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French MEP Angélique Delahaye believes that policymakers must tell citizens what is currently possible and what is not when it comes to pesticides. She also urged lawmakers to working in earnest to fund research and innovation in order to use as few crop protection products as possible.

Csoknyai István szövetségi kapitány szerint a magyar férfi kézilabda-válogatott azért veszített 35-26-ra Norvégiával szemben, mert rengeteg gólt kapott indításból a német-dán közös rendezésű világbajnokság középdöntőjének utolsó játéknapján, szerdán Herningben.

Kosovo's prime minister refuses to lift tariffs on imports from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia, despite external and internal pressure to back down. EURACTIV Serbia reports.

Romania's EU Presidency will not look into new business models to tackle anti-microbial resistance (AMR), Romanian Health Minister Sorina Pintea told EURACTIV.com in an interview.

Making finance and investments sustainable is essential to achieving a net-zero emissions world by 2050. And energy efficiency has the single biggest role to play, writes Peter Sweatman.

 Az egészségügyi minisztérium tegnap tájékoztatta az oktatási tárcát az influenzavírus okozta fertőzések helyzetéről, és kérte, hogy – a megbetegedések megelőzését célzó pótlólagos intézkedésként – országszerte függesszék fel az oktatást január 25-én. A tanügyminiszter rendelettel jóváhagyta a javasolt intézkedést, így a mai hivatalos szabadnap után holnap sem lesz tanítás az iskolákban és óvodákban, és a két hétvégi nappal együtt a gyerekeknek összesen négy napon át nem kell közösségbe menniük.

 Közölte tegnap az Országos Közegészségügyi Intézet Fertőző Betegségeket Ellenőrző és Felügyelő Országos Központja. Valamennyi áldozatot A típusú és annak altípusaihoz tartozó influenzával diagnosztizáltak. A központ szerint  jelenleg nem állítható, hogy súlyosabb lenne a helyzet, mint a korábbi esztendőben. A Közegészségügyi Intézet összesítése értelmében az influenzás és a felső légúti megbetegedések száma 29 %-kal nőtt az előző héthez viszonyítva.A járvány szintje második hete haladja meg az epidémiás küszöböt, de csak akkor beszélhetünk influenzajárványról, hogyha ez három egymást követő héten bekövetkezik – közölte kedden az egészségügyi miniszter.

 Bogdan Matei tárcavezető Brüsszelben mutatta be a román EU-elnökség prioritásait a sport- és ifjúságügyi kérdésekben, majd megbeszélést folytatott az oktatásért, kultúráért, ifjúságpolitikért és sportügyekért felelős európai biztossal. Szó esett továbbá a közelgő Európai Ifjúsági Hétről, az EU ifjúsági konferenciájáról, amelyet idén Bukarestben szerveznek meg március folyamán, valamint az áprilisban sorra kerülő Sportfórumról.

A PSD, ALDE és a  PMP törvényhozóinak egy csoportja az adótörvénykönyvet módosító javaslatot terjesztett a parlament elé. A javaslat értelmében adómentessé válna az újságírók és a rádióban, televízióban dolgozó műszaki személyzet bére, valamint a szellemi tulajdonjogból származó jövedelmük. A tervezetet első házként a képviselőház tárgyalja, majd a szenátus szavaz róla döntő fórumként.

Le Tribunal des mesures de contrainte a ordonné le transfert du trio à Champ-Dollon.

Le peuple suisse doit s’exprimer, le 10 février 2019, sur l’initiative contre le mitage des Jeunes Verts. Savez-vous déjà comment vous allez voter? Participez à notre sondage.

Americas

The US Navy awarded Lockheed Martin Aeronautics a $542.2 million firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to support the F-35 Program. Under this deal, Lockheed Martin is to deliver ancillary mission equipment (AME) and associated spares for F-35 Lightning II jets. The F-35 Lightning jet is a supersonic, multirole fighter jet. It is being used by the defense forces of the US and other nations around the world due to its advanced stealth, integrated avionics, sensor fusion, superior logistics support and powerful integrated sensors capabilities. Back in August 2018, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics received a $302 million order against a previous contract for ancillary mission equipment to support the F-35. Work for the current contract will be performed in Texas, and is scheduled to be completed by May 2023.

The Navy contracted Rolls-Royce with a $35.7 million contract modification to support the V-22 aircraft with 17 AE 1107C engines. The AE 1107C is a turboshaft engine powering the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor. The engine delivers 6,000 shp Rolls-Royce AE engines power C-130Js, V-22s, Global Hawks and a number of military, corporate and regional aircraft. Rolls Roye is in service with the US Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, NASA and multiple military and civil customers around the world. The AE engine line began as a powerplant for the V-22 tiltrotor aircraft for the US Marine Corps and US Air Force Special Operations Command, with the first flight of the V-22 in 1989. Under this deal one engine goes to the Marine Corps, eight engines to the Navy and another eight to the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected be completed in May 2020.

Northrop Grumman Systems won a $44.4 million deal in support of Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) E-11A platform maintenance requirement. Under this contract, the company provides logistics support for four E-11As that were built on Bombardier BD-700 aircraft platform. Bombardier E-11A is the military variant of the civil Bombardier BD-700 Global Express. It carries BACN allowing disparate battlefield communications systems to share data. It enables real-time information flow across the battlespace between similar and dissimilar tactical data link. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center received two offers for the firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable contract via a competitive acquisition. Work is scheduled to conclude by Jan. 23, 2020, and will take place in Maryland and Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Middle East & Africa

A fighter jet F7-PG crashed near Mastung, Pakistan while carrying out a training flight today. The F-7PG aircraft is based on the Soviet-era Mig-21 and built by a Chinese aircraft manufacturer. It holds a bad service record in PAF (Pakistan Air Force) service with the majority of recent crashes involving the aircraft. Pakistan is currently the largest non-Chinese F-7 operator, with roughly 120 F-7P and 60 F-7PG. The PAF seeks to replace its entire fleet of F-7 with the JF-17 multirole fighter. All F-7P are planned to be retired and replaced with the JF-17 Thunder aircraft by 2020. It is currently unknown what caused today’s crash. Air Headquarters has ordered the formation of a board of inquiry to investigate the incident.

Rafael wants to trial its Suite for Future Armored Vehicles with a live fire demonstration in summer, Jane’s reports. The Suite is a vehicle automation and capability enhancement system based around data fusion from the vehicle’s sensors. It is in development for the Israeli Carmel future fighting vehicle program. With such a suite of armored vehicles, an operator could manage drones and a variety of weapons systems. Inside the company’s prototype, several screens display a 360-degree picture of what is happening outside, and a map shows the locations of friendly forces.

Europe

Poland wants to modernize its Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter fleet. Warsaw intends to conduct a dialogue with potential suppliers, running from July to September. The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship, attack helicopter and troop transport with room for eight passengers, produced by Mil Moscow. The Mil Mi-24 features an armored cockpit for its pilot and weapons officer as well as a staggering array of internal and external weapons. Its seen action in nearly every conflict that the Soviet Union has engaged in since its first release in 1976. However, the helicopter has its weaknesses, such as its rotors and engine exhaust ports. Man-portable surface-to-air missiles have accounted for the greatest number of Mil Mi-24 losses.

Asia-Pacific

Moscow and Astana agreed to launch the assembly of Mil Mi-8AMT and Mi-171 „Hip-H“ helicopters in Kazakhstan. The deal will see 45 kit versions of the helicopters delivered to Kazakhstan until 2025 for local assembly. The Kazakhstan Engineering NC of the Ministry of Defense and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as Russian Helicopters JSC of Rostec State Corporation signed the contract. The technology of assembling heavy helicopters is being introduced in Kazakhstan for the first time ever. The production is organized without any public funding. The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine helicopter used as a transport helicopter, an airborne command post, armed gunship, and reconnaissance platform.

South Korea started a production of locally developed automatic command-and-control system. Back in December, the Defense Acquisition Administration (DAPA) signed a contract worth $29.1 million with Hanwha Systems to produce 12 Command Control Alert (C2A) Systems by next year. The C2A system, which was developed from 2011 to 2017 by a team led by the state-owned Agency for Defense Development in co-operation with more than 20 local companies, is expected to enter service with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces in late 2019. The new command-and-control system will transmit data digitally in real time. It is also designed to assign a target to the air-defense weapon system best suited to counter it.

Today’s Video

Watch: Stealth Shocker: China Claims It Can Track Air Force F 22 Raptors

Mi-28N with MMR
(click to view full)

In August 2012, Russian Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev pledged that the state would buy 60 Mi-28UB attack and training helicopters by 2020. That would be good news for the VVS, as well as the Rosvertol plant at Rostov on Don.

Russia is slowly modernizing its military, and its attack helicopter force is one of the areas being given priority. New Ka-52 Alligator and Mi-28N Night Hunter machines are beginning to replace the VVS’ 240 or so old Mi-24 gunships, but training has been an issue for the nascent Mi-28 fleet.

The Mi-28 Attack Helicopter

Aerobatics video

Flight International’s World Air Forces 2013 places the VVS’ Mi-28N inventory at 51 machines, with another 19 on order. The new Mi-28UB model, introduced in 2013, includes an enlarged cockpit for the instructor, and a larger canopy for the pilot. It can be flown from either the pilot’s cockpit or the second seat, and it retains full attack helicopter functionality.

Implementation of Bondarev’s promise would give Russia 130 Mi-28s by 2020, alongside 140+ Ka-52s. That would more than replace the current Mi-24 Hind fleet, and Russia has also ordered 60+ modernized Mi-35M Hinds to help fill in the gaps.

The Mi-28N is most often compared to the American AH-64, as it shares the same basic heavily-armed attack helicopter layout. The specifications above illustrate some of the basic differences between the 2 machines, but the bigger differences relate to concept of employment, and are reflected in harder to see areas like onboard electronics.

Russia is the largest Mi-28 operator, with 70 machines delivered or on order. Flight International’s World Air Forces 2013 also lists 16 Mi-28s ordered by Kenya, with 5 delivered, and Iraq is reportedly in the process of buying about 30 Mi-28NEs. If a deal is done, the Iraqi helicopters’ configuration may serve as a proxy for assessing the state of the platform’s development.

Rosvertol stated in a June 6/10 investors announcement that Algeria had expressed interest in up to 42 machines, and that became a contract in December 2013. Iraq has also purchased 15, and a Rostvertol report cited serious prospects in Egypt, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

India trialed the Mi-28N against the AH-64D, and chose the American helicopter in 2011. Indian media reported that the AH-64D displayed better maneuverability, more multi-role capability, and better capacity to accept upgrades.

Contracts & Key Events

Mi-28UB, 1st flight
(click to view full)

The Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant developed the Mi-28N Night Hunter, and they’ve been produced at the Rosvertol aviation plant since 2005.

 

January 24/19: Assembly in Kazakhstan Moscow and Astana agreed to launch the assembly of Mil Mi-8AMT and Mi-171 „Hip-H“ helicopters in Kazakhstan. The deal will see 45 kit versions of the helicopters delivered to Kazakhstan until 2025 for local assembly. The Kazakhstan Engineering NC of the Ministry of Defense and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as Russian Helicopters JSC of Rostec State Corporation signed the contract. The technology of assembling heavy helicopters is being introduced in Kazakhstan for the first time ever. The production is organized without any public funding. The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine helicopter used as a transport helicopter, an airborne command post, armed gunship, and reconnaissance platform.

October 24/17: Russian Helicopters confirmed on October 19 that its first batch of Mi-28UB helicopters will be ready for delivery to the Russian Ministry of Defense from next month. The firm added that the first units of the combat training helicopter have already completed factory tests. Chief Executive Officer of Russian Helicopters, Andrey Boginsky said the “emergence of training and combat version offers almost unlimited possibilities in terms of improving the pilots training system for Mi-28N. I’d like to note that the opportunity of learning not on the simulator but on a real combat helicopter is a considerable advantage of our military pilots compared to their colleagues from other countries.”

August 9/17: Russia is to test its Mi-28UB attack helicopter in Syria, according to Russian Helicopters CEO, Andrei Boginsky. The helicopter, which has a combined combat and training configuration of the Mi-28N Night Hunter and features dual controls for both crew members, will be used primarily to train new pilots but can also take part in combat operations. Russian Helicopters expects to deliver eight new Mi-28UB units to the Russian Aerospace Forces by the end of the year, with the first to be delivered to the 344th center of combat training and retraining center in Torzhok.

July 25/178: Russia has announced plans to start serial production of the upgraded Mi-28NM helicopter in 2018. A modernized variant of the Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopter, work on the new system began in 2009 and features a radically new locator providing an all-round visibility, a new dual control system and other equipment, as well as a high-precision weapon. The variant will be deployed to all front line units.

August 1/16: The latest version of the Mi-28NM has been spotted at the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, with pictures capturing the attack helicopter on its first hover. In development since 2008, a prototype first flew in 2015 with further tests to continue before delivery to the Russian Defense Ministry later this year. The improved version comes equipped with surveillance radar, an advanced suite of optical-electronic sensors mounted in the new nose turret, and a dual control system which allows the navigator-operator to operate the machine if required.

April 26/16: Russia has placed an order for 24 Mi-28UB attack and two 26 transport helicopters. Contracts were signed between Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Berisov and Director General of Russian Helicopters Alexander Mikheyev. The Mi-28 are to be the first procured to come with dual controls and improved flight crew ergonomics. Improvements to the helicopter come as the Russian military aims to improve combat training speeds for crews alongside increasing the helicopter’s operability, safety and combat capabilities.

June 12/14: Rostvertol report. Rosvertol’s 2013 annual report contains a number of interesting details regarding its orders. Deliveries to Russia are confirmed at 14 Mi-28Ns and 1 Mi-28UB. Evidence is conflicting, but the report also cites a 2013 prototype launch for the of Mi-28UB OP-1, and the helicopter and its and its mast mounted radar enclosure are photographed.

Iraq [foreign customer K-8] has its October 2012 order confirmed at 15 machines, and Algeria [foreign customer 012] is confirmed to have ordered 42 Mi-28NE attack helicopters on Dec 26/13. That Mi-28NE order makes them the type’s 2nd export customer after Iraq (15), but they are the largest. Other serious prospects include Egypt [customer 818], Turkmenistan [customer 795], and Uzbekistan [customer 860].

The report adds that Mi-28s have been having problems with increased vibration in the main gearbox. They decided to continue operations with an upgraded set of main gears in the 1st stage. Sources: Rostvertol PLC, “Annual Report ‘Rosvertol’, ZA2013 Year | LiveJournal bmpd [in Russian, incl. photos].

Dec 25/13: Russian Helicopters JSC announces that:

“The Mi-28N Night Hunter combat helicopter, made by Russian Helicopters a subsidiary of Oboronprom and part of State Corporation Rostec, has officially entered into service with the Russian Defence Ministry under an order signed by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.”

This is a formality. The Russians have of course been flying them for several years now, and the Mi-28N has served as the mount for Russia’s Golden Eagles (Berkuty) helicopter aerobatics team since 2012. Sources: Russian Helicopters, “Mi-28N Night Hunter helicopter enters into service with the Russian Defence Ministry”.

Aug 10/13: Mi-28UB. Russian Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev says that they intend to buy 60 Mi-28UB helicopters by 2020, with a dual training and attack role. The intent is “4-6 [Mi-28UB] helicopters for each unit that has Mi-28N in service,” allowing in-unit training while retaining combat power. Source: RIA Novosti, “Russian Air Force to Get 60 Mi-28UB Helicopters by 2020”.

Aug 9/13: 1st flight. The Mi-28UB training and attack helicopter conducts its official maiden demonstration flight at the Rostvertol subsidiary in Rostov-on-Don. That plant manufactures Mi-28NE and Mi-35M attack helicopters, as well as Mi-26T super-heavy transport helicopters. The Mi-28UB model is distinguished from the Mi-28N by its dual pilot controls, in order to allow for training.

The Mi-28UB’s next destination will be the Zhukovsky airfield near Moscow, for its public unveiling during MAKS 2013. Source: Russian Helicopters JSC Aug 9/13 release.

Dec 26/12: Mi-28NM. A Russian air force (VVS) official says that draft tactical and technical specifications for a modernized Mi-28NM have passed preliminary approval by VVS General Command. A commission on modernization of the Mi-28N had been set up in 2009.

The question is what might be in that modernization. The VK-2500-02 engine could be switched for the VK-2500-03 used in the Ka-52K, which has slightly higher maximum power. There have been some external questions regarding the operational readiness of the type’s Arbalets mast-mounted radar, which is seen very rarely on photos of deployed helicopters, so improvements in that area are another possibility. Another obvious improvement area would involve communications technologies, and there’s always room for improving an attack helicopter’s weapons array. It will be interesting to see what choices they make. Source: RIA.RU [in Russian].

Nov 15/12: Deliveries. Interfax-AVN reports that Russia’s Western Military District received 20 Mi-28N helicopters this year, and expects about 20 more in 2013. Deliveries are clearly picking up. Source: Russian Helicopters JSC.

June 2012: Radar. Take-off magazine reports that the helicopter’s Arbalets radar may have appeared in pictures for over 7 years, but it’s still a work in progress:

“The mast-mounted radar being developed for the Mi-28N by the Ryazan State Instrument-Making Plant cleared a number of test hurdles this spring. In March, the radar’s interdepartmental performance tests were completed… April 2013 saw the completion of the radar-equipped Mi-28N’s preliminary trials in the Moscow Region and the release of the acceptance report recommending the radar’s employment as part of production-standard helicopters of the type. The last hurdle remaining is the joint special flight tests of the helicopter equipped with the radar. Depending on the outcome of the tests, a decision will be made to launch the radar’s production…. Concurrently, the radar’s export version, designated as N025E, is being developed to equip the Mi-28NE export model…”

Feb 15/11: Grounded. The VVS reportedly grounds its Mi-28 fleet after a crash near Starvopol kills the pilot. Source: Washington Post [dead link].

Additional Readings Background: Helicopter

• Russian Helicopters JSC – Mi-28N

• Take-off (June 2012) – New Mi-28N versions in the pipeline. Also deals with the state of the Arbalets radar.

• DID (July 20/06) – Russia Commits to Multi-Year Buy of 67 Mi-28 Attack Helicopters

• DID – Baby Come Back: Iraq is Buying Russian Weapons Again. Including Mi-28NEs.

Competitors

• DID – Russia’s Ka-52 Alligator Scout-Attack Helicopters

• DID – AH-64E Apache Block III: The Once and Future Attack Helicopter

• DID – Turkey Finally Lands Its Attack Helicopters. The T129 ATAK, formerly the A129 Mangusta.

• DID – Tiger, Tamed? Eurocopter’s New EC665 HAD Helicopters

À Davos, le président brésilien, Jair Bolsonaro, et le secrétaire d’État américain, Michael Pompeo, ont mis en avant les mêmes priorités : moins de réglementation et de moins de taxes.

Hochrangige Vertreter der US-Demokraten wollen nach der Übernahme der Mehrheit im Repräsentantenhaus die Geschäftsbeziehungen zwischen Donald Trump und der Deutschen Bank unter die Lupe nehmen. Die Bank verweist dagegen auf das Bankgeheimnis.

Der venezolanische Parlamentspräsident Juan Guaidó hat dem sozialistischen Regierungschef Nicolás Maduro die Legitimation abgesprochen. Gleichzeitig erklärte er sich selbst zum Übergangs-Staatschef des südamerikanischen Landes.

The futures of more than a million Nigerian university students are on hold as a lecturers' strike drags on.

Voir en ligne : tsDR7CnB0xA

Ford ist angesichts hoher Sonderkosten sowie zunehmender Probleme in China und Europa in die roten Zahlen gerutscht. Unter dem Strich wurde im vierten Quartal ein Verlust von 116 Millionen Dollar verbucht.

Faut-il craindre une déferlante «populiste» et europhobe lors des élections européennes de mai ? L’arrivée au pouvoir du Mouvement Cinq Etoiles (M5S) et de la Ligue en Italie, du FPÖ en Autriche, la percée de l’extrême droite du SD en Suède, de Vox en Andalousie tout comme le mouvement des gilets jaunes en France peuvent le laisser penser. Le Rassemblement national (RN) français, qui a déjà lancé sa campagne, en fait le pari comme le montre son slogan : «On arrive !»

Pourtant, le nombre de députés europhobes ou populistes ne devrait pas beaucoup varier. En effet, ces partis sont en recul ou affaiblis dans plusieurs pays (Pays-Bas, Danemark, Pologne). Ou alors, ils sont déjà largement présents : ainsi, le Front national est arrivé en tête en 2014 avec 24 eurodéputés (même s’il n’en reste que 16 dans le groupe aujourd’hui), un score qu’il n’a guère de chance d’améliorer. Surtout, le Brexit va priver les eurosceptiques du Parti conservateur (19 sièges) et les europhobes de l’Ukip (19 députés)… Une compilation des sondages déjà effectués montre que les démagogues de droite pourraient passer de 151 dans une Assemblée à 751 sièges à une fourchette comprise entre 153 et 168 députés dans une Assemblée réduite à 705 membres après le Brexit. Même si on ajoute la Gauche radicale (GUE) et la cinquantaine de sièges qu’elle devrait conserver, l’euroscepticisme progresserait (de 20 à 24% des sièges), mais sans bouleverser l’échiquier politique européen.

Le vrai enjeu est ailleurs : les démagogues seront-ils capables de s’unir pour peser sur les travaux parlementaires, ce qu’ils n’ont jamais réussi à faire jusque-là, leur seul point commun étant leur détestation de l’Union ? Une alliance entre gauche et droite radicales étant exclue, la question se pose uniquement pour les partis de droite radicale style Droit et Justice (PiS) en Pologne, pour les démagogues purs style M5S et pour les partis d’extrême droite comme le RN, le Vlaams Belang belge, le VVD néerlandais, etc. Pour l’instant, ils sont éclatés entre trois groupes (les conservateurs eurosceptiques de l’ECR, l’EFDD formé autour de l’Ukip et du M5S, l’ENF dont la colonne vertébrale est formée du RN et de la Ligue), sans compter quelques non-inscrits trop radioactifs comme le Jobbik hongrois ou l’Aube dorée grecque.

Matteo Salvini, le ministre de l’Intérieur italien et patron de la Ligue, a entamé des travaux d’approche avec le fidesz hongrois de Viktor Orban, le PiS polonais et le FPÖ autrichien, en vain pour l’instant. De même, le M5S acceptera-t-il de siéger avec le RN et Vox au risque de perdre définitivement son identité ? Nul ne peut dire s’il y aura un, deux ou trois groupes à la droite du PPE, le groupe conservateur.

Est-il imaginable, comme le rêve l’idéologue de la droite radicale américaine Steve Bannon, que le PPE, qui devrait rester le premier groupe, même affaibli (entre 180 et 188 députés contre 218), s’allie avec ces partis eurosceptiques et europhobes ? Cela paraît improbable, car son unité n’y résisterait pas.

N.B.: article paru dans Libération du 21 janvier