(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.
First Fusiliers Battlegroup has now completed its recovery from the open prairie of Suffield in Canada, having spent the last month carrying out the most demanding and complex training that the Army has to offer. We have orchestrated the defeat in detail of a live, thinking OPFOR enemy equipped with their own Main Battle Tanks, infantry company, anti-tank missile teams and artillery. We have dominated the ground, seized the objectives and achieved success at every turn. Here are some of the photos of us achieving that success.
PHOTOS:
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Troops from First Fusiliers Battlegroup have been training at BATUS (British Army Training Unit Suffield) in Alberta, Canada, as part of exercise Prairie Storm. All elements of the Battlegroup will conduct live fire ranges, as well as train in a realistic scenario facing an opposition force played by The Queen's Royal Hussars. The second day of the Tactical Environment Simulation (pictured) involved the Battlegroup conducting an attack on opposition forces within the village of Tarmek on the training area.
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Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
The third of 22 A400M aircraft for the United Kingdom seen at RAF Brize Norton shortly after its arrival on 6 July. Source: Crown Copyright
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) activated its first operational unit to operate the Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A400M Atlas transport aircraft on 23 July.
A ceremony marking the standing-up of 70 Squadron took place at the type's main operating base at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
The RAF has so far received three of its 22 A400M aircraft, and expects to have a further two in August. Seven aircraft are expected to be at Brize Norton before the end of September, enabling the RAF to declare initial operating capability (IOC) for the type. All 22 aircraft are scheduled to be in service by 2022, to coincide with the planned retirement of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules.
The three aircraft so far received are being tested by 206 Squadron, with 24 Squadron undertaking training of crews and maintainers. 70 Squadron will be joined by a second and final operational unit, expected to be 30 Squadron, in 2018.
As announced by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Dunne, testing of UK-specific national capabilities is to begin at the end of the month. The RAF is to roll out its A400M capabilities in a series of tranches: Tranche 1 comprising basic strategic airlift (2015); Tranche 2 involving non-permissive operations and inter-theatre operations (from 2016), as well as deployable intra-theatre capability (from 2017); Tranche 3 will involve tactical transport, including airdrops (from late 2017); and Tranche 4 involving advanced capabilities and full support to the Airborne Assault Task Force (from 2018 to 2022).
UK fighter numbers to reach all-time low with loss of Tornados and early Typhoons in 2019
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly 21 July 2015
The UK's frontline fast-jet force is set to fall to its lowest numerical strength just ahead of the turn of the decade, with the almost simultaneous retirement of both the Panavia Tornado GR.4 and early model Eurofighter Typhoon fleets, the government disclosed on 21 July.
Answering questions in the House of Commons, Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support, and Technology said that the retirement of the Tornados is to coincide with that of the Tranche 1 Typhoons in 2019.
Currently, the Royal Air Force (RAF) fields 53 Tranche 1 Typhoons and 87 Tornados which, when coupled with the Tranche 2 and 3A Typhoons now flying, brings its frontline combat inventory up to 192 aircraft. Although the loss of 140 aircraft by 2019 represents a 77% reduction in the current force strength on paper, it should be noted that this will be offset somewhat by the continued delivery of the Tranche 3 Typhoons, as well as the arrival of the first Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters.
Even so, while all 40 Tranche 3A Typhoons should be with the RAF by 2019, the United Kingdom is expected to have received only about 15 to 20 F-35Bs by this time (to be operated by both the RAF and Royal Navy). When the loss of the Tornados and Tranche 1 Typhoons is taken into account, the United Kingdom will be left with about 127 frontline combat jets at best when this happens (the lowest number that the RAF will have fielded since its creation in 1918).
Notwithstanding the fact that at that early point in its service the F-35 will likely not be fully combat capable (the Block 3F [full combat capability] software is slated to be rolled out in late 2017, but the United Kingdom is not due to declare full operating capability [land and maritime] for the type until 2023). To date, only the first 14 operational F-35Bs have been authorised (of which four have been ordered), and while overall numbers have not yet been disclosed there is a possibility that the original planned order for 138 aircraft may be truncated to just 48 for the new Queen Elizabeth-class carriers.
If this were to occur, the UK frontline fast-jet fleet would number just 107 Tranche 2 and 3A Typhoons and 48 F-35Bs, for a grand total of 155 combat aircraft. While this could be increased with the 48 additional Typhoons earmarked for a Tranche 3B buy, this now seems all but certain not to happen.
While there is some validation to the argument that, because the Tranche 2 and 3A Typhoons and the F-35Bs are more capable aircraft than those that came before them, fewer will be needed, it is also true that no aircraft, no matter how capable, can be in more than one place at any time. This has been shown by the government's recent decision to slow down the pace of the Tornado retirement, even reconstituting an already disbanded unit, to ensure that simultaneous operational commitments in three theatres (Afghanistan, Iraq, and North Africa at that time) could be met.
The United Kingdom currently faces a number of threats to its security that require the application of combat aircraft, either in a kinetic warfighting role, as over Iraq and no doubt soon over Syria, or in a deterrent role, such as with the Baltic Air Policing missions currently being flown to ward off Russian aggression against NATO allies. With at least one of these threats only recently having been described by the UK prime minister, David Cameron, as "generational", and the other not likely to be resolved anytime soon, the further loss of UK airpower at such a precarious time as this seems somewhat perverse.
One solution to this quandary might be not to retire the Tranche 1 Typhoons at all, after all a 16-year service life - given the investment that has been made - does not appear to provide value for money or to make much sense. Although there will certainly be a cost implication of retaining the Tranche 1 Typhoons in service, this would be relatively small given that all of the initial investment has already been made, and that the training, operating, and sustainment infrastructures are already in place and are set to serve the wider Typhoon force through to the 2030 out-of-service date now earmarked for the Tranche 2 and 3A aircraft.
While it is true that the early-model Typhoons are not compatible with many of the hardware and software upgrades that would be needed to afford them a full multirole capability, they remain highly potent air-to-air fighter platforms and should be able to more than match any adversaries that they might meet in this arena for a number of years yet.
There is no physical reason why these 53 Tranche 1 Typhoons could not be retained in service out to 2030. While they will never match the outright capabilities of their more modern stablemates, a rolling programme of upgrades to their systems, such as the already very capable Captor mechanically-scanned radar, should at the very least afford the United Kingdom with a highly potent force multiplier to relieve some of the pressure from the newer Typhoons and Lightning IIs.
ils vont retires ded appareilw qui ont mfme paw 15 sns dand le biy. C du pure gaspillage. h q t'il de l'interet pour ses avions?
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UK fighter numbers to reach all-time low with loss of Tornados and early Typhoons in 2019
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly 21 July 2015
The UK's frontline fast-jet force is set to fall to its lowest numerical strength just ahead of the turn of the decade, with the almost simultaneous retirement of both the Panavia Tornado GR.4 and early model Eurofighter Typhoon fleets, the government disclosed on 21 July.
Answering questions in the House of Commons, Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support, and Technology said that the retirement of the Tornados is to coincide with that of the Tranche 1 Typhoons in 2019.
Currently, the Royal Air Force (RAF) fields 53 Tranche 1 Typhoons and 87 Tornados which, when coupled with the Tranche 2 and 3A Typhoons now flying, brings its frontline combat inventory up to 192 aircraft. Although the loss of 140 aircraft by 2019 represents a 77% reduction in the current force strength on paper, it should be noted that this will be offset somewhat by the continued delivery of the Tranche 3 Typhoons, as well as the arrival of the first Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters.
Even so, while all 40 Tranche 3A Typhoons should be with the RAF by 2019, the United Kingdom is expected to have received only about 15 to 20 F-35Bs by this time (to be operated by both the RAF and Royal Navy). When the loss of the Tornados and Tranche 1 Typhoons is taken into account, the United Kingdom will be left with about 127 frontline combat jets at best when this happens (the lowest number that the RAF will have fielded since its creation in 1918).
Notwithstanding the fact that at that early point in its service the F-35 will likely not be fully combat capable (the Block 3F [full combat capability] software is slated to be rolled out in late 2017, but the United Kingdom is not due to declare full operating capability [land and maritime] for the type until 2023). To date, only the first 14 operational F-35Bs have been authorised (of which four have been ordered), and while overall numbers have not yet been disclosed there is a possibility that the original planned order for 138 aircraft may be truncated to just 48 for the new Queen Elizabeth-class carriers.
If this were to occur, the UK frontline fast-jet fleet would number just 107 Tranche 2 and 3A Typhoons and 48 F-35Bs, for a grand total of 155 combat aircraft. While this could be increased with the 48 additional Typhoons earmarked for a Tranche 3B buy, this now seems all but certain not to happen.
While there is some validation to the argument that, because the Tranche 2 and 3A Typhoons and the F-35Bs are more capable aircraft than those that came before them, fewer will be needed, it is also true that no aircraft, no matter how capable, can be in more than one place at any time. This has been shown by the government's recent decision to slow down the pace of the Tornado retirement, even reconstituting an already disbanded unit, to ensure that simultaneous operational commitments in three theatres (Afghanistan, Iraq, and North Africa at that time) could be met.
The United Kingdom currently faces a number of threats to its security that require the application of combat aircraft, either in a kinetic warfighting role, as over Iraq and no doubt soon over Syria, or in a deterrent role, such as with the Baltic Air Policing missions currently being flown to ward off Russian aggression against NATO allies. With at least one of these threats only recently having been described by the UK prime minister, David Cameron, as "generational", and the other not likely to be resolved anytime soon, the further loss of UK airpower at such a precarious time as this seems somewhat perverse.
One solution to this quandary might be not to retire the Tranche 1 Typhoons at all, after all a 16-year service life - given the investment that has been made - does not appear to provide value for money or to make much sense. Although there will certainly be a cost implication of retaining the Tranche 1 Typhoons in service, this would be relatively small given that all of the initial investment has already been made, and that the training, operating, and sustainment infrastructures are already in place and are set to serve the wider Typhoon force through to the 2030 out-of-service date now earmarked for the Tranche 2 and 3A aircraft.
While it is true that the early-model Typhoons are not compatible with many of the hardware and software upgrades that would be needed to afford them a full multirole capability, they remain highly potent air-to-air fighter platforms and should be able to more than match any adversaries that they might meet in this arena for a number of years yet.
There is no physical reason why these 53 Tranche 1 Typhoons could not be retained in service out to 2030. While they will never match the outright capabilities of their more modern stablemates, a rolling programme of upgrades to their systems, such as the already very capable Captor mechanically-scanned radar, should at the very least afford the United Kingdom with a highly potent force multiplier to relieve some of the pressure from the newer Typhoons and Lightning IIs.
ils vont retires ded appareilw qui ont mfme paw 15 sns dand le biy. C du pure gaspillage. h q t'il de l'interet pour ses avions?
d'après eux la modernisation est plus cher que la des nouveaux appareil
d'apres ce que j'ai compris la T1 du tyohoon est taillé uniquement pour de la superiorité aerienne et que pour en faire un multi role il faudrait de très lourdes modification y compris sur la structure de la celule
a leurs place je l'aurai vendu a un pays de l'est qui se sentent menacé et donc qui ne serait pas contre d'avoir un avion taillé pour descendre des avions ça limiterai leurs pertes
_________________
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Upgraded self-protection system selected for RAF Pumas
By: Beth Stevenson London
Source: Flightglobal.com
Selex ES has been selected to provide a radar warning receiver (RWR) upgrade to the Royal Air Force’s Airbus Helicopters SA330 Puma HC2 rotorcraft fleet, replacing the Sky Guardian 200 that is currently installed on the type.
The £19 million ($30 million) contract will see the SG200-D – a UK Ministry of Defence-specific variant of the company’s Seer RWR – provided for the 24-strong Puma fleet. This will replace the legacy system that the company had previously provided for the aircraft.
Selex declines to detail the distinguishing elements of the UK-specific RWR, its delivery schedule or the number of systems ordered.
However, Kyle Alexander, campaign manager for electronic warfare at the company, says that in addition to full equipment sets, spares and training, the contract includes the delivery of so-called “A-kits”. These consist of antenna and cockpit control equipment that can be rolled on and off the aircraft to speed up the time from training to operation.
The MoD’s RWR acquisition also covers the upgrade of the Sky Guardian on the RAF’s Boeing CH-47 Chinook fleet. That contract has yet to be signed, but Alexander is “optimistic” that this will follow soon.
Crown Copyright
In 2014 Selex provided Seer for demonstration on board the Czech air force’s Aero Vodochody L-159 advanced light combat aircraft, to show that the upgraded system could fit into the same form factor as the aircraft’s legacy Sky Guardian.
Under this NATO tactical leadership programme initiative, Seer replaced Sky Guardian in under 3h and showed the capability of the self-protection system.
Alexander notes that such demonstrations serve to open up new and existing markets for Selex’s RWR systems, which he says are of particular interest as areas of warfare become more complex with the increase of electronic threats.
The Seer RWR is E-J band, but can be configured with extensions to operate in the C-D and K bands.
Wideband digital director heads digitise received radio-frequency emissions, sending the data to a signal processing unit, where it is classified in accordance with a mission data set. It is then communicated to the operator.
Seer can be integrated on fixed and rotary-wing manned aircraft and unmanned air vehicles. Alexander notes that the latter’s move to operations in more contested airspace will drive the demand for integration of RWR technology.
Flightglobal’s Fleets Analyzer database shows that 22 of the RAF’s 24 Pumas are in service, with one more based with Qinetiq at the MoD's Boscombe Down site in Wiltshire. One is recorded as being parked at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.
Exercise Indradhanush: Flankers And Typhoons Battle In British Skies
The British Royal Air Force (RAF) and Indian Air Force (IAF) have hailed the success of a major exercise which saw the deployment of four Sukhoi Su-30MKI ‘Flankers’ to the U.K. to fly with and fight against the RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoon. Exercise Indradhanush IV (Hindi: Rainbow) concluded on July 30 following intensive flying operations with RAF Typhoon squadrons from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Ten IAF crews including 15 pilots and five weapon systems operators flew twice daily missions, often flying all four Su-30s on air-to-air training missions flying beyond visual range (BVR) and within visual range (WVR) engagements with the Typhoon. This is the fourth iteration of the exercise, with the British and Indians taking it in turns to visit each other's shores. The last time the Indians deployed to the U.K. was in 2007. The Su-30s came from 2 Sqn – the Winged Arrows – based at Tezpur near India’s frontier with China. The Flanker pilots were also able to use their thrust-vectoring control (TVC) “super-maneuverability” capability activated by flipping a switch in the cockpit. One pilot told Aviation Week that they had used the yaw capability of the TVC to remain inside the tight turn radius of the Typhoon in order to keep the Typhoon in missile launch parameters. It was not possible to assess which aircraft, if any, had the upper hand in air combat, pilots and commanders remained tight lipped on the results of any dogfighting. RAF Wg. Cmdr. Chris Moon, commanding officer of 3 (Fighter) Sqn which led the exercise said that participants had adopted a “crawl, walk, run approach” with Indian crews familiarizing themselves with U.K. airspace regulations before taking on the Typhoons in 1vs1, 2vs1 and increasingly complex engagements. The last exercise mission saw all four Flankers working with six Typhoons to escort and support two C-130J Hercules on a paradropping mission. They were opposed by 8-10 red-air Typhoons. The exercise also saw the use of an Indian C-17 and an Il-78 tanker aircraft. The Il-78 operated alongside an RAF A330 Voyager tanker over the North Sea. While the Su-30s could have refueled from the Voyager, they were not cleared to, as a result fighters refueled from their national assets. At least two RAF pilots got to fly in the back seat of the Su-30 during exchange sorties on July 30. a écrit: a écrit:
Thales fournira les yeux du futur véhicule blindé Scout SV
Actualités Nathan Gain 31 juillet, 2015
Thales, l’un des géants français de la défense, a officiellement intégré hier le programme du futur véhicule blindé britannique Scout SV. Le groupe français sera en charge de la fourniture de systèmes de visée et d’équipement auxiliaires destinés à la production des 589 « Specialist Vehicles » commandés par le Ministère de la Défense britannique (MoD).
Le futur Scout Specialist Vehicle équipé de sa tourelle CT 40 de 40mm (Crédit: General Dynamics UK)
Selon les termes du contrat, Thales équipera tout d’abord 245 véhicules blindés avec des lots d’équipements comprenant chacun un système de visée primaire Orion, un système LSA (Local Situational Awareness), et un lance-pots fumigènes. Les livraisons commenceront dés l’année prochaine et dureront jusqu’en 2021 pour la version de reconnaissance du futur blindé britannique. Dans le même intervalle, Thales équipera également les 344 véhicules restant de systèmes LSA supplémentaires.
Ce contrat, d’un montant d’approximativement 176 millions d’euros, assurera 40 emplois sur le site Ecossais de Thales à Glasgow, spécialisé dans les activités optroniques.
« Nos systèmes de visée pour véhicules blindés Scout SV permettront au MoD de disposer de nouvelles capacités de reconnaissance et de surveillance, contribuant ainsi à la réussite des missions sur les théâtres d’opération, » a déclaré Victor Chavez, PDG de Thales UK, à l’occasion de la signature de ce contrat.
Thales équipera le futur véhciule blindé Scout SV avec des systèmes de visée (Crédit: Thales Group)
Thales, qui a notamment déjà fourni 54 drones Watchkeeper WK450 à l’armée britannique, confirme une fois encore sa place de fournisseur de choix du MoD.
Le savoir-faire français est déjà bien présent au sein du programme Scout SV, puisque CTA International, une joint-venture entre BAE Systems et Nexter Systems, équipera l’une des variantes avec sa tourelle CT 40 de 40 mm.
Le programme Scout SV, dont la gestion a été confiée à General Dynamics UK, dotera à terme l’armée britannique d’une famille de nouveaux véhicules blindés déclinée en six variantes : reconnaissance, « Protected Mobility Reconnaissance Support « (PMRS), véhicule de commandement, véhicule de génie, véhicule de réparation, et véhicule de dépannage.
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
Although the AH.7, pictured, has now been retired, the Lynx will remain in British Army service for many years in the guise of the AH.9A and Wildcat. Source: IHS/Patrick Allen
The British Army retired from service the last of its AgustaWestland Lynx AH.7 utility helicopters during a ceremony on 31 July.
The ceremony at the Army Air Corps' (AAC) operating base at Middle Wallop saw 671 Lynx Conversion Squadron perform a final flypast of the type that has been operational since 1987 (although the AH.1 airframe on which it is based first entered service in 1978).
During its 37 years, the Lynx has been deployed throughout the world on operations, most notably in Northern Ireland where it provided the backbone of the British Army's helicopter support services through the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.
While the AH.7 variant has now been retired, the Lynx will continue in the AAC in the guise of the AH.9A (out to 2018) and the Lynx Wildcat, which is just now being introduced into service.
Rheinmetall to manufacture turret structures for British Army's Scout SV Reconnaissance vehicle
Rheinmetall has won an important order in connection with a key programme of the British Ministry of Defence to procure a new generation of combat vehicles for Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. Lockheed Martin UK has contracted with Rheinmetall’s Defence arm to manufacture the turret structures for the British Army’s new Scout SV Reconnaissance vehicle, the German company announced today August 3rd, 2015.
he order, issued in London, is worth a total of €130 million ($142M) and covers production of up to 245 units. Rheinmetall also participated significantly in the preceeding technical demonstration phase.
Once again, the Düsseldorf, Germany-based Group is playing a pivotal role in a highly significant army technology programme in Europe, underscoring its comprehensive competence and ability to act in partnership with two international defence giants – General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin.
The Scout Specialist Vehicle (SV) is a medium-weight armoured reconnaissance vehicle. It will replace the British Army's Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) - CVR(T) - family of vehicles, which have been in service since the 1970s, and is intended for use in all current and future scenarios, ranging from peace enforcement and peacekeeping missions to high-intensity combat operations.
The Scout SV programme, which General Dynamics UK is responsible for design, engineering and manufacturing in its capacity as prime contractor, with the technology leading turret solution of Lockheed Martin UK and Rheinmetall will deliver significant improvements in combat capability, survivability and operational effectiveness for the British Army's infantry.
Rheinmetall has extensive, longstanding experience in developing and manufacturing turret systems, making it the ideal cooperation partner for Lockheed Martin UK in the Scout Specialist Vehicle programme. Rheinmetall’s expertise, paired with Lockheed Martin’s experience in reconnaissance sensor systems, fire control units and guidance technology, make the team one of the market leader in turret technology.
The Scout SV Base Turret System is a major success story in European defence cooperation. A member of the Scout SV team since 2010, in its capacity as subcontractor Rheinmetall has been in charge first of design and engineering, and now of producing, the turret structure and weapon mount (TSWM) for the Scout SV Base Turret System, a state-of-the-art 40mm medium-calibre turret solution. The first production unit is scheduled for July 2016.
The contract award for the supply of 245 Scout SV TSWM units will mainly benefit to Rheinmetall Defence Group’s Kassel plant, where fabrication as well as final assembly will take place. It is also excellent news for the Rheinmetall’s German supply chain.
UK extends reformed Tornado unit for operations over Iraq
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly 03 August 2015
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is to sustain in service the reformed 12 (Bomber) Squadron for a further year in order to continue air strikes against the Islamic State, the defence secretary announced on 3 August.
The squadron, which is currently conducting strikes over Iraq from its forward operating base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, will now remain operational through to early 2017, Michael Fallon said during a visit to Baghdad.
"RAF Tornados have carried out hundreds of strikes, helping Iraqi forces push back ISIS from the Kurdish region and out of key towns such as Tikrit and Baiji," he said. "We want to ensure we maintain this crucial operational tempo, and so we will extend the lifetime of 12 (B) Squadron for a further year to March 2017. This will allow us to sustain our effort, helping the Iraqis lead the fight on the ground," he said.
The RAF disbanded 12 (B) Squadron in 2014 as part of the drawdown of the Panavia Tornado GR.4 fleet ahead of its planned retirement in 2019. It was due to be reformed as a Eurofighter Typhoon squadron, but in January of this year was instead revived for one year as a Tornado unit as it was felt that the two remaining units - 9 and 31 Squadrons - would be stretched too thin to sustain operations at that time over Iraq and Nigeria (2 [Army Co-operation] Squadron was instead re-rolled as the RAF's newest Typhoon unit).
While the Tornados are no longer flying surveillance missions over Nigeria, the UK government has made clear it wishes to extend the RAF's strike role to include Syria also, which would certainly increase the tempo of operations and require that the current force levels are sustained.
For their current missions over Iraq, the Tornados carry Raytheon Paveway IV precision, guided bombs, MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missiles, and are equipped with an internal Mauser BK-27 27 mm cannon. They can also carry the Goodrich DB-110 Reconnaissance Airborne Pod Tornado (RAPTOR) pod.
Alongside the RAF's General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles, the Tornados have, to date, flown more than 1,100 missions over Iraq, conducting more than 250 strikes.
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Meggitt wins multiple contracts to upgrade British Army small arms training systems
Meggitt has been awarded £10.2 million (US$ 15.9M) in contracts from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to upgrade British Army Dismounted Close Combat Trainers (DCCT)—small arms trainers, the British company announced Tuesday August 4, 2015.
The three contracts, awarded in June and July 2015, upgrade existing trainers with the FATS® M100 system architecture, provide DCCT portable configurations, and add Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) Phase 4 Fire Control System (FCS) simulation training onto the DCCT platform as a complement to live-fire FIST equipment.
Two contracts include an expansion of Meggitt’s FATS® M100 system architecture across the balance of the MoD small arms trainers, and upgrades to their Forward Air Controller (FAC) and Indirect Fire trainers. The FATS® M100 small arms trainer supports the next-generation of military training systems and Meggitt’s own simulated weapons selection, incorporating marksmanship, judgmental videos, traditional computer generated imagery and third-party virtual simulation products.
The integrated training solution leverages the existing DCCT capabilities and the FATS® M100 architecture enhanced system features for long-term capability, growth and training sustainability for the UK small arms trainers. This DCCT growth path enables FIST training, long-term system sustainment and productive capability growth to meet future training requirements.
The simulation elements and enhanced software applications are being designed and produced by Meggitt Training Systems in Suwanee, Georgia, USA. Meggitt Target Systems (formerly Meggitt Defence Systems) in Ashford, UK, provides logistics support for DCCT.
Meggitt Training Systems’ Vice President of Virtual Systems, Larry Raines, commented, “Meggitt is committed to a continued, long-term partnership with the UK MoD, one of our most important virtual training system customers. As combat training requirements change and the consolidation of resources and manpower grow in importance, the UK MoD’s investment in DCCT validates Meggitt’s cost-effective and flexible growth path for evolving UK MoD requirements.”
Meggitt Training Systems’ DCCT has been the UK MoD’s primary small arms training system since 2003, delivering the first small arms trainers to the British Army in 1992. Similar systems are in service with US forces, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and various countries throughout Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Nicholas de Larrinaga, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly 05 August 2015
The Royal Navy's future fleet of Type 26 Global Combat Ships moved forward on 5 August with the ordering of the first long lead items for the vessels.
In total seven contracts, worth GBP170 million (USD265 million), were placed by prime contractor BAE Systems with some of its key subcontractors.
The Royal Navy is currently planning to purchase 13 Type 26 vessels to replace its existing Type 23 frigates on a one-for-one basis.
The items ordered are the vessel's air weapons handling systems (from Babcock); communications systems (from Rohde & Schwarz UK); electric propulsion motor and drive systems (from GE Power Conversion); gas turbines (from Rolls-Royce Power Engineering); integrated navigation and bridge systems (from Raytheon); propulsion gearboxes (from David Brown Gear Systems); and uptakes and downtakes (from WR Davis).
Geoff Searle, Type 26 Programme Director at BAE Systems, stated the contracts "will enable our partners in the supply chain to start manufacturing key equipment for the first three ships. This reinforces the strong momentum behind the programme and is an important step towards the start of manufacturing the Type 26 ships for the Royal Navy in Glasgow next year."
The 7,000 tonne Type 26 is being designed to be expressly multi-mission in its capabilities. It will at least maintain the capabilities of the Type 23 in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and general purpose roles, with a mission bay designed into the vessels to provide flexibility to conduct humanitarian and other missions. The vessel's will be armed with a 5 in (127 mm) BAE Systems Mk 45 Mod 4 gun system; a Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launching system (VLS) for anti-surface and ASW weapons; four eight-cell launchers for the MBDA Sea Ceptor local air defence system; two Phalanx Block 1B close-in weapon systems, and two 30 mm automated small-calibre gun systems; and a hanger for either two Wildcat helicopters or a single Merlin helicopter.
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C Company are currently in Germany taking part in Ex Wessex Storm. They are working as part of the 1 Royal Irish Battlegroup. Our soldiers are using Foxhound, RWMIK+ and Husky vehicles and conducting training using live rounds. They will also work alongside American and Czech soldiers as part of the multi-national training exercise.
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British Army's future Scout SV armored vehicle to be equipped with Oxley LED lights
The new SCOUT SV armoured fighting vehicle developed for the British Army by General Dynamics UK will be equipped with high performance LED lights designed by Oxley Group with advanced protection against electromagnetic interference, the UK-based company announced on August 6, 2015.
The Group has secured an order worth more than £1M (US$ 1.54M) from General Dynamics European Land Systems, a sub-contractor on the programme, to supply ultra-compact low profile dual mode interior lights and map ‘task’ lights for the vehicles.
The total order will see thousands of lights delivered, including DC Combi LED interior lights and Gooseneck task lights. The space-saving DC Combi LED light provides vital advantages within the confines of an armoured vehicle. Unique in its low-profile design, the Oxley DC Combi delivers white light plus an integrated blackout mode.
The ‘Gooseneck’ map lights have been developed by Oxley to provide rugged and flexible task lighting designed to meet the toughest military standards; they incorporate state-of-the-art LED technology to provide a light with outstanding tolerance for vibration and shock. The lights are dimmable and NVIS friendly with dual-mode controls.
Oxley Group is alone in meeting the latest British Army standards EMC Def Stan 59-411 Land Service class A & B and DEF-STAN 61-5 PART 6 ISSUE 6 required for SCOUT SV.
DC Combi lights incorporate class-leading EMC characteristics as standard but that capability was further refined to deliver higher levels of EMC and circuit protection to meet the demanding specifications of the customer. The new SCOUT SV platforms will carry a huge array of high specification electronic equipment which means that advanced Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is essential for the lights as it prevents interference with other mission critical equipment.
Excellent light quality from the white LEDs and 16 tactical mode LEDs together with the build standard of the driver board electronics provide true long life and consistency in performance of the LEDs. This is matched with rugged casing which makes the Oxley DC Combi a ‘fit and forget’ option that outperforms any other comparable product. The extended working life - typically 50,000 hours - dramatically reduces replacement, maintenance, disposal and labour costs compared to existing lighting technology.
The lighting system was an integral part of the vehicle acceptance, and the final UK MoD order is for 589 vehicles beginning delivery in 2017 through 2024. A key element of the success Oxley has had in the defence market is the integration of the highest quality LEDs into the systems designed for military vehicles. That means industry-leading resistance to shock and vibration, heat sink technology, manufacturing to IP67/69K waterproofing, and CE marking to ensure they meet health and safety standards.
Martin Blakstad, Group CEOcommented; “We are delighted to be working with General Dynamics on SCOUT SV, which is a key part of the strategic development of UK armoured vehicle capabilities. We pride ourselves on setting the standards for LED technology in the defence sector and work with customers worldwide to deliver unparalleled quality.”
Stunning: Royal Navy Lynx MK 8 Releases Flares Over Type 23 Frigate in Indian Ocean
The Royal Navy released some stunning images showing the Lynx MK 8 helicopter from 815 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, litting up the night sky with her decoy flares as part of an exercise in the Indian Ocean.
The helicopter is on a nine-month deployment to the Gulf with HMS Richmond – a Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigate which is silhouetted in the background.
Decoy flares – or Infra Red Counter Measures – attract heat-seeking missiles, drawing them away from the helicopter’s engines and onto a much hotter target.
HMS Richmond’s primary tasking in the Indian Ocean has been as part of Combined Maritime Forces Combined Task Force 150.
Their mission is to promote maritime security in order to counter terrorist activity and other illegal activities.
Sub-Lieutenant Emily Witcher, one of the ship’s officers of the watch, said: “We can carry out counter narcotics smuggling one day, and immediately switch to anti-submarine warfare training the next.
"This demonstrates the flexibility that a Type 23 frigate provides.”
UK Ministry of Defense Orders Additional Giraffe AMB Radar System from SAAB. Defence and security company Saab has received orders from the UK Ministry of Defence for additional Giraffe AMB radar systems plus upgrades of the existing systems and associated equipment. The order value is approximately SEK 610 million. Deliveries will start during the second half of 2015 and continue until 2018.
he Giraffe AMB radar provides a full 360° update of the air situation out to 120 km every second. It can operate in challenging environments such as mountains, complex coastal regions and wind farm areas. The upgrade will take the UK’s existing systems to the same production-build standard as the new Giraffe AMB, enhancing the primary radar’s performance and capacity. It also keeps the UK’s radars in line with the Giraffe product roadmap. This, in turn, will enable the addition of a unique capability to spot small UAS vehicles and the capacity to screen out difficult radar ‘clutter’, such as birds.
“We are delighted to have agreed this significant expansion and upgrade of the Giraffe AMB fleet with the UK MoD. We are looking forward to supporting both potential mission deployments and further system evolutions based on our spiral development plan for Giraffe,” says Micael Johansson, head of Saab business area Electronic Defence Systems.
The multi-mission Giraffe AMB surveillance radar system was first acquired by the United Kingdom in 2008 as part of the Land Environment Air Picture Provision (LEAPP) programme. Since deliveries started in 2010 it has been used to provide the real-time air picture in support of airspace management on deployed operations and at major events in the UK. It has also made a vital contribution to force protection through the detection and prediction of impact of incoming rockets, artillery shells and mortars.
The Giraffe AMB is part of Saab’s Giraffe product family that includes high-performance air and sea surveillance and target indication radars, covering very short to long ranges. The Giraffe also has essential command and control for ground based air defence and sense-and-warn applications.
16 Air Assault Brigade a ajouté 4 nouvelles photos.
Apache attack helicopters from 3 Regiment Army Air Corps flying from a Forward Arming and Refuelling Point (FARP) at Grafenwoehr Training Area in southern Germany as part of Exercise Swift Response. The training involves some 4,800 soldiers from 11 NATO countries training together to be able to respond together to international crises.
Photos: Cpl Georgie Coupe, MoD Crown Copyright
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Un Hawker Hunter s'écrase sur une route au Royaume-uni
Un Hawker Hunter s'écrase sur une route au Royaume-uni Un avion de collection s'est écrasé ce samedi 22 août au Royaume-Uni lors d'un vol de démonstration au meeting aérien de Shoreham au sud de la Grande-Bretagne.
L'avion, un Hawker Hunter datant de la Seconde guerre mondiale, s'est écrasé sur une route à proximité de la ville de Brighton, touchant plusieurs voitures qui circulaient sur la voie. Si le pilote s'en est sorti indemne, l'accident a fait plusieurs victimes au sol: selon les secours, au moins sept personnes ont trouvé la mort.
Royal Air Force Typhoons Return From Baltic Air Policing Mission with More than 40 Intercepts
After four months, the detachment of Typhoon jets yesterday concluded its deployment as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission. The RAF Typhoon detachment deployed to Amari air base in Estonia at NATO’s request on 1 May this year, operating alongside Norwegian aircraft to secure NATO’s airspace over the Baltic nations of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania which do not have their own air defence fighters.
On 25 August, at the concluding event in a series of commemorative occasions at Amari 121 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) handed over to the German 31st Tactical Air Wing.
Addressing the EAW and invited guests, British Ambassador to Estonia Mr Chris Holtby said: The presence in Estonia for the last four months of the four Royal Air Force Typhoons and all the personnel of 121 Expeditionary Air Wing has provided firm evidence of the commitment of the UK and our NATO Allies to the security and defence of Estonia.
The UK is grateful for every opportunity to work together with the highly professional armed forces of its close military ally Estonia, and I am very proud that the UK has already committed itself to take part in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing again in 2016.
Since arriving in Estonia in May, the Typhoon fighters have been scrambled 17 times and have intercepted more than 40 Russian aircraft ranging from transports to long-range fighters. During one launch in July, the Typhoons intercepted 10 separate Russian aircraft, including 8 fighters.
When on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) the pilots and ground engineers have been on 24/7 stand by, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. Recognising the contribution made by the RAF, Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas Tweeted, “Thank you, job well done!”
Typhoon pilot Flight Lieutenant Rory Denman said:
From hearing the alarm we launch as fast as we can. It’s been a challenging but ultimately rewarding operation. From a flying perspective, intercepting aircraft is what we do, just as we continue to do so in the UK.
Commenting on the effect the four months of operations has had on his country, Chief of Estonian Air Force, Colonel Jaak Tarien said:
Your presence here in Estonia provides a genuine sense of security and relief to the Estonian people. Thank you for your service to Estonia, the UK and the NATO mission.
Commanding Officer of 121 EAW, Wing Commander Stu Smiley said:
121 Expeditionary Air Wing has played a vital part in ensuring that the UK continues to play its part in the NATO mission of securing the Baltic airspace. Everything we do in the RAF is to protect, uphold and defend the UK, its allies and its interests and thanks to the commitment and professionalism of my team, without a doubt we have fulfilled that mission. http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2033
Mar 18 Déc 2012 - 15:24
ils vont retires ded appareilw qui ont mfme paw 15 sns dand le biy. C du pure gaspillage.
