LOCATIONS

LAND

17 Nov 11. Airbus Military opens in Poland its second service centre in Europe. Service Centre will focus on MRO services for the C295. Warsaw-based EADS PZL Warszawa-Okecie, now branded Airbus Military, has officially opened a new MRO Service Centre dedicated to the repair and servicing of Airbus Military C295 aircraft. This is Airbus Military’s second service centre in Europe, adding to the capabilities of its centre in Seville, Spain. The newly opened facility will perform the full scope of repair and service work for C295 airlifters operated by the Polish Air Force and other operators and potential clients in Europe and worldwide. The manufacturer EADS PZL Warszawa-Okecie, now Airbus Military, has been granted a certificate to service Airbus Military C295 airlifters and the staff has been trained at the Airbus Military plant in Seville. The Service Centre employs about 30 people. Within Airbus
Military´s Warsaw facilities a special hangar has been adapted and equipped to house the new centre.

MARITIME

07 Nov 11. Indonesian MoD holds collaboration talks with Daewoo Shipbuilding. Indonesian Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro held meetings with senior representatives from South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) on 4 November to further defence co-operation initiatives, the Ministry of Defence in Jakarta said in a statement. According to the statement, the two sides discussed the possibility of jointly constructing naval vessels in Indonesia under a programme to transfer technologies to local industry. (Source: Jane’s, JDW)

10 Nov 11. Philippines close to agreement on US Coast Guard cutter. The Philippine Navy (PN) is expected to finalise a deal soon to procure a second ex-US Coast Guard (USCG) Hamilton-class high-endurance cutter, the PN announced on 9 November. In a statement the navy said the 115 m vessel would be transferred in the first or second quarter of 2012 through the US Excess Defense Articles (EDA) surplus equipment scheme. (Source: Jane’s, JDW)

17 Nov 11. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works celebrated the keel laying of Zumwalt (DDG 1000), the first ship in the planned three-ship Zumwalt class of guided-missile destroyers. The keel unit is the 4,000-ton, heavily outfitted mid-forebody section of the ship, which was moved from the shipyard’s Ultra Hall construction facility onto the building ways in late October. The ship is named for ADM Elmo Zumwalt (1920-2000), regarded as the father of the modern Navy. He served with distinction on destroyers during WWII in the Pacific and later oversaw littoral operations during the Vietnam War. In 1970, he was named the youngest-ever chief of naval operations. He applied his vast knowledge of sailors and ships to modernize the U.S. Navy, introducing major policy changes to boost morale and create greater efficiency while also conducting a campaign against racism and sexism throughout the fleet.

AIR

17 Nov 11. Resumption of Tornado GR4 training flying. ‘Following consideration of safety and engineering advice and the issuing of a precautionary technical instruction for the aircraft by Defence Equipment & Support, the RAF chain of command has authorised the resumption of all Tornado GR4 flying operations without restriction.’‘The RAF is still reviewing other available evidence regarding Hawk T1, Hawk T2 and Tucano; therefore, as a precaution, the temporary suspension of flying for these aircraft remains in place at this time.’

18 Nov 11. Ghana joins the family of Airbus Military C295 operators. The Ghana Air Force has taken delivery of the first of two C295 aircraft that it ordered from Airbus Military. The second aircraft will be delivered in the first quarter of 2012. The aircraft is qualified for the transport of troops, paratroops, medical evacuation, and both palletized and bulk loads, for which it is equipped with a palletized loading system. It will be primarily used for domestic transport and will a