Armée Hollandaise/Armed forces of the Netherlands/Nederlandse krijgsmacht

KDC-10 et C-130 Hercules


KDC-10

  

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Apache Solo Display Team from Jord Verheij on Vimeo.

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VARPALOTA TRAINING AREA, Hungary - Soldiers from the 11th Royal Netherlands Army Maneuver Brigade during Exercise Saker Falcon 2014 here, April 2. Saker Falcon is a multinational training exercise involving roughly 200 Soldiers from U.S. Army Europe's 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, two Dutch Air Assault battalions, and Hungarian military forces. The objectives of the training include enhancing joint combined interoperability with allied and partner nations and preparing participants to operate in a joint, multinational, integrated environment with support from Hungarian governmental agencies. Saker Falcon, underway from April 3 through April 17, reinforces U.S. Army Europe's strategic objectives to increase regional flexibility, preserve and enhance NATO interoperability, and facilitate multinational training.

Spoiler:

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Steady Lion s’achève


 

L’exercice Steady Lion au profit de l’European Union Battle Group s’est achevé le vendredi 9 mai. Un grand exercice de synthèse s’est déroulé pour la circonstance sur l’ancien dépôt de munitions d’Arendonk. L’unité d’intervention rapide de l’EUBG, composée pour l’exercice d’éléments belgo-néerlandais, était déjà à pied d’œuvre la veille dans le Limbourg.

Le jeudi 8 mai fut intense pour les troupes de l’EUBG. Avec la police locale, elles ont érigé des barrages locaux à Oud-Turnhout et contrôlé les véhicules des habitants à la recherche d’armes et d’explosifs. À Bourg-Léopold et Hamont-Achel, les militaires ont mené des actions cordon-and-search. Ils ont déterminé un périmètre et se sont mis à rechercher des rebelles. Ils en ont trouvé deux ainsi qu’une quantité d’armes à Hamont-Achel. L’un des rebelles a pu être maîtrisé après une brève rixe et l’autre blessé. Ils ont été immédiatement acheminés par hélicoptère vers un hôpital. L’action a été rondement menée en une heure.

La conclusion de l’exercice avait lieu le 9 mai avec l’attaque par l’unité d’intervention rapide, d’un camp d’entraînement d’une milice rebelle à Arendonk. Celle-ci a opposé une forte résistance. Les violents échanges de coups de feu ont cependant permis aux militaires de prendre l’avantage et de l’arrêter. Le contrôle du camp a rendu la découverte de diverses caches d’armes et d’explosifs possible.

L’attaque du camp rebelle a marqué la fin d’une semaine d’exercice pour une partie considérable du futur EUBG. Le colonel Philippe Boucké, chef de l’EUBG dès juillet prochain, peut être enchanté du chemin parcouru : « L’exercice s’est très bien déroulé. Notre personnel a bénéficié de nombreuses possibilités d’entraînement et aucun accident significatif n’est à déplorer. Je suis donc particulièrement satisfait. »

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Tekst: Stijn Verboven, Foto’s: Daniel Orban en Guy Pasteels  09/05/2014  

http://www.mil.be/fr/article/steady-lion-sacheve

  

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AVDD@mindef.nlAudioVisuele Dienst Defensie (AVDD)

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UDT: Dutch MoD advances submarine replacement



The Dutch MoD plans to finalise a specification requirement for a new submarine mid-2015 to replace the Walrus-class.

‘The cost-benefit ration for another overhaul is extensive so the submarines need to be replaced,’ said Captain Hugo Ammerlaan, Commanding Offices Submarine Services Netherlands at UDT in Liverpool

A current €95.3 million Life Extension Programme (LEP) extends the life of the Walrus-class until 2025.

Ammerlaan said that in 2015 the Dutch MoD will present its vision to the parliament with a requirement being finalised later that year. He expects that the decision process is going to be complex.

‘We had to postpone the decision because of the long F-35 procurement process. This means that we now have a very tight time schedule,’ said Ammerlaan.

‘The current budget is further not sufficient to procure the four boats that we need,’ he added.

However, public opinion is an important factor as ‘everyone remembers the Walrus-class affair.’ The programme had a high political and financial profile with total costs of nearly €1 billion after completion of the guarantee overhaul of the fourth and final vessel in 1995.

As a result of the current budget constraints, the Dutch MoD is looking for an international partner to increase economy of scale and reduce costs of ownership in a new submarine programme.

‘We are open to discuss the whole spectrum from training to logistics,’ Ammerlaan said.

While the MoD is currently exploring a variety of options it sees Norway as a potential partner for co-developing and building submarines.

NEVESBU, which plays a key role in the LEP for the Walrus managing the engineering, is preparing for a potential future projects with its ‘Onderzeeboot 2025’ (Submarine 2025) project.

As international cooperation will also have implications for the industry of involved nations, the company looks to strengthen its relations with potential future partners, according to Albert Jurgens, Manager of Projects at Nevesbu.

http://www.shephardmedia.com

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Boeing Signs Rotorcraft Maintenance Agreements with Royal Netherlands Air Force, Fokker

GILZE-RIJEN AIR BASE, Netherlands, June 23, 2014 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] has signed separate agreements with the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) and Fokker Technologies to explore advanced maintenance opportunities for Dutch rotorcraft and expand efforts to make the Netherlands a regional hub for military and civilian aircraft support services.

Boeing and the RNLAF signed a strategic partnership agreement that builds on an existing support contract for Dutch AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook helicopters to identify new areas of long-term cooperation.

Opportunities under consideration include adding components to the existing contract; engaging Dutch suppliers for maintenance, repair and overhaul work; and expanding use of the Logistics Center Woensdrecht, the Ministry of Defence’s center of expertise for military MRO and logistics.

"This agreement with Boeing supports my objective to increase the availability of my Apache and Chinook fleets and reduce the costs to operate them," said Lieutenant General Alexander Schnitger, commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. "This innovative way of cooperation with Boeing is a blueprint for future cooperation between the Royal Netherlands Air Force and other original equipment manufacturers."

"Today’s signing continues our successful innovative partnership that delivers top quality and affordable support to the Royal Netherlands Air Force, increasing performance and readiness," said Tim Sassenrath, Boeing Global Services & Support vice president of Rotorcraft Support.

Boeing and Fokker Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding to help advance the goals outlined in the agreement with the RNLAF. It enables the companies to explore collaboration on maintenance, repair and overhaul in the Netherlands for Dutch rotorcraft and other customers.

"The selection of Fokker clearly reflects the confidence that Boeing has in our company and in our dedicated, specialized employees. This program offers great potential for the future and seamlessly fits our strategic goals," said Hans Büthker, CEO, Fokker Technologies. "We are delighted with this opportunity. It is an honor to be part of this team, working together with Boeing and the RNLAF."

The agreement builds on Boeing and Fokker’s long-term collaboration on supply chain and sales activities in the Netherlands and around the world. As a supplier to Boeing, Fokker provides various metal and composite structures for the Apache and Chinook, as well as the Apache’s landing gear and wiring for both military and commercial aircraft.

Through these agreements, Boeing continues to support the Netherlands Maintenance Valley Initiative, an effort by the Dutch government to bolster the country’s position as a regional hub for MRO activities. Boeing also has supported the World Class Aviation Academy and Rotary Wing Training Center, providing customers in the region with military maintenance training on fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.

http://boeing.mediaroom.com

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First Boxer Ambulance delivered to the Netherlands

01st July 2014 - 17:08  by the Shephard News Team  



The Royal Netherlands Army has taken delivery of the first Boxer Ambulance vehicle from ARTEC, the Kraus Maffei Wegman and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles joint venture responsible for the delivery of Boxer vehicles to Germany and the Netherlands.

The first Boxer vehicle was delivered to the Netherlands in August 2013 – a Driver Training vehicle for the training of drivers and commanders. The Netherlands will also take delivery of Command Post variants from 2015, and Cargo and Pioneer Vehicles from 2016. The total 200 Boxer vehicles will be delivered by 2018.

The first Ambulance variant was received by the Medical Company of the 13th NL Brigade on 25 June from OCCAR, the representative of the customer nations Germany and the Netherlands. 13th Brigade is to transfer from a mechanised to a motorised brigade, and the new vehicles will enable the army to further develop its capabilities as this transformation takes place.

Germany is also receiving a total of 272 Boxer vehicle in four variants - Driver Trainer, Armoured Personnel Carrier, Ambulance and Command Post. Germany started operating Boxers in Afghanistan in August 2011.

http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/first-boxer-ambulance-delivered-netherlands/

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Mali: les Hollandais ont bien déployé des drones ScanEagle



Hervé Ladsous, le Secrétaire général adjoint aux opérations de maintien de la paix de l'Onu, était à Gao, le 11 juillet. Il y a rendu visite au contingent onusien sur place. Les Hollandais lui ont présenté leurs Apaches et leurs drones ScanEagle (photo: Marco Dormino).

Ces drones sont mis en œuvre par le JISTARC (Joint Intelligence Target Acquisition Surveillance and Reconnaissance Commando), une unité créée en octobre 2010.

http://lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr/archive/2014/07/16/mali-12192.html

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F-16 DEMO TEAM RNLAF

A few months ago we did an air to air photoshoot of the J-142 with Frank Crebas. You may have gotten one of the posters at an airshow
already! Of course there were more pictures taken that day, now we are posting a selection. Enjoy! (12 photos)  


  

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Otan : Les Pays-Bas vont retirer de Turquie leurs batteries antimissiles Patriot

Posté dans Moyen-Orient, Otan par Laurent Lagneau Le 27-08-2014



En novembre 2012, suite à une série d’incidents frontaliers, la Turquie avait demandé à l’Otan des moyens supplémentaires pour renforcer sa défense afin de contrer une éventuelle menace aérienne venue de Syrie, pays en proie à une guerre civile depuis maintenant plus de trois ans.

À l’époque, 3 pays, à savoir l’Allemagne, les Pays-Bas et les États-Unis s’engagèrent à déployer, chacun, 2 batteries antimissiles Patriot PAC-3, à proximité des villes de Malatya, Diyarbakir, Adana et Urfa. Ce qui fut fait, dans le cadre de l’opération « Active Fence » en janvier 2013.

Seulement, les Pays-Bas ont annoncé leur intention de mettre un terme à leur participation et de rapatrier leurs deux batteries Patriot d’ici janvier 2015. Le gouvernement néerlandais a en effet décidé de ne pas reconduire à nouveau la mission de son détachement, déployé à Adana.

Cette annonce a été faite 6 mois avant la fin de la mission néerlandaise avec « que l’Otan puisse prendre une décision sur la façon de poursuivre » l’opération Active Fence.

L’un des arguments avancés pour justifier cette décision est l’examen et l’entretien des deux batteries Patriot. « Une deuxième prolongation serait également une lourde charge pour le personnel déjà fortement déployé », a également fait valoir La Haye.

Pour autant, le gouvernement néerlandais a indiqué soutenir « la poursuite des efforts de l’Otan pour protéger la Turquie », étant donné que « la menace d’attaques armées à partir du territoure syrien n’a pas disparu ».

http://www.opex360.com/2014/08/27/otan-les-pays-bas-vont-retirer-de-turquie-leurs-batteries-antimissiles-patriot/

Boxer Ambulance

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Netherlands May Send F-16 Fighters, Weapons to Iraq to Combat IS: Reports

MOSCOW, September 18 (RIA Novosti) - The Netherlands could use F-16 fighter aircraft and send arms to Iraqi Kurds in order to fight the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, active in Iraq and Syria, local media reported Thursday.

An unspecified number of the Netherland Air Force F-16 fighters may take part in operations against Sunni extremists in Iraq and possibly in Syria, The Trouw, a Dutch newspaper, said as quoted by Reuters. Dutch ministers will reportedly discuss the possibility of taking military action against the IS militants on Friday, during a Cabinet session.

The reports have not specified which kind of weapons Amsterdam may supply to the Iraqi Kurds.

Addressing September's NATO summit in Wales, US President Barack Obama did not include the Netherlands in the US-led "core coalition" of nations aiming to eliminate the IS threat. Dutch media have reported the country's Prime Minister Mark Rutte was surprised to not find the Netherlands among the coalition nations voiced by Obama. Amsterdam has already supplied non-lethal aid including 1,000 helmets and bulletproof vests to northern Iraq.

The IS Sunni group has proclaimed an Islamic caliphate on the territories it controls across Iraq and Syria. The insurgents" advance in northern Iraq has led to Washington carrying out anti-IS airstrikes and drone attacks since August. In September, US President Obama went further by proclaiming an international coalition to fight the terrorists and stressing he would not stop from sanctioning airstrikes in Syria.

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The Dutch government has decided to increase the Netherlands' defence spending, reversing 24 years of declining defence expenditure.

Dutch Defence Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said on 16 September that the funds would be used generally to "enhance the clout" of the armed forces.

Under the plans, defence spending is set to rise by EUR50 million (USD65 million) in 2015 to EUR7.3 billion, with further rises of EUR150 million in 2016 and EUR100 million in the following years.

The Netherlands Armed Forces have seen their inventories depleted by recent operations, such as those in the Uruzgan province of Afghanistan (2006-2010), and are in need of replenishment. In August it was announced the Raytheon Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries were to be withdrawn from Turkey in January 2015, because of a looming shortage of trained personnel, among other things,.

Apart from the acquisition of general items such as missiles, ammunition, and spare parts, the Netherlands plans to spend the increase in funding on improving cyber, networking, and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) response structures.

Hennis-Plasschaert also announced the country would buy additional military equipment with the funding.

Included on its shopping list are 20 Thales Australia Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles, with a specific view to future operations by the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps. Helicopter-capabilities are to be enhanced with the planned order for three more Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy transport helicopters. These have been much in demand in international missions such as the Dutch contribution to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), where the first of three Dutch Chinooks arrived on 9 September in the capital Bamako.

As well, an unspecified number of Eurocopter AS532U2 Cougar medium transport helicopters will be taken into service again on top of the eight remaining in service. These measures have also been driven by the ongoing setbacks with the NHIndustries NH90 helicopters the Defence Helicopter Command is confronted with, such as delayed deliveries and technical problems such as corrosion.

It was also announced that an unspecified number of the newest generation of tactical unmanned ISR systems would be bought. No specific type was mentioned but IHS Jane's understands the armed forces are interested in acquiring more of the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle systems, a small number of which was ordered in 2012. Experience with these unmanned systems was built up, among other army employments, flying from landing platform docks in support of anti-piracy operations around Somalia.

http://www.janes.com

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Dutch To Join Anti-ISIS Airstrikes In Iraq, Will Send Fighter Jets And Military Personnel



The Netherlands will join the United States in its ongoing air campaign to combat Islamic State group militants in Iraq but will not participate in the U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria. The Dutch will send military personnel and fighter jets to help Iraqi and Kurdish forces on the ground, Dutch officials announced Wednesday.

"The Netherlands will make six F-16s available for the first phase of the campaign, for one year," Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher told reporters on Wednesday after an emergency meeting at the Hague, according to the Agence-France Presse.

In addition to the fighter jets, up to 380 Dutch military personnel could be operational in Iraq within the week, according to the Wall Street Journal. Among the military personnel will be 130 instructors, who are expected to support local forces on the ground in Iraq.

The Netherlands will not be joining the ongoing U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria, Asscher said. The legality behind the military operation in Syria is still unclear, since Syrian president Bashar Assad did not request international help to fight the militants, unlike the Iraqi government.

"In Iraq's case there is a clear request. A request by Iraq's legitimate government gives us a sufficient mandate to deploy the Dutch military,” Asscher said.

President Barack Obama made the case for the U.S.-led air campaign in Syria before the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. Under United Nations Charter Article 51, the U.S. needs to prove that fighting the militants in Syria is necessary for “individual or collective self-defense.” In order to do that the U.S. must prove that the current government in Syria was “unwilling or unable” to combat the militant group on its own.

France has also agreed to join the U.S air campaign in Iraq and sent its first fighter jet last week.

http://www.ibtimes.com

Chinook au Mali.

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Koninklijke Luchtmacht

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Il est conseillé aux militaires néerlandais de ne pas porter l’uniforme dans les transports publics

Posté dans Europe, Terrorisme par Laurent Lagneau Le 27-09-2014

Éviter que des militaires soient visés comme cela a pu se produire en France (affaire Mérah, agression au quartier de la Défense) ou au Royaume-Uni (assassinat du caporal Lee Rigby) : tel est le sens de la recommandation que vient d’adresser le gouvernement néerlandais à ses soldats.

En effet, le ministère de la Défense a vivement conseillé aux militaires de ne pas porter l’uniforme dans les transports publics. Cette décision fait suite à l’annonce de la participation des Pays-Bas à la coalition formée contre l’État islamique (EI, ou Daesh) et surtout aux menaces proférées par un certain Muhajiri Shaam, un jihadiste de nationalité néerlandaise parti en Syrie.

Ce dernier a, dans un message vidéo appelé à « réaliser une action forte contre l’Etat néerlandais » pour son soutien aux États-Unis. Ce Muhajiri Shaam ne ferait pourtant pas partie de l’EI mais du Front al-Nosra, lié à al-Qaïda.

Le chef néerlandais de la lutte contre le terrorisme, Dick Schoof, a fait valoir qu’il s’agissait d’une « mesure de précaution ». Cela « arrêtera d’attirer l’attention de gens qui penseront qu’un militaire est une personne qu’ils peuvent attaquer », a-t-il dit.

Cela étant, aussi bien en France qu’au Royaume-Uni, les militaires visés par des terroristes (ou présumé tel dans l’un des cas) n’avaient pas emprunté les transports en commun. Le maréchal des logis-chef Imad Ibn-Ziaten, la première victime de Mohamed Merah, était habillé en civil quand il fut assassiné. Les militaires du 17e Régiment du Génie Parachutiste (RGP) se trouvaient devant leur caserne quand le tueur au scooter ouvrit le feu sur eux. Le chasseur blessé au quartier de la Défense était en patrouille dans le cadre du dispositif Vigipirate. Et le caporal britannique ne portait pas son uniforme quand il fut sauvagement tué.

http://www.opex360.com/2014/09/27/il-conseille-aux-militaires-neerlandais-de-ne-pas-porter-luniforme-dans-les-transports-publics/

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NLR tests weapons system for Dutch and Danish Air Force


In collaboration with Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the United States, NLR recently tested a new weapon system for the Dutch and Danish Air Force.

During the research, the weapon – a Dual mode-weapon (GBU-49), purchased by the Ministry of Defence – was dropped from Dutch and Danish F-16s. This bomb can be both laser-guided and GPS-guided. During the test, conducted at the Vidsel test range in northern Sweden, seven (inert) bombs were dropped on both stationary and moving targets.

When introducing any new weapon system, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) conducts an Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E) before the weapon can be deployed.

This research program was a continuation of an earlier test series conducted in 2012. At that time the test results were rather disappointing. NLR wrote a report about that trial, and partly based on this report the manufacturer of the weapon system modified the software, whereby the weapon now performs better. These software modifications, and the accuracy of the GBU-49, were tested during the recently concluded event.

NLR was asked to observe from the ground how the bombs fell. For this purpose, various special cameras were positioned near the targets, including a number of cameras capable of detecting the laser spot of the targeting pod. In this way, insights could be gained into how the bomb fell in relation to the direction of the laser given by the aircraft. Moreover, photographs were made of the targets before and after the bombs were dropped. The Vidsel range recorded high-speed video images of most of the impacts. Furthermore, a final score was compiled based on where the bombs had landed. Radar track files were made of the all the bombs’ various trajectories.

This Operational Test & Evaluation phase (OT&E) revealed that the weapon functioned properly and can thus be operationally deployed. NLR compiled a report that included the completed OT&E’s findings and operational advice about the deployment of the weapon.

http://wp.nlr.nl/en/2014/10/07/nlr-test-wapensysteem-voor-nederlandse-en-deense-luchtmacht/

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oct 27, 2014

Le Karel Doorman envoyé contre Ebola

Nicolas Gros-Verheyde / Actualité, Afrique de l'Ouest Cote d'Ivoire Guinée, Aide humanitaire / Aide humanitaire, Ebola, marine, Pays-Bas



Le Karel Doorman à quai à son port d’attache Den Helder
(crédit : Marine néerlandaise)

(BRUXELLES2) Les Pays-Bas vont envoyer un de leurs navires le plus récent, le Karel Doorman (A-833) vers l’Afrique de l’Ouest. Il quittera les Pays-Bas le 6 novembre, a indiqué la ministre de la Défense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert et son homologue du Développement Lilianne Ploumen dans une lettre à la Chambre basse, vendredi (24 octobre).

Au total, le Karel Doorman transporte plus de 100 véhicules et 50 containers de matériel de secours (vêtements de protection, cliniques mobiles, ambulances…), originaire des États membres de l’UE et des organisations internationales à destination des trois pays les plus touchés par la crise d’Ebola (Libéria, Sierra Leone et Guinée).

Navire de soutien logistique de 200 mètres de long, Karel Doorman est « parfaitement adapté à ce type de transports » indique-t-on au ministère néerlandais de la Défense, comprenant de larges soutes, pouvant accueillir 5000 tonnes de matériel divers, comprenant un hôpital de bord (avec 2 salles d’opération) et la possibilité d’accueillir sur son pont plusieurs types d’hélicoptères (Chinook, Cougar, NH90). C’est aussi le plus récent sorti des chantiers navals néerlandais (DSNS)… et roumain. Baptisé en mars 2014 et ayant commencé sa phase d’essai en juin 2014, c’est en fait sa première sortie opérationnelle.

Le voyage vers l’Afrique de l’Ouest devrait prendre environ 2 semaines. Le coût de l’opération sera pris en charge par l’Union européenne et le budget du ministère néerlandais de la Coopération au Développement. Le salaire des marins et l’entretien à bord du navire sera assuré par la Défense.

http://www.bruxelles2.eu/?s=en

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First Dutch F-35 squadron established



The Royal Netherlands Air Force on 4 November changed the command of its Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II detachment at Eglin AFB, Florida, to 323 Sqn. The unit had been officially disbanded on 31 October at Leeuwarden air base, having previously operated the Lockheed F-16.

Now re-established in the USA, 323 Sqn will be tasked primarily with conducting initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) of the F-35, following its relocation to Edwards AFB in California by the end of this year.

The Dutch air force has taken delivery of two conventional take-off and landing F-35As to support the US-led IOT&E activity, and has three pilots qualified on the type.

asset image

US Air Force

The F-35A is due to become operational with the Royal Netherlands Air Force during 2019, with the service expected to eventually receive another 37 of the type.

www.flightglobal.com

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Dutch navy helicopters over the skies of RNAS Culdrose




Dutch navy helicopters have begun a three-week training stint in West Cornwall.




Three NH 90 Maritime helicopters from 7 (NL) Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Navy along with 60 aircrew and engineers have arrived at RNAS Culdrose.

They are also working with Flag Officer Sea Training at Devonport to hone their maritime skills alongside RNAS Culdrose’s Fleet Air Arm's Merlin Mk2s.

Pieter Agema, a support officer attached to 7 (NL) Sqn based at De Kooy, near Den Helder in Holland, said: "We've been coming here every six months for a good many years now and we always get a very warm welcome from our British hosts. We are here primarily to train our aircrew for frontline service with the Fleet. Culdrose has always proved to be an excellent base for everything we need to do and offers a happy environment to do it in.”

The Dutch are also assessing some of the new equipment carried onboard their NH 90 helicopters. They will be training a number of observers and aircrew to manage the systems.

There are also three RNLN ships training at Devonport alongside other NATO vessels.

Lt Agema said: "Working together with the Royal Navy and hunting real submarines is a great bonus for us and our training, you can't get this kind of training anywhere else in Europe."

Many sailors and aircrew have been coming to Cornwall for years.

Lt Agema said: “It's a real privilege to be here. It's a beautiful place for walking along the coastal paths and biking in the summer when the weather's really nice and in the winter when it's not, it's still beautiful.”

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk

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Russian Air Force Su-34 Fullback attack planes have become frequent visitors of the Baltic region.



On Dec. 8, two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s based at Malbork in Poland to provide NATO Baltic Air Policing duties in the Baltic States have intercepted and escorted two Russian Air Force Su-34 Fullback bombers flying in international airspace (with no FPL – Flight Plan).

The two Su-34s were flying southbound to Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave, located between Poland and Lithuania, home of some Russian military airfield.

According to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, it was the second interception by Dutch F-16s since the RNlAF planes were detached to Poland on Sept. 3: the first scramble took place on Nov. 12 when the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) jets shadowed a four-engine Ilyushin transport aircraft flying north of Estonia and Lithuania.

Su-34s are becoming frequent visitors of the airspaces of northern Europe.

The first photos showing Russian Air Force Fullback warplanes in the Baltics were taken last month by RNoAF F-16s on QRA at Bodo airbase. More recently, the Royal Norwegian Air Force has released an HUD (Head Up Display) video that would show Russian aggressive flying by a Mig-31 escorting two Su-34s at the end of October off Finmark.

As already highlighted by NATO, Russian activities in the Baltics have surged in 2014: since the beginning of the year, NATO planes were scrambled to identify and escort Russian planes more than 100 times; three times as many as in 2013.

http://theaviationist.com

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Dutch NH90 deliveries to resume

Deliveries to the Dutch armed forces of its remaining seven NH Industries (NHI) NH90 maritime helicopters – halted on the back of corrosion issues – are set to resume after the two sides hammered out a compromise agreement.

The acceptance process was stopped in June after problems were noticed on two aircraft that had been deployed at sea. Subsequent analysis by the Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory found a number of design faults contributed to the corrosion.

Under the terms of the deal announced on 16 December, the NHI consortium – comprising Airbus Helicopters, AgustaWestland and Fokker – accepts full responsibility for the issue and will bear the cost of developing any modifications, repairs and preventive measures, the nation’s defence ministry says.

In all, some 75 points from the 100 identified now have solutions, with the remainder to be addressed in early 2015.



Anno Gravemaker

“The agreement between the ministry and the helicopter manufacturer has also established how problems are dealt with in the future,” the ministry adds. If further corrosion issues are found these can be added to the “roadmap” addressing the problems.

Two further deliveries of NH90 NFHs to the Netherlands Defence Helicopter Command are anticipated in 2014.

Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database shows the nation as possessing an active inventory of nine of the 11t rotorcraft, with four in storage and a further seven on order.

In October, Dutch defence minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert estimated that the delivery delay had cost the country in excess of €100m ($125 million) through a required interim service extension of its Airbus Helicopters AS532 Cougar fleet.

http://www.flightglobal.com

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Royal Netherlands Navy purchases Thales’s new NS100 surveillance radar for Rotterdam class LPD


The Netherlands Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and Thales have signed a contract for the delivery of a NS100 dual-axis multi-beam surveillance radar. The system will be installed on HNLMS Rotterdam, to replace its 30-year old DA08 radar system. The NS100 will be installed in the second semester of 2017, in line with the ship’s maintenance schedule.
   
The Netherlands Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and Thales have signed a contract for the delivery of a NS100 dual-axis multi-beam surveillance radar. The system will be installed on HNLMS Rotterdam, to replace its 30-year old DA08 radar system. The NS100 will be installed in the second semester of 2017, in line with the ship’s maintenance schedule.
NS100’s dual-axis, multibeam technology enables optimal situational awareness
Picture: Thales
   
The Royal Netherlands Navy selected Thales’s NS100 system because of its performance and its proven AESA technology. This technology enables a 3D cue to be given to both Goalkeeper Close-In Weapon Systems on the ship.

Furthermore, the selection for this radar has numerous logistic advantages since the Royal Netherlands Navy already operates the latest generation of Thales AESA radars on the majority of its vessels.

The NS100 radar incorporates a Thales IFF mode 5/S subsystem, making the Royal Netherlands Navy one of the first navies in the world to deploy this modern standard.
   
The Netherlands Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and Thales have signed a contract for the delivery of a NS100 dual-axis multi-beam surveillance radar. The system will be installed on HNLMS Rotterdam, to replace its 30-year old DA08 radar system. The NS100 will be installed in the second semester of 2017, in line with the ship’s maintenance schedule.
HNLMS Rotterdam
   
About NS100
The NS100 is the newest member of Thales’s S-band AESA radar family. It is the first radar world-wide using dual-axis multibeam technology, which significantly enhances situational awareness in a littoral environment. NS100 is a multi-sensor integrated platform: in addition to the S-band radar, the system is designed to include the Scout Mk3 FMCW radar, the IFF mode 5/S interrogator and transponder, an IR camera, AIS and ADS-B. Positioning all sensors at the best topside position optimizes the overall field of view.

The highly modular and scalable NS100 enables a tailor-made sensor for customer specific requirements and operational profiles. Radar performance is increased by adding RX and TX Building Blocks, answering to the need set by a wide range of naval ships and missions. The flexible radar architecture enables through-life introduction of new capabilities.

About Rotterdam class
The Royal Netherlands Navy has 2 vessels of this class: HNLMS Rotterdam and HNLMS Johan de Witt. The most important role for those ships is supporting amphibious operations. The amphibious transport ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy are also known as Landing Platform Docks (LPD). The ships are equipped with a large helicopter deck for helicopter operations and a dock for landing craft.

http://www.navyrecognition.com

Citation :

La maintenance de 37 avions F-35A va coûter cher aux Pays-Bas

Posté dans Europe, Forces aériennes par Laurent Lagneau Le 05-01-2015


En septembre 2013, les autorités néerlandaises ont confirmé leur choix en faveur du F-35A de Lockheed-Martin en passant une commande de 37 exemplaires. Soit une cible bien moindre que prévu… Puisqu’à l’origine, il était question d’acquérir 85 unités de cet avion dit de 5e génération, encore en cours de développement.

Seulement, étant donné l’explosion du coût unitaire de cet appareil, due aux difficultés rencontrées lors de sa mise au point, les Pays-Bas ont bien été obligés de revoir leurs ambitions à la baisse. Et cela d’autant plus que leur budget militaire a particulièrement souffert au cours de ces dernières années, impératif de réduction des dépenses publiques oblige. Il n’en reste par moins que l’acquisition de ces 37 F-34A coûtera la bagatelle de 4,5 milliards d’euros, ce qui fait tout de même cher pour équiper seulement deux escadrons…

En Belgique, où, comme aux Pays-Bas, il est question de remplacer les vieux F-16, l’affaire des F-35 est regardée de près d’autant plus que cet appareil est sur la liste des candidats potentiels (avec le Rafale, le F-18 Super Hornet, l’Eurofighter et le Gripen). Et un chiffre en a fait tiquer plus d’un : celui du coût annuel de la maintenance du nouvel avion de Lockheed-Martin.

Ainsi, selon des documents transmis au Parlement par Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Mme le ministre néerlandais de la Défense, la maintien en condition opérationnel (MCO) des 37 F-35 serait de l’ordre de 283 millions d’euros par an.

Pour comparer, le MCO aéronautique, en France, coûte annuellement au moins 2,2 milliards d’euros pour 1.258 appareils de 46 types différents, ce qui permet d’assurer 350.000 heures de vol. Et, selon un rapport du Sénat publié en mai 2008, le coût du MCO pour un Rafale  est d’ »environ 3 millions d’euros » par an.

La Belgique souhaite acquérir 40 nouveaux avions de combat. Or, son budget militaire, réduit d’année en année, était de 2,715 milliards d’euros en 2013 (et de nouvelles coupes ont été faites depuis…). En clair, la maintenance du F-35 – si cet appareil venait à être choisi – siphonnerait la moitié des dépenses de fonctionnement de son armée.

En attendant, s’agissant des Pays-Bas, ils n’auront pas assez d’avions pour assurer les missions de surveillance et de police du ciel… D’où l’idée de mutualiser les moyens nécessaires avec… la Belgique. Une lettre d’intention a été signée à cette fin le 23 octobre dernier et un accord final est attendu au début de cette année.


http://www.opex360.com/2015/01/05/la-maintenance-de-37-avions-f-35a-va-couter-cher-aux-pays-bas/