Sponsored by Exensor
www.exensor.com
————————————————————————-
21 Oct 21. NATO Ministers Bolster Alliance Deterrence, Defense. NATO defense ministers approved a plan that will make the alliance more responsive to the complex and changing security environment, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels, today.
The alliance ministers — including Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III — addressed NATO’s deterrence and defense posture during the first day of the Defense Ministerial.
“Today, ministers endorsed a new overarching plan to defend our alliance in crisis and conflict to make sure that we continue to have the right forces at the right place, at the right time to protect our one bn people from any threat,” Stoltenberg said during a news conference.
The allies are spending more on defense and they agreed to increase the readiness of forces, he said.
Defense ministers also reviewed progress in the alliance response to the growing threat from Russia’s missile systems. “We will not mirror Russia’s destabilizing behavior, and we have no intention to deploy new land-based nuclear missiles in Europe,” Stoltenberg said. “So we are implementing a balanced package of political and military measures to respond to this threat.”
This package includes significant improvements to alliance air and missile defenses. It also calls for strengthening conventional capabilities with fifth-generation jets, adapting exercises and intelligence, and improving the readiness and effectiveness of the nuclear deterrent.
The ministers also discussed Afghanistan. NATO nations went into Afghanistan together and departed together. “We exchanged views on how to preserve the gains and ensure Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists,” he said. “We agreed we must remain vigilant. We will monitor any attempts by international terrorist groups to regroup in Afghanistan.”
The United States is among the allies that have the capabilities to strike these terror groups from over the horizon, he said. “We will hold the Taliban accountable for their pledges on terrorism, safe passage and human rights,” the secretary general said.
He stresses that the alliance must learn the lessons from the almost 20-year war. The ministers were able to discuss the lessons learned process and some of the first reports from that process, he said.
“The crisis in Afghanistan does not change the need for Europe and North America to stand together in NATO in the face of growing global challenges,” Stoltenberg said. “Our unity and our strength is what keeps us secure. It is vital that we continue to coordinate and stand together in the fight against international terrorism.”
Deliberations will continue tomorrow at NATO headquarters including a meeting of the Global Coalition against the Islamic State, he said. (Source: US DoD)
21 Oct 21. NATO to boost air and missile defense investments to counter Russia. NATO’s forthcoming plans to deter Russia includes “significant improvements to our air and missile defenses” as well as fifth-generation jets, alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday.
“Today, ministers endorsed a new overarching plan to defend our alliance in crisis and conflict, to make sure that we continue to have the right forces at the right place at the right time,” Stoltenberg told reporters Thursday, capping the first day of NATO’s two-day defense ministerial meeting.
The defense ministers of alliance-member countries committed to the new NATO “capability targets,” negotiated as part of the alliance’s regular defense planning cycle. A source said the alliance plans to invest in missile systems like the Raytheon Technologies-built Patriot and the SAMP/T air defense system made by Eurosam.
“We are implementing a balanced package of political and military measures to respond to this threat,” Stoltenberg said.
“This includes significant improvements to our air and missile defenses, strengthening our conventional capabilities with fifth-generation jets, adapting our exercises and intelligence and improving the readiness and effectiveness of our nuclear deterrent,” he added.
Members agreed to “have more forces which are heavier and more high-end capabilities,” as well as more advanced forces to “exploit emerging and disruptive technologies,” Stoltenberg said.
The members approved plans for exercises, intelligence activities, artificial intelligence standards and technological innovation ― as well as the plan for thousands of mutually agreed upon targets.
“This is a key aspect of NATO cooperation that we actually agreed to specific targets and allies deliver them. That’s also one of the reasons why we need to continue to see increased defense spending,” Stoltenberg said. (Source: US DoD)
21 Oct 21. UK warns China against dangerous military moves around Taiwan. Britain’s defence minister called on China on Thursday to find a peaceful way to settle its dispute with Taiwan, warning that Chinese incursions into the Taiwanese air defence zone were dangerous and could spark conflict. Western capitals and Taipei are on alert after the Chinese air force intensified its overflights on Oct. 1.
“Militarily they are posturing, as we’ve seen. We think that’s unwise,” British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told reporters.
“You’re in danger of destabilising the region, you’re in danger of provoking further conflict in other disputed areas,” he said during a visit to Brussels for a NATO meeting, which is not expected to discuss China or Taiwan.
Military experts say the overflights by Chinese bombers, and Taiwan’s scrambling of its jets in response, heighten the risk of an accident or miscalculation that could touch off a crisis.
Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed on Oct. 9 to achieve “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan and did not directly mention the use of force. read more
But democratically ruled Taiwan has come under increased military and political pressure from Beijing to accept its sovereignty over the island, which it regards as a renegade province. Taipei has pledged to defend its freedom.
“The difference between mainland China and Taiwan needs to be resolved through peaceful methods,” Wallace said, adding that he saw parallels with Hong Kong.
The former British colony was handed over to China by in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” framework, allowing it to enjoy freedoms, such as those of expression and assembly, and an independent legal system, not enjoyed on the mainland.
But Communist-ruled China has imposed a sweeping national security law to crack down on dissent. Beijing and Hong Kong officials deny Western accusations that law impinges on the city’s freedoms.
“I think it’s why we were so worried about Hong Kong, because Taiwan was effectively included in the ‘one country, two systems’,” Wallace said. “And if you trash that and you break those commandments, what does that mean for Taiwan?” (Source: Reuters)
21 Oct 21. NATO agrees master plan to deter growing Russian threat. NATO defence ministers agreed a new master plan on Thursday to defend against any potential Russian attack on multiple fronts, reaffirming the alliance’s core goal of deterring Moscow despite a growing focus on China. The confidential strategy aims to prepare for any simultaneous attack in the Baltic and Black Sea regions that could include nuclear weapons, hacking of computer networks and assaults from space.
“We continue to strengthen our alliance with better and modernised plans,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said after the meeting, which also agreed a $1 bn fund to provide seed financing to develop new digital technologies.
Officials stress that they do not believe any Russian attack is imminent. Moscow denies any aggressive intentions and says it is NATO that risks destabilising Europe with such preparations.
But diplomats say the “Concept for Deterrence and Defence in the Euro-Atlantic Area” – and its strategic implementation plan – is needed as Russia develops advanced weapon systems and deploys troops and equipment closer to the allies’ borders.
“This is the way of deterrence,” German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said of the plan.
“And this is being adapted to the current behaviour of Russia – and we are seeing violations particularly of the air space over the Baltic states, but also increasing incursions over the Black Sea,” she told German radio Deutschlandfunk.
Approval allows for more detailed regional plans by the end of 2022, a U.S. official said, allowing NATO to decide what additional weapons it needs and how to position its forces.
FLASHPOINTS
In May, Russia amassed some 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine, the highest number since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014, Western officials say. In September, Russia used new combat robots in large military drills with its ex-Soviet ally Belarus that have alarmed Baltic allies.
Russia is upgrading or replacing Soviet military space systems to potentially attack satellites in orbit, developing artificial intelligence-based technologies to disrupt allied command systems, and also developing “super weapons”.
Unveiled in 2018, they include nuclear-capable hypersonic cruise missiles that could evade early-warning systems.
Retired U.S. General Ben Hodges, who commanded U.S. army forces in Europe from 2014 until 2017, said he hoped the plan would foster greater coherence in NATO’s collective defence, meaning more resources for the Black Sea region.
“To me, this is the more likely flashpoint than the Baltics,” Hodges told Reuters, noting fewer big allies such as Britain and France have a strong presence in the Black Sea, and Turkey is more focused on conflict in Syria.
Jamie Shea, a former senior NATO official now at the Friends of Europe think-tank in Brussels, said the plan might also help to cement a focus on Russia at a time when major allies are seeking to boost their presence in the Indo-Pacific and counter China’s rising military power.
“The assumption up until now has been that Russia is a nuisance but not an imminent threat. But the Russians are doing some worrying things. They’re practising with robotics, and hypersonic cruise missiles could be very disruptive indeed,” Shea said. (Source: Reuters)
21 Oct 21. MOD to establish Defence Serious Crime Unit. A judge-led review into how allegations of serious criminal wrongdoing are raised and investigated in the Armed Forces has been published today. The Henriques Review recognises the need for the MOD to establish a Defence Serious Crime Unit and that the Service Justice System is necessary and fit for purpose. The review, led by Sir Richard Henriques, was commissioned by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in October 2020 to ensure the guidance and policy framework for investigating allegations during overseas operations is fit for the future.
The review agreed with the conclusions of the Service Justice System Review, conducted by HH Shaun Lyons and Sir Jon Murphy, of the need for a separate system of military justice and that the Service Justice System is fit for purpose. The Service Justice System Review looked at the system as a whole to consider if it continues to be necessary, fair and efficient.
The recommendations made by Sir Richard Henriques add to reforms made under the Overseas Operations Act.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said, “It is absolutely vital the UK has the most effective framework, skills and processes in place when it comes to investigating allegations of serious criminal wrongdoing by UK Armed Forces, which is why I commissioned this review last year.
The recommendations of the review provide both greater certainty for victims and service personnel with reassurance and clarity on future operations. I thank Sir Richard for his report and we will look to make progress on his recommendations where possible.”
Sir Richard has also expressed his support of the provisions in the current Armed Forces Bill on the Service Justice System, including the decision to retain concurrent jurisdiction so it remains possible for offences committed by a person subject to service law, while in the UK, to be tried either in the service or civilian justice system.
There are 64 recommendations in the report, approximately a third of which are focused on taking forward the establishment of a Defence Serious Crime Unit (DSCU) under a newly appointed Provost Marshal, strengthening the operational effectiveness of the service police to deal with serious offences reported in Defence. This is a key measure in meeting our commitment to further strengthen the Service Justice System.
The DSCU will be tri-service, strengthening our position to respond to serious crime. The DSCU will combine the resource and specialist skills from across the single services under one single unit, building an independent, stronger, more effective and collaborative approach to policing across Defence, enhancing capability whilst further supporting victims.
The Government will be bringing forward amendments to the Armed Forces Bill to implement the recommendations on the Defence Serious Crime Unit, which require primary legislation.
Other recommendations are operations-led, such as enhanced training, improvements to detention processes and record-keeping, and for non-statutory protocols between the Service Police, the Service Prosecuting Authority and the Judge Advocate General relating to the investigation of allegations against UK forces.
Work is underway to consider the rest of Sir Richard’s recommendations in more detail. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
19 Oct 21. Lithuania increases defence spending. The Lithuanian government presented a draft state budget for 2022, increasing national defence spending to EUR1.176bn (USD1.367bn), the Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced on its website on 12 October.
Finance Minister Gintarė Skaistė told a press conference the day before that this would raise defence spending from 2.03% in 2021 to 2.05% in 2022, Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT) reported on its website on 11 October. She added that Lithuanian political parties support the gradual increase of defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030.
The MND quoted Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anušauskas as saying the budget increase would allow the continuation of the Lithuanian Army’s most important projects. These include the implementation of a medium-range air-defence system; equipping units declared to NATO and the army’s rapid reaction force with infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) in 2023; increasing naval minehunting capabilities in 2024; meeting Lithuania’s obligations to make battalion groups available to NATO and the rapid reaction force; achieving a maritime situational-awareness capability; and supplying units declared to NATO and the rapid reaction force with armoured utility vehicles. In addition, Lithuania plans to acquire medium-range mobile radars in 2025 and complete the second phases of the procurement of IFVs and armoured utility vehicles for its army by 2031.
The Lithuanian defence budget follows NATO’s recommendations of allocating no more than 50% of military spending to personnel retention and at least 20% to major acquisitions, according to the MND. (Source: Janes)
20 Oct 21. UK in talks to sell arms to Ukraine for first time. MoD deal comes amid fears that Russia could use the gas crisis to seize more Ukrainian territory Britain could sell missiles to Ukraine for the first time after it emerged on Wednesday night that the two countries were discussing the supply of arms. The Ministry of Defence is in talks with its Ukranian counterparts about the supply of surface-to-surface maritime Brimstone missiles and air-to-surface Brimstone missiles, according to a report in The Times. A Ukrainian defence source told the newspaper the missile sale would represent the first time that Britain had sold weapons to the eastern European country. The missiles are designed by MBDA UK which is based in France but manufacturing and design also occurs in Britain. The proposed deal comes amid concerns that Russia could exploit the gas crisis shortage to seize more Ukrainian territory. Ukraine currently acts as a transit for Russia’s gas pipeline but if the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea becomes operational, President Putin will no longer be reliant on Kiev to supply gas to Europe, putting the country at risk of further hostile Russian action. Downing Street has previously raised concern about the impact Nord Stream 2 would have on Ukraine. Earlier this month, a spokesperson said: “Ukraine currently hosts the largest existing pipeline network for Russian gas, and transit fees have historically made up a significant proportion of Ukraine’s GDP.
“Nord Stream 2 would divert supplies away from Ukraine, with significant consequences for its economy. It could also have significant security implications.” (Source: Daily Telegraph)
21 Oct 21. NATO to agree master plan to deter growing Russian threat, diplomats say. NATO defence ministers are set to agree a new master plan on Thursday to defend against any potential Russian attack on multiple fronts, reasserting a bid to deter Moscow despite the alliance’s new focus on China, diplomats and officials said.
The strategy, which is confidential, goes beyond existing regional defence plans and aims to prepare for any simultaneous attack in the Baltic and Black Sea regions, possibly including nuclear weapons, hacking of computer networks or from space.
Officials and diplomats say no such attack is imminent. Russia denies any war-like intentions and says it is NATO that risks destabilising Europe with such preparations.
But U.S. officials, NATO diplomats and former officials say the “Concept for Deterrence and Defence in the Euro-Atlantic Area” – and its strategic implementation plan – is needed as Russia develops advanced weapon systems and deploys troops and equipment closer to allied borders.
“If you have that kind of major conflict, it will require activity across the entire area of operations,” said a senior U.S. government official. “Various things could happen at the same time, and that really requires holistic planning.”
In May, Russia amassed some 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine, the highest number since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014, according to Western officials. In September, Russia used new combat robots in large military drills with its ex-Soviet ally Belarus that have alarmed Baltic allies.
With Russia upgrading or replacing Soviet military space systems to potentially attack satellites in orbit, developing artificial intelligence-based technologies to disrupt allied command systems, Moscow is also developing “super weapons”.
Unveiled in 2018, they include nuclear-capable hypersonic cruise missiles that could evade early-warning systems.
Retired U.S. General Ben Hodges, who commanded U.S. army forces in Europe from 2014 until 2017, told Reuters he hoped the strategic plan would lead to more coherence in NATO’s collective defence, meaning more resources for the Black Sea region.
“To me, this is the more likely flashpoint than the Baltics,” Hodges said, noting fewer big allies such as Britain and France with a strong presence in the Black Sea, and Turkey more focused on conflict in Syria.
Jamie Shea, a former senior NATO official now at the Friends of Europe think-tank in Brussels, said the plan might also help to cement a focus on Russia at a time when the United States, Britain and France are developing Indo-Pacific strategies.
The allies are seeking to boost their presence in the Indo-Pacific and counter China’s rising military power, deploying more ships to keep open sea routes.
“The assumption up until now, has been that Russia is a nuisance, but it’s not an imminent threat. But the Russians are doing some worrying things, they’re practicing with robotics and hypersonic cruise missiles could be very disruptive indeed,” Shea said. (Source: Reuters)
20 Oct 21. NATO Secretary General Details Agenda for Defense Meeting. NATO Defense Ministers are meeting in Belgium to chart the course for the alliance as it modernizes and adapts to a world dominated by strategic competition, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during a news conference in Brussels today. The alliance must maintain the technological edge over any competitor, he said. This is the first in-person defense ministerial since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is attending the two-day meeting.
“We must keep our technological edge,” Stoltenberg said. “Future conflicts will be fought not just with bullets and bombs, but also with bytes and big data. We see authoritarian regimes racing to develop new technologies — from artificial intelligence to autonomous systems. So, we are taking further steps to ‘future-proof’ our alliance.”
Stoltenberg announced that the alliance will launch the NATO Innovation Fund at the ministerial. The fund will have over a bn dollars to support the development of dual-use emerging and disruptive technologies, in key areas for allied security.
The fund is tied to the Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic — or DIANA — that heads of state agreed to at the Brussels, Belgium, summit in June. DIANA will have headquarters in Europe and North America and a network of test centers and accelerator sites “to harness civilian innovation for our security,” the secretary general said. “Many allies have made offers to host these facilities and some of them will be in place next year.”
Carrying on the high-tech theme, the defense ministers will agree to field the alliance’s first-ever strategy on artificial intelligence to integrate the breakthrough technology to areas such as data analysis, imagery and cyber defense, he said. He stressed that the strategy will lay out the principles of safe and responsible use of the technology in accordance with international law.
Russia remains the greatest disturber of the peace in Europe, and the Putin regime announced the closure of its mission to NATO and of the NATO offices in Moscow earlier this week. “We regret this decision, which does not promote dialogue and mutual understanding,” Stoltenberg said. “But NATO’s policy remains consistent, and we remain open to dialogue, including through the NATO Russia Council. At the same time, we will continue to assess how we can further strengthen our deterrence and defense.”
Alliance officials must ensure the right plans, capabilities and forces are available to protect member nations. “We will also review progress in our response to the challenge from Russia’s nuclear-capable missile systems,” he said. “In 2018, NATO allies determined that Russia had developed and deployed missiles in breach of the treaty, which led to the demise of the treaty. Since then, Russia has further increased its arsenal of missiles and is developing hypersonic systems.”
These Russian missiles are a threat to security worldwide. “We will not mirror Russia’s actions,” Stoltenberg said. “But we will maintain strong deterrence and defense.”
The alliance’s Nuclear Planning Group will consider how to keep the nuclear deterrent safe, secure and effective, while remaining committed to arms control. “NATO’s goal is a world without nuclear weapons,” the secretary general said. “But we do not believe in unilateral disarmament. A world where Russia, China and other countries, like North Korea, have nuclear weapons, but NATO does not, is simply not a safer world.”
The ministers will also discuss the 20-year war in Afghanistan and look for ways to ensure the country cannot become a safe haven for terrorists. “Allies have the capabilities to strike from far away against terrorist threats,” he said. “We will also hold the Taliban accountable for their commitments on terrorism, human rights and safe passage. The international community has economic and diplomatic leverage over the Taliban.”
He said the alliance is looking at the experience in the country, and the ministers will launch a lessons-learned process, he said.
“Looking ahead, we must continue to stand together in the fight against international terrorism,” he said. “And in the margins of this ministerial, we will hold a meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh.” (Source: US DoD)
17 Oct 21. Turkey’s Erdogan says U.S. proposed F-16 sales in return for its F-35 investment. President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that the United States had proposed the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey in return for its investment in the F-35 programme, from which Ankara was removed after purchasing missile defence systems from Russia. Reuters reported earlier this month that Turkey made a request to the United States to buy 40 Lockheed Martin-made F-16 fighter jets and nearly 80 modernization kits for its existing warplanes. read more
Speaking to reporters before departing for a trip to West Africa, Erdogan said Turkey wants a return for its investment in the F-35 programme and that talks on the issue are ongoing.
“There is the payment of $1.4bn we have made for the F-35s and the U.S. had such a proposal in return for these payments,” Erdogan said.
“And regarding this, we said let’s take whatever steps are needed to be taken to meet the defence needs of our country,” he said, adding that the new F-16 jets would help develop its fleet.
Ankara had ordered more than 100 F-35 jets, made by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), but the U.S. removed Turkey from the programme in 2019 after it acquired Russian S-400 missile defence systems.
The decades-old partnership between the NATO allies has gone through unprecedented tumult in the past five years over disagreements on Syria policy, Ankara’s closer ties with Moscow, its naval ambitions in the eastern Mediterranean, U.S. charges against a state-owned Turkish bank and erosion of rights and freedoms in Turkey. Ankara’s purchase of the S-400s has also triggered U.S. sanctions. In December 2020, Washington blacklisted Turkey’s Defence Industry Directorate, its chief, Ismail Demir, and three other employees. Since then the U.S. has repeatedly warned Turkey against buying further Russian weaponry. But Erdogan has indicated Ankara still intends to buy a second batch of S-400s from Russia, a move that could deepen the rift with Washington.
The request for the jets will likely have a difficult time getting approval from the U.S. Congress, where sentiment towards Turkey has soured deeply over recent years. There is bipartisan support in U.S. Congress to push the Biden administration to put further pressure on Ankara, primarily over its purchase of Russian weapons and its human rights track record. Ankara has said it hopes for better ties under U.S. President Joe Biden. (Source: Reuters)
————————————————————————-
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 Home land 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
————————————————————————-