Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces

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Citation :

Des bâtiments de défense anti-aérienne ... sans missiles anti-aérien
Publié le 14 mars 2009.

Le National Audit Office (NAO), l’équivalent britannique de la Cour des Comptes, a indiqué que les nouveaux destroyers Type 45 de la Royal Navy auraient 2 ans de retard. Le budget prévu a été dépassé de 1,5 milliard de £ pour 6 exemplaires.
Le NAO a aussi indiqué que les navires prendraient au départ la mer sans leur système de missiles anti-aériens à cause de retard dans la mise au point.
Le ministère a indiqué que, après des retards au début du programme, il respectait désormais le calendrier.
Les destroyers sont les chevaux de trait de la Royal Navy, protégeant contre des attaques aériennes les bâtiments plus gros comme les porte-avions, et fournissant un appui feu pour les troupes au sol.
Ils effectuent aussi un large éventail d’autres missions comme les patrouilles anti-pirates et le secours en cas de catastrophe naturelle.
Une flotte vieillissante
Le ministère britannique de la défense avait d’abord prévu d’acheter 12 destroyers Type 45, mais ce chiffre avait été réduit à 8 en 2004, puis à seulement 6 l’an dernier.
Néanmoins, le NAO indique que le programme, qui devait au départ couter 5 milliards de £, couterait au final près de 6,5 milliards de £ (pour un nombre de bâtiments divisé par 2).
Le premier des destroyers, le HMS Daring, qui a été lancé en 2006, ne dispose toujours pas de la totalité de son système de communications. Il ne recevra pas avant 2011 son principal système de missiles anti-aérien, le PAAMS. Celui-ci peut abattre en même temps plusieurs appareils ou missiles ennemis.
Il devra aussi attendre jusqu’en 2014 pour être équipé de la capacité de combat en coopération, qui relie ensemble les systèmes de combat et les senseurs de plusieurs navires, améliorant leur capacité à combattre ensemble.
Le NAO indique que, en raison de ces retards, la Royal Navy devra conserver plus longtemps ses destroyers Type 42 vieillissants, qui avaient été conçus pour la Guerre Froide et que les Type 45 doivent remplacer.

http://www.corlobe.tk/article13114.html

Citation :

F-35: BAE Systems faces turbulent times over carriers

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it is reviewing parts of the programme to build two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy, throwing doubt over the planned use of the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter plane.

This decision could have a major impact on BAE Systems, which is involved in the aircraft's development.

The cost of the two new Queen Elizabeth class carriers - originally ordered under the last Labour government - has already risen dramatically from £3.5bn to around £7bn.

Changes ordered by the coalition government could see those costs rise even further.

The current confusion is over which planes should fly off the new carrier.

Labour had originally proposed to buy a vertical landing variant of the new Joint Strike Fighter plane, also know as the F-35, which would be launched from a "ski jump" fitted on the new carriers and then land vertically.

The system is similar to that used by the Harrier jump jet on HMS Ark Royal - both of which were scrapped following the strategic defence and security review.
Cameron's criticism
However, as a result of that review, the current government said it would change its F-35 order to the carrier variant.

It would though require significant modifications to the design of the aircraft carriers.

This would require the ships to be fitted with catapults and arrestor gear - or "cats and traps" - to launch and recover the planes.

At the time of the change, Prime Minister David Cameron said that the last government got it "badly wrong" on the decisions made for the new carrier.

Speaking in the Commons on 19 October 2010, Mr Cameron said Britain would now fit "cats and traps" to just one of the carriers.

Continue reading the main story
F-35 statistics

• Also known as Joint Strike Fighter
  
• Supersonic stealth plane designed to avoid detection by radar
  
• Three variants exist
  
• F-35A - Conventional take-off and landing
  
• F-35B - Short take-off, vertical landing variant
  
• F-35C - Carrier variant, longer range and can carry heavier payload
  

He said: "This will allow our allies to operate from our operational carrier and it will allow us to buy the carrier version of the [F-35] Joint Strike Fighter which is more capable, less expensive, has a longer range and can carry more weapons."

Since then there have been a number of issues likely to have forced the rethink. The costs of fitting "cats and traps" are believed to have risen significantly.
Further testing
The plan was to use the latest electro-magnetic technology to launch the planes, rather than the traditional steam catapult. But the new technology is untried and untested on board a ship.

It is due to be fitted to the next generation of US carriers, but already the US Congress has voiced concerns about the programme..

The former Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, initially estimated it would cost in the region of £700m to fit the new cats and traps. The BBC understands that figure has risen to well over £1bn.

There have also been concerns over the carrier variant of the F-35.

US Department of Defence documents leaked earlier this year found that a design flaw in the fighter resulted in repeated failures during simulated landings.

Uncertainty still remains over which type of aircraft should be used for the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers - seen here in a computer-generated image
Problems with the tail hook on the jet meant it failed to catch the arrestor cable on the carrier's deck to bring it to a halt.

As a result the US has postponed its order to allow more time for testing.
Clarity call
The UK government says it will make a final decision on which plane to buy around Easter.

But in a statement the Ministry of Defence confirmed that it's now "reviewing all programmes, including elements of the carrier strike programme, to validate costs and ensure risks are properly managed".

That review is likely to have a major impact on BAE Systems, which is the main contractor on the construction of the two new carriers, and also a partner in the development of the Joint Strike Fighter.

Though the US defence firm Lockheed Martin is the main contractor, BAE is building the tail section of all three variants of the F-35, accounting for about 10% of the work.

At Warton in Lancashire, BAE test pilots and engineers have already begun work on the new design.

They are using a sophisticated simulator that will help train pilots and allow engineers to tweak the design of the carrier.

Another change of mind will mean wasted time, money and effort.

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy says "the country deserves urgent clarity from the government" on this issue.

"We need to know how carrier strike capability will be delivered, with detail costs, timescales and interoperability with allies".

The decision to sell the Harriers to the US now appeared "increasingly reckless", he said.
Order cut
The uncertainty cannot be entirely blamed on the government. It is not alone in facing difficult choices about the new F-35 plane.

With defence budgets shrinking around the globe, the aircraft's rising costs and technical issues still to overcome, a number of nations are reviewing their original orders for the aircraft.

The UK itself had originally planned to buy around 160 of the jets for the Royal Navy and RAF. That number has since been cut to just over 130 and could fall even further.

This government has described the state of the defence budget left by the last Labour government as a "car crash".

Ministers have promised to rein in spending and clamp down on the huge overspends that have plagued the MoD in the past.

They appear to have made some progress. But the carrier programme is still a cause for concern.

bbc.co.uk

Citation :

Six soldats britanniques tués dans une explosion en Afghanistan

LEMONDE.FR avec AFP | 07.03.12 | 11h04

Ces morts, qui doivent encore faire l'objet d'une confirmation officielle, portent à plus de quatre cents le nombre de militaires britanniques tués depuis le début du conflit, en 2001. Avant l'incident, le bilan était de trois cent quatre-vingt-dix-huit morts.

Les militaires effectuaient mardi une patrouille quand leur véhicule blindé a été touché par une explosion, a précisé le ministère. "Cet incident tragique nous rappelle les dangers auxquels sont confrontés chaque jour les femmes et les hommes de nos forces armées en Afghanistan", a souligné le ministre de la défense, Philip Hammond, dans un autre communiqué.

Il a "condamné avec force les responsables" de cet incident, qui "ne parviendront pas à faire dérailler une mission qui vise à protéger notre sécurité nationale et réalise d'importants progrès dans la province du Helmand".

Avec neuf mille cinq cents soldats déployés en Afghanistan, le Royaume-Uni est le deuxième contributeur à la force de l'OTAN dans ce pays (ISAF), après les Etats-Unis, qui disposent d'environ cent mille hommes sur le terrain. La totalité des troupes britanniques de combat doivent s'être retirées d'ici à la fin de 2014.

Depuis dix ans, les troupes étrangères combattent les talibans en Afghanistan, chassés du pouvoir à la fin de 2001 par une coalition emmenée par les Etats-Unis

http://www.lemonde.fr/asie-pacifique/article/2012/03/07/six-soldats-britanniques-tues-dans-une-explosion-en-afghanistan_1653013_3216.html

Citation :

United Kingdom to Receive 20 F117-PW-100 Engines Worth $300 Million


A Royal Air Force C-17 transport aircraft at an air base in the Middle East. (Photo: RAF, Ross Tilly)
14:48 GMT, March 8, 2012 WASHINGTON | The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified U.S. Congress Mar. 7 of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the United Kingdom of 20 F-117-PW-100 engines and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $300 million.

The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) has requested the possible sale of 20 F-117-PW-100 engines, engine exchange kits, support equipment, Global Positioning Systems, communications equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and all other related elements of program support. The proposed sale supports the continued UK access to the United States Air Force/Boeing GLOBEMASTER III Sustainment Partnership program supporting the UK’s fleet of eight Boeing C-17A GLOBEMASTER III aircraft. The estimated cost is $300 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to maintain and improve the security of a key NATO ally that has been, and continues to be, an important force for major political stability and economic progress throughout Europe.

The UK was the first foreign customer for the C-17 GLOBEMASTER III cargo aircraft. Continued sustainment of this system by the UK helps alleviate the burden placed on U.S. forces supporting NATO operations. The C-17 provides the UK with an

increased force protection capability that enhances regional and global stability. The UK will have no problem absorbing these additional engines and support into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be The Boeing Company in Long Beach, California. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the UK.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

defpro

Citation :

Cost of refitting Royal Navy aircraft carrier trebles


The costs of refitting a Royal Navy aircraft carrier so it can be used by a new generation of fighter jets have more than trebled, defence sources have told The Daily Telegraph.


Estimates for adapting HMS Prince of Wales so that it can be used by the Joint Strike Fighter are understood have risen from £500 million to £1.8 billion.



Millions have already been spent on studies to look at how to convert the ship after ministers decided to scrap the jump-jet variant of the plane in favour of a conventional take-off and landing model. But so great is the rise in total costs, ministers are considering abandoning the plan and reverting to the Ministry of Defence’s original proposals.


Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, believes there is not enough money in the budget to afford the £300 million a year to carry out the work over six years.


“We are certainly looking at what’s affordable and what can be done in terms of risk and cost,” said an MoD official. “If you have an unaffordable programme you cannot ignore it.” The move is likely to be embarrassing for the Government as the changes were at the heart of the Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2010. It will also heighten criticism of the Government for disbanding the fleet of Harrier jets and selling them to US Marine Corps for “peanuts”.


Under the new plans, the Government is expected to choose the jump-jet version of the JSF, even though the take-off and landing model can fly further and carry more bombs.

The decision will also mean an end to plans for joint-carrier operations with French and American ships as they are only equipped to handle conventional fighters. To take off and land on HMS Prince of Wales, the vessel needed to be fitted with a catapult system to launch the aircraft and a “trap” to slow planes down and stop them when they land.

The MoD has earmarked up to £80 million for the conversion feasibility study and half the money has been spent.

Pressure is mounting on ministers to make a decision because of the time it will take to refit the carrier. More than 200 Navy sailors and fliers are about to begin training on US and French carriers to ensure the British ships have qualified crews when launched. Mr Hammond’s decision, expected at the end of this month, could be helped after manufacturers said technical problems with the jump-jet fighter were largely resolved.

An MoD spokesman said: “We are currently finalising the 2012-13 budget and balancing the equipment plan. As part of this process, we are reviewing all programmes, including elements of the carrier strike programme, to validate costs and ensure risks are properly managed.”

The MoD has spent $2 billion on the JSF development costs and plans to buy 138 more at almost $90 million each.

telegraph

Citation :

Dragon and Defender take to the sea for trials




Two of Britain's latest state-of-the-art destroyers have taken to the sea to further test their capabilities before initial deployments.

Dragon left a trail of smoke and fire off Portland as she tested her decoy flares for the first time during her intensive trials and training package. Meanwhile Defender left the BAE Systems yard on the Clyde on Friday for 28 days of tests and trials in the waters off western Scotland.

On the south coast, Dragon, the fourth of the Navy's six Type 45 destroyers, has been working with military scientists to test her weapons and defensive systems.

The Portsmouth-based warship used the ranges off Portland Bill, with a team from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory - the MOD's in-house scientists - ashore monitoring the destroyer's radar cross-section and infrared characteristics as she fired off her decoy flares.

The distinctive angular nature of the Daring Class is designed to minimise the 'blip' the ships produce on an enemy radar screen and suggest that, instead of an 8,500-tonne warship bristling with weaponry, the target is an innocuous smaller vessel.

This angular shape, coupled with the Sea Viper missile system, which can take out incoming missiles and aircraft at ranges of up to 75 miles (120km) away, give it world-leading defensive capabilities.

Leading Seaman Wayne Fugatt, who was the loading team leader for the trials, said:

"It was my first time as leading hand in charge of a firing serial.

"It's a unique experience to be involved in taking a warship as capable as this out of build and up to her first decoy firing. It fills me with confidence that we've the right kit to do the job when it matters."

Meanwhile, 450 miles (724km) north a mixed crew of Royal Navy and BAE Systems personnel are building on what was accomplished during Defender's first trials last autumn, carrying out final testing of the ship's power and propulsion and combat systems, and navigational and communications equipment.

If all goes well on this second 'workout', the £1bn destroyer will be formally handed over to the Royal Navy this summer:

"Defender's departure on her second set of sea trials marks another milestone in the life of the ship and her company as we prepare to join the fleet later this year," said the destroyer's senior naval officer Commander Nicholas Boyd.

"We are looking forward to operating her sophisticated equipment and systems during trials and beyond, putting our experience and training into practice."

As well as the arduous task of fitting and testing the thousands of components and systems, Defender has used her time on the Clyde to begin to forge relationships with her affiliates, notably the cities of Glasgow and Exeter.

Upon her return to Scotstoun next month, Defender will undergo three months of final testing and checking of her systems before sailing to her home for the next 30-plus years, Portsmouth, in July to join the bulk of the Type 45 fleet.

As for Defender's and Dragon's four sisters, Daring is deployed and Dauntless and Diamond will do so later this year.

The final ship in the six-strong class, Duncan, is in the latter stages of completion at Scotstoun and will head to sea for the first time towards the end of the year.

She's due to be handed over to the Royal Navy before the end of 2013, bringing the curtain down on a decade's construction on the Type 45 project.

ASDnews

Citation :

MBDA reveals Brimstone 2 missile work for UK



London - The UK is to introduce a further enhancement to its MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missile in late 2013, to build on the success of the design's use in Afghanistan and Libya.

First fielded in late 2008 under an urgent operational requirement (UOR) deal, the company's current dual mode seeker-equipped (DMS) Brimstone has accuracy and reliability rates both above 90%, "which makes it the most reliable weapon available to the Royal Air Force", the UK's Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation says in its official magazine, Desider.

Previously integrated with the UK's now-retired BAE Systems Harrier GR7/9s, the 50kg (110lb) design is now used by the RAF's Panavia Tornado GR4 strike aircraft in Afghanistan. The semi-active laser and millimetre-wave radar guided type was also used by Tornado crews during last year's NATO-led operation, Unified Protector, in Libya to conduct precision attacks with minimal risk of causing collateral damage.

Work to develop the current missile from a UOR system into the RAF's core weapons inventory as the Brimstone 2 is being conducted under the Ministry of Defence's Spear Capability 2 Block 1 programme.

"Brimstone 2 delivers an improved version of the DMS Brimstone weapon, which incorporates an improved seeker, along with updated explosive components," DE&S says. According to MBDA, this work will "introduce an insensitive munition [IM] rocket motor and warhead, and other improvements to airframe and software".

Marketing material previously published by the company also claims that the Spear Capability 2 work will deliver "an overall increase in performance with improvements in range and engagement footprint".

Although the new missile will be all but identical externally to the current type, MBDA says its use of a more modular design allowing easier access to key components will also make any maintenance or repair activities more straightforward.

"Work continues with MBDA to confirm the size and value of the production order for Brimstone 2, which is currently scheduled to replace DMS Brimstone in 2013," DE&S says.

MBDA recently delivered its 500th DMS Brimstone to the RAF, with DE&S revealing that more than 200 of these have been fired to date. The service now has a "robust stockpile" of the weapon to support its operations in Afghanistan, the procurement body says.

RAF Tornado GR4s typically fly with a single pack of three rail-launched DMS Brimstones as part of a mixed payload also including two Raytheon Systems Paveway IV 226kg precision-guided bombs and a Rafael Litening III reconnaissance pod.

MBDA says potential export customers could buy either the DMS Brimstone or Brimstone 2 design, with both offered for integration with fast jet platforms, attack helicopters and unmanned air vehicles.

flightglobal

Citation :

Royal Navy Trafalgar Class submarine HMS Triumph is silhouetted against the Middle Eastern sun.


During an exercise involving HMS Somerset and HMS Triumph there existed an opportunity to conduct a cross poll of personnel. A few members of the ships company from both units were invited to swap places for the day to experience how each service conduct their business.


Photographer: LA(Phot) Abbie Gadd

Citation :

Tirs de leurres en Manche



Quatrième des six destroyers lance-missiles britanniques du type 45, le HMS Dragon a testé l'une de ses dernières lignes de défense contre des missiles assaillants. Le bâtiment, flambant neuf, a mis en oeuvre au large de Portland son dispositif de contre-mesures, comprenant notamment un système Siren avec quatre lance-leurres comprenant des lanceurs multiple tirant des roquettes de 130 mm et 28 kilos. Dans le cadre du tes, le système a parfaitement fonctionné, les munitions tirées formant, dans le sillage du HMS Dragon, un épais nuage destiné à tromper l'autodirecteur électromagnétique ou infrarouge d'un missile adverse. Le recours à cette solution est un peu, comme on dit chez les marins, celui de la « dernière chance » pour tenter de déjouer une attaque. Mais, avant d'en arriver là, le destroyer dispose de plusieurs écrans de protection, d'autant que le HMS Dragon est spécialisé dans la défense aérienne, avec de puissants radars (S1850 M et Sampson) capables de détecter et traquer la menace à longue portée.
D'abord, son système d'armes principal, le Sea Viper, articulé autour de 48 missiles antimissiles Aster 15 et Aster 30, pouvant détruire à l'impact un missile assaillant dans un rayon d'environ 70 kilomètres. Ensuite, le destroyer est équipé d'une puissante artillerie, constituée notamment d'un canon de 114mm et de deux systèmes d'autodéfense multitubes Phalanx, pouvant dresser un « rideau de fer » contre un missile. Et il convient aussi d'évoquer une défense plus passive, celle de la signature radar réduite du bateau, qui dispose d'une architecture furtive. Ainsi, le Dragon, un gros bâtiment long de 152.4 mètres et affichant un déplacement de 7500 tonnes en charge, ne laisse sur les écrans radars qu'un écho très limité, similaire à celui d'un petit navire.

Mer et Marine


Chargement des lance-leurres sur le HMS Dragon



Tir de leurres sur le HMS Dragon






Tir d'un Aster depuis un destroyer du type 45

L'Illustrious rentre au port aprés une colision.
http://www.corlobe.tk/article28155.html

Gémini a écrit:

L'Illustrious rentre au port aprés une colision.
http://www.corlobe.tk/article28155.html

Citation :

Le porte-hélicoptères britannique HMS Illustrious rentre à Portsmouth après une collision


La Royal Navy a rappelé le porte-hélicoptères HMS Illustrious qui participait à un exercice en Norvège : une collision avec un remorqueur a provoqué 2 trous dans la coque.

Le porte-hélicoptères rentrera dimanche à la base navale de Portsmouth pour des réparations suite à un incident survenu la semaine dernière dans le port norvégien de Harstad.

Le porte-hélicoptères de 22.000 tonnes devait rentrer plus tard ce mois-ci après un déploiement de 8 semaines passées à s’entrainer avec d’autres bâtiments de l’OTAN dans les eaux Arctiques.

Sa participation à l’exercice Cold Response a été raccourcie pour permettre aux spécialistes d’examiner les dégâts.

Le HMS Illustrious était escorté dans le port norvégien le 9 mars dernier par 4 remorqueurs lorsqu’un d’entre eux est entré en collision avec le porte-hélicoptères sur son côté tribord. L’incident a provoqué 2 trous dans la coque au-dessus de la ligne de flottaison.

On ignore la taille des trous. Après des réparations temporaires effectuées sur place, le HMS Illustrious a participé pendant 5 jours à l’exercice, dans des conditions météo très dégradées (blizzard), avant que la décision de le faire rentrer en Grande-Bretagne ne soit prise.

Citation :

Defence cuts risk the UK's global military position







Mr Cameron returns from Washington today, with polo shirts and ringing endorsements of the special relationship, as well as 'joint factsheets' on US-UK Defence Cooperation released by Downing Street.

On his return, his government is expected to announce details of the latest defence cuts. One week ago, the International Institute for Strategic Studies stated that Asian defence spending is poised to overtake that of Europe in 2012.

Ministers will likely repeat their claim that, in the wake of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, Britain continues to possess the fourth largest military budget in the world. Though this claim is correct, it masks the declining size of the UK's forces compared to foreign militaries.

In terms of conventional, surface combatant vessels, the Royal Navy now possesses six destroyers and 13 frigates. By comparison, at the time of the first Gulf War, the Royal Navy maintained two carriers, seven amphibious ships, 13 destroyers and 35 frigates.

The British Navy is, in consequence, now numerically inferior to:

• the US Navy (with 11 carriers, 59 destroyers, 30 frigates)
• the Russian Navy (one carrier, 14 destroyers, five frigates)
• the Chinese Navy (25 destroyers, 47 frigates)
• the French Navy (one carrier, 23 frigates)
• the Italian Navy (two carrier, four destroyers, 12 frigates)
• the Indian Navy (one carrier, eight destroyers, 12 frigates)
• the Japanese Navy (ten destroyers, 36 frigates)

The Royal Navy maintains rough parity with the navies of South Korea, Turkey and Pakistan, as well as the combined navies of the six Gulf Cooperation States. It is likely to be overtaken soon by the navy of Brazil. For the first time in its 600-year history, the Royal Navy sails a transport vessel, L14 HMS Albion, as its flag ship.

In terms of strike capability, the Royal Air Force possesses 70 Tornado GR-4s, one squadron of 40-year old fighter-bombers. From historical evidence, the true number of serviceable aircraft may be as small as one-third the declared inventory (operations over Libya disclosed the Typhoon incapable of launching weapons except under guidance from the Tornado GR-4, and the RAF possessed only eight pilots qualified in the fighter aircraft, three of them test pilots).

By comparison, at the first Gulf War, the RAF maintained 234 Tornado, 64 Harrier, 54 Phantom, 44 Jaguar and Buccaneer aircraft.

Though roughly level with the North Korean, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Canadian, Australian, Dutch, Belgian, Italian and Spanish Air Forces, as well as the combined forces of the six Gulf Cooperation States, this places the Royal Air Force numerically inferior to:

• the United States Air Force,
• the United States Navy
• the United States Marine Corps
• the United States National Guard
• the French Air Force
• the German Air Force
• the Russian Air Force
• the Chinese Air Force
• the Taiwanese Air Force
• the South Korean Air Force
• the Japanese Air Force
• the Turkish Air Force
• the Israeli Air Force
• the Egyptian Air Force
• the Royal Saudi Air Force

Though numerical comparisons do not reveal the entire story of capability, neither does the size of the defence budget, which has not helped gain Britain the fourth largest armed forces in the world. Ministers ought not be permitted to make unchallenged the deceptive claim that it does.

http://www.army-technology.com

Citation :

Royal Navy trials new combat uniform

A new combat uniform for the Royal Navy is being trialled by HMS Daring while on counter-piracy operations in the Gulf.







Sailors on board HMS Daring trial the Royal Navy's new dark blue combat uniform[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Keith Morgan, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Citation :

MBDA has launched production of its Fire Shadow loitering munition system for the British Army, and has reported receiving interest in the design from several other potential buyers.

"We have completed the final development firings," says Steve Wadey, the European company's UK managing director and executive group director technical. "All firings have been entirely successful against a variety of fixed and manoeuvring vehicles."

MBDA has already started delivering production weapons to the British Army in support of the service's system acceptance activities, says Wadey. He declined to comment on when and where the type could be fielded operationally.

© MBDA

"It has been a tremendous success, demonstrating rapid development, close working with the customer and developing a very sophisticated weapon system with a unique precision capability in a very short period of time," he says. The initiative was revealed in 2007 as part of the UK's Team Complex Weapons programme.

Weighing less than 200kg (440lb), the surface-launched Fire Shadow will be capable of operating over a range of about 54nm (100km) flying at up to 15,000ft (4,600m), and have a maximum loiter time of roughly 6h over the battlefield. It could be used in conjunction with unmanned air vehicles and attack helicopters to provide precision strike capability.

Fire Shadow has already attracted international interest, Wadey said during a financial results briefing held by MBDA in London on 21 March.

"We are pursuing discussions with a number of customers to try and secure wider interest in the programme," he says, without identifying any of the potential future buyers.

flightglobal

Citation :

Britain to upgrade nuclear sub in 350m pound deal



London - Britain has signed a 350 million pound contract to upgrade one of its nuclear submarines in a move that the Ministry of Defence on Monday said would secure 2,000 jobs.

Under the contract, worth 420 million euros ($555 million), workers at Babcock's Devonport Dockyard in southwest England will install the Royal Navy's HMS Vanguard with a new reactor core and carry out a refit and refuel.

Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond was set to confirm the deal during a visit to Devonport on Monday.

He was expected to say the contract would secure more than a thousand jobs at the site, 300 more at other companies in the city and 700 jobs in the industrial supply chain across Britain.

"As well as securing 2,000 UK jobs, this contract will ensure the nuclear deterrent submarine fleet can continue to operate safely and effectively to maintain a continuous at sea deterrent," Hammond will say, according to extracts of his speech released by his office.

HMS Vengeance is one of the UK's four Vanguard-class submarines designed to carry Trident nuclear missiles.

The upgrade is scheduled to take three and a half years.

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Britain_to_upgrade_nuclear_sub_in_350m_deal_999.html

Citation :

HMS Daring unveils upgraded sensor system at DIMDEX



HMS Daring, the first of the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) Type 45 destroyers, will be on display at DIMDEX (Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference) this month, showcasing her state-of the-art technology, including the new, fully digital, radar electronic support measures (RESM) system supplied by Thales UK.

Daring will join the extensive warship display at Doha as part of DIMDEX, which runs from 26-28 March.

The ship has recently set sail on operational duty, following the recent outfitting of the new digital antennas as part of the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) UAT MOD 2 update programme. Thales is currently the sole supplier of RESM equipment to the RN’s warship and submarine fleet.

In conjunction with the MoD, Thales has developed the direct radio frequency sampling and wideband digital receiver technology necessary to achieve a true digital antenna.

The technology provides excellent system performance in the modern dense radar environment and is capable of managing multiple, truly simultaneous signals. This enables the ship to operate in all operational maritime theatres, including the littoral, and provides the RN with world-leading electronic warfare support and threat-identification technology.

By digitising the RF signal at the antenna, the majority of the receiver functionality is implemented as software and firmware algorithms. The system is therefore easily upgraded and new signal analysis tools are easily introduced, keeping the RESM capability current in a rapidly evolving operational environment.

This approach also maximises the use of commercial off-the-shelf hardware, making the RESM significantly more reliable, and easier to maintain while reducing the total cost of ownership.

Type 45 destroyers are also fitted with Thales UK’s fully integrated communications system, S1850M radar (with BAE Systems) and a conical log spiral UHF satellite com-munications antenna.

http://www.asdnews.com/news-41723/HMS_Daring_unveils_upgraded_sensor_system_at_DIMDEX.htm

Citation :

Boeing announced that the UK has signed an agreement for the acquisition of one C-17 Globemaster III

LONG BEACH, Calif., March 28, 2012 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the UK Ministry of Defence has signed an agreement for the acquisition of one C-17 Globemaster III, bringing the Royal Air Force (RAF) fleet of the world’s most advanced airlifters to a total of eight. Boeing is scheduled to deliver the eighth C-17 later this year.

“The tremendous teamwork of Boeing and U.S. Government officials has made it possible to announce this acquisition so quickly after we determined the need for this additional C-17,” said UK Ministry of Defence Head of Commercial for Air Support Robin Philip. “This C-17 will be a welcome addition to the RAF fleet."

RAF C-17s had surpassed 50,000 flight hours in December 2009, when the UK announced its intent to purchase a seventh aircraft. By the time the seventh C-17 was delivered in November 2010, the fleet had logged more than 60,000 flight hours. The fleet has now surpassed 74,000 flight hours – a rate 15 percent above planned use.

“We have watched with great pride over the past decade as the RAF, our first international C-17 customer, has supported global peacekeeping missions and responded to the needs of millions affected by natural disasters around the world,” said Bob Ciesla, Boeing vice president and C-17 program manager.

“We understand the need to move quickly to bring this contract to completion,” said Liz Pace, Boeing C-17 UK program manager. “This additional order is a testament to our strong relationship with the UK as well as to the aircraft’s advanced capability, flexibility and reliability.”

The RAF C-17s are operated by 99Squadron at RAF Brize Norton. C-17s are used to support Operation Herrick, the transport of large equipment and troops to Afghanistan. RAF C-17s also delivered relief supplies following devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and provided humanitarian relief following floods in Pakistan.

As a member of the worldwide C-17 “virtual fleet,” RAF C-17s are supported through the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program, a Performance-Based Logistics agreement. The GISP arrangement provides the highest airlift mission capable rate at one of the lowest costs per flying hour.

Boeing has delivered 241 C-17s worldwide, including 216 to the U.S. Air Force active duty, Guard and Reserve units. A total of 25 C-17s have been delivered to Australia, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations. India has 10 C-17s on order for delivery in 2013 and 2014.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 62,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

boeing.mediaroom

Citation :

Bows wow as giant future carrier section joins her sister in Rosyth


The bow of future carrier HMS Prince of Wales has joined that of her sister Queen Elizabeth on the Forth after a 900-mile barge journey.



The 400-tonne bulbous section was transported from Appledore in north Devon to Rosyth, where the biggest ships built in the Royal Navy’s history are being assembled.




Pictures: Aircraft Carrier Alliance

SIDE-by-side for the very first time are Her Majesty’s Ships Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales (nearest the camera) – well their bows at least.

The very bulbous section of the second of the Royal Navy’s two future carriers was delivered to Rosyth on the Firth of Forth, where the 65,000-tonne leviathans are being assembled.

Just under two years since the bow of Queen Elizabeth was completed at the Appledore yard in North Devon, the same segment for her younger sister was floated on a sea-going barge up the Torridge and Taw estuaries into the Bristol Channel, around Land’s End, along the South Coast, through the Dover Strait and up the East Coast, before passing under the iconic Forth road and rail bridges and into Rosyth.

At 400 tonnes, the bulbous bow weighs the equivalent of nearly 40 double-decker buses and is similar in size to the front of a submarine.

It arrived at the Babcock yard under what was described as a “typically gunmetal sky” – ie grey – and is now sitting next to the specially-enlarged Dock No.1 where the 900ft carriers are being assembled one at a time.

Half a dozen yards around the UK are involved in the carrier project, with some 10,000 people directly or indirectly involved in building sections, parts or providing equipment for what will be the largest ships ever built for Britain’s Navy.

Although there is intense media speculation about the outfitting of the two ships – whether they’ll be conventional carriers with ‘cats and traps’ or serve as launchpads for jump jet versions of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter – work on the vessels continues apace.



Lower Block 05 is accurately weighed in the huge ship construction hall in Portsmouth

In Portsmouth, Queen Elizabeth has been ‘fired up’ for the first time. With all the switchboards wired, Lower Block 02 was switched on – the first time power has been applied to any part of the ship.

The work was due to be carried out in Rosyth, but with things going faster than expected, the decision was taken to power up six months ahead of schedule.

The team at the BAE Systems facility are now preparing that section, and another giant slice of Queen Elizabeth – Lower Block 05 – for transportation to Scotland.

Block 05 leaves at the end of April, 02 a month later – but before they leave the construction shed and are lowered on to a barge, they have to be weighed.

Obviously bathroom scales won’t do. Carefully-position hydraulic jacks and sensitive load cells convert force into an electrical signal which in turn is translated into an accurate measurement of the block’s weight.

“Getting the weight and centre of gravity right is really important when it comes to arranging for sections to be safely lifted – or moved by barge,” explained Paul Bowsher of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, the combined BAE-Thales-Babcock and MOD team working on the huge project.

“We weigh each section at least three times to make sure the readings are accurate.”

navynews

Citation :

Safran équipera l'armée britannique en jumelles infrarouges multifonctions longue portée "JIM LR"



Le groupe français d'électronique Safran a annoncé aujourd'hui avoir remporté un contrat de 5 millions de livres (6 millions d'euros) auprès du ministère de la défense britannique, pour équiper l'Armée de jumelles infrarouges multifonctions longue portée (JIM LR) dévelopées par sa filiale Sagem.

"La jumelle JIM LR intègre en un seul équipement optronique portable : vision jour et infrarouge, télémétrie, pointeur laser, chercheur de Nord, GPS et transmissions de données", détaille le groupe dans un communiqué. "Equipement de renseignement, de reconnaissance, de surveillance et d’acquisition de cibles, elle contribuera de manière significative aux capacités d’action de l’infanterie britannique."

Safran met en avant "son utilisation au combat dans les environnements sévères, ses performances en termes de détection et d’identification, et un service multimédia complet conçu pour alimenter un cycle de renseignement temps réel", expliquant que ces critères ont été déterminants dans la décision du ministère de défense britannique. Sagem assurera par ailleurs la formation des personnels utilisateurs, et ceux en charge de la maintenance, ajoute sa maison mère.

La JIM LR est utilisée par plusieurs forces de l’OTAN pour l’infanterie, l’artillerie, le renseignement, les missions spéciales, la surveillance des frontières et des côtes. Près de 5.000 JIM LR sont en service et en commande dans le monde, dont 2000 pour l’ensemble des armées françaises. "L’obtention du programme britannique confirme la position leader de Sagem dans le domaine de l’optronique portable pour les unités de combat au contact", conclut Safran

TB

c'est de belle jumel on en a recu 750 pour l'ANP

Citation :

Raytheon Awarded UK MOD Paveway IV Replenishment Contract




Paveway IV testing on a Eurofighter. (Photo: BAE Systems)
15:24 GMT, April 3, 2012 HARLOW and GLENROTHES, UK | The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded Raytheon UK a replenishment contract for Paveway IV, the latest generation GPS precision-guided munition, as part of a 60 million pound contract. Raytheon UK is focused on a technological growth path which, under the UK MOD's SPEAR (Selective Precision Effects at Range) CAP 1 program, will enhance the system's capability with low collateral and penetrator warhead options, enhanced moving target capability and enhanced range.

"Raytheon UK has provided flexible and responsive support to Paveway operations over a considerable period; in particular, their outstanding efforts were key to the RAF success in the recent Libyan campaign where the Paveway series of weapons were used extensively," said Wing Commander Clive Roads, IGMR FreeFall IPT Leader. "The MOD is extremely pleased to work with a company which understands the operational imperative, placing this first in their support to our Forces. Raytheon UK have been able to react very quickly to the need to replenish our stocks of the high precision, all weather, Paveway IV weapon system to maintain our ability to react at short notice to emerging threats. The weapon has now been extensively used in all types of employment roles and has proven to exceed all expectations for reliability, accuracy and its ability to limit collateral damage through its sophisticated and integrated guidance, and fuzing systems."

Paveway IV is a UK manufacturing success story, with many companies across the UK involved in the development and manufacture of advanced components. Benefiting from the current contract are Portsmouth Aviation, who manufacture the tail system; Thales Missile Electronics, based in Basingstoke, who produce the all-electronic Aurora fuze; and EDO MBM of Brighton, who will manufacture the aircraft's umbilical interconnect system and containers. As a result of Raytheon undertaking long lead-time procurement and working with its supply chain, the delivery schedule has been reduced to seven months from 18 months.

Bob Delorge, chief executive of Raytheon UK, commented: "The Paveway IV contract sustains highly skilled jobs in the UK's advanced manufacturing arena and is one of the UK's leading examples of technology transfer success. A pivotal element of the RAF's air-to-surface target engagement capability, Paveway IV enhances the nation's military capability and has been the precision-guided bomb of choice for the Royal Air Force since 2008."

Raytheon continues to pursue a number of export opportunities for Paveway IV, particularly where Typhoon and Tornado are deployed and the weapon is already integrated. Raytheon is also under contract to integrate Paveway IV for the UK onto the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.

With more than 450 skilled engineers supporting its complex weapons' business in the UK, Raytheon's facility in Glenrothes, Scotland, designs and manufactures guidance electronics, actuation systems and power supplies for a wide range of complex weapons and forms part of Raytheon Missile Systems' and other missile prime contractors' global supply chain. The prime contract and in-service support is provided through Raytheon's Harlow facility, which is the design authority for the Paveway IV weapon system. The company was awarded a 10 million pound, four-year contract in May 2011 to provide in-service support for both current and legacy Paveway systems.

Raytheon UK continues to be a valued player in the UK complex weapons sector, with the ability to reachback for value for money solutions and technologies, integrate weapon systems onto UK platforms, enhance existing products to meet future UK requirements, industrialize in order to provide an appropriate level of UK operational sovereignty, provide in-country and in-service support for its products, and export from the UK when appropriate.

At current exchange rates of roughly 1.6 dollars to the pound, 60 million pounds converts to approximately $96 million; and 10 million pounds converts to approximately $16 million.

defpro

Comme d'habitude le peu de sérieux des journalistes, y compris spécialisés, fait que l'on montre un Eurofighter avec des Paveway II de 500 kg et non des Paveway IV de 250 kg...

http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/paveway4.cfm

Citation :

Iveco Defence Vehicles Completes Delivery of Over 200 Heavy Trucks to the UK MoD


Trakker SLDT(P) Self Loading Dump Truck without protection. (Photo: Iveco Defence Vehicles)

13:20 GMT, April 5, 2012 Bolzano | Iveco Defence Vehicles has completed delivery of its largest ever order in UK of 206 6x6 and 8x8 Trakkers to support the Royal Engineers on operations.

Replacing the existing fleet, the new vehicles have been supplied through two separate procurement routes. The first of these, for 182 6x6 vehicles, was through the C Vehicle PFI contract run by the company ALC as prime contractor. Vehicles were supplied in five variants, with three - the Medium Dump Truck, Self Loading Dump Truck and Truck Mounted Loader - being managed by Iveco and the other two variants - a Drill Rig and a Flush Capping System - being procured under ALC’s direct control.

The second procurement resulted from the success of this 6x6 fleet in service. The requirement was for a fleet of Protected Self Loading Dump Trucks for service on operations.

As Iveco had already developed a ballistic steel cab for the Trakker family, the 8x8 Trakker was a natural choice for this demanding role. The procurement was a direct purchase by the UK MoD, with Iveco managing the complete integration activity. This required input from five separate sub-contractors – GD(UK), Terex Atlas, Thompson Engineering, BI Engineering and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

A total fleet of 24 Self Loading Dump Truck (Protected) are now in service, with the majority of the fleet on operations, where they have been extremely well received. The protection provided by the steel cab, bar armour and other countermeasures has been particularly welcome.

This completes a series of successes in the field of logistic vehicles by Iveco in recent years, including significant contract wins in France, Switzerland, Germany and Spain. The company is currently bidding to supply Trakker to the Norwegian and Swedish Armed Forces to re-equip their logistic vehicle fleets.

The Trakker chassis has also been the prime mover of choice for a series of other programmes, including, most recently, the supply of FAUN truck mounted trackway systems to Turkey.

Trakker was originally designed for heavy commercial applications, such as quarry work, but its reliability, flexibility and durability has made it particularly suitable for adaptation to defence applications. It is complimented by the Iveco Defence Vehicles High Mobility Range of 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 specialist military vehicles.

These programmes show how Iveco’s strategy of forming industrial partnerships has allowed the development and delivery of vehicles to support military operations with highly reliable and tailor-made solutions at a competitive price and against tight time constraints.

defpro.

Citation :

L’armée britannique vient d’annoncer qu’elle allait tester un tout nouveau tissu pour les uniformes de ses soldats.

Développé par le Centre for Defence Enterprise et faisant l’objet de plusieurs brevets, celui-ci présente la particularité de conduire l’électricité. Lors de missions, ce tissu pourrait devenir la seule et unique source d’énergie pour tous les appareils, parmi lesquels la lampe, la radio ou le module GPS. Il permettrait alors au soldat de se débarrasser des différentes batteries qui peuvent finir par peser lourd à la longue, mais aussi des différents câblages qui peuvent le gêner sur le terrain, s’emmêler et se rompre. Autre avantage avancé par les chercheurs : le soldat n’aurait qu’une seule et unique batterie à recharger, au lieu de plusieurs.

Les premiers tests sur le terrain doivent débuter en mai. Des versions limitées pourraient ainsi arriver d’ici la fin de l’année. Les versions complètes sont, quant à elle, prévues en 2014 ou 2015.

http://www.generation-nt.com/tissu-nouvelle-generation-conducteur-electricite-uniformes-militaires-actualite-1565661.html

Citation :

United Kingdom’s First Lockheed Martin F-35 Makes Inaugural Flight


FORT WORTH, Texas, April 16, 2012 – BK-1, the United Kingdom’s first Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II production aircraft, flew its inaugural flight Friday. Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti took the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet through a series of functional flight checks during a sortie that lasted 45 minutes. The jet will complete a series of company and government checkout flights prior to its acceptance by the U.K. Ministry of Defence. The U.K. MOD will use this 5th Generation fighter for training and operational tests at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., beginning later this year.

"Not only is this a watershed moment for the Joint Strike Fighter program, since BK-1 is the first international F-35 to fly, but it also brings us one step closer to delivery of this essential 5th Generation capability for the U.K., " said Group Captain Harv Smyth, the Joint Strike Fighter U.K. National Deputy.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 123,000 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 2011 were $46.5 billion.

lockheedmartin

Citation :

E3D Sentry Aircraft Grounded By MoD

All non-essential flying has been suspended on the RAF’s E3D Sentry aircraft because a technical fault. The E3D Sentry is an Airborne Early Warning aircraft, also known under the US or NATO acronym AWACS.

Based at RAF Waddington, the aircraft are designed to monitor airspace and control other RAF or NATO aircraft. The Sentry played a key role in the Libya campaign last year and is due to be involved in Olympic security.

But the fleet has already been pulled out of Exercise Joint Warrior, which is currently underway off Scotland. While the technology on board is considered to be state of the art, the airframe of the Sentry is based on a 1950s design: the Boeing 707.

The RAF’s seven aircraft entered service more than 20 years ago. Although that may be considered elderly for a passenger jet, these aircraft fly relatively few hours. The MOD denies the decision to suspend flying will impact on the front line, insisting, “there is no loss of operational capability.”

Media speculation that some of the work could be taken up by R1 Sentinel spy planes is being denied. British Forces News technology reporter, Will Inglis, points out that “the ASTOR equipped Sentinel is actually designed to do something else altogether and is already heavily committed to operations in Afghanistan.

For UK air defence we understand that ground radars and control systems can take up the slack, and that for training missions NATO can call on its own E3s, flown from Geilenkirchen in northern Germany.”

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/134466/%E2%80%98technical-fault%E2%80%99-grounds-british-awacs-fleet.html