(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Dec. 17, 2012)
It is the Disposal Services Authority (DSA) intention to invite expressions of interest in tendering for the Type 22 Frigates (HMS Chatham, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Cumberland and HMS Cornwall) for the following: •Further Use •Sinking for an Artificial reef •Recycling
At this stage the DSA does not require interested parties to specify which Vessel/s they wish to bid for.
It is the DSA intention to award at least one vessel to a UK Ship Recycler; this is in part to secure detailed knowledge of the UK’s capacity to recycle vessels. Any decision to award to a UK Ship Recycling company will be made in accordance with transparent and objective evaluation criteria which will be issued at the Invitation to Tender stage.
All interested parties should note that only Bidders that have completed and passed a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the vessels and allowed access to view the vessel.
The vessels are moored at Portsmouth and will be sold from there.
The DSA are planning on hosting viewings 25th February - 15th March 2013.
As previously requested all bidders intending to undertake inspection of the vessels will be required to wear the correct PPE clothing i.e. steel toecap boots, high vis jackets (overalls optional). Please be assured that if you do not have steel toecap boots on arrival you will be refused access to the vessels.
Only Bidders that have received a copy of the ITT will be allowed access to inspect the vessels.
Bidders should not book travel until they have received a copy of the ITT and understood the requirements.
A copy of the PQQ can be down loaded from the bottom of this page or you can e-mail the DSA’s Commercial section requesting a copy at deslcsls-dsa-comrcl-3b@mod.uk
The closing date for returning the PQQ to the DSA and expression of interest is 17.00 GMT Wednesday 23rd January 2013.
-- HMS CUMBERLAND formally a Warship Frigate F85 was built at Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow UK in 1988 and is now lying at HMNB Portsmouth. The vessel ceased service on the 23rd September 2011 and is due to be tendered early 2013. All interested parties should beware that only companies that have successfully completed a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an invitation to tender for this vessel.
-- HMS CAMPBELTOWN formally a Warship Frigate F86 was built at Cammell Laird ship yard Birkenhead UK in 1987 and is now lying at HMNB Portsmouth. The vessel ceased service on the 7th July 2011 and is due to be tendered early 2013. All interested parties should beware that only companies that have successfully completed a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an invitation to tender for this vessel.
-- HMS CHATHAM formally a Warship Frigate F87 was built at Swan Hunters Shipbuilders in Wallsend UK in 1989, and is now lying at HMNB Portsmouth. The vessel ceased service on the 20th October 2011 and is due to be tendered early 2013. All interested parties should beware that only companies that have successfully completed a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an invitation to tender for this vessel.
-- HMS CORNWALL formally a Warship, Frigate F99 was built at Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow UK in 1988 and is now lying at HMNB Portsmouth. The vessel ceased service on the 20th October 2011 and is due to be tendered early 2013. All interested parties should beware that only companies that have successfully completed a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an invitation to tender for this vessel.
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Jeu 17 Jan 2013 - 19:04
Citation :
Defence Ministers visit British troops in Afghanistan Defence ministers have visited British troops in Afghanistan to witness first-hand the progress being made in mentoring Afghan forces to take on their own security challenges. The Minister for the Armed Forces Andrew Robathan and Minister for Defence, Equipment Support and Technology Philip Dunne visited troops in Afghanistan this week. During their visit, they also met with ISAF and Afghan military commanders, and Afghanistan’s Ministers for Defence and Interior in the capital Kabul, before seeing the site of the Afghan National Army Officers Academy, which currently under construction but will play a major role in the UK military’s post-2014 non-combat commitment to Afghanistan. In Helmand, where the majority of British personnel are located, they held a meeting with Naeem Baloch, the Provincial Governor. Photos:Cpl Mike O'Neill RLC
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Ven 18 Jan 2013 - 11:07
Citation :
Soldiers from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh (2 Royal Welsh), based in Tidworth, Wiltshire, have taken part in urban warfare training in France. The Welsh soldiers were part of Exercise Urban Warrior 5, an exercise that has been two years in the planning, which looks at the combination of soldiers and tanks while fighting in an urban environment. The training took place at The Centre d’Entrainement aux Actions en Zone Urbaine (CENZUB) - a French urban warfare training facility in north east France, which comprises a training camp, and a large training area in which there are two urban centres. CENZUB is the largest urban warfare training facility in Europe. Photographer Cpl Mark Larner; Crown copyright.
augusta General de Division
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Ven 18 Jan 2013 - 12:47
Citation :
BAE completes PowerOCD trials for UK MoD 18 January 2013 BAE Systems has successfully carried out its Power Operational Concept Demonstration (PowerOCD) for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) at the British Army Training Unit in Kenya.
Using the company's deployed energy management system (DEMS), the trails confirmed that up to 30% fuel and maintenance cost savings can be achieved at army forward and main bases using the current defence and commercial generators respectively.
The trials were conducted as part of a £1.5m contract awarded to the company by the MoD's Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) technology delivery team.
DE&S technology delivery head Gary Jackson said the trials have provided firm evidence of the potential for significant enhancement of operational energy efficiency.
"PowerOCD has given us hard data from a realistic, representative operational environment in Kenya," Jackson added.BAE Systems energy solutions and services head Chris Courtaux added: ''Our energy management system successfully integrated within the existing bases and stood up well to the challenges of a real-use environment."
Operationally proven in the UK and Cyprus, the DEMS features an energy management system that controls generators, maintains storage and also intelligently manages demand to address operational requirements and energy use patterns.
Developed using existing military equipment, the plug-and-go solution is also capable of accommodating commercial generators, as well as current and future fuel saving technologies, such as solar power and wind energy.
The system functions by remaining connected between the distribution system and generator, which charges a battery system controlled by the DEMS console that switches off the generator when charging is complete.
The batteries will then provide power on demand, leading to improved efficiency and savings in fuel and maintenance.
Enabling easy management in the battlefield or remote operation from MoD sites at home, the DEMS is also suitable for all locations when power supply is not available from the main grid. http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsbae-completes-powerocd-trials-uk-mod
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Sam 19 Jan 2013 - 13:43
Citation :
Defence Secretary to Sign Treaty with Australia
(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Jan. 18, 2013)
The UK's decision to strengthen one of its most long-standing relationships will be formalised today with a new Defence Treaty to provide a framework for the many strands of co-operation between the two countries.
The Treaty, to be signed in Perth today [Friday 18 January] with the Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith, will see the two countries working together in areas such as cyber security, Defence reform, personnel exchange, equipment and science & technology.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and the Foreign Secretary William Hague, are in Perth attending the annual Australia/UK Ministerial (AUKMIN) summit. Last year the corresponding event was held in London.
During their trip, in one of the first examples of the closer relationship, Mr Hammond visited the Australian Naval Base and BAE Systems shipyard in Perth where they discussed a range of issues relating to the sustainment and development of Australia's submarine programme and future shipbuilding.
The Defence Secretary and Minister Smith agreed to work together on the prospect of collaboration on Australia's future frigate requirements and the UK's planned Type 26 Global Combat Ship.
With both Britain and Australia due to build new frigates in the coming years, the Defence Secretary agreed with his Australian counterpart to explore the possibility of co-operation over mutual design work for the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 Global Combat Ship - a design that could meet the needs of the Royal Australian Navy.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:
“This Government has made a concerted effort to renew and strengthen our relationship with one of our oldest allies. This Defence treaty will drive forward closer cooperation on a wide range of issues, making our forces more inter-operable and maximising our capabilities. Areas of potential co-operation include future frigates, with the Royal Navy’s Type 26 design, a cutting edge blueprint that could be the first of many opportunities for future collaboration. In times of budget pressures for all nations, it makes sense to maximise economies of scale and work with our friends to get the best value for money on all sides.
"Australia is a close ally of the UK and NATO in Afghanistan, as in Iraq, and is a key partner in the Asia Pacific region. Many of today’s security challenges require a shared response, and the treaty therefore complements what we are doing in NATO.”
During the visit, the Defence Secretary visited the Australian HMAS Stirling naval base, the frigate HMAS Perth, the submarine HMAS Farncomb, Henderson Ship Yard, and the BAE Systems ship yard, in Perth, Western Australia.
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mar 22 Jan 2013 - 11:08
Citation :
UK yet to decide on Merlin HC3 upgrade details
The UK Ministry of Defence has yet to decide how many of the Royal Air Force's AgustaWestland Merlin HC3/3A transports will be upgraded for use by the Royal Navy's Commando Helicopter Force.
"The Merlin life sustainment programme is currently in its assessment phase," says minister for defence equipment, support and technology Philip Dunne. "This is considering options to enhance the Merlin Mk3/3A aircraft's ability to support amphibious operations, including the number of platforms to be upgraded and the nature of the upgrade."
Currently flown by the RAF, but to be transferred to the RN in 2014-15 due to a pending increase in the size of the former's Boeing CH-47 Chinook fleet, the upgraded Merlins will replace the navy's remaining Westland Sea King HC4/4+ aircraft, which are due to leave use during 2016. The air force has a current active inventory of 27 Merlins, with the type (HC3 variant pictured below) flown by its 28 and 78 squadrons.
AgustaWestland
Meanwhile, Dunne confirms that the MoD has a "broad planning assumption" for the RN's Crowsnest project to field a new airborne surveillance and control (ASaC) helicopter fleet to be available as part of its new carrier strike capability during 2020. However, he notes: "Crowsnest has not yet passed its main investment decision point, and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment on its specific in-service date."
To be integrated with some of the navy's upgraded Merlin HM2 multimission helicopters, the next-generation airborne early warning and surveillance system will replace the service's Sea King 7 ASaC aircraft. The UK National Audit Office recently warned of a potential four-year capability gap following the latter fleet's planned retirement during 2016.
flightglobal
_________________ Le Prophéte (saw) a dit: Les Hommes Les meilleurs sont ceux qui sont les plus utiles aux autres
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mar 22 Jan 2013 - 19:26
Citation :
UK MoD announces third wave of redundancies 22 January 2013 The UK Ministry of Defence has announced a third round of army redundancies, with a further 5,300 job losses revealed.
The announcement comes as part of an initiative to reduce the number of retained servicemen by 20,000 to 82,000 by 2017 as the MoD is forced to contend with budgetary constraints enforced by the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.Tasked with covering a deficit of around £38bn, a fourth wave of redundancies is expected to be announced later this year.
UK defence secretary Philip Hammond said: "The army is actively managing recruitment to reach the target numbers, but unfortunately redundancies are unavoidable due to the size of the defence deficit that this government inherited and the consequent scale of downsizing required in the army."
"We will have smaller armed forces but they will in future be properly equipped and well-funded, unlike before."
Hammond also confirmed that the redundancies were not expected to affect ongoing operations in Afghanistan.
In order to compensate for the loss of regular soldiers, the UK Government had previously announced its intent to double reservist numbers to 30,000 by 2018, a programme that has caused divisions.
Speaking to the BBC, UK shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy expressed concern surrounding the cuts, but admitted there was a logic behind them.
"There are real worries about the military impact of a loss of skills and capability at a time of increased threats and new global challenges," said Murphy.
Army chief of the general staff general Sir Peter Wall responded to the announcement by reluctantly acknowledging the process to be essential.
"Our aim now is to apply the process as fairly as possible and to prepare to support those individuals who are selected as they and their families' transition to civilian life," Wall added.
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mar 22 Jan 2013 - 19:33
Citation :
Britain is to send spy planes, unmanned drones and special forces to Mali to ‘find and dismantle’ the Al Qaeda network behind the slaughter in Algeria. In an escalation of the UK’s support for French forces fighting the militants in the African country, David Cameron said he would commit ‘intelligence and counter terrorism assets’.
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mar 22 Jan 2013 - 19:43
SAS en mission vengeance
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mer 23 Jan 2013 - 12:53
Citation :
Embarrassment for MoD because new £650million spy planes cannot refuel in mid-air
Three second hand RC-135 jets have been bought from the U.S Air Force to replace the RAF's Nimrod
But the RAF use a different system to refuel jets mid-air which isn't compatible with US aircraft
Military analysts warn reconnaissance missions could be put at risk as UK will need other nations' help to refuel planes
RC-135 will be limited to 12 hours flying time if they can't refuel mid-air
The RAF cannot refuel its new £650million spy planes in mid-air, it has been revealed.
In a fresh humiliation for the Ministry of Defence, it emerged that Britain must rely on other nations to fill up the RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft once it is in the skies. Military analysts warned that crucial reconnaissance missions could be jeopardised by the UK's failure to act independently.
But the Ministry of Defence said fuel efficient engines allow the plane to operate for longer while avoiding the spiralling costs and delays involved in converting it. Ministers bought three second-hand Rivet Joints from the U.S. Air Force in March 2010 to eavesdrop on enemy communications. Renamed the Airseeker by the RAF, the vintage jets are being introduced to replace the Nimrod surveillance planes axed in 2011 after one blew up over Afghanistan, killing all 14 men on board.
Anti-pirate Wildcat helicopter unveiled by Royal Navy
The Royal Navy Wildcat Attack helicopter.
By CLAIRE GARDNER Published on Monday 28 January 2013 09:44
BOASTING a fearsome armoury, this state-of the-art helicopter is the Royal Navy’s latest recruit which will play a vital role in protecting its fleet around the world.
The £26 million Wildcat attack helicopter, so powerful it can blow a submarine out of the water, will replace the Lynx fleet, which has served the Fleet Air Arm since the mid-70s.
Yesterday the chopper, which is fitted with the latest sensors, equipment and weapons, took its first flight from its base in Yeovil, Somerset.
The Wildcat will be used in the fight against pirates, as well to protect the navy’s fleet. They will fly from the decks of frigates and destroyers. The helicopter can carry forward-firing rockets, machine guns, door-mounted machine guns, an air-to-surface system and can deploy torpedoes and depth charges.
Other features of the Wildcat include a fuselage which is protected with a composite material similar to that used for soldiers’ body armour, so it is difficult to pierce with ground fire.
The twin-engine helicopter is also kitted out with state-of-the-art radar to search for enemy ships and vehicles, penetrating sonar to hunt for subs and electronic surveillance measures such as 360-degree infrared imaging cameras.
Manned by two crew members and carrying up to seven passengers, the helicopter is also able to fend off missile attacks with a sophisticated self-defence system.
Chief of naval staff, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, said: “As a ship-borne helicopter, Wildcat will provide commanders with a flexible attack capability which can be deployed to tackle a range of threats at sea and from the sea.
“With state-of-the-art sensors, equipment and weapons, it will be an outstanding asset that will maintain Royal Naval units at the cutting edge of worldwide maritime operations.”
The Ministry of Defence signed a £250m contract with AgustaWestland last year to provide support and training for the navy and army’s 62-strong fleet of Wildcat Helicopters.
The Royal Navy will receive 28 maritime attack variant helicopters, which will begin operations across the globe from 2015.
Minister for defence equipment, support and technology, Philip Dunne, said: “The new maritime Wildcat attack helicopter is an excellent addition to the Royal Navy’s arsenal, providing it with greater firepower and a range of technological enhancements.
“The support and training contract with AgustaWestland is also good news for the local economy in Somerset, securing 500 highly skilled jobs in the defence sector.”
The new helicopter was displayed for the first time at the Farnborough International Air Show in July last year.
Speaking about the new fleet at the event, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: “This new fleet of Wildcat helicopters will provide a fantastic capability for our armed forces – on land and at sea.
“Wildcat represents a considerable advance over the current Lynx helicopters, bringing greatly improved performance and capability.”
The name Wildcat recalls the name given to the American-built Grumman F4F carrier-borne fighter, which was widely used by the Allies during the Second World War. It was named Martlet by the British.
The aircraft ceased operational service in 1945 but some remain flying, including one at the Imperial War Museum Duxford.
www.scotsman.com
_________________ Le Prophéte (saw) a dit: Les Hommes Les meilleurs sont ceux qui sont les plus utiles aux autres
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mar 29 Jan 2013 - 20:16
Citation :
Innovative Ways Sought to Improve the Security of Maritime Operations
(Source: U.K Ministry of Defence; issued January 28, 2013)
The Ministry of Defence is looking for ways to strengthen the security of maritime operations so that it can be more effective at combating illegal activities such as gun-running, people-smuggling and piracy.
A member of HMS Monmouth's force protection team provides cover during the boarding of a ship that had been assaulted by suspected pirates
The Royal Navy provides the main defence of the UK’s seas and overseas territories and ensures safe navigation, transport and trade in national and international waters.
The security of trade and other maritime operations is critical to UK interests around the world but can be threatened by international crime, which is increasingly using the same waters for unlawful activities such as the movement of people and weapons.
Maritime Constabulary Operations and Maritime Security Operations already use the full spectrum of tools available to the Royal Navy but some hostile activity can be difficult to detect in busy and congested waters where it is hard to identify and stop the few illegal operations out of the vast number of legitimate civilian activities.
More effective tools are now needed to strengthen the UK’s response and reduce the risks to trade and shipping.
The MOD’s Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE), which is part of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), is seeking proof-of-concept research proposals from industry and academia to improve the security of maritime operations. Areas of interest include:
• the determination of unlawful activity at sea by developing breakthroughs in the way that activities such as piracy or the transportation of weapons can be detected when unlawful craft and lawful craft look very similar.
• the response to hostile activity at sea by developing new technology, and other solutions, that can provide a graduated range of responses, particularly non-lethal and non-destructive means, when interdicting craft that are carrying out unlawful activities.
• small arms accuracy at sea by developing new tools, such as effective training aids, that are representative of small arms operations on maritime platforms and can provide the feedback on marksmanship accuracy needed to develop performance.
A boarding team from HMS Montrose confiscates suspected pirates' gear in the Indian Ocean [Picture: Petty Officer (Photographer) Terry Seward, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010] David Sherburn, who leads the maritime research programme at Dstl, said:
It’s vitally important we reach out to industry and academia which have experience with equipment delivery, technology development and innovation to ensure we get the broadest and most coherent science and technology package of ideas and solutions for the front line commands.”
CDE proves the value of novel, high-risk, high-potential-benefit research sourced from the broadest possible range of science and technology providers, including academia and small companies, to enable development of cost-effective capability advantage for UK Armed Forces and national security.
Successful proposals from a previous maritime-related CDE call, ‘Innovation in Technology for Unmanned Maritime Systems’, have been funded with academia and industry, including small and medium-sized enterprises.
These aim to demonstrate solutions for everything from novel technology for the safe and quick recovery of unmanned systems to technology that can reduce the drag of unmanned systems using micro vortex generators or autonomously power an unmanned system using the energy from ocean waves.
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mer 30 Jan 2013 - 12:14
Citation :
United Kingdom will sent about 240 troops to West Africa in a training role to aid the French-led mission against Islamist rebels in Mali, the government confirmed on Tuesday, January 29, 2013.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 09:02 AM http://www.armyrecognition.com/january_2013_army_military_defense_industry_news/index.php
jonas General de Brigade
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mer 30 Jan 2013 - 12:33
Citation :
Stunning graphics show UK’s future (twin-island) supercarriers
Not as large as U.S. flattops but 280 meters in length hence longer than the London’s Palace of Westminster: this is the size of HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales, UK’s Royal Navy future flagships. The team behind the future aircraft carriers have produced a series of rendering whose aim is to demonstrate the scale of the carriers. To give a better idea of the size of the 65,000-tons leviathan, the artists put the HMS Queen Elizabeth, on the Thames next to the Palace of Westminster, and the HMS Prince of Wale,s at Victory Jetty in Portsmouth. Last summer, UK’s helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, currently Britain’s biggest warship, was docked on the Thames at Greenwich with several helicopters on board as part of the anti-terrorist effort put in place for the London Olympics. The two aircraft carriers, that will host the F-35B (the Short Take Off Vertical Landing version of the Joint Strike Fighter that will replace the Harrier “jump jet” untimely retired as a consequence of 2010′s spending review), are expected to enter service later this decade.
Noteworthy, unlike any previous design, the new aircraft carrier will feature a twin-island on the flight deck.
the aviationist
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Jeu 31 Jan 2013 - 11:57
Citation :
By UK Ministry of Defence on Thursday, January 31st, 2013 The RAF’s most recently formed squadron has taken delivery of the latest state-of-the-art Typhoon jet.
The 100th Typhoon jet delivered to No 1 (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Leuchars
The unit, No 1 (Fighter) Squadron, which was reformed just 4 months ago at RAF Leuchars in Scotland, is now home to the 100th Typhoon to enter service.
Officer Commanding No 1 (Fighter) Squadron, Wing Commander Mark Flewin, said:
There can be no better example of the strides we are taking with regard to growing the Typhoon Force than the stand-up of 1 (Fighter) Squadron – we reformed as a Typhoon unit in September last year – and it is fantastic to have taken delivery of this brand new, milestone aircraft.”
The RAF continues to move towards a combined fleet of Typhoon and Joint Strike Fighter jets, two of the world’s most modern and capable multi-role combat aircraft. The Joint Strike Fighter is a fifth-generation stealth aircraft which represents a step-change in the UK’s combat air capability.
Typhoon is already delivering air defence for the UK and the Falkland Islands, and its ground attack capabilities were instrumental to allied operations over Libya.
There is a pleasing correlation for us in operating the RAF’s 100th operational Typhoon on 1 (Fighter) Squadron, during this our centenary year, the squadron having been originally formed back in 1912.”
The squadron has already begun autonomous operations, and is supporting the Quick Reaction Alert mission here at Leuchars.”
I have no doubt that this aircraft will be put to good use in supporting the standing task in addition to a busy exercise programme in 2013.”
UK Army conducts Urban Warrior 5 virtual simulation exercise 1 February 2013 Soldiers from the British Army 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh (2 R WELSH) have conducted a virtual simulation exercise, code-named Urban Warrior 5, at the Land Warfare Centre in Warminster, UK.
A total of 190 soldiers practised multiple scenarios under supervision of a sophisticated system of computers and advanced simulation software during the exercise, which represented the army's largest ever virtual simulation drill.
The resulting data will now be analysed by the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and simulation programme developer, Niteworks Partnership, to create a simulation model for determination of the army's future requirements.
Army Force Development director brigadier Simon Deakin said the exercise provided forces with the opportunity to view the requirements for successful implementation of future missions.
By testing our soldiers in a number of demanding scenarios we can determine the optimum tactics, equipment and training that are required for us to shape the Army of the future,"' Deakin added.
Commenting on the simulation trials, 2 R WELSH section commander corporal Jeremy Appiah said: "The exercise is an excellent way to develop our mindset from what we have learnt in Afghanistan to future conflicts."
UK Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Minister Philip Dunne added: "Evidence gathered from this experiment will be used to guide decisions on the type of equipment we need to fight conflicts in all terrains."
Designed by Dstl scientists and Niteworks Partnership, Exercise Urban Warrior 5 aims to offer evidence-based advice to army on critical capabilities that are needed for future operations in the urban battlefield, as well as helping in cost-effective development of the future force.
The army also staged a real-life simulation exercise in December 2012, when soldiers practised with Warrior armoured vehicles and Challenger 2 tanks in a computer-generated realistic battlefield scenarios at the Urban Warfare Training Centre (CENZUB) in France.
The Black Hornet Nano Unmanned Air Vehicle measures around 4 inches by 1 inch (10cm x 2.5cm) and provides troops on the ground with vital situational awareness.
The Black Hornet is equipped with a tiny camera which gives troops reliable full-motion video and still images. Soldiers are using it to peer around corners or over walls and other obstacles to identify any hidden dangers and the images are displayed on a handheld terminal.
Miniature surveillance helicopters help protect front line troops
British troops in Afghanistan are the first to use state of the art handheld nano surveillance helicopters, the MoD has announced.
Pictures show soldiers using the Black Hornet Nano Unmanned Air Vehicle on the front line. It measures around 4 inches by 1 inch and provides troops on the ground with vital situational awareness.
Black Hornet is equipped with a tiny camera which gives troops reliable full motion video and still images. Soldiers are using it to peer around corners or over walls and other obstacles to identify any hidden dangers and the images are displayed on a handheld terminal.
This revolutionary new system - the size of a child’s toy – is carried easily on patrol and is capable of performing in harsh environments and windy conditions.
Black Hornet weighs as little as 16 grams and has been developed by Prox Dynamics AS of Norway as part of a £20M contract for 160 units with Marlborough Communications Ltd (MCL), Surrey.
Sergeant Christopher Petherbridge, of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force in Afghanistan said: “Black Hornet is definitely adding value, especially considering the light weight nature of it. We used it to look for insurgent firing points and check out exposed areas of the ground before crossing which is a real asset. It is very easy to operate and offers amazing capability to the guys on the ground.”
Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne, said:
“Black Hornet gives our troops the benefits of surveillance in the palm of their hands. It is extremely light and portable whilst out on patrol.
“ Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems are a key component in our 10 year Equipment plan and now that we have balanced the Defence budget we are able to confidently invest in these kinds of cutting-edge technologies.”
www.isaf.nato.int
_________________ Le Prophéte (saw) a dit: Les Hommes Les meilleurs sont ceux qui sont les plus utiles aux autres
UK MoD awards IBDS in-service support contract to Smiths Detection 11 February 2013
Smiths Detection has been awarded a bio-consumables contract to deliver in-service support for the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD) integrated biological detection systems (IBDS) fleet.
Under the terms of the £18.5m contract, Smiths Detection will procure, store and also manage components that are essential for biological testing process in the advanced technology system.
Smiths Detection UK managing director Andrew Lee said the latest contract demonstrates the significance of provision of service and support to the overall IBDS programme.
"Our strong relationship with the MoD has been crucial in building and maintaining the skill base and managing the in-service support programme," Lee said.
The company had already provided IDBS support services for two years under a £7.8m contract awarded by the MoD in December 2010.
Readily transportable by either fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters, the IDBS has been designed to provide commanders with early warning of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats in the battlefield.
The rugged system is housed inside a 14ft container that is either mounted on a four wheel-drive vehicle or ground-dumped, and features a detection suite with atmospheric sampling equipment, a meteorological station, chemical agent detection and cameras for 360° surveillance.
Additional equipment includes main computer systems, independent power supply, GPS, as well as NBC filtration and environmental control for use under in all climate conditions.
Originally manufactured by Lockheed Martin-led consortium as part of a £50m contract in March 2009, the system can be operated by a four member crew and has been used by the Joint CBRN Regiment at RAF Honington since 2003.
Work under the contract is scheduled to be carried out for the next two years.
UK MoD publishes international defence engagement strategy 12 February 2013 The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has published a new international defence engagement strategy, revealing how non-operational assets and activities will be refocused towards contributing to wider government objectives in the future.
Jointly developed with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office in consultation with other government departments, the strategy outlines how all the country's non-combat international defence efforts will be focused on countries significant to its national interests.
UK defence secretary Philip Hammond said: "This strategy is welcome at a time of limited financial resources, providing a means to focus our assets and activities such that we can make an even greater contribution to securing a safe and prosperous future for the UK."
The 20-year non-combat strategy involves four pillars of defence, which include defence diplomacy, support to operations, exports, and building regional stability.
UK foreign secretary William Hague said: "The publication of the international defence engagement strategy will help the UK work more effectively to deliver our foreign policy objectives, delivering an integrated approach drawing on all of the levers of power across government."
Initial examples of the strategy in practice have already emerged, with the MoD referring to the establishing of a new Defence Attaché and Defence Section in the British Embassy in Burma, in addition to a Defence Section in Juba, South Sudan.
Providing training assistance to the Libyan navy and air force, helping the establishment of bomb disposal and defence language schools, and plans to set up a new Defence Section in the new British Embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia, are also being considered.
The MoD is also exploring options of using army capabilities for a multitude of defence engagement tasks and will pilot this as the service restructures its Adaptable Force Brigades as part of the Army 2020 initiative.
The strategy is in accordance with the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), which sets out a vision for an integrated approach to addressing the country's international objectives.
(Source: British Forces News; published Feb. 13, 2013)
Almost 450 British military drones have crashed, broken down or been lost during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq over the last five years.
The Guardian says the information has come from Ministry of Defence figures which reveal “for the first time the five Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems used in the conflicts and the number that have perished due to pilot error, technical faults or the undesirability of retrieving them from hostile areas.”
It says one Reaper drone has been lost since 2007, with nine Hermes 450s also lost – one in Iraq and eight in Afghanistan. The figures also shows 412 handheld Desert Hawk 3s have crashed or been lost in the last five years, with 25 other versions of mini UAVs – the Black Hornet and the Tarantula Hawk – destroyed in operations in Afghanistan.
The MOD says UAVs give frontline troops vital intelligence and help to save lives.
In a statement it said: “Reaper is the only armed UAV used by British forces and the rest are unarmed surveillance and reconnaissance assets. No deaths or injuries have resulted from the loss of any MOD UAV and a thorough investigation is carried out into any incident that results in a UAV not being recovered or irreparably damaged.
“Desert Hawk 3 is a small surveillance aircraft hand launched by troops in the field and more than 30,000 missions have been carried out in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Lightweight mini or nano UAVs like DH3 and Black Hornet can be more susceptible to harsh operational conditions and if they fail to land outside the confines of a safe area are sometimes not recovered in order to prevent any risk to life in retrieving it. This can result in a higher loss rate than larger tactical or strategic UAVs such as Hermes 450. Since 2007, Hermes 450 has flown more than 73,000 hours.
"There have been nine incidents involving Hermes 450 during that time and only two of those occurred when the assets were airborne.”
Mar 18 Déc 2012 - 15:24
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