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03 Jan 25. Europe should emulate the US by pushing for more local procurement of military equipment to help boost the region’s defence infrastructure, a leading German contractor has said. (Source: FT.com)
02 Jan 25. NATO to Enhance Military Presence in the Baltic Sea. Allies met today (30 December 2024) at NATO Headquarters to consult on the security of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, following damage to undersea cables connecting Estonia and Finland on 25 December. The damage to the cables, which is being investigated by Finnish authorities, is one of a number of recent incidents in the Baltic Sea under scrutiny as possible sabotage. Allies expressed full solidarity with Estonia and Finland in the wake of the recent incident. In order to maintain vigilance, increase situational awareness, and deter future incidents, NATO is enhancing its military presence in the Baltic Sea. Allies are also considering other measures to address potential threats to critical undersea infrastructure, including with the support of NATO’s Maritime Centre for Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure that was established in May of this year. (Source: ASD Network)
31 Dec 24. Hensoldt boss urges Germany to spend 3% of GDP on defence. A logo of defense supplier Hensoldt AG is pictured during Hensoldt’s initial public offering (IPO) at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, September 25, 2020. Germany should commit to increasing its defence spending to a sum equivalent to 3% of gross domestic product, the chief executive officer of defence electronics specialist Hensoldt (HAGG.DE was quoted as saying on Tuesday. In an interview with the Neue Zuercher Zeitung, Oliver Doerre said Germany needed more tanks, more aircraft, more ships and improvements to existing weaponry to help build up a deterrent to threats emanating from countries like Russia. Doerre told the Swiss newspaper he expected the German government, which holds a 25.1% stake in Hensoldt, to maintain defence spending at a minimum of 2% of GDP.
“But I also believe that we need to move towards 3 to 3.5% of GDP,” he said. “At Christmas time you can make a wish: Germany should anchor 3% of GDP for defence in its constitution. This should then apply for at least ten years.”
“In Germany, the assumption is that Russia will have the capacity to attack NATO in 2028 or 2029. We need our own deterrence capability in Europe,” Doerre said.
Hensoldt, in which Italy’s partly state-owned Leonardo (LDOF.MI), also holds a 22.8% stake, produces radar and high-precision optics used in aircraft, ships and tanks. Turning to the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) air defence scheme, Doerre said Hensoldt had contracts with three participating countries, is concluding contracts with two more and is in talks with three other countries, without naming them. Asked about consolidation in the industry, Doerre said 2025 would be a year of partnerships, in which the firm would first enter discussions with companies. However, he noted small or medium-sized acquisitions were possible. He pointed to the company’s cooperation with Leonardo on the Eurofighter jet, adding: “Perhaps tanks will also be added, as Leonardo cooperates with Rheinmetall in this area.” (Source: Reuters)
02 Jan 25. UK Special Forces Troops Face Potential War Crimes Prosecution. Nine U.K. special forces members are under investigation for alleged war crimes in Syria, while a separate case involves a member of the armed forces in Afghanistan. The data, originally obtained through a Freedom of Information request by The Times, reveals that two cases are currently under review by the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA), the military’s counterpart to the Crown Prosecution Service. One case involves a single individual, while the other involves eight individuals. Details about these cases, including whether they pertain to singular or multiple incidents, have not been disclosed. The allegations reportedly concern actions taken during operations against Islamic State (IS) militants. Last March 2024, it was revealed that five SAS soldiers were under investigation over an incident in Syria more than two years ago, involving allegations of potential war crimes. The incident stemmed from an operation in which a suspected jihadist was killed. His body was found near a primed bomb vest, though he was not wearing it at the time of his death. The soldiers are alleged to have used excessive force, with superiors claiming that they should have arrested the man rather than killing him. The soldiers, in turn, claimed the suspect posed a threat and was planning a suicide attack. It remains unclear whether this case is the same as the one involving eight individuals, as previously reported. In addition to the Syria cases, the SPA is reviewing a case involving an individual’s conduct in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the ongoing investigations but said that the U.K. personnel are held to the highest standards and that any misconduct will be addressed, including dismissal where necessary. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)
27 Dec 24. Finland eyes defense-spending boost well past NATO mark. Finland’s conservative-led government has unveiled a broad plan to lift defense spending from $6.8bn in 2025 to $11.5bn in 2032. The government’s proposal, which has gained the majority support of the main opposition parties in the Eduskunta, the parliament here, would reposition Finland’s annual spending on defense closer to 3.3% of GDP, placing it well above NATO’s 2% guideline. Finland’s spending on defense in 2024 is expected to reach around 2.4% of the nation’s GDP. The cooling in political relations between Helsinki and Moscow against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine continues to bolster political and public support to increase Finland’s spending on national security, said Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen.
“The security situation, in Finland and regionally, is difficult to predict. It could deteriorate quickly. Greater investment is needed in defense and national security to enhance our ability to counter broad-spectrum influencing, resist military pressure and fight potential large-scale wars that could drag on for years. As a result, we will reform national defense while also bringing the major ongoing projects in our Air Force and Navy to the finish line,” Häkkänen said.
The Finnish government presented an updated Defense Report to the Eduskunta on Dec. 19, its first since the country joined NATO in April 2023. The report underscores the elevated risks and security threats posed by Russia.
The report warns of the danger that Russia could decide to extend its war with Ukraine to neighboring NATO-aligned Baltic countries and member states of the European Union.
“Russia has moved towards a more open, unpredictable and protracted confrontation with the West that will continue to pose a long-term security threat to Europe and Finland” the defense report states.
The increase in Finland’s spending on defense represents a natural consequence of its membership of NATO, but it is also a reflection of the heightened level of threat caused by “Russian military expansionism,” said Pauli Aalto-Setälä, a member of parliament for the National Coalition Party.
“Russia is a war-addicted terrorist state that is currently waging a full-scale war on its neighbor. This is the reality we face and Finland, as part of NATO and with our European partners, must act accordingly,” said Aalto-Setälä.
Finland’s defense budget has risen markedly since 2020 when it stood at $3.5bn. A number of big ticket procurements, including the $8.8bn deal to purchase 64 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters, saw the defense budget increase to $6.1bn in 2023. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
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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.
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