoSys battlefield C2 system, and its IdZ future infantryman setup, while IFF(identification, friend or foe) systems assist with combat identification.

A 170kW flywheel generator supplies power for the Puma’s various electrical systems, and the vehicle has enough battery capacity for temporary engine shut down. Long overwatch roles using its advanced sensors and communications will force the crew to run the engine in idle mode, however, in order to maintain power. PSM could not break through that limitation, but they strove to ensure low noise and fuel consumption when this option is used.

On the training side, PSM does offer a simulator and consoles, but embedded training also ensures that the Puma functions as its own simulator when requested. Maintenance functions have their own simulation packages.

Puma: Enter…
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Sustainability under extreme climatic conditions and inadequate infrastructural conditions. Recent operations have emphasized the importance of good air conditioning in vehicles; it’s hard to function when temperatures hit 50C/140F inside. Onboard BITE (Built in Test Equipment) “prognostics” monitor vehicle systems, and can warn of problems before they show up as system failures.

Beyond BITE, interactive electronic technical documentation is available with advice for troubleshooting, maintenance, and repairs. So is a parts catalog that includes options for Mission Support Kits of specific spares and consumables, together with special tool kits. This is the German definition of “sustainability under inadequate infrastructural conditions,” after all, not the Russian one.

Puma IFV: Project and Industrial Organization

Puma: 3/4 view
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The Bundestag set the project in motion in September 2002 when it awarded a development contract for the new IFV. To address this need, German armored vehicle leaders Rheinmetall & KMW formed a 50/50 joint venture called Projekt System & Management GmbH in 2002. Typically, their goal was to produce the world’s best IFV, with a range of features that would give it an unmatched ability to cope with current and future threats.

The initial development contract was followed by a 2004 order for 5 pre-series vehicles and related services, which are currently undergoing intensive trials, and by a November 2007 production order. Both Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall hailed the production decision as “a crucial step in reequipping the German Army for the future as well as being vitally important to the German defence industry and a whole host of medium-sized subcontractors.”

PSM would not elaborate on the exact list, but said that over 50 subcontractors were involved. The first serially produced PUMA are scheduled to enter service in 2010.

Overall, PSM has certainly produced Germany’s next IFV, creating a top-of-the line vehicle in its class. The translation into market leadership may prove more perilous. In order to find customers beyond their home country, PSM’s Puma must compete with advanced, versatile tracked competitors like BAE’s popular CV90 and its variants, Russia’s BMP-3, and South Korea’s amphibious K-21 NIFV. It must also compete with the lighter wheeled APCs that have become so popular in Europe, despite their terrain limitations. The German order for 350 vehicles will give the Puma a strong base, but European buys of competing vehicles to date, Asian competitors, America’s “not invented here” approach to major weapons, and Germany’s restrictive export policies are likely to make export sales challenging.

Puma IFV: Contracts & Key Events 2013 – 2018

Problems surface, acceptance delayed; Upgrade will add missiles in a few years.

Heat lap trial
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June 8/18: Severe delays The German Bundesrechnungshof, an agency comparable to the US Government Accountability Office is warning that the federal procurement of the new Puma infantry fighting vehicle will take years longer than previously thought. The Puma is jointly developed in a joint venture between Kraus-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall. Rheinmetall is responsible for the development and design of the chassis. The vehicle is operated by a crew of three and carries up to eight equipped troops in the rear troop compartment. The vehicle is of modular construction which allows it to be fully air transportable on an A400M aircraft. The Puma is armed with a remotely controlled weapon station, developed by Kraus-Maffei Wegmann, which is fitted with a dual feed Mauser 30mm MK 30-2 cannon. Rheinmetall is responsible for the integration of the Mauser cannon and the ammunition handling system. At the current rate the integration of all required features into the platform will take until 2029, meaning that German ground forces will have to rely on the predecessor tank, the 40-some-year-old Marder. Preparations for sustaining the Marder beyond its envisioned end of life in 2025 are already underway, including retrofitting the vehicles with the MELLS anti-tank weapon.

2015

July 28/15: The German Army has officially received its Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) from Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, following the fleet’s approval [German] in May, along with a delivery of seven vehicles as a training contingent. The German BWB procurement agency placed an order for 405 of the vehicles in July 2009 to replace the Bundeswehr’s fleet of Marder IFVs, subsequently revising the number down to 350 in July 2012. The full force of Puma vehicles is expected to be completed by 2020, with batches currently being received and passed to units for training before returning to home bases.

May 8/15: The German Army has approved [German] the Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicle for service, with seven vehicles forming an initial training contingent. The Puma will replace the current in-service Marder IFV, with the Germans placing an order for 405 Pumas in July 2009.

June 12/14: Heat Trials. Rheinmetall announces that its Puma has successfully completed firing and mobility trials in the UAE, in temperatures that ranged between 35-50C in the shade. The MK30-2/ABM automatic 30mm cannon and the MG4 7.62 machine gun both performed well in stationary and moving firing trials, the air conditioning system held up well and efficiently, and mobility trials went well in sand dunes, steep loose-surface tracks, and a rocky desert streambed.

With the completion of cold and hot-weather trials, the IFV is about ready for acceptance. Sources: Rheinmetall, “Puma stands up to heat and sand”.

Sept 17/13: Testing. German media report that testing at Germany’s Wehrteknik Dienstelle (WTD) testing center in Triel has revealed a number of design problems hampering the Puma IFV. Meanwhile, the program’s total estimated cost has risen to EUR 4.3 billion, which is a 39%/ EUR 1.2 billion jump beyond initial program figures.

Changes to the chassis have reportedly been required, with the number of wheel pairs raised from 5 to 6, and engine improvements have been necessary. Weight is reportedly an issue. Electronics are cited as inadequate to achieve the desired performance standards, and even weapon accuracy is questioned.

Meanwhile, German troops must continue using the Marder, which has limitations when fighting at night, and in counter-insurgency missions like Afghanistan where precise target identification is required. Sources: Volksfreund, “Ein Puma mit vielen Problemen” and “Bundeswehr-Panzer Puma wird 1,2 Milliarden Euro teurer”.

June 25/13: Upgrades. Germany will spend another EUR 500 million to develop the Puma after it finishes current trials, with most of these funds spent after 2017. Enhancements will reportedly include electronics upgrades, a remotely-operated machine gun station up top, and provision for anti-tank missiles.

The weapons upgrade will bring Puma to par with new unmanned IFV turrets, and with tracked IFV competitors like American Bradley and Russian BMP. Even the Marder IFVs Puma will replace can carry MBDA’s Milan anti-tank missiles. Sources: RP Online, “Schützenpanzer Puma soll aufgerüstet werden”.

2010 – 2012

Germany cuts order to 350; US Army evaluates Puma as a comparison.

Puma AIFV
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July 25/12: Reduction. PSM:

“The German Bundeswehr and PSM GmbH formally agreed on the 11th of July 2012 a contract reduction from 405 to 350 AIFV PUMA – as a consequence of the realignment of the German Bundeswehr. Part of the agreement forms an extension of the qualification trial period until 30th of September 2013.

The cold climate trials in sub polar Norway have been successfully completed in April this year.”

The initial framework paper for this reduction had been written in December 2011, but it took a little while to negotiate the change. This is a 9-month extension for qualification tests, and deliveries are expected to begin in 2014. Sources: German BMVG (MoD), “Bundeswehr beschafft weniger Puma” | PSM GmbH, “Qualification Trial Period for AIFV PUMA Extended Until September 2013”

Reduced to 350

Aug 18/11: USA. The U.S. Army Contracting Command in Warren, MI issues awards to 2 of 3 Ground Combat Vehicle bidders. BAE Systems and General Dynamics each win over $400 million in Technology Development Phase contracts, but the SAIC/KMW “Team Full Spectrum” bid, based on Germany’s highly-regarded Puma IFV, does not go forward. US Army.

Jan 21/11: USA. SAIC’s “Team Full Spectrum” for the US Ground Combat Vehicle IFV submits a Puma-derived design, again, in response to the renewed November 2010 solicitation. Boeing, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall Defence will be subcontractors. Boeing.

Dec 6/10: Testing. Rheinmetall and KMW hand over the first 2 Puma infantry fighting vehicles, on time, to the German BWB in Kassel for verification tests. This marks the first deliveries under the 405-vehicles contract for the German Armed Forces. Rheinmetall.

May 24/10: USA. Future Combat Systems’ two Lead Systems Integrators, Boeing and SAIC, team with KMW in a bid for the US Army’s next-generation IFV: The Ground Combat Vehicle program. GCV is now separate from Future Combat Systems, with the cancellation of FCS’ ground vehicle array in the FY 2010 budget. Boeing’s release states that:

“The team’s offering draws from the experience gained from the Manned Ground Vehicle and the Puma programs and will be built in the United States with a team of experienced American small and mid-tier supplier businesses.”

2004 – 2009

Development contract; Rollout; Main production contract; Interest from Canada.

Fahrvergnuegen…
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July 5/09: Contract. The full Puma production order is placed via a BWB procurement agency contract to the PSM GmbH joint venture, following successful tests of the initial 5 vehicles ordered in December 2004. These qualification and optimization tests were conducted by several Bundeswehr Technical Test Centres, and included practical trials at the Bundeswehr Armour School in Munster.

The EUR 3.1 billion (about $4.33 billion) contract covers 405 combat vehicles, along with Integrated Logistic Support and training packages. Deliveries are expected to run from 2010-2020. Sources: KMW release.

Base order: 405 vehicles

June 17/09: Formal approval of Puma IFV series production by the Federal Budget Committee of the German Parliament, as part of a larger package. Other elements of the approved defense package include 31 Trache 3a Eurofighters, 311 Spike-LR anti-armor missiles, 10 Wiesel 2 vehicles, and 5 minehnter ships. Sources: defpro.

Nov 17/08: Canada. Canada is reportedly looking to buy an IFV, and Germany’s Puma is reportedly a contender. Nevertheless, the Puma’s delivery schedule, pre-operational status, and lack of an in-place fleet available for immediate interim lease all weigh heavily against the vehicle’s chances.

In the end, no-one wins. Canada ends up canceling the CCV program more than once, and never buys anything.

Dec 10/07: Sub-contractors. Tognum AG subsidiary MTU Friedrichshafen announces that is about to receive the biggest single defense order in its history. With the Puma’s final tests scheduled for August 2008, MTU estimates that that the full order for the delivery of 405 drive systems with 10V 890 diesel engines will be placed by the end of 2008. “The order volume will probably amount to EUR 350 million and delivery will start in 2010.”

Nov 8/07: The German Bundestag’s budget committee clears the way for the procurement of 405 new Puma infantry fighting vehicles from PSM in Kassel, Germany. Rheinmetall AG in Dusseldorf and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG in Munich will effectively split a combined total of some EUR 3 billion (about $4.2 billion) in gross sales. Klaus Eberhardt, Chairman of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall AG, said that:

“This is the biggest single order in the history of our company, and definitely confirms our status as Europe’s top supplier of army technology.”

See: Rheinmetall release | KMW release.

May 5/06: PSM’s new PUMA infantry fighting vehicle is presented to the public during the Bundeswehr’s 50-year anniversary celebrations in Munster. Rheinmetall release.

Unveiling
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Dec 20/05: Rollout. A prototype of the new AIFV Puma for the German Army was unveiled and presented to the German BWB contracting authority. PSM GmbH has thus met an important contractual milestone with the presentation of the so-called system demonstrator. Rheinmetall release.

Dec 2/04: Development. The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag gives the go-ahead for the new Puma infantry fighting vehicle, with a EUR 350 million contract to to Projekt System und Management (PSM) GmbH of Kassel for design activities and Low-Rate Initial Production of 5 testing vehicles. In total, the German Army is to be equipped with 410 vehicles, costing roughly EUR 3.05 billion. The decision just taken contains an option valid till 2007 for the full scale production of the infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). Rheinmetall release.

System Development contract

Additional Readings & Sources

• Projekt System und Management GmbH (PSM) official site.

• KMW – Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicles.

• Rheinmetall – Armoured Tracked Vehicles. Includes Marder and Puma.

• Rheinmetall (February 2005) – The new Infantry Fighting Vehicle Puma: An investment in security.

• Defense Update – Multifunction Self Protection System (MUSS).

• EADS (Aug 10/07) – EADS Technology Protects German Armed Forces’ Puma Armoured Vehicles.

• Rheinmetall – Marder M1A3. 2010 snapshot.

Peer Competitors

• Singapore MINDEF – BIONIX II : Capabilities and Technical Specifications. See also ST Kinetics’ Bionix brochure [PDF], and a fine Wikipedia article. Bionix is much lighter, optimized for the conditions and terrain prevailing in SE Asia, and will serve beside Singapore’s new Leopard 2A4 tanks.

• Army Technology – Bradley M2 / M3 Tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicles, USA.

• DID Spotlight article – “The US Army’s Bradley Remanufacture Program.” Details re: current upgrades.

• Army Technology – CV90 Tracked Armoured Combat Vehicles, Sweden (BAE Hagglunds)

• KOIS – Next-generation armored vehicles to be deployed by 2008. Covers plans for the new XK-21 amphibious IFV, or KNIFV. Wikipedia also has a good article.

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