Armée Britannique/British Armed Forces

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Citation :

Commercial Sale of Type 22 Frigates


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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Citation :

UK MoD confirms gun for Type 26 [DSEi15D1]

15 September 2015


The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed the selection of BAE Systems as preferred bidder to supply the Maritime Indirect Fire System (MIFS) for the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) next-generation Type 26 Global Combat Ship (GCS). Subject to contract award, BAE Systems’ Land and Armaments Global Combat Systems business (teamed with its US-based sister Weapon Systems business) will provide the MIFS Integrated Gunnery System (IGS) to the Type 26 GCS programme; the full IGS includes the Mk 45 Mod 4 5in/62 calibre naval gun system along with an automated ammunition handling system, a gun fire control system, and qualified ammunition.

''The Mk 45 is at the centre of our MIFS solution and will provide the Royal Navy with a low-risk, low-cost, and highly effective automatic weapon system," said Joe Senftle, vice president and general manager of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems. ''It combines the benefits of a mature, reliable, and proven system with the capacity to deliver the full range of ammunition available today and in development."

BAE Systems was downselected for MIFS in early 2014 ahead of a rival bid from Babcock (teamed with OTO Melara of Italy). However, the MoD has only now publicly acknowledged BAE Systems as the preferred bidder.

The Mk 45 gun is already in service with the US Navy and 10 other allied nations, with more than 240 systems delivered globally. It is understood that the Mk 45 Mod 4 mountings to be supplied to the MIFS programme will be remanufactured and upgraded from existing Mk 45 Mod 2 gun systems.

Entering service from 2023, the Type 26 GCS has been designed as a versatile, multi-mission warship capable of undertaking a wide range of roles from high-intensity warfare to humanitarian assistance, either operating independently or as part of a task group.




http://www.janes.com/article/54269/uk-mod-confirms-gun-for-type-26-dsei15d1

Citation :

Air Platforms
DSEI 2015: UK Lynx AH.9s deploy to Kenya
Tim Ripley, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
15 September 2015
UK Army Air Corps Westland Lynx AH.9s have deployed to East Africa this month on a year-long mission to support training at the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK).

The two Lynx helicopters from 9 Regiment AAC, based at Dishforth in North Yorkshire, are replacing Bell 212s leased from Cobham subsidiary FBH, providing casualty evacuation and exercise support for battalion-sized British Army infantry exercises in Kenya.

The commander of the UK's Joint Helicopter Command, Major General Richard Felton, revealed the deployment at the 'Future of Military Rotorcraft: 2030 and Beyond' conference at London's Excel exhibition centre on 14 September.

Citation :

Air Platforms
DSEI 2015: AgustaWestland completes unmanned SW-4 trials for Royal Navy
Nicholas de Larrinaga, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
15 September 2015



AgustaWestland has completed capability concept demonstration (CCD) trials of an unmanned PZL-Swidnik SW-4 helicopter for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), the company announced on 15 September.

The CCD programme was begun in 2013 under a GBP2.3 million (USD3.5 billion) contact awarded by the MoD to AgustaWestland to conduct research into Rotary Wing Unmanned Air Systems (RWUAS). The programme was designed to provide research for the Royal Navy to guide its potential Tactical Maritime Unmanned Air System (TMUAS) requirement.

In total the RWUAS CCD programme saw 27 hours of flight trials and 22 automated simulated deck landings at Llanbedr Airfield in Wales with the unmanned/optionally piloted SW-4 'Solo' helicopter, spread across three phases.

The first phase included operability demonstrations including launch and recovery, integration with the DNA(2) Ship Combat Management System, mission management, and operations under degraded conditions. The simulated deck landings - onto a towed trailer, replicating a frigate deck - were held in the second phase, while the final phase tested the system's performance in maritime security/reconnaissance missions. During the trials the aircraft was flown under automatic control by a ground station, although a safety pilot was present aboard the helicopter.

Commander Bow Wheaton, head of Maritime Capability (Aviation) for the Royal Navy in the UK MoD, said the service was "very pleased with the outcome of the Rotary Wing UAS demonstration project and [we] have learnt a lot that will inform future options". He added that "Rotary Wing UAS offer a niche combination of endurance and payload, whiet being able to launch and recover from relatively small warships with a flight deck."

AgustaWestland noted that the RWUAS CCD also included a capability study to look at a range of differently sized RWUAS "that could deliver persistent maritime capability". Although the trials looked principally at the basic mechanics of landing, operating an RWUAS, and performing surveillance missions, other tasks were also investigated. These included an RWUAS providing mine hunting, hydrographic survey, and airborne surveillance capability - all while operating from a frigate.

The RWUAS CCD project also involved AgustaWestland's Finmeccanica stablemate Selex ES (providing surveillance systems), BAE Systems (surface ship combat management systems), Altas Elektronik UK (mine hunting), and Pelydryn (hydrographic surveying systems). PZL-Swidnik is a Polish subsidiary of AgustaWestland.

Citation :

Saab demonstrates Giraffe radar's ability to detect unmanned platforms

15 September 2015

Saab has demonstrated an improved capability of its Giraffe agile multi-beam (AMB) radar system to detect low, slow and small targets during a UK Government sponsored trial over the ranges at West Freugh, in Scotland.
Dubbed Bristow 15, the trial evaluated the 'enhanced low, slow and small' (ELSS) function,which enables the radar to undertake dedicated counter-unmanned air systems (UAS) operations, while performing its full suite of regular air surveillance functions.
More than 100 UAS sorties were flown against the radar in multiple launches of up to six vehicles at a time over the six-day trial.
The radar is said to have detected, classified, and tracked low, slow and small UAS vehicles flying increasingly complex tactical profiles despite hundreds of birds and a demanding background of sea and ground clutter, while offering full, conventional air surveillance in its regular modes.
During the Bristow 15 trials, targets were claimed to have had a radar cross section as small as 0.001m².
The ELSS function can automatically and accurately find and classify low, slow and small targets, as slow and small as the quadcopter UAS vehicles typically flown by hobbyists.

Saab Surface Radar Solutions business unit head Anders Linder said: "Saab now offers ELSS as part of the Giraffe capability range.
"This gives a unique performance range from small slow UAVs, to rockets and mortars, to more traditional air targets, but all at the same time."
The function can be implemented on all Saab Giraffe radars, providing them a simultaneous capability to detect and classify all kinds of air vehicles from ballistic missiles to the very small UAS.
Giraffe AMB is a family of land and naval two or three-dimensional G / H-band passive electronically scanned array radars, and can classify and track fixed wing, helicopter, surface, jammer, and ballistic targets, while providing coastal surveillance.



http://www.army-technology.com/news/newssaab-demonstrates-giraffe-radars-ability-to-detect-unmanned-platforms-4670765

Citation :

Royal Navy’s Next Generation Helicopters Ready for Action
By UK Ministry of Defence -September 16, 2015




The Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare helicopter, the Merlin Mk2, has achieved Full Operating Capability (FOC), on time and under budget.

The significant milestone of the £807 million program has now been met, following the delivery of 24 out of a total of 30 Merlin helicopters to the Royal Navy.

The upgraded Merlin Mk2s are the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter and have undergone improvements to their anti-submarine/surface warfare combat capabilities, including radar upgrade, as well as being fitted with advanced glass cockpits.

Each aircraft has improved aircrew consoles, touch-screen displays and are fitted with over 40km of new wiring. The new technology gives them the enhanced ability to detect and track targets, and to share data with other aircraft and ships while airborne.

Defence Minister Philip Dunne said:

“The considerable investment the UK Government has made in these next-generation Merlin helicopters will ensure that we continue to deliver a flexible capability that meets the needs of our Armed Forces.

“This program forms part of this Government’s commitment to invest £11 billion in our helicopter fleet over the next 10 years as part of our £160 billion Equipment Plan to provide our people with the very best equipment and support.”

Air Vice-Marshal Julian Young, Director Helicopters at the MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support organization, said:

“The Merlin Mk2 is an exceptional aircraft providing a variety of specialist warfare and general roles, and this program has been delivered on time and under budget making it a great procurement success.

“It is an important part of our overall helicopter force, and has proved itself countless times fulfilling a number of tasks including counter-piracy measures and providing humanitarian relief.”




The upgrade program was carried out by Lockheed Martin, based in Havant and AgustaWestland in Yeovil, and supported around 1,000 jobs.

The helicopters roles include carrying out counter-piracy and casualty evacuation duties. They have delivered vital support to the UK effort in Sierra Leone to tackle the spread of Ebola and supported the rescuing of migrants in the Mediterranean.

The Merlin Mk2 helicopters are expected to be deployed on the Royal Navy’s next generation Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, as well as frigates, destroyers and support ships world-wide to help keep Britain safe.


http://www.defencetalk.com/royal-navys-next-generation-helicopters-ready-for-action-65392/

Citation :

al Dynamics demonstrates Armoured Fighting Vehicle capability at DSEI 2015
General Dynamics Land Systems is demonstrating its significant Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) capability at DSEI 2015 at the ExCel Centre, London. With four world-leading platforms on its stand, General Dynamics is showcasing it has the best-in-class and off-the-shelf capability to meet the vehicle requirements of the British Army and Armed Forces around the world.








http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2015/09/general-dynamics-demonstrates-armoured.html

Citation :

La Royal Air Force réceptionne son 7ème A400M
Dans Actualité Défense
Publié le 16/09/2015 à 17h08, par George de Bonadona




La Royal Air Force (RAF) dispose maintenant d'une flotte de sept A400M. Quatre avions se trouvent sur la base de Brize Norton et font partis à plein temps de la flotte de transport britannique. Les trois autres sont utilisés pour tester et cdéfinir les configurations d'emploi de l'appareil. D'ici à la fin du mois, les "Atlas" britanniques passeront le cap des 1 000 heures de vol, avec un taux de réussites des missions de l'ordre de 90%.


"En cinq ans, la RAF a été capable de faire remonter en puissance sa flotte de transport avec  souplesse et réactivité, offrant une mobilité aérienne moderne et très fiable" a déclaré l'Air Marshal Sir Baz North. Pour Richard Thompson, directeur de la branche aviation militaire chez Airbus Defence and Space au Royaume-Uni, les résultats donnés par les "Atlas" de Brize Norton sont prometteurs. "Nous sommes à présent complètement concentrés sur le renforcement des capacités militaires, ce qui permettra à l'avion de montrer tout son potentiel." a-t-il ajouté.



http://www.air-cosmos.com/la-royal-air-force-receptionne-son-7eme-a400m-43244

Citation :

DSEI 2015: Finmeccanica pitches multimission C/MC-27J to the UK

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
16 September 2015




talian company Finmeccanica is pitching its C-27J Spartan and MC-27J Praetorian aircraft to the UK government as a British solution to a British set of requirements.

Speaking at the DSEI 2015 exhibition in London on 16 September, senior vice president of UK Corporate, Sir Brian Burridge, said that the twin-turboprop tactical airlifter and its special mission stablemate are largely built by UK industry and would offer the country the range of capability sets that it is either currently lacking or will shortly lose due to fleet retirements and other factors.

"The [C/MC-27J] is about solving problems that air forces around the world are facing today, particularly the UK. The UK problem is that its ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] platforms are very capable, but fragmented [into many different types] - there is the Sentinel, Rivet Joint, Shadow, and E-3D. [Further to this], it has a tactical intra-theatre transport aircraft with two refurbished BAe 146s, [and the] C-130Js that are to be retired [in 2022].

"The UK has packages of niche aircraft, which is not an efficient way to run a fleet. The [C/MC-27J] offers a flexible, affordable, and lethal solution ... with a UK industrial content of 37% [by value of the aircraft]," he said.




In terms of the roles that Finmeccanica envisions for the C/MC-27J in UK service, Burridge highlighted tactical transport and special forces, command and control (C2) and ISR, and maritime patrol.

Currently, the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) transport fleet covers the spectrum of strategic through to tactical, with the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, the Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A400M Atlas, the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, the BAe 146, and the Boeing Chinook. However, with the C-130J to be retired in 2022 and the BAe 146 not intended as a long-term solution, Burridge noted a future capability gap between the semi-strategic A400M and the Chinook helicopter.


http://www.janes.com/article/54436/dsei-2015-finmeccanica-pitches-multimission-c-mc-27j-to-the-uk

Citation :

DSEI 2015: UK A400M and Merlin aircraft mark service milestones

Nicholas de Larrinaga, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
16 September 2015



The United Kingdom marked two aircraft capability milestones on 15 September for the Royal Navy's AgustaWestland Merlin HM.2 maritime helicopters and the Royal Air Force's Airbus A400M Atlas strategic transport aircraft.

Announced by Minister of State for Defence Procurement Philip Dunne, the milestones see the Merlin HM.2 fleet reach full operating capability (FOC), and the A400M fleet meet its in-service date (ISD).

Under the GBP800 million (USD1.4 billion) Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme (MCSP), Lockheed Martin UK and AgustaWestland are upgrading 30 of the Royal Navy's Merlin HM.1s to the new HM.2 standard. The FOC declaration was made after 21 of the helicopters had completed the upgrade, "on time and under budget" according to Dunne. In fact, 24 aircraft have now completed the upgrade and are in service.

Meanwhile, with the seventh A400M was delivered to the UK on 15 September at RAF Brize Norton air base - marking the ISD declaration point. Of these seven aircraft, four are currently in service with the RAF, with three being fitted with UK-specific defensive aid systems. Dunne noted he was pleased that "the UK's GBP2.7 million programme for 22 aircraft has achieved its in service date, despite some challenges" - most notably the loss of an aircraft earlier this year in Spain.

Citation :

AgustaWestland Completes UK MoD RWUAS Capability Concept Demonstration
Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland announced today that it has completed the UK Ministry of Defence’s Rotary Wing Unmanned Aerial System (RWUAS) Capability Concept Demonstration (CCD) contract it was awarded in 2013, including 27 hours of demonstration flying and 22 automatic simulated deck landings using its SW-4 RUAS Solo technology demonstrator.



The flying element of the contract was carried out at Llanbedr Airfield in late May 2015 and included demonstrating the operability of a RWUAS, pseudo deck landings and various mission capabilities.

Phase I operability demonstrations included launch and recovery, mission management, mission system integration with the DNA(2) Ship Combat Management System and degraded operations.
Phase II included a series of pseudo deck landings being made by the SW-4 RUAS Solo in automated mode onto a towed trailer that replicated the deck of a frigate.
Phase III included the demonstration of maritime security and littoral reconnaissance missions utilising the mission sensors to identify various targets of interest. During the demonstration the SW-4 RUAS Solo helicopter was flown as an Unmanned Air System under automatic control from a ground station with a safety pilot onboard.
The Royal Navy’s Commander Maritime Capability (Aviation), Cdr Bow Wheaton, said “We are very pleased with the outcome of the Rotary Wing UAS demonstration project and have learnt a lot that will inform future options. Rotary Wing UAS offer a niche combination of endurance and payload, whilst being able to launch and recover from relatively small warships with a flight deck.”

Under the capability study element of the RWUAS CCD a range of rotorcraft size options have been investigated that could deliver persistent maritime capability. The project also investigated the concept of a rotorcraft system that could provide mine hunting, hydrographic survey and airborne surveillance capability with the ability to operate from a frigate size ship.

Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland as prime contractor brought together an industry team with specialist expertise, comprising Atlas Elektronik UK for mine countermeasures, BAE Systems for surface ship combat management systems, PelydrynLtd for airborne hydrographic surveying and Finmeccanica-Selex ES for surveillance sensors.

The SW-4 Solo RUAS/OPH, based on the proven PZL-Swidnik SW-4 light single-engine helicopter, has been designed for both unmanned and piloted operations, providing users with maximum operational flexibility. It has been developed as a result of close cooperation between AgustaWestland and its subsidiary, PZL-Swidnik in Poland. The RUAS version of the SW-4 is capable of performing a number of roles, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as cargo re-supply. In piloted configuration, the SW-4 can undertake a number of activities, including transportation of personnel, surveillance and intervention. It can be fitted with a comprehensive mission equipment package including search and communications/intelligence systems.

In 2014 Finmeccanica – AgustaWestland completed a demonstration of its Rotorcraft Unmanned Aerial System / Optionally Piloted Helicopter (RUAS/OPH) to the Italian Ministry of Defence. The trials were conducted to evaluate unmanned rotorcraft technology and its potential to provide enhanced capabilities for the Italian armed forces in the future. Recently the SW-4 Solo performed successfully during the European Defense Agency ‘Italian Blade’ Exercise, demonstrating its ISTAR mission, manned-unmanned teaming and data dissemination capabilities.

The successful completion of these demonstrations highlights the expertise Finmeccanica–AgustaWestland has in the specialist area of unmanned rotorcraft, which have the potential to provide enhanced operational capabilities across a broad spectrum of missions.






http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/agustawestland_completes_uk_mod_rwuas_capability_concept_demonstration_41609153.html

Citation :

La Royal Air Force réceptionne son 7ème A400M


Dans Actualité Défense, Actualité Focus
Publié le 16/09/2015 à 17h08, par George de Bonadona


A400M MSN24 © Airbus


La Royal Air Force (RAF) dispose maintenant d'une flotte de sept A400M. Quatre avions se trouvent sur la base de Brize Norton et font partis à plein temps de la flotte de transport britannique. Les trois autres sont utilisés pour tester et cdéfinir les configurations d'emploi de l'appareil. D'ici à la fin du mois, les "Atlas" britanniques passeront le cap des 1 000 heures de vol, avec un taux de réussites des missions de l'ordre de 90%.

"En cinq ans, la RAF a été capable de faire remonter en puissance sa flotte de transport avec souplesse et réactivité, offrant une mobilité aérienne moderne et très fiable" a déclaré l'Air Marshal Sir Baz North. Pour Richard Thompson, directeur de la branche aviation militaire chez Airbus Defence and Space au Royaume-Uni, les résultats donnés par les "Atlas" de Brize Norton sont prometteurs. "Nous sommes à présent complètement concentrés sur le renforcement des capacités militaires, ce qui permettra à l'avion de montrer tout son potentiel." a-t-il ajouté.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/la-royal-air-force-receptionne-son-7eme-a400m-43244

Citation :

DSEI 2015: Lockheed Martin UK's Warrior vehicle upgrade program reaches milestone
Plans to upgrade the British Army’s Warrior vehicle have taken another step forward with the completion of a Critical Design Review (CDR). A team from Lockheed Martin UK’s Ampthill site, who are working to deliver the British Army’s Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme, spent several days analysing and scrutinising the proposed design alongside representatives from the Ministry of Defence.




The CDR is the final stage of the design and development phase of the programme, which is enhancing the combat capability of 245 of the Army’s fleet of Warrior vehicles with a new turret, cannon and electronics.
Its completion is a major milestone and demonstrates the maturity of the project. The CDR follows successful live firing trials that took place in Scotland in April with the new turret and cannon. In May, work began on a new £5.5 million manufacturing facility at the Ampthill site in preparation for the next stage of the Warrior programme.

Vice President and Managing Director of Lockheed Martin UK’s Ampthill site, Alan Lines, said: “Passing through the Critical Design Review is a significant event, not only for the Lockheed Martin UK team but also for our network of suppliers and the Army and MoD. We continue to make excellent progress with this important programme that will be key to the Army’s future armoured fighting vehicle capability.”

Defence Minister Philip Dunne said: “Warrior is an extremely versatile platform, delivering an excellent mix of mobility, capacity and firepower for our Armed Forces on the front line. Upgrading Warrior means we are equipping our people better to meet current and emerging threats. This critical step in locking down the final system design is an exciting milestone.”

The upgraded Warrior will have an improved infrastructure that includes a new turret with an ultra-modern CT40 weapon system and a modular protection fitting system to increase lethality and adaptability. Other features such as an updated environmental control system, better all-round cameras and night vision capabilities have been designed to improve the crew’s comfort and awareness.






http://www.armyrecognition.com/dsei_2015_news_online_show_daily_coverage_report_u/dsei_2015_lockheed_martin_uk_s_warrior_vehicle_upgrade_program_reaches_milestone_21609152.html

Citation :

a hiérarchie de la British Army compte désormais un « sergent-major »
Posté dans Europe, Forces terrestres par Laurent Lagneau Le 17-09-2015


Aux États-Unis, le sergent-major de l’US Army est au sommet de la hiérarchie du personnel non officier, dont il est le relai auprès du chef d’état-major. Surnommé « The Big Dog », il occupe une place importante dans l’organigramme de la composante terrestre des forces armées américaines. Son rôle est de veiller à la discipline ainsi qu’au bien être des engagés.

L’US Army n’est pas la seule à compter un sergent-major. C’est par exemple le cas de l’armée royale canadienne et de l’Australian Army. Et aussi, depuis quelques semaines, de celui de la British Army, qui vient de créer un tel poste.

En effet, dans un communiqué diffusé fin août, cette dernière a annoncé que l’adjudant-chef Glenn Haughton sera le premier sous-officier à occuper la fonction de Sergeant Major, c’est à dire « qu’il aura son mot à dire au niveau le plus élevé sur les décisions politiques clés qui influeront sur l’armée et ses membres actifs. »

Le chef d’état-major a reconnu la nécessité de disposer d’un sergent-major pour toutes les questions qui concernent les soldats. D’où la création de ce poste, annoncée en janvier dernier, explique la British Army.

Engagé en 1988 au 1er Bataillon des Grenadier Guards, Glenn Haughton était le « sergent-major régimentaire » de l’Académie royale militaire de Sandhurst, dont le rôle est similaire à celui du sergent-major de la British Army mais au niveau de l’unité. La carrière de sous-officier aura été exemplaire quand on sait qu’il a quitté le système scolaire à l’âge de 16 ans.

Justement, sa priorité, précise la British Army, sera d’encourager les soldats à suivre des formations. Lui-même a donné l’exemple en obtenant un diplôme en gestion et travaillant pour décrocher une maîtrise en administration des affaires. « Le monde et nos ennemis sont toujours en développement et nous avons besoin de garder le rythme. Je dis toujours que nous devons bien sûr rester ‘dur’ mais tout en étant intelligents dans un environnement complexe », croit-il.

L’armée de Terre française ne compte pas de « sergent-major » dans son organigramme. Sans doute pourrait-elle s’inspirer de l’initiative de son homologue britannique d’autant plus que son nouveau modèle, « Au contact », doit « valoriser des hommes et des femmes responsables, compétents et aguerris, à même de s’engager et d’agir ensemble au coeur des populations » étant donné que « le soldat est, aujourd’hui comme demain, au coeur des préoccupations ».





http://www.opex360.com/2015/09/17/la-hierarchie-de-la-british-army-compte-desormais-sergent-major/

Citation :

Thales wins Ajax vehicle’s sighting system contract
Thales is announcing today the award of a £54M contract from Lockheed Martin UK Ltd for the supply of its DNGS-T3 Stabilised Day/Night Gunnery Sight for the Production Phase of the UK MoD’s SCOUT Specialist Vehicle (SV) programme, which will be integrated onto the turret at LMUKs facility in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, UK.


245 of the DNGS-T3 sights will be supplied by Thales on the Reconnaissance Variant of the SCOUT SV vehicle. In doing so, it establishes a new benchmark as the premiere ballistics aiming solution for new build or retrofit armoured vehicle programmes around the world.

This 2 axis stabilised sight is fitted with a high performance Thermal (Infra-Red) Camera and Laser Rangefinder, and fully integrated with the vehicle’s digital architecture, DNGS-T3 enables the vehicle’s command team to adopt either a defensive or offensive role as required by the operational scenario.

The Production Phase of the programme will cover a 5 year programme between 2016 and 2021 and all equipment will be built at Thales’ optronics facility in Glasgow, sustaining 40 highly skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs.

The contract follows on from the recent £125M award to Thales from General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd for the supply of SCOUT SV’s Commander’s Sight and Local Situation Awareness systems to give 360 degree vision for the crew. Both Thales and Lockheed Martin UK are fully committed to supporting General Dynamics UK Ltd in maximising the long-term operational availability and effectiveness of SCOUT SV for the UK MoD.




http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/thales_wins_ajax_vehicles_sighting_system_contract_41709151.html

Citation :

DSEI 2015: New vehicles needed for Land Joint Strike initiative, says British Army head


im Ripley, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
17 September 2015





More than 300 wheeled combat vehicles are needed to turn the British Army's new Land Joint Strike (LJS) initiative into reality by the end of this decade, according to senior army officers.

The head of the army, General Sir Nick Carter, unveiled the LJS at London's DSEI defence exhibition on 16 September, saying it would give UK politicians more options for using the British Army.

Gen Carter said the LJS concept would be built around the General Dynamics Ajax (formerly Scout SV) family of vehicles to give the British Army the ability to "defeat hybrid opponents in difficult terrain and densely populated urban areas".


http://www.janes.com/article/54515/dsei-2015-new-vehicles-needed-for-land-joint-strike-initiative-says-british-army-head

Citation :

VIDEO of new UK futuristic personal equipment unveiled By Dylan Vosman - Sep 17, 2015 0 41

Read more at: http://defence-blog.com/army/video-of-new-uk-futuristic-personal-equipment-unveiled.html

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British Army a ajouté 6 nouvelles photos.

1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment Battlegroup conduct training on the BATUS training area in Alberta, Canada during exercise Prairie Storm.
It will see all elements of the battlegroup conduct live fire ranges, as well as training within a realistic training scenario.

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Esterline to provide displays and video processing units for British Army's Ajax program
Esterline Corporation, a leading specialty manufacturer serving global aerospace and defense markets, today announced that its Codis high-performance visualization products have been selected by General Dynamics UK for the armored Ajax program, for a total contract value of $21 million over seven years. Products being supplied include turret crew-station displays, triple-head driver's displays and specialized video-processing hardware.



"Esterline is proud to have been competitively selected by General Dynamics UK to provide our visualization products for the SCOUT SV [Ajax]," said Esterline President & CEO Curtis Reusser. "We are pleased to participate in this important program that will provide British troops with state-of-the-art protection and technology."

Specific Esterline hardware to be delivered includes:

· Codis TX-335S turret crew-station displays to present gunners and commanders with logistics, mission-system and gun-control information.

· Codis TX-321S triple-head driver's displays to render a near-seamless 120-degree image of the route with selectable front or rear view in day or night vision.

· Codis VPU-101 video-processing units to receive and interpret data from multiple vehicle-mounted sensors, then process, reformat and distribute it to displays.

Hardware deliveries will begin in 2016, continuing for seven years. Esterline will manufacture the Codis hardware in its Kortrijk, Belgium facility. The Codis brand was added to Esterline's product portfolio as part of the company's most recent acquisition in February 2015 of high-technology display products for aerospace and defense markets.




The Ajax will be a highly agile, tracked, medium-weight armored fighting vehicle. General Dynamics UK was competitively selected in 2010 for the design phase of the program and subsequently in September 2014 the option for the manufacturing phase to build the 589 SCOUT SV variants for the British Army was invoked.



http://armyrecognition.com/dsei_2015_news_online_show_daily_coverage_report_u/esterline_to_provide_displays_and_video_processing_units_for_british_army_s_ajax_program_21709153.html

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JCB unveils new High Mobility Engineering Excavator HMEE
In 2007 JCB produced the world’s first High Mobility Engineering Excavator (HMEE) which is a self-deployable, operator protected backhoe loader capable of travelling at 60mph which is now being used by the US Army, Australia, UK MoD, New Zealand, UAE, Sweden and Germany. Today JCB presents his new HMEE at DSEI 2015.



HMEE was originally designed to support the US Army’s Stryker brigade combat teams and has been proven on operations around the world. The HMEE comes in three configurations offering increasing levels of blast and ballistic protection for the CAB: the A-kit is the base machine with limited protection under the cab; the B-Kit is a fully protected HMEE machine with armour and ballistic glazing; and, the C-Kit is an enhanced fully protected machine with armour, ballistic glazing, a blast-mitigating belly plate, internal spall liner, blast-attenuating seat, bar armour, roof hatch, foot plate, provision for electronic communications and counter measures, as well as night and thermal imaging systems.

In 'C' kit configuration, its current highest level of protection the HMEE was first deployed by UK MoD / British Army to operate in the Talisman route proving and clearance task in Afghanistan. This was then quickly followed by the ADF in their own route proving and clearance programme known as Project Ningaui.

The JCB HMEE also features a four-wheel drive and steer system and differential lock for a high level of off-road performance. Full suspension and ABS brakes aid controlled and safe travel, while the high-torque turbocharged diesel engine can run on military fuels like JP8 and F34 with minimal engine degradation. The cab is fully air-conditioned, and economically designed to deliver low fatigue and maximum operator comfort.





http://armyrecognition.com/dsei_2015_news_online_show_daily_coverage_report_u/jcb_unveils_new_high_mobility_engineering_excavator_hmee_41709154.html

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Five of the Bombardier Global Express-derived type are currently in operation with the Royal Air Force







Read more at: http://defence-blog.com/news/raytheon-in-discussions-with-three-potential-sentinel-r1-customers.html

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DSEI 2015: Prince of Wales build currently running ahead of schedule, says Aircraft Carrier Alliance

Dr. Lee Willett, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
18 September 2015



The build of the UK's second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, the future HMS Prince of Wales , currently is running ahead of schedule, the head of the UK's Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) told a media briefing at the DSEI defence and security exhibition in London on 16 September.

Ian Booth, the ACA's managing director, said that the ship's build programme is "actually running ahead of schedule at the moment ... [by] quite a few months", due particularly to the ACA having "learned an awful lot of lessons from the build of Queen Elizabeth "; as a result, he said, "we have compressed the programme."

He said that a number of key lessons were learned from the build of the first-in-class carrier. In terms of the build schedule, the biggest lesson was the sequence of building the blocks. For Queen Elizabeth , lower blocks 01 and 02 for the ship's bow section were docked down separately in the build dock at the Rosyth shipyard before being welded together. For Prince of Wales , the two blocks were joined together before being docked down; this, said Booth, saved about two months.

The second lesson was completing individual blocks with a more advanced state of internal outfitting than on Queen Elizabeth , prior to welding blocks together.

The third was to put a "massive effort" into improving productivity, said Booth.

In addition, every block for Prince of Wales has been delivered on or ahead of schedule. Overall, he continued, the ACA "have been able to pull three or four months out of the assembly sequence" for the ship.

Booth set out the programme schedule for the carrier going forward.

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DSEI 2015: UK places GBP300 million ASRAAM order

Nicholas de Larrinaga, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
18 September 2015




The United Kingdom has placed a GBP300 million (USD462 million) contract with MBDA to build new Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAMs) for the Royal Air Force (RAF), it was announced on 16 September at DSEI 2015 in London.

The 'capability sustainment' order will replenish the RAF's entire stock of ASRAAM with new-build missiles. ASRAAM is the principal short-range air-to-air weapon for the RAF's Tornado GR4 and Typhoon fighter aircraft.

Announcing the contract at DSEI, Michael Fallon, UK Secretary of State for Defence, said: "ASRAAM missiles provide our Typhoon jets with battle-winning technology on combat missions and these upgrades will help to make it a missile for the future, ready for use on our new [F-35] Lightning II aircraft."

The RAF's current inventories of ASRAAM are approaching their mid-life point, when it is common practice for air-to-air missiles to be returned to the manufacturer to be serviced, and for obsolescent parts and the energetic components (the rocket fuel and warhead explosives) to be replaced.

However, MBDA has an active production line building the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) for the Royal Navy and the British Army and CAMM has an exceptionally high level of commonality with ASRAAM - the only major difference is the seeker, infrared (IR) in ASRAAM and radio frequency (RF) in CAMM. As a result of this commonality and the economies of scale from having an active production line, MBDA is able to build entirely new ASRAAMs for the RAF at a cheaper price than conducting a standard mid-life refurbishment. This has the additional advantage of re-setting the clock on the ASRAAM's out-of-service date and allowing for improved components to be installed. It also sets the scene for a potential wider update to the missile when it comes up to its new middle-of-life point around 2030, when technologies will have advanced and decisions will need to be made on retiring/extending the service life of the Typhoon.




http://www.janes.com/article/54541/dsei-2015-uk-places-gbp300-million-asraam-order

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DSEI 2015: Saab signs contract to deliver MuMNS for France-UK MMCM programme

IHS Jane's Navy International
18 September 2015



Swedish defence and security company Saab has been contracted to deliver its Multi-Shot Mine Neutralisation System (MuMNS) to support the France-UK (FR/UK) Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme.

The contract - the value of which has not been disclosed - has been signed with BAE Systems, which is working with prime contractor Thales to deliver the FR/UK MMCM programme under the auspices of European defence procurement body OCCAR. In March 2015, OCCAR awarded the Thales-led team a GBP17 million (USD26.5 million) contract to deliver the first phase of the MMCM programme.

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Le Royaume-Uni lancera un appel d’offres pour choisir son futur véhicule blindé d’infanteriePosté dans Forces terrestres, Industrie par Laurent Lagneau Le 18-09-2015



Dans la logique de l’accord de défense franco-britannique de Lancaster House, la British Army a évalué, d’octobre 2014 à mai 2015, 19 Véhicules blindés de combat d’infanterie (VBCI) prêtés par l’armée de Terre.

Une telle décision avait été prise en janvier 2014, lors du sommet de Brize-Norton. À l’époque, le Premier ministre britannique, David Cameron, avait déclaré que la British Army allait essayer le VBCI afin d’éventuellement l’acheter. L’on pouvait donc en déduire que Londres passerait par une procédure de gré à gré, appel d’offres.

Finalement, ce ne sera pas le cas. À l’occasion du salon de l’armement DEES 2015, rapporte Defense News, un responsable du ministère britannique de la Défense (MoD) a confirmé que le VBCI serait bel et bien mis en concurrence avec d’autres véhicules de même type.

Ainsi, le VBCI aurait à affronter le Stryker du groupe américain General Dynamics, lequel a également été évalué par la British Army.

En outre, ST Kinetics (Singapour) serait intéressé par cet appel d’offres, auquel pourrait participer le Boxer de Rheinmetall, associé Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. Ce qui ne manquerait pas de sel sachant que ce dernier doit se rapprocher de Nexter…

Quoi qu’il en soit, l’industriel français devrait proposer le VBCI-2, c’est à dire une version améliorée par rapport à celle mise en oeuvre par les unités d’infanterie françaises, avec un moteur Volvo D13 plus puissant (600 chevaux contre 550) ainsi qu’une protection et une puissance de feu accrues, grâce au canon CTA de 40 mm.

Cette nouvelle version du VBCI, présentée lors du salon DEES 2015, a déjà été évaluée par un « pays du Moyen Orient » (sans doute le Qatar).

Le programme « Mechanised Infantry Vehicle » est prioritaire pour la British Army, qui entend commander, pour commencer, au moins 200 véhicules. Et il l’est d’autant plus qu’il doit répondre à un besoin qui aurait dû être satisfait dans le cadre du programme FRES (Futur Rapid Effect System), finalement annulé en 2008.

Quant à l’appel d’offres annoncé, il devrait être lancé après la publication, d’ici la fin de cette année, de la très attendue revue stratégique de défense et de sécurité, qui est l’équivalent britannique du Livre blanc sur la défense français.


http://www.opex360.com/2015/09/18/le-royaume-uni-lancera-appel-doffres-pour-choisir-son-futur-vehicule-blinde-dinfanterie/