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24 Nov 21. CAE Delivers Initial CAE Medallion MR e-Series Visual Display Systems to BAE for TFST Program. One week ahead of the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), the world’s largest military training and simulation event, CAE announced that it is installing the first two CAE Medallion MR e-Series visual display systems with BAE Systems as part of the Typhoon Future Synthetic Training (TFST) program for the Royal Air Force (RAF). CAE is installing the first two CAE Medallion MR e-Series visual display systems at RAF Coningsby where they will be integrated with Typhoon cockpits and other simulation systems. Site acceptance testing is planned over the next several months ahead of the expected ready-for-training certification later in 2022. In total, BAE Systems contracted CAE to provide ten CAE Medallion MR e-Series visual display systems that BAE Systems will integrate into the Typhoon full-mission simulators for the RAF. Six of the CAE Medallion MR e-Series visual display systems will go to RAF Coningsby and four to RAF Lossiemouth, which are the RAF’s two main Typhoon operating bases.
During I/ITSEC (www.iitsec.org) in Orlando, Florida next week, CAE (Booth #1734) will be demonstrating the 225-degree dome display variant of the CAE e-Series visual system designed specifically for fighter and fast-jet training applications.
“We look forward to our e-Series visual display systems supporting the synthetic training capability that BAE Systems is delivering to the Royal Air Force,” said Marc-Olivier Sabourin, Vice President and General Manager, Defence & Security International, CAE. “The exceptional realism and digital immersion offered by our e-Series product line helps deliver significant training value by allowing complex and challenging fighter aircraft tasks to be rehearsed in a safe virtual environment.”
CAE is also under contract to provide BAE Systems with four Medallion MR e-Series visual display systems for the Eurofighter Typhoon simulators BAE Systems will deliver to the Qatar Emiri Air Force. In addition, a CAE e-Series visual display system will be delivered to BAE Systems to be used as part of the Typhoon Virtual Environment systems integration lab at the company’s Eurofighter Typhoon production facility in Warton, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
“In an increasingly complex battlespace, the ability to fly multiple aircraft alongside maritime and land assets is crucial to mission success and Typhoon Future Synthetic Training puts Typhoon at the heart of this for the UK,” said Jez Milne, Head of Operational Training Delivery, BAE Systems – Air. “Synthetics deliver cost savings, but they also deliver highly complex scenarios quickly, effectively and securely whilst reducing the cost and environmental impact of live flying.”
BAE Systems is the prime contractor responsible for the TFST program for the RAF and will deliver ten next-generation Typhoon simulators and eight deployable trainers equipped with the latest software to match the aircraft operated on the front line.
CAE’s e-Series product line offers an ideal visual solution for a range of fighter and fast-jet training tasks, such as formation and low-level flying, air-to-air refueling, and target identification. Some of the key features include:
- Unique screen shape and coating along with pixel-shifting technology that optimizes visual acuity to the pilot;
- Operation at 120 Hz for improved dynamic resolution and enhanced Detection, Orientation, Recognition, Identification (DORI) ranges;
- Optically blended visual channels in the primary field-of-view;
- Ease of cockpit ingress and egress with innovative door design;
- Compact footprint and ease of maintenance.
(Source: ASD Network)
25 Nov 21. China Develops ‘Mini Aircraft Carrier’ to Train PLA Navy to Defend Against Drone Swarms. China looks to have launched an odd mini-aircraft carrier of sorts that is intended to launch and recover small aerial drones earlier this year.
A model of this catamaran vessel appeared at this year’s Zhuhai Airshow, where it was ostensibly described as a platform for mimicking enemy “electronic” systems during training exercises.
This ship will be able to simulate hostile drone swarms, along with other kinds of threats, such as high-volume anti-ship missile strikes and distributed electronic warfare attacks. It also reflects the Chinese military’s interest in operational swarming capabilities, and especially in the maritime domain.
The photographs show a cartoon shark painted on the outer side of the ship’s twin hull. This made the ship very similar to the model displayed in Zhuhai. It is believed the state-run China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) is involved in the development of the ship.
From the photographs, it is very evident how the ship is going to be employed in maritime exercises. For conducting a realistic drone swarm training exercise, it will be required to release a cluster of drones at once.
Another picture, seen below, from what would seem to be the same event shows a poster depicting the ship, along with the logo for the state-run China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, or CASIC. The model at Zhuhai was at a CASIC booth.
The model of the vessel at Zhuhai depicted it carrying five relatively small tandem-rotor drone helicopters on a large open foredeck in front of the main superstructure. In addition, it showed multiple large antenna domes, which might be associated with high-bandwidth communications systems that would be useful for controlling large groups of unmanned helicopters. The domes were mounting on a large tower on top of the superstructure that would offer a very good location just for positioning line-of-sight control links.
As for the drones themselves, the CASIC booth also had a separate model of one of them showing a bar underneath the fuselage with what appears to be some kind of radiofrequency signal emitter installed on either end. What could be other antennas are seen jutting out from the sides of the fuselage and the portly design points to some degree of internal payload capacity.
There was a small sign next to the model at Zhuhai with descriptions of the ship in Chinese and English. Available pictures of the sign do not provide a clear view of all of the English text, but part of it reads “Multifunctional Integrated Electronic Blue Army System.” In Chinese military parlance, mock opponents in training exercises are referred to as the “Blue Army.” This is in direct contrast to how the U.S. military and other western armed forces describe generic simulated enemies as the “Red Force.”
Based on this description, and from what we can see of the ship’s design and that of the drones on its deck, it’s not hard to imagine how it might be employed in maritime exercises both far out to sea and in littoral areas. For realistic training against swarms, it would be necessary to sortie lots of drones at once.
Beyond that, the unmanned helicopters could pump out signals reflecting the signatures of various kinds of missiles, or even just waves of manned or unmanned aircraft. The rotary-wing drones would be fitted with electronic warfare systems to carry out electronic attacks, as well. All of this would provide a relatively low-cost way to simulate swarms, along with other kinds of aerial threats during drills, and do so across a broad area.
The large open decks on the ship in front of and behind the superstructure might provide room for the addition of other capabilities. Catapults or static launchers for fixed-wing drones, including those designed specifically as targets, as well as recovery systems, could be installed in those spaces to expand the kinds of threats the vessel would be to simulate.
(Source: UAS VISION/The Drive)
24 Nov 21. UK Defence Secretary and Qatari Defence Minister unveil new Joint Hawk Squadron. The new squadron will deliver training to British and Qatari pilots. Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace MP and the Qatari Minister of State for Defence, His Excellency Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, have unveiled a new Joint Hawk Training Squadron at RAF Leeming in Yorkshire. This new Joint Squadron builds on years of close partnership between the Royal Air Force and the Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF). The Squadron will deliver advanced and high-speed jet training to QEAF and RAF pilots in the new Hawks. This will greatly enhance the capabilities of the two Air Forces and improve their ability to operate together. The Defence Secretary and His Excellency Dr Khalid, a trained fast-jet pilot, travelled to RAF Leeming to see the rollout of BAE Systems’ new Hawk Mk167 jet.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “The UK’s defence relationship with Qatar is strong and enduring and it has been a great pleasure to welcome His Excellency Dr Khalid to RAF Leeming. The new Joint Hawk Squadron not only delivers greater prosperity for British industry, it will also allow our Armed Forces to build stronger relationships and create opportunities for further engagement with our Gulf partners in the future.”
Qatar is among the UK’s closest partners in the Gulf region. Our Armed Forces work together to address shared security challenges and common threats in the region and beyond. Our defence relationship helps to improve regional stability in the Gulf and helps to ensure the security of the UK.
Training at RAF Leeming is already underway and the first four QEAF student pilots began Hawk training in October. The Squadron will aim to train eight Qatari pilots a year, with RAF student pilots due to join the Squadron in 2022 to train alongside their Qatari counterparts.
The new Joint Hawk Training Squadron builds on the great success of the UK-Qatar Joint Typhoon Squadron based at RAF Coningsby. This Squadron aims to aims to train up to 20 Qatari pilots ahead of the delivery of Typhoons to Qatar to in 2023.
Qatar has ordered nine Hawk Mk167 aircraft, which are manufactured in Lancashire by BAE Systems. This is part of a £6bn package which also includes 24 Typhoons and bespoke training. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
22 Nov 21. Maritime forces from five nations take part in ANNUALEX 2021 exercise. ANNUALEX is a yearly naval training drill led by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
JS Kirishima (DDG 174), USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and JS Onami (DD 111) sail alongside USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during Annual Exercise. Credit: U.S. Navy/MCSN Joshua Sapien.
Naval forces from Canada and Germany have joined Australia, Japan, and the US to conduct multilateral, multinational exercise ANNUALEX 2021.
The exercise started on 21 November and runs until 30 November. It is being conducted in the Philippine Sea, off the southern coast of Japan.
The 2021 iteration of multilateral exercise ANNUALEX is being conducted by the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, German Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the US Navy.
Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 commander rear admiral Dan Martin said: “ANNUALEX presents an opportunity to strategically coordinate, collaborate and further strengthen our network of partnerships and alliances, enabling us to remain a flexible, adaptable and persistent combined force capable of quickly projecting power, where and when needed.”
During the exercise, participating naval forces will operate in a maritime scenario that is complex and integrated with surface and air engagements.
Activities in the exercise are designed to enhance war-fighting readiness and maritime superiority in the Indo-Pacific region.
This marks the first time in 20 years that the German Navy is participating in maritime drills in the Indo-Pacific region.
German Navy chief vice admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach said: “The German Navy will strengthen its commitment to the region through deeper security and defence cooperation with regional partners.
“Germany would seek to send a frigate every two years to the Indo-Pacific region with a supply ship.”
Led by CSG 1, US Navy units participating in ANNUALEX include aircraft carrier USNS John Ericsson, USS Carl Vinson, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106) of DESRON 1, Henry J Kaiser-class Fleet replenishment vessel USNS Rappahannock and (T-AO as well as nine squadrons of embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 are participating on behalf of the US Navy in the exercise. (Source: naval-technology.com)
23 Nov 21. US ACC’s F-15Es participate in DCA NucWSEP iteration. Aircrew and maintenance staff flew and loaded B61-3 and B61-4 JTAs on F-15Es. The US Air Combat Command (ACC) F-15E Strike Eagles took part in Dual Capable Aircraft (DCA) Nuclear Weapons System Evaluation Program (NucWSEP). NucWSEP was held at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) in Nevada earlier this year. During this iteration, aircrew and maintenance personnel flew and loaded B61-3 and B61-4 Joint Test Assemblies (JTAs) on F-15Es. The F-15Es were provided by the 391st Fighter Squadron (391 FS), Mountain Home AFB in Idaho.
Released at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada, the JTAs were intended to support additional efforts in testing the capability of the F-15E to deliver B61 series tactical nuclear weapons.
ACC Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration deputy director lieutenant colonel Douglas Kabel said: “A Nuclear Evaluation Mission tests and evaluates maintenance, aircrew, and weapons airmen to provide assurance of nuclear capabilities from stockpile to delivery.
“It improves our readiness by giving our warfighters the experience they would need to employ the F-15E and the B61 series weapons in a future conflict within a contested environment.”
According to the USAF, the F-15E offers a ‘complementary tie’ from fourth-generation Dual Capable Aircraft platforms with fifth and sixth-generation fighter jets, under the ‘4+1’ future fighter plan.
This means that F-15Es continue to play a significant role as the Air Force refines the Combat Air Force, Force Generation Concept.
ACC commander-general Mark Kelly said: “CAFFORGEN will increase and sustain readiness for combat air forces.
“We have to generate high-performing combat teams before combat – and get them in place at the speed of relevance.”
The F-15E dual-role fighter is an advanced long-range interdiction fighter and tactical aircraft. It is the latest version of the Eagle, a Mach 2.5-class twin-engine fighter.
Kabel added: “As a dual-capable aircraft participating in ACE operations, we send a strong message to our allies and adversaries that our capabilities are credible, our options are numerous and we can respond to a crisis in any corner of the world at a moment’s notice.
“These operations enable our joint team to provide extended deterrence to our allies in Europe and around the world in support of our national security strategy.” (Source: airforce-technology.com)
17 Nov 21. Exercise COBALT–2021 began in Tajikistan with the participation of the Special Forces of the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organisation) CFFR. Joint exercise of Special Forces formations, internal affairs bodies, state security, ministries and departments for emergency situations and drug control of the Collective Rapid Response Forces (CRRF) of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) COBALT-2021 starts at the Fakhrabad range in Tajikistan. The exercise will be held from November 17 to 19. In the course of practical actions, Russian servicemen, together with colleagues from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, will work out issues of planning and conducting an operation to destroy militants, acting as part of the Special Forces of the CSTO CRRF. The Russian military contingent is represented by military personnel of the Special Purpose Unit [Spetsnaz] of the Central Military District and the reconnaissance battalion of the 201st military base. In total, about 60 people and 10 pieces of military equipment are involved in the exercise from the Russian side, including two Mi-8MTV5-1 helicopters of the 201st military base air group. (Source: www.joint-forces.com)
16 Nov 21. The Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC) hosted a special exercise for movements of NATO forces in Ulm, Germany, from Monday, November 15, until Tuesday, November 16, 2021. About 60 international participants from different Allied entities rehearsed the movement of the NATO Response Force (NRF) and additional units in time of crisis.
The event involved delegations from Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), United States European Command (USEUCOM), Joint Force Command Brunssum, Joint Force Command Norfolk, 21st Theater Sustainment Command (TSC), United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) and the concerned states. The participants spent two intensive days exercising the movement of allied elements comprised of the NATO Response Force and other allied forces. The exercise scenario challenged the logistics experts to overcome practical constraints that arise from moving large combat forces at the speed of relevance and their sustainment in all directions spanning 360 degrees.
“It was a great opportunity for the Joint Support and Enabling Command to credibly demonstrate our readiness in conjunction with the other NATO headquarters and all involved stakeholders,” emphasized Lieutenant General Jürgen Knappe, JSEC Commander, who was very pleased by the “excellent organization of the multinational event which once more fostered the cohesion of the Alliance and strengthened the transatlantic link.”
“Such exercises bring together NATO logistics professionals who were challenged with moving and sustaining forces over a prolonged period of time in order to identify procedural gaps and ways, how to close them for the future,” he explained the purpose of the rehearsal of concept, often referred to as ‘ROC Drill’. It mirrored one of JSEC’s core tasks: The coordination of the NATO troop movements across the Alliance in all possible directions. (Source: Joint Forces)]
19 Nov 21. Brunei and US forces conclude 27th CARAT Brunei exercise. The bilateral exercise started on 15 November and involved virtual engagements. The Royal Brunei Armed Forces and US military have concluded the 27th Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Brunei maritime exercise. The exercise, which began on 15 November, involved five days of virtual activities focused on shared maritime security challenges. It successfully concluded on 19 November. Staff from the US 7th Fleet, Commander Task Force (CTF) 72, CTF 73, CTF 76, Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC), US Coast Guard (USCG) Pacific Area, DESRON 7, and the US Embassy Brunei are the participating American assets in the exercise. The exercise is majorly focused on the complete spectrum of naval capabilities, according to Command Destroyer Squadron 7 Public Affairs lieutenant general Mohammad Iss. During the exercise, the two nations worked towards ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific maritime security. The virtual subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) events in the drill comprised several joint training opportunities. Activities such as riverine security training, Women, Peace & Security (WPS) symposium, maritime domain awareness (MDA), replenishment-at-sea (RAS) best practices, uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), and anti-terrorism force protection, among a few others, were conducted.
Task Force 73 Logistics Group Western Pacific commander rear admiral Philip Sobeck said: “The Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the US Armed Forces showed our readiness and resilience again in 2021.
“For five days, from November 15 to November 19, we bilaterally committed to multiple dynamic events on land and in the cyber world.”
In its 27th year, the CARAT series included exercises designed to enhance US and the participating navy’s abilities to operate together in response to ‘traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges’ in the Indo-Pacific region.
Sobeck added: “The Royal Brunei Armed Forces were one of the US Navy’s original CARAT partners when the exercise initiated in 1995, and that was 26 years ago.
“From the 19th century with the treaty of 1850 to the 21st century, our partnership remains strong, even during a global pandemic.
“And that is because we continue to check-in with each other annually across any operational domain to address our common interests and concerns.”
In November 2016, the US Navy, USMC, along with the Royal Brunei Navy and Armed Forces conducted the 22nd CARAT exercise. (Source: naval-technology.com)
24 Nov 21. US and Malaysian navies conduct bilateral exercise ‘MTA Malaysia 2021.’ The two nations jointly aim to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific maritime security environment. Military personnel from the US Navy and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) have commenced the Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Malaysia 2021 exercise. The exercise began virtually, before moving into the waters and airspace of the Strait of Malacca on 23 November. It will focus on building naval capabilities and includes cooperative evolutions that highlight the US and Malaysian abilities in jointly working towards achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific maritime security environment. Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 and Task Force (CTF) 76 commander rear admiral Chris Engdahl said: “Our commitment to dedicating resources in exercises is a testament to our innate belief in the power of sharing responsibility in ensuring regional security. MTA Malaysia 2021 represents another step forward.
“The US-Malaysia partnership is built on over 60 years of rich history with close collaboration between the US and Royal Malaysian Navy in maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief.”
The at-sea phase of the exercise will see US naval assets join with ships and aircraft from the RMN for partnered training focused on enhancing interoperability.
Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Tulsa, MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft assigned to CTF 72 are the participating US ships and aircraft in the exercise.
Surface warfare, mobile dive and salvage training, a gunnery exercise, exchanges between explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians, and replenishment-at-sea activities will also be included in the exercise.
The US workforce in the exercise includes staff from CTF 72, CTF 73, CTF 75, CTF 76, DESRON 7, US 7th Fleet Band, and US Embassy Kuala Lumpur.
MTA Malaysia has resumed this year with necessary safety mitigation measures after being cancelled last year due to restrictions associated with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Royal Malaysian Navy Western Fleet vice admiral Datuk Abu Bakar bin Md Ajis said: “MTA has not only strengthened the bilateral ties between our nations, but also increased mutual understanding and enhanced interoperability between both navies.”
In September 2017, the US Navy and the RMN commenced bilateral exercise MTA Malaysia 2017 at Lumut Naval Base. (Source: naval-technology.com
22 Nov 21. Indian and French troops begin sixth edition of EX SHAKTI 2021 exercise. The exercise is aimed at improving military cooperation and interoperability between the two armies. This year’s Ex SHAKTI 2021 is the sixth edition of the biennial training exercise. Credit: Ministry of Defence/Press Information Bureau/Government of India. Indian and French forces have commenced the sixth edition of the Indo – France joint military biennial training exercise ‘EX SHAKTI 2021’. EX Shakti 2021 exercise began at the Military School of Draguignan, France. It started on 15 November and runs until 26 November. The exercise is aimed at strengthening military cooperation and interoperability between the armies of the two countries. A platoon of three junior commissioned officers and 37 soldiers from the Gorkha Rifles Infantry Battalion and Support Arms are representing the Indian contingent in the exercise. Meanwhile, the French counterpart is being represented by troops from the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade. So far, the military drill has included activities such as joint planning and mutual understanding for conduct of operations. It also focused on identifying coordination aspects needed for jointly operating in counter-terrorism operations against the backdrop of semi-urban terrain under a ‘United Nations Mandate’. According to an Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) statement, the participating forces also underwent combat conditioning and tactical training. Training activities conducted so far have included ‘battle hardening’ work sessions and firing drills. Being conducted in two phases, the exercise will be concluded with a 36-hour drill to assess the standards achieved in both phases. Last week, it was reported that Russia will begin the first set of deliveries of S-400 Triumph surface-to-air missile systems to India by end of 2021. In 2018, India had signed a $5.4bn procurement deal with Russia’s Rosoboronexport for five S-400 Triumph systems. (Source: army-technology.com)
17 Nov 21. NATO Ships took part in two Allied maritime exercises, MARE APERTO 21 and DOGU AKDENIZ 21 in the Mediterranean Sea. NATO Standing Naval Forces participated in the Italian Navy led Exercise MARE APERTO 21, between 4 and 27 October, and then Turkish Navy led Exercise DOGU AKDENIZ 21, between 1 and 12 November 2021. 4000 men and women from nine allied and partner Navies, 21 naval units, 4 AV-8B aircraft and 17 embarked helicopters, including 2 combat helicopters of the Italian Army, 3 Italian submarines and several maritime patrol aircrafts were involved in the Exercise MARE APERTO 21. The focus of the Exercise MARE APERTO 21 was amphibious operations, to enable the certification of the Italian led Amphibious Task Force as part of NATO Response Force (NRF) 2022. During the exercise, training had covered all sectors of air-sea operations, from the projection of an amphibious force from the sea, to the fight against conventional and asymmetric threats with an increasing difficulty.
“Looking back on MARE APERTO 21, as the first major naval exercise involving Standing NATO Maritime Group Two during the second semester 2021, I am very pleased with the performance of my units and staff during the exercise. In particular at unit level, valuable combat readiness training was achieved,” said Rear Admiral Stefano RUSSO for the Exercise MARE APERTO 21.
Following the Italian led Exercise MARE APERTO 21, Standing NATO groups took part in the Turkish Navy led Exercise DOGU AKDENIZ 21. The exercise focused on activating and evaluating the Turkish Maritime Force (TURMARFOR), under national authorities before the next year’s NATO certification as Maritime Component Command of NATO Response Force (NRF) in 2023.
Both Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) provided contribution to this multinational and multi threat Exercise DOGU AKDENIZ 21, together with 36 surface vessels, 3 submarines, 4 MPAs, 19 helicopters, 5 UAVs, amphibious troops and Special Forces teams between 01 and 12 November 2021. In accordance with an advanced and well-structured scenario, all units had the opportunity to train on maritime interdiction operations, conventional (air, naval, underwater and mine) and asymmetric threats, search and rescue operations as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations during the Exercise DOGU AKDENIZ 21.
“The Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2, as core part of NATO Response Force, could not miss this first big step of the evaluation process that will lead TURMARFOR to this highly prestigious duty of NRF Maritime Component Command in 2023” said Rear Admiral Stefano RUSSO, SNMG2 Force Commander.
The MARE APERTO 21 and DOGU AKDENIZ 21 exercises were opportunities for NATO to enhance combat readiness, enhance interoperability of all participant units and staffs, reinforce cohesion between Allies, and contributes to NATO’s presence and commitment to maritime security and collective defence. (Source: Joint Forces)
05 Nov 21. BISON COUNTER live exercise wrapped up. eBISON COUNTER 21, the EDA-supported multinational Counter-IED exercise hosted this year by the Italian Armed Forces in Sardinia, has entered its final stretch with the live exercise drawing to a close today. The event will formally come to an end on 9 November with a Distinguished Visitors Day. Over the past three weeks, Counter-IED teams – in total some 650 staff – from 10 EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden), as well as Norway and the United States participated in what is today the largest and most relevant EU exercise of the C-IED community.
The live part of the exercise saw a wide range of multinational expert teams plan, decide and perform all types of C-IED activities on the ground, based on a fictive but realistic exercise scenario featuring all the ingredients and challenges any national or multinational military operation (EU, NATO, UN, etc.) faces today under real circumstances. All C-IED aspects were involved and represented, from planning in joint task force headquarters , military search, route clearance and weapons intelligence, to combat engineering, Explosive Ordnance Disposal/Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (EOD/IEDD), manual neutralisation techniques and technical exploitation. They were all organised inside one specific multinational C-IED taskforce.
Even though it is too early to draw final operational conclusions from BISON COUNTER 21 – this important part of the exercise will be tackled only in the coming days and weeks – the overall initial assessment of the achievements is more than positive. In other words: BISON COUNTER 21 has clearly delivered on its main objectives which were to exchange and train technical skills, integrate and use available technical enablers at a tactical level and implement the full C-IED operational cycle with a view to improving interoperability and resilience among European and allied C-IED capabilities in their fight against evolving IED threats, both in military and counter-terrorism operations.
“We were happy and proud to act as the host nation of this important exercise for the entire European military community. I think we were successful in delivering a realistic scenario in the way we structured and organised the exercise and in the manner we used the multiple military areas available in Southern Sardinia. We are confident that the lessons we will identify from Bison Counter 21 will be useful in planning and conducting future similar events”, said General Filippo Gabriele, the Italian officer directing the exercise.
EDA to play a leading role in future exercises
As it was the case in previous editions of the exercise (2013 in the Netherlands, 2016 in Sweden), EDA was closely involved in the organisation and running of BISON COUNTER 21 which had integrated several Agency projects such as the Joint Deployable Exploitation and Analysis Laboratory (JDEAL), the European Centre for Manual Neutralisation Capabilities (ECMAN) and the Military Search Capability Building (MSCB).
Going forward, EDA’s role will be even bigger as it is the Agency’s ambition to pursue the series of Bison Counter exercises beyond the 2021 edition in a more structured, comprehensive and coherent manner. An important step in that direction will be the launch, early 2022 by 13 Member States, of a new EDA project (Cat B) which foresees at least three additional editions of Bison Counter in 2023, 2025 and 2027. The project will also establish a permanent expert team in charge of the planning of the exercises and its subsidiary activities, both at the conceptual and technical level. This means that the joint planning and organisation of future BISON COUNTER exercises will become more centralised and structured under EDA’s auspices in close cooperation, of course, with the future host countries. As a result, this should further enhance the coordination and coherence among all participating C-IED actors at all different levels, from strategy to tactics to operations. Such a more structured approach should also help to better analyse the exercise results and implement a consolidated lessons learned cycle which is essential for moving towards even more sophisticated and interoperable C-IED capabilities in Europe. (Source: EDA)
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