L'enquête de notre camarade du Télégramme, Hervé Chambonnière, sur diverses failles dans la sécurité de la base des sous-marins nucléaires lanceurs d'engins (SNLE) à L'Île Longue dans la rade de Brest, ne laisse pas indifférent le ministère de la Défense. C'est le moins que l'on puisse dire ! Jean-Yves Le Drian a diligenté une enquête complète sur la sécurité terrestre, aérienne et maritime du sanctuaire de la dissuasion nucléaire sous-marine française... L'enquête du Télégramme dénonce des failles de sécurité sur les deux sites de Guenvénez (stockage des missiles) et L'Île Longue (base des sous-marins). Les badges magnétiques des employés, qui donnent accès aux parkings, à la zone de vie de la base et aux navettes transrades entre Brest et le site seraient falsifiables. Le porte-parole du ministère de la Défense, Pierre Bayle, a dû apporter quelques éclaircissements ce mardi 11 juin. Il a d'abord confirmé qu'une enquête de l'Inspection générale des armées, sur la sécurité du site, a été réclamée par Jean-Yves Le Drian. Pour le reste, Pierre Bayle a voulu se montrer rassurant. " La sécurité des emprises militaires est une préoccupation permanente. " Il explique que la sécurité repose sur " différentes couches complémentaires ", de la Marine à la gendarmerie en passant par la DPSD, le service de renseignement chargé de la protection du personnel et des emprises militaires. " La partie évoquée dans la presse ne concerne que les accès périphériques et ne touche pas le cœur de la dissuasion nucléaire (...) Les points névralgiques font l'objet d'une protection particulière ", explique le porte-parole. Plusieurs centaines de gendarmes et de fusiliers marins gardent le site. Sans oublier divers capteurs. En constante évolution selon le ministère. Pierre Bayle conclut avec assurance : " Je tiens donc à rassurer ceux qui craindraient pour la sécurité de notre dissuasion : celle-ci n'est pas en défaut ! " Cette affaire nécessite quand même une réponse et une enquête officielle...
WASHINGTON — There’s a new Fire Scout in the pipeline — bigger, faster, longer legs, more muscle. It’s still being assembled and won’t fly until later this year, but it’s headed for the fleet as soon as late 2014. And it could fundamentally change some of the parameters expected of the US Navy’s seagoing unmanned helicopter program.
The MQ-8 Fire Scout program has been under development for about a decade. A key factor for the aircraft was its small size, making it exceptionally handy to store and operate aboard ship.
The Navy often presents the diminutive Northrop Grumman aircraft as taking up about half the space of the H-60 Seahawk helos routinely deployed on surface combatants. And frigates are deploying with four MQ-8B Fire Scouts. Littoral combat ships are intended to routinely deploy with one or two Fire Scouts in addition to an H-60.
But something more was needed, and in 2011, US Africa Command and Special Operations Command (SOCOM) submitted an urgent needs request for an aircraft with more range and payload for their maritime-based ISR.
Northrop Grumman, before selecting the Schweizer 333 helicopter as the basis for its original Fire Scout bid, had evaluated the larger Bell 407 Jet Ranger, an aircraft familiar to Navy rotary flight school trainees as the TH-57 Sea Ranger.
To meet the new need for the larger UAV, the company proposed switching to the larger bird, but keeping the systems, electronics and ground control stations developed for the smaller helo. A demonstrator, dubbed Fire-X, was developed at company expense to show off the concept.
The Pentagon was impressed, and in the spring of 2012, Northrop received a contract for the first batch of up to 30 MQ-8C Fire Scouts using the basic Jet Ranger air frame...
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The new Fire Scout C is bigger — 10 feet longer than the B’s 31.7 feet, a foot higher, and with an operational ceiling 3,000 feet lower than the smaller helo’s 20,000 feet. But the C can fly at 140 knots over the B’s 110; has an internal payload of 1,000 pounds over the B’s 600 pounds; has a gross takeoff weight of 6,000 pounds compared with the B’s 3,150 pounds; and can stay aloft 11 to 14 hours versus the smaller vehicle’s endurance of four to five hours.
“The C will have approximately twice the capability of the B — time on station, payloads — and provides for additional growth, including radar,” said Capt. Patrick Smith, Fire Scout program manager at the Naval Air Systems Command. “And because of more endurance, it should have less impact on the crew, who can launch, then recover, the aircraft eight hours later.”
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La Russie a testé jeudi un nouveau missile balistique intercontinental que le vice-premier ministre russe Dmitri Rogozine a qualifié vendredi de "tueur de bouclier antimissile".
"Les Troupes balistiques stratégiques russes (RVSN) ont effectué le 6 juin, à 21h45 heure de Moscou, le lancement d'essai d'un prototype du nouveau missile balistique intercontinental depuis une rampe de tir mobile installée sur le polygone central de Kapoustine Iar, dans la région d'Astrakhan", a indiqué le service de presse des RVSN dans un communiqué.
Le tir a été un succès, l'ogive du missile a atteint le polygone "Balkhach" au Kazakhstan à l'heure prévue, selon le service de presse.
"Nous avons suivi avec attention le tir de jeudi soir. Tout s'est bien passé, nous avons testé un missile balistique intercontinental que je qualifie de "tueur de la défense antimissile". Aucun moyen du bouclier antimissile américain ne pourra empêcher ce missile à détruire sa cible", a indiqué le vice-premier ministre Rogozine lors d'une conférence à Moscou.
Selon lui, la Fédération de Russie cherchera à se doter d'armes et de matériel permettant d'éviter les guerres de 6e génération (utilisant des armes de haute précision) dans le cadre de son programme public de rééquipement de l'armée. Moscou créera des armes et des techniques de défense aérospatiale susceptibles de surmonter tous les systèmes de la défense antimissile et de préserver l'équilibre dans le monde.
Israel Shipyards has won major orders to build six 62 m offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for an unidentified customer along with six Shaldag Mk V fast patrol boats for another customer.
The 62 m OPVs are identical to the two that were delivered to Equatorial Guinea in February 2011. They are based on the Saar 4.5 hull, of which 33 hulls in four variants have been built by Israel Shipyards. The OPVs, which have a small flight deck for a light helicopter, have a length of approximately 62 m, a beam of 7.62 m, a mean draft of 2.77 m at full load, and a full load displacement of 470 tons.
The OPVs are powered by four MTU 16 V 4000 series engines driving four shafts for a maximum speed of 32 kt, although 28 kt is the maximum sustained speed. Range is approximately 3,200 n miles at speeds of 12-18 kt, while endurance is around two weeks. The OPV is designed for a complement of 26-35, as well as a special forces detachment of up to 24 persons.
Former Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto, the architect of Japan’s decision to purchase F-35 joint strike fighters to boost Japan’s deterrence against China, now believes cost pressures caused by the recent plummeting value of the yen could delay the rate of annual purchases for the country’s planned buy of 42 fighters.
In an interview with Defense News, Morimoto, who served as Japan’s defense minister until December and is one of Japan’s leading defense experts and strategists, said he now believes the Defense Ministry may be forced to delay annual purchases of F-35s, should the yen continue to hover around 100 to the US dollar.
“Because this was a decision by the government of Japan to introduce the F-35A, no matter what the price becomes, we cannot change our principle or our policy. We had to introduce the F-35 to replace the F-4. But the problem is … the price is increasing. The question then is how to manage it. I think the MoD has to reshape [the] number of purchases each year.
“The problem is whether we can catch up with the competition for air superiority with Russia and China, so we cannot postpone more than three years. I guess we might postpone one or two years,” he said.
Japan had planned to have all 42 aircraft in its inventory by 2021, and a delay in annual purchases could push that to 2023.
When asked about the possible delay, Defense Ministry spokesman Takaaki Ohno said the complex program is still being worked. “We recognize the F-35A contains the most advanced technology but we also recognize that it is a project that is still under development,” he said. “Whatever happens with the introduction of the F-35, we will continue to maintain the closest contact and cooperation with the US.”
Last year under Morimoto, Japan agreed to import four F-35s in 2017 and locally assemble the remaining 38, which will be built in small lots by two main local prime contractors led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Under a June 29 foreign military sales agreement with the US, Japan committed to purchase the first four at ¥10.2 billion a unit, which was about US $124 million each under the exchange rate at the time of 82 yen to the dollar.
The price was already well over the earlier agreed price of ¥9.9 billion, due to the then-continuing development and testing difficulties the F-35 program was facing. However, over the past six months, the value of the yen has plummeted to around 100 to the dollar.
“This is a very, very serious problem for the Japanese taxpayer,” said defense analyst Shinichi Kiyotani. The problem is compounded by the fact that Japan’s purchasing costs are plagued by small-lot, piecemeal procurement, meaning local production costs can be sometimes double those of US-made counterparts. “People are wondering if Japan can afford it,” Kiyotani said.
Morimoto stressed that the total number of aircraft would remain at 42, but also said if future prices bust budget ceilings set by the Finance Ministry — as they are likely to do if the yen stays so cheap — the MoD could spread out the purchase over several consecutive years.
The MoD has committed to purchasing the first 10 units in tranches of four, two and four, he said. After that, “if the price is still higher, the Ministry of Finance will be relatively reluctant to purchase the planes. We can’t change the basic plan for the first two or three tranches,” so the changes will come later, he said.
Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at US-based think tank Teal Group, anticipated potential problems because the more fighters are built in Japan, the more costs are likely to rise.
“[S]tanding up a Japan Final Assembly and Check Out [organization] … would greatly increase costs, a factor that has hobbled generations of Japanese fighter procurement programs and might mean a gap in firming up details, as Japan decided how much equipment would be built in country,” Aboulafia said. “It’s quite possible that the Japanese government hasn’t decided what it’s willing to pay for in terms of fighter manufacturing and industrial sovereignty.”
Paradoxically, while the longer-term future of Japan’s F-35A buy now looks more hazy, the overall stabilization of the F-35 program means delivery of the initial four is on schedule for 2017, sources said. Further, Japan is already making moves to recalibrate the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to accommodate them.
Steve O’Bryan, Lockheed Martin F-35 vice president of program integration, earlier told Defense News that negotiations with Japanese partners were progressing and both sides were looking to hit the 2017 target delivery date.
In anticipation, the MoD has already begun preparations to receive the planes, Ohno said earlier. These include budgeting ¥29.9 billion this year for purchasing the first two units and ¥83 billion for initial costs to help industry set up plants and facilities to build various parts of the planes.
The MoD is spending an additional ¥21.1 billion for training equipment and expenses to start rebuilding Misawa Air Base in the northern part of Honshu.
Meanwhile, this year the MoD has begun beefing up defense and deterrence of Japan’s far-flung Nansei Shoto, or southern island chain, which stretches southwest of Okinawa to within 70 miles of Taiwan.
The MoD has begun reinforcing the 20 F-15J/DJ fighters with a further squadron in 2015. The MoD has budgeted ¥3.4 billion on facilities construction at the JASDF’s Naha Air Base and invested an initial ¥50 million to study how it should improve airborne radar, deployment and logistics issues to accommodate the move, Ohno said.
Finally, the MoD is spending ¥12.2 billion to upgrade both its F-15s and F-2s in response to what the MoD calls the need to “adapt to the modernization of the aerial combat capabilities of neighboring countries.”
This year, six F-15s and an undisclosed number of F-2s will get improved radars, a medium-range air-to-air missile and modernized data systems, Ohno said.
The French Air Force is set to significantly enhance its SAR and CSAR capabilities with the completion of in-flight refueling certification for its EC725 Caracals.
Speaking to reporters at Cazaux airbase in May, director of operations Maj Guillaume Vernon confirmed the EC725 Caracal helicopter squadron EH 1/67 was aiming to achieve high altitude refueling (HR) certification for night flight by the end of 2013.
‘HR is a brand new capability we are trying to build, and as of today we are just day HR capable. Hopefully within the year we will be night HR capable. This will definitely bring us further into enemy territory,’ Vernon said.
The Eurocopter EC725 Caracal was designed to fly 250 nautical miles, have 20 minutes of hover time, and return to base. With full HR capability the squadrons range could be doubled, or even tripled.
‘We are just waiting on certification to fly behind a C-130 at night. A far as the mission itself, flying behind a [C-130] tanker is pretty tricky; the rotor system is just a meter behind the probe, and the tail wing of the craft is as big as the helicopter,’ Vernon continued.
Part of Cazaux air force base, helicopter squadron EH 1/67 is responsible for public SAR operations over the southwest of France, as well as being a deployable combat unit for CSAR operations.
‘The motto of our chain of command is fight and rescue, that’s what we do. We save lives on a daily basis, we rescue people. But we don’t have red crosses on the side of our helicopters, we have dual-mounted crew-served machine guns and we intend to use them if need be, so we also fight,’ Vernon emphasised.
‘We do crisis time tactical missions, and personnel recovery CSAR. The idea behind personnel recovery is to deny the ability for any bad guy to use one of our isolated personnel against our will.’
The squadron has certified 80% of its Caracal pilots for day HR, and is the only European unit capable of refueling two in-flight helicopters simultaneously.
French forces first deployed the Caracal in a combat capacity in Afghanistan, and subsequently during NATO-led operations for the Libyan military campaign and Mali.
‘Just a few months after the helicopter was declared to be operationally available we were deployed to Lebanon. We got this bird in 2006 and by June we were deployed to Lebanon. Young pilots were deployed to Afghanistan with just 100 hours of flight because this helicopter is very easy to learn,’ Vernon added.
While deployed in these operational theatres, the EC725 performed missions ranging from tactical transport and special operations to CSAR and maritime patrol.
‘CSAR is dedicated to the ability to go and pick up trained personnel on the ground. People who know how to talk to us, and know the procedures to be picked up. We flew 3000+ flight hours with the Caracal in Afghanistan, with over 200 casevac missions and 250 individuals brought back safely from 2006 to March 2012,’ said Vernon.
Specifically designed to cope with adverse weather conditions, the EC725 avionics suite includes an advanced four-axis autopilot with full flight envelope protection.
‘The system allows us to fly in really bad weather conditions, especially at night. We have a good situational awareness building system for all the crew within the helicopter, and thanks to the automatic hovering system, the threat posed by brown-outs no longer prevents the successful completion of search and rescue missions,’ he said.
France have ordered 19 EC 725 Caracals for the French Air Force and the French Army Aviation (ALAT). Other customers include Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, bringing the total number of EC725s sold to 106 as of June 2013.
According to the updated plans for protecting Israel’s offshore gas rigs, the Israeli Navy will equip the rigs with Barak missiles for defense against Yakhont missiles. The gas rigs are located at a distance of nearly 80 miles from the coasts of Israel, and near the coasts of Lebanon. The plans additionally include the acquisition of four new missile boats, as well as naval observation and collection measures, including UAVs. The use of the Barak missiles is intended to solve the severe problem troubling the Israeli Navy – the Russian missile Yakhont that Russia sold to Syria and which according to assessments will also be transferred to Hezbollah (if it has not been transferred already). In the past year, the supply of the missile to Syria has become a done deal. The Yakhont can hit naval vessels at a distance of up to 300 kilometers with considerable precision, and it is equipped with a warhead containing 200 kilograms of explosives. The missile flies towards its target at a speed twice the speed of sound. The Yakhont’s characteristics make its interception very difficult: at a distance of several kilometers from the attacked target, the “sea-skimming” missile descends to a cruise altitude of roughly ten meters above sea level, making it difficult for radars to detect it. The Yakhont’s homing head is build so that it is very difficult for electro-optic defense systems to get a lock on it while in flight. The Israeli Navy presently possesses the Barak-1 missile, jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael a decade ago. The intent is to equip the rigs with Barak-8 missiles, which are in advanced development stages at IAI. The system is intended to protect not only the rig or the vessel carrying the missiles, but also fleets of vessels sailing together in a given expanse. The objective is to supply comprehensive perimeter defense to the entire navy, with command and control (C2) systems receiving data from the radar systems of the different vessels and integrating them to create a shared combat and threat picture. The Barak-8 system includes an advanced C2 center, developed by IAI’s Mabat Missiles factory. The system integrates mission management towards managing an individual fire system or managing fire from several units in parallel. The Barak-8 has a radar system that presents a 360-degree hemispheric picture, above the vessel or the vessel layout. It has a high resolution and can detect missiles with a very low radar cross section area. The system is also suitable for countering naval “seaskimming” cruise missiles, as well as threats to aircraft or helicopters.
The Barak-8 missile is single-staged: the missile has fixed stabilizers in its lower section and driving surfaces in its bow. The interceptors are stabilized with carrying and launch containers, which are fixed vertically below the deck of the missile boats. Once a target is received, the missile is launched vertically and immediately transitions to horizontal flight in order to hit and destroy the target, while receiving indications and data from the vessel’s guidance system. Once the target is within range of its self-detection systems, it locks on it and destroys it. The interceptor possesses advanced homing capabilities, suitable for intercepting aircraft and missiles flying at a low altitude above the water, in all weather conditions. The Barak missile family also includes an surface-to-air variant for protecting against aircraft. IAI has thus far sold the system to foreign countries (primarily to India) at billions of dollars, and it is anticipated that additional sales in the scope of billions will take place.
Croatian MoD has awarded local  ZTC- Zrakoplovno-tehnički centar  a contract to overhaul and upgrade six Air-Force Mi-8 helicopters. Ukrainian  Sevastopol Aviation Company and Motor Sich will act as sub-contractors.
Raytheon has announced that the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System has successfully test fired a PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missile at White Sands Missile Range.
Patriot provides protection against a full range of advanced threats, including aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. The PAC-3 MSE is being developed by Lockheed Martin to provide performance enhancements and counter evolving threat advancements.
Sanjay Kapoor, vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business, said: ‘Patriot continues to successfully demonstrate its advanced capabilities of integrating new technologies. This is the seventh time Patriot has test fired Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 MSE missile, which will allow Patriot to take on the more sophisticated threats from rogue nations that threaten the safety and security of our warfighters and allies.’
Raytheon is the prime contractor for both domestic and international Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems and system integrator for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles.
C'est au tour de MSN 8, le deuxième A400M de série, destiné à l'armée de l'Air, de faire son vol inaugural. L'appareil a volé pour la première fois vendredi dernier (7 juin 2013), à Séville. Cet exemplaire doit être livré à la France au troisième trimestre de cette année.
Tout comme MSN 7, le premier A400 de série, cet appareil est actuellement engagé dans une procédure d'acceptation impliquant Airbus Military, l'Occar et la DGA. MSN 7 doit normalement être réceptionné par l'armée de l'Air à la fin du mois de juin, au début du mois de Juillet.
Il est prévu que Airbus Military livre quatre A400M de série cette année : trois pour la France (MSN 7, 8, et 10) et un pour la Turquie (MSN 9).
On ne l'apprend que ce matin, le deuxième A400M destiné l'armée de l'air française (MSN008) a fait son premier vol samedi. Soit avec quelques jours de retard, puisqu'il était prévu initialement avant le 30 mai. Il doit être livré au troisième trimestre, assure par ailleurs Airbus Military. Toujours pas de date précise pour la livraison du MSN007, premier A400M destiné à l'armée de l'air. AM annonce une livraison "dans les semaines à venir". Selon des sources non officielles -l'armée de l'air semble avoir renoncé à fixer une date pour l'instant-, cette livraison pourrait intervenir le 12 juillet.
Raytheon Co. (NYSE:RTN), a defense and aerospace technology giant, recently won an $80.5 million contract with the U.S. Navy for the procurement of its Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) missiles, which are a group of air-to-ground weapons that use an integrated GPS navigation system and terminal imaging infrared seeker, which guides the weapon to the target.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the Waltham, Mass.-based company’s order includes 200 units of full rate production of the missiles and all the equipment associated with the bombs.
The JSOW is defined by the Navy as a precision strike weapon. The air–to-surface missile weighs approximately 1,000 pounds and it can carry several different lethal packages while traveling a 78-mile distance using GPS signals.
Raytheon will perform 44 percent of the work at its Dallas facility; 24 percent will be completed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 22 percent in Tucson, Ariz. and 10 percent on McAllester, Okla. The order is scheduled to be completed by July 2015.
In addition, the defense company will also deliver one test round to the Navy to be used in a performance test.
According to Raytheon more than 400 JSOWs have been used in combat operations to this date, including more than 300 in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In January 2004 the Navy signed a $139.7 million contract to make more of this glide-bombs.
In April 2013 Vice-Amiral d'Escadre (Squadron Vice-Admiral) Coriolis, commanding officer of the French Navy's FOST (for Force océanique stratégique or Strategic Oceanic Force), and his Royal Navy counterpart Rear Admiral Corder, Commander Operations (COMOPS), visited the Barracuda SSN combat system shore integration facility located at Toulon naval base, Southern France. All the equipment needed for the integration, the validation interfaces and the combat systems of the future class of SSN will be installed in this center located ashore before the start of the trial period. For the next three years, all the features of the combat system will be tested and checked before their installation onboard the submarine.
During the briefing, which illustrates the willingness of DCNS and the French Navy to join their technical and maritime know-how for reaching a new level in terms of combat system ergonomics, many innovations were presented:
» An evolution of the underwater detection suite present on current French Navy SSBNs » A non-penetrating optronic mast replacing conventional (optical) periscopes » An electronic navigation aid software » An increased weapon fit (twice the capacity of the existing Rubis class SSN) » A Combat Management System capable of integrating and fusing above and under water sensors data
Between 2017 and 2027, Barracuda-type SSNs will replace the French Navy’s current-generation Rubis/Améthyste-class boats. Mission capabilities will include intelligence gathering and special operations (by commandos and special forces), anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, land strikes and participation in joint operations wherever the type’s interoperability and associated capabilities (discreet communications, tactical datalinks, etc.) are required. The weapons payload will include next-generation type F21 heavyweight torpedoes, SM39 anti-ship missiles and MdCN naval cruise missiles.
Un peu plus de deux mois après le salon SOFINS, le camp de Souge accueille un nouveau rendez-vous ouvert au public cette fois. Et pour cause, les journées portes ouvertes du 13è RDP sont très attendus des militaires, familles de militaires, fanas milis ou simples curieux.
Le régiment d’élite de la BFST exposera ses savoir-faire à travers différentes expositions statiques et dynamiques (chuteurs opérationnels, aérocordage, grappe). Une démonstration du GIGN est également intégrée au programme, sous réserve de disponibilité comme les années précédentes. Mais, trêve de bavardage, toutes les infos sont consultables sur le site des JPO. Et, en prime, une petite vidéo qui met l’eau à la bouche :
L’Institut Rideau et le Centre canadien de politiques alternatives viennent de publier un rapport sur l’avenir du programme canadien des sous-marins.
« That Sinking Feeling: Canada’s Submarine Program Springs a Leak » (Naufrage appréhendé : le programme canadien des sous-marins prend l’eau) est le fruit des travaux du professeur de sciences politiques Michael Byers et de l’analyste de défense Stewart Webb (chercheur invité à l’Institut Rideau et associé de recherche au Centre canadien de politiques alternatives).
Le Canada a acheté sa flotte de sous-marins de classe Victoria, de seconde main, du Royaume-Uni, en 1988, à un coût considérablement réduit. Malheureusement, les quatre submersibles ont été affligés de problèmes mécaniques depuis leur acquisition et ont passé la majeure partie de leur vie utile en radoub et en réparation.
La Marine royale canadienne projette que ces sous-marins atteindront la fin de leur cycle de vie vers 2030. La menace de graves problèmes mécaniques laisse prévoir que les navires pourraient être envoyés à la ferraille avant cette date. Par contre, le remplacement des sous-marins de la classe Victoria n’est pas inclus dans la Stratégie nationale d’approvisionnement en matière de construction navale — qui établit un échéancier de construction jusqu’en 2041. Cette omission soulève d’importantes questions à l’égard des intentions du gouvernement pour l’avenir du programme canadien des sous-marins.
Le rapport émet trois hypothèses pour expliquer pourquoi la Stratégie nationale d’approvisionnement en matière de construction navale a omis les sous-marins :
On a pris la décision d’acquérir de nouveaux sous-marins pour remplacer la classe Victoria, et cette décision est gardée secrète pour l’instant ;On a pris la décision de mettre fin au programme canadien des sous-marins à la fin de la vie utile de la classe Victoria et cette décision est gardée secrète pour l’instant ;Le gouvernement Harper gère mal le programme des sous-marins et manque à son obligation d’en planifier l’avenir ou d’assurer la transition vers d’autres plateformes ou technologies.
About to ‘slide’ across the flight deck of RFA Mounts Bay, this is the Navy’s next-generation helicopter going through a crucial workout off the South Coast.
Fleet Air Arm aircrew have been flying by day and night – latter courtesy of night vision kit – on to and off the deck of the amphibious support ship as they take another important step down the road to introducing the Wildcat to front-line service.
The helicopter will replace the long-serving Lynx as the air power of the Royal Navy’s destroyers, some of her frigates (which also operate the Merlin), and whichever warship or Royal Fleet Auxiliary requires an aircraft for its global mission.
Wildcat has already carried out trials at sea on RFA Argus (its first deck landing) and HMS Iron Duke (first time on a Royal Navy frigate) as test pilots, specialist engineers and technicians noted the helicopter’s flight characteristics to help them set the limits so it can be safely operated at sea by the Fleet Air Arm.
The helicopter’s now in the hands of the squadron charged with bringing into front-line service, 700W (W for Wildcat), who embarked on Mounts Bay to hone deck landing skills.
The squadron is specially formed to introduce new aircraft into the Fleet Air Arm (most recently the Merlin).
Although Wildcat looks very similar to a Lynx the two are different beasts. The new aircraft has more powerful engines – giving the pilot around one third more power than its predecessor – and new avionics.
And on the fighting side, there’s a glass cockpit with four large colour displays, replacing dials and screens of old.
As for firepower as well as Sting Ray torpedoes, and a .5in M3M machine-gun mounted by the side door, there’ll be the new light and heavy versions of the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon – the next-generation missile for use against targets at sea and on land.
Learning how use to the weaponry lies in the future. For now, 700W has been concentrating on the basics of flying Wildcat at sea and the lessons it learns will help the Fleet Air Arm devise the training courses for the Wildcat aircrew of tomorrow.
The Fleet Air Arm is buying 28 Wildcats, with the Army Air Corps acquiring 34. All 62 of the new helicopters will be based at RNAS Yeovilton, with the naval variant, the HMA2 (Helicopter Maritime Attack Mk2) due to be declared operational in early 2015.
Nexter Systems est déjà prêt pour proposer à l’armée française son futur engin blindé de reconnaissance et de combat (EBRC), un véhicule à roues 6x6 polyvalent. Sa conception modulaire permettra à Nexter de réaliser des économies d’échelle tout en proposant aux armées de différents pays un véhicule adapté à leur besoins, et à leurs moyens.
La loi de programmation militaire pour les années 2014-2019 ne devrait être votée qu’au cours de l’été par l’Assemblée nationale. Cela n’empêche pas Nexter Systems d’avoir une idée déjà précise de l’engin blindé de reconnaissance et de combat (EBRC) que l’armée de terre ne devrait pas manquer de commander avant la fin de la décennie pour remplacer les vieillissants AMX 10RC et ERC 90, lancés en 1977. Le dialogue est constant entre Nexter et les membres de l’état-major, dont certains ont participé aux récents conflits, en Afghanistan et au Mali. Et le dernier Livre blanc de la sécurité et de la défense nationale, rendu public en avril 2013, confirme que la France est susceptible de participer à tout type de conflit dans des zones géographiques diverses.
"Les blindés sur roues présentent le meilleur compromis, explique le général d’armée Bertrand Ract-Madoux, chef d’état-major de l’armée de terre. Il y a trente ans, la France était en pointe dans ce domaine. Depuis, pays après pays, même les plus ardents défenseurs de la chenille ont adopté des véhicules à roues. Le programme Scorpion est essentiel pour l’armée française." Les blindés à roues ont prouvé leur efficacité, avec leur mobilité, leur vitesse de déplacement et leur masse raisonnable permettant l’acheminement par avion, le tout avec une puissance de feu et une protection significatives. Le programme Scorpion (Synergie du contact renforcée par la polyvalence et l’infovalorisation), lancé en 2010, doit assurer la modernisation des unités de combat au sol, au sein desquelles les véhicules blindés de la cavalerie joueront un rôle clé.
L’EBRC de Nexter sera un blindé compact à roues de type 6 x 6, relativement léger (entre 20 et 25 tonnes), doté d’un canon de 40 mm à munition télescopé qui permet d’utiliser des projectiles de plus faible dimension et un chargement automatique sur le côté, un élément important pour un véhicule de dimensions restreintes. La tourelle permettra de lever le canon jusqu’à un angle de 45 degrés pour traiter des cibles en hauteur, alors que les chars sont conçus uniquement pour des combats au sol.
Elément important, l’EBRC sera modulaire afin de s’adapter aux besoins des différentes armées. A partir d’une cellule de base à prix serré, il est possible d’ajouter des éléments comme des missiles, flash bang, système fumigène, brouilleur d’ondes. De même, le système informatique embarqué reposera sur des micro-ordinateurs et un câblage Ethernet, pour faciliter l’intégration et assurer une réelle évolutivité. Cette modularité a été prise en compte dès les premières études, pour ensuite mettre en place les solutions industrielles afin de profiter au maximum d’une fabrication en nombre qui permettra une baisse des coûts.
Tous les services sont en surcharge et en sous-effectif", dénonce Luc Scappini le secrétaire général de la CFDT Défense. Un congrès CFDT a réuni cette semaine près de 200 délégués syndicaux du ministère de la Défense, de Dcns, Nexter et l'Igesa au club Belambra du Pradet. ( Var)
Qu'est-il ressorti de ce 50e congrès syndical ?
Ce congrès intervient dans une période extrêmement importante, car il tombe juste après les conclusions du Livre blanc sur la Séfense et la Sécurité nationale. Et en amont de la loi de programmation militaire, qui doit être présentée au Conseil des ministres début juillet. En interne, ces quatre jours de débats nous ont aussi permis d'adopter un plan de travail pour les quatre ans à venir. Ce document politique a été adopté à 96,20 %.
Les deux vedettes du type RPB 20 vendues par Raidco Marine à la Libye ont quitté Lorient jeudi dernier. Le Janzour et l’Akrma sont attendus à Tripoli autour du 18 juin...
...L’acquisition de ces deux vedettes va permettre à la marine libyenne de renforcer et moderniser ses moyens de surveillance et de contrôle des eaux territoriales du pays....
...Capables d’atteindre 28 nœuds, les RPB 20 mesurent 20 mètres de long pour 5.3 mètres de large. Pouvant être équipées l’artillerie légère, ces vedettes disposent à l’arrière d’une rampe pour la mise à l’eau d’une embarcation rapide.
Lire l'intégralité de l'article sur Mer et Marine :
(Infodefensa.com) Brasilia - The front sections built in France's first conventional submarine arrived in Rio de Janeiro . The piece, weighing 22 tons, is 25 meters long, in addition to six meters wide and 12 meters high. Sections three and four were transported to the Port of Sepetiba, by raft, Nuclebrás Dock for Equipments Heavy (Nuclep).
Subsequently, the sections were transferred via land for Manufacturing Unit Structural Steel (UFEM) , where sections 1 and 2 of this submarines will be manufactured. The Entrepreneurship manager Obtaining Modular Conventional Submarines, Rear Admiral Sydney dos Santos Neves , ensured that this means the realization of technology transfer from France to Brazil.
"No more hull will be built in France. The hull construction definitely passes through Brazil, with the arrival of Sections 3 and 4. Sections 1 and 2 and will begin to be built. The sectional qualifying, which enables the manufacture, and are in the final stages of completion in Nuclep, then reach UFEM "said Admiral Neves.
Sections 3 and 4 of the first conventional submarine, built in partnership with France, took three years to be built. Participants were 255 companies astillerosn Ituaguaí Shipbuilding (ICN) and Nuclep as well as engineers, technicians and operators of the Brazilian Navy. During this period, were given 140 courses covering the most diverse areas of knowledge.
On June 28, the defense minister, Ambassador Celso Amorim, accompanied by the Commander of the Navy, Fleet Admiral Julio Soares de Moura Neto, visit UFEM for the front section of the first conventional submarine built in partnership with France.
Paramount Group has agreed to acquire ATE South Africa as part of a rescue package, it has been announced.
ATE will now be incorporated into the Paramount Group, trading as Paramount Advanced Technologies, ensuring that vital aerospace expertise and world-class competency remains in South Africa, Paramount said in a 6 June statement.
The company said ATE has been through a ‘tumultuous time’ over the past few years and was placed under business rescue just under two years ago.
‘Paramount Group’s acquisition will ensure the continuation of this strategic business, and in so doing, add significant new and sophisticated aeronautical capabilities into its existing product offering and expand the group’s ability to deliver to its many government customers around the world,’ the company statement said.
Ivor Ichikowitz, Executive Chairman, Paramount Group, said the alternative to Paramount rescuing ATE would have been for the company to go into liquidation or for a foreign company to acquire the business.
‘This would have meant the loss of a highly specialised strategic capability to South Africa and the continent forever. The Paramount Group is firmly committed to growing Africa’s high-tech competence and this transaction further provides us the opportunity to do so,’ Ichikowitz said.
‘With South Africa becoming a fully-fledged member of BRICS it is imperative that we enter a new phase of industrialisation. The development of home-grown technology, skills and manufacturing capabilities are crucial if we are to capitalise on both the world’s appetite to do business in our region and the huge potential for intra-African and intra-BRICS trade.’
Le bâtiment de projection et de commandement (BPC) toulonnais Tonnerre, en relâche opérationnelle à Goa (Inde) depuis le 31 mai 2013, a mis à disposition ses installations pour permettre à des industriels français d’exposer leurs matériels et savoir-faire aux décideurs indiens.
Le groupe Jeanne d’Arc 2013 entame la troisième phase de son déploiement dans un objectif de soutien à la diplomatie navale et aux exportations de défense. Le BPC Tonnerre et la FASM Georges Leygues effectueront plusieurs escales, de l’océan Indien jusqu’à la mer de Chine dans cet objectif.
A l'occasion d'une visite sur le site MBDA de Bourges, le ministre de la Défense Jean-Yves Le Drian a aujourd'hui confirmé avoir inscrit dans la prochaine loi de programmation militaire (LPM) le lancement des programmes d'armement MMP (missile moyenne portée) et ANL (antinavire léger), tous deux cruciaux pour le missilier européen.
"Le lancement du MMP est tellement évident que ça n'est même plus un sujet", a ainsi déclaré le ministre devant les employés de MBDA. Le missile antichar, censé remplacer le Milan dans l'armée de Terre, sera lancé à un horizon qui n'a pas été précisé par le ministre. Déjà, près de 70 millions d'euros ont été investis en fonds propres par l'industriel pour le développement de ce nouvel armement, et la société prévoit de pousser cet effort d'autofinancement jusqu'à 150 millions d'euros au cours des années à venir. Un lancement du programme d'ici à la fin de l'année reste envisageable, mais le contexte budgétaire contraint devrait toutefois amener une réduction de la cible globale qui avait précédemment été fixée à 3.000 missiles.
Du côté de l'antinavire léger, la situation est légèrement différente. "Il s'agissait d'une décision complexe, mais j'ai tranché en faveur du lancement de ce programme pour renforcer notre partenariat avec le Royaume-Uni et faire que le projet de "One MBDA" devienne réalité", a déclaré le ministre devant les employés du missilier. Sauvé de justesse des arbitrages budgétaires pré-LPM, l'ANL sera donc bien lancé "prochainement" même si là aussi, des mesures d'économies sont à prévoir, par exemple en décalant à l'horizon 2019-2020 les premières livraisons pour la France.
Le ministre a également profité de son déplacement dans le Cher pour visiter les installations de Nexter Munitions, situées à La Chapelle Saint-Ursin. A cette occasion, Jean-Yves Le Drian a confirmé l'affermissement d'une tranche conditionnelle pour un contrat portant sur la production de munitions de gros calibre. Au titre de cet accord d'une valeur de 175 millions d'euros, Nexter livrera essentiellement des obus de 155 mm, destinés à équiper les canons Caesar.
Chez les deux industriels, le ministre a également signé des conventions bilatérales au titre du "pacte défense PME", conventions par lesquelles le ministère et les sociétés s'engagent notamment à favoriser la croissance des PME qui agissent à leur profit en qualité de sous-traitantes.
Afin de convaincre un peu plus les clients potentiels que son drone Patroller est un système totalement modulaire, Sagem étudie entre autres options l'intégration d'un armement air-sol de précision sous la voilure de son appareil. En l'occurrence, le missile antichar Brimstone, développé par MBDA, fait partie des solutions considérées, comme l'explique une présentation commerciale de l'industriel français à laquelle Air&Cosmos a pu avoir accès.
Doté dans sa version Dual Mode Brimstone de deux voies de guidage (radar millimétrique et capteur semi-actif laser), le petit missile britannique (environ 50 kg) a fait la preuve de sa précision lors de l'opération "Harmattan" en Libye, où il a permis d'engager des cibles situées dans des environnements urbains complexes en produisant bien moins d'effets collatéraux que d'autres armements comme la GBU-12.
L'industriel français Rafaut, déjà concepteurs des adaptateurs tribombes qui équipent le Rafale, a également été consulté pour équiper le Patroller des pylônes qui lui permettraient d'accueillir cet armement sous voilure. Le drone de Sagem, dérivé du motoplaneur allemand Stemme S-15, peut emporter jusqu'à 250 kg de charge utile. D'autres armements tactiques seraient également considérés, comme des roquettes guidées laser.
La Norvège a testé avec succès son missile antinavire, a annoncé le service de presse de la Marine norvégienne.Le missile antinavire Naval Strike Missile (NSM) a atteint avec succès son but, la frégate Trondheim construite en 1964.
Le tir du missile a été réalisé depuis la vedette Skjold.
The KNM Trondheim, a 300ft long decommissioned frigate, was transported out into the sea off the coast of Andoy to be used as target practice. An on-board camera captures the frightening moment of impact as the 880lb missile hits the centre of the ship with pinpoint accuracy. A huge fireball erupts and debris is sent spewing into the air. The vessel suffered major damage as a result of the 275lb warhead and was towed back into a harbour following the exercise This is the explosive moment the Norwegian navy blew up one of its own ships to test out their latest long-range stealth missile. The KNM Trondheim, a 300ft long decommissioned frigate, was transported out into the sea off the coast of Andoy to be used as target practice. Dramatic footage released by military bosses captures the countdown before the new 'Naval Strike Missile' - a four-metre long, 880lb weapon - is fired in the direction of the vessel The subsonic missile, which has a range of up to 150km, smashed straight into the frigate with pinpoint accuracy. Video from onboard the KNM Trondheim, shows the frightening moment of impact as a huge fireball erupts and debris spews hundreds of feet into the air. The vessel suffered major damage as a result of the 275lb warhead and was towed back into a harbour following the exercise.
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