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EUROPE
Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. From 1 Jan 06 to 31 Mar 13, 2,116 personnel were Wounded in Action and 6,663 were aeromedically
evacuated. (DASA, 18 Apr 13.) For March 2013 the figures were 20 and 95.
The MoD has yet to decide on any ‘gifting’ of equipment to the Afghan Army. (Oral Answer, 15 Apr 13.)
The MoD expects estimated costs of withdrawal from Afghanistan to be produced “in the Summer”. (Written
Answer, 15 Apr 13.)
Comment: During a MoD briefing on 16 Apr 13, the ISAF Deputy Commander referred to “the principle of
reversibility”. This recent piece of military jargon describes the maintenance of combat capabilities by ISAF
Forces until the end of 2014, should the Afghans decide that they require assistance. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 13/16, 22 Apr 13)
19 Apr 13. A program to replace the Royal Navy’s airborne early warning capability has moved a step forward with approval for assessment phase work on the Merlin Mk2 helicopter-based system being awarded to Lockheed Martin UK. At the same time, though, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed the in-service date of the new system, dubbed Crowsnest, as 2020 — four years after the existing Sea King Mk7 capability is due to be stood down. The MoD said in a statement last week that it had awarded Lockheed Martin an initial £3m (US $3.5m) scoping contract ahead of the expected autumn start of what is known as Assessment Phase 3. Phases 1 and 2 were conducted under the auspices of the earlier Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control program, which concluded in early 2010 before being overtaken by the requirements of the Conservative-led Governments strategic defense and security review. (Source: Defense News)
08 Apr 13. Poland’s military land systems industry prepares for investment bow-wave. Poland’s national defence companies are jockeying for position as a series of land systems equipment opportunities come into view, while details have emerged of Warsaw’s defence procurement reforms. Poland’s deputy defence minister, General Waldemar Skrzypczak, said in March that a new, more flexible procurement system was under development, which would simplify procurement rules and grant him decision making powers for contracts worth up to PLN100m (USD31m). Minister of National Defence Tomasz Siemoniak subsequently signed a decision on the acquisition of military equipment and services for the Polish Armed Forces that repeals the earlier Decision No 28 of the Polish minister of national defence (7 February 2011) that shaped national procurement. Changes under the new the system – effective from 22 March – include the delegation of the powers of the minister of national defence to the secretary of state for armaments and modernisation; the withdrawal of the Polish Armaments Council from the acquisition process (thus repealing Decision No 126 of 14 April 2011); the simplification of implementation procedures; the introduction of time limits for implementation of individual procurement projects; and the increased delegation of responsibilities to procurement offices to allow executive responsibility. (Source: Jane’s)
15 Apr 13. A Mysterious Iranian-Run Factory in Germany. For years, mystery surrounded an Iranian-controlled factory tucked away in this town of 70,000 in Germany’s industrial west. The plant manufactured high-pressure gas tanks, but its managers seemed uninterested in making a profit. Potential investors were turned away. An expensive piece of machinery — precise enough to produce components for centrifuges and missiles — sat idle after a failed attempt to ship it to Iran. Finally, the factory, MCS Technologies, closed its doors late last month. Since then, the mystery has taken anoth