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26 Oct 23. NATO, Pentagon Call for Stronger Defense Industry.
Resilient Defense Industrial Base Critical for Deterring Conflict. A resilient defense industrial base is critical to the Defense Department’s ability to deter future conflict, the Pentagon’s top acquisition official said today.
William A. LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said ensuring that resiliency requires steady demand signals from government to industry, a key takeaway from the war in Ukraine.
“Very few people anticipated the prolonged, high-volume conflict we are seeing in Ukraine or that we might see again against a strategic competitor,” LaPlante said during this year’s Common Defense Conference in Arlington, Virginia.
“We are relearning just how resource-intensive this type of warfare can be, and how dialing down our production numbers, and the just-in-time delivery model doesn’t work in this kind of conflict,” he said. “We need a paradigm shift to meet the needs of today and the future fight.”
LaPlante said that for decades, the defense industry has been subject to spikes in demand for munitions during conflict only to be faced with plummeting demand during peacetime.
“Almost every time after a crisis is over — usually two to three years after the crisis, after demand peaks — demand sharply drops, the industrial base cuts core competencies and workforce, people are laid off and production lines are stopped,” he said. “This has happened about four times in the past 30 years.
“When folks say they don’t understand why it’s taking a while to ramp up and why they’re not investing, it’s because they know that history just like we know that history,” he said. “And so, we’re trying to stop that.”
LaPlante said shoring up the defense industrial base and ramping up production lines has been a key focus of his over the past year with an emphasis on multi-year contracts that provide the defense industry and investors with the confidence needed to sustain production.
“How do we build up the confidence with industry that they can also do their investment,” he said. “This often comes down to contracts. Speeches are wonderful… but contracts are actually more meaningful. And that’s what industry pays attention to.”
LaPlante also emphasized the importance of increasing opportunities for the U.S. and allies to work on co-development and co-production of critical platforms — especially in the Indo-Pacific.
He noted several promising steps taken in the past year to foster these relationships including a security of supply arrangement between the U.S. and Japan that creates a streamlined mechanism to resolve supply chain disruptions. The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at increasing opportunities for collaboration on emerging defense technology.
LaPlante said he expects that the U.S. will continue to seize on similar opportunities with other allies.
“Forging and fostering partnerships across the Indo-Pacific is critical for so many nations,” he said. “It’s more important than it has ever been.”
Ultimately, LaPlante said, seizing on opportunities to shore up defense production on a global scale is critical to the United States’ strategy of deterrence.
“Production itself is deterrence,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. The more we work together to expand global capacity of production and sustainment and foster opportunities for even co-development, co-production and co-sustainment, the better off we will be.”
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/US DoD)
26 Oct 23. Minehunters Increase Patrols After Damage to Submarine Cables.
The NATO fleet SNMCMG1 is intensifying patrols in the Baltic Sea. This is because 2 submarine cables between Estonia and Sweden have been damaged. The Netherlands is working with Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen is part of the mine hunter squadron.
In order to uncover suspicious activities in time, the alliance also keeps a close eye on the situation in the Baltic Sea from the air. Maritime reconnaissance aircraft, AWACS radar equipment and drones have been used for this purpose.
Keep infrastructure safe
Since the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022, NATO has already increased patrols near critical infrastructure. Earlier this year, the alliance also set up a coordination cell to keep subsea infrastructure safe.
Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen within rapid reaction force
The Vlaardingen has a 35-man crew and has been sailing for the SNMCMG1 (Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1) since August. The Belgian BNS Crocus has also been deployed for the NATO response force. The fleet focuses, among other things, on clearing explosives in the Baltic Sea.
SNMCMG1 is part of the NATO Response Force, NATO’s rapid response force. The Navy continuously supplies mine hunters to NATO for rapidly deployable fleets. This means that the alliance can call on them directly for military operations. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Netherlands Ministry of Defense; issued Oct 25, 2
26 Oct 23. Italian, Swiss Defense Ministers Discuss Cooperation on F-35.
Federal Councilor Viola Amherd Receives Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto in Bern. Federal Councilor Viola Amherd, head of the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS), welcomed Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto for a visit on October 24, 2023 in Bern. Their discussions mainly focused on bilateral relations and the current situation in terms of security policy.
Cross-border cooperation
This meeting provided an opportunity to discuss bilateral cooperation, which has developed considerably, particularly in the context of the air policing service and cross-border disaster assistance. The acquisition of the new F-35A type combat aircraft opens up interesting possibilities for cooperation that go beyond the air policing service. Some of the F-35As intended for the Swiss Air Force are produced in Cameri, Italy, which strengthens bilateral relations. Additionally, Italy and Switzerland work closely together in the KFOR mission in Kosovo, benefiting from each other’s experiences and knowledge transfer.
Current security policy situation
Federal Councilor Viola Amherd and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also discussed the current situation in terms of security policy in Europe, with the war in Ukraine in the spotlight. The situation in the Western Balkans, and in particular the recent events in northern Kosovo, are also worrying and confirm the importance of the military promotion of peace within the framework of KFOR.
Regarding the situation in the Middle East, the head of the DDPS and her counterpart exchanged their points of view on security policy. They also discussed the future of the military promotion of peace in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Swiss Dept. of Defense, Civil, Protection and Sports; issued Oct 24, 2023)
26 Oct 23. Germany Hands Over Two MANTIS Air Defence Systems to Slovakia.
MANTIS Air Defence Systems to Permanently Strengthen the Defence of Slovak Skies. During today’s handover ceremony at 11 Slovak Air Force Brigade (11 SVK AF Bde) Nitra, the Slovak Armed Forces have taken delivery of two MANTIS air defence systems in order to boost Slovakia’s already fielded ground‐based air defence (GBAD) capabilities in service on its eastern border with Ukraine. In attendance at the ceremony were Defence Minister Martin Sklenár, Deputy Chief of Defence Lt Gen Ľubomír Svoboda, Deputy Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Lt Gen Markus Laubenthal, and other invited guests.
Speaking in front of the assembled Slovak Armed Forces and Bundeswehr troops, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “My thanks go to our German partners who have provided the Slovak Armed Forces with these systems, free of charge and permanently. It is proof that our alliance pays off for Slovakia. Along with our engagement in support of Ukraine, it brings us countless benefits as well as security and protection guarantees, and, as we can see today, it also gives us opportunities to strengthen our own capabilities.”
The MANTIS air defence systems are currently being fielded to 11 SVK AF Bde Nitra. They will protect critical national infrastructure (CNI) facilities in eastern Slovakia. Over 100 service personnel have been trained on MANTIS, including on all aspects of operation, firing and maintenance.
Each of the two MANTIS systems consists of six automatic weapon stations (optionally available with up to eight guns), two sensor units, and a command post. The package from Germany also includes 5 surveillance radars with a range of up to 100km and specialist training for SVK military personnel.
The Rheinmetall-made Modular, Automatic and Network Capable Targeting and Interception System (MANTIS) is a stationary, fully automated weapon station designed to provide continuous air defence cover for ground installations such as military bases or forward operating bases (FOBs), defending against the effects of incoming rockets, artillery rounds, mortar shells, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Germany originally developed MANTIS to protect the camps where Bundeswehr troops were stationed in Afghanistan.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Slovak Republic Ministry of Defence)
25 Oct 23. Finnish Investigators Suspect Chinese Vessel’s Anchor Caused Balticconnector Pipeline Damage. Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recovered a large anchor next to the site where a gas pipeline was damaged in the early hours of the morning on Sunday 8 October. The Balticconnector pipeline is located in the Baltic Sea between Finland and Estonia.
In the immediate aftermath of the damage to the pipeline and subsequent gas leak, Finnish authorities stated that the incident was likely the result of “external activity”.
In a press conference on Tuesday evening, an NBI spokesperson revealed that a wide drag mark was found on the seabed on one side of the damaged pipeline, and a narrow drag mark was found on the other side — which continues to the east for several kilometers.
The NBI had previously stated that it was investigating the movements of the NewNew Polar Bear, a Hong Kong flagged ship owned by a Chinese firm, which coincided with the time and place the pipeline was damaged.
Maritime traffic data showed that the vessel crossed the Balticconnector pipeline at the very moment a loud noise was registered in the area of the pipeline.
A photograph of the NewNew Polar Bear vessel docked in the port of St Petersburg appeared on the Russian Port News website on 9 October — one day after the damage to the pipeline occurred. The photograph began to arouse suspicion soon afterwards because the ship’s leftside anchor chains were evident on the quay side, even though the vessel was moored to the quay.
A preliminary probe of the seabed by Finnish investigators led to the discovery of a large object, which once it was raised to the surface was revealed to be a ship’s anchor.
The next stage of the investigation will seek to determine whether the damage to the pipeline was intentional or not, the NBI said at the Tuesday evening press conference.
China’s foreign ministry has called on Finland to investigate the incident “objectively, fairly and professionally.”
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Finnish Broadcasting News)
24 Oct 23. Sweden-Turkey: NATO accession will bolster regional security; increased Russian cyber activity is likely. On 23 October, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan submitted Sweden’s NATO accession bid to the Turkish parliament for ratification. Turkey’s parliament will now vote to approve Sweden’s status, with Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) highly likely to support the decision. Hungary has not yet approved Sweden’s accession, though it is likely to follow the Turkish government’s lead, having previously indicated it would closely align its own position with Turkey’s. Stockholm’s accession will bolster both its own defence capabilities as well as that of NATO. Russia remains vehemently opposed to Sweden’s accession and all forms of NATO expansion. Consequently, an uptick in Russian cyber attacks against Swedish public institutions and private companies is likely in the coming weeks and months. We continue to assess that Swedish accession to NATO is a potential trigger for (limited) Russian undersea sabotage operations, in which cables and energy assets in the Baltic and North Seas will possibly be targeted. (Source: Sibylline)
24 Oct 23. Readout of Under Secretary of Defense Dr. William LaPlante’s Engagements in Brussels, Belgium. Department of Defense Spokesperson Jeff Jurgensen provided the following readout:
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Dr. William LaPlante traveled to Brussels, Belgium October 10-21, 2023, to reaffirm U.S. commitment to security cooperation in the European area of operations and discuss a range of issues of mutual importance with international leaders and partner organizations.
While in Brussels, Dr. LaPlante participated in the 16th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) where he updated ministers and senior defense officials on global efforts aimed at collaboratively solving industrial base and sustainment challenges in support of Ukraine. He also chaired the seventh meeting of National Armaments Directors (NADs) under the auspices of the UDCG that was attended by more than 40 nations, NATO, and the European Union. In addition to updates on efforts to address near-term assistance requirements in key capability areas, the discussion highlighted increasing focus on long-term support to Ukraine. Specifically, NADs are developing a long-term, doctrinal strategy for sustainment that is aligned with NATO standards as well as exploring approaches to aid Ukraine in its efforts to expand the capacity and capability of its domestic industrial base.
During the semi-annual NATO Conference of NADs, Dr. LaPlante discussed key areas for increased collaboration and cooperation, including the forthcoming NATO Defense Production Action Plan and associated efforts to aggregate demand and procurement; standardization of platforms, systems, and munitions to increase interoperability and interchangeability; and progress on specific NATO procurement and modernization programs.
Throughout the trip, Dr. LaPlante conducted bilateral engagements with the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union; U.S. Ambassador to NATO; NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment; European Defence Agency; European External Action Service; and senior armaments officials from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Sweden, Romania, and the Netherlands. These dialogues included updates on various ongoing U.S. and European multinational, regional, and national initiatives related to security assistance for Ukraine, including to expand global ammunition production; opportunities for greater co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment; and efforts enabled by new international agreements, such as the Administrative Arrangement between the United States Department of Defense and the European Defense Agency signed earlier this year.
Additionally, Dr. LaPlante signed a Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) between the United States and Estonia. Through the SOSA, the United States and Estonia commit intent to support one another’s priority delivery requests for procurement of critical national defense resources. The arrangement will enable both the U.S. and Estonia to acquire the industrial resources they need to quickly meet defense requirements, resolve unanticipated disruptions that challenge defense capabilities, and promote supply chain resiliency.
“I was pleased to visit with allies and partners from Europe and beyond as we collectively work to ensure peace and stability throughout the region and across the world,” LaPlante said. “The discussions over the last two weeks touched on the breadth and depth of armaments cooperation, global industrial base resilience, and priority procurement initiatives. We are more successful in achieving our security objectives when we work hand in hand with our allies and partners, and I look forward to driving action on the items discussed.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
23 Oct 23. Turkey’s president submits protocol for Sweden’s admission into NATO. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has submitted a protocol for Sweden’s admission into NATO to Turkey’s parliament for ratification, his office said Monday, bringing the Nordic country a step closer to membership in the military alliance.
Erdogan had been delaying ratification of Sweden’s membership, accusing Stockholm of being too soft on Kurdish militants and other groups his country considers to be security threats. Turkey also was angered by a series of Quran-burning protests in Sweden.
All 31 NATO allies must endorse Sweden’s membership. Turkey and Hungary are the only two allies that have yet to ratify it.
A brief statement from the presidential communications directorate said Erdogan had signed the protocol on Sweden’s NATO accession, which was then submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly. It was not immediately known when Sweden’s membership would come to the floor.
Sweden welcomed the move.
“Glad to hear that Turkish President Erdoğan has now handed over the ratification documents to the Turkish Parliament,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Now it remains for Parliament to deal with the issue. We look forward to becoming a member of NATO.”
Sweden and its neighbor Finland abandoned decades of military nonalignment and sought protection under NATO’s security umbrella after President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to invade Ukraine in February 2022. Finland joined the military alliance in April after Turkey lifted its objections to its membership, saying Helsinki had taken steps to address Ankara’s security concerns.
Earlier this month, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Turkey to quickly ratify Sweden’s membership in the military organization.
“Many allies would like to see speedy progress on this ratification,” Stoltenberg told The Associated Press after chairing a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. “Sweden has delivered on what they promised, and now we need the ratification of Swedish membership.”
Erdogan had dropped his opposition to Sweden’s membership at a NATO summit in Lithuania’s capital in July, but still delayed sending the protocol to parliament for ratification.
Turkey lifted its opposition after U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration signaled it would let Turkey buy 40 new F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits from the United States. Ankara also received assurances from Sweden that it would help revive Turkey’s own quest to join the European Union.
Under the deal, NATO as an organization agreed to address Turkey’s concerns about terrorism. Stoltenberg said he had appointed an assistant secretary general to serve as his special coordinator for counterterrorism. (Source: Defense News)
23 Oct 23. The normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is vital: UK statement at the UN Security Council.
Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Kosovo.
Thank you, President. Let me begin by thanking Special Representative Ziadeh for her briefing and we welcome the participation to our meeting Her Excellency Ms. Vjosa Osmani, President of Kosovo, and Her Excellency Ms. Ana Brnabic, Prime Minister of Serbia.
The United Kingdom is a long-standing supporter of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state. We welcome the Government’s continued progress on important issues such as the rule of law, transitional justice and tackling organised crime and corruption.
We fully support the Declaration on Missing Persons endorsed by both Kosovo and Serbia. This is a priority issue, and should not be politicised.
We also echo the Mission’s call for the Government of Kosovo to implement the 2016 ruling of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo regarding the Dečani monastery’s property. This would send a positive signal to minority communities and demonstrate Kosovo’s commitment to an inclusive, multi-ethnic future.
President, we also remain deeply concerned by the immediate security challenges in the north of Kosovo. We strongly condemn the attacks on international personnel in May and Kosovo Police on 24 September. It is vital that those responsible are brought to justice. We call on Serbia to cooperate fully with the investigations underway, and to take steps to address cross-border organised crime and arms smuggling.
Kosovo must be able to implement the rule of law across the whole of its territory, in close coordination with EULEX and KFOR. We are proud to have deployed approximately 600 UK soldiers to Kosovo in response to a request from NATO, to help fulfil KFOR’s mandate to maintain a safe and secure environment in Kosovo.
At this time of heightened tension, the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia remains vital. We urge both parties to engage with the EU-facilitated Dialogue to find mutually acceptable solutions, end the cycle of instability, and protect the hard-fought gains of the last decade.
We call on Kosovo and Serbia to honour their commitments and avoid unilateral actions or rhetoric that could reduce prospects for a comprehensive normalisation agreement. We urge both parties to engage constructively – including on the establishment of an Association of Serb Majority Municipalities – as soon as possible.
Finally, President, we recognise the vital role that UNMIK has played in the significant progress Kosovo has made since resolution 1244. But conditions on the ground are unrecognisable from 1999. We believe it is time to review UNMIK’s role and responsibilities. This would enable the Council to take a fresh look at how the Mission can adapt to serve the current conditions in Kosovo.
In closing, let me reiterate the UK’s gratitude to the Special Representative and the Mission for all of their work, and for the professional implementation of their mandate.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
23 Oct 23. Serbia highlights importance of Chinese defence equipment. Chinese military equipment has strengthened the Serbian armed forces significantly, its deputy prime minister told Chinese state media, in particular an air-defence system and drones.
“Regarding bilateral Serbia-China relations, I would single out military-to-military cooperation, as well as economic cooperation and numerous investments, which are very important for our country,” Milos Vucevic, who is also defence minister, told the state-controlled Global Times in an interview published on Sunday.
Vucevic said efforts to equip and modernise the armed forces were intended for defence.
China’s President Xi Jinping urged stronger strategic coordination with “ironclad friend” Serbia when he met its president, Aleksandar Vucic, in Beijing last week, pledging support for Serbia in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Vucevic said China’s FK-3 medium-range anti-aircraft missile system and its CH-95 and CH-92A UAVs had “undoubtedly” been among the most important defence system Serbia had acquired.
The Balkan country showed off its Chinese-made surface-to-air missiles along with other military hardware purchased from both Russia and the West in April last year.
Serbia bought the FK-3 surface-to-air defence system, similar to Russia’s S-300 or the U.S. Patriot system, in 2019. It was delivered last year.
Tensions have been running high in recent months between Serbia and Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after a guerrilla uprising and 1999 NATO intervention.
Both the United States, and Russia, which traditionally supports Serbia, have said they are monitoring the situation.
Vucevic said Serbia would enhance its capabilities to protect its independence but did not spell out whether it would acquire more Chinese military equipment.
However, he said he was certain the two countries would develop their relations as China was one of Serbia’s “most reliable” friends.
(Source: Reuters)
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