(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 8 Jan 2015 - 11:17
Citation :
Ultra awarded Royal Navy Sonar contract
Ultra Electronics announces that its Sonar Systems business, based in Greenford, Middlesex, has been awarded a £27m contract for the Royal Navy’s Sonar 2050 Technology Refresh (S2050TR) Programme.
Under this contract, which will be executed over the next 10 years, the Group will deliver and support new hull mounted sonars for the Royal Navy’s eight Type-23 frigates. The S2050 Technology Refresh programme will deliver, to the Royal Navy, a world-leading sonar capability providing persistent surveillance against submarine and torpedo threats, at a significantly lower through-life cost. Ultra’s capability in sonar leverages technologies from a number of recent overseas wins. The Group is able to offer this advanced system as a low risk solution to the Royal Navy.
Ultra’s sonar capability incorporates a number of world leading solutions, which will help satisfy the growing global market.
http://www.ultra-electronics.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 Dim 11 Jan 2015 - 17:37
Citation :
Troops training at BATUS in Canada
Ajoutée le 8 janv. 2015
British troops on exercise at the British Army Training Area Suffield (BATUS), in Alberta, Canada. BATUS is the Army’s largest armoured training facility, which can accommodate live-firing and Tactical Effect Simulation (TES) exercises up to battlegroup level.
Footage features soldiers of 1st Battalion Scots Guards (1 SG) and the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (1 R WELSH), part of the King's Royal Hussars (KRH) Battlegroup, during Exercise Prairie Storm.
Videographer and photographer Sgt Mark Webster; Crown copyright.
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UK Bolsters Falkland Defenses to Counter Argentine Air Ambitions
LONDON — British military capability planners are eyeing a major improvement to ground-based air defenses in the Falkland Islands amid continuing signs that Argentina is looking to update its Air Force with modern strike aircraft.
Argentina and the UK fought a short but bloody war over the British territory in 1982. The dispute received new life recently by Argentinean President Cristina Kirchener's launching a diplomatic war of words in an effort to eject the British.
Now it has emerged that the British have been planning to replace the aging ground-based system on the Falklands with a package including a battle management command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (BMC4I) system, a new missile and a radar.
As recently as December, unconfirmed reports emerged that Buenos Aires was in talks with the Russians over the possible lease of a squadron's worth of Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer attack jets in a move that would threaten Britain's control of the skies locally.
The reports drew a response from the UK Defence Ministry that it would adjust defense capabilities to the appropriate level to address any threats to the disputed islands, which the Argentinians refer to as the Islas Malvinas.
Britain has maintained forces on the island since the war. The force includes four Typhoon jets, Rapier missiles, naval assets and around 1,200 troops.
Last year, the British spent £63 million (US $95 million) for defense of the Falklands.
"We are currently assessing options to meet the requirement for future [short-range air defense, ground-based air defense]," an MoD spokeswoman said.
The BMC4I system will be "linked to the FLAADS(L) [future local area air defense system (land)] missile and launcher. This includes coupling to [Giraffe-Agile Multibeam] radars," she said.
The spokeswoman said it was not possible to say when the Falklands system would enter service, as the project, which is fully funded, is in only its assessment phase.
However, she was able to give some other key milestones for the project.
"Invitation to negotiate for the BMC4I system is forecast for summer 2015 and contract award is expected in summer 2016," she said.
"Our overall military posture in the South Atlantic is based on regular assessments of the threat and the Falkland Islands remain well-defended."
A BMCI system similar to the likely Falkland's requirement entered service with the British Army last October. The system, known as Land Environment Air Picture Provision (LEAPP), was built by Lockheed Martin UK in a £100 million deal the company signed with the MoD in 2008.
Industry executives said the limited number of LEAPP systems delivered may be the reason the MoD is pursuing a further procurement for the Falklands.
Richard Muir, the business development director at the Lockheed Martin UK Ampthill site, which leads the LEAPP work, said the system could provide air-space management and surveillance from five kilometers to significantly beyond 100 kilometers.
"The range of LEAPP is only limited by the radar," he said.
Despite LEAPP coming into service only in the last few months, the MoD spokeswoman said the BMC4I element of the system would be competed rather than just tacked on to the end of the LEAPP contract.
FLAADS(L) and the Saab-supplied Giraffe are mandated though.
Certainly, Lockheed Martin UK will bid. Other possible contenders include MBDA and Saab.
The Giraffe radar is already part of the LEAPP capability, although at the moment the sharp end of the system is provided by MBDA's aging Rapier missile.
That's due to change around the end of the decade.
The MoD spokeswoman revealed the ministry had signed a demonstration and manufacture deal with MBDA in late December for a replacement of the Rapier, which is FLAADS(L).
The land weapon is a derivative of the missile company's common anti-air modular missile; a naval version known as Sea Ceptor, which uses the same missile, has already been ordered for Royal Navy Type 23 frigates.
Argentina's neighbor, Brazil, and New Zealand have also ordered the naval weapon system.
The British effort to bolster its air defense capabilities on the South Atlantic islands comes as Argentina continues efforts to find a way of updating an Air Force that is pretty much flying the same aircraft as it did when it attacked the Falklands.
The financially hard-pressed Argentineans have made several attempts to buy second-hand combat jets, such as the Mirage 2000, without success.
Recently, Buenos Aires signaled interest in acquiring Saab Gripen NG fighters from a production line being set up in Brazil.
That came to nothing after the UK government warned they would block any sale by refusing to approve the export of the substantial amount of British technology used in the fighter.
Although media reports that the Argentineans are looking at the Su-24 have been denied by Buenos Aires, analysts in the UK said an eventual purchase of a credible combat jet could alter the balance of power in the South Atlantic.
Francis Tusa, the editor of Defence Analysis here, said recently the Gripen issue highlighted that if a deal of this nature went ahead, it would "dramatically and dangerously" change Britain's situation on the Falkland Islands.
http://www.defensenews.com
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mer 14 Jan 2015 - 15:21
Citation :
RAF Typhoons arrive for Red Flag test
A squadron-strength detachment of Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons has arrived at Nellis AFB in Nevada, ahead of their participation in a three-week Red Flag-series exercise to be conducted from late this month.
Ten Typhoons made the journey from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, with their deployment supported by Airbus A330 Voyager tanker/transports from the service’s 10 and 101 squadrons.
Pilots from its 1 Sqn will now begin detailed preparations for the exercise, “which includes familiarising themselves with local air traffic control procedures and flying with US Air Force units over the Nellis training range”, the RAF says.
asset image Crown Copyright
A key element of the UK contribution during the Red Flag 15-1 manoeuvres will be to assess the maturity of a new package of enhancements for the Typhoon incorporated in the P1Eb operating standard. Work will include performing so-called “swing-role” operations, where individual aircraft will be required to conduct air-to-air and air-to-surface tasks during a single sortie.
The RAF plans for its deployed aircraft to release 20 Raytheon Systems Paveway IV precision-guided bombs during the course of the air warfare exercise. Up to six of the 226kg (500lb)-class weapons can be carried by the Typhoon.
Participation in Red Flag 15-1 from 26 January will follow an RAF Typhoon deployment to the event 12 months ago. Involving pilots from its 6 and 1 squadrons, this was focused on using the Eurofighter in its air-to-air role.
Separately, the RAF has established its latest unit to fly the Typhoon, by transferring on 9 January the 2 Sqn badge from one operating the Panavia Tornado GR4. To be based at Lossiemouth, the reformed 2 Sqn is the fifth frontline squadron to receive the type, joining 1, 3, 6 and 11.
asset image Crown Copyright
Now rebadged as 12 Sqn, the Marham-based Tornado unit was late last year given a one-year operational extension, until March 2016. It is one of three frontline RAF squadrons still flying the type, including 9 and 31.
http://www.flightglobal.com
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mer 14 Jan 2015 - 16:57
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mer 14 Jan 2015 - 17:43
Citation :
British Army
A Lynx from 29 Flight is ready to provide support to 1 Yorkshire Regiment Battlegroup during Exercise Pizzaro, a Company level, live-firing attack, which was part of Exercise Prairie Storm 3 at the British Army Training Area Suffield (BATUS), in Alberta, Canada. Photographer Sgt Mark Webster; Crown copyright.
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Sam 24 Jan 2015 - 14:56
Citation :
MoD admits failure to fit Tornado collision devices
DEFENCE ministers have admitted that the RAF has only fitted eight of its 100 Tornado aircraft with a collision-avoidance system despite the need for one on every fighter jet identified as being at major risk of a collision with passenger jets.
The admission, in a written answer to SNP defence spokesman Angus Robertson, comes a week after criticism by the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) that the Ministry of Defence has no plans to fit a similar system to Typhoon aircraft.
The need for a collision-warning system was identified in the mid-1990s but then shelved because of other priorities within the defence budget.
However, it became a major issue after two Tornados crashed over the Moray Firth in July 2012, claiming the lives of three airmen. It was claimed that a collision-avoidance system used by commercial aircraft could have prevented the accident in which Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders, Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey and Flight Lieutenant Hywel Poole all died.
Last year, it was revealed that a collision-warning system costing about £60 million for the fighter jets was considered four years before the fatal crash and that the government decided in January 2012, six months before the crash, to tender for a different system developed by BAE which was £6 million cheaper.
The urgency for one to be fitted was highlighted last week in the MAA report which warned of the “catastrophic” consequences of a collision with a passenger jet.
The report’s author, Air Marshal Richard Garwood, said not fitting an avoidance system was “an unsustainable position”.
He added: “In the worst-case scenario, judged improbable but catastrophic, a Typhoon colliding with commercial air traffic could result in severe consequences for the MoD because of the likely substantial third-party loss of life.”
A written answer from junior defence minister Philip Dunne has revealed that only eight of the 100 Tornados flown by the RAF has been fitted with the collision-avoidance device, the Honeywell TCAS II.
Mr Robertson described the answer as “shocking”.
He said: “The MoD and contractor BAE need to get their act together and get these systems installed as soon as possible.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said yesterday that fitting the device to remainder of the fleet was “ongoing.”
He said: “While the introduction of TCAS on Tornado will add an additional layer of safety, there are already a multitude of measures in place to minimise the risk of midair collision.”
http://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 27 Jan 2015 - 17:55
Citation :
UK details operational conversion unit plan for F-35
The UK’s future operational conversion unit for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is expected to begin providing training using five of the stealthy aircraft, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.
According to planning information disclosed by parliamentary under secretary of state Lord Astor of Hever on 22 January, five short take-off and vertical landing F-35Bs will be used to deliver in-country OCU services from July 2019. The unit will be located at the Royal Air Force’s Marham base in Norfolk.
Pilot conversion training for the UK F-35 force will be until that point delivered in the USA, in co-operation with a US Marine Corps squadron.
asset image Crown Copyright
“The UK will stop assigning pilots to VMFAT-501 [squadron] for pilot training on the F-35B from July 2019,” Lord Astor says. The first UK personnel are currently flying the F-35B at the US Air Force’s Eglin AFB in Florida, alongside the USMC unit, ahead of supporting initial operational test and evaluation of the fifth-generation type.
Three F-35Bs have been delivered so far for the UK’s IOT&E involvement, with a fourth to follow. Funding was approved late last year for the nation’s first 14 operational examples. Four of these are now on order, which the MoD says should be accepted between May and October 2016.
http://www.flightglobal.com
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Jeu 29 Jan 2015 - 12:52
Citation :
SNP: Safety work on RAF Tornado GR4s 'a shambles'
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has come under renewed fire over its efforts to install safety equipment on RAF jets.
The department has confirmed to the SNP that eight of the RAF's fleet of 100 Tornado GR4s have so far been fitted with a collision warning system.
Angus Robertson, the SNP's defence spokesperson, has criticised the pace of the programme of work, describing it as a "shambles".
The MoD said it is committed to introducing the TCAS II safety system.
But Mr Robertson said: "The programme is clearly in chaos.
"Over 20 years after ministers recommended that these systems would save lives they remain largely uninstalled."
The MoD has been criticised over delays fitting the system since a mid-air collision in 2012 between two Tornados over the Moray Firth, off the coast of Caithness.
Three men were killed and another seriously injured in the incident involving the jets that had flown out of RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.
Earlier this month, the UK's military aviation watchdog the Military Aviation Authority urged the MoD to fit collision warning devices to its new Typhoon fighter jets with "full haste".
A spokesman for the MoD said: "Whilst we are committed to introducing a collision warning system on the Tornado GR4 aircraft as soon as possible, this is the first time that we are aware of, that any combat jet in the world has been fitted with a collision warning system - a system which has been designed for use on slower and less agile civilian aircraft.
"Trials of TCAS II have revealed some compatibility issues which we are working hard to resolve but in the meantime, we are continuing to gradually roll it out to as many Tornado aircraft as possible to obtain early beneficial use of the system.
"Air safety is at the core of all our aviation activity and we take very seriously our obligations to our people and the wider community to ensure that our activities are both as safe as reasonably practicable and comply with relevant policy and legislation."
http://www.bbc.com
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UK's first F35 Lighting II Stealth Fighter Aircraft arrives at Edwards Air Force Base
Ajoutée le 12 févr. 2015
The arrival of the UK's first F35 Lighting II Stealth Fighter Aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base in the USA on the 13th Jan 2015. The Aircaft was flown in to Edward's by Wing Commander Jim Beck ,Officer Commanding for 17(R) TES Squadron.
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Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks, operated by soldiers from The Queen’s Royal Hussars, are pictured heading to the ranges at Hohne, in Germany, for a major live-firing exercise.
The exercise is part of regiment’s annual training, which involves the transportation of heavy armour and live-firing. The Queen's Royal Hussars is one of three armoured regiments in the British Army. Under Army 2020 they will form part of the new Reaction Force undertaking short notice contingency tasks.
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The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a £420m contract with Boeing for the in-service support of the RAF's Chinook helicopter fleet.
The five-year contract, announced by the prime minister on his visit to Portsmouth, is for the maintenance of the fleet in Fleetlands, Gosport.
Other technical support will be provided from RAF Odiham in Hampshire and other sites across the UK.
The deal will support the RAF's fleet, which will be 60 strong by early 2017.
It includes the new Mark 6 helicopters.
During his trip to the south coast, David Cameron also announced BAE Systems and Magma Structures had been chosen as the preferred bidders to occupy the Portsmouth ship hall facilities.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats at Portsmouth City Council Gerald Vernon-Jackson welcomed the news but urged the prime minister to commit to bringing all the Navy's new frigates to Portsmouth so the entire surface fleet was based there.
http://www.bbc.com
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BAE signe un contrat naval de 859 ML avec le gouvernement
Londres, 20 fév 2015 (AFP) -
Le groupe britannique de défense BAE Systems a signé vendredi avec le gouvernement britannique un contrat naval d'un montant de 859 millions de livres (environ 1,16 milliard d'euros), ont annoncé les deux parties.
Ce contrat s'inscrit dans le programme de développement d'un nouveau modèle de frégates pour la Royal Navy, baptisé "Type 26", a expliqué le Premier ministre David Cameron dans un communiqué.
Cette commande permettra de préserver environ 1.700 emplois au sein de l'industrie navale britannique, selon le gouvernement.
Dans le détail, l'accord porte sur la fabrication de certains équipements très complexes, qui nécessite d'être lancée très en amont afin de ne pas retarder la suite du projet, ainsi que des installations d'essais, et des investissements dans des équipements clefs destinés aux trois premières frégates de cette classe.
BAE Systems a salué dans un communiqué distinct ce contrat.
Comme le rappelle le groupe, le programme prévoit la livraison d'un total de 13 frégates Type 26 à la Royal Navy, la marine britannique, avec un premier exemplaire prévu au début des années 2020.
Ex BERGEN-HOHNE is an annual live firing Exercise held on the plains of Northern Germany.
Over the last two weeks 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade has deployed three of its Regiments. The Queen's Royal Hussars, The Highlanders 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland and The 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.
Each regiment has been testing and training on a whole range of weapon systems, from the big to the small and loud to the silent.
Sniper Platoon from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment live firing L96 on Bergen-Hohne ranges.
PHOTOS:
The Mortar Platoon of 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment work together in mortar teams, and are capable of providing accurate high explosive, smoke and illuminating rounds out to a maximum range of 5650m.
Armoured fighting vehicles from being loaded onto train transports in Sennelager.
Once they had arrived it was the turn of the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks (A Squadron, The Queen's Royal Hussars) to test fire their weapons systems. Here you see the Tanks firing training rounds to calibrate the weapon systems.
Snipers are most vulnerable when moving in positions, thats why they travel in pairs. The number two snipers carries the L129A1 sharpshooter rifle to give the best protection for closer enemies. Here you see the number two sniper patrolling ahead of the number 1 en-route to their next location.
Support Company from 4 Scots live firing meaning with Heavy Machine Gun.
Sniper Platoon from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.
A Company 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment from 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade train on the Bulldog during Ex Bergen-Hohne 2015.
The skills of The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), whom here are attached to A Squadron, The Queen's Royal Hussars. Utilising the time that the tanks aren't firing, they make sure that the heavy armour is fighting fit.
A Company 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment from 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade train on the Bulldog during Ex Bergen-Hohne 2015.
A watchful eye.Sgt Colin Russell from A Squadron, The Queen's Royal Hussars keeps watch as the tanks progress through their live firing.
Armoured fighting vehicles from being loaded onto train transports in Sennelager.
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Londres : quel outil militaire pour quelles ambitions ?
Stratégie et politique 24 février 2015
Il y a quelques jours, le ministre britannique de la Défense théorisait son impuissance face à Boko Haram en déclarant : «Je ne peux rien faire car je n’ai pas les moyens…» Outre Manche, en cette année d’élections législatives et de publication d’une nouvelle Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR), le spectre de nouvelles coupes budgétaires et pertes de capacités agite la sphère politico-militaire.
Alors qu’elle était l’un des rares pays européens à respecter le critère de 2 % du PIB fixé par l’Otan, la Grande-Bretagne devrait passer en dessous de cette barre symbolique dès 2017. En cas de réélection, le Premier ministre David Cameron a d’ailleurs refusé d’être tenu par ce plancher et a annoncé souhaiter privilégier les dépenses sociales et de santé.
Le Trésor britannique pourrait, quant à lui, demander dès cette année une coupe d’un milliard de livres dans le budget de la Défense. Et ce alors que le tableau est déjà sombre et le moral des armées en berne, affectées par les effets de la SDSR de 2010, ayant entraîné une perte globale de capacités pour les forces armées de l’ordre de 30 %.
La Royal Navy, qui ne compte plus d’avions de patrouille maritime, a perdu une partie de son punch et est aujourd’hui la deuxième marine européenne en tonnage et en bâtiments (derrière la France). Elle ne recevra que six destroyers Type-45 sur les douze prévus, alors qu’une incertitude persiste pour le nombre de Type-26 qui seront commandés. Conduisant certains à se demander ce que commanderont les 38 amiraux et 260 capitaines de la Navy !
La SDSR 2010 prévoit que les effectifs passent de 35 500 à 29 000 en 2020. La Royal Air Force, dont le volume d’escadrons est passé de 17 à 9 entre 2000 et 2013, n’aligne plus que trois escadrons de Tornado pour les opérations aériennes offensives et ses effectifs de 40 000 hommes seront ramenés, en 2020, à 35 000.
Du côté de l’armée de Terre, les effectifs vont passer de 102 000 hommes, en 2010, à 82 000, à l’horizon 2020, avec une dépendance accrue vis-à-vis de la réserve (ex-armée Territoriale), dont le chiffre devrait passer de 19 000 à 30 000 hommes en 2020. Le plus bas niveau historique «depuis les Guerres napoléoniennes», notait récemment un quotidien britannique. Certaines sources évoquent même une coupe supplémentaire de 20 000 hommes, qui laisserait une force de 60 000 hommes : à titre de comparaison, la Grande-Bretagne avait déployé 45 000 hommes en Irak en 2003 !
Dans un effort de «professionnalisation» et de réduction de la «bureaucratie», le chef d’état-major de l’armée de Terre, le général Sir Nicholas Carter, a annoncé une réduction d’un tiers des 500 colonels et 200 généraux actuels. Et ce dans un contexte de forte dégradation des matériels, usés par les années de déploiement en Irak et en Afghanistan. Si de nouvelles coupes devaient intervenir, le modèle d’armée 2020 pourra difficilement être tenu.
Le CEMA, le général Sir Nicholas Houghton, s’inquiète publiquement de la vigueur du lien armée-Nation et constate que la société civile et les politiques sont de plus en plus prudentes et réservées sur l’emploi de l’outil militaire. Il y voit une érosion de «l’esprit de sacrifice» et du «courage historique» de la Grande-Bretagne, cette capacité à «prendre des risques pour la sécurité nationale et collective».
Le recrutement est ainsi devenu un réel problème pour le MoD : en dépit de spots publicitaires payés près de trente millions de livres en 2014, les vocations font défaut et l’Army n’a recruté que 6 000 jeunes sur les 10 000 prévus pour l’année dernière.
A Washington aussi on s’inquiète de l’érosion des capacités et de l’influence de Londres : Barack Obama l’a rappelé à David Cameron lors d’une récente visite de ce dernier aux Etats-Unis. Les critiques fusent par presse interposée : rôle plus que modeste joué dans le règlement de la crise ukrainienne (en laissant le leadership au couple franco-allemand), sous-investissement dans les opérations contre Daech et refus de s’impliquer sur le continent africain, notamment contre Boko Haram.
Pourtant, la défense britannique dispose d’outils et de savoir-faire d’excellence, comme ses forces amphibies et ses forces spéciales. Les conserver aura un prix, le prochain Premier ministre sera-t-il prêt à le payer ?
The UK Royal Air Force has conducted 159 air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq with Panavia Tornado GR4s since deploying the type to the region late last year, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.
Details of the combat activity were disclosed during a visit to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus by defence secretary Michael Fallon on 1 March.
More than a dozen RAF aircraft are currently forward-deployed to Akrotiri, including eight Tornado GR4s, two Boeing E-3D Sentry airborne early warning and control system aircraft, a pair of Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports and one Airbus A330 Voyager tanker/transport. An undisclosed number of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Reaper unmanned air vehicles are also being operated from the location.
The MoD notes that the RAF’s commitment – which is sustained by its 903 Expeditionary Air Wing – represents “the second largest contribution to coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi forces”.
asset image Crown Copyright
Responding to a question in the House of Lords on 26 February, parliamentary under secretary of state Lord Astor of Hever said that as of 31 January, the UK’s deployed Tornado GR4s and Reapers had “flown 374 missions and released 206 weapons” against Islamic State targets inside Iraq.
The MoD also has revealed that its Akrotiri-based Reapers conducted eight surveillance missions over Syria during January. It had previously given totals of four and one such flights for December and November 2014, respectively.
“No UK Reapers have discharged weapons in Syrian airspace,” the MoD notes.
http://www.flightglobal.com
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mar 3 Mar 2015 - 17:47
Citation :
La Royal Air Force se dote de son second A400M "Atlas"
3 Mars 2015
Photo : (c) RAF Brize Norton - Arrivée du second A400M à Brize Norton.
C'est dans une courte annonce, publiée sur la page Facebook officielle de la base aérienne anglaise de Brize Norton, que l'information a été divulguée : La Royal Air Force vient de réceptionner son deuxième A400M "Atlas".
En effet, selon le communiqué publié hier Lundi 02 Mars dans la matinée, le Royaume-Uni a réceptionné son second avion de transport dans l'après-midi du Vendredi 27 Février, sur la base aérienne de Brize Norton, là où est stationné le premier A400M "City of Bristol". Ce second aéronef, construit par Airbus Defence & Space, est immatriculé ZM402.
Le premier A400M de la Royal Air Force a été réceptionné il y a quelques mois maintenant, le Lundi 17 Novembre 2014. L'aéronef, immatriculé ZM400, est le premier avion de transport issu d'une série de 21 appareils, dont totalité de la commande devrait être perçue en 2019.
C'est à la suite de cette première réception que le Royaume-Uni a baptisé son premier A400M : "City of Bristol" (Ville de Bristol). Le choix de ce nom a été fait afin de "souligner le rôle important qu'ont joué les industries de la ville dans la livraison de l'avion". En effet, Bristol est une ville anglaise du Sud-Ouest du Royaume-Uni, où sont fabriquées les ailes des A400M, et où on retrouve d'importantes firmes britanniques de ce programme européen, comme Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, ainsi que Atkins. Par ailleurs, toujours grâce au programme A400M, la ville de Bristol a pu pérenniser pas moins de 900 emplois dans ces différentes entreprises.
Toutefois, aucunes indications n'ont été fournies concernant le nom qui sera donné à ce second A400M britannique.
Un troisième A400M doit encore être livré en ce début d'année 2015 si Airbus Defence & Space arrive à honorer ses commandes. Au Royaume-Uni, trois escadrons britanniques mettront en oeuvre les A400M, et seront stationnés sur la base aérienne de Brize Norton, aux côtés des ravitailleurs A330 Voyager, des C-130J Super Hercules, et des C-17 Globemaster III.
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mer 4 Mar 2015 - 15:34
Citation :
HMS Queen Elizabeth Will Begin Her Sea Trials in 2016
2015-03-03
One of the three large warships which will operate the F-35 is the HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The ship is being completed and will begin its sea trials next year.
It is the largest warship which the United Kingdom has ever built and incorporates several innovations which we will focus on in a later story.
At 72,000 tons and 932 feet long, the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier is taller than Nelson’s Column and considerably wider than the M25 at its widest point.
She generates enough energy to power Swindon, she can produce 500 tons of fresh water a day – and travel 500 miles a day, too.
Above all, she will be able to deliver 36 F-35 Lightning strike fighters and 1,000 troops from the largest piece of British sovereign territory afloat.
Her sister ship, the Prince of Wales, is already in production, though it has still not been decided whether she will be operational, mothballed or sold.
Each ship, which has a life expectancy of around 50 years, will be fitted out with more than three million metres of cable and it will have enough power to light up a small town.
This week, the Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond, described the project as a feat of engineering to match the London Olympics.
You could say much the same about the price – more than £6 billion for the pair. And that does not include the planes.
Each 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier will provide the armed forces with a four-acre military operating base, which can be deployed worldwide, operating the F-35 Lightning II and a number of types of helicopter. At full capacity, the carrier will be able to launch an aircraft every 30 seconds.
They will be versatile enough to be used across the full spectrum of military activity, from war fighting to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
HMS Queen Elizabeth will have 679 permanent crew and capacity for 1,600 crew members when fully operational.
The ship features a new style of ‘twin island’ command points – one at the front for steering and one at the back for aircraft direction. Thanks to the cutting-edge technology on board, commanders on the bridge will be able to see 250 miles away.
The carrier’s range is said to be 10,000 nautical miles and the ship is fitted with a long range 3D radar that is capable of tracking more than 1,000 targets at once or spotting a tennis ball travelling at 2,000 miles per hour.
http://www.sldinfo.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 Mer 4 Mar 2015 - 18:17
Citation :
British Army
Military vehicles including Challenger 2, Warrior and FV 432's belonging to 1 Yorks and KRH in convoy during a vehicle move during Ex Tractable near Ludgershall on SPTA.
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Jeu 5 Mar 2015 - 19:34
Citation :
Royal Navy, L’AW159 « Wildcat » est opérationnel !
La Royal Navy (RN) vient d’annoncer que les premiers équipages sont formés et opérationnels sur l'hélicoptère AgustaWestland AW159 Lynx « Wildcat » HMA.2. Les onze premiers pilotes et sept membres d'équipage sont ainsi diplômé sur le nouvel hélicoptère.
Ces premiers pilotes et membre d’équipage font partie des escadrons n°847 du Naval Air Squadron (NAS) et du 652° Escadron de l'Army Air Corps basé à Royal Naval Air Station (ARN) de Yeovilton. La qualification sur l’AW159 a été obtenue durant une formation de sept mois.
La Royal Navy annonce que les premiers AgustaWestland AW159 Lynx « Wildcat » HMA.2 vont prochainement participer aux prochains exercices de la Navy à bord du destroyer HMS Dauntless (Type45)
La Royal Navy a commandé un total de 28 hélicoptères « Wildcat » HMA.2 pour remplacer les anciens Lynx HMA.8 qui vont progressivement partir à la retraite d’ici 2017. D’ici l’année prochaine, l'armée britannique va quant à elle commencer à recevoir les premiers des 34 « Wildcat » de reconnaissance (désignés AH.1).
AW159 Lynx Wildcat :
L’AW159 Lynx « Wildcat » est prévu pour remplacer les Lynx de première génération, ce nouvel hélicoptère multi-rôle de six tonnes, est commandé à 62 exemplaires par le ministère britannique de la Défense. Le premier a été livré à la fin de 2011.
Doté de deux turbines Rolls-Royce Honeywell CTS800 de nouvelles générations capables d’offrir 12 % de puissance supplémentaire, face aux anciens modèles. Le poste de pilotage comprend un système entièrement intégré d’affichage, utilisant quatre écrans 10x8 pouces. Les capteurs disposés dans le nez comportent une imagerie TV/IR couplé avec un désignateur laser. La version maritime dispose d’un radar Selex-ES Galileo 7400E actif sur 360 degrés. L'AW159 intègre un système d'alerte de missiles, des détecteurs d'alerte radar et un système de distribution des contre-mesures. En outre, il dispose d’une palette complète en matière d’armement soit : des mitrailleuses, torpilles, grenades sous-marines et pourra également tirer la future arme de surface a guidage autonome (FASGW).
Photos : AW159 Lynx « Wildcat » HMA.2 @ AgustaWestland 2 & 3 En vol pour la formation @ Royal Navy
First marine gas turbine alternators installed into HMS Prince of Wales
Rolls-Royce and the Aircraft Carrier Alliance have successfully completed the installation of both Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines into the Royal Navy's latest aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, at Babcock's Rosyth shipyard in Scotland. Both gas turbine alternators were installed into the ship in one day, halving the time taken to install them into sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth .
Prince of Wales build progress January 2015 (Picture: Aircraft Carrier Alliance)
The MT30, at 36 megawatts (around 50,000 horsepower), is the world’s most power-dense marine gas turbine, a key feature for naval ships where high power in the minimum space is essential. Two MT30s are installed in each ship and will provide two thirds of the 109 megawatts needed to power the 65,000 tonne ships – enough energy to power a town the size of Swindon. Each of the Gas Turbine Alternators (GTA) consist of a Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine and an alternator supplied by GE. They also include an alternator and gas turbine enclosure, which together weighs a total of 120 tonnes.
Jim Bennett, Power & Propulsion Director for the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, said: "The Power & Propulsion Sub-Alliance is immensely proud of this significant milestone in the Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) project. It has been the culmination of many years of hard work to ensure the timely delivery of both complete MT30 gas turbine alternators to HMS Prince of Wales , in a single day, which will deliver around two thirds of the electrical power generated onboard. Congratulations to all involved, this is British engineering at its best!"
Angus Holt, Delivery Director, HMS Prince of Wales , said: “The successful achievement of this major milestone is systematic of the progress we are making with the build of the second Queen Elizabeth Class carrier. To have successfully lifted the most powerful engine in the Royal Navy onto the biggest ship ever built for the Royal Navy, using one of the biggest capacity gantry cranes in Europe, is an important event in the construction of HMS Prince of Wales . Everyone involved should take huge pride in their contribution to this national endeavour.”
Don Roussinos, Rolls-Royce, President - Naval said: “The installation of the MT30s for HMS Prince of Wales marks yet another significant milestone in the Queen Elizabeth Class programme. These aircraft carriers will be the backbone of the Royal Navy’s capability for decades to come and we’re proud to be working alongside such a strong team in the Power & Propulsion sub Alliance, as these highly capable ships get closer to entering service.
“We installed the very first marine gas turbine more than 60 years ago, and are delighted to continue that long and proud history of delivering advanced marine gas turbine and propulsion technology to the Royal Navy.” The installation involved the lifting of the MT30 gas turbines and associated ancillary equipment – housed in steel packages known as the gas turbine enclosures – onto the ship structure. With the enclosure in place, the large alternator, which is driven by the gas turbine to produce electrical power, was then hoisted into place.
Once operational, the GTAs will supply high-voltage power to the four propulsion motors as well as the 13 ship service transformers. These transformers distribute low-voltage power to the weapons systems, mission systems equipment and navigation systems, as well as power to the hotel services required to run the ships.
http://www.navyrecognition.com
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La Royal Air Force (RAF) a annoncé le 5 mars 2015, la première mission opérationnel d'un A400M sous les couleurs britanniques. En effet l'A400M Atlas baptisé "City of Bristol" a effectué une première livraison de fret opérationnel à destination du contingent de la RAF basé à Chypre. Comprenant des chasseurs Tornado et des drones Reaper, ces éléments de la RAF participent aux frappes aériennes contre DAESH.
La RAF dispose actuellement de deux avions de transport tactique A400M. Le premier appareil a été réceptionné en novembre tandis qu'un deuxième avion a été livré début mars.
La RAF a commandé 22 appareils au total. Comme les autres clients de l'A400M, le Royaume Uni devrait pâtir cette année de retards dans la livraison de nouveaux appareils. Tom Enders le président d'Airbus a annoncé que seuls seize Atlas seront livrés en 2015.
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mar 10 Mar 2015 - 17:51
Citation :
British Army
From house-to-house fighting to dealing with the threat of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) weapons, paratroopers have practised key skills they need to operate on the modern battlefield.
Exercise Urban Eagle has placed troops from 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) on a mission to support an ally tackling an insurgency backed by a hostile neighbour. The week-long training on the STANTA Ranges in Norfolk is designed to refresh key skills needed by the paratroopers in their role as the British Army’s global rapid reaction force.
The soldiers have carried out company attacks on the mock village at Eastmere, clearing out enemy fighters building-by building and street-by-street; faced simulated chemical attacks and contained rioters bombarding them with abuse, petrol bombs and missiles.
Private Shehab El-Minini, from south west London, said: “Town and cities are very complex places that are full of people and can be easily fortified and defended. As an infantry soldier it’s one of the most challenging environments to operate in.
“Our training has taken us from how we move through streets as individuals and then adds the complexity of increasing numbers of troops and other capabilities, such as using mousehole charges to blow holes in walls to enter buildings.”
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Sujet: Re: Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces Mer 11 Mar 2015 - 12:25
Citation :
UK Apache replacement held up by AgustaWestland, BBC report states
The UK's efforts to sustain its Apache attack helicopter capability are being seriously hampered by lobbying from AgustaWestland, according to a BBC report published on 7 March.
With the British Army's 66 AgustaWestland-Boeing WAH-64D Block I Apache Longbow AH.1 helicopters soon needing replacement due to obsolescence, the Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) preferred option of buying the new AH-64E Apache Guardian directly from the United States is being delayed by AgustaWestland lobbying for work on any such procurement programme, the report quoted government sources as saying.
According to the BBC, Boeing has offered to sell the AH-64E to the UK at GBP20 million (USD30 million) per aircraft (taking advantage of a US Army multi-year procurement package). If the helicopters were to be licence-built or modified by AgustaWestland, as was the case when the WAH-64D Block I helicopters were first acquired in the 1990s, this sum would more than double to GBP44 million.
Deciding how to proceed is becoming ever more urgent for the MoD, as the processing chips that drive the early-model Apache systems are no longer made, and the stockpile that Boeing has built up is expected to be depleted by around 2017.
Defence chiefs fear that delays of this nature may result in a capability gap between the older WAH-64Ds having to be retired around this date, and a replacement being introduced. According to the BBC, the process has now been put back until after the General Election on 7 May, and a decision will not be taken until March 2016. This could mean a replacement platform not entering service until about 2020.
The MoD has been undertaking a capability sustainment programme (CSP) to consider its future attack helicopter options (at a fleet strength of 50 platforms), but has declined to say when it will report the study's findings. The AH-64E is understood to be the favoured option, with others being the procurement of a new helicopter type altogether or even scrapping the capability.
In a response to the BBC report, AgustaWestland said that the company "is currently responding to an MoD Attack Helicopter Capability Sustainment Programme request for information to help them make an informed decision on the future of this key capability. AgustaWestland has a proven track record of delivering value for money on the UK Apache programme."
This story, first published on 10 March, has been updated with a comment from AgustaWestland. ANALYSIS
While AgustaWestland's lobbying efforts have been described by some as an attempt at 'gold plating' its involvement on any future UK Apache programme, it should be noted that, while its participation in the original WAH-64D procurement did push up the unit cost, it also delivered to the British Army what was widely regarded to be a superior product to that fielded by the US and others.
As well as licence-building the airframes at its Yeovil plant in southern England, AgustaWestland also undertook enhancements that included swapping out the standard General Electric T700 engines for the more powerful Rolls-Royce RTM 322; improved countermeasures in the Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids System (HIDAS); UK-specific communications systems; clearance of new weapon types; the integration of ballistically-protected external drop tanks; as well as a fully marinised airframe (an enhancement also adopted by the Netherlands), which included the fitting of flotation devices and other naval features.
When the UK's Apache requirements were drawn up in the mid-1990s, no one could have foreseen their eventual use in Afghanistan and Libya but, as it turned out, these AgustaWestland improvements could almost have been tailor-made for both of these conflicts.
The new engines in particular vastly improved the Apache's performance in the 'hot and high' conditions of Afghanistan, to the extent that the UK was able to fly its helicopters in that theatre with the mast-mounted radar still in place, whereas the US and others had to remove theirs due to weight and power constraints. For its involvement in Libya, the naval enhancements enabled the Apache to operate from the deck of the Royal Navy's HMS Ocean helicopter carrier with little need for adaptations to be made first.
Another factor in the MoD's decision to include AgustaWestland in its original Apache procurement was that of UK-certification of the airframes. This is a factor that is likely to become even more important with any future procurement, as evidenced by the problems surrounding the Royal Air Force's RC-135W Rivet Joints, which were bought off-the-shelf from the United States.
For the MoD, however, the question must be whether in these trying fiscal times the increased costs that come with such AgustaWestland improvements can be justified for any future Apache procurement. Whatever the answer to that question happens to be, all sides will doubtless want to see the British Army equipped with the latest variant of arguably the world's most advanced attack helicopter at the earliest opportunity. http://www.janes.com/article/49845/uk-apache-replacement-held-up-by-agustawestland-bbc-report-states
_________________ “Le monde ne sera pas détruit par ceux qui font le mal, mais par ceux qui les regardent sans rien faire.” Albert Einstein.
Mar 18 Déc 2012 - 15:24
Le Prophéte (saw) a dit: Les Hommes Les meilleurs sont ceux qui sont les plus utiles aux autres
