European Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Scratch said:

Jeff, out of interest, do you know what kind of radar, or other off site sensors, the installation uses?
Quick google searches seem to indicate some kind of AN/SPY-1, D or B I suppose, are used. I feel like such a land based installation would be ideal to host an AMDR. Are a SPY-4 or -6 planned at any point in the future?
Furthermore, do AN/TPY-2 installations (THAAD related) in Turkey or Israel feed into that system?

Anyhow, a great new capability coming online here that hopefully expands in the future. And what a visionary you are, Jeff

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“Luigi Rizzo” is the sixth FREMM unit which Fincantieri builds and delivers to the Italian Navy. It is the second FREMM in GP "General Purpose" configuration. Picture: Fincantieri

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Denmark has ordered 309 Piranha 5 8x8 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from General Dynamic European Land Systems (GDELS) - MOWAG, it has been announced.
Signed on 11 December, the order is worth DKK4.5 billion (USD650 million) and comes after the selection of the 8x8 by Denmark in April.
The first vehicles are to be delivered for training in 2018, with entry into service planned for 2019. All 309 APCs are set to be in Royal Danish Army service by 2023, according to the Danish Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The Piranha 5 will replace the M113-series of tracked APCs in Royal Danish Army service. Denmark's M113 replacement requirement ran to up to 450 vehicles. Industry sources have confirmed to IHS Jane's that the production contract includes options that will take the total up to this figure.
The new 8x8 APC will operate within the armoured and armoured infantry battalions of the Royal Danish Army's two combat brigades (the 1st and 2nd). As such it will serve alongside the country's Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Leopard 2A5 main battle tanks (MBTs), BAE Systems Hagglunds CV9035 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), and its older GDELS-MOWAG Piranha III APCs.

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The lead ship of the Italian Navy's Maestrale guided-missile frigate class has retired from service, in a ceremony that took place on 15 December at La Spezia naval base.
According to plans presented by the navy to the Italian parliament, the remaining seven ships in the class - Grecale , Libeccio , Scirocco , Aliseo , Euro , Espero , and Zeffiro - will be decommissioned by 2024.
The class entered service between 1982 and 1985, and four ships - Grecale , Libeccio , Scirocco , and Zeffiro - were modernised between 2007 and 2010.

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navyreco said:

Fincantieri Launched the Sixh FREMM Frigate “Luigi Rizzo” for the Italian Navy

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Navantia ends lengthening 4 Spanish submarine S-80 class

The first step to ensure that the four submarines of the S-80 can float class, is already completed at the shipyard of Cartagena. Each submarine has been lengthened by 10 m, to better distribute the weight of the submarine and prevent it from sinking.

A pressure hull ring was inserted into the hull of each submarine. This is a necessary step to correct the "gaps related to the balance of weight."

Specifically, construction of the submarines had been suspended in early 2013, when it was found that the first submarine in the series, the Isaac Peral, was too heavy 75-100 tons, given its length.

After putting into practice the solution proposed by US engineers, Navantia will now focus on the changes to other parts of the submarine

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Finland has notified five manufacturers of its intention to seek bids for its HX fighter-replacement programme, which will see it replace its 61-strong Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet.

On 16 December, the Finnish ministry of defence notified the governments of France, Sweden, the UK and the USA that it will be seeking information on seven aircraft types from five different manufacturers.

Requests for information (RFI) will be issued by March 2016, Finland says, which will include the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Saab Gripen, Boeing F-18 and F-15, and Lockheed Martin F-35 and F-16.

Replies to the RFI are to be submitted to Helsinki by the end of October 2016, with the contest to be launched in “spring 2018”, followed by a selection in 2021.

HX was introduced in October after a working group recommended the F-18s be replaced with new multi-role fighters, concluding extending the life of the Hornet fleet would not be cost-effective.


The current F-18 fleet will be phased out by 2025, and Helsinki estimates it will take around 15 years to introduce the new capability.

Finland operates 54 single-seater F-18Cs and seven two-seater F-18Ds, that are nearing 20 years in age, Flightglobal’s Fleets Analyzer database shows.

Regionally, neighbouring Sweden operates the Gripen while Norway recently committed to a planned acquisition of 52 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.

Denmark operates the ageing F-16A/B and is in the process of deciding on a replacement which many believe will be the F-35A, as Copenhagen was previously involved in the JSF's development stage.

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FORBIN said:

Polish Leopard 2A4PL, A4 modernised especialy frontal armor of the turret
View attachment 23459

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Poland has signed a PLN2.415 billion (USD605.7 million) contract to upgrade its 128 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs) to a new standard called Leopard 2PL.

The contract was awarded to prime contractor Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and integrator ZM Bumar-Labedy by the Polish Armament Inspectorate on 28 December. Rheinmetall Landsyteme will work with PGZ as strategic partner on the programme.

Poland bought 128 Leopard 2A4s from ex-Germany Army stocks in January 2002. They are currently operated by the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade, based in Swietoszow. All 128 2A4s will be upgraded by 2020, while the option exists for the upgrade of an extra 14 Leopard 2A4s that were purchased by Poland in 2013 to equip the 34th Armoured Cavalry Brigade, in Zagan.

The contract includes upgrades to the MBTs' turret, chassis, and other equipment to F6 level (with co-operation from subcontractor WZM Poznan), and the modernisation of Poland's tank training simulators.

The upgrade will include a modernisation of the MBTs' turret armour to a level at least that of the Leopard 2A5 variant, while not exceeding a total weight of 60 tons for the Leopard 2PL. This will include a partial change of the MBT's turret armour plates, and the addition of extra armour developed by IBD. Spall liners will also be added in the crew compartment of the turret, while internal storage and stowage capabilities will be extended.

The upgrade will see the tanks retain their existing L44 120 mm gun (rather than be upgraded with the longer L55 gun), although it and its fire control system will be upgraded for compatibility with the newest DM11 and DM63-type armour-piercing ammunition. A more substantial upgrade will come in the form of new commander and gunner sights incorporating the Polish PCO KLW-1 thermal imager, while the gun and turret stabiliser systems will be changed from hydraulic to electric.

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Belgium sets the contours of his army by 2030, reduced to 34 combat aircraft

Thirty-four combat aircraft, six drones - the type of which remains to choose - two frigates, six minesweepers and vehicles for land units, all to gain by 2030 to $ 9.2 billion euros. This is the Christmas gift that the Belgian government coalition was in late December, after months of palaver, its armed forces.

The restricted ministerial committee, which brings together key ministers finally approved the "Strategic Plan" to fifteen years presented by the defense minister, the Flemish nationalist Steven Vandeput. But in one version planed from the initial project, since the percentage of military spending to GDP will be only about 1.3 at end of period. Against 1.6% in the most ambitious version of departure and while NATO insists on increasing the standard of 2% for its member states, to achieve in 2024.

The 9.2 billion euros of investment will be used to buy 34 fighter-bombers - to succeed the 56 aging F-16 currently in operation - two frigates (to replace the two buildings used to redeemed Netherlands in the early 2000s), six minesweepers - a similar number to the current fleet - and six drones, two in 2021 and four in 2030. No material choices have been made yet.

Defence will also consider participation in a Tanker Aircraft Programme - one of the major shortcomings of European armies - and consider options for the fleet of "white aircraft" (for passenger transport), due to the planned withdrawal of Service last 20 Mystery end of 2016 and the one Falcon 900 in 2018, just as the mission of search and rescue ("Search and Rescue", SAR) currently provided by the aging Sea King helicopters and new NH90 from air base in Koksijde.

These investments will, however, at the expense of the workforce, since the total number of military personnel and civilians employed by the Belgian Defence will decrease from currently 32,000 to 25,000 in 2030.

Mr. Vandeput will now, in cooperation with the General Staff of Defense, in the coming months to establish a "master plan" of measures to be implemented during the current parliamentary term, due to end in 2019.

We will begin several tender procedures to fulfill contracts den government decisions, "the minister has indicated.

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