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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
02 May 24. UK wants next-generation defensive aids for Royal Navy submarines. The UK Ministry of Defence is simultaneously seeking new underwater defensive aids for Royal Navy submarines and information on containerised ASW solutions.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking potential supplier able to provide a next-generation submarine-based countermeasure capability to equip both current and future vessels in the fleet, and will shortlist up to three industry representatives that meet the pre-qualification standards.
In a 30 April 2024, contract opportunity notice, the UK MoD revealed that the £35m ($42.6m) programme would run from October 2025 through to October 2032. Industry selected would be issued with an Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD).
This system will be known as the Next Generation Countermeasure (NGCM) and fall under the wider Underwater Defensive Aids Suite (UDAS) delivery programme, the MoD said.
As part of the contract, suppliers would have to provide trials and testing, combat systems integration, equipment and technical support, an initial training needs analysis, and post design services as required.
Given the nature of the capability and the likely host platforms, such as the current Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) or the future AUKUS-SSN, industry wishing to participate are required to have security classification up to including ‘Secret UK Eyes Only’ level. As such, available information on the kind of capabilities offered and eventually selected will be minimal.
UK MoD also seeking containerised ASW solutions
Meanwhile, the UK MoD issued a Request for Information (RfI) on 30 April for the potential use of modular or containerised anti-submarine warfare (ASW) concepts, specifically regarding remote or autonomous ASW sensing capabilities, that could be hosted within a 20ft ISO container for deployment from a Common Medium sized Uncrewed Surface Vessel (MUSV) of around 40m length.
The MoD stated that the Royal Navy is seeking to “understand acoustic ASW solutions that are ’frigate-like’ in capability parameters”, but that MUSV vessel intended to host the system “may not be acoustically quietened or clad”.
In addition, alternative non-acoustic sensing options were also of interest but would “need to represent a detection capability equal to current active/passive detection ranges” or would need to be hosted complimentary to an acoustic solution, the MoD said.
The description of a 40m MUSV host platform indicates that any solution would be tested onboard the XV Patrick Blackett, the Royal Navy’s experimental warfare surface ship acquired in 2022. Built by Damen in the Netherlands, the XV Patrick Blackett was originally a commercial Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 4008 craft modified for Royal Navy requirements.
The vessel has a length of 42 metres (m) and a gross tonnage of 270 tonnes (t), reaching a maximum speed of up to 20 knots. A crew of five personnel can be accommodated onboard.
The XV Patrick Blackett has a 140m² cargo deck space, with a load capacity of 2.5t per m² and is designed to accommodate containerised systems for UAVs or naval UAVs as required. (Source: naval-technology.com)
30 Apr 24. UK New Medium Helicopter buy reduced to around 30 aircraft: Spirit AeroSystems Exec. The comments are the second time in the span of 10 months that industrial officials have publicly revealed a reduced buy from a max of 44 helos is on the table.
The United Kingdom intends on buying an estimated 14 fewer aircraft than targeted for its New Medium Helicopter (NMH) program, according to a senior industry executive.
Nick Laird, managing director of European space and defence at Spirit AeroSystems, told lawmakers during a Northern Ireland Affairs committee hearing today that approximately 30 aircraft make up the NMH requirement, a cut of almost a third from the advertised upper limit of “up to” 44 rotorcraft.
“The number of aircraft for the UK military defence is circa 30, and we’ve just gone through an extended invitation to tender and we’re now in an invitation to negotiate (ITN) period,” said Laird of the rotary acquisition, which is valued at a maximum of £1.2 bn ($1.5 bn).
His comments are the second time in the span of 10 months that industry officials have publicly revealed a reduced buy is on the table. Breaking Defense first reported the apparent downsizing in July after speaking with Lenny Brown, managing director of Airbus Helicopters UK, who said the UK MoD want between 25-35 aircraft as a “kind of best effort with the funding available.”
NMH has been designed to source a replacement for Airbus Puma HC2 helicopters, though it was previously intended to also replace Bell 212, Bell 412 and Airbus Dauphin fleets. The Airbus H145 will, however, succeed the Bell types after the manufacturer was awarded a $152 m contract for six of the light-twin helicopters last month. The Dauphins, used by British Special Forces, are due to reman in service for the foreseeable future, according to Janes. Airbus referred comment about the future of the Dauphin fleet to the UK MoD.
The NMH ITN phase was first launched in February and is contested by Airbus’s H175M super-medium platform, Leonardo’s AW149 multirole helicopter and Lockheed Martin’s S-70M Black Hawk utility rotorcraft. Proposals are due to be evaluated through 2025 ahead of a production contract award in the same year. Spirit is part of the Airbus H175M supplier team for NMH, alongside Boeing, Babcock, Martin-Baker, and Pratt and Whitney Canada.
The UK MoD declined to comment on the exact number of aircraft it plans on procuring.
“Whilst release of the Invitation to Negotiate represents a significant step for the NMH programme, the competition remains sensitive, and the MoD cannot comment further,” it said in a statement.
Laird also revealed that Spirit is currently helping Airbus put together its ITN “submission.”
If the H175M was selected for NMH, Spirit would be involved “in detailed design activity and manufacture of major component assemblies in Belfast, [Northern Ireland]” dependent on “ongoing discussions” with Airbus, he noted.
Airbus also plans on setting up a new production line from Broughton, Wales, for the aircraft, should the company receive a NMH contract.
01 May 24. Today, Belfast Region City Deal and Innovate UK have announced a £37.6m investment in the UK Digital Twin Centre, a centre of excellence that will revolutionise how industries develop products, services and systems across the UK. Led by Digital Catapult, the Centre has been endorsed by UK industry, launching with co-investment from three major industry partners: Thales UK, Spirit AeroSystems and Artemis Technologies.
Enabled by a core investment from Innovate UK into this new world-class Centre and the associated programmes, the partners will deliver an initial six use cases to demonstrate the potential of digital twins in transforming the maritime, aerospace and defence sectors. In a step-change from traditional research and innovation centres, the UK Digital Twin Centre aims to accelerate industry’s adoption of digital twins through providing access to cutting edge technologies, reducing the costs of producing a digital twin and developing skills in the workforce – therefore removing key barriers businesses face. The Centre will also provide a collaborative space for industry, academia and the public sector to foster cross-sector innovation.
Increasingly being adopted across global industry, digital twins are virtual models of a physical object or system which can be informed by streamed data from a real-world version or environment. The digital twin can provide unique capabilities including rapid proto-typing and real-world control mechanisms, enabling businesses to make smarter decisions, achieve better outcomes, shortening time to market, reducing costs and lowering emissions.
The £15m of funding from the Belfast Region City Deal will help support core research and the building of skills and capability. This investment will support the region’s ambition to build innovation and digital capability, increase productivity, support reaching net zero targets and create more and better jobs. The Centre has committed to contributing 230 new jobs in the manufacturing sector across the UK, and to generate £61m for the local economy in Northern Ireland by 2033.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris said: “This is an ambitious project that will bring exciting opportunities for collaboration and accelerate the fantastic transformation Belfast’s digital sector is already witnessing. The UK Government’s £350 m investment into the Belfast Region City Deal will be used to support this project and ensure that we continue to make good progress across the City and Growth Deal programme, bringing even more prosperity to Northern Ireland, and ensuring it is the best place in the world to invest. I look forward to visiting the new centre once it is open and hearing more about the fantastic opportunities it will bring to Belfast and Northern Ireland more widely.” Economy Minister, Conor Murphy, said: “Our region is well positioned and ready to maximise the opportunities this investment will bring while also helping deliver on my economic priorities of creating good jobs, increasing productivity, and accelerating net zero ambitions. The Centre will assist in lowering the barriers for industry to develop digital twins, bringing the benefits of reduced costs, faster time to market and improving the skills of the advanced manufacturing workforce.”
To enable digital twins to be more accessible, better understood, more easily developed, and more meaningfully applied, the UK Digital Twin Centre will run a series of programmes for all levels of industry – from SMEs to large enterprises – to drive innovation and realise new value.
Indro Mukerjee, CEO at Innovate UK said: “As the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK works to support growth and increased productivity across the UK through our portfolio of products and services. The Innovate UK Catapult Network provides a unique combination of world-class expertise and facilities, connecting research excellence with business impact. This new Digital Catapult investment will accelerate industry adoption of digital twins, a key component of Cyber-Physical Infrastructure, delivering support for business innovation across the UK.”
UK Digital Twin Centre Director at Digital Catapult, Deborah Colville, added: “Today’s announcement is a pivotal moment in realising the real-world value of Digital Twins for the UK. The Centre will give businesses across the UK access to the expertise, technology and resources necessary to accelerate the adoption of Digital Twins to reduce design and manufacturing costs, help meet net zero targets and drive competitive advantage globally.”
The UK Digital Twin Centre will open later this year in Belfast. Businesses can find out more information on the Centre at digicat.org.uk/UKDigitalTwinCentre
About Digital Catapult
Digital Catapult is the UK authority on advanced digital technology.
Bringing together industry leaders, researchers and startups, we accelerate digital technology adoption to benefit the UK – breaking down barriers, de-risking innovation, opening up markets and responsibly shaping the products, services and experiences of the future.
Digital Catapult is part of the Catapult Network that supports businesses in transforming great ideas into valuable products and services. We are a network of world-leading technology and innovation centres established by Innovate UK. Visit digicatapult.org.uk for more information.
30 Apr 24. UKEF unveils plans to help exporters win £12.5bn in new business by 2029. The government department outlines new ambitions for supporting UK business with the publication of its new business plan.
- UK Export Finance publishes its new 2024-29 Business Plan, setting out its intention to help firms win over £12.5bn in new business by 2029.
- The export credit agency also aims to support £10bn in clean growth financing over the next few years and mobilise a further £10 bn to support business in developing markets.
- Plan includes more financing opportunities for smaller businesses alongside a commitment to support 1,000 SMEs a year by 2029.
British businesses are set to benefit from billions of pounds of new exporting opportunities in a further boost to the UK economy under plans published today by UK Export Finance (UKEF).
Ministerial government department UKEF is the country’s export credit agency (ECA), helping businesses access finance and insurance to support their overseas trade ambitions.
Its new 2024-29 Business Plan includes a commitment to help companies across the United Kingdom win over £12.5bn in new contracts by 2029, as well as unlocking £5bn of investment into their UK operations.
Supported by collaboration with the Department for Business and Trade, British Business Bank and local Chambers of Commerce, UKEF has set out ambitions to support 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a year by 2029. Greater access to business financing will support enterprise growth across all UK regions.
UKEF is aiming to support £10bn in financing for clean growth sectors in the next five years, building on its record of supporting sustainable growth both in the UK and internationally. UKEF’s backing for clean-growth exports over the last year included support worth £367m for the construction of one of the world’s largest wind technology factories in Teesside, and financing for a 350km water sanitation system in Iraq.
UKEF will continue to promote the role of UK exports in creating sustainable growth overseas. It aims to secure £10bn in financing for UK exports to low and middle-income countries over the next five years, driving UK-led improvement of infrastructure and governance in developing markets while supporting British jobs.
The new plan emphasises the role of greater digitalisation in widening access to finance and insurance – with a fully online insurance service expected in coming months.
Tim Reid, CEO of UK Export Finance, said: “UKEF plays a key role in growing the UK’s trade base by unlocking billions of pounds in financing for UK exporters every year. Our new plan recognises the strength of the UKEF offer, whether in supporting the low-carbon transition or using our deep sectoral understanding, global relationships and the opportunities created by new free trade agreements to get more UK businesses involved in large international projects. For our customers it also means more digital services, a better user experience and a continued commitment to deliver innovative and game-changing solutions that work for them, so that UKEF can unlock the finance they need to export.”
UKEF is expected to publish its next annual results in June 2024, showing how it is already supporting UK businesses and international communities.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
29 Apr 24. UK to seek additional F-35 acquisition phases. The UK government has said that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will seek additional acquisition phases for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning combat aircraft, beyond the phase currently contracted and the one now in negotiation.
The Earl of Minto Gilbert Timothy George Lariston Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, minister of state at the MoD, said in early April that approval for further procurement tranches of the F-35 will be sought as the UK moves towards its planned 138-aircraft buy over the life of the programme.
“Our plan remains to procure 138 aircraft through the life of the programme. This procurement is phased; our first acquisition phase of 48 aircraft is under way at present, with the second phase consisting of a further 27 aircraft now progressing through the approvals process, which will form the basis of our third front-line Lightning squadron with deliveries expected to continue into 2033. The MoD will seek approval for further acquisition phases at the appropriate time,” the minister said.
(Source: Janes)
29 Apr 24. NATO seeks C-UAS industry solutions to protecting critical infrastructure. The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) seeks information regarding the availability, pricing, and delivery timeline of C-UAS equipment. The market survey is being issued to identify potential solutions, to calibrate requirements, and identify possible suppliers.
Responses are due back to NCI Agency no later than 23:59 hours Central European Time (CET) on 15 May 2024. Clarification requests can be submitted no later than 10 calendar days prior the MS closing date.
According to details of the tender:
“The purpose of the C-UAS equipment is to protect critical infrastructure installations such as ammunition depots. These installations are located in urban as well in rural environments. The project shall deliver military C-UAS capability able to detect, identify and neutralize enemies UAS (drones), flying over restricted military infrastructures.
“From an operational perspective, the requirement is to detect and deny any commercial UAS, in a zone with minimum 7 km radius. At the technical level, the detection and deny ranges will of course dependent on the target size and environmental conditions.”
The smart mitigation shall include jamming capabilities for both UAS communication channels and GNSS channels. The capability shall have the possibility to distinguish between Friend or Foe UAS, based on Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) technologies such as remote drone ID (e.g. compliant with ASTM F3411, ASTM F3548 and ASD-STAN prEN 4709-002 P1). NATO UNCLASSIFIED RELEASABLE TO MOLDOVA Annex B to NCIA/ACQ/2024/06737 NATO UNCLASSIFIED RELEASABLE TO MOLDOVA Page B-2
The project is looking for a field proven solution.
The initial requirement is for six (6) integrated C-UAS systems composed of (at the minimum):
- radar detection capability,
- electro optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera(s),
- jammer capability, and
- a Command and Control (C2) system (i.e. an operator work post).
The number of components (e.g. radars, cameras and jammers) has to be dimensioned in accordance with the generic scenario presented above. For example, multiple radars may need to be deployed in the No-Go Zone to ensure the full coverage of the detection and identification zone. All components shall be deployed inside of the No-Go zone. Additional components (e.g. passive detection systems) can be proposed and will be considered within the overall balance between price and capability. The main threat is represented by commercial Class 1 UASs.
For more information:https://sam.gov/opp/fb0f568b66d64e70a6eb7ee60785d7e8/view
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
EUROPE
01 May 24. Type 26 for Norway? UK explores support for Oslo’s future frigate. UK public and private sectors are working to support Norway’s future frigate requirements, with the prospect of another win for the Type 26 design.
The UK Government, Royal Navy, and BAE Systems are working on options to support Norway’s future frigate requirements, it has been confirmed, further indication that the Type 26 platform design could find further export success in the coming years.
Officially disclosing the cooperating parties on 30 April 2024, UK Defence Procurement Minister James Cartlidge stated that the UK Government, Royal Navy, and UK defence prime BAE Systems, designer and manufacturer of the Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigate, were “working jointly” on ways to support Norway’s future surface combatant requirements.
“We are actively supporting the promotion of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship design to other navies around the world with a similar requirement,” Cartlidge stated in a written response.
In early-April, Norway outlined its naval requirements in the years ahead, outlining a minimum need for five new frigates with anti-submarine helicopters, at least five new submarines, and a standardised vessel class of up to ten large and 18 smaller vessels. These smaller vessels would likely sit in the littoral patrol corvette/craft classification.
“Norway is a maritime nation with a strong maritime legacy. The Government commits to strengthening the Navy, with new frigates, submarines and other vessels,” said Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on 5 April.
The disclosure was part of its long-term defence planning document, released every four years, with the Norwegian Government proposing to the country’s parliament to increase spending through to 2036, modernising military equipment and platforms across its services.
Should the UK’s Type 26 design be selected, it would represent the third export success for the ship class following on from its adoption by Canada and Australia as part of their own national fleet renewal plans, as well its parent service, the UK’s Royal Navy.
Displacing around 7,000 tonnes (t), the Type 26 design (to be known as the City and Hunter classes in UK and Australian service respectively) is an advanced multirole surface combatant which has an emphasis on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. While none of the design are currently in service, eight will be built for the UK Royal Navy, six for the Royal Australian Navy, and up to 15 for the Royal Canadian Navy.
BAE Systems holds no other modernised frigate designs in its portfolio, having lost its bid of a ‘stretched’ Khareef-class corvette, dubbed the Leander class, for the UK’s Type 31 requirement in 2019. The type was not designed as an anti-submarine warfare frigate and intended to be a general-purpose warship.
The Nansen class: Norway’s current frigate type
Norway’s existing main surface combatant force is comprised of four Nansen-class ASW frigates, down from a fleet of five ships following the sinking of HNoMS Helge Ingstad in 2018 after it collided with a merchant vessel in a Norwegian fjord.
The five Nansen-class anti-submarine warfare frigates were built by Spain’s Navantia for the Norwegian Navy. The vessels are: HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (in service), Roald Amundsen (in service), Otto Sverdrup (in service), Helge Ingstad (lost) and Thor Heyerdahl (in service).
Displacing around 5,100t and measuring 133 metres in length, the type has been optimised for ASW operations although retain anti-air and anti-surface capabilities through an eight cell Mk41 launched Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and canister-operated Naval Strike Missile systems.
The launch of the first-in-class, since lost, of HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen was performed in June 2004, with the fifth and final ship launch taking place in February 2009.
Norway gradually increasing defence spending
Analysis from GlobalData in Q4 2023 on Norway’s defence spending detailed the country’s defence budget was anticipated to rise from $7.6bn in 2023 to $9.2bn in 2028, an increase of $1.6bn between 2023-28.
As with many European countries, Norway has sought to increase defence spending since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, amid a challenging security environment for the continent.
Norway also previously committed to reaching the Nato baseline of a 2% spend on defence as a proportion of GDP by 2026, although it is likely this will only be reached in the 2030 timeframe. In April Nato stated that in 2024, two thirds of Allies were expected to meet or exceed the target of investing at least 2% of GDP in defence, compared to only three countries in 2014.
Over the past decade, Nato’s European members have increased their collective investment in defence – from 1.47% of their combined GDP in 2014, to 2% in 2024, when they are investing a combined total of more than USD $380bn in defence, according to Nato figures. (Source: naval-technology.com)
30 Apr 24. Poland renames F-35A, Husarz. Poland has assigned the name Husarz to the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in national service, the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces announced on 29 April.
The name, which translates in English to Hussar, has been given to the ‘fifth-generation’ stealth fighter following a public competition.
At the same time as the new national name was disclosed, the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that the country’s F-35As will receive low-visibility greyed-out checkerboard markings in place of the traditional red and white checkerboard. This will be a first for the Polish Armed Forces and has been decided to fully preserve the aircraft’s low observability characteristics.
The new name and national marking disclosures coincided with the announcement by Lockheed Martin that the first F-35A for Poland, aircraft AZ-01, had stood on its own wheels at the assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas. It will be delivered to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas for pilot training later in 2024. (Source: Janes)
29 Apr 24. Belgium becomes FCAS/SCAF observer country. Belgium has joined France, Germany, and Spain in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)/Système de Combat Aérien du Futur (SCAF) programme, with the Belgian government saying the country now has observer status.
Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Labour Pierre-Yves Dermagne announced the news in a joint communiqué released on 26 April.
“On 24 April the government obtained observer country status for Belgium as part of the FCAS/SCAF development programme,” the communiqué said.
As detailed in the announcement, the observer country status will afford Belgium access to information on the programme and its development, and will be able to participate in strategic discussions. “This will allow Belgium to get a clear idea of the programme and its implications for the Belgian defence industry,” the ministers said. (Source: Janes)
USA
30 Apr 24. Cuashub.com said today that Moody Air Force Base Issues RFI for Fixed and Mobile C-UAS. Moody Air Force Base has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking details on fixed and mobile Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System (C-sUAS) technologies. The system must be able to detect, identify, track, and counter small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in stationary, vehicular, and man-portable configurations. It should be versatile and compatible with various power sources, including US, overseas, vehicle, and man-pack styles.
The technologies should be proficient in detecting frequencies from the controller, video, telemetry, and Wi-Fi communications links. Basic requirements include a horizontal detection range of at least 1.5 km, no more than 20 minutes of setup time, and the capability to simultaneously counter at least eight sUAS vehicles. Interoperability with other C-sUAS systems is mandatory.
The system should provide visual and audio cues or alerts upon sUAS detection. It should offer the option to automatically neutralize threats based on predefined parameters or require operator intervention for threat mitigation. Compliance with MIL-STD-461/810 standards for environmental durability and electromagnetic compatibility is essential.
Additionally, the system should include a visual display indicating the threat radius, encompassing details such as location, altitude, protocol, and frequency, and be expandable to larger monitors or screens for enhanced display capabilities.
The RFI seeks additional information such as system cost, warranty options, system operator training information, availability of customer support, etc. For more information, please visit cUAS on sam.gov.
Original Published Date: Apr 11, 2024, 02:39 pm EDT
Updated Response Date: May 13, 2024, 12:00 pm EDT
Original Response Date: May 13, 2024, 12:00 pm EDT
https://cuashub.com/en/content/moody-air-force-base-issues-rfi-for-fixed-and-mobile-c-uas/?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-86VopMqKmw_-yAS8bGX0LHbsgbDKBYOsb0hJTiE6fbFiNQtKsGPLo44KZMh2–AGIKFaSPutN-BiMeTgEpjiVgGrsQEKv8lpYfps1lSc5wcsSMeZY&_hsmi=304918216#utm_campaign=C-UAS%20Hub%20General&utm_medium=email&utm_content=304918216&utm_source=hs_email(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
26 Apr 24. Army officials question plan for future attack reconnaissance. After canceling the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program earlier this year, the U.S. Army has yet to earnestly invest in its manned attack helicopter or other capability to fill the armed recon role, and service leaders warn that without a clear plan, its ability to fight as effectively in future wars could be in jeopardy.
The Army has talked about how unmanned systems and sensors will largely perform such a mission along with the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter when required, but little money is programmed to be spent on the aircraft in the coming years.
While there are plenty of ideas streaming in from industry, the service is still working through technology that will be critical to integrate pilots, drones and soldiers on the ground to fill the mission and has yet to present a clear upgrade plan for the Apache.
And even four-star combatant commanders have questions.
“The Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, or FARA, was to deliver the capability to identify and destroy [anti-access, area denial] bubbles to create advantages for [the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft] to exploit,” Gen. Laura Richardson, U.S. Army Southern Command commander and an Army aviator, said in an April 25 speech at the Army Aviation Association of America’s annual conference here.
“FARA intended to combine our pilots with high end capabilities that unmanned systems provide and create advantages against adversaries. What is going to meet that requirement?” she asked. “What is going to replace the Apache that we’ve taken risk in, in order to field FARA?”
The Army should at least be upgrading and matching sensors to the firepower in the Apache to keep pace with rivals, Richardson said.
“While the Army has not announced any investment in our current attack helicopter, our strategic adversaries are doubling down,” she said.
What’s the plan of attack?
When the Army canceled FARA – citing the changing character of war and observations made in Ukraine – it argued a manned helicopter was no longer survivable against near-peer adversaries in a high-end fight. The Army said it would make investments in other aviation capability and touted the performance of the Apache in the armed scout role.
AH-64s teamed with Shadow unmanned aircraft systems have filled that role since the Army canceled the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter in 2013.
Even so, the initial investment, the Army said at the time it killed FARA, would be to buy more UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters and CH-47F Block II Chinook cargo helicopters. It’s working toward multiyear contracts for both aircraft, with a goal of minting a new UH-60M deal in fiscal 2027. But neither of those aircraft will fulfill the armed scout mission.
Maj. Gen. Wally Rugen, the director of the Army aviation in the G-3/5/7, emphasizing the continued need for manned aviation, told the same audience at AAAA that unmanned aircraft in armed reconnaissance is needed, but “we need them to team with our crewed aviation to be decisive.”
While the Army has stated the Apache will continue to serve in the armed scout role when necessary, it took a risk with the Apache fleet, Rugen noted, and said not only do improvements to Apache need to be made if it will fill in that role, but the service should consider replacing 16 crash damaged aircraft.
Those aircraft are not funded in FY25 or the subsequent four years of the budget cycle, he noted.
Additionally, the Army has three squadrons of Delta-model Apaches that were not going to be bought, “that now we have to look at very closely and see how we fill that in and modernize those three Delta squadrons,” Rugen, whose last job was managing the Army’s Future Vertical Lift efforts including FARA, said.
A year ago, at AAAA in Nashville, Tennessee, Boeing unveiled what it could do for the Apache beyond its latest version. The model on display featured an additional wing pylon, joining the two already there on the current version, to provide additional weapons in a greater variety onboard.
The payloads would count on the additional lift provided by the Improved Turbine Engine Program, or ITEP engine, which has long been delayed. The timeline to integrate ITEP in Apache is farther afield than the UH-60, which is scheduled to received engines in the summer for testing. The Army decided, earlier this year, to delay procurement of ITEP and keep it in research and development for now.
Boeing said it has been working with the Army through its conceptual design and modernization efforts “to ensure that we’re meeting the future needs of the fight,” Christina Upah, company vice president in charge of attack helicopters, told Defense News in an interview at AAAA.
The company is focused on ensuring a modular open system architecture environment to enable rapid integration of technology affordably when the time comes, she noted. Boeing showcased at AAAA how launched effects could be deployed with the attack helicopter.
“Even today, the last couple of days at this event, we’ve heard from a number of senior Army leaders who have communicated that this is the attack reconnaissance helicopter for the future,” Upah said.
“There is a tremendous amount of development effort afoot that we’re doing in partnership with the U.S. Army that can be a part of the modernized Apache as well as efforts that we, Boeing, are doing and spending our investment dollars to invest in this future platform along with our industry partners,” she added.
What’s the limit for UAS?
Army leaders have stressed that unmanned aircraft play an important role in the joint warfighting concept and are taking lessons from the war in Ukraine, which exhibits a change to the character of war.
“The Army plans to increase investment in FTUAS and [launched effects], which is absolutely necessary to fight and win in the air and ground littoral,” Richardson said, “but it may not be sufficient. Unmanned systems provide commanders amazing capabilities but there are limits. UAVs lack situational understanding, situational curiosity and lacks situational agility.”
Manned systems with pilots and crew is “the Army’s asymmetric advantage,” she said.
Rugen agreed. “We have a lot of people confusing swapping UAS at less-than-mortar-round range with some type of decisiveness and it’s not decisive.”
The Army can’t settle on just swarming drone capabilities, it must refine and master the concept of a “wolfpack” of unmanned systems that “goes on the hunt and kills big game,” Rugen said.
“It’s a very complex conversation, we absolutely need [UAS],” Rugen said, but “we need them to team with our crewed aviation to be decisive at the point and time of our choosing.”
The service says it is accelerating procuring modern unmanned aircraft systems like a Future Tactical UAS, launched effects and commercially available small UAS, but clear plans to rapidly get after how an ecosystem of UAS will come together, in some cases, is just beginning to materialize or hasn’t yet.
The Army decided this year to officially retire Shadow, which FTUAS would replace, but according to Rugen there is not enough funding available to accelerate its fielding timetable. The service, instead, is investing some money to buy prototypes and fly them over the next few years with two competing teams.
For UAS to work in the armed reconnaissance role particularly, Rugen said the service needs to get its modular open architecture system established across the current fleet of aircraft, which is a challenge, in order to be able to network and integrate effectively with UAS.
Within the Army’s Future Vertical Lift portfolio, the service is focused heavily on launched effects and is only beginning to flesh out exactly how it will take capability out of the concept and development realm and into fieldable systems.
The service plans to wrap up a prototyping evaluation effort for a medium-range LE in September and will weigh options from rapid fielding to low-rate initial production to more prototyping depending on how things go. The Army is also pursuing a long-range and short-range version, which are farther afield but will begin prototyping soon.
The service plans to also focus heavily on LE at its EDGE aviation demonstration event in the fall. Another focus will be autonomy.
“What has to still evolve is autonomy to completely do a reconnaissance and security mission,” Maj. Gen. Mac McCurry, the Army Aviation Center of Excellence Command commander, said at AAAA. “We are still investing in that path to autonomy. Being able to see and surveil something is a component of reconnaissance, but not sufficient to perform the whole thing.”
The Future Vertical Lift cross functional team in charge of bringing modernized aviation capability to the force in the 2030 timeframe, is increasingly focused on autonomy, according to its director, Brig. Gen. Cain Baker.
“Autonomy is a critical aspect of all of this. How do you bridge autonomy across all of these systems,” he said. “How does it get integrated? How does it get shared? How do you do mission command?”
Companies like Shield AI are dedicated to increasing autonomy on a wide variety of air assets. Brandon Tseng, the company’s president, told Defense News in a recent interview it is in the process of integrating its artificial intelligence pilot onto a seven different platforms including quadcopters, Kratos’ MQM-178 Firejet and XQ-58 Valkyrie.
“I think what we’re seeing from the drone industry, from our standpoint, with AI and autonomy, if you think about the problem differently, you can still solve a problem with lots of different small things rather than one large thing,” Tseng said. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
REST OF THE WORLD
03 May 24. Armscor issues 6×6 Land Cruiser tender for Special Forces.
Armscor has issued a tender for the development of modified 6×6 Land Cruiser vehicles for the South African Special Forces to enhance their firepower during operational deployments.
The bid, EWSD/2024/18, for ‘Multi-Platform Vehicle (Procurement of Automatic 6×6 Toyota Land Cruiser)’ was issued on 30 April and has a closing date of 14 May. It was originally issued (as tender ESPD/2023/91) on 4 December 2023, with a closing date of 26 January 2024 and testing of vehicles at Gerotek scheduled for February, but was subsequently cancelled and reissued.
According to the latest tender document, Armscor is seeking “fixed cost for a Toyota Land Cruiser Single Cab converted to 6×6 with automatic transmission, fitted with front Bull Bar and rear flatbed load carrier capable of carrying 3.5 tons. Appropriate tie-down points must be fitted to the rear flatbed load carrier.”
Technical requirements include an automatic transmission; differential locks on each axle; ability to switch from 6×2, 6×4 and 6×6 modes; ground clearance of at least 235 mm; non-pneumatic suspension; and standard Toyota Land Cruiser V8 diesel engine. The vehicle will need to make use of new parts and not used or remanufactured items.
The modified vehicle should preferably be delivered on or before 31 July 2024, and testing and qualification is to completed on or before 30 August 2024.
Armscor specified that the request for bids (RFB) “is to place two orders with different bidders (one order per successful bidder for a maximum of two orders) to conduct OT&E [operational testing and evaluation] before progressing to further development phases.”
A separate request for bids will be issued following testing and evaluation, for the accepted/preferred platform to be integrated with an armoured cab and user-specific rear platform.
Then, Armscor will issue a bid for the procurement of 26 complete vehicle systems. “This phase will involve manufacture in accordance to the baseline approved for preceding phases, for the preferred platform. Including integration of the user specific rear platform variants in support of the operational system.”
The purpose of the 6×6 bid is to place two orders with different bidders (one order per successful bidder for a maximum of two orders) to conduct testing and evaluation before progressing to further development phases. “In the event more than two bidders comply to all critical criteria, then the preference points system will apply and the top two will be selected.”
If only one bidder complies with all criteria, then only one order will be placed with the successful bidder.
Operational testing and evaluation “is subject to test conditions specified for Gerotek evaluation.” This will include rollover angle evaluation, side slop verification, step climb capability, incline capability, overcoming suspension track obstacles, and sand trail testing.
The bidder should be able to support the modified Land Cruisers for at least ten years and provide the necessary spares.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is already a big user of Land Cruisers, particularly for border patrols. The Special Forces several years ago took delivery of modified Land Cruisers fitted with armoured cabs and weapons platforms on the back – notably ZU-23-2 cannons. These were supplied by SVI, which has also developed a 6×6 Land Cruiser and will most likely compete with Armormax Defence for the new Armscor tender, as Armormax also offers a modified 6×6 Land Cruiser (TAC-6) that can be armoured.
In February, SVI delivered two 4×4 and four six-wheeled Max 3 armoured vehicles to the SANDF. They were fitted with armour and modified cabs on their load beds. The Max 3 is based on the proven Land Cruiser 79 chassis. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
01 May 24. Launch of Request for Information for the Potential Leasing of the David Florida Laboratory Opportunity for Industry.
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA), in close collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada, is launching a Request for Information (RFI) to gauge the interest of industry in potentially leasing the David Florida Laboratory (DFL), with the aim of preserving unique testing services within Canada and supporting Canada’s thriving space sector. The DFL is an assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) laboratory for the space industry.
In March 2024, the CSA announced its plans to close the DFL following a strategic review of its operations as part of the Refocusing Government Spending exercise. A careful review of alternative business models was undertaken to explore how best to address the ongoing assembly and testing needs of the Canadian space sector. The termination of the federal government’s operations of the DFL creates a potential opportunity for industry to maintain its operations and manage the continued use of this world-class testing facility.
Detailed information with respect to the DFL’s current mandate and activities, as well as the facility’s technical characteristics, are available on the CSA website at: https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/laboratories-and-warehouse/david-florida
This RFI seeks to determine whether there is industry interest in leasing the DFL, commencing on or about April 1, 2025. Interested parties are to respond to this RFI prior to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 28, 2024.
Quick Facts
- The DFL is an assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) laboratory located on Shirleys Bay Campus in the Ottawa area. AIT is one of the last steps required for space hardware to demonstrate it can survive a launch and the space environment.
- As part of the Refocusing Government Spending exercise, it was announced in March 2024 that operations at the DFL would be terminated as of March 31, 2025.
- The CSA remains focused on capacity building, supporting research and technology development and supporting Canada’s space sector for the future.
Quote: “We must leverage resources as efficiently as possible and find opportunities to better utilize them. This will be an opportunity for industry to maintain a world-class testing facility to support our objective to grow Canada’s industrial capacity and high-quality research and technology for space.” (Source: PR Newswire)
02 May 24. Ukraine searching for counter commercial, FPV drone solutions. The Ukrainian government has announced an official search for counter commercial and first-person view drone solutions.
Government platform, Brave1, announced the development search to bring together innovative companies with ideas and developments that can be used in the defence of Ukraine.
Solutions and developers are being sought for counter FPV drone detection, physical destruction, active protection, influencing control protocols of open-source radio control and non-standard frequencies and firmware.
Solutions are also being sought for the detection of Chinese DJI and Autel drones, physical destruction of commercial drones, and mission disruption of DJI and Autel control protocols including firmware.
“Commercial and FPV drones have fundamentally changed approaches to modern warfare,” according to a statement from the Ukrainian organisers.
“Not only are we using these affordable solutions en masse to destroy multi-million dollar equipment, but so is the enemy. We need effective protection and countermeasures.
“(We can) assemble ready-made teams and individual developers to create effective counter-FPV and commercial drone solutions to repel enemy attacks.
“We are strengthening Ukraine’s technological capabilities together.”
FPV and commercial drones have already been used extensively in the conflict between Ukrainian and Russian forces in kamikaze attack and aerial reconnaissance roles.
First-person view drones, utilising a radio-controlled vehicle piloted from the driver or pilot’s viewpoint, have been used to direct attached guided explosive munitions to targets of opportunity such as light armoured vehicles, structures, and personnel.
Earlier this year in April, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence also encouraged domestic defence manufacturers to expand their business and foreign companies to localise their production in the European country.
“The Ministry of Defence must provide our troops with high-quality means of personal protection on time and in full. For that purpose, the Ministry’s Procurement Policy Department is working on improving procurement rules, which should lead to increased competition among suppliers of the Armed Forces,” according to MOD Procurement Policy Department head Hlib Kanievskyi.
“The Ministry of Defence is the largest investor in Ukraine in the defence-industrial complex. The ministry’s procurement agencies purchase non-lethal products and weapons worth tens of billions of hryvnias (national currency of Ukraine).
“Now is a chance for domestic manufacturers to expand their business and for foreign companies to localise their production in Ukraine.”
Earlier this year, the Australian government announced that more than 11 companies had signed contracts to provide a prototype of a drone or uncrewed aerial system for the Defence Sovereign UAS Challenge.
Aerial drones developed by Australian companies would be showcased as part of a federal government initiative aimed at supporting innovation and delivering capabilities for the Australian Defence Force.
Drones would be assessed on their ability for rapid production at scale and potential use by Defence and the Commonwealth. (Source: Defence Connect)
29 Apr 24. Vietnam continues to show interest in South Korean defence equipment. Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has suggested that it could acquire South Korean arms and equipment such as the Hanwha Aerospace K9 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) for the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), according to Vice-Minister of National Defense Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien.
Snr Lt Gen Hoang made the remarks to his counterpart Lieutenant General (retd) Kim Seon-ho during the 11th Vietnam-Republic of Korea Defence Policy Dialogue in Hanoi on 23 April, while expressing Vietnam’s desire to expand defence industrial cooperation with South Korea.
He also noted that bilateral defence ties have been enhanced across other areas such as cyber security and education and training following the upgrade of the Vietnam-RoK relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2022.
Meanwhile, the South Korean MND separately stated that Snr Lt Gen Hoang had “evaluated Korean weapons systems and expressed his intention to expand defence industry cooperation, including the introduction of Korean weapon systems such as the K9 SPH and requested cooperation from the Korean government”.
The latest development follows a high-level Vietnamese MND visit led by Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang to South Korea in February 2023. Official photographs released by the MND-run People’s Army Newspaper showed Gen Phan and his entourage touring a Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) VII Maneuver Corps base and inspecting a range of weapons and equipment, including the K9 SPH.
According to several Vietnamese and Korean reports at the time, Gen Phan had also been briefed by Hanwha Aerospace executives on the company’s systems.
Although the largest and most experienced of the three military services, the VPA faces an uphill task in raising its professionalism and maintaining its large inventories of Chinese and Soviet-made legacy combat vehicles and equipment, particularly with the loss of foreign assistance following its conflict with the China and subsequently the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
For instance, the VPA is seeking to replace its eclectic and decades-old inventories of artillery systems, including captured US-made 105mm M101 and 155mm M1 and M114 howitzers, as well as Soviet-vintage 152mm M1955/D-20 field guns.
Moreover, the bulk of the army’s firepower had until recently resided in its 1970s era main battle tanks (MBTs) such as the Chinese-made Type 59 and Soviet T-54/55 and T-62. However, as these MBTs are increasingly outmatched by modern vehicles and anti-tank weaponry now in service with regional military forces as well as China, it has recently taken delivery of 64 T-90S/SKs from Russia’s state-owned UralVagonZavod (UVZ).
(Source: AMR)
01 May 24. Emirati F-35 prospects languish amid high-stakes Chinese, US courting. As the United Arab Emirates seeks closer defense ties with the United States and China alike, the prospects of exporting the F-35 fighter to Abu Dhabi anytime soon may be getting slimmer, according to experts.
On April 23, the chief of joint operations for the UAE Armed Forces met with the commander of the Chinese Air Force in Beijing to discuss options for strengthening collaboration between their services. The meeting served as the Gulf nation’s most recent overture to China, signaling a particular interest in warplane cooperation.
After receiving the first batch of Chinese Hongdu L-15A Falcon jet trainers last year, some observers have speculated that the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter may be the next platform on the country’s wish-list.
This week, senior U.S. and UAE defense officials met for their annual military dialogue in Washington. On the agenda, were “specific discussions,” on integrated air and missile defense as well as cooperation on emerging capabilities, per a statement released by the U.S. Department of Defense.
The release made no mention of the elephant in the room – Abu Dhabi’s request to buy the fifth-generation American combat jet.
The Biden administration froze the sale of 50 Lockheed-made F-35 fighter jets to the Emiratis in 2021, as the bolstered UAE-China defense connection has continued to raise questions among U.S. officials about the future of Washington arms sales to its Middle East ally.
Meanwhile, in 2020, after normalizing ties with the UAE, Israel said that it would not oppose the sale of “specific U.S.-made weapon systems” to the Emiratis, in what many interpreted as a reference to the F-35s. Israel was previously reported to have been against this deal, viewing it as a possible threat to maintaining its regional military superiority.
In recent years, some developments within the UAE-China relationship have been more concerning than others for the United States, said Daniel Mouton, a former U.S. National Security Council official who is now a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
One alarming issue regarded the establishment of a Chinese military facility in the country, which the analyst said would be dangerous “particularly in terms of its ability to observe U.S. activities inside the Gulf state and area.”
“Considering the technology associated with the F-35, the presence of a Chinese military base and expanding Chinese technical infrastructure could have posed a risk to this valuable piece of U.S. technology and to the international consortium of F-35 operators,” Mouton added.
The planned facility was reportedly being built at a port near Abu Dhabi, where a Chinese shipping group operates. Last year, despite the Gulf state’s previous pledge to halt China’s construction at the site, new activity was detected, according to the Washington Post.
While the sale of F-35 warplanes has become something of a white whale for the Emiratis, with Abu Dhabi even threatening to cancel it at one point, Mouton said that the deal remains “viable.”
A Lockheed Martin representative said they could not comment on government-to-government discussions.
Other experts have a gloomier outlook on the long-pending transaction, viewing it as a possible dead end.
“The UAE’s decision to commit to a large Rafale buy [80 aircraft] from France in 2022 is likely a good indication that they know the deal isn’t going anywhere at this point,” Alex Almeida, Middle East analyst at the U.S.-based political risk consultancy group Horizon Engage, said.
“Or at least that the timeframe for an eventual F-35 delivery is so far in the future they’ll need a sizable fleet of new 4.5 generation aircraft to replace the Mirage 2000s they are currently phasing out before moving on to a full fifth-gen platform,” he added.
The F-35 were initially offered as a package deal to the UAE alongside the MQ-9 Reaper manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. This is no longer the case, as the drone acquisition is moving forward and will be integrated with Emirati-made weapons.
The U.S. drone maker, for its part, is still concerned about Chinese dealings with America’s allies.
In testimony before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee on April 17, Nicola Johnson, vice president of government affairs and strategic communications at GA-ASI, warned of China’s rise as a global drone producer. She also flagged weaknesses of the Missile Technology Control Regime, a multinational pact designed to curb the spread of missile technology, which governs the trading of certain unmanned aircraft system (UAS) components.
“Strategic partners have pivoted away from American UAS and toward those made by foreign competitors, such as Turkey, Israel and China. Notably China, not a member of the [MTCR] regime, is turning international sales into an engine for revenue that it can use to develop more advanced systems, to the detriment of America’s national security,” she said.
The UAE has purchased an undisclosed number of Chinese Wing Loong drones previously, and has made it clear that it intends to follow “a pragmatic foreign policy,” as Mouton noted.
Last year, GA-ASI opposed the building of a Chinese wet corn milling plant near Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, due to fears about potential espionage, as U.S. defense companies conduct sensitive tests there related to unmanned aircraft and other advanced weapons.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-China tussle over a key ally in the Gulf is also playing out in the field of civilian technology. Microsoft announced last month that it will invest $1.5bn in the UAE’s leading artificial intelligence firm, G42.
The deal, which was orchestrated in large part by the White House, comes with the caveat that the Emirati company must essentially kick Chinese suppliers out of its operations, according to the New York Times. (Source: Defense News)
30 Apr 24. RoK plans $4bn in new weapons investments, including $583M of SM-3s. In addition, South Korea will buy four new frigates and create a new air-to-air missile; all told, the three projects will represent roughly $4bn in investments. With the specter of an increasingly elligerent Pyongyang hanging over it, the South Korean military procurement agency has formally approved purchase of SM-3 missiles, recently used for the first time in combat against the Iranian missiles fired at Israel.
The SM-3 purchase is one of three major defense acquisition decisions made by Seoul’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on April 26. In addition, South Korea will buy four new frigates and create a new air-to-air missile; all told, the three projects will represent roughly $4bn in investments.
However, it all comes with an important caveat: The missile project and SM-3 are not locked in, according to the release. The two projects still must undergo feasibility studies and then be reviewed.
Known as the “maritime ballistic missile interceptor project”, the SM-3s will be installed on Aegis ships and purchased through the US Foreign Military Sales program, according to a DAPA press release, which was translated for Breaking Defense. The project is expected to last from 2025 to 2030 and cost roughly $583 m, the release says.
While the US view of the Pacific always has a China-focus, Seoul’s new SM-3s are most likely to be used to protect South Korea from North Korean missiles and not Chinese weapons. That seems relatively clear after comments by South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik.
Appearing on a Korean interview program, “Sunday Diagnosis,” on April 21, Shin said South Korean armed forces would keep focused on North Korea in the event of a conflict involving Taiwan.
“If a crisis occurs in Taiwan, the South Korean military’s paramount concern is observing the possibility of North Korean provocations and working with USFK (US Force Korea) to establish a firm joint defense posture,” he said last week.
In addition to the SM-3 purchase, DAPA’s announcement included the approval of Batch IV of the Ulsan-class frigates by 2032. The $2.35 bn naval program should involve four ships designed to replace an aging fleet. They are expected to boast improved sensors and electronic warfare capabilities.
Finally, DAPA approved an estimated $1.1bn project to develop long-range air-to-air missiles for its indigenous fighter under development, the KF-21 multirole plane. The missiles program is expected to last from 2025 to 2038, according to the release. Korea Aerospace Industries has built six prototype fighters. The first production model of what the Korean company calls a 4.5 generation fighter is scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force in the second half of 2026.
The DAPA release makes clear South Korea hopes the locally-designed and built missiles will help boost exports of the KF-21. “In addition, if domestically produced air-to-air missiles are installed as the basic armament of the KF-21, export competitiveness is expected to increase,” it says. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Breaking Defense.com)
30 Apr 24. No longer needed EU equipment gifted to Mozambican military. Part of the work-up to the mid-July conclusion of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) has seen Mozambique’s armed forces (FADM – Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Mocambique) benefit in the form of European Union (EU) donated equipment deemed surplus to requirements.
The new additions to the FADM inventory – boats, vehicles and refrigerated containers – will be put into service in Cabo Delgado, the focus area of efforts by the regional bloc mission aided by Mozambican and Rwandan troops to curb ASWJ (Al Sunnah Wal Jamaah) attacks and terrorism.
SAMIM leadership handed over the EU-supplied equipment to the FADM during a ceremony on 18 April.
FADM Brigadier TE Paumbele is reported by Staff Sergeant Charles Magalie from SAMIM Public Information Operations as saying the additional equipment will be utilised in missions “with the emphasis on the fight against terrorism in Cab Delgado”. The equipment will be allocated to FADM sub-units in what is termed the northern operational theatre.
Apart from being an equipment supplier to the regional bloc mission, the EU assists President Felipe Nyusi’s armed forces by way of training under the banner of EUTM Moz (EU training mission Mozambique).
EUTM Moz has five months to go before its two-year mandate ends in September with its future currently the subject of a strategic review.
In response to a defenceWeb inquiry, EU media liaison said the review to determine the future of EUTM Mozambique was underway “in the light of identified Mozambican needs”.
“This is the usual procedure. All EU CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policy) missions and operations are subject to strategic review processes that are regularly conducted to inform EU member states about the progress achieved and to recommend the way forward, including possibly the revision of the mandate or the termination of the CSDP action.
“Any change in the Mission’s mandate is up to member states’ decision at the Council. Since discussions are currently ongoing and they are confidential, we are not able to comment further at this stage,” this publication was informed.
EUTM Moz is a military training mission providing training and support to the Mozambican armed forces to protect the civilian population and restore security in the Cabo Delgado province. The mission has a non-executive mandate and will end two years after the mission has reached full operational capability.
“EUTM Mozambique will be one of the tools to address the crisis in Cabo Delgado, in conjunction with support for peacebuilding, conflict prevention and dialogue support, humanitarian assistance and development co-operation,” the mission says of itself.
Military training to equip FADM troops for quick reaction force (QRF) operations is done at three camps – Dongo, Katembe and Mavalane. Command post exercises (CPXs), offensive, defensive and enabling operations as well as administrative, logistic and tactical deployment along with close air support are on the training curriculum.
Meanwhile, South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops continue to withdraw from Mozambique, and held a farewell parade on 7 April. At the time they were the second troop contributing country (TCC) to SAMIM to leave following Botswana.
The SANDF’s SAMIM mandate ended on 15 April, and to cover the withdrawal, SANDF Commander-in-Chief, President Cyril Ramaphosa, mid-month added seven months to the deployment, which now runs from 16 April to 31 December this year.
The 1 495 strong South African deployment, with the SA Army Infantry Formation providing the bulk, was supported by engineering and logistic personnel with SA Air Force (SAAF) and SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) on active duty for the then three-year lifespan of the mission.
The SAMIM mission is slated to wrap up in July, when Rwandan troops will essentially take over under a bilateral agreement with Mozambique.
(Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
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