Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces

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Citation :

Commercial Sale of Type 22 Frigates


(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Dec. 17, 2012)



It is the Disposal Services Authority (DSA) intention to invite expressions of interest in tendering for the Type 22 Frigates (HMS Chatham, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Cumberland and HMS Cornwall) for the following:
•Further Use
•Sinking for an Artificial reef
•Recycling

At this stage the DSA does not require interested parties to specify which Vessel/s they wish to bid for.

It is the DSA intention to award at least one vessel to a UK Ship Recycler; this is in part to secure detailed knowledge of the UK’s capacity to recycle vessels. Any decision to award to a UK Ship Recycling company will be made in accordance with transparent and objective evaluation criteria which will be issued at the Invitation to Tender stage.

All interested parties should note that only Bidders that have completed and passed a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the vessels and allowed access to view the vessel.

The vessels are moored at Portsmouth and will be sold from there.

The DSA are planning on hosting viewings 25th February - 15th March 2013.

As previously requested all bidders intending to undertake inspection of the vessels will be required to wear the correct PPE clothing i.e. steel toecap boots, high vis jackets (overalls optional). Please be assured that if you do not have steel toecap boots on arrival you will be refused access to the vessels.

Only Bidders that have received a copy of the ITT will be allowed access to inspect the vessels.

Bidders should not book travel until they have received a copy of the ITT and understood the requirements.

A copy of the PQQ can be down loaded from the bottom of this page or you can e-mail the DSA’s Commercial section requesting a copy at deslcsls-dsa-comrcl-3b@mod.uk

The closing date for returning the PQQ to the DSA and expression of interest is 17.00 GMT Wednesday 23rd January 2013.

-- HMS CUMBERLAND
formally a Warship Frigate F85 was built at Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow UK in 1988 and is now lying at HMNB Portsmouth. The vessel ceased service on the 23rd September 2011 and is due to be tendered early 2013.
All interested parties should beware that only companies that have successfully completed a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an invitation to tender for this vessel.

-- HMS CAMPBELTOWN
formally a Warship Frigate F86 was built at Cammell Laird ship yard Birkenhead UK in 1987 and is now lying at HMNB Portsmouth. The vessel ceased service on the 7th July 2011 and is due to be tendered early 2013.
All interested parties should beware that only companies that have successfully completed a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an invitation to tender for this vessel.

-- HMS CHATHAM
formally a Warship Frigate F87 was built at Swan Hunters Shipbuilders in Wallsend UK in 1989, and is now lying at HMNB Portsmouth. The vessel ceased service on the 20th October 2011 and is due to be tendered early 2013.
All interested parties should beware that only companies that have successfully completed a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an invitation to tender for this vessel.

-- HMS CORNWALL
formally a Warship, Frigate F99 was built at Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow UK in 1988 and is now lying at HMNB Portsmouth. The vessel ceased service on the 20th October 2011 and is due to be tendered early 2013. All interested parties should beware that only companies that have successfully completed a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an invitation to tender for this vessel.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/141126/uk-to-sell-off-four-type-22-frigates.html

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Citation :

UK launches commando role transition for AW101



Seven of the UK’s AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin rotorcraft will receive an initial set of modifications to ensure a continuation of support for the Royal Navy’s Commando Helicopter Force once the service’s last Westland Sea King HC4/4+ transports are retired in 2016.

To be delivered to the RN from 2015, the “Phase 1” aircraft will be among 25 Merlin HC3/3As eventually transferred from the Royal Air Force’s support helicopter inventory as replacements for the aged Sea Kings.

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Crown Copyright

Adaptations will include undercarriage modifications to support ship-based operations, the installation of additional communications equipment and the integration of a powered folding main rotor head, AgustaWestland says.

Initial operational capability in a fully upgraded Merlin HC4/4A configuration should occur in mid-2018, with all 25 aircraft to be adapted to this standard by 2020. Key elements of this “Phase 2” work will include replacing the aircraft’s avionics to replicate the cockpit of the RN’s upgraded multimission Merlin HM2s, fitting an automatic main rotor and tail fold system, and performing full “marinisation” for naval operations.

Announced on 29 January, the Merlin upgrade programme has a total value of £330 million ($546 million). Aircraft modifications will be performed at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil site in Somerset, with the HC4/4A fleet to be based at nearby RNAS Yeovilton. The manufacturer will also be responsible for managing a competition to provide a new synthetic training system for the adapted type.

Sixteen Merlin HC3/3As are currently operational with the RAF, with another 12 in storage, according to Flightglobal’s Ascend Online Fleets database. The latter version – six of which are in use – were acquired for the service from original buyer the Royal Danish Air Force. Once fielded, the HC4/4As will provide the Commando Helicopter Force with greater range, payload and speed, according to AgustaWestland.

The MoD has also awarded AgustaWestland a five-year contract worth around £430 million to provide continued maintenance and support services for the British Army’s Apache AH1 attack helicopters. An extension to its existing integrated operational support (IOS) deal, the agreement will cover activities until 31 March 2019, “ensuring they are able to play a key role post-Afghanistan”, the ministry says.

asset image

Crown Copyright

Flown by the Army Air Corps, the UK’s Apache fleet comprises 66 active examples, according to Ascend. Operated in Afghanistan since 2006, the model is close to having completed 150,000 flying hours, AgustaWestland says.

“The Apache IOS contract will deliver further efficiencies over the next five years, delivering the aircraft and capability the Army Air Corps require,” the company says.

http://www.flightglobal.com

Citation :

MoD confirms gaps in Navy tasking in UK Waters

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has confirmed that there have been recent gaps in the

dedicated Royal Navy vessel coverage of UK waters.

 
A dedicated ‘Fleet Ready Escort’ (FRE) Frigate or Destroyer is supposed to be available at all times to cover circumstances including unexpected visits close to UK shores by navies from other countries.
 
Over Christmas the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and further vessels arrived off the Moray Firth coast. It is the second such example in two years. First reports of the Russian navy presence relied on Scottish fishing vessels because the Royal Navy has no ocean going conventional vessels based in Scotland.  
 
In a letter to Westminster SNP Leader and Defence spokesman Angus Robertson MP the Minister of State for the Armed Forces Mark Francois MP wrote:
 
“…Ministers have been informed on two occasions that the FRE commitment would not be covered by a dedicated vessel, once in 2011 for a period of 19 days and once in 2012 for a period of 18 days.”  
 
He went on to say that the MOD is not able to confirm whether there have been further cases:
 
“A record of the ships assigned to FRE tasking in the last five years is not held centrally and could only be provided only at disproportionate cost”.
 
Speaking about the gaps in Royal Navy arrangements for UK waters Westminster SNP Leader and Defence spokesman Angus Robertson MP said:
 
“The MOD has now officially confirmed there have been gaps in designated vessel coverage for UK waters.
 
“During recent unexpected visits by the Russian navy the MOD has needed to despatch ships from the south coast of England to Scottish waters because there are no appropriate conventional naval vessels based in Scotland.
 
“It is purely down to chance that these unexpected visits didn’t happen during 37 days when there was not a designated ‘Fleet Ready Escort’ vessel available from the Royal Navy.
 
“Scotland needs much better maritime security arrangements than the MOD currently provides. With dedicated Frigates and Maritime Patrol Aircraft permanently available and based in Scotland we can ensure proper security priorities after independence."
 
http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/jan/mod-confirms-gaps-navy-tasking-uk-waters

Citation :

Le MOU franco-britannique pour le développement commun du missile anti-navires léger FASGW/ANL va être signé


After years of fraught negotiation, France and Britain are for the first time to become mutually dependent in the production of one of the most sensitive weapons in any military arsenal: a missile.
The two countries are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on Friday for an anti-ship missile for attack helicopters, defence officials and executives said. It would mark the first time they have agreed to integrate production because they can no longer afford to produce such weapons on their own.
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The agreement will be signed at the Anglo-French defence summit at RAF Brize Norton by David Cameron and his French counterpart, François Hollande. The missile will be built in France and Britain by MBDA, owned by BAE Systems of the UK, pan-European Airbus and Italy’s Finmeccanica.
The two countries plan to share the £500m cost, with Britain contributing funds first because it needs the missile earlier.
It is the first specific joint agreement since the defence summit of 2010 at which Mr Cameron and former French President Nicholas Sarkozy signed the Lancaster House defence treaty promising closer collaboration.
Although the programme was almost cut by cash-strapped France, it was saved early last year when Mr Cameron warned Mr Hollande it was key to wider defence co-operation.

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/033d1056-88fa-11e3-bb5f-00144feab7de,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F033d1056-88fa-11e3-bb5f-00144feab7de.html%3Fsiteedition%3Dintl&siteedition=intl&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scoop.it%2Ft%2Fnewsletter-navale#axzz2rs3AFnUj

Citation :

Royal Navy strengthens presence in Gibraltar

by Brian Reyes

The Royal Navy has sent additional personnel to Gibraltar to strengthen its Gibraltar Squadron in response to Spanish maritime incursions into British territorial waters.

The Gibraltar Squadron has increased from two to three crews – around 25 sailors in total – to enable 24-hour coverage, although the number of vessels they operate remains the same.

The decision to increase personnel was revealed in a response to a question in the House of Lords and came as Headquarters British Forces Gibraltar announced that the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond was scheduled to arrive in Gibraltar on Sunday for a week-long visit.

During its stay, the warship will conduct training off the Rock and will anchor in British waters in the Bay of Gibraltar at night.

The British Government has so far ruled out deploying larger naval vessels permanently in Gibraltar but has said repeatedly that Royal Navy warships will continue to call regularly at the Rock.

The Gibraltar Squadron’s third crew was sent to Gibraltar late last year following a rise in the number of incursions by Spanish state vessels into British Gibraltar territorial waters.

“In response to an increased number of maritime incursions, we have deployed additional personnel to Gibraltar to enhance the response capability and resilience of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron, increasing the number of crews from two to three,” said Tory peer Lord Astor of Hever, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and the Lords Spokesman on Defence.

“Larger Royal Navy ships will continue to visit Gibraltar regularly in relation to operational and training activity, reflecting its utility as a permanent joint operating base.”

Lord Astor said the British Government was confident of British sovereignty over the whole of Gibraltar, including British Gibraltar Territorial Waters and took its responsibility for protecting that sovereignty “very seriously”.

He added: “All elements of the situation, including the maritime security capabilities available to the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron, are kept under review.”

“Should it be necessary, we will provide additional assets to the Squadron or augment our broader maritime posture as necessary.”

HMS Diamond arrives in Gibraltar on Sunday for a week-long visit as she sets out on a six month operational deployment to the Gulf.

“Whilst in Gibraltar she will carry out a number of maritime training exercises, during which she will anchor in the bay at night,” Headquarters British Forces said in a statement.

HMS Diamond is the third of six Type 45 air defence destroyers and is one of the most sophisticated warships in the world.

The ship’s Commanding Officer, Commander Andy Ingham, said: “Whilst it has undoubtedly been difficult for us to say goodbye to our loved ones, myself and my crew are looking forward to the task in hand and doing what the Royal Navy does best – providing a resilient and adaptable UK military presence ensuring security and stability wherever the UK has an interest.”

http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=32671

Citation :

  La Grande Bretagne va recevoir son premier A400M plus tôt

Le 30/01/2014 à 19:30   | Par François Julian  

Airbus Defence & Space (ADS) a d'ores et déjà commencé à réorganiser l'ordre de fabrication des A400M, en raison de l'étalement des livraisons à la France. Ainsi, MSN 15 qui aurait dû être le sixième A400M livré à l'armée de l'Air, sera finalement livré à la Grande Bretagne. Cet exemplaire est actuellement en phase finale d'assemblage dans les usines d'ADS (ex-Airbus Military) à Séville, dans le sud de l'Espagne.

Initialement, le premier A400M à être livré à la Royal Air Force devait être MSN 16. Le constructeur a dû prendre cette décision, afin de se conformer à la décision de le France de ne prendre que 15 A400M sur la période 2013-2019, au lieu de 36 comme cela avait été conclu lors de la renégociation du contrat en 2010.

Il est probable que d'autres avions, initialement destinés à la France, soient ainsi réaffectés à la Grande Bretagne.

A ce jour, ADS a livré deux A400M à la France. Il s'agit de MSN 7 et 8, les deux premiers avions de série. MSN 9 doit être livré sous peu à la Turquie. L'armée de l'Air doit ensuite prendre livraison de MSN 10, 11 et 14, tandis que MSN 13 ira rejoindre les rangs de la force aérienne turque.

Viendra donc après MSN 15, le premier appareil destiné à la Grande Bretagne, dont la livraison devrait intervenir dans le courant de cette année, puis MSN 16, également destiné à la Royal Air Force. Toujours en 2014, il est prévu la livraison de MSN 18, le premier A400M allemand.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/defense/la-grande-bretagne-va-recevoir-son-premier-a400m-plus-tot.html

Citation :

RAF Typhoons participate in Exercise Red Flag 2014

31 January 2014  

The UK Royal Air Force's (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 fighter aircraft are participating in air-to-air combat training exercise, code-named Red Flag 14-1, currently underway at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) in Nevada, US.

Involving participation from the US and allied nations' combat air forces, the three-week exercise offers valuable training to pilots in planning and executing a wide variety of combat missions.

The UK also deployed Tornado GR-4 fighters and an E-3D Sentry airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft for the exercise, which is also joined by approximately 150 aircraft from the US, Australian, Belgian, Danish and the Royal Saudi Air Forces.

Operating in the swing role, Typhoon FGR4s are conducting both air-to-air and air-ground profiles in single sorties, while the Tornado GR4s are performing low-level strike role.

Eurofighter chief executive officer Alberto Gutierrez said, ''We wish the RAF great success with the exercise and we look forward to actively supporting them as we continue to work together to further grow the capabilities of what is already recognised to be a highly agile, potent and reliable aircraft.''

Other participating aircraft include US F-15, F-16, B-52H, E-3C, HH-60, EA-18G, Australian F-18s and E-7, Belgian F-16AM and C-130, Danish F-16AM and Saudi's F-15Ss.

Held four times annually, Red Flag is a US Pacific Air Forces Command (PACAF)-led large force employment exercise designed to train pilots and other flight crew members from the US, Nato and other allied countries for real air combat situations.

Divided into two teams, namely Blue Forces and Red Forces, the participants perform counter air, precision strike and offensive air support in packages of up to 100 aircraft during each exercise.

Red Flag 14-1 is scheduled to conclude on 15 February 2014.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/news/newsraf-typhoons-participate-in-exercise-red-flag-2014-4169303

Citation :

Royal Navy

Torpedo away as Westminster tests her defences (4 photos)


HMS Westminster flexed her defensive muscles east of Suez when she put her submarine defences to the test.

The Portsmouth-based frigate fired her onboard torpedo systems, launching a dummy Sting Ray into the ocean.  


HMS Westminster gets into position for her TVT firing.

A TVT Round explodes out from her housing in a plume of smoke from HMS Westminster during test runs.


A TVT drogue parachute deploys to slow its impact into the water during test runs on HMS Westminster.

Citation :

Royal Marines 1664 Challenge

Final Preparation Exercise above Bjornhaugen, Storjord  


The sky was on fire again this morning just as we left the position – à Storjord, Norway.
  

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Citation :

Londres et Paris renforcent leur coopération dans la défense


Le programme FASGW/ANL est désormais définitivement sur les rails.

Le sommet franco-britannique qui s'est tenu hier et aujourd'hui au Royaume-Uni a été riche en annonces pour les industriels de défense français, MBDA et Dassault Aviation en tête. La déclaration commune de Londres et Paris, qui sera publiée dans les prochaines heures, acte en effet un certain nombre d'engagements bilatéraux pour le lancement de programmes d'armement conjoints.
 
Dans le domaine des missiles, le sommet a notamment permis de mettre définitivement sur les rails le programme FASGW/ANL (anti-navire léger), un armement qui équipera dans un premier temps les hélicoptères AW159 Wildcat de la Royal Navy et, à un horizon plus lointain (post 2020), les voilures tournantes de la Marine nationale. Un mémorandum d'entente (MoU) a été signé et préfigure un contrat en bonne et due forme qui devrait être notifié courant février à MBDA, pour une valeur totale d'environ 575 M€. Le contrat ANL permettra à MBDA de lancer l'implémentation de centres d'excellence en France et au Royaume-Uni, et d'acter ainsi la spécialisation de certaines de ses activités de part et d'autre de la Manche.
 
Londres devrait également étudier une participation potentielle au programme d'amélioration du missile sol-air moyenne portée Aster 30 (programme Block 1 NT) qui pourrait permettre de doter les frégates britanniques Type 45 d'une première capacité de défense contre les missiles balistiques.
 
Une lettre d'intention a également été signée au sujet du futur drone de combat FCAS/SCAF (système de combat aérien futur) pour le lancement d'études de faisabilité de deux ans, menées par BAE Systems et Dassault Aviation. Des travaux qui doivent permettre de "prendre les décisions sur les spécifications et les marchés" avant de lancer la réalisation d'un futur appareil.
 
Comme nous l'expliquions récemment dans Air&Cosmos (cf. A&C n°2380), ces études pourraient également aboutir à la mise en place d'un "FCAS Simulation Lab" de part et d'autre de la Manche pour mener des campagnes de simulation technico-opérationnelles en environnement synthétique. La DGA soulignait récemment qu'une enveloppe globale d'environ 700 millions d'euros devrait être allouée côté français aux travaux liés au programme FCAS d'ici à 2019.
 
Les deux pays ont également entériné un accord-cadre entre le Cnes et l'United Kingdom Space Agency pour "une coopération renforcée en matière d'activités spatiales". Celui-ci prévoit entre autres "l'identification de domaines spatiaux d'intérêt communs" dans l'observation de la Terre, les télécommunications ou la météorolgie spatiale.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/defense/londres-et-paris-renforcent-leur-cooperation-dans-la-defense.html

Citation :

UK says close to placing order for F-35 jets


(Reuters) - Britain is close to placing its first order for Lockheed Martin-built (LMT.N) F-35 super-stealth jets, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said on Saturday.

Reuters cited sources last week as saying that Britain was likely to announce an order soon for 14 of the advanced jets, marking Britain's first firm F-35 purchase since it committed to buying 48 planes in 2012.

"We are moving towards that point," Hammond said when asked if he could confirm the imminent order.

"We will have to place a firm order very soon in order to have the first squadron ready to start flying training off the 'Queen Elizabeth' in 2018, which is our current plan," he said in an interview with Reuters Television during the Munich Security Conference.

The Queen Elizabeth is one of two British aircraft carriers currently under construction.

He declined to confirm that the order would be for 14 planes "because we haven't completed the process, but we will be making an announcement in due course".

Britain is expected to order the F-35 B vertical take-off variant of the Joint Strike Fighter.

It has so far taken delivery of three training jets.

The F-35, considered to be the world's most expensive weapons programme at $396 billion so far, was designed to be the next-generation fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines.

It is being built by the United States, Britain and seven other co-development partners - Italy, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.

British companies such as BAE Systems (BAES.L) and Rolls Royce (RR.L) build 15 percent of each F-35 aircraft.

Hammond said he was not worried by reports of technical issues that could delay the F-35's entry into service.

A U.S. Defense Department report last week warned that software, maintenance and reliability problems with the stealth fighter could delay the U.S. Marine Corps' plans to start using its F-35 jets by mid-2015.

"This is a complex weapons procurement programme. There are always issues in the development of weapons like this, and this particular report comes in a long and well-established line of highly critical reports about weapons systems when they are at this stage of their development," Hammond said.

"The whole point of this internal appraisal is to highlight where the issues still are that need to be resolved in the programme. It is part of the process and it shouldn't be seen as a negative part of the process at all," he said.

Britain's Conservative-led government was embarrassed by its flip-flop two years ago on which variant of the radar-evading aircraft to buy, a decision which cost the British taxpayer at least 74 million pounds ($123 million).

(Editing by Stephen Brown)

Citation :

Dernière mission opérationnelle pour le “Dambusters” Squadron de la Royal Air Force
3 février 2014 – 16:48  



En mai 1943, le n°617 Squadron de la Royal Air Force, nouvellement créé avec des bombardiers Avro Lancaster Mk-III, fit parler de lui de la plus éclatante des manières en réussissant un raid audacieux contre trois barrages hydroélectriques situés dans la région de la Ruhr, en Allemagne, lancé afin d’affaiblir le potentiel industriel de l’Allemagne nazie.

Les effets de cette opération, appelée “Chastise”, n’auront probablement pas eu tous les effets recherchés par les responsables britanniques, dans la mesure où le niveau de la production d’électricité retrouva le niveau qui était le sien avant l’attaque des bombardiers de la RAF. Mais cela n’enlève rien à l’audace des équipages de ces derniers. Sur les 133 aviateurs engagés dans cette opération, seulement 53 en revinrent.

Quoi qu’il en soit, le n°617 Squadron, surnommé “Dambusters” Squadron et dont la devise est “Après moi le déluge” (en français), est devenu, avec cette mission, l’une des unités mythiques de la RAF. Après la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, il fut dissous brièvement en 1955 pour renaître en 1958 avec des bombardiers Hawker Siddeley Vulcan, chargés de mettre en oeuvre la composante aéroportée de la dissuasion nucléaire britannique.

En 1981, l’escadron connut une nouvelle éclipse qui dura le temps de sa transformation sur chasseur-bombardier Tornado GR4. Depuis 1983, il prit notamment part à la première guerre du Golfe (1991) ainsi qu’à l’opération Iraqi Freedom, en 2003. Et, jusqu’au 31 janvier dernier, il était déployé en Afghanistan, dans le cadre de la Force internationale d’assistance à la sécurité (ISAF). Il s’agissait de son dernière mission avant sa mise en sommeil, laquelle sera effective le 1er avril prochain.

Au cours de son déploiement dans le sud afghan, le n°617 Squadron aura effectué 188 missions en 1.500 heures de vol et 14 démonstrations de force au profit des troupes au sol. La dernière sortie opérationnelle a été assurée par le Squadron Leader Mark Jackson. Et visiblement, le souvenir du raid de 1943 reste très vivace dans l’esprit du personnel de cette unité.

“Quand je suis descendu de l’avion pour la dernière fois, mes émotions ont été teintées d’une pointe de tristesse du sens du devoir accompli au regard de tout ce qu’a fait cet escadron”, a commenté son chef. “La plupart d’entre nous ont demandé de venir ici pour une raison précise. Espérons que d’une certaine façon, nous rendons hommage aux Dambusters originaux en continuant à être en opérations”, a-t-il ajouté.

Selon les plans de la RAF, dont l’exécution n’est pas totalement garantie (à cause des incertitudes budgétaires…), le “Dambusters” squadron devrait être réactivé en 2018, au plus tard, avec des Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II.  

http://www.opex360.com/  

Citation :

New surveillance system for Royal Navy aircraft carriers

Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers will get helicopter-borne early warning systems 18 months earlier than planned, saving £22 million.

Following renegotiation of the aircraft carrier contract to deliver savings to the taxpayer, the Defence Secretary has accelerated the Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control programme to ensure it is operational by 2019.
Using high-power radar to provide long-range air, maritime and land tracking capabilities, Crowsnest will be an integral part of future carrier operations. It will be fitted to the Royal Navy’s fleet of upgraded Merlin Mk2 helicopters, including those to be embarked on the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers.
The decision to bring forward the Crowsnest programme has been made as part of the annual review of MOD’s 10-year equipment plan. The plan, worth £160 billion, includes unallocated funding to support equipment requirements that may arise as threats emerge or priorities change.


Computer-generated image of Merlin helicopters operating from a Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier.


The shorter delivery time for Crowsnest will lead to a significant reduction in costs, as specialist industry personnel will be required for a shorter period of time.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:

Citation :

Crowsnest will provide vital surveillance and intelligence to protect the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.
The introduction of Crowsnest 18 months early will ensure HMS Queen Elizabeth has the full range of capabilities when it enters service.

Lockheed Martin UK, which designs the Merlin helicopters, has been awarded a £24 million contract to run a competition to design, develop and demonstrate Crowsnest.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-surveillance-system-for-royal-navy-aircraft-carriers

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Aircraft carrier alert system ready early
Tuesday 4 February 2014



An early warning detection system known as Crowsnest for Britain's new aircraft carriers will be ready when the ships come into service rather than some time in 2020, the Defence Secretary has said.

Philip Hammond told MPs the system had been brought forward after management of the equipment budget freed up the money.

Earlier announcements by the Ministry of Defence indicated the system, based on the Merlin helicopter and designed to provide state of the art surveillance around the carriers, would only go into trials in 2020.

The first of the two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers is due to begin sea trials in 2017, and come into service in 2020.

Speaking during Commons questions today, Mr Hammond said: "I'm glad to be able to say we have been able to advance the Crowsnest airborne early warning capability project as a result of prudent management of the MoD's equipment programme.

"We will have the full operating capability available when the aircraft carriers go into service."

In a letter to defence select committee chairman James Arbuthnot in January, last year, former defence minister Andrew Robathan said ­mitigation measures based on the ships themselves or helicopters had been planned.

http://www.heraldscotland.com

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British Army

Live-firing exercise in Wales for Queen’s Dragoon Guards

Soldiers of the Queen's Dragoon Guards have been preparing for a potential tour to Afghanistan with a live-firing exercise in west Wales.

Over five days, Exercise Pashtun Tempest saw more than 100 soldiers from 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards learning to operate the new Husky and Foxhound vehicles in readiness for the tour, which will be the last Afghanistan tour to involve British troops.

The Castlemartin range, in Pembrokeshire, which is maintained by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), allowed soldiers to fire their weapons accurately before progressing to more complicated shoots. These culminated in more complex scenarios where soldiers carried out live-firing manoeuvres with support from mortars and airborne assets.

Lance Corporal Thomas Warner said: “This is the last time we’ll be able to practise live-firing before our potential deployment to Afghanistan.”


A soldier firing the General Purpose Machine Gun from a Husky protective vehicle. Photographer Corporal Barry Lloyd; Crown copyright.

The Foxhound protective mobility vehicle on patrol. Photographer Corporal Barry Lloyd; Crown copyright.

Soldiers trying to extract a damaged (simulated) foxhound vehicle during an exercise. Photographer Corporal Barry Lloyd; Crown copyright.

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 Publiée le  3 févr. 2014  

Constantly on 'Very High Readiness' the Apache Longbow Attack Helicopter can be called to a 'Shout' at a moment's notice.

Apache has significantly improved the operational capabilities of ground troops.

It can operate in all weathers day or night and can detect and engage multiple targets with its arsenal of Hellfire missiles, rockets and 30mm cannon.

The helicopter has been in service since 2001 and the fleet is due for £430 mil upgrade to further increase its capabilities.

Citation :

British Army

9/12 Lancers deployed in Afghanistan (5 photos)

Soldiers of the 9/12 Lancers are part of the Brigade Recognisance Force (BRF) in Helmand Province. These images show them deployed on a recent operation.

The 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's Regiment) is currently a formation reconnaissance regiment, attached to the 7th Armoured Brigade, the Desert Rats.  


  

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Le Taranis a bel et bien volé en 2013  

Le 05/02/2014 à 16:18   | Par Gabrielle Carpel



Le ministère de la défense du Royaume-Uni (MoD) et BAE Systems viennent de confirmer que le Taranis, démonstrateur de drone de combat, avait bien volé l'an dernier. Le premier vol, de 15 minutes, a eu lieu le 10 août 2013 et a été suivi par un certain nombre de vols afin de tester différentes vitesses et altitudes. Le plus long à ce jour a duré 1 heure.

Malgré la discrétion du MoD, l'information du premier vol avait filtré en novembre dernier par un rapport écrit remis au Parlement (Cf Air&Cosmos n2380 du 1er novembre 2013). Mais le ministère britannique avait ensuite annoncé qu'aucune information supplémentaire ne serait donnée avant la fin de la campagne d'essai.

Dévoilé en juillet 2010,Taranis a été financé par le MoD et des industriels britanniques à hauteur de 185 millions de livres (223M€). Il a été conçu afin de démontrer la capacité du Royaume-Uni à créer un système de drone de combat national.

Ce drone, nommé d'après le dieu celte du ciel et de l'orage, est un banc d'essais technologique qui doit permettre à la Grande-Bretagne de «prendre des décisions sur la composition future des avions pilotés et non pilotés et d'optimiser leur fonctionnement commun».



http://www.air-cosmos.com/industrie/le-taranis-a-bel-et-bien-vole-en-2013.html  

Citation :

Lockheed Martin Receives $60 Million Support Contract for UK Apache Targeting and Pilotage System

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 6, 2014 – Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received a $60 million sustainment and support contract from AgustaWestland for the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) system on the U.K.’s Apache AH Mk-1 aircraft.

The contract includes in-country repairs, spares and technical services, as well as integrated logistics, engineering and depot repair support. The effort is part of the overall Integrated Operational Support solution for the U.K. Apache fleet provided by AgustaWestland to the U.K. Ministry of Defence. Support under the contract will continue through March 2019.

“Working with AgustaWestland, we developed an M-TADS/PNVS product support strategy designed to optimize system readiness and mission effectiveness,” said Mike Taylor, Apache international programs director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This contract is a cost-effective support solution to ensure supply availability of M-TADS/PNVS on AH Mk-1 Apaches, providing U.K. soldiers with mission critical situational awareness and targeting accuracy.”

The M-TADS/PNVS system provides Apache attack helicopter pilots with long-range, precision engagement and pilotage capabilities for mission success and flight safety in day, night and adverse weather missions. Work will be performed at Lockheed Martin facilities in Ocala and Orlando, Fla., LMUK-Ampthill and at the U.K. Wattisham Special Repair Activity Depot.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 115,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com

Citation :

Defense.gouv

L'exercice "Blue legionnaire" qui se déroulait du 13 au 24 janvier en Corse a permis au 2e régiment étranger de parachutistes de Calvi (2e REP) et au 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) de s'entraîner ensemble. L’armée de terre participera en 2014 à plusieurs exercices avec son homologue britannique dans le cadre de la coopération britannique. Celle-ci s’est considérablement renforcée au cours des 15 dernières années avec, en particulier, le traité de Lancaster House, signé le 2 novembre 2010. Sur le plan opérationnel, la France et la Grande-Bretagne se dotent d’une capacité de force de projection non permanente interarmées, la Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), dont la pleine capacité opérationnelle est attendue en 2016. Une série d’exercices permettent sa montée en puissance est organisée à l’image de Corsican Lion pour la marine et de Joint Warrior pour la composante air.

PHOTOS:

 ( Photos - Corporal Andy Reddy Army MOD)  

Citation :

 UK to spend £2.5bn on F-35 fighters

The UK is about to commit to the F-35 fighter project, a US-led effort to produce 3,000 aircraft which is set to cost more than £600bn globally.

The initial UK order for 14 F-35Bs will, with support costs added, cost about £2.5bn, Newsnight has learned.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the F-35B was an expensive plane, but one with an "incredible capability".

But critics have questioned Ministry of Defence suggestions that the jets will be combat capable by 2018.

The F35-B will be known as Lightning II in UK active service and is going to replace the already retired Harrier.

The aircraft - capable of vertical landing - will eventually be able to fly from new carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The F-35 programme is central to the future of the Royal Navy and the military aerospace sector of the economy, but it has been plagued by development problems, is years late into service and the true cost to the UK is only just becoming clear.

At one stage, the US Marines had hoped to bring the F-35 into service in 2010, but they now hope to do so late in 2015. Many industry experts say this is hopelessly optimistic.

Number one risk'

Newsnight has learned that Britain originally intended its F-35s to enter service in 2012.

With 8.4m lines of software, it is by far the most complex fighter ever built, but a Pentagon inspector's report stated that by last summer only 2% of that code was fully up to standard. Much of the plane's software, including that needed to aim and launch weapons, remains to be proven in tests.

Aircraftmaker Lockheed Martin argues that 7.4m lines of the aircraft's software have now been tested, but one senior source familiar with Britain's F-35 programme says continuing software problems are "the number one risk" to the UK bringing it into service on time.

Former Royal Navy chief Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, who now works with Lockheed Martin, believes the new aircraft is vital to maintaining Britain's status as a serious international player.

"By the end of the decade, we are going to have a credible air capability," he said, adding that the Ministry of Defence's original commitment to buying 48 jets "will certainly not be enough".

Worries about risk - financial and technological - have kept the British government from committing to bigger numbers.

Newsnight understands that the first 14 aircraft will be bought for £58m ($96m) apiece. However, once spares, maintenance and initial support are included, the price will be much higher.
'Basic weapons range'

There is concern in the MoD that observers will simply divide the approximate £2.5bn cost of this stage of the project by the 14 planes being ordered, whereas this price tag includes certain support costs for the entire, eventual UK fleet.

One Pentagon estimate last year for an aircraft plus support costs for the first few years came out at £154m ($253m) each.

In planning its own buy, Britain has shown a little more caution than the hard-charging US Marine Corps.

It's planned that the 14 aircraft will form the first operational squadron in 2018, and that by 2020 they will be able to fly from HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Justin Bronk, an analyst at the Royal United Services Institute, said that even by then, they might be capable only of "going through the motions" - taking off and landing - and not using the more advanced weapons in the RAF inventory.
HMS Queen Elizabeth at Rosyth

www.bbc.co.u

Citation :

Queen to launch HMS Queen Elizabeth II carrier in July




FIFE, Scotland, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Queen Elizabeth will launch the Royal Navy's super-carrier named for her in Scotland in the summer.

The 65,000-ton HMS Queen Elizabeth is scheduled for launch at the Rosyth dockyard in Fife in July.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, being built by a consortium of BAE Systems Surface Ships, Thales Group and Babcock Marine, will be the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth-class of aircraft carrier, the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy and capable of carrying up to forty aircraft.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is to be commissioned in early 2017, with full operational capability from 2020, the Daily Record reported on Wednesday.

Unlike most large U.S. Nimitz-class carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth is not fitted with steam catapults and arresting wires, so the vessel will be restricted to operating vertical takeoff and landing (V/STOL).

HMS Queen Elizabeth's air wing will consist of F-35B Lightning II fighter-bombers and Merlin helicopters for airborne early warning and anti-submarine warfare. HMS Queen Elizabeth will cost $5.1 billion.

http://www.upi.com

Citation :

Le HMS « Daring » intégré au GAN « Charles de Gaulle »

Mise à jour : 15/02/2014 15:51

Actuellement dans la dernière phase de l’opération « Bois Belleau », le groupe aéronaval constitué autour du porte-avions « Charles de Gaulle » vient d’intégrer la frégate de défense aérienne de la Royal Navy le HMS « Daring ». Elle s’inscrit dans la montée en puissance incrémentale du Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF).



Quelques jours après le sommet franco-britannique entre le ministre de la Défense Jean Yves Le Drian et son homologue Philip Hammond, ayant notamment permis la conclusion de différents accords bilatéraux, la collaboration en matière de défense entre la France et le Royaume-Uni a encore une fois été mise en lumière de façon concrète. Cette intégration s’inscrit dans la perspective de la montée en puissance incrémentale du « Combined Joint Expeditionnary Force » (CJEF), dans sa composante maritime. Du 8 au 15 février, la frégate de défense aérienne type T45 de la Royal Navy « Daring »,de retour d’une mission de longue durée, a été intégrée au sein du groupe aéronaval placé sous le commandement du contre-amiral Eric Chaperon. De la Mer Rouge à la Méditerranée, en passant par le Canal de Suez, le rôle de cette frégate a été d’assurer aux côtés de la FDA « Forbin », la protection rapprochée du porte-avions « Charles de Gaulle ».



Au titre de cette mission primordiale, les marins britanniques ont multiplié les manœuvres aux côtés de leurs homologues français afin de renforcer leurs aptitudes à opérer au cœur d’un groupe aéronaval. Ainsi, plusieurs ADEX*, entraînements aussi utiles pour les pilotes de Super Etendard Modernisé et de Rafale Marine, que pour les marins chargés de la protection anti-aérienne des unités du GAN, ont été réalisés.

Le 15 février au matin, le HMS « Daring » a reçu « liberté de manœuvre » pour terminer son déploiement indépendant. Cette intégration au cœur de la « French Navy Gobal Strike Force » conforte l’utilité d’une coopération pragamatique et incrémentale entre ces deux marines, les deux premières en Europe. Le Combined Joint Expeditionnary Force (CJEF) maritime en sera le couronnement.


* Air Defense Exercise

Sources : Marine nationale

http://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/a-la-une/le-hms-daring-integre-au-gan-charles-de-gaulle