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21 Nov 24. Thales faces Anglo-French investigation over suspected bribery. Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said on Thursday it was investigating suspected bribery and corruption at Thales (TCFP.PA), Europe’s largest defence technology company.
Investigators from the SFO and France’s Parquet National Financier (PNF) have informed Paris-headquartered Thales of the probe, the SFO added in a statement.
A Thales spokesperson confirmed that the company was cooperating with the two authorities in an investigation related to four of its entities in France and Britain.
“The group complies with all national and international regulations. As the investigation is on-going, Thales will not comment further,” the spokesperson said.
A French judicial source told Reuters that the investigation related to an arms contract in Asia.
The probe centres on possible charges of bribery of a foreign public official, influence trafficking, the handling of stolen goods and money laundering, the French source added. (Source: Google/Reuters)
20 Nov 24. Royal Navy finished as full-spectrum force as Albion and Bulwark axed. The UK government has scrapped two amphibious assault ships, one frigate, and two fleet tankers being held in reserve.
The UK Royal Navy has ended its full spectrum naval capability following the scrapping of two amphibious assault ships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, as part of a slew of defence cuts by the new Labour government in a dark day for the UK military.
Citing funding difficulties and financial black holes, Secretary of State for Defence John Healey told the UK House of Commons on 20 November that Royal Navy’s two Albion-class amphibious assault ships, key naval platforms that offer littoral strike roles for the Royal Marines, were to be axed.
In addition, another of the ageing Type 23 frigates, HMS Northumberland, will not undergo a planned rectification process as it was deemed uneconomic, leaving the Royal Navy with just eight frigate surface combatants left in its fleet.
Instead, the joint military-civilian crewed Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) will now command the sole amphibious assault capability available for the UK, through the remaining three Bay-class landing ship docks and aviation training vessels, RFA Argus.
“Our three Bay-class landing ships and RFA Argus will continue to provide the amphibious capability,” said Healey.
In 2024 RFA sailors, as civilians, were able to go on strike over complaints over wages, recently agreeing to extend their industrial action into 2025. Conversely, the Royal Navy, as a military service, can not do so.
Having operated for years in an extended readiness format – where one vessel was in service and the other kept in ready to be worked up – it was disclosed during the parliamentary session that both Albion-class vessels were unlikely to have sailed before their expected out-of-service dates (2033 for HMS Albion, 2034 for HMS Bulwark), unless required in emergency.
However, an amphibious assault capability was therefore possible, should it have been required. The decision by the UK government has been to end the Royal Navy’s ability to perform such operations, with the savings of the Albion class scrapping stated as being £9m ($11.3m) per year.
A theoretical replacement class of Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS), initiated by the previous Conservative government, is still in the pre-concept phase, and at least a decade away from coming into service. It is not confirmed how many MRSS vessels will be acquired, nor whether they will be operating by the RFA or Royal Navy.
The RFA though was also nominally hit with the scrapping of two Wave-class fleet tankers, which had not been in service for some time.
Can the Bay class do what Albion and Bulwark did?
No. The Bay-class landing ships are part of the RFA and therefore not full warfighting vessels and built to civilian standards where possible.
This reporter has embarked on a Bay-class LSD previously, spending two days onboard as RFA Cardigan Bay undertook operations in the Arabian Gulf in the 2010s. Capable vessels, certainly, but warfighting they are not.
The core crew of the Bay class are civilian mariners, with Royal Navy personnel tasked with operating weapons and other fitted or embarked military equipment.
In addition, the relative amphibious capabilities are markedly different, with the Albion class able to accommodate twice the number of landing ships as the Bay’s, as well as a greater compliment of troops such as the Royal Marines.
Neither class have aircraft hangers, although the flight deck of the Albion class can accommodate twice the number of rotary platforms as the smaller Bay LSDs.
The Bay‘s are minimally armed, and due to their design are less seaworthy than the Albion‘s due to their large flat surfaces acting as sails to catch open ocean winds.
Construction is also different with HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark were built to the internationally recognised Defence Standard (DEFSTAN), unlike the Bay class.
An Albion class can also operate as a command ship for a larger amphibious strike group, a capability that the UK is supposed to be able to provide to Nato, but now cannot.
Is that the end of cuts to the Royal Navy?
Again, no. Notwithstanding the loss of another Type 23 frigate, described as Healey as being too expensive to repair and make available for sea again, there is a very real prospect that programmes like the MRSS could be reduced in size, while the conceptual Type 32 frigate class, planned to replace the outgoing Sandown– and Hunt-class minesweepers, could also fall victim.
There is also the potential, as previously outlined by Naval Technology, that the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, could also be in the crosshairs of the UK government.
With HMS Prince of Wales to undertake a long-planned deployment into the Indo-Pacific region in 2025, and the multi-year gap between the UK’s periodic aircraft carrier deployments, HMS Queen Elizabeth could be mothballed, similar to the format of the now axed Albion-class amphibious assault ships.
“These will not be the last difficult decisions we have to take,” Healey told the House of Commons on 20 November, in a portent of further cuts to come, declining to give specific reassurances regarding the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers ahead of the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which reports next year.
One hopes the AI sifting through SDR submissions is favourable to the idea of the Royal Navy maintaining its two aircraft carriers in service.
In the most positive case, the UK has just capability gapped large-scale naval amphibious assault for a decade. At worst , it may never again such a capability, further diminishing the UK’s claim to have a true full-spectrum, blue water force.
In answer to a January article from Naval Technology, posing the question whether the Royal Navy had an amphibious assault future, an answer appears to have been given. (Source: naval-technology.com)
20 Nov 24. Chinese Vessel Suspected of Damaging Baltic Sea Telecom Cables Intercepted by Danish Navy. The Danish Navy intercepted the Chinese cargo vessel Yi Peng 3, suspected of damaging two critical undersea telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea on Tuesday. The cables, which connect Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania, are vital for communication infrastructure across Northern Europe.
The Yi Peng 3, reportedly captained by a Russian officer, was tracked leaving the Russian port of Ust-Luga and sailing through the Baltic Sea near the damaged cables. The 730-mile C-Lion 1 cable and a 130-mile cable between Sweden and Lithuania were severed earlier in the week, raising suspicions of intentional sabotage.
The ship was intercepted in Danish waters by naval ship Y311 Søløven. Tracking data revealed that the vessel was near the cables at the time of the damage, leading to allegations that it may have dragged its anchor or deployed equipment to sever the lines.
The Baltic Sea, surrounded by NATO allies, is crucial for Europe’s security and infrastructure. The damaged cables are part of a broader network connecting key nations, and their destruction disrupts communication and raises fears of hybrid warfare. The incidents follow similar sabotage cases, including the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions and damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline by another Chinese ship, the New Polar Bear.
Germany and Finland condemned the damage as a threat to European security, urging stronger defenses against hybrid attacks. Western officials have stopped short of directly accusing Russia but noted a pattern of infrastructure disruptions linked to Russian interests amid its ongoing war in Ukraine. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the events as “hybrid actions,” while Swedish and Lithuanian officials called for heightened vigilance.
Authorities in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden have launched investigations into the incidents. Experts warn that determining responsibility may take years, with significant legal and diplomatic implications.
(Source: https://www.sofx.com/)
20 Nov 24. UK signs new agreements on migration, defence & security with Moldova.
Foreign Secretary signs new Readmissions Agreement and Defence and Security Partnership whilst on visit to Moldova.
- New readmissions agreement signed to boost international cooperation on irregular migration
- UK enhances security at home and abroad with launch of new Defence and Security Partnership
- Foreign Secretary showcases UK support for Moldova on visit including tackling Russian hybrid threats
The UK has strengthened its returns cooperation with Moldova after signing a new readmissions agreement – boosting UK border security by further ensuring the swift removal of those with no right to be here.
Today’s agreement builds on existing cooperation with Moldova on this issue, and will reaffirm safe, rapid and effective procedures for the identification and removal of Moldovans who do not have a right to be in the UK.
The Foreign Secretary signed the agreement whilst in Moldova today.
This agreement comes on top of a significant uplift in returns, with more than 9,400 people from other countries returned since the new government came to office, including a 19% increase in enforced returns. It also builds on this Government’s focus on tackling upstream migration and deterring migrants from leaving their homes in the first place.
More than 1,520 foreign national offenders have now been removed since the General Election, demonstrating how the government is delivering on its commitment to restore order to the system and ensure the removal of those with no right to be here.
A new UK-Moldova Defence and Security Partnership has also been launched today, building on extensive cooperation between the two countries and strengthening Moldovan resilience against external threats. This partnership will bolster support for the sovereignty, security and stability of Ukraine, helping to strengthen national security at home in the face of increasing Russian aggression.
The Foreign Secretary has committed to working with President Sandu, who won re-election earlier this month, despite unprecedented Russian interference, to bolster Moldova’s resilience against the growing Russian hybrid threats they face. He will also offer UK support to tackle corruption in the region.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Moldova is a vital security partner for the UK, which is why to reinforce their resilience against Russian aggression and to keep British streets safe, I am deepening cooperation on irregular migration and launching a new Defence and Security Partnership. With Ukraine next door, Moldovans are constantly reminded of Russia’s oppression, imperialism and aggression. Despite unprecedented Kremlin interference, the people of Moldova have chosen freedom, democracy, and independence. A decision we must help them protect.”
While in the Moldovan capital, Chișinău, the Foreign Secretary will visit Cybercor, Moldova’s national institute of cybersecurity innovations, where he announced a £2 m uplift to the Future Technologies Activity. This funding will be vital to improving Moldova’s resilience to hostile cyber activity by developing emerging talent, setting security standards and conducting cyber exercises. Research shows that since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, cyberattacks in Moldova have more than tripled.
The Foreign Secretary has also announced measures to support Moldova in tackling corruption, with the introduction of a new £600,00 project to bolster their capability to analyse, assess and disseminate suspicious financial activity, alongside the donation of six analytic tool licences to detect, trace, investigate and seize cryptocurrency.
During the past 1000 days, Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has violated European security, resulting in millions of civilians being forced to flee their homes, including tens of thousands to Moldova, where there are now more than 50,000 Ukrainian children currently in the country.
As the Foreign Secretary continues his visit to the country, which coincides with World Children’s Day, he will tour a UNFPA Safe Space for Youth and meet with foster parents and social workers who are supporting children and Moldovan families in need.
The Foreign Secretary will also be announcing a further £5 m of UK humanitarian funding for the country through UN agencies and other implementing partners. This funding ensures that the basic needs of Ukrainian refugees are being met, while providing support to strengthen Moldova’s national social protection system.
For parts of the visit, the Foreign Secretary was joined by Romanian Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu to highlight the important role NATO ally, Romania, plays in supporting Moldovan energy security, democracy and reforms. It comes after the Prime Minister hosted the Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu at Downing Street last week. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
20 Nov 24. Why Germany’s Scholz won’t follow Biden on long-range strikes for Ukraine.
“If Scholz could be moved, I suspect he would have done so by now,” said Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute.
In the wake of the US government approving Ukraine to use Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) surface-to-surface artillery weapons inside Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused to bow to new calls to supply Kyiv with desperately needed Taurus long-range precision missiles.
The Swedish-German ballistic missile offers a range in excess of 500 kilometers and is designed to hit hardened targets like bunkers, bridges, and command and control facilities. Germany completed an order of 600 units for integration on Tornado IDS (Interdiction/Strike) fighter jets in 2010.
Scholz publicly justified the decision not to make a Taurus approval on Monday at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, saying that he did not want to be held “responsible” for the weapons “targeting,” — a reference to his long stated redline that Taurus should not draw Germany into the war. Ukraine has reportedly since fired ATACMS to strike into Russia for the first time. Ukrainian officials said an initial salvo targeted an ammunition depot in the Bryansk region of southwestern Russia, according to the New York Times.
Analysts Breaking Defense spoke with suggested that Scholz’s position on Taurus effectively amounts to an attempt to protect his political career and argued that he has limited clout over Russia more broadly.
If he was to change course, it would be “deeply unpopular” with the left-leaning faction of the Social Democratic Party, to the extent that Scholz could, “say goodbye” to any chance of the SDP considering him for the chancellorship again, ahead of a new general election planned for February, according to Fabian Hoffmann, a missile expert at the University of Oslo in Norway.
The election was prompted by the Free Democratic Party leaving the coalition government, which is also made up of the SDP and the Greens.
Speaking before Scholz’s G20 press conference, Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, a British defense think tank, said, “If Scholz could be moved, I suspect he would have done so by now — he was extremely negative about Taurus over the weekend, and although the Russian strikes almost immediately after his call with Putin show how little influence he has, it doesn’t look likely that he would respond by changing policy now.”
Even if approved, Taurus would face problems reaching the frontline in Ukraine in a timely fashion.
In February, a conversation about potential deliveries to Ukraine by German Air Force officials was intercepted by Russia and shared online by state broadcaster RT. The leak included the suggestion that Taurus operations could only begin eight months after political approval, based on training and mounts needed to integrate it on fighter jets.
“Taurus would require a new round of integration and validation work before they could be launched by Ukrainian aircraft (most likely the UAF’s relatively small number of Su-24 strike planes, which already carry Storm Shadow),” said Jacob Parakilas, research leader for defense strategy, policy and capabilities at RAND Europe. “It might be easier to integrate onto the UAF’s newly-arrived F-16s, which have NATO-standard mounts and connectors, although Taurus is not currently certified for F-16 carriage and launch either — so it would be a matter of months before they could be used in either case.”
The UK and France are expected to follow the lead of the US on ATACMS and approve Ukraine to launch Storm Shadow and SCALP long-range cruise missiles inside Russian territory.
“Morocco seeks to boost its industry in several industrial parks while diversifying potential clients that had been steered away before because of taxation. Morocco seeks greater knowledge transfer and advanced weapons testing and production,” one expert said.
A spokesperson for the French President’s Office declined to comment on specific weapon systems, deferring to an address by French President Emmanuel Macron during a state visit to Germany in May where he stated that, “we must allow them [Ukraine] to neutralise the military sites from which the missiles are fired and, basically, the military sites from which Ukraine is attacked, but we must not allow them to hit other targets in Russia, obviously civilian capabilities or other military targets.”
Macron added at that time, “When Ukraine is attacked from identified targets in Russia, well, I think we have to be able to allow them to do that if we really want to retain our objective. And I think I can say that, factually, we are not escalating by doing this, since it is Russia that is organising itself in this way.”
In the case of the UK and Storm Shadow, the Ministry of Defence declined to comment on whether an approval for Ukraine had been made.
Earlier this week, UK Defence Secretary John Healey told another lawmaker that commenting on the issue “risks operational security and the only person that benefits from public debate is President Putin,” according to the BBC.
From a “Ukrainian perspective it would be preferable for this [approvals on Storm Shadow and SCALP] to take place privately and not be announced until after first use, though the Russians already have some advance warning,” said Savill. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
19 Nov 24. Italian defense-spending rise may underwhelm new US leader. Italy’s defense spending is rising at a steady rate but is unlikely to be fast enough for Donald Trump.
With weeks to go before Trump returns to the White House, Rome remains one of the dwindling number of NATO members who have not hit the target they set themselves a decade ago of spending two percent of GDP on defense.
That could put Italy and others firmly back in the crosshairs of the next U.S. president, who looks set to be even keener to cut back on what he considers American largesse overseas.
Italy is to spend €29.18bn ($30.89) on defense this year, a decent rise on last year’s €27.75bn, defense minister Guido Crosetto told the Italian senate this month.
But this is only 1.54 percent of GDP, he added.
Despite this year’s defense budget document warning that the figure would drop slightly next year, finance minister Giancarlo Giorgetti this month reversed the forecast, claiming spending would edge up to 1.57 percent of GDP next year, to 1.58 percent in 2026 and to 1.61 percent in 2027.
It is a steady increase that nevertheless leaves Italy nowhere close to the two percent target.
“It needs to be stated that despite the funding, the objective of two percent of GDP requested by NATO is very ambitious,” Giorgetti told parliament.
Back in 2014 only three NATO members were spending two percent of GDP on defense, while today 23 have achieved that and only eight – including Italy – fail to hit the target.
While campaigning in February, Donald Trump said, “One of the leaders of a large country asked ‘If we don’t pay up and we are attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’, and I replied, ‘You haven’t paid up, we’re not going to protect you. I would encourage (the Russians) to do whatever the hell they want to you.”
In 2018, Trump said the spending share of GDP for NATO members should be doubled to four percent and this month new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said, “We will have to spend more … It will be much more than the two percent. I’m clear about that.”
In defense of Italy’s spending record, one Rome-based analyst listed the number of procurement programs now underway.
“The army is buying over 1,000 new armored fighting vehicles, the navy is buying destroyers and the air force is buying 25 new F-35s and 24 new Eurofighters, as a well as Compass Call (electronic-attack) aircraft,” said Andrea Margelletti, the head of the Centre for InternationalStudies think tank in Rome.
“I am the first to criticize, but Italy is pushing spending. It is also supplying air defense batteries to Ukraine and buying more, it has ships protecting merchant vessels in the Red Sea and is part of a battle group at the edge of Europe. It all has a cost and I believe the U.S. can be content with what Italy is spending,” he said.
Margelletti also praised Italian defense minister Guido Crosetto for improving the “combat readiness” of Italian soldiers. “Crosetto has seen that conflict in Europe is a possibility,” he said.
A second analyst, who declined to be named, told Defense News it was more about how money was spent than how much.
Citing Poland, which has now driven defense spending to over four percent of GDP, he said, “Poland will now have four different types of tank, which is a logistical nightmare. It’s about spending better, not always more.”
If Italy can convince observers it is pulling its weight in the North Atlantic Alliance, some leaders here could nevertheless face criticism from the Trump administration for the strong support Rome has given Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Other European leaders, like Hungary’s Viktor Orban, have won favor with Trump supporters for favoring a deal with Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine rather than continuing to arm Kyiv.
But Alessandro Marrone, who heads the defense program at Rome think tank IAI, said Rome’s support for arming Ukraine would not harm relations with the new U.S. government.
“All of the EU and NATO has supported Ukraine, it’s not a problem,” he said.
“Italy has a stable, conservative government and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has a good relationship with Rutte, EU commission head Ursula von der Leyen and Elon Musk. She also pulled out of Italy’s Belt and Road agreement with China,” he said.
“Orban is less useful as an interlocutor,” he added. (Source: google/Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
13 Nov 24. France taps defense-industry retirees to keep arms flowing during war. France is tapping retired defense-industry workers to create what it calls a “defense industrial reserve,” a pool of experienced labor that can help ramp up production of weapons and armament in times of need. French armament agency DGA signed contracts with armored-vehicle makers KNDS and Arquus on Tuesday to join the program, which seeks to ensure retiring industry veterans can pass on rare skills to new hires, and head off a potential shortage of skilled labor should the country find itself at war.
The idea behind the reserve is to create a pool of skilled experts, from welders to model makers or engineers, that can be activated to train others or help boost production at their former employer or others, DGA head Emmanuel Chiva told Defense News at the contract signing in Paris. The principle is to prepare France for a return of high-intensity warfare, he said.
“We’re not at war, but on the other hand we must not be naive,” Chiva said “We’re preparing for a rise in strength, if only for the sake of our credibility, and so today we’re going to look for the skills where we can find them.”
After decades in which manufacturing has been shrinking as a share of the French economy, the country’s industry faces difficulties finding skilled labor. Nearly 1 m industrial workers are set to retire by 2030, according to a government report published last year.
Chiva said the automobile industry is another area that could be a source of skilled labor for French defense firms, and the DGA is already working with car maker Renault on the issue.
“We’re in the process of identifying pools of labor in civil industries,” Chiva said. “So I’m talking about Renault, but there are others which will enable us to fill this industrial reserve.”
The plan is “quite innovative,” and it piggybacks on France’s larger goal of doubling the number of defense reservists as part of the 2024-2030 military programming law, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pierre Schill told Defense News.
“If ever there’s a need to mobilize, in the sense of deployed forces, we’ll also need to step up the pace in industry or to manufacture faster or differently,” Schill said. “So why not take advantage of the reservist status that already exists to extend it to others, to broaden the conditions of entry.”
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, countries across Europe are looking at how to boost troop numbers should they face high-intensity warfare. Latvia has reintroduced conscription, Germany is looking to introduce a new military service model next year, while the Netherlands is experimenting with a “service year” to draw young people into its armed forces.
Workers who sign up for the French industrial reserve program commit to 10 days of training per year to maintain and refresh skills, paid for by the DGA. The companies then pay for the costs of workers serving in a reservist role, Chiva said.
Reservists joining from industry must have French nationality and will have a military status as non-commissioned officers or officers, with remuneration at the same level as active military of the same rank. France is targeting a defense industrial reserve of 3,000 people by 2030.
“Obviously, based on what we know are the priority works today, we’re targeting qualified staff,” Chiva said. “We’re going to target scarce resources or expertise. It takes many, many years to train a qualified technician, be it a welder or other.”
The defense industry already faces issues with training and skills, so there’s an immediate role for the industrial reservists, according to the DGA head. He said France has some 4,500 small and medium-sized companies working in defense, of which 1,200 are critical, and those are the ones that may need extra workers to help with training, design and production.
Chiva cited the example of workers at KNDS who were involved in ramping up production of the Caesar artillery gun, who could contribute their experience to help smaller firms with fewer resources deal with bottlenecks.
Earlier this month, the DGA signed a defense industrial reserve contract with shipbuilder Naval Group. The armed forces had previously signed similar contracts with 3D-printing company Vistory, firearm manufacturer Verney-Carron, and with Scania for maintenance. (Source: Defense News)
19 Nov 24. Aerospace firms urge more European collaboration ahead of Trump return.
- Summary
- European space industry needs to consolidate, Airbus CEO says
- Continent needs more defence co-operation, Saab CEO says
- Airbus CEO says Europe should be clear about its trade agenda
Aerospace companies urged European governments to bolster the autonomy of their defence and space industries and take a clear position on trade as the sector braces for the arrival of a second Trump administration in the United States.
Defence has surged up Europe’s political agenda due to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and fears that Washington may cut commitments to European security, particularly after Donald Trump was elected for a second term as U.S. president.
Meanwhile, Europe’s space industry has embarked on a fresh attempt to bring together parts of its loss-making satellites industry in the face of competition from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and civil aerospace firms are fretting over possible new tariffs.
Guillaume Faury, the chief executive of Airbus, which has announced 2,500 job cuts in space, said on Tuesday that Europe’s space industry needs to restructure and consolidate. (Source: Google/Reuters)
19 Nov 24. Greece on track to have the most powerful Armed Forces in its history by 2030. Last week, Greece’s Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, announced that Greece is set to build the strongest Armed Forces in its history by 2030, guaranteeing unmatched security for its citizens and society. He made the announcement on the 7th November, during a speech at the Piraeus Marine Club.
In his speech, Dendias stressed that the challenges Greece faces today are vastly different from those of the past century. “These threats require decisiveness, courage, clear vision, and the willingness to bear political costs,” he remarked, underscoring the vital role of the Hellenic Navy in ensuring deterrence measures across the Aegean region.
One of the key strategic shifts in Greece’s defence approach is set to be the creation of a comprehensive anti-missile defence system, which will use a multi-layered structure to protect the nation. As part of this system, mobile units are set to be deployed across the nation’s mainland, as well as its 2,400 islands.
Dendias also mentioned recent advancements in Greece’s defence against UAS, with the introduction of the ‘Kentavros’ (Centaur) anti-drone system. In addition to being successfully tested in the Eastern Aegean and during operational trials aboard Greek frigates in the Red Sea, system also showcased its effectiveness as it neutralised two drones, an event captured in a Dutch video. The minister confirmed that the ‘Kentavros’ system would be deployed across all four MEKO frigates in the Greek fleet.
These developments further establish Dendias’ plans for strategic reforms to build the strongest Armed Forces in the country’s history by 2030, announced earlier this year. Speaking at the 28th Annual Economist Government Roundtable in Lagonisi this Tuesday, July 2, Dendias emphasised the investments and reforms underway as part of Agenda 2030.
According to Dendias, “we don’t just spend; we are reforming”. He continued, “we call it Agenda 2030. It will bring the Armed Forces into the 21st century and beyond, both at the doctrinal level and by introducing innovation.”
With Greece allocating over 2% of its GDP to Defence, Dendias stressed how key this expenditure is to ensure the nation’s survival and regional stability. He also underlined that the reforms being undertaken as part of Agenda 2030 will strengthen Greece’s defence, ultimately leading the country to have its most powerful Armed Forces yet.
Some of the topics covered in Dendias’ address in July include:
- Addressing contemporary security threats across Europe
- The need for a renewed Euro-Atlantic defense and security framework
- Navigating the challenges of a potential global arms race
- The EU’s naval mission in the Red Sea
- The defence industry’s role in times of instability
- Energy security as a cornerstone of Europe’s resilience and solidarity
In discussing the current turbulent and challenging global situation, Greece’s Minister of National Defence also pointed out how important it is for each member state to fulfil its obligations, calling for a coordinated approach in responding to current challenges, such as the conflicts in North Africa, the persistent issues in the Western Balkans region, and the threats posed by the Houthis. To further discuss collaboration to address current tensions, and more specifically, the “Shields” operation, Dendias announced an upcoming meeting with Commissioner Borrell.
Dendias commended NATO as “the most successful military alliance in history,” citing its success in Ukraine. He also proposed that NATO should transform into more than just a military alliance, urging it to become an alliance based on principles that can advance its values worldwide. He concluded, “this is the challenge for NATO”.
https://cuashub.com/en/content/greece-on-track-to-have-the-most-powerful-armed-forces-in-its-history-by-2030/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
19 Nov 24. Undersea cable cut was likely sabotage, says German defence minister. The severing of an undersea communications cable between Germany and Finland is likely to have been an act of sabotage, Germany’s defence minister has said. Boris Pistorius said it was unclear who was responsible for what he described as a “hybrid” warfare tactic.
But he said: “No one believes that these cables were cut accidentally . . . Therefore we have to state, without knowing specifically who it came from, that it is a ‘hybrid’ action. And we also have to assume, without knowing it yet, that it is sabotage.” (Source: FT.com)
18 Nov 24. Germany to publish new defence industry strategy by year end, says minister. The German government will publish its new defence industry strategy, which aims to cut red tape and accelerate arms production, by the end of the year despite the collapse of the coalition, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Monday.
Germany, the largest backer of Ukraine in Europe, vowed to upgrade its eroded Bundeswehr army and boost defence as part of a “Zeitenwende” – or “turning point” – policy shift announced shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
“For too long, … the state has seen itself more as a regulator than as a partner to the defence industry,” said Pistorius at the ground-breaking ceremony of a new missile production site for MBDA in Schrobenhausen.
“The task is to further strengthen our country’s defence industrial base in these times. Not only to maintain it, but to strengthen it,” Pistorius said.
“We therefore want to specifically improve the framework conditions for an efficient security and defence industry.” (Source: Reuters)
18 Nov 24. BAE SYSTEMS Air Business Supports 70,000 jobs and Contributes £5bn to the economy.
- Over 70,000 UK jobs supported, particularly in the North West of England
- Research highlights the importance of sovereign air defence and economic contribution of programmes like Typhoon and also GCAP, which seeks to develop the next generation of fighter aircraft
A new report by Oxford Economics has demonstrated the critical role BAE Systems’ Air business plays in supporting economic growth in the UK, particularly in the North West of England.
By developing advanced technology, creating high quality jobs at its 21 UK locations and overseeing an extensive national supply chain, BAE Systems’ Air business is unlocking economic growth and driving innovation, all while bolstering UK national security.
The report reveals that in 2023, BAE Systems’ Air business:
- contributed over £5 bn to UK GDP, alongside an additional £2.6 bn in exports—a figure that has doubled since 2016 – and a further £220 m to UK government through tax revenues
- supported almost 70,700 jobs across the UK in highly skilled roles including combat air design, engineering, support and training, 20,000 of which were in the North West
- partnered with 1,400 UK suppliers, returning nearly £2.5 bn to UK businesses through its supply chain
Simon Barnes, Group Managing Director of BAE Systems Air, said: “At a time of great uncertainty around the world, our core focus is to serve, supply and protect those who serve and protect us. We also recognise the very significant impact we make to our economy and communities across the UK, and this report demonstrates how we are boosting national economic growth and job creation, with average productivity 15% above the national average.
“The report reinforces the importance of investing in national sovereign capabilities in combat air systems and UK-owned defence technology and intellectual property. The benefits delivered for the UK are clear and significant.”
Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said: “Military aerospace is a pivotal part of the UK economy. The UK’s strong defence industrial base, which is driven by export-generating companies like BAE Systems and its supply chain, is vital for our continued security. Collectively, the UK’s aerospace sector creates 104,000 jobs across the country and ensuring the sector thrives is deeply important for securing UK advantage.”
At any point in time, BAE Systems Air has over 1,400 apprentices and graduates across its business. This report by Oxford Economics is the latest to highlight the benefit that continued investment in advanced combat air programmes such as Typhoon and Tempest generate for the wider economy.
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Founded in 1987, Exensor Technology is a world leading supplier of Networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) Systems providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our Headquarters in Lund Sweden, our centre of expertise in Network Communications at Communications Research Lab in Kalmar Sweden and our Production site outside of Basingstoke UK, we design, develop and produce latest state of the art rugged UGS solutions at the highest quality to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. Our systems are in operation and used in a wide number of Military as well as Homeland Security applications worldwide. The modular nature of the system ensures any external sensor can be integrated, providing the user with a fully meshed “silent” network capable of self-healing. Exensor Technology will continue to lead the field in UGS technology, provide our customers with excellent customer service and a bespoke package able to meet every need. A CNIM Group Company
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