Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces

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Citation :

Commercial Sale of Type 22 Frigates


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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Citation :

UK may retain C-130J Hercules for special forces duties



The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) may retain in service a number of its Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules transport aircraft for special forces use, a senior service official disclosed on 16 September.

Speaking at the IQPC Military Airlift 2014 conference in London, Group Captain Simon Edwards, Officer Commanding RAF Brize Norton, said that there may be a continued need for the C-130J beyond its current planned out of service date (OSD) of 2022.

"We will start drawing down the C-130 fleet in the next couple of years, and will retire them in 2022. However, if we keep [a number of] them, and we may, it will probably be for special forces use," he said.

The RAF currently operates 24 C-130J aircraft out of RAF Brize Norton. With the first of 22 Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A400M Atlas transport aircraft set to arrive at the base in the coming weeks, the C-130J is due to be withdrawn from service in favour of a joint A400M and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlift force.

Although Gp Capt Edwards' comments open the door to a stay of execution for the C-130J in RAF service, he noted that this is in large part dependent on the state of the airframes after more than a decade of intense operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond.

"It does depend what life is left in [the C-130J] what we do with them after their planned retirement date, [as] we can't afford to invest in aircraft we have no current plans to retain. Having said that, we have to be aware of what can happen in the next eight years [until the OSD], and [support the aircraft for that] accordingly."

With the possible exception of special forces work, Gp Capt Edwards feels that there is no real gap in the tactical capabilities between the C-130J and A400M, nor in the strategic capabilites between the A400M and C-17, and that the introduction into service of the Atlas will significantly enhance the RAF's air mobility capacity.

"You can't hide the fact that sometimes only a [strategic] C-17 will do, and there is a time when a [tactical] C-130 is just the right tool for the job. To what extent will the A400M overlap those capabilities? Very significantly, I'd say. I'm not sure there is a capability gap between the A400M and C-17. The C-17 is a very small fleet [of eight aircraft], so it has a strategic impact to re-purpose one, whereas the A400M offers a fleet [size that allows us] to do what we want when we want, without having a strategic impact [on our airlift capabilities]."

http://www.janes.com

J'ai une questions pour vous, tous le monde sais que l’écosse établira un référendum pour décidé si elle devrait rester avec UK ou choisir la dépendance. dans le cas de son indépendance cela ne provoquera pas quelque problème au sein de l'armée britannique.

Si la base de SM de Fastlane.
Et divers joyeusetés......

Citation :

Royal Marines

As darkness began to cover their tracks Royal Marine Commandos launched their final assault on a disused submarine base in Albania as part of a long-planned annual exercise.

Alpha and Bravo Companies from 40 Commando were landed ashore by Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) in preparation for the attack on the Porto Palermo Submarine Base, Albania.

As part of Exercise Albanian Lion the Royal Marines joined up with Albanian forces to practise their core amphibious fighting skills, with the objective to recapture the base from opposing forces.

PHOTOS:

Gloire a écrit:

J'ai une questions pour vous, tous le monde sais que l’écosse établira un référendum pour décidé si elle devrait rester avec UK ou choisir la dépendance. dans le cas de son indépendance cela ne provoquera pas quelque problème au sein de l'armée britannique.  

Economiquement, si l'Ecosse devient indépendante les anglais risque la sentir passer la facture du déménagement ! (La citation ci-dessous vient du magazine DSI (Défense & Sécurité Internationale) N°105 de Juillet-Août 2014)

DSI a écrit:

Au sein de l'armée britannique, les troupes basées sur le sol écossais représentent environ 8% du total des forces, avec 10,3% des réservistes...

De nombreuses unités seraient concernées, comme le 45e commando des Royal marines d'Arbroath, les 1er, 2e et 3e bataillons du Royal Regiment of Scotland, le 39e régiment du génie de Kinloss ou encore le 3e bataillon The Rifles. Dans le domaine aérien, la Royal Air Force dispose de deux bases majeures en Ecosse, à Leuchars et à Kinloss, où sont présents deux escadrons de Typhoon responsables de la force de réaction rapide nord ainsi que de trois escadrons de Tornado.

L'indépendance remettrait également en question un certain nombre de projets de réforme de la carte britannique. Londres prévoit en effet de déménager plusieurs unités sur le territoire , dont le 46e centre de réservistes, qui représente 15% de l'effectif national. Plusieurs infrastructures d'une grandes importance se trouvent également en Ecosse, comme le centre de recherche et de test de l'ïle de Skye? spécialisé dans la technologies sous-marines, ou encore l'immense terrain de manœuvre de Cape Wrath.

L'un des principaux problèmes posés par une éventuelle indépendance de l'Ecosse est l'avenir des capacités nucléaires du Royaume-Uni. La composante navale de la dissuasion britannique dispose en effet de moyens sous-marins abrités par le de Faslane, dans l'ouest de l4ecosse. Ce site de 7 000 personnels abrite la sous-marinade de la Royal Navy et plus particulièrement ses quatre sous-marins lanceurs d'engins(moins un, toujours en opérations).

Or le Parti national écossais a d'ores et déjà annoncé qu'en cas d'indépendance le pays refuserait la présence d'un arsenal nucléaire sur son territoire. il se fixe 2016 comme ambition au transfert de ces armements vers le Royaume-Uni. Des travaux qui poseraient des problèmes logistiques considérables, mais qui seraient particulièrement coûteux. Londres réfléchirait à la possibilité de négocier avec Edimbourg pour maintenir son programme Trident(les quatre sous-marins Vanguard et leurs misiles) sur le territoire Ecossais...

Citation :

RAF Typhoons Scrambled to Intercept Russian Bears

RAF Typhoons had to be scrambled this week to intercept two unidentified military aircraft, which turned out to be Russian TU-95 ‘Bear’ strategic bombers on a reconnaissance run.

Russia using it’s strategic bomber force to ‘probe’ the airspace of NATO members to test reaction times and response strength was a regular feature of the Cold War, which necessitated a dense network of fast jet squadrons based around the world to intercept, and escort away the Russian craft. They all but ceased with the collapse of the Soviet Union, but acting as a convenient barometer of a resurgent Russia they have resumed in recent years.

This is the third time the UK’s northern Quick Reaction Alert squadron has been scrambled to intercept Russian bombers, and the first time from their new home at RAF LOSSIEMOUTH, as their former home at the better known RAF LEUCHARS is now in the process of being transformed into an army base. According to the Daily Express newspaper, Russia has also trespassed in US airspace in the same way sixteen times this year.

The Russians do not only test our response time by air, but also by sea. Last Christmas, the Russian Navy parked an Aircraft Carrier and associated battlegroup in the Firth of Moray and waited, unmolested for 24 hours within easy striking distance of Scottish city Inverness while a British destroyer was directed from Portsmouth to escort it away.

The same happened in 2011 when a Russian group of eight warships, including an aircraft carrier and three major surface warships moored in the Firth of Moray.

The Royal Navy no longer has an active aircraft carrier component while the two new Queen Elizabeth class carriers are commissioned and worked up. When complete they will be the largest ships ever built for the Royal Navy, and some of the largest aircraft carriers in the world. The first air-wings are expected to be operational in 2020.

http://www.breitbart.com

Citation :

Ajoutée le 22 sept. 2014

The British Army’s new Foxhound all-terrain vehicle is put through its paces. Designed and built in Britain, the
Foxhound has been tested in action out in Afghanistan and is set to become one of the mainstay vehicles
within the UK forces. With unprecedented levels of blast protection for its size and weight, it has been
designed to provide the highest levels of protection for our troops.

Citation :

Northrop en embuscade

Industrie et matériels  23 septembre 2014  


X47BLe programme de drone de combat franco-britannique est-il menacé ?

En mars dernier, nous évoquions que, parallèlement au financement d’une partie des études amonts sur le programme d’UCAV FCAS par la France et la Grande-Bretagne, le ministre britannique Philip Dunne avait signé un accord de coopération scientifique avec le Pentagone sur ce type de plate-forme.

Or, la semaine dernière, l’américain Northrop, maître d’œuvre de la plupart des plates-formes furti­ves américaines, a proposé au gouvernement britannique son prototype navalisé X-47B comme plate-forme de base pour le pro­gramme FCAS.

Si Londres n’a pas communiqué sur le sujet, cette offre a suscité un grand intérêt outre-Manche pour plu­sieurs raisons. En effet, c’est la coopéra­tion entre industriels britanni­ques et américains, depuis le Dark Star à la fin des années 90, qui a servi de matrice aux proto­types d’UCAV outre-Manche Corax et Taranis. En 2005, le projet Churchill allait encore plus loin, puisque les futurs UCAV britanniques et américains devaient être compa­tibles. C’est à ce titre que BAE réalisa le “vehicle management system” du X-47B.

Les autorités britanni­ques voient dans l’offre américai­ne une réelle opportunité écono­mique en s’appuyant sur une plate-forme déjà existante. Mais c’est le rapport publié en mars dernier par le comité de la défense de la Chambre des communes qui donne une bonne grille de lecture sur le choix des autori­tés pour tel ou tel projet.

Ainsi, sur le plan opérationnel, la capa­cité de frappe en profondeur est déter­minante pour la RAF ; avec un rayon d’action de 4 000 km, 6 heures d’autonomie et 2 tonnes de charge utile, le X-47 sur­classe les spécifications françaises. Quant aux aspects technologiques, selon le même rapport, la Grande-Bretagne tient à conserver le leadership sur les senseurs (radar et guerre électronique) ainsi que sur le système de gestion de l’information. Or, c’est précisément sur ces deux points que Northrop promet une place de choix à BAE et Selex si le X-47B est retenu pour le programme d’Ucav américain UCLASS.

http://www.ttu.fr/northrop-en-embuscade/  

Citation :

British Army

The British Army has started transporting Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks to Poland today for an upcoming NATO exercise in Eastern Europe.

The heavy armour is being moved from The King’s Royal Hussars base in Tidworth Camp, Wiltshire, to Marchwood Military Port in Hampshire, in preparation for being be deployed on EXERCISE Black Eagle, which will run from late October to early December.

Ex BLACK EAGLE is a bi-lateral UK/Polish exercise and is a significant demonstration of the UK’s support to the region and NATO’s Immediate Assurance Measures.

The Kings Royal Hussars is the UK’s Lead Armoured Battlegroup operating the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank. The Battlegroup will total approximately 1300 personnel, 100 armoured vehicles and 250 other vehicles and will be the UK’s biggest armoured deployment in Eastern Europe since 2008.

1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, which is also providing personnel and vehicles to the exercise, is the Lead Armoured Infantry Battalion in the British Army. The battalion is equipped with the Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle, enabling it to move swiftly around the battlefield delivering troops to the heart of the battle. Warriors are due to be transported from Tidworth to Marchwood next week and then onward to Poland. (4 photos)

Citation :

Operation Shader is ready to go: Britain buys 20 Tomahawk missiles ready to strike IS today as SAS on ground and Tornadoes in air prepare to take country back to war

Britain has bought 20 Tomahawk missiles from the US at a cost of £1m each
They are fired from submarines and can be programmed to turn corners
The submarines loiter offshore before going to depth to fire them
RAF Tornados will fly missions aiming to 'decapitate' IS commanders

Britain has bought 20 Tomahawk missiles from the US in preparation for its bombing campaign against Islamic State.

Costing £1million each, they are fired from submarines and can be computer-programmed to turn corners.

They have already been fired in the Gulf by the US and are likely to be among the first weapons used by the British military in Operation Shader.

RAF Tornados will fly the first UK missions aiming to ‘decapitate’ IS commanders, convoys of jihadists fighters and control bunkers during initial air operations over Iraq.

Special forces troops have been in the region identifying potential targets for weeks and will be asked to identify any areas where civilians are being used as human shields.

RAF Tornados will fly the first UK missions aiming to ‘decapitate’ IS commanders, convoys of jihadists fighters and control bunkers during initial air operations over Iraq.

Special forces troops have been in the region identifying potential targets for weeks and will be asked to identify any areas where civilians are being used as human shields.

Special Forces units known as Smash teams have carried out reconnaissance to provide up-to-date information on the jihadistss.

In some attacks, they will use a process called ‘painting a target’ to pinpoint a site to be struck. A laser beam from a portable device is bounced off a building or military installation from a few hundred yards – this is detected by the aircraft or a missile sensor, which then deploys the weapon.

The Tornados, veterans of both Gulf Wars and Afghanistan, will be armed with Paveway bombs to target small compounds, Storm Shadow bunker busters and supersonic Brimstone missiles that can hit moving targets such as people in cars or on motorbikes.

The US-led coalition hit Islamic State group targets in Syria's central province of Homs for the first time on Saturday as it pressed what Washington says are 'near continuous' strikes, a monitoring group said.

The coalition also targeted IS, also known as Isis, in the town of Minbej, east of second city Aleppo, for the first time, as well as multiple targets in the jihadist heartland province of Raqa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said the targets hit in Homs province were far away from the front line with forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, who control Homs city, Syria's third largest.

'The US-Arab coalition has for the first time struck IS bases in the eastern desert of Homs province,' Abdel Rahman said, adding that the positions were in the area of Al-Hammad, east of ancient city Palmyra.

Washington has been keen not to let Assad's forces exploit the air campaign against IS to take the upper hand in the more than three-year-old civil war.

In eastern Aleppo province - the western limit of IS control - the coalition hit several jihadist targets in Minbej, said the Observatory, which relies on a broad network of activists and doctors for its reports.

Further east, the coalition pounded the city of Raqa, which the jihadists have made their headquarters, the Britain-based group said.

'At least 31 explosions were heard in Raqa city and its surroundings.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Citation :

Watchkeeper fully operational in Afghanistan, UK reveals


The British Army’s Thales UK/Elbit Systems-developed Watchkeeper unmanned air system (UAS) has become fully operational in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

Revealing the development on 29 September, the MoD said: “This new capability is providing force protection for British troops as they prepare to draw down from Afghanistan by the end of this year.”



Crown Copyright

Army personnel began training on the system from Boscombe Down in Wiltshire earlier this year, but there had been no prior indication that the new type would be sent to Afghanistan before the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force completes its mission.

The long-delayed tactical UAS is now being operated from Camp Bastion in Helmand province, alongside Thales-supported Elbit Hermes 450s – the model from which the Watchkeeper is derived. However, unlike the baseline platform, the British Army aircraft carries a twin payload comprising an electro-optical/infrared sensor and a Thales-produced synthetic aperture radar.



Crown Copyright

“Following the handover of Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, the unmanned air system will return home to Wiltshire,” the MoD says. It declines to disclose how many air vehicles have been deployed to the theatre of operations, but confirms that the first deployment of equipment occurred in August.

Welcoming the system’s introduction to operational use, defence secretary Michael Fallon says: “Watchkeeper will be a significant surveillance and reconnaissance capability for the army for years to come.”

http://www.flightglobal.com

Citation :

Les hélicoptères Merlin de la Royal Air Force transférés à la Royal Navy

Une cérémonie officielle a marqué le 30 septembre le transfert des hélicoptères Merlin de la Royal Air Force à la Royal Navy.

http://www.journal-aviation.com/actualites/27874-les-merlins-de-la-royal-air-force-transferes-a-la-royal-navy

Citation :

British Army

1 YORKS on Exercise Prairie Storm 3 at BATUS (8 photos)

1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (1 YORKS) Battle group are on Exercise Prairie Storm 3 at the British Army Training Area Suffield (BATUS), Alberta, Canada. The training area at BATUS is equivalent in size to the combined area all of the main training areas used by British Army in the UK and in Europe; Salisbury Plain Training Area would fit in 7 times over.

The Battle group is made up of attachments from C Squadron Kings Royal Hussars, 26 Royal Engineers, 8 Armoured Engineer Squadron, Artillery Regiments from 19th, 5th, 12th and 39th.

PHOTOS:

 

Citation :

RAF, le retrait des Tornado ajourné !



Les trois dernier escadrons de première ligne qui volent encore sur l’avion de combat Panavia Tornado GR4 vont pouvoir continuer à voler encore un peu. Le retrait programmé de ceux-ci a été ajourné.  

Le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni vient donc de décider de maintenir encore un peu les Tornado au sein de la RAF. Deux escadrons ( no: 9 et 31) basés à Marham dans le Norfolk vont voler au moins jusqu’en 2021, alors qu’il était prévu de les stopper d’ici 2018. Le troisième escadron n°15, basé à Lossiemouth continuera également à volé sur le GR4. Au total se sont pas moins de 79 Tornado GR4 qui pourront ainsi continuer à servir sa gracieuse Majesté.

Les raisons de cette décision:

Trois raisons motivent ce brusque revirement de situation, les retards accumulés dans le programme du Lockheed-Martin F35B en sont la première cause. Le programme accuse un retard de près de quatre années et selon le dernier pointage de l’avionneur, les premiers F-35B n’arriveront au sein de la RAF qu’a fin 2018. Encore faut-il que d’autres problèmes ne viennent pas péjorer un calendrier mainte fois revu et corrigé.

La seconde raison provient du récent engagement de la RAF au sein de la coalition qui mène actuellement des opérations, afin d'appuyer les forces terrestres kurdes engagées dans le combat contre l'EI dans le nord-ouest de l'Irak.

La troisième est dernière raison concerne le fait que la RAF ne disposerait plus de réelles capacités d’attaque au sol dans l’attente de l’arrivée de l’Eurofighter T3 en 2017. Le maintien du Tornado GR4 permettra également de lancer et d’intégrer la nouvelle version du missile d’attaque au sol MBDA Brimstone II en 2015. L’Eurofighter recevra également le missile, mais pas avant 2019.



Le Tornado GR4 de la RAF :

Le Tornado GR4 de la RAF permet les opérations tout temps d’attaque et de reconnaissance. Il est en service dans la RAF depuis maintenant près de 30 ans, mais une combinaison de programmes de mise à niveau et de nombreuses améliorations continuelles ont permis de  garder l'avion à l'avant-garde. Le standard actuel  du GR4 lui permet de mettre en oeuvre des armes à guidage de précision moderne en parallèle avec la la nacelle de désignation Litening III qui est utilisé dans les deux rôles d'attaque et de reconnaissance. Le Tornado GR4 emporte les armements suivants : Storm Shadow, Brimstone, Sidewinder AIM-9L, Paveway II, III Paveway, Enhanced Paveway, Paveway IV,  ASRAAM.

Propulsé par deux réacteurs Rolls-Royce RB 199 Mk103, le GR4 est capable de voler très bas au niveau du vol à une vitesse supersonique et peut maintenir une vitesse de croisière subsonique élevée. L'avion peut voler automatiquement à un niveau bas en utilisant le guidage sol (ISF)  de manière automatique. L'avion est également équipé d'un Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) et des lunettes de vision nocturne (NVG) compatible avec les instruments du cockpit.

Pour la navigation, le Tornado est équipé d'un système intégré de navigation Global Positioning inertielle (GPINS). Le GR4 dispose également d'un radar au sol de cartographie (GMR) pour identifier les points fixes. Le GR4 est également équipé d'un laser de marquage de cible «Seeker» (LRMTS) qui peut être utilisé pour localiser des cibles désignées sur le sol ou peut fournir des informations de cibles au sol. Pour la reconnaissance, il peut également être doté du pod RAPTOR. Sa mise en service a donné au GR4 la capacité de transmettre en temps réel les informations.


Photos :  Tornado GR4 de la RAF @ Neil Bates

http://psk.blog.24heures.ch/archive/2014/10/07/raf-le-retrait-des-tornado-ajourne-857159.html

Citation :

HMS Ocean Receives Combat System Upgrade



Developed by engineers at BAE Systems in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Maritime Combat Systems team, Shared Infrastructure is an innovative hardware solution that can host software from multiple technology providers on a single system. This means, for the first time ever, the ship's crew has the capability to access all software, such as navigation, communications and sonar, needed to operate the ship's combat systems through a single console. This provides significant savings to the MOD, including a reduction in the space and power needed for computing equipment, makes it simpler for crew to operate, as well as reducing the amount of spares which are required to be carried on board and therefore significantly decreasing through-life costs.

Jennifer Osbaldestin, Combat Systems Director at BAE Systems Naval Ships, said: “Installing the Shared Infrastructure equipment on board HMS OCEAN introduces a more efficient way of housing the ship’s systems. By operating on a single interface, systems can be upgraded as and when required, and capabilities deployed efficiently, ensuring the Royal Navy is best placed to respond to evolving threats.

“This is a fantastic achievement for the teams involved and there is a real sense of excitement as we move into the next phase of installing the technology on board one of the Royal Navy’s Landing Platform Dock ships, HMS ALBION, next year.”

The deployment of Shared Infrastructure on HMS OCEAN marks an important step towards the Ministry of Defence’s vision to establish a common shared architecture across all Royal Navy warships.

Shared Infrastructure is also being deployed on all 13 Type 23 frigates, the Royal Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessels and the second Landing Platform Dock, which is scheduled to be completed over the next 10 years. The installation of the hardware on the Type 23 frigate fleet will also pave the way for creating a coherent shared infrastructure across current and future warships, including the Type 26 Global Combat Ship.

This important technology upgrade programme will help to sustain key engineering skills required to deliver a long-term Technical Authority support to the Ministry of Defence ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of defence. BAE Systems has over 50 years’ experience in the design, development and integration of state of the art combat systems for the surface and sub-surface fleet, equipping customers with the best information to operate effectively in modern naval environments.

http://www.baesystems.com

Citation :

British Army

Fusiliers take part in Exercise Prairie Storm in Canada

Soldiers from Zulu Company, 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (1RRF), are taking part in Exercise Prairie Storm, at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Canada.

Over the course of two weeks, they will face tough challenges as they contend with the variable weather and austere conditions of the Alberta prairie in autumn.

PHOTOS:

Photographer Corporal Tom Evans; Crown copyright.

Citation :

New Warship Maintenance Centre Opens In Portsmouth


The first phase of a major overhaul of Portsmouth Naval Base opens today (Wednesday 22 October).

The 15 Dock Centre of Specialisation, for the maintenance of Destroyers and Frigates, features an upgrade to the dock and improved accommodation for staff. It's the first of four new centres within the base for future support to Royal Navy ships for global operations.

It's part of a 15 year programme which includes getting the base ready to house the Royal Navy's two new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers from 2017.

The new facility, opened by Rear Admiral Ian Jess, will be used for the upkeep and maintenance of Type 45 Destroyers and Type 23 Frigates and marks the start of a 15 year transformation programme to modernise Portsmouth Naval Base, including preparations for the Royal Navy’s two new Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers.

The arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth by early 2017 has provided a catalyst for investment in the infrastructure of Portsmouth Naval Base. Investment requirements over the next 15 years have been captured within the ‘Portsmouth 2030 Programme’ which details a future vision for Portsmouth Naval Base.

The centres of specialisation have been the product of work undertaken by BAE Systems Maritime Services working in partnership with the Naval Base Command Portsmouth (NBCP) team, to capture infrastructure and facility requirements for both current and future classes of ship.

The new 15 Dock Centre of Specialisation will provide improved accommodation and amenities for Royal Navy and BAE Systems staff, new co-located storage facilities and an upgraded dock, complete with a new mobile harbour crane and a refurbished caisson. Re-modelling of the facility has also provided the opportunity to reduce Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) risks, by separating staff from plant and machinery, and controlling access to the site during operations.

Commodore Jeremy Rigby, Commander of Portsmouth Naval Base said:

“This is tangible evidence of the bright future for Portsmouth Naval Base. HMS Westminster will be the first ship to benefit from the transformation of the dock, arriving for her maintenance and upkeep period in early November. As well as a full survey of the hull, modification of machinery and repair work she will also be fitted with the state-of-the-art Artisan radar. This work alone involves a significant number of BAE Systems workers across a 14 month refit period. The opening of the refurbished 15 Dock is a key milestone for the Naval Base as we count down the days to the arrival of the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.”

Rear Admiral Ian Jess, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Support) said:

“Across all three of our Naval Bases we are investing in facilities to support a modern Navy deployed on operations throughout the world. I am therefore delighted to open the new 15 Dock complex in Portsmouth today which further demonstrates the increased investment we are providing to our Naval Bases and commitment to their future.”

James Davis, Naval Base Services Director for BAE Systems Maritime Services said:

“Creating Centres of Specialisation for delivery of Ship Support represents a key element of the Portsmouth 2030 programme. This is an example of what we mean when we say that we’re ‘building a modern naval base for a modern navy’. Completing the refurbishment and upgrade of ‘15 Dock and 2 Complex’, in time for delivery of HMS Westminster’s Upkeep Project, signifies the start of this exciting programme.”

As well as the 15 Dock facilities, under the transformation programme there will be three other Centres of Specialisation created and developed on the naval base which will be for the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers, Fleet Time Engineering for Type 45 Destroyers and Type 23 Frigates and an improved Mine Counter Measures complex.

For the Aircraft Carriers facility, significant investment is being made in the Western area of the naval base. This ranges from jetty improvements and power upgrades to dredging and navigation aids which will support the new vessels. In addition to refurbishing and upgrading Locks, Docks and Jetties, the Centres of Specialisation programme will includes the provision of upgraded accommodation, catering facilities and localised sports facilities.

These significant levels of investment coming into Portsmouth Naval Base are underpinned by the recently signed MSDF (Maritime Support Delivery Framework) contract, a £600 million contract to manage Portsmouth Naval Base and support global Royal Navy operations for the next five years. This partnering agreement between BAE Systems, the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence provides the potential to deliver significant benefits to the Ministry of Defence through the incorporation of contract enhancements for reduced cost and improved efficiencies and performance whilst maintaining operational availability.

http://www.heart.co.uk

Citation :

T-6C to head UK military training renewal


The UK Ministry of Defence is to replace the bulk of its current fixed-wing training aircraft with three new types, following the selection of a Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme bid by KBR/Elbit Systems joint venture Affinity.

Confirming Affinity as preferred bidder for the requirement on 24 October, the MoD’s training system partner for MFTS, Ascent Flight Training, says: “This is a key milestone along the route to a major investment decision.”


Beechcraft

New fleets of Grob Aircraft G120TP, Beechcraft T-6C (above) and Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft are due to be introduced, to respectively deliver elementary, basic and multi-engine training for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.

An undisclosed number of each type will replace in-service Grob G115 Tutors, Shorts Tucano T1s and leased Beechcraft King Air 200s under the arrangement, which is expected to run through to 2033. Flightglobal’s MiliCAS database records a respective 119, 38 and eight of these as being in current active duty, with the G115s provided by Babcock.



BillyPix

Ascent says instruction using the new aircraft will be delivered at the RAF’s Barkston Heath and Cranwell air bases with the G120TP (above), at RAF Valley with the T-6C and at Cranwell with the Phenom 100 (below). Affinity will also provide associated ground-based training devices and courseware under the arrangement.



Embraer

The RAF already operates a fleet of 28 BAE Systems Hawk 128s from its Valley base in Anglesey, north Wales, which deliver the advanced jet training element of the UK MFTS programme. The Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm also now trains its observers using four King Air 350s introduced via the scheme.

http://www.flightglobal.com

Citation :

Royal Navy

Portsmouth-based warship HMS Dragon sailed today on a routine seven-month Atlantic Patrol Tasking.

Less than a year after she returned from operations in the Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean the Type 45 destroyer will take over from HMS Iron Duke to continue the UK’s commitment to the region building on the UK’s strong ties with its allies.

During her time away Dragon will visit several ports in the South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as visiting a number of West African States to build on UK relationships.

Citation :

Most hallowed waters for HMS Grimsby’s latest mine hunt

29/10/2014

HMS Grimsby prowled the most hallowed waters in Royal Navy history as she took part in the largest naval exercise NATO has run this decade.

The Faslane-based minehunter searched the waters off Cape Trafalgar in Spain where a deadly harvest of drill mines had been laid as part of Noble Justification.

More than two dozen warships and submarines, as well as helicopters, AV-8B Harrier jump jets, maritime patrol aircraft, B52 bombers and more than 5,000 sailors and marines from 16 nations converged on the southern coast of Spain.

Straddling both the Atlantic and Mediterranean, the two-week exercise was designed to test the abilities of different nations’ forces to work together and to ensure the Spanish Navy will be ready to take the reins as the maritime ‘arm’ of NATO’s Response Force next year.






http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/october/29/141029-hms-grimsby-nato

Citation :

Thales remporte un énorme contrat en Grande-Bretagne


Le ministère de la Défense britannique lance un "plan Marshall" pour moderniser le contrôle aérien militaire britannique. Le groupe électronique participe à une commande d'un montant de 1,9 milliard d'euros.

C'est une très jolie commande pour Thales qui était en manque de contrats de plus de 100 millions d'euros. Le ministère de la Défense britannique a annoncé mercredi avoir confié un contrat de 1,5 milliard de livres (1,9 milliard d'euros) à une coentreprise formée par Thales et de la société britannique NATS pour moderniser le contrôle aérien militaire, grâce au système Marshall, un service pour la gestion de la circulation aérienne sur les aérodromes militaires. Le contrat d'une durée de 22 ans comporte notamment un volet de 400 millions de livres (507 millions d'euros) d'investissements dans des radars de surveillance avancés et divers équipements comme des aides à la navigation et des systèmes de radio.

Le ministère de la Défense espère économiser un milliard de livres sur la période en fondant près de 70 contrats existants en un seul. Le programme concerne plus de 60 sites au Royaume-Uni et au-delà, notamment à Chypre, Gibraltar et aux Malouines, les îles disputées par l'Argentine. Au total, 100 sites militaires, dont 60 aérodromes, sont concernés.

Début du contrat en avril 2015

La coentreprise, baptisée Aquila, est formée par Thales, très implantée au Royaume-Uni, et NATS, la société semi-publique qui gère le trafic aérien civil en Grande-Bretagne et dans d'autres le pays. Le contrat confié à Aquila débutera le 1er avril 2015.


http://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/20141030trib569584327/thales-remporte-un-enorme-contrat-en-grande-bretagne.html

Citation :

UK picks Aquila team for military ATM contract

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a £1.5 billion ($2.4 billion) contract to a joint NATS and Thales UK team to provide upgraded air traffic management capability over a 22-year period.

Under Project Marshall, the MoD sought modernisation of about 100 of its domestic and international air traffic management installations, including some 60 airfields and ranges. The Aquila joint venture will begin provision on 1 April 2015.

“Aquila will deliver a system-wide modernisation and rationalisation of the current fragmented system, and establish a flexible ATM service – one that complies with known regulatory requirements and which is future-proofed to meet any potential change in the regulatory and technological landscape,” the Aquila consortium said in a news release.

The contract will support military air traffic controller operations, plus the delivery of new equipment, system upgrades, maintenance, support services and training.





Aquila will introduce four new traffic management hubs, allowing services to be centralised. Overseas airfields, Royal Navy air stations and the more isolated UK airfields and ranges will continue to operate on a stand-alone basis but with a modernised approach and visual control rooms, according to Aquila.

Also to be delivered are three sets of fixed deployable and five sets of tactical man-portable ATC systems.

Maintenance services will be delivered through a regional support model. Six UK regions – Gibraltar, Wattisham, Middle Wallop, Netheravon, Barkston Heath and Woodvale – will be supported by a 24/7 technical service desk at NATS’ control centre in Hampshire.

The MoD expects the Aquila solution to save the government about £1 billion ($1.6 billion) over the period of the contract, according to the consortium.

http://www.flightglobal.com

Citation :

Second Airbus A400M for UK makes its maiden flight

31/10/2014



The second Airbus A400M new generation airlifter for the United Kingdom has made its maiden flight from the Final Assembly Line in Seville, Spain. The photo shows the Airbus Defence and Space flight test team, including the flightcrew, celebrating immediately after the 23 October flight. In the coming days the aircraft will be painted in Royal Air Force colours as it begins the customer acceptance process. In RAF service the A400M is known as the Atlas and will be based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.


http://militaryaircraft-airbusds.com/PressCenter/LatestNews/TabId/176/ArtMID/681/ArticleID/348/Second-Airbus-A400M-for-UK-makes-its-maiden-flight.aspx