Armée Allemande (Bundeswehr)

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Germany should approve a production contract for the Meteor beyond visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) before year-end, with prime contractor MBDA expecting the topic to be discussed by the nation's budget committees "in November or December".

Speaking at the ILA Berlin Airshow on 13 September, Russ Martin, head of military advisors for MBDA UK, confirmed that Germany is tipped to sign an order "towards the end of this year".

Led by the UK Ministry of Defence and its industry partner, the Meteor programme is a multinational venture also involving France, Italy, Spain and Sweden. All of the partner nations have already signed for production examples of the long-range weapon, with the exception of Germany.

Berlin will acquire the Meteor to equip its Eurofighter combat aircraft, with the missile's scramjet engine having been developed by MBDA Germany subsidiary Bayern-Chemie. It will also arm examples of the same aircraft operated by Italy, Spain and the UK, plus Dassault Rafales for France and Saab Gripens for Sweden.

MBDA has delivered briefings about the BVRAAM weapon's capabilities to numerous nations, including those involved in the Lockheed Martin F-35 programme. Martin says it has also attracted interest from operators of other aircraft types, but declines to name them.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ila-germany-on-target-to-sign-meteor-missile-deal-376480

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Rheinmetall Airborne Systems expects to complete the 1,000th operational flight of a leased Israel Aerospace Industries Heron 1 unmanned air vehicle in Afghanistan during October, as the German government nears a decision on whether to buy a medium-altitude, long-endurance surveillance system outright.

Flown in Afghanistan under a service provision deal since June 2010 in support of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, Germany's three Heron air vehicles had logged a combined 10,800 flight hours by the start of this month. Used in conjunction with two ground control stations, the aircraft are flown from Mazar-e-Sharif air base.

Up to two of the UAVs can be flown simultaneously, with the longest single sortie having lasted 28h and 50min, says Christian Glaser, the company's senior maintenance manager supporting the Heron operation. Rheinmetall Airborne Systems personnel are responsible for maintaining the aircraft around-the-clock, with its pilots also conducting take-offs and landings. German military personnel manage the operational activity, which is based around intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks.

With a background in the German air force's air defence organisation, Glaser has completed 15 four-week deployments to Afghanistan in support of the programme in the last two years.

Berlin recently signed a two-year extension worth about €75 million ($97.4 million) to its interim UAV deal, which will see the current service continue until at least the end of October 2014. The German government has been considering the acquisition of a fully owned system, with the Rheinmetall/IAI-promoted Heron TP and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Predator B in contention.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ila-german-heron-uav-unit-nears-1000th-mission-376509

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Four Tigers Delivered For Deployment to Afghanistan


Berlin, September 12, 2012
A significant milestone in Eurocopter’s Tiger support helicopter program has been reached following the delivery of the first four helicopters to be upgraded for deployment to Afghanistan. This now leaves the German Army in possession of a complete batch of ASGARD helicopters – a vital prerequisite if the Tiger is to be deployed in theater by the end of the year.

The Afghanistan Stabilization German Army Rapid Deployment (ASGARD) program of modifications for the Tiger Support Helicopter was agreed by Eurocopter and the Federal Ministry of Defence at the end of 2011 and includes a sand filter, additional defense weaponry, a mission data recorder and enhanced communications equipment for multinational missions.

“The Tiger presents the Bundeswehr with an unquestionably modern machine for its operations, with the ASGARD configuration ideally tailored to Afghanistan. However, it is equally true to say that in the long term this helicopter will do its duty in a whole range of possible combat scenarios,” explains Eurocopter President & CEO Dr. Lutz Bertling.

Since last July, a total of four aircraft newly configured for Afghanistan have been delivered to 36 Combat Helicopter Regiment in Fritzlar, which allowed preparations for deployment from the end of 2012 to start in good time. The second batch of a further four helicopters is due to be delivered from December onwards, as agreed with the Bundeswehr.

To date, Eurocopter has delivered 93 Tigers in all, including 27 UHTs to the Bundeswehr. Altogether, the helicopters in Germany, France, Spain and Australia have logged over 38,350 flight hours, while the Tigers of the French Armed Forces alone have seen over 3,750 hours of service in Afghanistan, and 250 in Libya.

www.eurocopter.com

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The new ASSTA 3.1 rear cockpit for the Luftwaffe Tornado fleet. Germany will upgrade 85 Tornados to this standard for operations until 2025.

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The new weaponry for the Luftwaffe's ASSTA 3.1 Tornado upgrade includes the GBU-54 laser JDAM, which will enter operational evaluation later this year. The Luftwaffe is placing particular interest in small diameter weapons - with the JbG-31 Eurofighters currently only planned to receive EGBU-16 in the immediate term - a 500lb Paveway IV or laser JDAM requirement for their Eurofighters must be considered likely. The forthcoming P1E upgrade for Tranche 2 Eurofighters includes Paveway IV - however the weapon is not currently in the Luftwaffe inventory.

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BWB Acquires Six REMUS AUVs for German Navy


A REMUS 100 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). (Photo: Hydroid)

14:33 GMT, October 2, 2012 Pocasset, MA | After extensive trials by the German Bundeswehr Technical Center for Ships and Naval Weapons (WTD 71) in Eckernfoerde, the Federal Office of Defence Technology & Procurement (BWB) in Koblenz has placed a contract for six REMUS 100 Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) manufactured by Hydroid, Inc. (a Kongsberg Company) to enhance the capabilities of the German Navy’s mine divers. Delivery of the REMUS 100 systems and operational training of military personnel will occur during the next 12 months.

The easy to handle REMUS 100 AUV is equipped with side-scan sonar and various other oceanographic sensors. It navigates by transponder interrogation and DVL-aided inertial dead reckoning in pre-programmed missions. The recorded data will be used to search for mines, lost objects, debris and wrecks or simply to collect topographic ocean floor mapping for hydrographic and scientific applications.

“We are pleased to be able to collaborate with BWB and Bornhöft Industriegeraete GmbH to introduce REMUS technology into the German Navy to enhance Mine Countermeasure (MCM) operations in Very Shallow Water operations” said Graham Lester, director, Hydroid Europe.

The REMUS 100 is a compact, lightweight AUV designed for operation in underwater environments up to 100 meters deep. The vehicle can be configured with a wide variety of standard and/or customer-specified sensors and system options in order to meet specialized mission requirements.

All of Hydroid's REMUS AUVs are modular: They can be fitted with varying sensors for use in hydrographic surveys, harbor security operations, debris field mapping, scientific sampling and mapping, as well as many basic and applied research programs. With more than 300 vehicles in the field, Kongsberg Maritime is currently the AUV market leader.

defpro

la base de Lechfeld du JaBoG-32 fermera avril 2013

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Armament for German TIGER Helicopter Ready for Series Start


Launch of a PARS 3LR guided missile. (Photo: Diehl Defence)

07:27 GMT, October 8, 2012 The successful conclusion of the PARS 3LR guided missile’s release firings fulfilled an important prerequisite for the series production of the German TIGER helicopter´s main armament.

A direct hit of the target moving between two house walls marked the conclusion of a challenging firing campaign. The firing from the support helicopter TIGER took place on September 20, 2012 at the Defence Technology Center 91 in Meppen.

Following the formal approval by the Federal Agency for Equipment, Information Technology and Utilization of the German Armed Forces, the manufacture of all 680 guided missiles agreed to in the contract with the prime contractor PARSYS GmbH can begin soon. The program company PARSYS GmbH is a joint venture of Diehl and MBDA Deutschland. Diehl Defence supplies the guided missile’s image-processing target seeker head.

PARS 3LR is presently the best performing fire & forget guided missile system capable of engaging different targets. Emerging from its safe cover for only a few seconds during the firing process, the helicopter is capable of engaging several targets simultaneously in salvo firing. The far-ranging missile pursues and engages targets autonomously, while the helicopter can change its position or pursue other mission objectives. PARS 3LR features a unique system enhancing the German Armed Forces’ capability to prevail and survive.

The scheduled procurement is an important contribution to technology preservation in the German defence industry.

defpro

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Germany Confirms Its Trust in Oto Melara and Chooses the 127/64 LW Vulcano Naval Gun

The 127/64 Light Weight Vulcano, already mounted on the Italian frigate “Carlo Bergamini” – the first European multipurpose frigate – is playing a leading role also in Parow, Germany, the seat of the Military School of the German Navy, where last 19 September Oto Melara delivered to the German Navy the first naval gun in a large order which already includes a wide range of products and might be further extended and enlarged.

In the 70s the German Navy understood the potential of the naval guns produced by Oto Melara and backed the plan of the 76/62 Compact. Choosing the 127/64 LW Vulcano, Germany confirms again its trust in Oto Melara for the production of a weapon system which can meet and perfectly adapt to the present requirements of asymmetric warfare. This means highly flexible products with limited reaction time, high target precision and long fire range to face damage caused by those who employ low cost means. Products must be highly available, easy to handle, their technology easy to access. This is the result of advanced research carried out by the Finmeccanica company of la Spezia and the development of naval guns produced by Oto Melara, a leading company for the Navy of all countries in the world.

“We often speak about a future European integration in the Defence sector, this product is a sort of forerunner of the industrial cooperation the new European scenario will frequently ask for.”

With these words Mr Marco Brogi, the engineer responsible for the Business Sector of naval and ammunition systems, underlined, during the delivery ceremony, the importance of the 127/64 LW which is considered a standard product of reference for its operating characteristics, high technological level of its components and its future employment. This product, together with the Vulcano guided long range ammunition – whose development has recently been supported by the German Ministry of Defence and some companies like Diehl - is a modern defence system with high level performance.

Oto Melara can meet and already meets the requirements of security with “land and naval systems which are ever more efficient and safe, employing the best our countries can offer in terms of research, technology and products. Mr Brogi also underlined “Once again this is the result of the commitment, the devotion and the work of many men. This confirms that all of us – soldiers and civilians - can do team work, this is the most important aspect.”

defpro

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German Army's PARS 3 missile enters full rate production
10 October 2012
MBDA Germany has successfully completed test flights of the PARS 3 long-range missile system aboard the German Army's Tiger support helicopter at Defence Technology Center 91.

During a test firing in September, the missile scored a direct hit against the intended target, simulated by a moving tank at a range of approximately 3km in a challenging urban combat scenario.

Completion of the test firing campaign moves the missile closer to full-scale production, subject to formal clearance by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw).

MBDA Germany managing director Thomas Homberg said the company had demonstrated accuracy and operational capabilities of the missile during tests.

"The successful conclusion of the firing campaign sends a strong signal to our national customers and potential export customers," Homberg added.
This guided missile system will make an important contribution to the Bundeswehr, enabling it to fulfil the demanding missions it is expected to perform even better in the future."

The PARS 3 LR system is designed for identification, designation and destruction of a wide range of stationary and mobile high-value targets, including tanks, helicopters and other individual systems, with minimum collateral damage.

Capable of firing in salvos of up to four in eight seconds, the missile also enables the helicopter to immediately change its position following launch, reducing exposure to enemy fire.

A total of 680 missiles were ordered by the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) for German Army's Tiger helicopters under a €380m contract in June 2006.

The missiles will be manufactured by PARSYS, a joint venture between MBDA Germany and Diehl BGT Defence, and are scheduled for delivery in late 2012.

http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsgerman-armys-pars-3-missile-enters-full-rate-production

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Le Royaume-Uni et l’Allemagne envisagent une réduction significative de leurs troupes en Afghanistan
15 octobre 2012 – 10:19

Le ministre britannique de la Défense, Philip Hammond, a confirmé, lors d’un entretien accordé le 14 octobre à la BBC, les propos qu’il avait tenus en septembre dernier au sujet des plans de Londres en Afghanistan.

A l’époque, Philip Hammond avait en effet évoqué une accélération du calendrier de retrait des troupes britanniques, qui, déployées dans la province du Helmand, constituent, avec 9.500 hommes, le second contingent le plus important de la Force internationale d’assistance à la Sécurité (ISAF), après celui fourni par les Etats-Unis.

“On reconsidère aujourd’hui les effectifs dont nous avons en réalité besoin… il pourrait y avoir de la marge pour davantage de souplesse en vue du retrait” avait-il affirmé dans les colonnes du quotidien The Guardian, après avoir rappelé que les troupes britanniques avaient fermé 52 bases et autres postes de contôle sur les 86 qu’elles avaient créés au cours du dernier semestre.

Finalement, et alors que 500 soldats britanniques quitteront l’Afghanistan avant la fin de cette année, Philip Hammond a annoncé que “plusieurs milliers” d’autres les suivront en 2013.

“Ce sera important, ce qui signifie plusieurs milliers, et non plusieurs centaines, même si ce ne sera pas la majorité” a-t-il affirmé à une question concernant l’ampleur du retrait britannique prévu l’année prochaine. Du coup, sans plus de précisions données par le ministre, l’on peut s’attendre à ce qu’un maximum de 4.500 soldats britanniques soient appelés à quitter l’Afghanistan dans un avenir relativement proche.

En Allemagne, qui fournit le troisème contingent de l’ISAF avec 4.900 hommes, des plans similaires sont à l’étude. Selon l’hebdomadaire Der Spiegel, Berlin envisagerait en effet de réduire “significativement” les effectifs de ses troupes, déployées essentiellement dans le nord de l’Afghanistan.

Ainsi, le nombre de soldats de la Bundeswehr en Afghanistan devrait passer “largement sous les 4.000″. Cette décision sera confirmée quand Berlin sollicitera le Parlement, en janvier prochain, pour renouveler le mandat de la participation allemande à l’ISAF, qui sera réduite de 500 hommes d’ici la fin de l’année.
OPEX360.fr

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More Time Needed for German Military Reform


(Source: Deutsche Welle German radio; published Oct. 23, 2012)



Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière and Chancellor Angela Merkel have told soldiers that reform of the military is going well. Many soldiers do not share their optimism.

"The repositioning of the military is now picking up speed," said German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière, expressing his satisfaction at the progress of reform. At the annual conference of the German military - the Bundeswehr - in Strausberg near Berlin on Monday (22.10.2012), he admitted that the improvements could not yet be felt everywhere, but said that things were going in the right direction.

Chancellor Angela Merkel even described the Bundeswehr as a model for reforms in other areas of German society. But she and de Maizière failed to present their expected comprehensive interim report on the reorientation of the German army.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/139698/germany-needs-more-time-for-military-reform.html

l'Allemagne songe adoucir sa politique d'export-d'armes à des pays partenaires pas dignes de confiance comme nous le sommes

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Merkel : d’abord vendre

A l’occasion de la Conférence annuelle de la Bundeswehr (Bundeswehrtagung) qui s’est tenue les 22 et 23 octobre à Strausberg, dans la banlieue de Berlin, la chancelière allemande a fait de très intéressantes déclarations devant un parterre d’une centaine de personnalités de premier plan, militaires et civiles, du monde de la défense.
Outre une exhortation lancée aux dirigeants militaires et ministériels à mieux accompagner la réforme de la Bundeswehr et à mieux l’expliquer aux soldats qui souffrent de tous les bouleversements qui accompagnent le processus, elle a apporté publiquement des précisions de taille à la doctrine de sécurité allemande.
A l’avenir, a expliqué Mme Merkel, son pays compte intégrer plus avant les exportations d’armements ainsi que la coopération militaire dans sa doctrine de sécurité : «Il est dans notre intérêt d’aider nos partenaires à établir ou à maintenir de manière efficace la sécurité et la paix dans leurs régions», a-t-elle déclaré. Pour elle, les livraisons d’armes font clairement partie de cette aide : «Ceux qui se sentent responsables du maintien de la paix mais ne peuvent pas jouer un rôle actif dans toutes les régions du monde sont appelés à aider leurs partenaires dignes de confiance à prendre cette tâche à leur compte», a ajouté la chance­lière.
Pour elle, les partenaires dignes de confiance sont nombreux puisqu’elle a nommé les pays de l’Union africaine, ceux de la Ligue des pays Arabes et de la Communauté économique des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO).
En butte à de nombreuses critiques, consécutives aux demandes pressantes de l’Arabie Saoudite et de l’Indonésie qui veulent acheter plusieurs centaines de Leopard 2, la chancelière allemande n’a pas oublié de préciser que le respect des Droits de l’Homme devait cependant rester un «critère important» dans la prise de décision.
Mais personne n’est dupe. Il y a peu, le ministre de la Défense, Thomas de Maizière, a très nettement relativisé le rôle joué par les Droits de l’Homme dans les décisions du Conseil fédéral de sécurité. Celui-ci statue à huis clos et ne communique jamais ses décisions.
Mme Merkel a, par ailleurs, annoncé que son gouvernement était, sur le principe, prêt à participer à une mission de maintien de la paix au Mali. En même temps, elle a souligné que, malgré ses limites, l’Allemagne n’avait pas l’intention de réduire ses capacités militaires et ce, même si la coopération avec l’UE et l’Otan s’intensifiait : «Un pays comme l’Allemagne, en tant que première économie d’Europe, avec ses ressources humaines et matérielles, doit maintenir un large spectre de capacités, un spectre qui peut intégrer les contributions d’autres partenaires», a-t-elle précisé. Ces déclarations ne surprendront pas totalement les experts du domaine.
Certaines des nouvelles ambitions affichées par Berlin étaient en effet déjà lisibles et plus ou moins déjà mises en pratique, mais officieusement. L’affirmation officielle de ces nouvelles ambitions est néanmoins un pas de plus vers une Allemagne internationalement présente. Surtout, elle constitue une coulisse idéale pour accroître les exportations d’armes vers des pays certes partenaires, mais peut-être pas toujours «dignes de confiance».
L’annonce a en tout cas fouetté les réseaux pacifistes, qui militent depuis le début de l’année contre les ventes de Leopard 2. Vendredi 26, le siège de Rheinmetall à Düsseldorf sera ainsi “bloqué” pour un jour par quelques centaines de manifestants accompagnés de caméras.
Dans la foulée, le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Guido Westerwelle, a déclaré que si l’Allemagne devait s’associer au règlement de la crise malienne, le soutien serait limité aux domaines humanitaire, financier et de la formation. Berlin n’enverra ni soldat ni arme. Selon certaines sources, l’Allemagne aurait même demandé à Paris de lui trouver un pays voisin où la formation pourrait avoir lieu.

http://www.ttu.fr/merkel-dabord-vendre/

comme quoi même les plus dicipliné peuvent se planter...

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Germany Sending Tiger and NH90 Helicopters To Afghanistan

November 22, 2012. 2:35 pm • Section: Defence Watch

German Tiger helicopters will deploy later this year to Afghanistan to provide added protection for German troops. The principal role of the Tigers from Combat Helicopter Regiment 36 based is aerial reconnaissance, according to the German Ministry of Defence news release. In addition, the Tigers will provide fire support for troops on the ground, the release adds.
Four of the helicopters will be in Afghanistan by December and the detachment is expected to be fully operational by February.
In addition, the German military is also preparing to send NH90 helicopters to be used for medical evacuation of wounded and injured troops.

http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2012/11/22/germany-sending-tiger-and-nh90-helicopters-to-afghanistan/

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Hausse du budget allemand de la Défense
24 novembre 2012 – 11:45
Le Bundestag, la chambre basse du Parlement allemand, a adopté, le 23 novembre, avec 312 voix contre 258, un budget 2013 proche de l’équilibre, grâce à une croissance relativement importante, la baisse du chômage et une hausse des recettes fiscales. Au total, les dépenses fédérales s’élèveront à 302 milliards de moins, soir 10 milliards de moins par rapport au précédent exercice.

Malgré cette rigueur budgétaire, certains ministères verront leur dotation augmenter. Ce sera notamment le cas de celui de la Défense, dont les ressources progresseront de 1,4 milliards d’euros, pour s’établir à 33,3 milliards.

Dans son bilan sur la Loi de programmation militaire (LPM) 2009-2014 publié en juillet dernier, la Cour des comptes avait souligné qu’en ne consacrant seulement 1,1% de son PIB à ses dépenses militaires, l’Allemagne tendait à disposer d’un budget de la défense proche de celui de la France, en raison “du poids et du dynamisme” de son économie, créant ainsi “une situation inédite depuis de nombreuses décennies.”

“En 2011, l’écart entre la ressource française et la ressource allemande se limite à un montant de 1,7 Md€ en parité de pouvoir d’achat, soit un montant inférieur aux 2,7 Md€ consacrés par la France à l’action ‘dissuasion nucléaire’ du programme 146 de la mission ‘Défense’” pouvait-on lire dans ce rapport.

“Cet écart, qui était de près de 9 Md€ en 2002, s’est fortement réduit à partir de 2009 du fait du changement de format des données OTAN, entraînant la non prise en compte de la gendarmerie nationale à partir de cette année-là, afin de présenter des données davantage comparables. Il n’est pas exclu qu’au cours des prochaines années le budget allemand ne dépasse le budget français” avaient expliqué les magistrats de la rue Cambon. (*)

Cela étant, cette augmentation du budget allemand de la Défense vise surtout à financer la réforme de la Bundeswehr, laquelle est en train de diminuer de format en raison de la suspension de la conscription. Aussi, les 1,4 milliard d’euros de hausse seront principalement affectés aux dépenses liées au personnel.

Le budget alloué aux équipements s’élèveront à 10,37 milliards d’euros, dont un milliard est prévu pour l’achat d’avions de combat Eurofighter. Pour autant, les réductions capacitaires sont maintenues et il est toujours question d’annuler l’achat de 37 appareils de ce type sur les 177 que la Luftwaffe attendait. Et il en va de même pour d’autres programmes, comme celui de l’hélicoptère Tigre (commande divisée par 2).

(*) Le Bulletin de l’observatoire économique de la défense (Ecodef) de mars 2012 donne un écart différent. “En 2010, selon le périmètre OTAN, l’Allemagne a consacré 31,11 milliards d’euros (1,4% du PIB) à la défense, soit huit milliards d’euros de moins que la France (39,2 milliards d’euros, soit 2,0% du PIB, hors anciens combattants” y est-il écrit.

http://www.opex360.fr/

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German Army to deploy Tiger helicopters in Afghanistan
26 November 2012
The German Army is planning to deploy the Tiger multi-role combat helicopter in Afghanistan in December 2012 to safeguard its soldiers against aerial attacks, following a comprehensive testing programme.

The detachment includes four helicopters, of which two will be responsible for conducting aerial reconnaissance missions and providing fire support for ground-based troops, while the remaining two will serve as a technical reserve.

Deployed with the 36 Combat Helicopter Regiment, the detachment is scheduled to become fully operational by the end of February 2013.

Additional responsibilities of the helicopters include improvement of convoy protection and monitoring patrols, in addition to serving as armed escorts to other army aircraft deployed in Afghanistan.

The helicopters were delivered by Eurocopter in September 2012 as part of the Afghanistan Stabilization German Army Rapid Deployment (ASGARD) programme, as agreed by the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement in late 2011.

ASGARD configuration helicopters feature a sand filter, additional defence weaponry, a mission data recorder, as well as enhanced communications equipment to support German army's combat operations in Afghan terrain.

Germany had originally ordered 80 Tiger UHT multi-role fire support helicopters from Eurocopter under a €3bn (£2.6bn) deal in 1998, but this number was halved in May 2010 due to technical problems.

Eurocopter is scheduled to start delivery of a second batch of an additional four ASGARD configuration helicopters from December 2012 onwards.

Powered by two MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshaft engines, the Tiger UTH is a two-seat attack helicopter designed to conduct precise day and night surveillance and fire support missions.

Meanwhile, Germany is also planning to send a detachment of four NH90 helicopters to Afghanistan for forward air medical evacuation of injured warfighters.
http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsgerman-army-to-deploy-tiger-helicopters-in-afghanistan

L'armée de l'Air a pris livraison officiellement aujourd'hui du système de défense aérienne MANTIS, lors d'une cérémonie à Husum, en Allemagne.

Citation :

26-Nov-2012
Rheinmetall transfers MANTIS air defence system to the German Air Force – reliable protection against the threat from above

The German Air Force took formal delivery today of the Rheinmetall-made MANTIS air defence system at a ceremony in Husum, Germany, home of Air Defence Missile Squadron 1 “Schleswig-Holstein”.

Bodo Garbe, a member of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall Defence, handed over the system in front of the assembled troops. Also on hand were Harald Stein, head of Germany’s BAAINBw (Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support); Lieutenant-General Dieter Naskrent, Deputy Chief of Staff of the German Air Force; and Lieutenant Colonel Arnt Kuebart, commanding officer of the Air Defence Regiment.



“Thanks to MANTIS, the German Air Force now has at its disposal the world's leading air defence system for asset protection. It is a highly effective system, capable of countering a wide array of threats in future operational scenarios. Moreover, its open architecture design makes it a future-proof investment”, declares Bodo Garbe, adding that “Rheinmetall is proud of the contribution MANTIS will make to protecting our men and women in uniform during deployed operations.”

An acronym standing for “Modular, Automatic and Network-capable Targeting and Interception System”, MANTIS provides the Bundeswehr with a high performance, automated air defence system for asset protection that is second to none. Full integration into existing command and information systems has already been achieved, with plans in place to ensure that it meets future requirements as well. Thanks to its programmable 35mm Ahead ammunition, this cutting edge system is capable of bringing down even the smallest targets.

MANTIS is based on tried-and-tested Oerlikon Skyshield air defence technology. It is designed to protect military installations and critical civilian infrastructure from aerial threats coming in at low altitude, including manned and unmanned aircraft. First and foremost, however, what sets MANTIS apart is its ability to neutralize incoming rockets, artillery and mortar rounds – the so-called RAM threat. Moreover, MANTIS can be deployed to defend national territory and allied nations or in military operations other than war (MOOTW). In conflict and post-conflict situations, it can be used to protect Bundeswehr forward operating bases and other facilities from attacks of the kind directed against ISAF installations in Afghanistan, for instance.

Furthermore, the system’s modular design gives MANTIS excellent growth potential. If an asset has to be protected at short notice, the radar and gun components can be transported to the area of operations on quickly deployable platforms. In addition to its current 35mm Revolver cannons, it will be possible in future to augment MANTIS with other effectors such as anti-aircraft missiles or high-energy lasers, integrating them directly into the system.

MANTIS is set to serve as the mainstay of modern, ground-based area and air defence of assets, and thus makes a major contribution to safeguarding soldiers deployed in harm’s way.

Rheinmetall – an international leader in defence technology

Rheinmetall Defence is part of the Düsseldorf, Germany-based Rheinmetall Group – a globe-spanning enterprise serving the international automotive sector and the armed forces and security services of nations around the world, where it is one of the most trusted names in the defence industry. With 9,800 employees and production and sales units in sixteen countries worldwide, in 2011 Rheinmetall Defence had sales of approximately €2.1 billion.

Headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, its subsidiary Rheinmetall Air Defence is a top maker of sophisticated air defence systems. It is the market leader in cannon-based air defence and the world’s sole single source supplier of fire control technology, automatic cannon, integrated guided missile launchers and Ahead airburst ammunition.

The core competencies of Rheinmetall Air Defence are the development and fabrication of air defence systems as well as relevant logistical and training support. Today, the armed forces of over forty nations place their trust in advanced, automated high-tech solutions from Rheinmetall Air Defence.

http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/en/rheinmetall_defence/public_relations/news/latest_news/details_2368.php

Citation :

Germany among World's Largest Arms Sellers

By Jaya Ramachandran
IDN-InDepth NewsReport

STOCKHOLM (IDN) - Germany is among the world’s largest arms exporters, though estimates of the magnitude of the country’s arms sales and of its ranking among arms traders differ. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Germany was the fifth largest exporter of major conventional weapons in 2011 behind the USA, Russia, France and China.

The U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS) on the other hand ranks the country as the sixth largest arms exporter. The CRS estimates the financial value of German arms deliveries in 2011 at $1.6 billion (in 2011 U.S. dollars), or approximately 4 per cent of global arms exports. This ranked Germany behind the USA, Russia, the UK, France and Italy.

The CRS annual report Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations 2004-2011 aims to assist the U.S. Congress "in its oversight role of assessing how the current nature of the international weapons trade might affect U.S. national interests". The report provides the estimated financial value of arms export agreements and deliveries from the largest arms exporters to all regions of the world in constant and current U.S. dollars for the previous eight calendar years.

The CRS report covers transfers to governments of "all categories of weapons and ammunition, military spare parts, military construction, military assistance and training programs, and all associated services". This definition is much broader than SIPRI’s, according to the organisation's latest fact sheet titled Measuring international arms transfers.

For data on U.S. arms export agreements and deliveries, the CRS report relies on information on government-to-government Foreign Military Sales (FMS). On the sources of data for non-U.S. countries, the CRS simply states that "Statistics for foreign countries are based upon estimated selling prices", although it is believed that the CRS draws on classified U.S. Government sources.

The SIPRI fact sheet authors Paul Holtom, Mark Bromley and Verena Simmel are of the view that CRS figures for non-U.S. arms exporters are often lower than official government financial values for export licences granted and arms exports.

SIPRI has identified 34 states that have provided official data on the financial value of their "arms exports", "licences for arms exports" or "arms export agreements" to the public for at least 6 years in the period 2001–2010 and for which the average of the reported values exceeds $10 million. This official data can be provided either in a national report on arms exports, another type of government report, a press release or via an attributed or unattributed quote in a media report.

The SIPRI researchers say that public announcements on the financial value of states’ arms exports cannot be easily compared due to differences in the definitions of "arms" used and the fact that many states provide information only on the financial value of either proposed arms exports or completed deliveries. Information on the value of proposed arms exports and completed deliveries of arms refer to different activities, and so should not be directly compared, they add.

States use different methods for collecting and reporting information on the financial value of proposed arms exports or completed deliveries. Data on proposed arms exports can be based on the value of either arms export agreements concluded or export licences issued, which represent two different data sets. Data on deliveries of arms can be based on data provided by the national customs authorities or company reporting on export licences used, which again represent two different data sets.

CRS data not sufficiently detailed

The CRS estimated the financial value of German arms deliveries in 2011 to be $1.6 billion (in 2011 U.S. dollars), or approximately 4 per cent of global arms exports. This ranked Germany as the sixth largest exporter of major conventional weapons in 2011, behind the USA, Russia, the UK, France and Italy.

The SPRI fact sheet authors note that the CRS data is not sufficiently detailed to gain an understanding of which deliveries account for the stated value of German arms exports. The CRS report includes tables detailing the numbers of weapon systems delivered, but these are aggregated over 3-year periods and by weapon category and region, rather than weapon description and destination. Further, there is no separate entry for German exports.

According to the CRS, the financial value of German arms transfer agreements concluded in 2011 totalled $100 million (in current U.S. dollars), or 0.1 per cent of the global total value of arms transfer agreements, ranking Germany as the 7th largest supplier listed by CRS.

There is insufficient open source information in the SIPRI Arms Transfers Database on the financial value of arms transfer agreements concluded by Germany in 2011 to corroborate this figure. However, comparisons between CRS data on arms transfer agreements and publicly reported information on the value of signed arms export contracts in previous years indicates a tendency for CRS to underestimate the financial value of arms transfer agreements for states other than the USA.

For example, the 2007 CRS report stated that the financial value of Germany’s arms export agreements with developing countries in 2006 was $1.9 billion, based on an agreement with Brazil for licensed production of a Type ILK214 submarine and the upgrading of existing Type 209 submarines, and from an Israeli order for two Type 800 Dolphin class submarines.

However, according to available open sources, the Brazil deal was worth approximately $1.6 billion and the Israel deal was worth $1 billion. This gives a combined value of at least $2.6 billion – $700 million more than the CRS estimate – without taking into account other agreements concluded by Germany in 2006.

German national report

The German Government has published a national report on military equipment exports (Rüstungsexportbericht) every year since 1999. The report provides information on (a) the financial value of export licences granted and completed deliveries of "war weapons" (Kriegswaffen); and (b) the financial value of export licences granted for military equipment as defined in the German national control list (i.e. which includes both war weapons and other military equipment that requires an export licence).

Thus, German official data on the financial value of arms export deliveries does not include the value of the many items on the German national control list that are not categorised as war weapons.

The reported financial value of German deliveries of war weapons in 2011 was €1.3 billion ($1.65 billion), compared to €2.1 billion ($2.8 billion) in 2010. SIPRI argues: Several major suppliers have not yet provided the financial value of their arms deliveries in 2011, and so a comparison of the German Government’s official financial value with its peers cannot be made for 2011. In 2010, in terms of the financial value of deliveries of military equipment, Germany ranked as the fourth largest arms exporter behind the USA, Russia and France.

However, in this case the German data is based solely on reporting on war weapons, which is a narrower range of items than those covered by the U.S., Russian and French data. In addition, such major exporters as China, Israel and the United Kingdom do not provide information on the financial value of their arms deliveries.

Precisely, against this backdrop, SIPRI goes beyond the financial value and estimates the volume of German arms exports in 2011 at 1.2 billion TIV (trend-indicator value), or 4 per cent of global arms exports, down from 2.5 billion TIV in 2010 (10 per cent of the world total). TIV is a unique pricing system the SIPRI has developed to measure the volume of deliveries of major conventional weapons and components.

The major recipients of German arms exports in 2011 were Brunei Darussalam (accounting for 16 per cent of exports), USA (11 per cent), Singapore (7 per cent), Spain (7 per cent) and Taiwan (6 per cent).

Tanks and armoured vehicles represented 26 per cent of the volume of German major conventional weapons exports in 2011, with ships accounting for 22 per cent, engines 20 per cent, and missiles 15 per cent.

The TIV of an item being delivered is intended to reflect its military capability rather than its financial value. This common unit can be used to measure trends in the flow of arms between particular countries and regions over time – in effect, a military capability price index.

Therefore, SIPRI says, it is important to ensure that the pricing system remains consistent across both the weapon systems covered and over time, and that any changes introduced are backdated.

Weapons that have previously been used by another armed force (i.e. surplus weapons) are given a value equal to 40 per cent of that of a new weapon. Used weapons that have been significantly refurbished or modified by the supplier before delivery are given a value of 66 per cent of the value when new.

The overall volume of arms exports from a particular state in any given year is then calculated by adding together the TIVs for the weapons and components delivered. Since year-on-year deliveries can fluctuate, SIPRI uses 5-year moving averages to provide a more stable measure for trends in international arms transfers.

The SIPRI TIV neither reflects the actual price paid for weapons nor represents current dollar values for arms transfers. The TIV is therefore not comparable directly with gross national product (GNP), gross domestic product (GDP), military expenditure, sales values or the financial value of arms export licences. [IDN-InDepthNews – December 10, 2012]

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