European Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

sandyj

Junior Member
Spain Issues Multiple Contracts to Upgrade Transport Fleet, Fighters
11-Jun-2008 14:20 EDT

AIR_AV-8B_Spain_lg.jpg

EAV-8B Matador

In December 2006, Spain’s Minister’s Council has authorized a number of aircraft contracts in addition to their Eurocopter-related plans, creating more maritime patrol aircraft, expanding the transport fleet slightly, modernizing its EAV-8B Harriers/Matadors, and buying engines and spares for its CH-47 heavy-lift helicopter fleet. The total value of these contracts is over EUR 130 million.
In June 2008, the Harrier modernization contract was announced by EADS. DID offers details below regarding the upgrade’s elements, scope, and final cost.

DID thanks subscriber Pedro Lucio for bringing these items to our attention, and assisting with translations.

4 Harriers to Receive Upgrades

AIR_AV-8Bs_Spain_lg.jpg

AV-8B “day attack”

The Ministers’ Council approved the modernization of 4 EAV-8B Matador aircraft to full Harrier II Plus configuration. The contract is worth EUR 10 million (currently about $13 million), with a funding distributed over 4 years from 2006-2009. The Spanish Navy operates a total of 17 EAV-8B aircraft.
On June 11/08, EADS announced a EUR 11.5 million/ $17.8 million contract to upgrade 4 of the Navy’s AV-8B “day attack” Harriers. While many of Spain’s “Matador” aircraft are Harrier II+ standard, these aircraft are not. This upgrade will be performed by EADS in Spain, and allows the Spanish Navy to homogenize most of their fleet of Harrier aircraft to a common engine, navigation, operational software and missions planning system configuration that can conduct operations at night.

The modernization will involve new Rolls Royce Pegasus 408A engines, Night Vision Goggle (NVG)-compatible cockpit controls and displays, external NVG lighting, new computers, a wide-field-of-view Head-Up Display, the installation of a new AN/ARC-210 Havequick communications system, an Automatic Target Handoff System (ATHS) and an advanced Global Positioning System (GPS), a new MINITACAN navigation system, a Digital Video Mapping System, and upgraded armament and electronic warfare capabilities.

EADS Military Air Systems is also responsible for the Third Maintenance Level of the fixed-wing aircraft of the Spanish Navy, including comprehensive maintenance, overhaul and repair (MRO) activities such technical support, maintenance revision programs and structural repairs. This is being carried out within a EUR 7 million umbrella contract valid until 2009. Boeing is also contracted to support Spain’s carrier fleet, as one of the parties to a 5-year support contract called HISS that began in June 2007.

CN-235/295 Family Contracts

AIR_CN-235MP_Persuader_lg.jpg

CN-235MP Persuader

Spain’s Ministers’ Council has authorized a contract is authorized for the transformation of 6 C-235 transports currently serving with the Ejercito del Aire’s Ala 35 based at Madrid-Getalfe to CN-235MP maritime surveillance /SAR versions. The contract would be worth EUR 49 million (currently about $64.5 million), and will be performed by manufacturer EADS-CASA.

These CN-235MPs will replace 3 Fokker-27 Maritime aircraft currently in service.

The Ministers’ Council also authorized a EUR 21 million (currently about $27.5 million) contract to acquire one C-295M military transport. The C-295 is a stretched version of the C-235. “This aircraft has the possibility of realizing logistic, tactical transport and medical transport, and, with secondary character, operations of maritime surveillance and of support to operations of search and rescue.”

The contract will be signed with manufacturer EADS-CASA.

Chinook Helicopter Upgrades & Spares

chinook9.jpg

An Agreement was adopted approving the acquisition of engines, components and accessories for Spain’s HT-17/CH-47 Chinook helicopters. The contracts will be worth EUR 53 million (currently about $70 million), the funding being distributed over 4 years from 2006-2009.

According to Scramble, Spain’s CH-47Ds are assigned to Army aviation’s BHELTRA V, flying out of Colmenar Viejo north of Madrid.
 
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lcortez

New Member
Re: spanish military

Does anyone here have any news re the replacement for the M60A3TTS,currently used by the Marines?
Also any news on a potential purchase of the F35 for use on the Juan Carlos and Principes De Asturias?
Have been trawling the internet for an answer before posting,but it seems incredibly difficult to find any Spanish military news,even the official Army website appears out of date!

Cheers!
 

lcortez

New Member
Re: spanish military

Very funny numbnuts!
Spain isnt Diminica,or should that be Dominica!:rofl:Learn to spell,son:rofl:

Now back to topic;Spain is due to increase the number of military operations,both war fighting,and peace keeping,according to Ms Chacon,the new Defence Minister.
In order to facilitate this the Army will be increased in size from 126,000,to 135,000,along with new equipment,such as MRAP's etc.
 

Scratch

Captain
European armed forces

Since we don't have a thread for those topics, I decided to open one to collect all items on that one.

Unfortunately, I'll have to open with another never ending story:
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4-Year Delay Expected for A400M

Paris - The A400M will be four years late for operational duty, and France could cut orders for the airlifter as it looks for "gap fillers" to make up for the delay in delivery, procurement Chief Executive Laurent Collet-Billon said March 17. ...

On the one hand, it's a prestige project, have our own capability to built a heavy transport. Then again, spending that much money for something that late isn't a good thing.
And, the cargo planes that need to be replaced don't really have a lot of time left. Leasing russian planes all the time can't be a solution either.
So, what's left? Maybe a bigger european pool of C-17 in a european airlift command.
 

Scratch

Captain
Re: European armed forces

New defense contracts have been signed:

Fortunately, we'll now also get a system for base defense against motar and rocket attacks.

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Germany Orders Skyshield C-RAM Base Defense Systems

19-May-2009 17:25 EDT

Rheinmetall’s C-RAM is a further development of the Skyshield system. Known by its German initials NBS (Nachstbereichs-Schutzsystem, very short range protection system), it’s intended to detect and physically intercept incoming rocket, artillery and mortar (RAM) rounds, in order to protect stationary bases.

The USA and Britain have already taken similar measures, deploying and using modified Mk15 Phalanx “Centurion” land-based systems equipped with special self-destructing ammunition. While the German C-RAM system looks set to reach the field 2 years late, reports indicate that the German government has approved a purchase – and signed a pair of contracts

[…]

May 19/09: Rheinmetall announces a contract with the German government for C-RAM systems. A EUR 110.8 million contract encompasses 2 full systems, and a EUR 20 million option covers additional services like documentation and training if it is exercised, bringing the total to EUR 130.8 million ($176.3 million equivalent). A EUR 13.4 million ($18.1 million equivalent) follow-on contract will provide 35mm modified AHEAD ammunition for the system.
_________________________________________________________________
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And a program for improved battlefield surveillance.

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Germany Orders New AESA Battlefield Radars

19-May-2009 10:24 EDT

ADS will equip the German Armed Forces with a new kind of Active Electronically-Scanning Array (AESA) ground surveillance radar for reliably detecting movements both on the ground, and at low altitudes in the air. The Bodenuberwachungsradar (lit. “Ground Overwatch Radar”) is “specially designed for recognizing asymmetric threats,” and will be mounted on KMW’s Dingo 2 vehicles.

The most recent development involves the handover of 2 system demonstrators…

[...]

May 19/09: EADS Defence Systems’ Defence Electronics group hands over the first of 2 system demonstrators to the German BWB, for evaluation by the Bundeswehr’s Technical Centers. Deliveries of approximately 80 BUR systems are scheduled to start in 2012.
 
Re: European armed forces

I wonder how effective that AESA will be around mountainous/hilly terrain and in areas with heavy foliage.

Why not mount in some type of aerial platform, such as either a helicopter or slow-moving aircraft?
 

Scratch

Captain
Re: European armed forces

I guess money is once again a reason here. A vehicle is cheaper to buy and maintain than a helicopter flying around. Though it would be a nice gadget to have a drone flying around with that.

================================================================

Finally seeing a little progress made here. I hope they manage to implement a few new inovations, and maybe even refit older aircraft with new equipment as far as possible.

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Typhoon Partners To Split Tranche-3 Buy

By andrew chuter
Published: 28 May 2009 16:32


LONDON - The four Eurofighter Typhoon partners are expected to agree this summer to buy 112 fighters, marking the first part of an order for Tranche 3 aircraft that is being split in two to help overcome defense budget problems.

Enzio Casolini, Eurofighter's new CEO, told reporters that he was confident a deal will be signed in time to forestall a production gap once the assembly of Tranche 2 is complete.

Parallel talks on technology updates are also under way; Casolini said a decision on including an AESA radar on Tranche 3 aircraft could be made with partner nations Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain by year's end.

In Tranche 3A, Britain would take 40 aircraft; Germany, 30; Italy, 21; and Spain, 21. Tranche 3B is to be ordered in two years, he said.

Originally, the Tranche 3 contract covered a single deal for 236 Typhoons spread across the four nations. However, the contract had to be split in two to help offset serious budget shortfalls, principally with the British.

The U.K. government has been dragging its feet for months over signing up for the Tranche 3 aircraft as the Treasury sought to wriggle out of the contract. In April, it was the only nation that declined to sign a declaration of principles on the way ahead for the program.

Earlier in May, the British finally agreed to sign the agreement, but only after it had secured what appears to amount to a cut in the aircraft it is due to take.

Casolini said the British would be allowed to include part of a 2007 export order secured with Saudi Arabia for 72 Typhoons in their 3A commitment.

He said the British would take 16 new airframes and a further 24 to replace the Tranche 2 aircraft destined for the Royal Air Force but diverted to the Saudis as part of the deal to rapidly supply the Middle East kingdom with Typhoons.

The first of those 24 aircraft is due for delivery this summer. The remainder of the 72 aircraft are planned to be assembled in Saudi Arabia.

The original plan called for adding 24 replacement fighters on to the end of the British order for 89 Tranche 2 aircraft. That never happened. Instead they have become part of the 3A numbers, cutting aircraft deliveries to the RAF.

Many industry executives are skeptical about what will happen to the follow-on 3B deal. Casolini said he wouldn't answer any questions about the challenges of getting 3B under contract until the 3A was signed for.

Britain's agreement to sign the Tranche 3 deal depended on reductions to production and support costs.

The Eurofighter boss said industry is offering to cut lifecycle costs in half as part of the Tranche 3 package.

Casolini said he didn't want to go into detail at this stage, but he indicated that with a new partnering agreement between industry and the air forces covering spare parts maintenance and other issues, he believed a 50 percent reduction is achievable.
 

Scratch

Captain
Re: European armed forces

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EADS Study Confirms Advanced UAV Costs

By pierre tran
Published: 8 Jun 2009 14:37


Paris - A 15-month risk reduction study on the Advanced UAV project has allowed EADS to pin a production price tag of about 90 million to 100 million euros ($125.8 million to $139.7 million) per system, confirming the total 2.8 billion euro budget for 15 systems for France, Germany and Spain, said Nicolas Chamussy, senior vice president for mission air systems.

"The unit price per system would be about 90 million-100 million euros" depending on the detailed specifications, he told journalists June 8. One system comprises three jet-propelled air vehicles, a ground station and spares.

The development stage would cost 1.5 billion euros and would run to 2013 or 2014, Chamussy said. EADS would need to land an order for 10 to 15 systems to make economic sense.

Potentially, France and Germany would each take six systems and Spain three, if the three countries decide to launch the program, which would provide Europe with an autonomous, technological base in next-generation UAVs, EADS executives said.

EADS delivered the risk reduction study in May to the three governments, which funded the work to the tune of 60 million euros. The company is now waiting for the three governments to decide whether to launch the Advanced UAV program with a development contract.

Bernhard Gerwert, chief executive of Military Air Systems. said he did not expect a decision on Advanced UAV from the governments for another three or four months.

Turkey has officially asked to join the Advanced UAV program, which would allow the development costs to be shared among the four countries, Chamussy said. EADS believes there is export potential for a further 10 systems in the world market, he said.
 

Finn McCool

Captain
Registered Member
Re: European armed forces

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EADS Study Confirms Advanced UAV Costs

By pierre tran
Published: 8 Jun 2009 14:37


Paris - A 15-month risk reduction study on the Advanced UAV project has allowed EADS to pin a production price tag of about 90 million to 100 million euros ($125.8 million to $139.7 million) per system, confirming the total 2.8 billion euro budget for 15 systems for France, Germany and Spain, said Nicolas Chamussy, senior vice president for mission air systems.

"The unit price per system would be about 90 million-100 million euros" depending on the detailed specifications, he told journalists June 8. One system comprises three jet-propelled air vehicles, a ground station and spares.

The development stage would cost 1.5 billion euros and would run to 2013 or 2014, Chamussy said. EADS would need to land an order for 10 to 15 systems to make economic sense.

Potentially, France and Germany would each take six systems and Spain three, if the three countries decide to launch the program, which would provide Europe with an autonomous, technological base in next-generation UAVs, EADS executives said.

EADS delivered the risk reduction study in May to the three governments, which funded the work to the tune of 60 million euros. The company is now waiting for the three governments to decide whether to launch the Advanced UAV program with a development contract.

Bernhard Gerwert, chief executive of Military Air Systems. said he did not expect a decision on Advanced UAV from the governments for another three or four months.

Turkey has officially asked to join the Advanced UAV program, which would allow the development costs to be shared among the four countries, Chamussy said. EADS believes there is export potential for a further 10 systems in the world market, he said.

100 million euros UNIT PRICE?! That's about as expensive as a Raptor. Are they gold plated? I'm not familiar with the program. Why is it so expensive? Are they attempting to produce an air-to-air UCAV? Unlikely, it wouldn't make sense to order only single digits. It sounds like some sort of ultra-long range/endurance full spectrum recon platform just based off the price (we know its sexy) and the numbers (single digits = not for combat or even tactical frontline use; this system will be operated at a strategic scale)
 
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