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LOCATIONS
LAND
10 Jan 20. Guatemalan government inaugurates first shipyard. The Guatemalan government inaugurated on 3 January the country’s first shipyard (Astillero Naval de la Marina de la Defensa Nacional), in the navy’s Caribbean base in Santo Tomas de Castilla, a port city in the Izabal department. The facilities will be used to provide maintenance for the Guatemalan Navy and construct new vessels. The yard features a 56 m-long dock, the Guatemalan Ministry of Defence confirmed. Pictures analysed by Jane’s also show a mobile boat hoist with the Marine Travelift logo; the hoist, according to Guatemala, can lift up to 425 tonnes. The ministry explained the shipyard will be used to construct vessels that will measure up to 13m in length. (Source: Jane’s)
MARITIME
17 Jan 20. Seaspan Shipyards hosts ceremonial keel laying for HMCS Protecteur. Seaspan Shipyards has hosted the ceremonial keel laying for the Royal Canadian Navy’s future joint support ship (JSS) HMCS Protecteur. HMCS Protecteur is the first of two joint support ships to be built by Seaspan as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and is scheduled for delivery in 2023.
It is the fourth vessel to be designed and built by the company under the NSS and will be able to conduct a complete range of military operations in high-threat environments.
HMCS Protecteur has a length of 173.7m and a breath of 24m.
Seaspan Shipyards CEO Mark Lamarre said: “At Seaspan, we know that building ships requires you to build more than ships. You need to build a workforce, an industry, a supply chain, and strong partnerships.
“The JSS will be the largest naval ship ever built in Canada, a tremendous accomplishment for all the skilled and committed men and women involved in her design and construction.”
The vessel is based on the German Type-702 Berlin-class design and will include advanced damage control and self-defence systems.
HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Preserver, the two multi-purpose ships, will replace the previous Protecteur-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessels and can also integrate with any Canadian or allied naval task group.
Construction of the early blocks of the first ship started in June 2018.
Royal Canadian Navy Commander vice-admiral Art McDonald said: “The Protecteur-class ships that the Joint Support Ship project is delivering will build on our navy’s proud legacy of delivering excellence at sea.
“Once delivered, these warships will be strategic assets that will once again afford Canada the sovereign capacity to deliver, even in harm’s way, an enduring at-sea replenishment and joint sustainment capability, as well as significant humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capacity.” (Source: naval-technology.com)
17 Jan 20. France’s aircraft carrier to support operations in Middle East. France has reportedly decided to deploy its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to support Chammal operations in the Middle East. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier would support French military operations until April this year.
In a New Year speech to the French military in Orleans, France President Emmanuel Macron was quoted by Reuters as saying: “The aircraft carrier will support Chammal operations (in the Middle East) from January to April 2020 before deploying to the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.”
The deployment has been announced amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US following the killing of Iran’s military commander general Qasem Soleimani earlier this month.
Soleimani died in an air strike ordered by US President Donald Trump.
This context has raised concerns that the combat against the Islamic State (IS) militants has taken a step back.
France’s ongoing Opération Chammal was launched against IS in 2014 to stop the expansion of the terrorist group. It is a French military operation in Iraq and Syria.
The aircraft carrier deployment will be used to strengthen the joint operations with European countries.
The 261.5m-long aircraft carrier can accommodate 1,150 ship crew, 550 aircrews and 50 air support staff. It can also hold 1,950 plus short-term accommodation for 800 marines. With a displacement capacity of 38,000t, Charles de Gaulle was launched in May 1994 and commissioned in September 2000. (Source: naval-technology.com)
14 Jan 20. GD lays keel for US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer John Basilone. A keel-laying ceremony for the US Navy’s future Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS John Basilone (DDG 122) was held at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard in Maine. The ceremony was attended by DDG 51 class programme manager captain Seth Miller, the ship’s namesake niece Diane Hawkins, and sponsors Amy Looney and Ryan Manion.
Miller said: “Laying the keel for our nation’s 72nd Arleigh Burke destroyer, and building a ship named for a man who embodied the spirit of commitment and strength, this is a truly special occasion.”
The 509ft-long destroyer will have a beam length of 59ft, a displacement of approximately 9,200t, and will be able to operate at speeds of more than 30 knots.
DDG 122 will be built in the Flight IIA configuration. It will be equipped with the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat System, which includes an integrated air and missile defence capability.
The system will ensure a quick reaction time, high firepower, and increased electronic countermeasures capability for anti-air warfare.
The navy is expected to induct the vessel into its fleet in 2022.
Additionally, four other Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), Carl M Levin (DDG 120), Harvey C Barnum Jr (DDG 124) and Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127), as well as Zumwalt class destroyer Lyndon B Johnson (DDG 1002) are currently under construction with BIW.
The company is also under contract to build six additional Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in Flight III configuration. These destroyers will have improved air and missile defence capabilities.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are multi-mission surface combatants capable of conducting anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare and anti-air warfare missions. (Source: naval-technology.com)
14 Jan 20. First ‘stretched’ Type 052D destroyer enters service with PLA Navy. The first of the ‘stretched’ 7,500 tonne Type 052D (Luyang III)-class destroyers for China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) entered service with the East Sea Fleet on 12 January, the same day that the first of the 12,000-tonne Type 055 (Renhai)-class destroyers was commissioned into the North Sea Fleet. Named Zibo (pennant number 156), the Type 052D joined the PLAN’s Sixth Destroyer Flotilla based at Dinghai on Zhoushan Island, about 150 km southwest of Shanghai. Built at the Jiangnan Changxingdao Shipyard and launched in mid-2018, the ship completed fitting out, setting to work, and post-build sea trials in just 18 months. (Source: Jane’s)
14 Jan 20. South Korean coastguard task force receives new interceptors to combat illegal fishing. The Korea Coast Guard’s (KCG’s) Five West Sea Islands Guard Unit has boosted its interdiction capabilities with two new fast interceptor craft. The new vessels, with pennant numbers SM-01 and SM-02, were commissioned in late December 2019 and have been operationally deployed to the islands of Yonpyeong and Daecheong near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) de-facto maritime border with North Korea, according to the KCG. The craft were built by Human Heavy Industries in Changwon under a contract awarded in November 2017. A steel cutting ceremony was held on 25 July 2018 and the first hull was launched on 13 August 2019. (Source: Jane’s)
14 Jan 20. More Type 056A corvettes join China’s South Sea Fleet. A further two anti-submarine warfare (ASW)-capable Type 056A (Jiangdao)-class corvettes have entered service with China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Named Ganzhou (pennant number 620) and Panzhihua (621) the ships were commissioned on 10 January, bringing the total number of Type 056A corvettes to enter service since October 2019 to six.
The 1,400-tonne vessels were built at the Wuchang shipyard in Wuhan and were both launched in August 2018. They are now in service with the PLAN’s South Sea Fleet and are assessed to have joined the 17th Frigate Squadron based at Xinhui, about 50 km west of China’s special administrative region of Macau. (Source: Jane’s)
13 Jan 20. Chinese navy’s first Type 055-class destroyer enters service. China’s first Type 055 (Renhai)-class destroyer entered service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) on 12 January: an occasion marked by a long-anticipated commissioning ceremony held at the Xiaokouzi naval base south of Qingdao. The significance of the event was reflected by the presence of PLAN Commander Admiral Shen Jinlong, who presented the ship’s commanding officer and political commissar with its ensign and naming certificate respectively. Named Nanchang (with pennant number 101), the destroyer was built at the Changxingdao shipyard near Shanghai. It displaces over 12,000 tonnes at full load, is 180m long and has a beam of 20m, which makes it slightly larger than the US Navy’s 10,000 tonne Ticonderoga-class cruisers, which are 173m long and have a beam of 17m. (Source: Jane’s)
10 Jan 20. Russia unveils scale models of new SSBN, upgraded corvettes, and combat icebreakers. Scale models of the next-generation Project 585 (Laika-class) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) under development for the Russian Navy and several updated surface combatants were unveiled during a recent Ministry of Defence board meeting in Moscow. Footage of the scale models was shown by Russian television broadcaster Channel One on 24 December 2019.
In April 2019 a defence industry source told news agency TASS that the Malachite Design Bureau in St Petersburg had launched research and development (R&D) work for the creation of a fifth-generation SSBN under the codename Laika, following the completion of preliminary design work the previous year.
At the time, the source did not detail the submarine specifications, saying only that “the Tsirkon hypersonic missile will be among the ship’s strike weapons” and “the submarine will feature modular structure and a joint integrated combat management system with artificial intelligence”.
According to the scale model recently displayed, the Project 585 submarine has a displacement of 11,340 tonnes, a maximum submerged depth of 600m, can attain a speed of 35 kt, and has an endurance of 90 days.
The armament suite will incorporate Kalibr cruise missiles (including the land-attack 3M-14 variant), 3M-22 Tsirkon (or Zircon) hypersonic anti-ship missiles, P-800 Oniks (3M-55) anti-ship missiles, 91RU Otvet anti-submarine guided missiles, Khishchnik anti-submarine missiles (according to the open sources, a high-speed torpedo is being developed under this programme), Fizik-1 and USET-80 torpedoes, the Lasta anti-torpedo weapon, PMR-2 rocket-propelled mines, MTPK-1 mine-torpedoes, and surface-to-air missiles for the Igla man-portable air defence system.
Several scale models of surface combatants, including the upgraded Project 11442M (Kirov-class) cruiser, the Project 23550 ice-class patrol ship with the Kalibr missiles, and the updated Project 22800 (Karakurt-class) guided-missile corvette with an increased number of 3S-14 vertical launch systems (VLSs), were also on display. (Source: Jane’s)
12 Jan 20. India lays down keel for first dive support vessel. An Indian shipyard has laid down the first of two dive support vessels (DSVs) on order for the Indian Navy. Keel for the vessel was laid down on 28 December 2019 at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL). First steel for the vessel was cut in May 2019. The DSV is part of an INR20.19bn (USD282m) contract signed between the government and HSL in September 2018. Delivery of the first hull is scheduled for 2021, while the second is due in 2022. The ships are intended for diving and salvage operations and also providing support to submarines given their ability to deploy deep search and rescue vehicles (DSRVs). (Source: Jane’s)
12 Jan 20. India commissions second, third Priyadarshini-class fast patrol vessels. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned two more Priyadarshini-class fast patrol vessels (FPVs). The boats, which have been named ICGS Amrit Kaur (225) and ICGS Annie Besant (223) respectively, were commissioned on 12 January in Kolkata. The vessels are part of a five-boat contract signed between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and the Indian government in 2016. The programme’s first-of-class, ICGS Priyadarshini, was inducted in April 2019. The vessel has an overall length of 50m, a beam of 7.5m, and displaces about 308 tonnes at full load. It can accommodate a crew complement of 35. (Source: Jane’s)
13 Jan 20. South Korean coastguard receives additional Tae Geuk-class patrol boats. The Korea Coast Guard (KCG) has taken delivery of at least six of eight 500-tonne Tae Geuk-class patrol vessels it ordered from Busan-based shipbuilders Kangnam Corporation and Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation in late 2016. The patrol boats will supplement the KCG’s existing fleet of 15 Tae Geuk vessels. Two of three being built at Kangnam’s yard (with pennant numbers 518 and 523) were commissioned on 25 July and 5 December 2019, respectively. The delivery status of the third Kangnam-built hull, 526, remains unclear. Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation, meanwhile, carried out a mass launching of the remaining five hulls on 30 April 2019 at its shipyard in Yeongdo, Busan, although four of the hulls (519, 520, 521, and 522) were already outfitting in the water. Ships 519 and 522 were commissioned on 25 July and 27 December 2019, respectively; 520 was commissioned on 31 October 2019, and 521 was in service by 23 October 2019. Delivery of ship 525 is expected to take place before the end of February. According to the KCG, the five hulls being built by Hanjin are one-for-one replacements for 30-year-old patrol vessels in the 250 tonne and 300 tonne categories. The eight new Tae Geuk-class vessels are slightly longer, heavier, and faster than the first 15 of the class, which were built between 2008 and 2012. The latest variants have an overall length of 63.2m, a beam of 9.1m, a draft of 2.6 m, and a displacement of 640 tonnes fully loaded. Powered by four MJP waterjets, two MTU 16V 4000 M90, and two MTU 12 V 1163 TB93 diesel engines, the vessel can attain a top speed of more than 35kt. (Source: Jane’s)
10 Jan 20. Peru starts submarine Antofagasta modernisation. The Peruvian state-run shipyard Servicios Industriales de la Marina (SIMA) commenced the modernisation process of BAP Antofagasta (SS-32), one of the Peruvian Navy’s Type 209/1200 diesel-electric submarines, the service announced in late December. The Peruvian Navy is carrying out a programme to extend the operational life of its four Type 209/1200 diesel-electric subs for at least another decade. Work on the first sub, BAP Chipana (SS-34), commenced in December 2017, and the navy said it expects Chipana to return to service by the last trimester of 2020. As it starts modernising the 209s, Lima is negotiating the acquisition of two used submarines from the Brazilian Navy. (Source: Jane’s)
AIR
17 Jan 20. Israel stands-up second F-35 unit. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) formally stood up a second unit to field the Lockheed Martin F-35I Adir combat aircraft, the service announced on 16 January.
116 Squadron ‘Defenders of the South’ will join the already established 140 Squadron ‘Golden Eagle’ at Nevatim Air Base (also known as 28 Air Base) in southern Israel’s Negev Desert. Both units will form the IAF’s Adir Division.
From Nevatim, the IAF’s F-35s will have an unrefuelled strike range that includes Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, most of Egypt and Iraq, and large swathes of Saudi Arabia and Turkey. With aerial refuelling, its range would be largely limited by the endurance of the pilot.
The IAF declared the F-35 Adir to be operationally ready in December 2017 (the first international operator to do so), a milestone that was marked by the arrival in-country of the ninth aircraft out of a currently planned 50 (although this number could rise to between 75 and 100). To date, 18 aircraft are reported to have been delivered to Israel. (Source: Jane’s)
17 Jan 20. Deliveries to Eurofighter partner nations near conclusion. The programme-of-record (PoR) for the four Eurofighter partner nations will shortly be concluded, with the final two air forces set to receive their last aircraft imminently, a company spokesperson told Jane’s on 17 January.
With the United Kingdom and Germany having received their final Tranche 3 Eurofighters in September and December 2019 respectively, handover of Spain’s last aircraft “is now in process”, while Italy’s “is having its final screws tightened”, the representative said.
Excluding the Tranche 3B lot, which was not taken up by the nations, the PoR stands at 160 aircraft for the UK, 143 for Germany, 96 for Italy, and 73 for Spain. Added to these are export orders amounting to 15 aircraft for Austria, 28 for Kuwait, 12 for Oman, 72 for Saudi Arabia, and 24 for Qatar. In total, 623 have been ordered.
While the partner PoR is concluding, deliveries to Kuwait and Qatar have yet to commence. As such, the national production lines at Warton in the UK, Manching in Germany, Italy in Caselle, and Spain in Getafe will continue to manufacture parts for these customers, with final assembly taking place at Warton for Qatar and at Caselle for Kuwait.
Further to these final current orders, Germany is expected to sign for 38 new-build Tranche 3 Eurofighters to replace its 32 early Tranche 1 aircraft. Project Quadriga will see the Luftwaffe receive active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar-equipped Eurofighters (while Airbus previously referred to these as Tranche 3 jets, lately officials have termed them Tranche 4).
Following on from Project Quadriga, Germany has a Tornado replacement requirement that, if successful, could see Eurofighter provide an additional 85 aircraft to the Luftwaffe. Also, Germany has made an electronic attack commitment to NATO, known as the Luftgestützte Wirkung im Elektromagnetischen Spektrum (luWES) programme, which could add another 12 aircraft on top. (Source: Jane’s)
15 Jan 20. Uzbekistan receives Mi-35M helos. Uzbekistan has received into service at least two Mil Mi-35M ‘Hind-E’ assault helicopters that were ordered from Russia in early 2018. Footage aired on the national O’Zbekiston24 news channel on 14 January showed the two helicopters at Karshi Khanabad airbase in the south of the Central-Asian republic. While media reports that as many as four helicopters were delivered in late 2019, from the footage it is only possible to confirm the arrival of the first two.
Russia’s TASS news agency first reported the sale of up to 12 Mi-35M helicopters to Uzbekistan in March 2018.
As the most modern derivative of the Mi-24/25/35-series of ‘Hind’ helicopters, the Mi-35M is essentially an export variant of the Russian Army’s latest Mi-24M. As noted by Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft: In Service , the Mi-35M can carry a wide range and load of weaponry including a 23 mm GSh-23-2 twin-barrel gun in the nose turret (with 470 rounds); up to 16 radio-guided 9M114 (AT-6 ‘Spiral’), or laser-guided 9M-120 anti-tank, 9M-120F blast fragmentation or 9A-220 air-to-air versions of the Ataka (AT-12) missile; GUV gun/grenade pods; UPK-23-250 gun pods; B-8V-20A and B-13L rocket pods; S-24B rockets; and KMGU pods of anti-armour and anti-personnel mines. It is also capable of all-weather as well as day and night operations. (Source: Jane’s)
16 Jan 20. Indian Defense Ministry to inaugurate induction ceremony of Sukhoi-30. The Indian Defense Ministry is set to inaugurate the induction ceremony of Sukhoi-30 fighter squadron at the Indian Air Force (IAF) Station located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. PTI reported air marshal Amit Tiwari as saying that the new 222 Squadron will operate with Brahmos-equipped twin-engine Sukhoi-30 air superiority fighter at the IAF Station.
The induction ceremony for the platform will take place on 20 January, providing troops with the long-reach and multi-role platform.
The 222 Squadron, also known as ‘The Tigersharks’, was originally raised at Airforce Station Ambala on 15 September 1969 with a Sukhoi-7 fighter and later with the ground-attack aircraft MiG-27.
Tiwari said that the IAF is an intrinsically strategic force and is set to extend the reach into the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
IOR borders three continents and has a significant role to play in regional peace, security and prosperity.
Equipped with fighter aircraft armed with 2.5t air-launched 300km-range BrahMos missile, the Tigersharks are capable of striking from large stand-off ranges at sea or on land with accuracy in all weather conditions.
The missile’s capability is set to change the paradigm of maritime surveillance and security when coupled with the performance of the Sukhoi-30 MKI.
Last January, the Indian Government announced plans to increase the overhauling capacity of Sukhoi-30 fighter jets to 25 per year from the existing 12 aircraft.
In May last year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) test-fired the air version of the BrahMos missile from a Sukhoi-30 MKI multirole fighter aircraft. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
13 Jan 20. Egypt fielding previously unknown Mi-24 helos. Egypt is fielding at least two Mil Mi-24 ‘Hind’ assault helicopters of unknown origin a Ministry of Defence (MoD) video released on 13 January revealed. The promotional video highlighting the capabilities of the country’s armed forces shows a pair of Mi-24s in the colours and markings of the Egyptian Air Force (EAF). No sale of the Mi-24 to Egypt had previously been noted although the country was linked in 2014 to a prospective sale of the more modern Mi-35 that did not materialise. The Mi-24s shown in the video are identifiable by their retractable undercarriage, as opposed to the fixed-undercarriage. (Source: Jane’s)
13 Jan 20. South Korea resumes operations on AW159 naval helicopters. The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) has resumed operations on seven of its eight AW159 naval helicopters. The entire fleet of anti-submarine warfare (ASW)-capable aircraft was grounded in November 2019 as a precautionary measure after abnormal vibrations were detected in one of the helicopters during a routine patrol operation, said a RoKN representative in an email reply to Jane’s on 11 January. These vibrations have since been narrowed down to a faulty rotor vibration damper on the affected aircraft. The remaining seven helicopters were not affected by the fault, and were cleared to resume normal operations progressively since 3 January, the service added. (Source: Jane’s)
12 Jan 20. India conducts first take-off, landing of light combat aircraft from INS Vikramaditya. India has conducted the first successful ski jump take-off, and arrested landing of a demonstrator Light Combat Aircraft (Navy) from its Russian-built aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya. These milestones were recorded on 12 January, the Indian Ministry of Defence announced in a media release on the same day. Prior to the operation on Vikramaditya, test take-offs and landings have been conducted at a training facility at INS Hansa in Goa, the ministry added. (Source: Jane’s)
11 Jan 20. The production Airlander 10 is revealed as Hybrid Air Vehicles approaches the start of production, with negotiations continuing with commercial customers. The updated aircraft has a fuel-saving, lower-drag shape; enhanced landing gear; wider, longer cabin for passengers, cargo, and equipment; and many other refinements. These features will provide the flexibility needed to deliver the unique experiences the commercial market is keen to offer to its customers.
“Unveiling the aircraft that our first commercial customers will receive is an exciting moment and an important milestone on our path to type certification,” comments Tom Grundy, HAV’s CEO. The production aircraft will deliver more than just the capability and maintainability customers expect from Airlander technology. It will also deliver increased efficiency, with the Airlander 10 producing up to 75% fewer emissions than comparable aircraft. We are currently developing electric propulsion with Collins Aerospace and the University of Nottingham as we work to deliver zero-carbon aviation.
HAV is currently in contract negotiations for the first four production slots, based on signed letters of intent for over ten aircraft with organisations in the tourism and clean technology sectors. “Our current negotiations are the result of the strong interest in providing unique, responsible travel experiences that we’ve been seeing in the commercial sector,” Grundy adds.
As HAV approaches the launch of the production and type certification programme, we are also working to secure the investment required to establish a new, made-for-Airlander production facility.High-resolution, watermark-free images and additional information on the improvements to the aircraft design are available on request.
About Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd
Founded in 2007, Hybrid Air Vehicles is the company behind the innovative Airlander hybrid aircraft. Airlander can take off and land from virtually any flat surface and offers a powerful combination of flexibility, persistence, payload capacity, and efficiency. Suitable for roles from surveillance and border patrol to search & rescue and expeditionary tourism, Airlander is an aircraft that encourages customers to Rethink the Skies and consider new approaches to solving some of the toughest challenges facing aerospace today.
14 Jan 20. Indonesia to convert H225M helicopter for VIP transport. The Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU) will re-configure one of its Airbus Helicopters H225M airframe for VIP transport purposes.
The aircraft will be converted at the request of the Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, the TNI-AU’s office of public information said on 12 January.
The TNI-AU previously operated one AS 332L2 Super Puma Mk II helicopter for VIP transportation purposes. However, the aircraft has been facing availability issues and is currently undergoing maintenance works.
The TNI-AU ordered six H225M airframes in 2012 and the aircraft type operates out of the service’s Aviation Squadron 8 at the Atang Sendjaja airbase in Bogor, West Java. (Source: Jane’s)
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
14 Jan 20. Aeronautics’ CEO to Step Down Amidst Criminal Investigation. Amos Matan announced in a letter he will be replaced by Moshe Elazer, currently the naval systems director at Israeli defense contractor Rafael, one of the Aeronautics’ owners.
Amos Matan, CEO of drone maker Aeronautics Ltd., is set to step down from his position in the next few weeks. Matan announced his upcoming departure, amidst a criminal investigation against the company ongoing since 2017, in a letter sent Sunday to employees and reviewed by Calcalist. In his letter, Matan named Moshe Elazer as his successor. Elazer currently serves as the naval systems director at Israeli defense contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. In September, Rafael and Israeli businessman Avihai Stolero completed the acquisition of Aeronautics for over $230m. Founded in 1997 and based in central Israeli town Yavne, Aeronautics develops military drones and has more than 45 defense, military, and homeland security customers worldwide.
A public company at the time, Aeronautics’ stock took a big hit when, in August 2017, the Israeli Ministry of Defense halted its license to export a loitering munition unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system to an unnamed but prominent client. Since then, the company has been investigated by Israeli Police and the Israel Securities Authority for suspected violations of the Israeli defense export controls law. The license was reinstituted last year. (Source: UAS VISION/CTECH)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
15 Jan 20. Russian PM Medvedev quits as Putin plans vote to change constitution. Shake-up suggests president plans to extend his 20-year rule in a new capacity. Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev has resigned hours after Vladimir Putin said he planned a referendum to approve major changes to the constitution, in a sign that the president intends to extend his 20-year rule in a new capacity when his term of office expires in 2024. In a move that paves the way for the biggest political shake-up in Russia in a decade, Mr Medvedev stepped down along with the entire cabinet. Mr Putin said his prime minister would take up a newly created position as deputy head of the Kremlin’s security council, and asked the government to remain in post until a new administration was appointed. Mr Medvedev said the cabinet wanted to “give our country’s president the chance to make all the necessary decisions” regarding the constitutional change. The changes came after Mr Putin said in his annual state of the nation address that he would put a raft of constitutional changes to a “people’s vote”. The long-rumoured steps would weaken presidential power to the benefit of parliament, the prime minister and the State Council, an advisory body, said Mr Putin. The changes envisaged by Mr Putin include limiting future presidents to two terms in office; allowing the Duma, the lower house of parliament, to appoint the prime minister and the cabinet; and giving the upper house the power to confirm the heads of Russia’s powerful security services and judges. Immediately after Mr Putin’s announcement, the head of Russia’s election commission said she was prepared to hold the referendum “at any moment” as soon as the changes were ready. “That’s our job,” Ella Pamfilova told Interfax. Mr Putin, 67, has long been coy about whether he intends to stay on after 2024, when he is legally obliged to step down as president. But the decision appeared to confirm longtime speculation that he intends to either become prime minister for a second time or head a revamped State Council as a supreme leader figure in the model of China’s Deng Xiaoping. Some analysts had also speculated he could change the constitution to run for a third straight term or become head of a proposed joint state with neighbouring Belarus. The Kremlin has struggled with boosting Mr Putin’s flagging approval ratings, hovering near record lows, amid a stagnant economy where real incomes have fallen for half a decade. During Wednesday’s address Mr Putin made a concession to Russians facing hard times by announcing major social spending on child welfare, public sector salaries and free school lunches.
Anton Siluanov, finance minister, said the promises would cost Rbs400bn to Rbs500bn ($6.5bn to $8.1bn), close to 4 per cent of Russia’s gross domestic product. Recommended Weekend long reads Generation Putin: how young Russians view the only leader they’ve known Mr Putin first publicly floated the constitutional changes in December at his heavily choreographed annual press conference, when he suggested banning future leaders from following his example and ruling for two terms. After serving his first two terms, Mr Putin installed Mr Medvedev as president from 2008 to 2012, then swapped jobs with him in a move known as the “castling”, after the chess move. In his speech, Mr Putin appeared to confirm that Russia would continue the authoritarian and confrontational stance with the west that began after his return to the Kremlin. Future presidents will be required to have lived in Russia for the preceding 25 years and never held a foreign passport or residence permit. Russia’s constitution will also take precedence over international law, meaning Moscow could spurn rulings from courts including the European Court of Human Rights. With heightened fears of a renewed arms race after the US withdrew from a key cold war-era missile ban treaty last year, and another agreement signed during Mr Medvedev’s presidency set to expire in December, Mr Putin also said Russia was confident of its superior weaponry. “For the first time in all history of nuclear weaponry, including the Soviet period, we aren’t playing catch-up with anyone. Other states have yet to create the weapons that Russia already has,” he said. (Source: FT.com)
11 Jan 20. It’s Grandads’ Army! Desperate defence chiefs are urging ex-soldiers as old as 57 to re-enlist to plug manpower shortages in regiments.
- Army servicemen urged to seek out veterans as old as 57 to re-join the forces
- Defence chiefs tells ex-soldiers they can re-join old regiment to fill vacant spots
- It includes soldiers retired on medical grounds or left due to disciplinary reasons
- The campaign was ordered to tackle a manpower crisis in frontline Army units
Desperate defence chiefs are trying to recruit a Grandad’s Army of veterans to plug manpower shortages in under-strength regiments.
As part of a New Year recruitment drive, service personnel are being urged to seek out veterans as old as 57, including ex-soldiers who retired on medical grounds or who left the Forces for disciplinary reasons.
An Army briefing notice seen by The Mail on Sunday says: ‘Service personnel are encouraged to contact those who have left and to pass on the information below.
Rejoiners can apply to enlist up to their 57th birthday. They are also eligible for consideration to return in their previous rank and seniority.
‘Rejoiners can join their old cap badge [regiment] or apply to join a different cap badge providing there are vacancies. If a former soldier wishes to rejoin the Army within 12 months of leaving, there are opportunities for fast-track entry.’
The campaign was ordered to tackle a manpower crisis in frontline units, some of which are 40 per cent short.
Soldier numbers in many historic regiments are in steep decline, with recent figures showing the Scots Guards 257 soldiers below the target of 697, while many infantry units are more than 20 per cent under-strength.
The appeal to recruit veterans was spelled out in written orders soldiers received on their first day back after the Christmas holidays.
Ministry of Defence officials have also set up a hotline for rejoiners and are contacting veterans’ associations to encourage retired troops to pick up a rifle again. Former reservists are also being approached.
The notion of a Grandad’s Army is best encapsulated by the elderly Private Godfrey, played by Arnold Ridley in the BBC’s 1970s television sitcom Dad’s Army.
The age limit for former soldiers wanting to rejoin the regular Army and reserve units has crept up in recent years amid controversy that targeting those in their late 40s and 50s smacked of desperation.
In 2014 the ceiling was raised from 43 to 52. Now it is 57, the highest ever, even for infantry units in which troops are expected to march and run long distances while carrying heavy packs.
It comes after the Army launched its latest campaign to attract teenage recruits by persuading them that a military career gives them more confidence than social media ‘likes’.
Last night an infantry soldier in his early 40s said: ‘I’m struggling to keep up with guys in the regiment who are half my age. I can’t see how guys in their late 50s are going to cope. While it is good to recognise that middle-aged people have a lot to offer the Army in specific roles, soldiering is definitely a young man’s game. It is just too physically demanding for the guys they’re looking at bringing back now.’
While the size of the Army has shrunk for nine successive years, from 102,000 to 74,440 full-time, fully trained troops, commanders are confident recruitment has turned the corner.
In 2019, online applications to join the Army increased by 46 per cent, while in September 2019 more than 1,750 recruits started training – the highest number for a decade.
These successes followed the Army’s controversial ‘snowflake’ advertising campaign which focused on how the Army sees beyond stereotypes to spot young people’s potential.
But the campaign was also criticised for antagonising its target audience, while the guardsman who appeared on the ‘snowflake’ poster quit the Army just days afterwards over abuse he received.
Last night, an Army spokesman said: ‘We value the diverse experience and skills that former service personnel can gain in the civilian world or from previous time in the Army, which is why we have improved our system for those wishing to rejoin.
‘Former personnel will still need to meet the required high standards, but we hope to streamline the transition through condensed basic training and dedicated advice.’ (Source: Daily Mail)
19 Dec 19. New pledges for the Armed Forces announced in Queen’s Speech. The Queen’s Speech prioritises both veterans and service personnel with a promise to further incorporate the Armed Forces Covenant in law. The Government has reaffirmed its solid commitment to protecting and supporting the armed forces in the Queen’s Speech.
The Queen’s Speech, which outlines legislative priorities for the next Parliamentary session, prioritises both veterans and serving personnel with a promise to further incorporate the Armed Forces Covenant in law, and bring forward proposals to tackle vexatious claims. The Government will also maintain its commitment to spend at least 2 per cent of GDP on defence every year of this Parliament and increase the defence budget by at least 0.5 per cent above inflation year on year.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:
The interests of the men and women of our armed forces are at the heart of this government. That is why we are continuing to invest above inflation every year to meet our NATO commitments.
Beyond this unwavering commitment, I’m pleased we will be bringing forward vital legislation that will help address the dogged pursuit of personnel and veterans from repeated investigations and prosecutions.
We’ll also further incorporate the Armed Forces Covenant into law. This will be essential to ensure we minimise any disadvantage faced by the military community because of the sacrifices they make for this country.
The Government is strongly opposed to our service personnel and veterans being subject to the threat of repeated investigations and potential prosecution arising from historical military operations many years after the events in question. Following a consultation earlier in the year on proposed legal protections, work is happening at pace to respond.
The Armed Forces Covenant has mitigated disadvantage arising from Service for our armed forces and their families since its introduction. It is this government’s aim to build upon this great work, as such it will progress proposals to further incorporate the Covenant into law to mitigate any disadvantage faced by the armed forces community due to the unique nature of military service.
Other key commitments include:
- The introduction of a Veteran’s railcard
- A guaranteed job interview for veterans for any public sector role they apply for where they possess the minimum job requirements
- Reducing the Employer’s National Insurance contribution for those employing veterans
- Protecting armed forces personnel from tax rises in Scotland, where income tax is devolved to Holyrood. (Source: U.K. MoD)
09 Jan 20. More Officials Leave Pentagon; Special Ops Office Gets Some Needed Help. A Special Forces vet returns to the Pentagon to help fill a key commando office that has been without permanent leadership for months
A top White House counterterrorism official has moved to the Pentagon to help run counterterrorism operations, an appointment that fills one of two critical special operations and counterterrorism offices that have been without full-time officeholders for months.
The arrival of Christopher Miller as the deputy assistant secretary of Defense for special operations and combatting terrorism comes as the US braces for a covert Iranian response to the killing of Iranian Gen. Iran’s Qassem Soleimani, and with continued high-tempo operations in Afghanistan and parts of Africa continuing with no end in sight.
Miller served as the National Security Council’s senior director for counterterrorism until last month, where he helped oversee multiple special ops-led missions including hostage rescues and October’s raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi in October.
“His background brings extensive experience that will advance DOD’s efforts in addressing global security challenges,” a Pentagon spokesperson said. “He’s served in uniform with the Army’s Special Forces and as the Special Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism, where he took part in several high-level operations.”
Miller’s office was vacated in September by Andrew Knaggs, a former Green Beret who left the Pentagon to run as a Republican challenger to freshman House Democrat Abigail Spanberger in a suburban Richmond, Va. district.
His arrival will provide some stability in a counterterrorism office that has been a revolving door since June, when ASD SO/LIC Owen West resigned.
A political appointee, West was confirmed by the Senate in 2017 and was replaced by Mark Mitchell on a temporary basis. Then Mitchell himself abruptly resigned in October, despite being considered a prime candidate for the job who would likely roll through the confirmation process.
Mitchell occupies a storied place in special operations history, having been one of the first service members to deploy to Afghanistan in 2001. He received the first Distinguished Service Cross during the post 9/11 wars for his service fighting during the Battle of Qala-I Jangi in November 2001. He would later serve in the Obama administration on the National Security Council before moving to the Pentagon under Trump, from whence he headed back to the NSC.
Mitchell was replaced at SO/LIC in October by Thomas Alexander — who also leads the Pentagon’s counternarcotics efforts. He continues to hold both positions.
A former SO/LIC and NSC official, Luke Hartig, wrote recently that the office needs a Senate-approved official at the helm to push operations and plans forward, as to act as a “critical voice in vetting the proposed mission and advising the Secretary of Defense and the White House on its risks and rewards.” The job entails providing “a check on those within the military who might be overly focused on the operational upside and largely neglect the broader foreign policy fallout and risks.”
Only the Shriver and West jobs require Senate confirmation.
The vacancies and offices filled by acting officials fits with a larger pattern at DoD of an increasing number of offices operating without confirmed officials for months at a time. The problem grew worse in December, when Ambassador Tina Kaidanow, senior adviser for international cooperation, left the Pentagon, along with Randall Schriver, the top Asia policy official. Three other officials announced they would leave in January: Steven Walker, head of DARPA, Kari Bingen, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, and Eric Chewning, chief of staff to Defense Secretary Mark Esper.8987(Source: Breaking Defense.com)
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
15 Jan 20. The Defense Department has named a chair to lead its impending cybersecurity certification program. Ty Schieber, the senior director for executive education at the University of Virginia’s Darden School Foundation, will head a 13-member governing body for the organization charged with certifying auditors for DOD’s upcoming unified cybersecurity standard, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. (Source: Defense Systems)
17 Jan 20. USAF General Jay Raymond sworn in as head of US Space Force. The first newly created branch of the US armed forces in more than seven decades, US Space Force, now has its first official member, its boss. US Air Force General John “Jay” Raymond was sworn in by US Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday in Washington as Chief of Space Operations. US Space Force is the seventh branch of the US military. “It is President [Donald] Trump’s belief that the United States must remain as dominant in space as we are on land and sea and the air. And your charge is to see to that mission with the United States Space Force,” Vice President Pence said at the ceremony. Gen Raymond, a four-star general, already wears a pair of other hats – commander of the Air Force Space Command and the US Space Command. (Source: Defence Connect)
14 Jan 20. USMC BG David W. Maxwell has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Maxwell is currently serving as the assistant deputy commandant (plans), Department of Installations and Logistics, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, District of Columbia.
14 Jan 20. USMC Res. BG Michael S. Martin has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Martin is currently serving as the commanding general, 4th Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, New Orleans, Louisiana.
14 Jan 20. USMC BG James F. Glynn has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Glynn is currently serving as the commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island/Eastern Recruiting Region, Parris Island, South Carolina.
14 Jan 20. USMC BG Roger B. Turner Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Turner is currently serving as the commanding general, Marine Air-Ground Task Force Training Command/Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California.
14 Jan 20. USMC BG Bradford J. Gering has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Gering is currently serving as the deputy director, J-3, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany.
14 Jan 20. USMC BG Francis L. Donovan has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Donovan is currently serving the assistant commander, operations – Korea, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
14 Jan 20. USMC BG William H. Seely III has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Seely is currently serving as the director, Joint Operations Control Center, Baghdad, Iraq.
14 Jan 20. USMC BG Jason Q. Bohm has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Bohm is currently serving as the chief of staff, Naval Striking and Support Forces, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Oeiras, Portugal.
14 Jan 20. USMC BG Scott F. Benedict has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Benedict is currently serving as the deputy director, Politico-Military Affairs (Middle East), J-5, Joint Staff, Washington, District of Columbia.
14 Jan 20. USMC Res. Col. John F. Kelliher III has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Kelliher is currently serving as the assistant wing commander, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, New Orleans, Louisiana.
14 Jan 20. USMC Res. Col. Douglas K. Clark has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Clark is currently serving as the Marine detachment commander, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, U.S. Transportation Command, Norfolk, Virginia.
13 Jan 20. USAF LG Thomas A. Bussiere for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and assignment as deputy commander, U.S. Strategic Command. Bussiere is currently serving as commander, Alaskan Command, U.S. Northern Command; commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces; and commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Region, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Jason E. Bailey has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Bailey is currently serving as the director, Checkmate Division, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters U.S. USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Kenyon K. Bell has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Bell is currently serving as the commander, 82nd Training Wing, Air Education and Training Command, Sheppard USAF Base, Texas.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. William D. Betts has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Betts is currently serving as the chief, Program Integration Division, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Shawn W. Campbell has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Campbell is currently serving as the director, Talent Management Innovation Cell, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Houston R. Cantwell has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Cantwell is currently serving as the vice superintendent, U.S. USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Eric A. Carney has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Carney is currently serving as the chief, Commander’s Initiative Group, USAF Element U.S. Forces Korea, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Sean M. Choquette has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Choquette is currently serving as the chief of staff, Air Combat Operations, U.S. USAFs Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Michael E. Conley has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Conley is currently serving as the commander, 1st Special Operations Wing, USAF Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Eric P. DeLange has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Delange is currently serving as the senior executive officer to the vice chief of staff of the USAF, Headquarters U.S. USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Daniel A. DeVoe has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. DeVoe is currently serving as the vice commander, 618th Air Operations Center, Tanker Airlift Control Center, Air Mobility Command, Scott USAF Base, Illinois.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Gerald A. Donohue has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Donohue is currently serving as the chief innovation officer, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Integration and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Russell D. Driggers has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Driggers is currently serving as the commander, 80th Flying Training Wing, Air Education and Training Command, Sheppard USAF Base, Texas.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Michael R. Drowley has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Drowley is currently serving as the commander, 355th Fighter Wing, Air Combat Command, Davis-Monthan USAF Base, Arizona.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. John R. Edwards has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Edwards is currently serving as the director, Secretary of the USAF; and chief of staff of the USAF Executive Action Group, Headquarters U.S. USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Todd A. Fogle has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Fogle is currently serving as the special assistant to the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill USAF Base, Florida.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Jennifer Hammerstedt has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Hammerstedt is currently serving as the military assistant to the deputy secretary of defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Matthew W. Higer has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Higer is currently serving as the commander, Data Masked, Headquarters USAF Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson USAF Base, Ohio.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Jason T. Hinds has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Hinds is currently serving as the senior military assistant to the under secretary of the USAF, Office of the Secretary of the USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Stacy J. Huser has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Huser is currently serving as the director, Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt USAF Base, Nebraska.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. William H. Kale has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Kale is currently serving as the chief, House Liaison Office, Office of the Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Joseph D. Kunkel has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Kunkel is currently serving as the vice director, Operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson USAF Base, Colorado.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Leslie A. Maher has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Maher is currently serving as the senior military assistant to the secretary of the USAF, Office of the Secretary of the USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Michael H. Manion has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Manion is currently serving as the director, Joint and National Security Council Matters, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters U.S. USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Paul D. Moga has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Moga is currently serving as the chief, Planning Integration Division, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Joshua M. Olson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Olson is currently serving as the executive officer to the commander, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott USAF Base, Illinois.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Derek J. O’Malley has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. O’Malley is currently serving as the commander, 20th Fighter Wing, Air Combat Command, Shaw USAF Base, South Carolina.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Brandon D. Parker has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Parker is currently serving as the director, USAF Colonel Management Office, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Stephen G. Purdy Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Purdy is currently serving as the senior materiel leader, Space Superiority Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, USAF Space Command, Los Angeles USAF Base, California.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Mark B. Pye has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Pye is currently serving as the deputy director, Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters USAF Global Strike Command, Barksdale USAF Base, Louisiana.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Neil R. Richardson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Richardson is currently serving as the chief, Senate Division, Office of the Secretary of the USAF, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Patrick S. Ryder has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Ryder is currently serving as the special assistant for public affairs to the chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Christopher S. Sage has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Sage is currently serving as the executive officer to the commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Mons, Belgium.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Jennifer M. Short has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Short is currently serving as the executive assistant to the commander, Pacific USAFs, Headquarters Pacific USAFs, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Dale R. White has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. White is currently serving as the program senior materiel leader, Advanced Aircraft, USAF Life Cycle Management Center, USAF Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson USAF Base, Ohio.
13 Jan 20. USAF Col. Parker H. Wright has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Wright is currently serving as the commander, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations, Wright-Patterson USAF Base, Ohio.
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
13 Jan 20. Advanced maritime technology company SubSea Craft has further enhanced its core strength with a series of appointments to its team of handpicked experts. The new staff coincide with the arrival of the VICTA Class Diver Delivery Unit (DDU) hull at the company’s headquarters for fitting-out, ahead of its first full sea trials in a few months’ time. Among the new senior personnel is Camilla Wilks as Chief Finance Office. Other key appointments include Ben Mason, Olly Shepheard, Jo Stratton and Joe Marsh. David Bence moves from his role as Chief Operations Officer to become a Non-Executive Director. SubSea Craft has expanded its team to support the next phase of development of the revolutionary VICTA Class DDU, which garnered worldwide attention on its unveiling at Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2019. The latest iteration of the hull, constructed from carbon fibre and Diab core, is now at the company’s HQ, Design & Engineering Centre at Havant, Hampshire, for fitting-out in preparation for full sea trials this summer. This final-stage prototype will form the basis for subsequent production models and SubSea Craft is keen to explore with potential clients the capabilities that VICTA might bring to their operational portfolio. The increased breadth and depth of experience and expertise within the SubSea Craft team also provides new opportunities for collaboration and partnership. The company can offer specialist consultancy and technical support services to businesses, agencies and defence organisations developing leading-edge maritime technologies for both military and civilian applications.
14 Jan 20. 2Excel Aviation, the innovative aviation services company, has recruited Stuart Stanyard, a former Finance Director from engine-maker Rolls-Royce Plc’s Civil Aerospace business, to its Management Board. The fast-growing business based in Sywell, Northants, was founded in 2005 by two Royal Air Force pilots, Andy Offer and Chris Norton, and has grown from The Blades Aerobatic Team to provide a suite of aviation services to industries including defence, security, engineering, survey, agriculture, events, travel and disaster response for the oil and gas industry.
15 Jan 20. Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (“VG” or “the Company”), a vertically integrated aerospace company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Enrico Palermo as Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective immediately. In this newly created role, Enrico will be responsible for helping maintain efficiency and peak performance across the enterprise as it develops as a public company, and will lead the execution of specific company strategies and initiatives. Enrico currently serves as President of The Spaceship Company (TSC), the wholly-owned aerospace manufacturing and development subsidiary of VG. In this role, Enrico leads over 500 employees at the company’s facilities in Mojave, California. He joined Virgin Galactic in 2006 as one of its first employees. Enrico will maintain his capacity of TSC President. Enrico brings a wealth of experience including operations leadership, engineering and technology knowledge, financial analysis and business planning proficiency.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
06 Jan 20. Satcoms Innovation Group’s New Managing Director. The Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) has appointed Helen Weedon as the Managing Director — the appointment marks significant restructuring of the innovation forum as she succeeds Martin Coleman, who will become a member of the group’s advisory board. Helen has played a pivotal role within the group since 2011, in which time she developed and implemented membership and public relations strategies. Through her own PR agency (established in 2007), Helen has built up extensive knowledge and experience within the satellite industry. Andreas Voigt of Eutelsat, Guido Baraglia of Kratos Communications and Mark Steel of Inmarsat, will deliver technical expertise by resuming their roles as directors of the group. In addition to Martin Coleman, the SIG advisory board includes representatives from Arabsat, GOVSAT, Intelsat and SES. As part of the restructuring, the organization has been relocated to mainland UK from the Isle of Man. (Source: Satnews)
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
15 Jan 20. RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. announces it has appointed EVP Dr. Ran Gozali as head of the company’s Land and Naval Systems Division. Dr. Gozali is replacing Mr. Moshe Elazar who has been appointed as CEO of Aeronautics, recently purchased by RAFAEL and Mr. Avichai Stolero. Dr. Gozali (50 years old) holds a BSc. from the University of Be’er Sheva, an MSc. in electrical engineering from Haifa’s Technion and a PhD. from Virginia Tech. Dr. Gozali joined RAFAEL in 2004, and has since then served in various senior managerial-technological capacities. Between the years 2011-2014, Dr. Gozali served as CEO of Goji, and upon returning to RAFAEL, he was appointed as head of the company’s R&D and Engineering Division, presiding over more than 2500 engineers and scientists. RAFAEL’S Land and Naval Systems Division is responsible for the development, manufacturing and marketing of comprehensive and integrated solutions in the areas of precise missiles (SPIKE Family), maneuvering and NCW, survivability and armor protection (TROPHY), naval warfare systems and many more.
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Exforplus is primarily focused at employers of veterans and service leavers, but if you are a veteran needing support whilst within employment please do not hesitate to contact us or make your employer aware of our specialist support service .
Many employers are advised of the benefits of employing veterans and service leavers, these benefits are often significant and outweigh the stigma often attached to individuals leaving the Armed Forces or Uniformed Public Services.
However prevention is often better than cure, if and when an issue arises, will you as an employer or as a member of staff be able to understand each others ways of thinking and backgrounds to resolve these quickly and efficiently.
As an employer you will be looking at ways in which to remove or mitigate against prospective difficulties that your work force may face before they arise, aiding you to achieve your goals and a higher level of productivity within your organisation/business.
Our aim is to reduce the associated costs and expenses incurred from; time off, redundancy, recruitment, training and staff development and sickness.
How will this be achieved? Please do review our purpose built website for our support services for veterans who are in work:
www.InvestorsInVeterans.com
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