European Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Miragedriver

Brigadier
oh no I'm sorry Amigo Miragedriver
No worry my firend:)


it was kind of "us too" activity, I guess
Very true amigo.

To me a carrier is a way of projecting navy power overseas. Brazil has no need for a carrier. Argentina could maybe justify it for patrolling the south Atlantic fishing grounds. However it could be done with smaller vessels and maritime patrol aircraft for a fraction of the price.

Basically it’s a way a county’s navy can say “hey, look how big mine is”.
 
...

To me a carrier is a way of projecting navy power overseas. Brazil has no need for a carrier. ...

if I had to defend the idea of a Brazilian aircraft carrier, I would say the carrier could be used to protect against an invasion of the less developed coastal areas more to the north, in particular north to the Equator ... now I thought of writing about the possibility of a retreat up the Amazon River as an unprecedented tactical maneuver but ... I would be unable to hold my laugh
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
Finland buys K9 howitzers from South Korea

Finland will purchase K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzers from South Korea, the country's Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on 17 February

According to the MoD announcement, Finnish defence minister Jussi Niinistö has approved the purchase of 48 former South Korean Army K9s at a cost of EUR146 million (USD155 million). The MoD stated this includes training, spares, and maintenance. The contract also includes options for the procurement of additional K9s, it added.

The move has been expected since the MoD announced in July 2016 it was beginning direct negotiations with South Korea to buy K9s. At the time, the MoD said the choice to pursue the K9 over other options on the market was due to price and the compatibility of the system with a conscription-based military. The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) has been conducting trials of the K9 since late 2016, some of which Jane's witnessed.

Deliveries of the howitzers to Finland are due to begin during 2017 in order to begin staff training this year. Finnish conscripts are due to begin being trained on the K9 in 2019, while deliveries of all 48 systems are due to be completed by 2024. This timeline accords with previously released Finnish plans to declare initial operating capability with a new howitzer in 2020 and full operating capability in 2025.

Purchasing the K9 will enable Finland to phase out the majority of its old Soviet-designed artillery systems. Currently the FDF operates a number of Soviet-era and -calibre artillery pieces, including the towed 130 mm M-46, self-propelled 152 mm 2S5 Giatsint-S, towed 122 mm D-30, and self-propelled 122 mm 2S1 Gvozdika. The K9s are expected to supplement the FDF's existing NATO-calibre artillery pieces, including its towed 155 mm 155 GH 52 APU systems.

Speaking to Jane's on 20 February, an FDF source said that the K9s would be modified to accommodate the country's existing digital radios and Patria-made battlefield management system (BMS).

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google translation of
L’Europe peine à maintenir sa puissance navale
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La décrue des formats se stabilise

Au final, à quelques exceptions près, les flottes européennes parviennent tout juste à conserver leur format et moderniser leurs équipements. Globalement, leur tonnage est toujours orienté à la baisse. Toutefois, la courbe semble vouloir s’aplanir pour plusieurs raisons. D’abord, certaines forces navales ont atteint leur limite basse, sous laquelle elles ne seraient plus capables de remplir les contrats opérationnels qui leur sont fixés. D’autres, face à l’émergence ou la réapparition de menaces, ont décidé de stopper les réductions de format, voire de renforcer leurs moyens. Et il y a les pays qui mènent une politique volontariste de soutien de leur industrie nationale, conduisant à des commandes significatives. Mais il est clair que l’Europe est très loin de disposer de la puissance navale correspondant à son poids économique et politique.
:

"The decline in formats is stabilizing

In the end, with a few exceptions, European fleets are only able to maintain their format and modernize their equipment. Overall, their tonnage is always downward. However, the curve seems to be flattening for several reasons. First, some naval forces have reached their low limit, under which they would no longer be able to fulfill the operational contracts set for them. Others, faced with the emergence or the reappearance of threats, have decided to halt the reductions in format, or even to strengthen their means. And there are countries that have a proactive policy of supporting their domestic industry, leading to significant orders. But it is clear that Europe is very far from having the naval power corresponding to its economic and political weight."

I post just the last paragraph here (I've read the Russian translation)

funny how the article shows the picture with the capability nonexistent now:
20160207222411_2015MTLN163_003_687.jpg
 
google translation of
A400M : tension sur la ligne entre la Défense et Airbus
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Alors qu’Airbus réclame de nouvelles négociations sur les surcoûts de l’A400M, la tension est palpable avec le ministère de la Défense. Qui apprécie peu de ne plus avoir d’interlocuteur au plus haut niveau depuis le départ de Marwan Lahoud.

C’est peut-être un détail, mais un détail qui en dit long. Dans la lettre adressée au ministre de la défense Jean-Yves Le Drian demandant l’ouverture de nouvelles négociations sur les surcoûts de l’avion de transport militaire A400M, Denis Ranque et Tom Enders, respectivement président et directeur général d’Airbus, ont commis un bel impair : la missive est en anglais, l’avionneur européen n’ayant pas pris la peine de la traduire en français. "Pas très élégant quand on demande encore du pognon", grince un cadre de la Défense. La lettre d’Airbus évoque notamment, selon Reuters, des "risques significatifs à venir" sur un programme qui a déjà totalement dérapé financièrement, passant de 20 milliards d’euros à plus de 30 milliards, et appelle à des négociations sur les pénalités de retard, les procédures de certification et les surcoûts.

Au-delà de la faute de goût, l’agacement envers Airbus est palpable au sein du ministère de la Défense. Un, Airbus revient à la charge sur l’A400M, sept ans après avoir obtenu 3,5 milliards d’euros de rallonge des Etats clients suite à un premier psychodrame. Deux, la DGA ne sait plus à qui s’adresser au sein du comité exécutif d’Airbus. "On avait un interlocuteur au plus haut niveau, le patron de la stratégie et de l’international Marwan Lahoud. Depuis son départ, c’est silence sur la ligne, déplore un taulier de la maison. Qui est notre interlocuteur ? On ne voit pas. Le message, c’est que la défense n’est plus prioritaire chez Airbus. On va peut-être devoir en tirer les conclusions."
Objectif : 15 A400M

Le ministère a pourtant des doléances à présenter. "Le problème n’est pas les pénalités de retard, qui sont de toute façon plafonnées, et pour tout dire ridicules, explique-t-on à Challenges. Ce qu’on veut, ce sont des avions qui volent, avec les bonnes capacités tactiques." Le ministère veut ainsi pouvoir compter sur 15 A400M pleinement opérationnels le plus rapidement possible. L’armée de l’air n’a actuellement que 11 A400M, dont 7 véritablement disponibles, selon le Journal de l’Aviation.

Certes, des progrès indéniables sur le développement des capacités tactiques ont été faits. Les premières capacités tactiques de l’appareil (largage de fret, autoprotection, opérations sur pistes sommaires) ont été certifiées à l’été 2016. Une première certification pour le parachutage de 30 soldats par une porte latérale a été obtenue début 2017, avec un objectif d’atteindre, à terme, le chiffre de 116 parachutistes aptes à sauter par deux portes. Airbus mène aussi des tests de ravitaillement d’hélicoptères par l’A400M, une capacité qui a longtemps semblé exclue du fait de problèmes aérodynamiques. "Les premiers essais sont concluants", assure-t-on en interne. Surtout, une solution a été trouvée au problème de boîtes de transmission de puissance des moteurs, qui a pourri l’année 2016 : les A400M peuvent désormais voler 150h entre chaque contrôle, contre 20h auparavant.
Alonso, dernier lien

Mais la DGA a été irritée par la promesse d’Airbus, non tenue, de livrer en 2016 six appareils au bon standard (trois neufs et trois rétrofités). Elle n’en a finalement touché que quatre l’année dernière, les deux derniers n’arrivant qu’en janvier, puis mi-février 2017. "Jusqu’à fin décembre, Airbus avait pourtant assuré qu’ils tiendraient les délais, peste-t-on au ministère. On voit bien qu'il ne pourront pas tenir la montée en cadence de production prévue." Jean-Yves Le Drian est attendu début mars sur la base aérienne d'Orléans pour saluer l'arrivée des six derniers A400M, mais, signe de mauvaise humeur, le contingent d'invitations à Airbus a été limité au strict minimum.

Le lien entre Airbus et la Défense semble donc désormais ténu. Il repose avant tout sur le patron des avions militaires d’Airbus, l’Espagnol Fernando Alonso, l’homme qui a rétabli une relation de confiance avec le client français. Le problème, c’est que ce spécialiste des essais en vol, ingénieur reconnu et apprécié, supporte très mal, de sources concordantes, le climat actuel chez Airbus. "S’il claque la porte, c’est la catastrophe", prévient-on encore au ministère de la Défense. Un message, lui, adressé en bon français.
:
"While Airbus is demanding new negotiations on the additional costs of the A400M, the tension is palpable with the Ministry of Defense. Who appreciates not having no contact at the highest level since the departure of Marwan Lahoud.

It may be a detail, but a detail that speaks volumes. In the letter to Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian calling for new negotiations on the additional costs of the A400M military transport aircraft, Denis Ranque and Tom Enders, respectively president and CEO of Airbus, A beautiful odd: the missive is in English, the European aircraft manufacturer having not bothered to translate it into French. "Not very elegant when we still ask for money," grins a cadre of the Defense. The Airbus letter refers, in particular, according to Reuters, of "significant risks to come" on a program which has already completely slipped financially, going from 20 billion euros to more than 30 billion, and calls for negotiations on penalties of Delays, certification procedures and incremental costs.

Beyond the lack of taste, the annoyance against Airbus is palpable within the Ministry of Defense. One, Airbus returns to the charge on the A400M, seven years after obtaining 3.5 billion euros of extension of the States customers following a first psychodrama. Two, the DGA no longer knows who to turn to on the Executive Committee of Airbus. "We had a contact at the highest level, the boss of the strategy and the international Marwan Lahoud." Since his departure, it's silent on the line, deplores a bailiff of the house.Who is our interlocutor? The message is that defense is no longer a priority at Airbus, and we may have to draw conclusions. "
Objective: 15 A400M

The department has grievances to present. "The problem is not the penalties of delay, which are in any case capped, and to say ridiculous," explains one to Challenges. What one wants are the airplanes which fly, with the good capacities Tactics. " The ministry wants to be able to count on 15 A400M fully operational as soon as possible. The Air Force currently has only 11 A400M, of which 7 are truly available, according to the Aviation Journal.

Certainly, undeniable progress on the development of tactical capabilities has been made. The first tactical capabilities of the aircraft (freight dumping, self-protection, operations on summary runways) were certified in summer 2016. A first certification for the parachuting of 30 soldiers by a side door was obtained in early 2017, The aim is to reach, in the long term, the figure of 116 paratroopers capable of jumping through two gates. Airbus is also conducting helicopter refueling tests with the A400M, a capability that has long been excluded due to aerodynamic problems. "The first tests are conclusive," he said. Above all, a solution was found to the problem of power transmission boxes of the engines, which rotted the year 2016: the A400M can now fly 150h between each control, against 20h before.
Alonso, last link

But the DGA was irritated by the promise of Airbus, not obliged, to deliver in 2016 six aircraft to the right standard (three new and three retrofits). Lastly, it reached only four last year, the last two arriving only in January, then mid-February 2017. "Until the end of December, Airbus had assured them that they would meet the deadlines, plague We can see that they will not be able to keep up the expected production rate. " Jean-Yves Le Drian is expected at the Orléans airbase at the beginning of March to welcome the arrival of the last six A400Ms, but, in a bad mood, the contingent of invitations to Airbus has been limited to the strict minimum.

The link between Airbus and the Defense seems now tenuous. It relies primarily on the boss of Airbus' military aircraft, Spaniard Fernando Alonso, the man who has restored a relationship of trust with the French client. The problem is that this flight test specialist, a well-known and appreciated engineer, suffers very badly, from concordant sources, the current climate at Airbus. "If he slams the door, it's a catastrophe," the Defense Ministry said. A message, addressed in good French."
 
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