LOCATIONS
LAND
27 Feb 24. Leonardo DRS, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRS) announced today that it has signed a ground lease in the Charleston, South Carolina metropolitan area to develop a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, allowing the company to grow its naval propulsion capability and streamline its support of priority U.S. Navy programs. When complete there will be over 140,000 square feet of purpose-built advanced manufacturing, assembly and testing space representing an approximate net investment of $120m by DRS. The new capabilities made possible by this investment will play a key role in the continued expansion of propulsion system integration and testing for the company. Initial occupancy is targeted for 2026.
“We are proud to be building the next-generation electric propulsion system components for the new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine,” said Leonardo DRS CEO, Bill Lynn. “This new facility in South Carolina expands our capability to support our U.S. Navy customers on this and other critical programs that enhance the nation’s submarine industrial base,” he added.
When completed, the facility will have the capability to manufacture, integrate and test large components for DRS’s advanced naval electric propulsion systems. The components include solid-state drives, designed and manufactured in the new DRS Menomonee Falls, WI. facility; electric motors designed and manufactured in the DRS facility in Fitchburg, MA.; control systems designed and manufactured in the DRS facility in Danbury, CT., and cooling equipment designed and manufactured in the DRS facility in High Ridge, MO. The South Carolina facility will have direct access to barge transportation on the local waterway and out to the open ocean for shipping these large assemblies to the company’s shipbuilding customers.
“This facility represents a significant milestone in our ongoing collaboration with the U.S. Navy. We expect the unique capabilities in this new facility to be a national asset capable of addressing the Navy’s current and future needs,” said Jon Miller, senior vice president and general manager of the Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems business.
Additionally, the new facility will also play an important role in spurring economic growth in the region through building a network of regional business partners, universities and other organizations that will work closely with DRS.
Leonardo DRS partnered with a team across state and local governments, as well as regional economic organizations and the private sector to bring this project to the greater Charleston area.
MARITIME
28 Feb 24. Damen at work on new MPSS drone warfare maritime vessel.
Damen Shipyards Group have begun construction on a new Multi-Purpose Support Ship with to serve an increase in drone technology in combat and ISR.
Damen Shipyards Group, in collaboration with the Portuguese Navy, announced on 27 February the launch of a new ship design intended to meet modern defence and security demands.
From the outset, the Multi-Purpose Support Ship (MPSS) has been designed to accommodate drone technology for combat and surveillance operations. Beyond its primary military function, the MPSS is versatile enough to support a variety of auxiliary tasks.
Construction on the inaugural vessel has already begun, according to a release from Damen. The MPSS series offers two models, with weights of either 7000 and 9000 tonnes, in line with requirements from the Portuguese Navy.
Damen emphasised that the project is operating towards swift and cost-effective process for the production of the vessels.
Piet van Rooij, commercial manager of Damen’s Defence and Security department, highlighted the MPSS range’s strategic importance in addressing the evolving role of drone technology in defence while emphasising its multipurpose functionality. He said that the design leverages cost-effective, commercially available technologies to deliver a reliable platform that promises significant operational flexibility and value.
The MPSS incorporates commercially available technology alongside military-grade electrical, communication, and navigation systems. It has multifunctional capabilities and has been designed with further adaptability in mind to serve a broad spectrum of missions, such as drone management, amphibious support, disaster relief, search and rescue operations, diving and submarine rescue missions, and helicopter operations.
The use of modular technology facilitates year-round operation and maintenance for the MPSS series and extends the vessels’ operational capacity to at least 45 days at sea. The MPSS 7000, measuring 107 by 20 metres, is designed to be operated by a crew of 48, with additional capacity for up to 100 special personnel and temporary accommodation for 42 personnel in scenarios such as disaster relief missions. The larger MPSS 9000, at 130 by 20 metres, can undertake a wider array of operations. (Source: naval-technology.com)
28 Feb 24. Third SA Navy MMIPV christened on Friday. Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) and the SA Navy (SAN) christened the latest addition to the fleet – multi-mission inshore patrol vessel (MMIPV) number three – on Friday (1 March).
She is the final platform in Project Biro, originally scheduled for three inshore and three offshore patrol vessels, for the maritime service of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF). SAS King Sekhukhune I (P1571) and SAS King Shaka Zulu (P1572) are on the SAN fleet inventory and it is expected the ship allocated pennant number P1573 will be taken into service in the third quarter of this year following launch and extensive operational testing and evaluation (OTE).
P1573 will sail as SAS Adam Kok if information provided to defenceWeb last year remains unchanged. At that time this publication was informed P1572 would carry the name “King Shaka” which had “Zulu” added soon before she was delivered to the SAN last October. P1573 has, in some communications, been called “Chief Adam Kok” with SAN public relations yet to respond to a defenceWeb inquiry on the exact name she will sail under. The SAN took delivery of its first Damen-built MMIPV SAS King Sekhukhune I in June 2022.
In the SA Navy, ship name selection is a process starting with suitable name submissions, final selection of a name, with a pennant number assigned the new platform and then onto keel laying, ceremonial ship launching, naming and blessing (termed the ship’s christening ceremony by SA Naval Museum Officer in Charge and historian, Commander Leon Steyn) followed by commissioning and taking into service. Steyn further points out before commissioning a new ship undergoes sea trials. This allows for deficiencies to be corrected.
“The preparation and readiness time between launch and commissioning may vary, from as much as three years for large and complex vessels, or as brief as weeks, often the case during the turbulent days of World War II,” according to Steyn.
Ship commissioning, according to him, is “the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service”.
“The term is most commonly applied to placing a naval vessel in active duty with its country’s military forces. The ceremonies involved are often rooted in centuries-old naval tradition. At the moment the commissioning pennant is hoisted and broken at the masthead, a ship becomes a navy command in her own right and takes her place alongside the other active ships of the fleet.”
SAS Adam Kok is, like her Warrior Class counterparts, designed and built for rapid response to, among others, counter piracy, IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing and smuggling ranging from arms to goods (including narcotics) and human trafficking.
Once declared seaworthy, SAS Adam Kok will join her sister ships, including the former strike craft SAS Makhanda (P1569), at Naval Base (NB) Durban – the patrol squadron’s designated home port.
Damen Shipyards Cape Town is the shipbuilder for all three MMIPVs, completing them to the company’s Stan Patrol 6211 design. The 62 metre long, 750 ton vessels have a 20 knot economical speed and a range of 2 000 nautical miles. Each vessel is fitted with a Reutech 20 mm Super Sea Rogue marine gun and Reutech FORT (frequency modulated optical radar tracker) low probability of intercept (LPI) optronics radar tracking system, and carries a 9 metre and a 7 metre RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) for boarding and other operations.
TNPA tugs
DSCT has been awarded other government shipbuilding work, this time from the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), which is injecting a R1 bn investment in its marine fleet renewal programme through the acquisition of seven tugboats aimed at enhancing marine operations at its commercial seaports.
TNPA has awarded two contracts to Damen Shipyards Cape Town to deliver the seven tugboats from April to August 2024. From this procured tug fleet, the Port of Durban has been allocated five tugboats and two will go to the Port of East London, Africa Ports & Ships reported.
“The tight delivery timeline suggests the possibility that some if not more of the tugs may come from existing stocks built elsewhere. In addition to the Cape Town yard, Damen has more than 60 shipyards across the world and frequently maintains a stock of almost ready-built tugs,” the publication added.
“The latest order for seven tugboats marks a radical departure in tugboat procurement for the TNPA, which for the past 40 or so years has placed orders almost exclusively with the Durban-based fully South African firm currently named Sandock Austral – previously Southern African Shipyards,” Africa Ports & Ships reported. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
27 Feb 24. US Navy carrier USS Carl Vinson returns to port after four-month deployment. Tasked with undertaking operations across the US 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operations, the Carl Vinson CSG departed from San Diego on 12 October last year. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, returned to its homeport of Naval Air Station North Island on 23 February, following a four-month deployment to the Western Pacific.
The USS Carl Vinson was joined by two other CSG-1 ships, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104), which returned to their homeport of Naval Base San Diego.
Tasked with undertaking operations across the US 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operations, the Carl Vinson CSG departed from San Diego on 12 October last year. While on operations the CSG conducted routine port visits to the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Philippines, and Hawaii.
“These port visits demonstrated US commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and further enhanced relationships with the leaders and local populations,” said RAdm Carlos Sardiello, CSG-1 commander.
According to a US Navy release on 26 February, the strike group supported US relations with eight allied and partner nations through bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral maritime exercises in the Philippine Sea and South China Sea. Vessels of the CSG worked alongside Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, and Singapore during the deployment. (Source: naval-technology.com)
23 Feb 24. HII Launches Virginia-class Submarine Massachusetts (SSN 798) at Newport News Shipbuilding. HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that Virginia-class submarine Massachusetts (SSN 798) was recently launched into the James River at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division. Shipbuilders transferred the submarine from a construction facility to the floating dry dock, where it was later submerged and moved by tugboats to a submarine pier at the shipyard for final outfitting, testing and crew certification.
“Following the christening of this mighty submarine in May, witnessing Massachusetts launch into the river is a source of immense pride for our shipbuilding team,” said Jason Ward, NNS vice president of Virginia-class submarine construction. “We understand the importance of Massachusetts, and we will continue to execute with purpose to bring this important national security asset to life and deliver it to the Navy.”
Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarines are built for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions to replace the Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarines as they are retired. Virginia-class submarines incorporate dozens of new technologies and innovations that increase firepower, maneuverability and stealth to significantly enhance their warfighting capabilities. These submarines are capable of supporting multiple mission areas and can operate at speeds of more than 25 knots. Massachusetts is the 25th Virginia-class submarine and will be the 12th delivered by NNS, which is one of only two shipyards capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines for the U.S. Navy. (Source: ASD Network)
AIR
29 Feb 24. Lockheed Martin and Slovakia Usher in New Era of European Air Defense with Ceremonial Delivery of First F-16 Block 70 Jets. In a ceremony today at Lockheed Martin’s Greenville facility (NYSE: LMT), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic, Robert Kaliňák, along with esteemed delegates from the United States and Slovakia, commemorated the delivery of Slovakia’s first two F-16 Block 70 aircraft. This event marks a new era in European air defense, underscoring the deepening partnership between the two allied nations. F-16 Block 70 fighter jets will help the Slovak Republic to once again ensure the protection of its airspace with its own capacities.
The two aircraft, a single-seat C-model and a two-seat D-model, will remain in Greenville for maintenance training. This training is crucial for Slovak Air Force personnel to ensure the smooth integration and effective operation of the F-16 fleet. More jets are slated for completion by 2025, with the first group of aircraft anticipated to arrive in Slovakia by mid-2024.
OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin, emphasized the milestone’s strategic importance: “Slovakia is at the forefront of adopting Europe’s most advanced 4th generation fighter, the F-16 Block 70. These jets not only represent a stronger alliance between Slovakia, the United States, and NATO allies but also equip the Slovak Air Force with advanced capabilities to face 21st Century Security challenges.”
Sanchez added: “As Slovakia joins the ranks of nations operating the F-16, a benchmark NATO fighter, they bolster their defense capabilities and readiness for global operations. With 11 more Slovak F-16s under production and testing, we are committed to delivering a total of 14 state-of-the-art jets, further solidifying our partnership.”
The F-16 Block 70 jets are equipped with the Northrop Grumman APG-83 AESA Radar, advanced avionics, an extended structural service life of 12,000 hours, and critical safety features like the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS). Since its integration into the U.S. Air Force in late 2014, the Auto GCAS has been instrumental in saving 13 pilots across 12 F-16 incidents, exemplifying the aircraft’s unparalleled safety and performance standards. Lockheed Martin has a backlog of 133 F-16 Block 70/72 jets to be produced in Greenville, with seven total jets delivered to-date for international partners.
26 Feb 24. Philippine Air Force boosts Indo-Pacific interoperability with new C-130. US-provided transport planes enhance PAF’s capabilities for humanitarian and military missions. In a ceremony at Clark Air Base, the Philippine Air Force welcomed the arrival of its latest C-130H tactical transport aircraft, expanding its logistical capabilities and reinforcing its readiness for diverse operations.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) received its newest addition to the fleet, a C-130H tactical transport aircraft, at Clark Air Base in Pampanga. The delivery, performed by US aircrew from Waco, Texas, is intended to enhance the PAF’s operational readiness and response capabilities.
The C-130H is the second aircraft granted to the Philippines through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Programme by the US Government. A product of a long term partnership between the two nations, the procurement will add logistical capabilities to the current Philippines airlift portfolio.
The new aircraft is poised to fortify the PAF’s cargo fleet, enabling expedited responses to humanitarian crises, disaster relief efforts, and various military missions across the archipelago. With an expanding fleet of modernised aircraft, the PAF is better equipped to navigate the evolving security landscape and address emerging challenges.
In October last year, the Republic of the Philippines Department of National Defense secured a deal with Lockheed Martin for three new C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlifters. Set for delivery in 2026, these aircraft will also contribute to Philippines Air Force operations with extended cargo space and enhanced power.
South Eastern Asian neighbour, Indonesia strengthened its air defence capabilities by handing over their fourth C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft.
As tensions simmer in the Indo-Pacific region, the acquisition of the C-130H underscores the Philippines’ commitment to maintaining a robust defence posture while actively contributing to regional security initiatives. The aircraft’s capabilities position the PAF to respond to many contingencies, from natural disasters to maritime security challenges.
Other recent C-130 developments include Lockheed Martin delivering the first of four upgraded C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlifters to the Royal Norwegian Air Force last week. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
22 Feb 24. MD Helicopters relaunches MD 530F as TH/AH530. MD Helicopters (MDH) has relaunched its MD 530F rotorcraft as the TH530 and AH530 for the military trainer and light attack markets respectively, a company spokesperson confirmed to Janes. The move to rebadge MDH’s version of the ‘Little Bird’ came some 11 months after the company told Janes in March 2023 that it was consolidating the different platforms it had previously marketed to military customers, focusing instead on MD 500 conversions to the MD 530 standard and newbuild MD 530 airframes only.
“We have [now] updated our designations of our military product line. We have the TH530, which is a trainer; the AH530 (formerly Cayuse Warrior), which is the attack helicopter; and the AH530 Block II ([formerly] Cayuse Warrior Plus [CWP and/or MD 530F+]) is the attack helicopter with precision weapons [BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System] APKWS [guided rockets], and optional [Lockheed Martin AGM-114] Hellfire [guided missiles],” the spokesperson said on 20 February. (Source: Janes)
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
23 Feb 24. Spanish Navy decommissions fourth Galerna-class submarine. The Spanish Navy’s fourth S 70 (Galerna)-class conventionally powered diesel-electric submarine (SSK) has been retired from service.
Tramontana (S 74), the youngest of four Galerna-class SSKs, was officially decommissioned during a ceremony held at the Spanish Navy’s submarine base in Cartagena on 16 February.
Announcing the milestone the same day, the Spanish Navy said that since entering service in 1985, Tramontana has sailed a total of 315,144 n miles – 218,384 of them submerged. The submarine completed its last (and fourth) major overhaul between 2014 and 2017.
Highlights during Tramontana’s career include the launching of a torpedo that sank a surface ship in October 2004. The submarine also contributed to the outcome of the crisis of Perejil Island in 2002, and participated in Operation ‘Unified Protector’ in Libya in 2011.
The Galerna-class SSKs were built by Bazán (now Navantia) shipyards in Cartagena, entering service between 1983 and 1985.
Tramontana’s decommissioning follows that of Siroco, which was decommissioned in June 2012, and Mistral in June 2020. Its retirement leaves just one remaining submarine, first-of-class Galerna. (Source: Janes)
26 Feb 24. Spanish Navy decommissions last Castor-class survey ship Antares. The Spanish Navy has retired its remaining operational Castor-class survey ship Antares (A 23) after 50 years of service. A formal decommissioning ceremony was held at Puntales Naval Station in San Fernando, Cádiz, on 16 February, the Spanish Navy announced the same day.
Built by Bazán (now Navantia) and commissioned into service in 1974, Antares is the third of an original class of four 363 tonne 38 m Castor-class survey ships that entered service in the 1960s–70s.
Antares was used for a wide range of tasks and missions, including hydrographic and oceanographic surveys and underwater seabed exploration, and the updating of nautical charts, lighthouse books, coastal photography, and meteorological data.
The Castor class will be replaced by two new coastal hydrographic vessels (Buques Hidrográficos Costeros: BHCs) as the first step in the Spanish Navy’s efforts to renew its ageing hydrographic flotilla. (Source: Janes)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
28 Feb 24. Number of Russian language specialists in UK defence doubles. The number of Russian language specialists operating in UK defence has doubled while Arabic has halved since 2018. The number of Russian language specialists working in the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and related military infrastructure has more than doubled since 2018, which has corresponded to a near 50 percent reduction in the number of Arabic language specialists, according to recently released figures.
Published on 20 February, the figures released by the UK MoD demonstrates a notable shift in language specialties, and comes at a time when the Western world is focused on a continental European threat as Russia continues in its efforts to reshape eastern Europe and West Asia.
Russia’s large-scale invasion of its neighbour Ukraine in February 2022 has resulted in two years of state-on-state warfare as Nato moves to support Kyiv against Moscow with military hardware, training, and financing.
However, the Ukraine invasion was not unique in Russia’s attempts to carve out a Soviet-style sphere of influence in the region, with the Crimean Peninsula annexed from Ukraine in 2014 and Georgia, another neighbour, losing land in South Ossetia and Abkhazia in a short 2008 war against Moscow.
As a result of such actions, it is likely that abilities in the Russian language will have gained greater significance inside the corridors of MoD Main Building, which has overseen the increase in Russian language specialists.
Classifying the ability of a language specialist to be a service person holding an in date formal MoD language assessment of Level 2 and above, or a civil servant or military person employed in teaching language to defence personnel, the number of Russian specialists more than doubled from 81 in September 2018 to 163 by January 2024.
Changing priorities could impact language specialist requirements
Other languages assessed by the MoD included Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Dari/Pashtu. Of these, the Arabic language specialists in the MoD dropped from 196 in September 2018 to 99 in January 2024.
The cause of such a reduction was not detailed in the figures, however the withdrawal of UK forces from Iraq and Afghanistan and a pivot by the UK Government towards the Asia-Pacific region are likely significant factors.
UK defence language specialists
Elsewhere, specialists in Mandarin, which included Cantonese until mid-2023 when the latter language was separated, have remained relatively stable from 2021-2024.
The combined Mandarin and Cantonese specialists in the MoD amount to 24 personnel, compared to 22 in 2021, although this represents an increase from 2019 and 2018 where 12 specialists were recorded.
Also notable is the paucity of Dari/Pashtu specialists, languages that are spoken widely in Afghanistan, a country that the UK was entrenched in for more than a decade from 2002 until the end of combat operations in 2014.
As of January 2024, the UK MoD has just five Dari/Pashtu specialists, the joint-lowest number ever recorded during the reporting period. (Source: naval-technology.com)
27 Feb 24. Here are the winners and losers in US Army’s force structure change. The U.S. Army has unveiled a whitepaper detailing how the service plans to shrink the force in some places and grow it in other areas.
The document’s release on Tuesday comes as the Army continues transitioning from counterinsurgency missions to large-scale combat operations against technologically advanced adversaries, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth explained at a Feb. 27 event in Washington hosted by the Defense Writers Group.
Force structure changes are also necessary, she said, because the Army is working through a massive modernization effort involving a wide variety of new capabilities coming online now and over the next two decades.
“What we’ve done through the force structure changes is make room for some of the new formations,” she said, adding this equates to 7,500 new spaces for soldiers to go.
At the same time, the service’s recruiting challenges have left it with a “hollow force structure,” Wormuth said, “so we needed to basically reduce 32,000 spaces to both shrink over-structure and make room for that 7,500 [spaces] of new structure.”
The Army’s current authorized force structure is 445,000 active duty soldiers, but the service was designed for 494,000. The new force structure is meant to shore the gap, bringing troop levels to approximately 470,000 soldiers by fiscal 2029.
Wormuth told Defense News in an interview last fall that the Army was preparing to go to Capitol Hill to address some vital changes that would include both reductions from the counterinsurgency-related structure and high-tech additions to the force’s inventory. The planned force structure would focus more on operations at the corps and division levels, and less on brigade combat teams.
“By bringing force structure and end strength into closer alignment, the Army will ensure its formations are filled at the appropriate level to maintain a high state of readiness,” the Army’s whitepaper stated. “At the same time, the Army will continue to transform its recruiting efforts so that it can build back its end strength, which is needed to provide strategic flexibility, reduce strain on frequently deploying soldiers, and add new capabilities to the force.”
What’s in?
Some major elements of the new force structure will include building out the Army’s five theater-level multidomain task forces, or MDTF.
The Army has already established three MDTFs: two in the Indo-Pacific theater and one in the European theater. The service plans to set up another dedicated to the Pacific region, and yet another that is “service-retained” to likely focus on U.S. Central Command’s area of operation, Wormuth said at the Defense Writers Group event.
The MDTFs will consist of a headquarters and headquarters battalion, a multidomain effects battalion, a long-range fires battalion, an Indirect Fire Protection Capability battalion, and a brigade support battalion, the whitepaper noted.
“As discussions with allied countries progress over time, the Army will likely forward station elements of the MDTFs permanently, such as the multi domain effects and long range fires battalions, to strengthen deterrence,” the document stated.
The Army will also make “significant investments” in structure for integrated air and missile defense at both the corps and division levels to include four additional Indirect Fire Protection Capability battalions that offer defense against rockets, artillery, mortars, drones and cruise missiles at fixed and semi-fixed sites; and four additional Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense battalions.
The document noted that these new and additional formations are “only a representative sample of the Army’s full capability growth.”
What’s out?
Some of the structure that is coming out of the force are spaces authorized but not filled by soldiers. The Army won’t be asking current soldiers to leave, the paper explained.
“The Army looked carefully at each military occupational specialty, and examined each skill set and functional area for efficiencies,” the paper read. For instance, the Army will reallocate engineer assets at the brigade combat team level to the division echelon, “which allows the Army to reduce the overall number of engineer positions while giving division and corps commanders flexibility to concentrate assets as necessary during large scale combat operations.”
The Army reduced almost 10,000 spaces through efficiencies like reallocating engineer assets. The service also reduced 2,700 authorizations based on modeling, the paper stated, to include factors like “demand over time, capacity to meet National Defense Strategy requirements and past deployment stress.”
Some other Army-wide reductions will come from adjustments to close combat forces, according to the paper, to include inactivation of cavalry squadrons in continental U.S.-based Stryker brigade combat teams and infantry brigade combat teams, converting the latter’s weapons companies to platoons and eliminating some positions in the security force assistance brigades “representing a decrement to capacity at minimal risk.”
These reductions equate to another 10,000 reductions in space, the paper noted.
The Army also observed that its special operations forces had doubled in size over the past 20 years. “The Army conducted extensive analysis examining special operations requirements for large scale combat in multiple theaters and applied additional modeling to understand the requirements for special operators during the campaigning phase of great power competition,” the document stated.
The service concluded the structure there could be reduced by 3,000 spaces. “Specific reductions will be made based on an approach that ensures unique SOF capabilities are retained,” the paper added. “Positions and headquarters elements that are historically vacant or hard to fill will be prioritized for reduction.” (Source: Defense News)
27 Feb 24. MoD halts military housing plan after defending controversial changes based on need not rank. A Ministry of Defence plan to change the way it provides housing is now in limbo because of a backlash from serving personnel and their families.
The latest changes would have meant service families accommodation (SFA) would have been allocated on need and not seniority – including other sweeping changes that were meant to be implemented next month.
This comes after the Ministry of Defence (MOD) previously defended new policy changes to its subsidised military housing, when a petition was launched calling for a review.
A defence minister has insisted the MOD has now “listened to feedback” and will be conducting a review.
Called the Modernised Accommodation Offer, the rule changes would have also seen those who are not married qualify for SFA for the first time.
Under current rules, senior officers receive housing based on their rank but the new rules will focus on the number of rooms required for any dependants.
This means junior ranks could be entitled to larger MOD housing stock, previously reserved for more senior ranks.
Forces News has spoken to a senior officer who expressed worries about SFA stock numbers, as the MOD is not building new homes to account for the increase in those who will be eligible if the rules change.
The Minister for Defence People, Service Families and Veterans said: “Our Armed Forces personnel make extraordinary sacrifices to protect our nation, which is why our Modernised Accommodation Offer (MAO) gives greater flexibility, backed by an extra £200m investment.
“This is on top of £24bn to upgrade accommodation and build new living quarters for our service personnel over the next decade.”
Dr Andrew Murrison, a Royal Navy reservist and MP for South West Wiltshire, went on to say: “Based on feedback from service personnel, the MAO will improve the standard of Single Living Accommodation, help military personnel get on the housing ladder by refunding up to £1,500 expenses and give personnel more preference in how they live”.
He added that “we have listened to feedback and are conducting a review, therefore pausing the rollout of the elements of the policy related to Service Family Accommodation. This includes the move to needs-based allocation and, in the short term, the widening of entitlement”.
“We are committed to widening entitlement to those in established long-term relationships and parents with non-resident children.” (Source: forces.net)
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
01 Mar 24. Robert Gillespie joins the UK’s export credit agency as its Board Chairman. On 1 March 2024, Robert Gillespie succeeds Noël Harwerth as Chairman of the UK Export Finance (UKEF) Board. His role will also see him acting as a Non-Executive member of the Department for Business and Trade Board. A chartered accountant by training, Robert’s executive career has included roles as Global Head of Investment Banking at UBS Investment Bank and Director General of the Takeover Panel. He has served non-executive roles as Non-Executive Director at NatWest Group, Independent Board Member at Ashurst and Chairman of the Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
26 Feb 24. NASA has selected Dana Weigel as the International Space Station Program manager, based at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Weigel succeeds Joel Montalbano, who has accepted a position as deputy associate administrator for the agency’s Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Both positions will be effective April 7. NASA has selected Dana Weigel as the International Space Station Program manager, based at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Weigel succeeds Joel Montalbano, who has accepted a position as deputy associate administrator for the agency’s Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Weigel will bring 20 years of NASA experience to her new role. She’s currently serving as the agency’s deputy program manager for the International Space Station since 2021. As program manager, Weigel will be responsible for the overall management, development, integration, and operation of the orbital complex. She also has served in a number of key positions at NASA, including as the manager of the Space Station Vehicle Office from 2014 to 2021, where she was responsible for sustaining, sparing and developing systems and payload facility hardware, managing the risks, and integrating commercial and international partner elements into the International Space Station. She served as deputy chief of the Flight Director Office from 2012 through 2014 and was a flight director from 2004 to 2014. Weigel began her career with Barrios Technology in 1994 and became a NASA civil servant in 2004. (Source: PR Newswire)
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Dennis E. Collins for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Collins is currently serving as reserve commander, USN Expeditionary Logistics, Williamsburg, Virginia.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Bradley D. Dunham for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Dunham is currently serving as reserve commander, Naval Air Force Reserve, San Diego, California.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Gregory K. Emery for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Emery is currently serving as reserve commander, USN Information Force Reserve, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Luke A. Frost for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Frost is currently serving as reserve director, Reserve Warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Scott W. Ruston for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Ruston is currently reserve special assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Douglas W. Sasse III for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Sasse is currently serving as reserve director, Assessment Division, N81, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.
29 Feb 24. USN Capt. Benjamin E. Baran for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Baran is currently serving as commanding officer, USN Reserve U.S. Fleet Forces Command, N1, Norfolk, Virginia.
29 Feb 24. USN Capt. David N. Barnes for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Barnes is currently serving as deputy commander, USN Reserve Region Readiness and Mobilization Command, Fort Worth, Texas.
29 Feb 24. USN Capt. Shawn G. Denihan for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Denihan is currently serving as chief engineer, USN Reserve Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland.
29 Feb 24. USN Capt. Michael L. Freiberg for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Freidberg is currently serving as regional commander, USN Reserve Naval Information Force Reserve Headquarters, Suffolk, Virginia.
29 Feb 24. USN Capt. Reginald H. Hendrix for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Hendrix is currently serving as deputy commander, Maritime Expeditionary Security Group Two, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
29 Feb 24. USN Capt. Marcus J. Lockard Jr., for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Lockard is currently serving as commanding officer, USN Reserve Pacific Fleet Command, N3N5, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
29 Feb 24. USN Capt. Ryan K. Mahelona for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Mahelona is currently serving as deputy chief of staff for Warfare Readiness and Integration, USN Reserve, Naval Information Force Reserve Headquarters, Suffolk, Virginia.
29 Feb 24. USN Capt. Jason M. Naidyhorski for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Naidyhorski is currently serving as deputy commander, USN Reserve Region Readiness and Mobilization Command, Norfolk, Virginia.
29 Feb 24. USN Capt. Troy S. Pugh for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Pugh is currently serving as commanding officer, USN Reserve Indo-Pacific Command, J4 KIT, Camp Smith, Hawaii.
29 Feb 24. USN Capt. Katie F. Sheldon for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Sheldon is currently serving as commanding officer, USN Reserve Third Fleet Headquarters, San Diego, California. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Mark D. Behning for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Behning is currently serving as director, Undersea Warfare Division, N97, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Susan BryerJoyner for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. BryerJoyner is currently serving as deputy director, Command, Control, Communications, and Computers/Cyber, J6, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Thomas R. Buchanan for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Buchanan is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Ten, Kings Bay, Georgia.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Christopher J. Cavanaugh for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Cavanaugh is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Seven; commander, Task Force Seven Four; and commander, Task Force Five Four, Yokosuka, Japan.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Jennifer S. Couture for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Couture is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Eleven, Everett, Washington.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) William R. Daly for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Daly is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Fifteen, San Diego, California.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Dion D. English for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. English is currently serving as director, Supply, Ordnance, and Logistics Operations Division, N4L, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Erik J. Eslich for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Eslich is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Twelve, Norfolk, Virginia.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Ronald A. Foy for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Foy is currently serving as commander, Special Operations Command Africa, U.S. Special Operations Command, Stuttgart, Germany.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Patrick J. Hannifin for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Hannifin is currently serving as commander, Task Force Seven Zero; and commander, Carrier Strike Group Five, Yokosuka, Japan.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Gregory C. Huffman, for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Huffman is currently serving as U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Representative, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau; commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas; and commander, Joint Region Marianas, Guam.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Jeffrey J. Kilian for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Kilian is currently serving as commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Pacific; and director, Fleet Civil Engineer, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Kevin P. Lenox for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Lenox is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Three, Bremerton, Washington.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Oliver T. Lewis for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Lewis is currently serving as director, Strategic Integration, N2/N6T, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Marc J. Miguez for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Miguez is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Two, Norfolk, Virginia.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Benjamin R. Nicholson for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Nicholson is currently serving as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Elizabeth S. Okano for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Okano is currently serving as program executive officer for Integrated Warfare Systems, Washington, D.C.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Kurt J. Rothenhaus for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Rothenhaus is currently serving as chief of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Carlos A. Sardiello for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Sardiello is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group One, San Diego, California.
29 Feb 24. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Ralph R. Smith III for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Smith is currently serving as deputy director, Operations, National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Maryland.
29 Feb 24. USN Capt. Lia M. Reynolds for appointment to the grade of rear admiral and for assignment as deputy judge advocate general of the USN. Reynolds is currently serving as the assistant judge advocate general, Operations and Management, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
29 Feb 24. USAF Brig. Gen. AnnMarie K. Anthony for appointment to the grade of major general. Anthony is currently serving as the director, Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt USAF Base, Nebraska.
29 Feb 24. USAF Brig. Gen. Trent C. Davis for appointment to the grade of major general. Davis is currently serving as the deputy chief, Chaplains, Headquarters U.S. USAF, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
29 Feb 24. USAF Brig. Gen. Paul R. Fast for appointment to the grade of major general. Fast is currently serving as the mobilization assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration, and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. USAF, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
26 Feb 24. A former director general of the Australian Army’s executive training authority has been appointed as chief executive officer of Aviation Australia. Glenn Ryan AM, former director general of the Australian Army’s executive training authority, also served as chief of staff and chief operations officer at Forces Command, as well as chief instructor at 1st Recruit Training Battalion. He will replace outgoing CEO Bill Horrock. Ryan, who was also seconded to Westpac for 12 months, has previously been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia and the United States Meritorious Service Medal. (Source: Defence Connect)
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
28 Feb 24. Bell and Leonardo Enter into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Evaluate Cooperation Opportunities in the Tiltrotor Technology Domain. Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, and Leonardo S.p.A., have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to evaluate cooperation opportunities in the tiltrotor technology domain. As global leaders in designing, manufacturing, and supporting rotorcraft for commercial and military applications, Bell and Leonardo share a multi-decade history of industrial cooperation on both traditional helicopters as well as tiltrotor technology collaboration. The cooperative effort will begin in earnest with the NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) Concept Study #5, where Leonardo will take the lead on a tiltrotor architecture proposal with Bell in support.
“This cooperative effort between Bell and Leonardo reflects our shared vision that next generation rotorcraft will be influenced by the speed, range and maneuverability only tiltrotor technology can deliver,” said Lisa Atherton, president and CEO, Bell. “We are proud to deepen our relationship with Leonardo as we continue to explore emerging vertical lift programs in Europe and the United States.”
Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters, said “We’re thrilled to evaluate new joint efforts for the next generation of rotorcraft technologies, based on our solid and shared view of the unique advantages of tiltrotors. Leonardo has always firmly endorsed tiltrotor technologies to meet evolving rotorcraft requirements, even more so as new needs emerge in the market.”
28 Feb 24. MilDef signs ten-year framework agreement with BAE Systems Bofors. The new agreement with BAE Systems Bofors concerns future deliveries of MilDef’s ruggedized hardware for the Archer artillery system. The framework agreement covers MilDef’s products such as computers, network equipment and displays. The ten-year framework agreement is the starting point for a deeper cooperation between MilDef and BAE Systems Bofors. The initial order placed in the first quarter of 2023 amounted to a value of SEK 69 m. The future monetary value of the framework agreement cannot currently be quantified.
“MilDef and BAE Systems Bofors have worked together for several years to develop and deliver robust hardware to ensure Archer’s operational capability. This framework agreement is proof of a good relationship and our joint ability to provide our customers with high quality products,” says Daniel Ljunggren, CEO MilDef Group.
BAE Systems Bofors is part of BAE Systems, which has operations in the US, Sweden and the UK. BAE Systems Bofors manufactures artillery and gun systems and ammunition for land and naval applications. These include anti-aircraft gun systems and platform-mounted firing systems.
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
23 Feb 24. David Brown Santasalo (DBS) has appointed Mike Helme as Managing Director, Defence. As Managing Director for the Global Defence business at DBS, Mike will continue to lead the team in forging strong relationships and delivering DBS’ best in class, tailor-made power transmission systems for key Land and Marine Defence partners. Mike supersedes Steve Watson, Global Defence Director, who will retire following an impressive career, which has included a 20-year tenure at David Brown Santasalo based out of its UK facility. (Source: ADS)
01 Mar 24. The IISS announced the appointment of Veerle Nouwens as Executive Director of its Asia office in Singapore. Veerle Nouwens has served IISS–Asia as Interim Executive Director since October 2023, when she took over from James Crabtree. She has led the Institute’s Indo-Pacific Defence and Strategy programme since May 2023. Taking up her new role on 1 March 2024, Veerle will play a key part in organising the annual IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, provide intellectual direction for IISS research on the Asia-Pacific, and work to enhance further the profile of the IISS across the region and beyond. Prior to joining the IISS in 2023, Veerle worked as Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, where she established the Indo-Pacific research programme, and as a policy officer in the European External Action Service’s Delegation in Singapore. She has previously worked in a range of think tanks and international organisations on topics of foreign policy, security and defence. She holds an BA Hons in international relations and political science from Macquarie University, a master’s in international relations and diplomacy from Leiden University in conjunction with the Clingendael Institute, and an MPhil in modern Chinese studies from the University of Oxford and Peking University. Her areas of research expertise include Chinese foreign and defence policy, Indo-Pacific geopolitics and defence, and Europe–Indo-Pacific relations.
28 Feb 24. The IISS announced the appointment of Air Marshal (Retd) Martin ‘Sammy’ Sampson CBE DSO as Executive Director of its Middle East office in Bahrain. He will succeed Lieutenant General (Retd) Sir Thomas Beckett KCB CBE, who has led IISS–Middle East since 2018. Sir Tom will become the Corresponding Director of the IISS–Americas office in Washington DC. On retiring from the Royal Air Force, Air Marshal Sampson will move from his current role as the United Kingdom’s Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa to become the Executive Director of IISS–Middle East in May 2024. He will play a key part in organising the annual IISS Manama Dialogue, provide intellectual direction for IISS research on the Middle East, and work to enhance the profile of the IISS across the Middle East and beyond. Sir Tom will move from his current role at the IISS–Middle East office to become a Senior Adviser at the IISS head office in London and as the Corresponding Director of the IISS–Americas office. As a Senior Adviser, Sir Tom will continue to contribute to the Middle East research programme, and he will support the Institute’s other research programmes. In Washington DC, Sir Tom will help to make the international composition and perspective of the IISS more valuable for leaders in government and the private sector.
28 Feb 24. Christina Balis joins the board at Systematic. Christina Balis, Global Campaign Director for Training & Mission Rehearsal at QinetiQ, is a new member of the software company’s board of directors. Systematic, a leading software and systems company in the defence and healthcare sector, has appointed Christina Balis as a new member of its board of directors. Balis brings extensive experience and expertise in the defence and security sector and a solid strategic and international perspective. Balis is currently the Global Campaign Director for Training & Mission Rehearsal at UK-based QinetiQ, a leading defence and security company. In this role, she is responsible for developing and implementing the company’s strategy and long-term business-winning activities in defence training, exercises, and mission rehearsal. Prior to joining QinetiQ, Balis was the head of European operations of Avascent, a global strategy and management consulting firm specialising in aerospace, defence and government-driven markets. She also worked as vice president for strategy and corporate development at Serco Inc. and as a fellow in the Europe Programme of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Balis holds an MA and a PhD in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a BA (Hons) in European Business Administration. She is fluent in English, French, German, and Greek and has published widely on issues of transatlantic defence and security.
Systematic’s Board of Directors is composed of:
- Chairman Michael Holm, Systematic’s founder
- Deputy Chairman Lars Monrad-Gylling. Professional Board member and former Executive Director at KMD A/S.
- Helle Østergaard Kristiansen. CEO at Danske Commodities.
- Nick Hækkerup. Director of Danish Brewers’ Association.
- Christina Balis. Global Campaign Director Training & Mission Rehearsal, QinetiQ
Members elected by employees:
- Allan Iversen. Facility Manager at Systematic A/S
- Pernille Keum Hjort Møller. Lead Business Partner, People & Culture at Systematic A/S
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
27 Feb 24. Laser Photonics Corporation (LPC), a leading global developer of CleanTech laser systems for laser cleaning and other material applications, recently announced that Carlos M. Gonzalez has been appointed independent director and chairman of its Audit Committee. Before joining Laser Photonics as a chairman and independent director, Gonzalez held several financial and management roles in support of manufacturing, energy and international trade companies such as Global Pangermex, Unified Energy Solutions Inc. and Sfinkx Corporation. Gonzalez started his finance career as an assistant vice president at Wells Fargo Bank in Portland, Oregon, before moving on to work in corporate lending and management for major banks. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
26 Feb 24. LeoLabs, the leading provider of integrated solutions that persistently monitor activity in space to reveal threats to safety and security, today announced Tony Frazier has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Tony will lead LeoLabs as it scales to become a critical mission partner for combined military space operations and next generation space safety systems. Tony’s wealth of experience driving innovation at the intersection of commercial space and national security will help LeoLabs further accelerate its growth and solidify its position as an industry leader. Most recently, as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Public Sector Earth Intelligence at Maxar Technologies, Tony led a $1B business that supported missions across the U.S. Government and over 60 international customers. During his tenure at Maxar, GeoEye, and DigitalGlobe, Tony became a trusted mission partner, won bns of dollars in new contract awards, and incubated two new businesses that were scaled above $100m. (Source: PR Newswire)
26 Feb 24. Rohirrim, the cutting-edge technology company specializing in domain-aware generative AI for the enterprise, has appointed Dr. Michael Papay to lead Rohirrim’s Advisory Board as Chairman. In his role, he will guide strategic, financial and operational gains for the company. Dr. Papay is an experienced engineering executive with a career spanning nearly 40 years, solving some of the most complex problems in the defense industry and financial services domains. Sam Allen of Tableau, Jack Barufka of Pillsbury Law, Todd Fredrick of Elastio, Ben Levitan of Cedalion Partners and Dr. Craig Reed of Growth Strategy Leaders are joining Dr. Papay on the advisory board. Dr. Papay has built and deployed sophisticated hardware and software solutions for global clients and led cybersecurity programs for two Fortune 100 companies for the last 12 years. As Executive Vice President for Technology Risk and Information Security at American Express, Dr. Papay was responsible for the cybersecurity protection of the company and its card members, interfacing with technology regulators globally and managing technology risks appropriately. While Chief Information Security Officer and Vice President of Cyber Initiatives at Northrop Grumman, he was responsible for the security of the company’s internal network. In his role, Dr. Papay spearheaded cyber strategy initiatives company-wide and had strategic oversight into the company’s systems engineering, proposal writing, and risk management activities. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)