Politics ·Armed Forces · ·Procurement Technology September 2017 • www.euro-sd.com • ISSN 1617-7983 ES & D

& carrier aircraft voyageMaiden of the ELIZABETH QUEEN Base Reaching Home the Paradigm Shift at the Company Level Company the at Shift Paradigm Options Mix International Security and Defence Journal Defence and Security International European Defence Security Other countries to countries follow Other to its Germany ageingreplace seeks fleet. Helicopters Heavy Reemerge

6/2017

a 7.90

FULLY INTEGRATED

C4I SOFTWARE

Visit us on stand S5-160 at DSEI and booth 219 at AUSA

DSEI 2017 - ESD Full Page Ad 176 x 257mm.indd 1 22/08/2017 13:24:34 Editorial

Putin’s Afghan Commitment

ussian President Vladimir Putin has As long as Russia expected that under the Robviously located a new political field new US President Donald Trump no new of action: Afghanistan. The Russian Gov- strategy would been set for Afghanistan, ernment has been particularly interested President Putin believed himself to be able in Afghanistan of late. Numerous Afghan to push back American influence there. In Government representatives have recently a television interview, the Russian President been in talks with various Russian partners personally admitted that his government in Moscow. But so far, it is still not clear had Taliban contacts, even if there were what Russia’s real intentions are for Af- “many radical elements“ in the militia. ghanistan. After the USSR invaded Afghan- Paradoxically, in the same interview Putin istan in 1979, war broke out, with heavy warned of the terrorist threat from Afghani- losses. The war ended in 1989 with the stan. It is a “very dangerous development retreat of the Soviet Army, beaten by the for all of us” that the Taliban “and other Mujahideen, who had been trained by Pa- radical Islamists” from Afghanistan are in- kistan with a lot of money from the US. Af- creasingly approaching the borders of the ghanistan has been regarded as a trauma CIS countries, he stated. for the Russian military since then. Russia’s On 14 April, Russia issued invitations to a policy on Afghanistan was restrained for large Afghanistan conference in Moscow to a long time. But the situation in Afghani- strengthen its influence on further develop- stan has not improved, especially since ments in Afghanistan. In addition to experts the departure of the combat troops of the from Russia and Afghanistan, representa- ISAF mission, which was conducted as a tives from China, Iran, India and Pakistan, security and reconstruction mission under as well as the five Central Asian ex-Soviet NATO leadership in the Afghanistan war republics took part in the conference. Rep- from 2001 to 2014, and was continued by resentatives from NATO countries and the the follow-up mission “Resolute Support” UN were not involved. The US, the Afghan with 13,500 soldiers, for educating, advis- Government’s previous protecting power, ing and training the Afghan security forces. had refused to participate. The participants On the contrary: for one thing, experts called on the radical Islamic Taliban to open say, there is massive drug smuggling from peace talks. The Taliban leadership should Afghanistan, the world’s largest producer move away from a violent resolution of the of opium, to Central Asia. The billion-dollar conflict and start negotiations with the gov- business is continuing to expand. The ernment in Kabul. Possible peace talks could UN’s “Opium Survey 2016” states that the take place in Moscow. opium poppy cultivation areas grew by ten The Taliban had so far rejected all offers, percent within one year. A large portion of and they were not represented at the con- the drug ends up in Russia. The number of ference, either. The conference participants assaults in Afghanistan is growing steadily, also concluded that there was no military and nor is it just the Taliban who are in- solution to the conflict. It could only be volved, but also fighters from the so-called resolved by political means, in accordance Islamic State (IS), who, coming from Iraq with the resolutions of the UN Security and , are trying to build a new base in Council. Russia’s real intentions remain that country. The Russian fear that IS fight- unclear even after the conference. What is ers or other jihadists could get to Russia via certain is that there is a desire to limit the Central Asia and carry out attacks there influence of the US in Afghanistan. But it is real. “We already know of cases where is not entirely to be ruled out that Russia is fighters have set out from Afghanistan,” playing a risky double game in Afghanistan Putin said in an interview. Russia sees IS as by continuing externally to support the of- a threat to its own country, but especially ficial Afghan government, but at the same to its neighbours in Central Asia with high time arming the Taliban in the background proportions of Muslim population. Rus- and hoping that the militia will prevent the sia regards these countries as its natural further spread of IS in Afghanistan. sphere of influence. Henning Bartels

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 1 Content

Move Forward More Slowly Setting New Standards Photo: Kongsberg Photo: BAE Systems

The current British CHALLENGER 2 main battle Making use of the new generation of anti-ship/land requires significant upgrade work to allow it to deal attack requires a complete change in the way with present and future threats Page 63 navies view Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW). Page 76

SECURITY POLICY ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

15 and its Defence Partnership with 58 MIV: FRESh Thinking? NATO and the EU Tim Mahon Luca Peruzzi 63 Move Forward More Slowly – The British 22 Moldova’s Difficult Course Forward CHALLENGER 2 Upgrade Programme Nina Lutterjohann David Saw 26 Armenia and the South Caucasus Security System 68 Type 26 Global Combat Ship: Status­ Report Conrad Waters Gayane Novikova 74 QUEEN ELIZABETH Class Aircraft Carriers: 31 The Art of Bullying: Nuclear North Korea and its Programme Update Place in East Asia Conrad Waters Jan Blinka 76 Common Optimism Anti-Ship 34 The North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 and its Manufacturers to Set New Standards Relevance in 2017 Stefan Nitschke Eugene Kogan 80 Projects and Programmes of the NCI Agency 37 The Ukrainian Strategic Environment Dorothee Frank David Saw 84 “Speed of Light to the Fight” – Promise and Prospects of Directed Energy Weapons ARMED FORCES Sidney E. Dean 41 CBRN Defence and NATO 88 Weighty Decisions Over Heavy Helicopters Dan Kaszeta Andrew Drwiega 44 2018 US Defence Budget Proposal Restoration­ 91 Medium-Calibre Developments Joshua Cohen Remigiusz Wilk 46 “We are actually working to reach the objective 96 Glock Modular Handgun System of 2%.” Jan-Phillipp Weisswange Interview: Agustín Conde, Secretary of State in the Spanish 100 New Vehicles for the Belgian Light Brigade Ministry of Defence Joris Verbeurgt 50 “This situation cannot go on.” 103 Upgrading Legacy Soviet Interview with Deputy Defence Minister of the Republic of David Saw Azerbaijan, Lt.Gen. Karim Valiyev 107 Comprehensive Force Protection Concept 54 Paradigm Shift at Infantry Company Level for Armoured Combat Vehicles David Saw Rolf Hilmes

2 European Security & Defence · September 2017 INDUSTRY & MARKETS Index of Advertisers 112 DSEI Preview – New Technology Poised to Enter Arms and Security 52 Maritime Domain ATM ComputerSysteme 59 Stefan Nitschke AVIASVIT 25 118 “DSO is the front end, talking to ­customers.“ Bren-Tronics 65 Interview with Stephen Phipson, Head of DSO Ceska zbrojovka a.s. (CZ) 11-14 C5 117 122 Climate Management on Naval Vessels HVAC and CBRN Protection Systems DNV GL 115 Dieter Stockfisch EXPAL 46/47 FMV 119 Future Systems 111 VIEWPOINT FROM … GPEC 93 20 London Hagenuk Marinekommunikation 81 Tim Mahon Hirtenberger Defence Systems 4th cover IDEAS 95 30 Tbilisi Beka Kiria I/ITSEC 82 KADEX 83 36 Madrid Kärcher Futuretech 43 Esteban Villarejo Ceballos Kongsberg 77 53 Bern KMW 21 Peter Jenni Lincad Power Management Systems 61 Miltech Hellas 3 THE BRUSSELS BACKDROP MTU 113 48 The European Migration Crisis Pearson Engineering 7 Joris Verbeurgt Peli Products 17 QIOPTIQ 9 COLUMNS Defence 4/5 Rohde & Schwarz 71 1 Editorial Sensonor 79 SOFEX 29 4 Periscope Systematic 2nd cover 66 Masthead Tyron Runflat 67 126 Firms & Faces Yugoimport 3rd cover 128 Preview

眀眀眀⸀眀洀⸀洀椀氀琀椀攀氀琀挀攀栀挀⸀最栀爀⸀最爀 礀漀礀甀漀爀甀 琀爀栀 琀攀栀爀攀洀爀洀愀氀 愀瀀氀 漀瀀椀漀渀椀琀渀 漀琀昀 漀 瘀昀椀 攀瘀眀椀攀眀 Periscope

Quick-fit EO System for burden on the operator. At the heart of Recce Vehicles the system, a Chess PIRANHA day/low light (ck) At DSEi Chess Dynamics will launch the camera and a Gen4 cooled thermal imager HAWKEYE Vehicle System (VS), a quick-fit provide long-range surveillance capability. Photo: HENSOLDT electro-optical (EO) system intended for The configuration, featuring a four-metre reconnaissance vehicles. HAWKEYE VS pneumatic mast on which the sensor head is a member of the HAWKEYE family of is raised, enables covert surveillance opera- EO systems. Enabling operators to see out tions at a safe distance and invisible to di- rect fire weapons. The system also includes a laser rangefinder, an optional laser target marker, designator or near infrared pointer reliably to detect small drones at various and can be geo-referenced for accurate distances, thus enhancing protection of target location, feeding friendly forces with critical infrastructure, large events, mili- target information through a battlefield tary installations etc. Also displayed is the Photo: Chess Dynamics C4I system. Electro-Optical Targeting System EOTS II, with a choice of day vision zoom cameras, HENSOLDT Presents including a short-wave infrared (SWIR) op- Extensive Sensor Portfolio tion. The driver vision system SPECTUS II at DSEi 2017 features a low light TV camera (LLLTV) with (ck) HENSOLDT has been created by merg- a nighttime image quality close to that of ing the various defence electronics activi- a residual light amplifier. The ARGOS-II HD ties of Airbus and develops products for re- A1 is a multi-sensor system for airborne connaissance and intelligence. HENSOLDT ISR missions and can be fitted with HD will present its developments in the area infrared and daylight cameras as well as of radar, electronic warfare, and optron- laser-rangefinders and laser illuminators. ics. In the field of IFF, HENSOLDT reveals LEO-III HD is the new airborne observation parts of its Mode 5 equipment which system with HD sensors and video outputs won a €230M contract together with setting new standards in law enforcement Leonardo from the UK MOD. As “Team and paramilitary reconnaissance applica- to 15km using long-range day/night sen- Skytale” HENSOLDT and Leonardo will tions. Also on display is SFERION, a pilot as- sors and infrared cameras, HAWKEYE VS upgrade the IFF equipment of 450 of the sistance system which protects helicopters is an easy-to-fit, operator-friendly system. UK’s aircraft, naval vessels and air defence in restricted visibility conditions. Hensoldt Advanced image stabilisation and video systems. Also on display will be the ASR, at DSEi: S6-315, Entrance 7 tracker techniques reduce operator work- claimed to be the world’s most powerful load and enhanced situational awareness airport surveillance radar; the TRS-4D na- 3D Printing Company aids increase effectiveness. An icon-based val radar system, which is at present being at DSEI display and touch screen, coupled with a installed on the new frigates for the Ger- (ck) A leading rapid prototyping company, ‘Game Pad’ style controller, make the sys- man Navy and the US Navy Littoral Com- Paragon Rapid Technologies, will be show- tem intuitive. The ability to designate spe- bat Ship; and the MILDS missile warning casing its capabilities to the Aerospace cific areas for automatic surveillance and sensor, which is an advanced warning sen- and Defence sector at DSEI. Paragon has alert triggers obviates the need for contin- sor for helicopters and wide-body aircraft. worked with influential OEMs in the indus- ual monitoring and reduces the cognitive The XPELLER counter-UAV system is able try, including BAE Systems, QinetiQ and Ul-

FORCE PROTECTION IS OUR MISSION.

Vehicle systems Mobile air defence systems Weapons and ammunition Protection systems Mission equipment Simulation and training Surveillance systems

Please visit us at DSEI 2017/Booth No. S7–110

www.rheinmetall-defence.com

4 European Security & Defence · September 2017

A0232e0817_Force protection is our mission_420x99.indd 1 29.08.17 09:41 tra Electronics. Paragon initiated projects tection for the Yuneec’s TYPHOON drone, ranging from General Service Respirators even in the landing position. Many drones and chemical filter systems, to communi- can fit in the iM2875 case, especially the cations equipment, portable lighting and likes of the DJI PHANTOM 4, but Peli also parts for UAVs. With its recent investment offers different basic case formats. in a second high definition large frame SLA Cube-shaped cases offer more depth and machine boasting one of the largest build space and some models have a handle platforms in the UK, Paragon has become and wheels. These cases are watertight, an influential player for 3D print and Addi- crushproof and dustproof and avail- tive Manufacturing (AM). able in different size options, including Paragon at DSEi: Stand S6-190 the 0340 case (internal dimensions 45.7 cm3) which is the perfect fit for the small Peli-Hardigg Showcases yet powerful,and very popular DJI MAVIC Rugged Customised Protecti- PRO drone. The 0350 case is slightly bigger, on for Military Equipment at and suitable for drones such as the Walkera DSEi VOYAGER 4 quadcopter and Yuneec’s (ck) Peli-Hardigg, the world’s largest manu- TORNADO H920. For bigger drones such facturer of military approved reusable plas- Photo: Peli-Hardigg as the DJI INSPIRE the 0370 (internally 61 tic cases, will present its Engineered Cases pattern to allow hanging electronics with cm3) is ideal. which can be customised according to cus- tab mounts. Peli’s Long Cases for Larger Systems are tomer needs while offering protection for In 2017, drones are flooding the market for oriented more towards the high-end pro- any type of equipment. With more than security and defence: durability, portability fessional markets, such as the military. They 500 cases sizes, Peli-Hardigg manufactures and size have become important criteria are easy for one person to move thanks to reusable cases and containers for storage when choosing a drone. Drones can be wheels and handles, and standard features, or expeditions capable of withstanding fragile devices needing extreme protec- as with all Peli cases, include dustproof and extreme conditions. Peli-Hardigg cases tion and a Peli case may be the solution watertight seals. are lightweight, watertight and heat- and for transporting drones easily and with Peli-Hardigg at DSEi: UK Pavilion, Stand impact- resistant. One of Peli’s most im- complete confidence: the device will ar- S4-240 portant products is the Engineered Case. rive intact and fully operational anywhere It offers a customised solution for trans- across the globe. Several Peli cases are cus- Rheinmetall Canada portation of any sensitive device regardless tom-designed, although they can be cus- at DSEi its size or weight. Latest features include tomized for any purpose and to meet any (sb) Rheinmetall Canada will be present at rotomoulded internal supports with closed requirement. For example: the ZeroTech DSEI to introduce the latest evolution of the cell polyethylene inserts to guarantee pro- DOBBY S* drone is so small that you can ARGUS Soldier System. ARGUS has been tection of fragile military equipment. Peli’s hold it in your hand, and the new Peli Air selected by Canada and is currently being V-Series Rack Cases are a pre-configured 1535 case can accommodate it in the land- fielded for ISSP. The company recently par- solution for quick plug and play use. Rack ing position with space for extra batteries ticipated at 2 events in the UK - AWE 17 and equipment is becoming lighter in weight and accessories. The brand-new Storm the Close Combat Symposium at Shrive- which requires an economical and rapid case iM2275 fits this drone in travel mode. nham – in pursuit of additional markets. method of attachment. V-Series Cases are Parrot’s DISCO FPV drone can be conveni- Also at DSEi, Rheinmetall Canada’s Force built utilising a full-boxed 482 mm steel ently transported in travel mode in the Pe- Protection UGV concept will be introduced, rack with an industry-standard square hole li 1610 case, which also offers perfect pro- embedding a Rheinmetall Canada QIMEK

FORCE PROTECTION IS OUR MISSION.

Vehicle systems Mobile air defence systems Weapons and ammunition Protection systems Mission equipment Simulation and training Surveillance systems

Please visit us at DSEI 2017/Booth No. S7–110

www.rheinmetall-defence.com

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 5

A0232e0817_Force protection is our mission_420x99.indd 1 29.08.17 09:41 Periscope

graded tubes feature fewer parts and will New Vessels Based be even more reliable. In addition to the on STAN PATROL 2606 new payload tubes, the US Navy is also de- (df) Damen Shipyards Group announced a veloping a new VIRGINIA Payload Module. partnership with US shipbuilder Metal Shark “The new modules will triple the number of for the construction of up to 13 Damen SPa TOMAHAWK missiles that VIRGINIA class 2606 patrol boats. The US Navy recently Photo: Rheinmetall Defence can carry, dramatically increas- selected Louisiana-based Metal Shark to ing each sub‘s firepower,” Raytheon stat- build Near Coastal Patrol Vessels (NCPVs) ed. “As the Navy continues to modernise its subs, Raytheon continues to modernise RCWS. Both the ARGUS Soldier System, TOMAHAWK, keeping this one-of-a-kind and the UGV concept will be joined by the well ahead of the threat,” said Mike Photo: Damen company’s Site Surveillance and Protection Jarrett, Raytheon Air Warfare Systems Vice suite of products: the latter will be dem- President. “Today‘s TOMAHAWK is a far onstrated live on the Rheinmetall Defence cry from its predecessors and tomorrow’s Booth #S7-110 missile will feature even more capability, giving our sailors the edge they need for Finnish Defence Forces decades to come.” The US Navy continues Purchase New Tactical Radios to upgrade the TOMAHAWK Block IV‘s for United States partner nations through (bk) Bittium and the Finnish Defence Forces communications and navigation capabilities, the Department of Defense Foreign Mili- have signed a Letter of Intent on the pur- while adding a multi-mode seeker so it can tary Sales (FMS) programme. The new ves- chase of new software defined radio (SDR)- hit high-value moving targets at sea. These sels are based on Damen’s STAN PATROL based tactical radios. The requested radios modernised TOMAHAWKs are on track to 2606 Foreign Military Sale (FMS) design, belong to the new Bittium TOUGH SDR deploy from 2019. which will be tailored by Metal Shark to suit the requirements of the NCPV mission. The CHINOOK Block II Upgrade cutter can carry out a wide range of mis- Programme sion profiles including search and rescue, (df) The US Army has signed a contract with border patrol, police and customs duties, Photo: Bittium Boeing for the first three test aircraft for the counter-narcotics operations, and securing CHINOOK Block II upgrade programme. It waters of economic importance. Under is a Block II engineering manufacturing and the terms of the contract Metal Shark will development (EMD) contract award. “We build up to 13 of the 85-foot DEFIANT class are bringing several improvements to the welded aluminium cutters for the Domini- can Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala and other United States partner nations. Additionally, Metal Shark will supply electro-optical infrared sensors, Photo: Boeing product family: the Bittium TOUGH SDR diagnostic equipment, in-country reactiva- Handheld and Bittium TOUGH SDR Vehicu- tion, crew familiarisation and test support lar tactical radio systems. The new TOUGH to NCPV operators. SDR radios can be used to create and share real time situational awareness (location, Autonomous Flying image, voice, video, and sensor data) to Systems all levels of an organisation. This improves (df) The US Defense Advanced Research the performance and effectiveness of the Projects Agency (DARPA) has announced troops at the tactical level, and leading the that several in a milestone series of tests troops is easier and more effective, based with quadcopters slaloming through on up-to-date situational awareness and woodlands, swerving around obstacles more reliable connections. CHINOOK, including a more efficient driv- in a hangar, and reporting back to their etrain that takes power from the engines to starting point all by themselves have been TOMAHAWK Cruise Missile the new advanced CHINOOK rotor blades,” successfully accomplished. “Phase 1 of Launched from said Boeing Director of Sales & Market- DARPA’s Fast Lightweight Autonomy (FLA) Payload Tube ing Randy Rotte. “These new blades can programme concluded recently following a (df) The US Navy has test fired two Ray- lift 1,500 additional pounds on their own, series of obstacle-course flight tests in cen- theon-built TOMAHAWK cruise missiles making it that much easier for crews to lift tral Florida,” DARPA announced. Over four from new submarine payload tubes on the payloads without any adjustments. They days, three teams send their unmanned VIRGINIA class USS NORTH DAKOTA (SSN- can just pick up and go, saving time and ef- systems through increasingly difficult runs. 784) for the first time. The tests proved the fort.” Ultimately, 542 CHINOOKs will return “DARPA’s FLA programme is advancing submarine’s ability to load, carry and verti- to Boeing’s Philadelphia facility for Block II technology to enable small unmanned cally launch TOMAHAWK missiles from the upgrades starting in 2018. The series of up- quadcopters to fly autonomously through new Block III VIRGINIA Payload Tube, the grades will pave the way for the CHINOOK cluttered buildings and obstacle-strewn company announced, adding that the up- to remain operational through 2060. environments at fast speeds (up to 20 me-

6 European Security & Defence · September 2017 tres per second, or 45 mph) using onboard Verification of LEGUAN cameras and sensors as ‘eyes’ and smart al- (bk) Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) gorithms to self-navigate,” the agency says Photo: PSM has delivered the first demonstrator sys- about the goal of the programme. “The tem of the new LEGUAN armoured ve- FLA programme is focused on developing a hicle launched bridge (AVLB) module to new class of algorithms that enables UAVs the German Army at the training centre to operate in GPS-denied or GPS-unavail- for combat engineers (AusbZPi) in Ingol- able environments — like indoors, under- stadt. The Federal Office of Bundeswehr ground, or intentionally jammed — with- out a human operator. Under the FLA pro- jammer electronics and a novel, point- gramme, the only human input required is able smoke grenade launcher. It is an op-

the target or objective for the UAV to seek erational soft-kill , Photo: KMW — which could be in the form of a digi- which defeats any threat before it is able to tal photograph uploaded to the onboard reach and destroy the vehicle: MUSS senses the threat and provides a “soft” response based on jamming or obscuration of the guidance mechanism; the “soft” response also decreases the risk of collateral damage. Photo: DARPA

WiSPR for the BOXER Equipment, Information Technology and (bk) The well-known specialist electronics In-Service Support (BAAINBw), the troops house INTRACOM Defense Electronics (IDE) and the manufacturer will test and verify of Athens, Greece will equip the BOXER In- the system. During these tests the various computer before flight — as well as the fantry Fighting Vehicle for the international functions required for operational success estimated direction and distance to the tar- market - for example, Lithuania - with its will be tested under real conditions. The get. A basic map or satellite picture of the industry accompanies the testing to rem- area, if available, could also be uploaded. edy any deficiencies and to gain important After the operator gives the launch com- knowledge for the production run. After mand, the vehicle must navigate its way to a successful verification process authorisa- the objective with no other knowledge of tion for the operational use of the LEGUAN Photo: INTRACOM the terrain or environment, autonomously will be given. The German Army bought manoeuvring around uncharted obstacles seven LEGUAN bridge module systems in in its way and finding alternative pathways October 2016, which will be delivered be- as needed.” tween 2018 and 2021.

MUSS Self-Protection Wideband Intercom and Secure Packet Ra- Italy’s Military Space Equipment dio (WiSPR) intercommunications system. Observation Launched (bk) HENSOLDT is delivering 350 MUSS WiSPR is a software defined intercommuni- (df) The Italian Ministry of Defence’s OPT- (MUltifunctional Self-protection System) cations system for military vehicles, offering SAT-3000 satellite has been successfully equipment sets to be installed in the new communication under extreme conditions. launched by Arianespace from the Kourou PUMA infantry fighting vehicle of the Ger- Featuring a versatile system architecture, European spaceport in French Guyana. man Army. The 200th equipment set has adjustable to meet a variety of operational OPTSAT-3000 consists of a satellite in a just been distributed. Each MUSS equip- requirements of the modern digital bat- sun-synchronous Low Earth Orbit (LEO) ment set contains four warning sensors, tlefield, deliveries of WiSPR for BOXER are and of a Ground Segment for in-orbit con- a central unit, an infrared jammer head, scheduled to be completed in 2018. trol and for data acquisition and processing.

PEL 4103 NEW Advert 176x60mm.indd 1 29/08/2017 15:00 September 2017 · European Security & Defence 7 Periscope

The system will provide high-resolution im- of Military-Grade battery chargers. The “This successful flight test demonstrates ages of any part of the globe, giving Italy Bren-Tronics ABC is a portable battery Lockheed Martin‘s readiness to answer the an autonomous national capability of Earth charging system that offers next-genera- US Navy’s call for lethal, longer range anti- observation from space with a high-resolu- tion improvements in size, weight and ef- tion optical sensor. Following the success- ficiency, while providing selectable power, ful launch, system check and test activities faster charging times, increased environ- have started; the system will subsequently mental survivability, and other significant innovations. The charger is designed to charge quickly and efficiently current and

future-format military and commercial bat- Artwork: Lockheed Martin teries used on communications, electron-

Photo: Leonardo ics, robots and other tactical platforms. Battery charging capabilities include, but are not limited to: BB-2590/U, BB-390B/U, surface warfare capabilities as part of the ‘Distributed Lethality’ concept,” said Scott Callaway, Subsonic Cruise Missile director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Con- trol. “This test also validates the flexibility and versatility of LRASM, as it proved it can Photo: Bren-Tronics be successfully fired from VLS and non-VLS surface platforms.” be entirely managed by the Italian ground segment, located over three operations Phase Four of MAPLE centres: the Joint Satellite Remote Survey Project Centre (CITS – Centro Interforze di Teleri- (df) Another important step in the British levamento Satellitare); the SICRAL Joint MAPLE project, a project seeking to dem- Management and Control Centre (CIGC - BB-2557/U, Conformal Wearable Battery onstrate and de-risk the integration of mul- Centro Interforze di Gestione e Controllo); (CWB) and many others. The charger will tiple unmanned systems into the combat and the Fucino (L’Aquila) Space Centre of accept multiple power inputs including system of a Royal Navy warship, has been Telespazio. OPTSAT-3000 will jointly oper- universal AC, wide range DC, power from taken. QinetiQ has signed a GBP4.5M con- ate with the second-generation COSMO- solar panels, fuel cells, wind turbines, etc. tract to lead phase four of the Maritime Au- SkyMed system of radar satellites integrat- The company‘s main concerns have always tonomous Platform Exploitation (MAPLE) ing optical and radar data to provide the been safety, reliability and performance. project for the Defence Science and Tech- Italian Ministry of Defence with information Safety is controlled by the internal battery characterised by extreme accuracy, resolu- management system, monitoring and bal- tion and completeness and with state-of- ancing each cell in charge and discharge the-art analysis and operational tools. modes to prevent any internal electrical abuse. It is also guaranteed thanks to the Photo: QinetiQ Advanced Battery Charger state-of-the-art lithium-ion charging pro- from Bren-Tronics file CCCV (Constant Current – Constant (sb) When Bren-Tronics first introduced lith- Voltage) integrated on all universal charg- ium ion electrochemistry for military batter- ers. With these new generation chargers, ies back in 1995, the problem of charging Bren-Tronics continues to lead the way in and re-charging arose: lithium ion requires cutting-edge operational improvements to nology Laboratory (Dstl). MAPLE is lead by a strictly controlled charging. Instead of power the modern war fighter! QinetiQ in partnership with BAE Systems, designing one charger per battery type, or SeeByte and Thales. In MAPLE phase three, upon customer demand, Bren-Tronics took Tests of the Long Range the companies led the development and the lead in designing chargers according to Anti-Ship Missile build of a technology demonstrator called operational usage (vehicle-mounted, sol- (df) Lockheed Martin has announced it has Autonomous Control Exploitation Realisa- dier-portable, and maintenance) and not successfully conducted the first-ever launch tion (ACER), a deployable prototype which by battery type. The same charger supports of the surface-launch variant of the Long is based on Dstl’s Open Architecture Com- all types of chemistry (NiCad, NiMh, Li- Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) from bat System (OACS). ACER provides the Ion), battery voltage and form factor. New a topside canister. The flight test proved means by which the output of MAPLE can charging profiles can be downloaded for the missile’s ability to conduct an angled be effectively demonstrated in a variety charging capability evolution. Today, more launch from the newly designed topside of situations. Phase four will continue to than 70 different types of military battery canister, replicating a ship-launched en- evolve this design, validate its architecture packs are supported by Bren-Tronics Uni- vironment. During the test, the LRASM, and extend it to include communications. versal Chargers. Decades after the first its Mk-114 booster and booster adapter The project will build on the success of Un- universal charger, in September 2016, the ejected cleanly from the topside launcher manned Warrior 2016 with the successful USMC awarded Bren-Tronics the contract using the same launch control and launch integration of data sourced from 25 un- for the Advanced Battery Charger (ABC) sequencer software currently employed by manned air, surface and underwater vehi- programme, which is the next generation the Mk-41 Vertical Launch System (VLS). cles from 12 organisations through ACER.

8 European Security & Defence · September 2017 “MAPLE is a key project in unlocking the completed the Lithium Battery Course for CBRN Centre Covering huge potential of unmanned vehicles and Air and comments “We take the safe trans- a Complete Country autonomous systems in safeguarding sov- portation of our products to our customers (df) Saab, in cooperation with the Kuwaiti ereign interests,” said Stuart Hider, Qine- very seriously. With growing demand from partner Bader Sultan & Bros, has delivered tiQ’s Director Maritime Programmes. our customers, we have made significant the world´s first integrated national CBRN investments in expanding our team and en- (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Lincad Develops Expertise hancing their qualifications. We have the Nuclear) centre, which is now operational in Transporting Lithium-Ion skills and expertise to transfer our lithium- in Kuwait. This CBRN centre is the first to Batteries ion products by all modes of transport with cover a whole country with fixed and mo- (SB) Lincad, a UK-based leader in the de- the absolute minimum of risk, and are now sign and manufacture of bespoke batteries, seen as knowledge leaders in this area.” chargers and power management systems, Lincad’s Lithium-Ion Power System (LIPS) has taken further measures to ensure that range of batteries represents over 15 years it can continue to transport its industry- of evolution in battery technology and de- leading lithium-ion products to customers, sign, with the first LIPS battery being pro- across the world, safely and in full accord- duced in 2000. Continued improvements ance with the latest IATA (International Air in capacity and energy density have been Transport Association) regulations. Lin- enabled through the integration of new cell cad has its own DGSA (Dangerous Goods technology, and enhanced mechanical and Safety Advisor) trained in the transport of electronic design. Lincad’s Caravel Mk2 dangerous goods, other staff specifically Charger, a cutting-edge product offering bile CBRN sensors and units, whilst also trained in the transport of lithium and lithi- multi-chemistry charging of batteries from providing simulated training. During 2015 um-ion batteries by air, and has three quali- any OEM, has in-built functionality that Saab delivered the AWR (Automatic Warn- fied ADR (Accord Dangereux Routier) driv- enables it to discharge lithium-ion batter- ing and Reporting) system for the Kuwait ers. Lincad continues to progressively train ies to meet the 30% state of charge trans- National Guard. AWR is a flexible, modular its team to the highest standards in battery portation limit. It also offers functionality and future-proof solution for the detection, transportation and has recently employed to allow discharge of batteries to a state identification, warning, monitoring and re- ten new members of staff at its HQ. Peter of charge level most suitable for long-term porting of CBRN hazards. The system can Slade, Joint Managing Director, recently battery storage. be operated from fixed locations or in the

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 9 Periscope

move, carried by personnel or mounted their ageing fleet. The agreement underlines vivability testing. In June 2017, the Turkish on vehicles. It is a key part of the national the commitment of Airbus Helicopters and state cancelled its contract with and CBRN centre. “The Kuwait National Guard IAR to contribute to the modernisation of decided to go for competition. is proud to both lead the way and protect the Kuwaiti people with our new national Jordan Light Vehicle Ma- CBRN capability”, says General Hashim Al- nufacturing (JLVM) at DSEI Refaae, Undersecretary for the Kuwait Na- (sb) JLVM will be displaying models of AL tional Guard. JAWAD’s fourth generation vehicle and AL WAHSH, which are the newest editions of

Bluetooth-Enabled Sensors Photo: Airbus Helicopters its armoured internal security vehicles (ISV) for Military Bridging Systems at DSEI. AL-JAWAD MKIV comes as a con- (df) BAE Systems has developed Bluetooth- tinuation of the previous, renowned and enabled sensors to monitor the “health” of successful AL-JAWAD models. AL-JAWAD military bridging systems. This new “fatigue the Romanian armed forces fleet of multi- is an Armoured Vehicle designed to pro- monitoring” technology continuously de- role helicopters in the long term. Under this tect occupants from high levels of ballistic tects the stress and strain on bridges de- agreement, IAR will act as prime contractor and fragmentation as standard with CEN signed to be used by tanks weighing many for all future H215M orders that could be B6 level of protection. Built on heavy duty tonnes. The sensors used to monitor the placed by the Romanian Ministry of Defence. chassis with a 6.7L Diesel Turbo Engine bridge wirelessly transmit data to a hand- The agreement also covers cooperation be- producing 300 HP, AL-JAWAD guarantees held device, allowing soldiers to easily assess tween Airbus Helicopters and IAR on the high automotive performance & manoeu- the health of the bridge. “Without the use production, assembly, customisation, sup- vring, adequate payload and considerable of an automated fatigue monitoring system, port and maintenance of the H215M heli- tactical capabilities. AL-JAWAD is designed the remaining service life of rapidly deploy- copters destined to the Romanian Armed with battle dynamics in mind, and flexibility able military bridges is based on manual Forces, and export if opportunities arise. to get into action inside cities and narrow records and is difficult to judge, resulting roads with easy manoeuvring. As a troop in bridges being retired early or overused. Turkey to Open Competition carrier its capacity is 2+8 fully equipped The new technology uses a series of sensors for ALTAY Tank Contest troopers. AL-WAHSH is a special purpose fitted to the bridge components which un- (ck) In an ongoing effort to rejuvenate its ar- armoured vehicle designed and developed dergo the most strain, and records around moured equipment, Turkey’s procurement to meet modern warfare mission require- a hundred strain readings per second”, the authorities just sent a request for propos- ments and to operate in all kinds of terrain. company announced. “Computer analysis als (RFP) to three Turkish armoured vehicles It is designed for troop transportation along then gives a component-by-component manufacturers, as part of the ALTAY tank with their tactical gear. AL WAHSH is built overview of bridge health. BAE Systems’ use programme. In effect, this decision means on a TATRA chassis and is capable of carry- of fatigue monitoring technology gives mili- the three companies will be invited to bid ing up to 10 crewmembers while providing tary engineers the peace of mind that their on the programme, estimated to reach be- STANAG 4569 KE L1 and STANAG 4569 KE bridges remain healthy, even on extended yond US$10Bn. The Undersecretariat for L2 protection. military campaigns where bridges can re- Defence Industries (SSM) sent the RFP to the JLVM at DSEi 2017: Stand N9-310 (KIG) main in place for many months.” BAE Sys- companies BMC, Otokar and FNSS. All three tems designed and manufactured the British companies all privately owned. In June, SSM KADDB Investment Army’s rapidly deployable military bridging scrapped negotiations with Otokar for the Group (KIG) system BR90 in the 1990s. BR90 comprises ALTAY programme. Otokar is Turkey’s larg- (sb) KADDB Investment Group (KIG) and 74 bridging systems and can be used in a va- est privately owned defence company and its affiliates will be participating for the 7th riety of configurations, adding up to a total the developer of prototypes of the ALTAY, consecutive time at DSEi. During the event of 8.5 km of bridge trackway. The company Turkey’s first indigenous battle tank. In KIG’s affiliates will display a number of their states that it provides the most rapidly de- 2008, Otokar had signed a US$500M con- newest and most unique products. KADDB ployed and flexible gap crossing capability in tract with SSM for the development and Investment Group (KIG) was established the world: variants can be used to span gaps production of four ALTAY prototypes. The to act as the commercial arm for King Ab- greater than 60 metres. Altay contract involves the serial production dullah II Design and Development Bureau of an initial batch of 250 Altay tanks. Tur- (KADDB). With its innovative yet reliable so- Airbus Helicopters and IAR key intends to manufacture a total of 1,000 lutions, KIG has proven itself to be a world- to Extend Partnership tanks.Earlier this year, Otokar’s ALTAY pro- class and trusted provider for defence prod- on H215M totypes successfully completed qualification ucts to over 35 countries across the Middle (ck) In the presence of French President Em- tests including mobility and endurance test- East, Europe, the Americas, and Southeast manuel Macron and Romanian President ing on rough terrain and climatic conditions, and Central Asia. The Group provides a Klaus Iohannis Airbus Helicopters and IAR firing tests with various scenarios, and sur- wide array of products for defence require- signed an agreement. IAR is Romania’s lead- ments, with solutions for Armoured and ing aerospace company. Under this 15-year Special-Purpose Vehicles, Personal Protec- agreement Airbus and IAR will extend their tion products, state-of-the-art Metal Form- cooperation on the H215M multirole heli- ing technologies, Turrets and Ring Mounts, Photo: Otokar copter. IAR will become the prime contrac- Night Vision and Thermal Imaging Systems, tor for the H215M for any future order by Ammunition, and Combat Supplies (MREs). the Romanian Ministry of Defence to replace KIG at DSEi 2017: Stand N9-310

10 European Security & Defence

STANDVISIT NOUS AT N8 320 DSEI 2017

12 15 LONDON,SEPTEMBER GREAT BRITAIN 2017 CZ scorpion CZ P-10 C 9x19 15 17 evo 3 a1 improving 9x19 30 on perfection 9x21 30 new legend

EXCELLENT SHOOTING COMFORT THANKS TO THE WELL DESIGNED ERGONOMIC GRIP WITH DISTINCT CHECKERING FLAT AMBIDEXTROUS SLIDE STOP AND MAGAZINE CATCH NEW “DEGREE” OF RESISTANCE AGAINST CORROSION AND MECHANICAL DAMAGE THE FASTEST RELOADING EVER ENHANCED FRONT AND REAR SERRATIONS FOR FAST AND RELIABLE HANDLING THE FASTEST DISASSEMBLING AND ASSEMBLING DESIGNED FOR RELIABILITY AND PERFECT MAINTAINABILITY TRADITIONAL CZ ERGONOMICS AND SHOOTING COMFORT MODERN, SIMPLE AND RELIABLE UNDER ALL CONDITIONS

OVERALL BARREL EXTREMELY TOLERANT FOR AMMUNITION QUALITY FRAME GRIPS TRIGGER SIGHTS LENGTH LENGTH HEIGHT WIDTH WEIGHT SAFETY FEATURES MM MM MM MM G

STRIKER FIRED LUMINESCENT TRIGGER SAFETY; DROP SAFETY # 1 STRIKER BLOCK; CZ P-10 C POLYMER – 187 102 132 32,2 760 OVERALL LENGTH MM HEIGHT WITHOUT WIDTH MM DOUBLE ACTION OR TRITIUM DROP SAFETY # 2 TRIGGER BAR SAFETY MAGAZINE BARREL WITH FOLDED/UNFOLDED/ MAGAZINE WITH FOLDED WEIGHT WITHOUT CALIBRE CAPACITY FRAME LENGTH MM EXTENDED STOCK MM /UNFOLDED STOCK MAGAZINE G STRIKER FIRED TRIGGER SAFETY; DROP SAFETY # 1 STRIKER BLOCK; CZ P-10 C FDE POLYMER ­ TRITIUM 187 102 132 32,2 760 9x19 30 DOUBLE ACTION DROP SAFETY # 2 TRIGGER BAR SAFETY CZ Scorpion evo 3 A1 9x21 30 POLYMER 196 420/625-675±10 215±5 60/82±5 2607±50 Stated dimensions may be different in particular design and confi guration. Stated dimensions may be different in particular design and confi guration.

#CZGUNS WWW.CZUB.CZ [email protected] FACEBOOK.COM/CESKAZBROJOVKA.CZ WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CZGUNS/ STANDVISIT NOUS AT N8 320 DSEI 2017

12 15 LONDON,SEPTEMBER GREAT BRITAIN 2017 CZ scorpion CZ P-10 C 9x19 15 17 evo 3 a1 improving 9x19 30 on perfection 9x21 30 new legend

EXCELLENT SHOOTING COMFORT THANKS TO THE WELL DESIGNED ERGONOMIC GRIP WITH DISTINCT CHECKERING FLAT AMBIDEXTROUS SLIDE STOP AND MAGAZINE CATCH NEW “DEGREE” OF RESISTANCE AGAINST CORROSION AND MECHANICAL DAMAGE THE FASTEST RELOADING EVER ENHANCED FRONT AND REAR SERRATIONS FOR FAST AND RELIABLE HANDLING THE FASTEST DISASSEMBLING AND ASSEMBLING DESIGNED FOR RELIABILITY AND PERFECT MAINTAINABILITY TRADITIONAL CZ ERGONOMICS AND SHOOTING COMFORT MODERN, SIMPLE AND RELIABLE UNDER ALL CONDITIONS

OVERALL BARREL EXTREMELY TOLERANT FOR AMMUNITION QUALITY FRAME GRIPS TRIGGER SIGHTS LENGTH LENGTH HEIGHT WIDTH WEIGHT SAFETY FEATURES MM MM MM MM G

STRIKER FIRED LUMINESCENT TRIGGER SAFETY; DROP SAFETY # 1 STRIKER BLOCK; CZ P-10 C POLYMER – 187 102 132 32,2 760 OVERALL LENGTH MM HEIGHT WITHOUT WIDTH MM DOUBLE ACTION OR TRITIUM DROP SAFETY # 2 TRIGGER BAR SAFETY MAGAZINE BARREL WITH FOLDED/UNFOLDED/ MAGAZINE WITH FOLDED WEIGHT WITHOUT CALIBRE CAPACITY FRAME LENGTH MM EXTENDED STOCK MM /UNFOLDED STOCK MAGAZINE G STRIKER FIRED TRIGGER SAFETY; DROP SAFETY # 1 STRIKER BLOCK; CZ P-10 C FDE POLYMER ­ TRITIUM 187 102 132 32,2 760 9x19 30 DOUBLE ACTION DROP SAFETY # 2 TRIGGER BAR SAFETY CZ Scorpion evo 3 A1 9x21 30 POLYMER 196 420/625-675±10 215±5 60/82±5 2607±50 Stated dimensions may be different in particular design and confi guration. Stated dimensions may be different in particular design and confi guration.

#CZGUNS WWW.CZUB.CZ [email protected] FACEBOOK.COM/CESKAZBROJOVKA.CZ WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CZGUNS/ VISIT US AT DSEI 2017

LONDON, GREAT BRITAIN STAND NO N8320 1215 SEPTEMBER 2017 CZ BREN 2 5,56x45 MM NATO 30

7,62X39 MM 30 trusted by professionals

MULTI†CALIBRE CONCEPT EXTREME RELIABILITY AND DURABILITY UNDER ALL CONDITIONS HIGH ACCURACY AND SERVICE LIFE LOW WEIGHT AND COMPACT DIMENSIONS FOR FAST AND COMFORTABLE HANDLING AMBIDEXTROUS CONTROLS FOR OUTSTANDING ERGONOMICS SHORT STROKE PISTON SYSTEM

LENGTH OF WEAPON WIDTH OF WITH STOCK HEIGHT WEAPON WITH WEIGHT CALIBER MAGAZINE FRAME BARREL FOLDED/UNFOLDED, WITHOUT STOCK WITHOUT CAPACITY LENGTH MM RETRACTED MAGAZINE FOLDED/ MAGAZINE G EXTENDED MM MM UNFOLDED MM CZ BREN 2 8“ 5.56x45 mm NATO 30 ALUMINIUM 207 505/684-733 ± 10 202 ± 5 80/104 ± 5 2891 ± 50

CZ BREN 2 11“ 5.56x45 mm NATO 30 ALUMINIUM 280 577/762-807 ± 10 202 ± 5 80/104 ± 5 2986 ± 50

CZ BREN 2 14“ 5.56x45 mm NATO 30 ALUMINIUM 357 657/840-884 ± 10 202 ± 5 80/104 ± 5 3103 ± 50

CZ BREN 2 9“ 7.62x39 mm 30 ALUMINIUM 227 525/706-753 ± 10 202 ± 5 80/104 ± 5 2847 ± 50

CZ BREN 2 11“ 7.62x39 mm 30 ALUMINIUM 280 573/755-802 ± 10 202 ± 5 80/104 ± 5 2896 ± 50

CZ BREN 2 14“ 7.62x39 mm 30 ALUMINIUM 357 650/833-880 ± 10 202 ± 5 80/104 ± 5 3009 ± 50

Stated dimensions may be different in particular design and confi guration.

#CZGUNS WWW.CZUB.CZ [email protected] FACEBOOK.COM/CESKAZBROJOVKA.CZ WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CZGUNS/ SECURITY POLICY  Italy and its Defence Partnership with NATO and the EU

Luca Peruzzi

Increasing worldwide instability and participation in the defence of NATO and EU borders against terrorism and other non-conventional threats pushed Italy to review its defence capabilities and structure towards a smaller but more efficient “instrument” in a period of budget contraction.

taly’s security and defence policy has Iregistered important development in the last years, starting from the Armed Forces’ continued and broad engagement in crisis Photo: NATO management operations in the Euro-Med- iterranean region, and the participation in the framework of international community operations aimed at countering the so- called Islamic State in Iraq, after the shift- ing of resources from Afghanistan, where NATO has reduced its military presence. In parallel, the political efforts of the Ital- ian Government were oriented towards in- creasing NATO and EU attention to the se- curity of the Mediterranean region, a com- mitment which culminated with the NATO decision last February to establish within the “Framework for the South” initiative an “Hub for the South” to coordinate and implement all the security-related courses of actions in that area.

The New “White Paper for International Security and Bilateral meeting between NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Defence” and the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella In the meantime, the Italian Government, and the “Military Instrument”, which will the Euro-Mediterranean zone as the princi- especially the Minister of Defence Roberta be discussed later. pal area of national intervention. “Gaining Pinotti, has worked since 2014 to provide The main innovation introduced by this an elevated level of stability and democratic a document guiding the orientation and new White Paper regards the geographical development in the countries that weigh evolution of the military over the medium areas where Italian Armed Forces will be on the Mediterranean basin, represents the term, of which the last significant proof employed in the future. In addition to the priority objective of our country,” the docu- for Italy dates back to 1986. The “White defence and security of national borders ment, foreseeing deeper military coopera- Paper for International Security and De- and territory, the White Paper indicates the tion with nations of this zone. fence” indicating the political-strategic Euro-Atlantic and Euro-Mediterranean are- view on the development of the military as, the vital ones for protecting the national Italy’s Operations for NATO and its use to Italian foreign and defence strategic interests. The new programmatic policy ends, was published on April 2015 document also specifies the contribution In the last years, Italian Government and after the guidelines were presented in June to and participation in crisis management Ministry of Defence (MoD) continued to 2014. The White Paper was latterly sub- and stability operations outside these pri- support NATO on both the Eastern and mitted to the Supreme Defence Council ority areas of intervention, as well as the Southern Europe borders, without relin- and then to Government and Parliament. participation in civil protection operations. quishing its responsibilities on both areas. In February this year, the Government ap- Besides the contribution to the collective After NATO’s International Security As- proved a law bill and presented it to the defence of the Atlantic Alliance and Eu- sistance Force (ISAF) conclusion in 2015, Parliament for approval, in order to imple- rope, the promotion in the latter case as and its replacement with Resolute Support ment the transformation indicated in the well as the push for increased integration of Mission, Italy has maintained a strong com- White Paper regarding the “Governance” resources and capabilities between mem- mitment in Afghanistan, being the largest bers’ countries, the White Paper establishes European contributor together with Ger-

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 15  SECURITY POLICY many. Italian Armed Forces are continu- ing their missions in , where Italy maintained the command since 2007 to date, as well as in Kosovo, in the Horn of Africa and on the NATO South-Eastern Flank, with an air defence asset (SAMP/T) Photo: Garibaldi Brigade deployed in Turkey. Italian Armed Forces are involved in the Prima Parthica/Inherent Resolve missions with Intelligence, Surveil- lance and Reconnaissance (ISR) air opera- tions taking off from Kuwait as well as on the ground to support Iraqi and Kurdish allies with instructors, military advisors and Special Forces. This is due to the fact that the Italian Government decided to redirect its military engagement abroad toward the Mediterranean region, in response to the factors in the area’s growing instability, ranging from the migration to the advance of the so-called Islamic State.

Iveco LMV of Italy’s Brigata Bersaglieri Garibaldi manoeuvring through the Hohenfels (Germany) training area during Exercise ALLIED SPIRIT Photo:

mitment to Libya with a view to pursuring advanced platforms available at NATO and an effective “whole-of-government ap- EU level. Further to this, the European Air proach” in solving the crisis in the coun- Transport Command took operational au- try, and the deployment of a contingent thority of the Air Force’s fleet of transport providing medical support to fight DAESH and air-refuelling on January 2016 under local forces. the “pool & sharing concept”. The Italian In February 2017, NATO agreed to create a Air Force has certified an advanced train- regional Hub, based at NATO’s Joint Force ing syllabus for 4th/5th generation frontline Command in Naples. The Hub will assess pilots, which includes Leonardo’s M-346 and address threats from the Middle East advanced trainer and lead-in fighter and and North Africa, collecting information to its ground-based training system and from improve situational awareness and to co- 2019 the new M-345 basic trainer. The sys- The ARIETE has ordinate efforts and activities. The Italian tem has attracted the interest of foreign been in service with the Italian MoD has also offered the NATO NRDC-IT Air Forces with more than 50 international Army since 1995. command for potential operations in the military pilots from nine different countries region as well as a divisional command to currently in training, making it a proven During the years of independent opera- coordinate the support activities (DCB, De- solution for potential European or NATO tions in the Mediterranean area, the Italian fence Capacity Building) in favour of local joint-training efforts. MoD carried out the Mare Nostrum mis- Middle East and North African countries. The same service has recently received the sion between October 2013 and October first of two GULFSTREAM G550 CAEW 2014, one of the largest rescue but also Vehicles of the Italian (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) plat- maritime security operations in the region Armed Forces forms from Israeli company Elta, to con- headed by the . The latter to- duct airborne early warning as well as com- day is involved in the Mare Sicuro national The experience gained in these years in mand and control in addition to persistent mission while contributing to NATO’s new the theatre of operations has pushed the ISR missions, together with the General Sea Guardian operation in the same re- Italian MoD to develop capabilities which Atomics PREDATOR A/B. Italy is the first gion. The evolving migration crisis pushed have already been integrated in both NATO UAS customer in Europe. The Italian Na- the EU to establish the EUNAVFOR MED – and EU defence organisations. Otherwise, vy education and training centres are in- later renamed Sophia – mission within the they are offered based on binational or volved in the certification of the Algerian EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy multinational agreements. Within the Eu- Navy’s crew personnel, a successful solu- (CSDP). Italy is in command of the mission, ropean Air Group (EAG) framework, Italy tion which recently saw Emiri Naval which entered “phase 2” in October 2015, has hosted and directed the European Per- Forces request a larger training package that allows vessels to be stopped, inspected sonnel Recovery Centre (EPRC) since July for the crews of ships, to be built by Fin- and seized and allows suspected traffickers 2015. In the same period, the Italian Air cantieri, under acquisition for its renewal to be arrested. In the meantime, the Italian Force received the first aircraft of a fleet of and expansion fleet program. Thanks to its Government is putting all its efforts into 12 Leonardo AW-101 helicopters specially participation in worldwide operations and establishing a NATO strategy for the South- configured for Combat SAR and Special the training/advisory package provided to ern Flank while facing the overarching com- Forces support, making one of the most allied, friend and third nations, the Italian

16 European Security & Defence · September 2017 SECURITY POLICY 

Army has recently established the NATO Centre of Excellence (COE) for the Security Force Assistance (SFA), which adds to the one (COESPU) for stability police units held Photo: US Navy by the .

Newly Structured Ministry of Defence After the unveiling of the new “White Pa- per for International Security and Defence 2015” by Minister of Defence Roberta Pi- notti in April 2015, the Italian Government has recently submitted a law bill to the Par- liament to sustain current and future initia- tives at a national and international level. If approved, it will implement the transforma- tion indicated in the White Paper with a separation between political and military direction, starting from the reform of the MoD’s top structure and new attributions The GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI aircraft carrier was the first Italian ship built to the Minister of Defence and Defence to operate fixed-wing aircraft. Chief-of-Staff. This law bill provides more power and au- sible for all aspects related to recruitment, will have a Vice Commander for Operations tonomy to the Minister of Defence and re- preparation, tasking, general support, and (VCOM-OPS), to whom the responsibility inforces the offices of direct contribution to logistics of the armed forces. The CHOD will for the operational planning and for tasking his office. The new Chief of Defence (CHOD) ensure the employment of forces, the sup- forces in the theatre will be delegated. He will remain the head of the military-technical port of the forces as well as the generation will be the head of a Joint Operational Com- office in Defence Administration. In terms of and preparation of the forces. To accomplish mand, and of the existing Army, Air Force political authority, he will be solely respon- “the employment of the forces”, the CHOD and Navy’s operational commands, as well

WE THINK INSIDE THE BOX FOR YOU PELI-HARDIGG™ ENGINEERED CASES

Customisable / Watertight / Extremely Resistant

Important Aerospace Manufacturers use Peli-Hardigg ENGINEERED CASES Engineered Cases, since we off er the world’s largest range of Aerospace approved shipping and storage FOR SPACE & DEFENCE containers, CAT1, AGE, WSTAGE, ATA 300 and Tool cases.

40 years of customisation experience More than 500 sizes

DSEI - UK Pavilion • Stand S4-240 DUBAI AIR SHOW 2017

EMEA HEADQUARTERS: Peli Products, S.L.U. C/ Provença, 388 Planta 7 • 08025, Barcelona • • Tel +34 93 467 4999 SEE PELI.COM/WARRANTY FOR FULL DETAILS. PELI.COM All trademarks are registered and/or unregistered trademarks of Pelican Products, Inc., its affi liates and/or subsidiaries. See Peli.com for full warranty details. Follow us on:

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 17 constitute the entire working life for every Photo: Alan Wilson member of the Armed Forces. The person- nel requirements will follow the current reduction process: from 190,000 soldiers and 30,000 civilian employees to, respec- tively, 150,000 and 20,000 units by 2024. The Ministry of Defence will track the tar- get for a younger, slimmer and flexible per- sonnel structure, with more modern re- cruitment criteria and carrier progression. Moreover, to mitigate the possible risks linked to a reduced force structure, the creation of a Reserve Force is part of the review. Italian Armed Forces’ personnel expenses today require more than 70% of the Defence Function Budget, leaving only ALENIA C-27J SPARTAN transport aircraft operated by RSV/311 Grupo, the remaining resources for operations, Italian Air Force maintenance and procurement. To move towards a more balanced 50%-25%-25% ratio, as well as to increase the limited pe- riod voluntary service in order to reduce

Photo: NATO the average age, long-term investments and incentives with funding stability are required. The approval of the law bill will depend on the longevity of the current Parliament legislature.

Conclusion

The “Strategic Defence Review” will open the way to a document of a new program- matic 15-year general plan as well as the already mentioned major developments in the procurement sector. The White Paper introduces a six-year law (the same dura- tion as the national budget laws), which needs to be updated every three years. Thereby, to provide budget resource al- location stability, the latter also allows “the necessary Government and Parlia- Soldiers from Italy, Spain, Poland and Canada observing a capabilities ment supervision on main acquisitions”. demonstration at Adazi military base in Latvia Concerns about the future of the Italian Armed Forces, however, arose, analysing as the Joint Special Operations Command those associated with the activities under the three-year period (2016-2018) budg- and the future Cybernetic Operations Com- the CHOD, will be reordered within the et-planning document named “Docu- mand. Any type of operation therefore will General Defence Secretariat, whose man- mento Programmatico Pluriennale per come under the responsibility of the Joint agement will be entrusted to a civilian, la Difesa per il triennio 2016-2018”. The Operational Command. The Chief of Staff who ultimately will respond to the Minis- latter demonstrates a restrained interpre- of the Armed Forces will respond to the try of Defence. The law bill also indicates tation of the “Defence Function” – ex- CHOD and will, on the basis of the direc- the establishment of a Command for the cluding the “territorial security function” tives received, take responsibility for the joint forces education and also of a centre assigned to the Carabinieri armed force – generation and preparation of the Land, of high education and research. and by consequence of the operations and Air and Naval Forces. The second part of the law bill includes the maintenance figures only mitigated by The new figure of the National Arma- delegation to the Government to issue all the extra funding for abroad operations. ments and Logistics Director (DNAL) will the directives to implement all the actions The procurement figure, devoted to the centralise the acquisition of weapon sys- required by the Strategic Defence Review, qualitative and technological modernisa- tems, infrastructures and logistics, except which is indicated in the White Paper and tion of the military instrument, including for the direct support to the operational already identified by the Defence Chief of acquisitions and research, is also affected units. The new DNAL figure, who could Staff. This includes every pooling, structure and only partially mitigated by the funding be military or civilian, will head a two di- cuts and rationalisation, as well as the de- coming from the Minister of Economical visions structure including the National crease of the Armed Forces and civilian per- Development, which contributes consist- Armaments Directorate and the Defence sonnel, the personnel age reduction and ently to this figure due to the contraction Logistic Command. The technical-admin- the introduction of a professional model of the procurement funding included in istrative functions, with the exception of where the “military profession” cannot the Ministry of Defence budget. L

18 European Security & Defence · September 2017 Announcement and Call for Papers Brussels, 23/24 January 2018 14th NATO Life Cycle Management Conference LCM as a Joint Effort ‐ Perspectives and Objectives for NATO, Major Industries and SMEs Chaired by: Thomas E. Pedersen and J. Bo Leimand (ret), Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) The annual NATO LCM Conference will continue to consider the lessons learned and achievements made in areas such as Quality Assurance, Life Cycle Costing, Configuration Management, Acquisition Practices, Material Maintainability et al. as a basis for new and innovative, even disruptive approaches and perspectives which will be introduced in respective presentations. The event will again be organised in cooperation with the NATO Life Cycle Management Group (AC/327) and with the support of the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG) and the German CALS Forum. The conference will be combined with a small exhibition, where interested parties are invited to showcase respective capabilities and will take place at the Parker Hotel Brussels Airport (formerly: Golden Tulip) on 23/24 January 2018. Scope of the Conference According to NATO’s Systems Life Cycle Management (SLCM) policy the main goal of systems life cycle management is to efficiently and effectively deliver, use and maintain NATO capabilities. The primary objectives include:  To have a common understanding of all aspects of SLCM, including operational and logistic requirements, affordability, time schedule, quality and risk;  To create integrated and seamless business management practices that extend from initial concept through to retirement;  To establish effective collaboration between all stakeholders, with clearly defined responsibilities;  To facilitate technology insertion, mid‐life updates and address obsolescence based on life cycle considerations;  To define and apply an integrated systems approach to the development, use and support of systems, that meets specific requirements to minimise acquisition time, maximise effectiveness and minimise life cycle costs;  To acquire systems that fulfil operational and logistic requirements, optimise internal and external interfaces, address integrated logistics and in‐service support, and minimise production, in‐service and disposal impacts on the environment. Against this background, the 14th NATO LCM Conference will provide a platform for the presentation of innovative approaches and concepts in support of effective materiel management. In addition to specialist presentations and papers the conference will provide ample opportunity for the exchange of information between and among experts, programme managers and decision makers from the nations’ armed forces, defence administration and industry.

Briefing Abstracts The papers/briefings are to present status reports and results as well as expert analyses of current and future LCM, LCC and ILS implementation projects.  Those interested in giving one or more presentation(s) in accordance with the theme of the conference are requested to submit their abstract(s) preferably in an electronic format (email);  The time slots for the presentations are limited to 20 ‐ 30 min. incl. 5‐10 min. discussion time;  Abstracts should not exceed 10 ‐ 15 lines and should briefly address the subject and objective of the presentation;  Your abstract submission should include the title(s) of the presentation(s), name and position of the speaker, organisation and full address with phone and fax numbers and email address.  Deadline for the submission of abstracts: 29 September 2017, following which information on the selected papers and further information will be circulated. Points of Contact Please send abstracts to the PoCs below. AC/327 will be pleased to advise you on the content of your paper, whereas Mittler Report Publishing is in charge of all organisational aspects. Mittler Report Verlag AC/327 Jürgen Hensel Thomas Espelund Pedersen Phone: +49 228‐35008‐76 Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation Email: juergen.hensel@mittler‐report.de Phone: + +45 7281‐5827 www.mittler‐report.de Email: [email protected] Viewpoint from London

Learning from Remembering

Tim Mahon

en years ago last month, the Ministry of Defence in London had the ‘strategic corporal’ – fully 25 years before USMC General Tpublished “Operation Banner: An Analysis of Military Operations Charles Krulak coined the phrase in the late 1990s. in Northern Ireland”. In the foreword, the then Chief of the General At the same time – and for broadly the same reasons – the UK re- Staff, General Sir Mike Jackson, clearly stated his conviction that Ban- developed extremely good counterinsurgency skills at the section ner was “one of the most important campaigns ever fought by the and platoon level. These manifest themselves in expertise in such and its fellow Services; [….] one of the very few waged disciplines as vehicle check points and search missions, for both of on British soil; and one of the very few ever brought to a successful which British troops have won plaudits from their allies and coalition conclusion by the armed forces of a developed nation against an partners in later engagements in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Devel- irregular force.” oping skills on the fly as a result of mainly being prepared to fight an Ten years on – and approaching half a century on from the inception entirely different type of warfare in Germany was a challenge – and of the campaign in 1969, not far removed in time from the counter- one to which British troops and their commanders rose. insurgency campaign in Malaya – the impact of Operation Banner That inventiveness sometimes required improvisation. When snipers continues to be felt, although the anniversary was largely, regret- became a significant problem for street patrols in Belfast and Lon- tably, unacknowledged. Some lessons were learned and changed donderry, scientists on the mainland sought a method of confront- behaviour, doctrine and attitudes, while others were observed more ing them in more or less real time. Racal adapted a small radar set in omission than in implementation – with tragic consequences in to a harness-based system that could be carried by a single soldier. Iraq and elsewhere. The MoD report identified both positive and The system – Claribel - was fielded within six months of the require- negative aspects of the campaign and its aftermath: it need not be ment being defined and was immensely successful – not in enabling reviewed again here. What is perhaps instructive, however, is to con- patrols to counter snipers physically, but in achieving the aim of sider some of the changes that those who served in Operation Ban- neutralising them: acknowledging a viable detection system, they ner believe have been underestimated – or in some cases ignored. melted into the background. (Not, however, before a young infantry First and foremost – and something that has had a dramatic effect on officer, then at RMCS Shrivenham, now a respected defence analyst command structures and tactical doctrine in the past two decades – and commentator, was seen wandering the streets of Ulster wearing is the issue of Command. Prior to Operation Banner – and in its early a strange harness, looking for all the world as if he was waiting for years – tactical command had been exercised primarily at the platoon someone to take a shot. Which he was: this was the most effective level, with the Platoon Commander being the sole leader in the field. test methodology he could come up with consistent with the need Section Commanders had limited autonomy and enjoyed virtually no for rapid testing!) decision-making flexibility. The Army had taken the existing tactical Attitude is another area in which experience from Operation Banner command structure from the British Army of the Rhine and deployed has been leveraged, almost absorbed, unobtrusively, into doctrine. it, unchanged, to Northern Ireland. Where it failed. To begin with, the differences between the conventional warfare Perhaps that is too blunt, since it did not fail, exactly. But it did not they had trained for and the irregular operations they were now provide an adequately robust foundation on which tactical counter- to conduct – often without the right equipment and frequently insurgency operations could be built. Very quickly – certainly by the without adequate preparation or training – were not as apparent as period immediately after Operation Motorman in 1972 – the junior they might have been, except to a few relatively junior officers, some NCO became a far more important cog in the command machine. more senior ones and a good number of junior NCOs waiting in the Autonomous decision-making – and to a degree a recognition of the wings for their day in the sun. The consequence was relatively inef- consequences of that process – became the order of the day. Britain ficient management of the military-civil interface: it took consider-

20 European Security & Defence · September 2017 SECURITY POLICY 

able time for active engagement with the population to become time was that on a Friday afternoon soldiers in uniform could be the norm rather than a perceived high-risk undertaking. There fairly certain of being given a lift home for the weekend soon after continued to be risks: the casualty figures speak for themselves. But beginning to hitch a ride. By the time the campaign began to have the fact that civilian casualties ran at about one quarter of those an effect in Catterick and Aldershot, for example, the number of suffered by the military is testament, in part, to an enlightened at- soldiers visible in uniform dropped significantly as personal safety, titude becoming effective at the operational level: it became obvi- security and vigilance became far more important. A consequence ous that ‘Hearts and Minds’ was a face-to-face undertaking – not was that the Army’s visibility to the general public nosedived – just one achieved sitting in splendid isolation in an armoured vehicle. at the point when legitimate questions were being asked about The operation had a tremendous impact on public perception of how to counter the terrorist campaign. the Army, both in Ulster and on the mainland. Curiously, there The MoD’s 2007 report was and remains a good initiative and of- were significant differences between the two. The creation of ‘no ficial views of lessons learned and required changes in behaviour go zones’ in the Province, in recognition of and an attempt to de- and doctrine are important. Equally important is recognising the fuse some of the sectarian tensions, was on the whole successful, fundamental changes in thinking, required at individual, unit and largely because it was rigidly applied to British troops, even when command levels as well as doctrinal evolution. off duty and out of uniform. Whilst it would be disingenuous to In case the reader thinks such reflections trivial, consider that, of- assert this turned attitudes to the British troops completely around, ficially, 1,411 British military personnel died during Operation Ban- it did contribute to a measure of grudging respect for their keeping ner. By comparison, fatal casualties suffered in Iraq totalled 179. In their word. Afghanistan the toll stood at 456. The importance of the Op Ban- The change of attitude on the mainland was subtler and less ben- ner anniversary lies in its historical relevance, for as such events are eficial. As the campaign spilled over onto mainland soil and threats forgotten or ignored, so too are the lessons they imparted. Mike to troops on their home ground became more pronounced, they Jackson claimed success, but perhaps the lessons learned in Malaya began to spend less time in uniform and more in civilian garb. The ought to have been recalled as a better starting point.

Visit us at DSEI 2017, Stand-No.: S9-260

BOXER IFV

Extraordinary firepower in combination with a large, highly protected crew compartment  Unique modularity: interchangeable Mission Modules – e.g. armoured personnel carrier to mobile gun platform  Future growth potential for further applications – highest payload in class  Modular protection design against all kinds of mines, IED and ballistic threats according to actual mission request

PROTECTS YOUR MISSION | www.kmweg.com |  SECURITY POLICY Moldova’s Difficult Course Forward What Does Moldova Offer Europe?

Nina Lutterjohann

As EU enlargement expanded from Central Europe and the Baltic in 2004 to the Black Sea Coast in 2007, Moldovan politicians were encouraged to bring their country closer to the EU. Things have changed since and Moldova’s path towards the EU remains as difficult and troublesome as before.­

his article considers how the Moldovan Tgovernment has performed over the past years, how the EU has responded and how Moldovan politicians have dealt with the Transnistrian conflict and Russia’s influ- Photo: Moldava.gov ence in the wider sense. The article then assesses the prospects of EU or Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) integration, also with respect to the impact of remittances onto Moldovan societal structures. The German government sought to help the impoverished post-Soviet country to modernise and settle the Transnistrian conflict. Then-Minister for European In- tegration, Iurie Leanca, impressed the German Christoph Heusgen, Merkel’s national security advisor, who was eager to bring Moldova into Javier Solana’s cel- ebrated "ring of friends” in Brussels. In 2015, Leanca, before the end of his ten- ure, unexpectedly resigned due to lack of commitment from the pro-European coalition to implement the necessary re- The Moldovan authorities have expressed their concern regarding mili- forms. With the notorious US$1Bn fraud tary exercises held jointly by Russian and Transnistrian troops. from three national banks on 28 No- vember 2014, Moldova became a media tions, pointed out: “We remain committed lems occurred straining the already dif- darling but was removed from the list of to support[ing] the Republic of Moldova ficult relations with the EU. The “Miami exemplary countries. The amount is an on its way towards political stability, dem- Herald” described the money laundering equivalent of one eighth of Moldova’s ocratic reforms and economic develop- in Moldova as endemic given the very funds spent between 2012 and 2014 and ment, for the sake of its citizens.” EU trust noticeable divide between poor and rich. also symbolised a political show trial for has decreased, however, especially with This includes citizenship sell-outs. Inves- former Prime Minister Vlad Filat (2009- the frequent news reports on political cor- tors in the state are offered citizenship, 2013), sentenced to nine years of prison ruption within the government coalition. which could give Russians, people from last June. Politicians in Moldova have followed a other CIS countries and Iranians an entry In 2017, following the Association Agree- typical trend of European integration ticket to the EU, even at the peak of the ment (AA) negotiations, Johannes Hahn, and have been as recalcitrant as some ongoing migrant crisis. Commissioner for European Neighbour- EU member states. For instance, Poland hood Policy and Neighbourhood Negotia- did not perform as expected when the “Endemic” Corruption right-wing government passed a new law Author effectively limiting judicial independence. This problem limits Moldova’s objective of Hungary, under Victor Orban, acted simi- EU integration through economic reforms, Nina Lutterjohann is a political ana- larly, and the government controlled me- which can facilitate the transition to a lyst of international relations based in dia law has been criticised for violating market economy, creating conditions for St. Andrews, UK. European values and provoked EU sanc- an independent judicial system and cur- tions. In case of Moldova, further prob- tailing political corruption. The answer to

22 European Security & Defence · September 2017 SECURITY POLICY 

lighted beneficial trade with Moscow. In that sense, Transnistria’s economic inter- ests have remained ambiguous as the illicit border trade remains lucrative. According to the European Commission’s DG Trade in 2015, the business community on both Photo: Wikimedia Commons riverbanks exported 60% of its products towards the EU (predominantly Romania) and 40% towards Russia, which showed that Moscow has control. In an inde- pendent journal, Anatoly Dirun, Scientific Leader of the Tiraspol School of Political Studies, identified major priority areas for the new President of Transnistria and ad- dressed the mutual exclusive options that the EU and EAEU offer. According to him, due to an interview by the author of this 70% of Moldova’s electricity is generated at Transnistria’s Kuchurgan article in October 2016, the EU remains power station. important to Transnistria economically and relations are governed by a special this “endemic” corruption can be found in terms of relations with Moscow. It is there- agreement. Based on Russian utterance the Soviet legacy and Moldova’s energy de- fore ironic that Dodon and Plathotniuc’s otherwise, an academic scholar on the pendency on Russia vis-à-vis Transnistria. A aims are not as different as proclaimed. region forecasted that the Deep and major problem is the gas debt and the fact Curbing reforms to maintain control over Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) that 70% of Moldova’s electricity is gen- political and business interests serves an does not preclude maintaining bilateral erated at Transnistria’s Kuchurgan power immediate purpose but neglects the long- trade relations with other post-Soviet station. The promising energy deals con- term objective. Moscow continues its pow- countries and the EU member states. cluded with the Ukrainian company DTEK er politics by using the Transnistrian conflict Even this opportunity has been clouded, and Moldovan state-owned intermediary to control Moldova’s foreign policy in the as Moldovan political elites have re- Energocom seem unreliable. RFE/RL pub- form of sanctions on agricultural products peatedly shown “political expediency” lished recently that Lyndon Allin, an associ- and wine as well as threats to expel Moldo- through EU (and other international) ate at Baker McKenzie and former OSCE vans guest workers from Russia to prevent funding regarding confidence-building official, stated at a conference on 13 July Moldova’s closer EU relations. measures and modernisation of the that of the total energy consumption in the healthcare system and infrastructure. In former Soviet republic, 98% is imported, Eurasian Economic Union early April this year, the German news- most of it from Russia and the imports are (EAEU) paper “Die Welt”, based on an interview transported through Transnistria. with Igor Dodon, wrote that more than The Polish think tank PISM emphasised The most recent tool offered implicitly by half of the €782M provided to Moldova that the Council of Europe’s Venice Com- Moscow to Chisinau has been the Eura- between 2007 and 2015 “disappeared mission and OSCE’s Office of Democratic sian Economic Union (EAEU), which high- through murky channels (...) stolen by Institutions and Human Rights (ODHIR) is- sued a negative review of a draft electoral law that would make the parliament un- democratically powerful. Despite unpopu- larity at home the official media oligarch Photo: Kremlin Vlad Plahotniuc upholds a pro-Western course to receive EU and US approval to qualify for funds. If this is intended to save Moldova’s face or fate, exploiting the last traces of values and the goodwill of genu- inely interested partners to accelerate de- velopment, results remain to be seen. Still unknown is whether Moldova can maintain medium-term credibility to con- tinue its path of European integration. Pla- hotniuc, the puppet behind Prime Minister Pavel Filip’s Democratic Party (PDM) follows a pro-Western course that stands in sharp contrast to President Igor Dodon’s Party of the Communists of the Republic of Mol- The most recent meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council was dova (PCRM). Plahotniuc shares similarities held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in April 2017. To date the Eurasian Econom- with Georgia’s businessman Bidzina Ivan- ic Union (EAEU) has not met Russian expectations of developing a viable ishvili and Dodon appears similar to former alternative to the European Union. President Viktor Yanukovych, in

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 23  SECURITY POLICY corrupt members of the so-called pro- reflects the poor economic conditions Former ambassador of the EU to Russia, European governments.” Numbers and and the political divide between Presi- Michael Emerson, told Eurasia Review: figures about the embezzled aid money dent and Parliament indicates the societal “Today Moldova is hugely more depend- lead to the assumption that the govern- urban-rural and cultural-linguistic divide ent on trade with the EU than Russia. To mental divide happens at the expense between Slavophone and Romanophone join the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) of the population that remains impov- Moldovans (regarding employment and would be economic suicide for Moldova, erished and rely heavily on remittances demographic development), which have as well as deepening the European-Rus- coming from various countries. profoundly impacted the economic land- sian divide in society. Economic prospects scape. Questions remain over traditional could improve a lot if Moldova seriously The Impact of Remittances values, including the significance of the implements its Association Agreement, Church. The popular Metropolis of Chis- but this includes cutting corruption.” Many highly skilled workers, Moldovan inau and All Moldova is subordinated to The messages are not always clear. youth and seasonal workers have left the Russian Orthodox Church and the Sometimes, Moldova seems dependent the country. At the same time, the re- former Metropolis of Bessarabia, banned on breakaway Transnistria because the de mittances mean that the country can- during the Soviet era, resides under the facto state has exported to the EU within not survive by itself. The 2013 “Survey Romanian Orthodox Church. The Church the scope of an AFT between the EU and of Households: Country’s Migration is important as its traditional values, po- Moldova. Equally, industry facilities are Profile” indicated that 411,566 persons liticised thereafter, clash with secular and occasionally in disrepair and cause people were abroad, of which 30% were urban modern values, being associated with the to desert (which also happens in Moldova and 70% were from rural areas. Moldo- EU integration. Despite aforementioned itself). va is dependent on their émigrés’ remit- challenges Moldova’s quest for EU in- Former de facto president Yevgeny Shev- tances and continues to send migrants tegration has not diminished. However, chuk and his family fled Transnistria and towards the EU, particularly Italy, Roma- Moldova’s priorities need to be redefined. now reside in Moldova. A Russian news- nia, the US and Russia (depending on paper used this information to suggest linguistic preferences). For the country, What Does EU Integration that the Moldovan authorities can now this has drastically prevented improve- Mean? use Shevchuk against Tiraspol and Mos- ments in institutional capacities, the rule cow in the context of the forthcoming of law and the implementation of eco- Profound misunderstandings over what blockade of Transnistria and the possi- nomic incentives. the integration process means, other than ble withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers In 2014, based on the National Bureau for visa-liberalisation, remain among the Mol- from the banks of the Dniester. In the cur- Statistics, Moldova received over US$18M dovan public. Therefore, expectations by rent conflict solution efforts Tiraspol feels in remittances and counted 146,654 per- the EU should be moderate given Mol- excluded. At the same time, Moldova’s sons abroad (of which 60% were female), dova’s extremely volatile domestic politi- energy debt and the provision of funds with 15% in Western Europe, primarily cal situation, characterised by entrenched to Transnistria permit Russia to control Italy and 55% in the CIS, predominantly oligarchic interests. The recent attempt to the unrecognised territory. The current Russia and only around 40,000 in the US. change the electoral law confirmed exist- de facto president of the unrecognised The issues of concern are all intercon- ing suspicions that the EU should be more republic, Vadim Krasnoselsky, told a nected. The brain drain due to emigration careful in providing funds. Russian newspaper (gazeta.ru), the rep- resentatives of the Russian government would complete the audit of the budget and economy of Transnistria. It would then be clear how much Transnistria is owed to whom. Krasnoselsky advised Dodon not to interfere in Tiraspol’s re- lations with Moscow but mind his own Photo: Wikimedia Commons business. The aforementioned presentation raise a question regarding what is the effect of the divided society on the country’s national security?

The Effect of the Divided Society on the National Security Strategy The growing disagreement between Moldova’s president and parliament exemplifies how deeply divided the country is at the social level. In 2014, polling numbers concerning the Euro- pean integration were divided 50:50, Orthodox church in Chişinău: The perception that traditional and excluding the Russian-speaking minor- particularly religious values clash with secular and modern values, ity. In regard to the national security associated with EU integration, is popular in Moldova. strategy, it seems that economy and ge-

24 European Security & Defence · September 2017 SECURITY POLICY  opolitics must be considered separately. Further misunderstandings about the purpose of the NATO liaison office were intentionally caused, although it Photo: Kremlin rather stands for modernisation. The geopolitical tug-of-war has remained the central focus and benefits the lo- cal elites by distracting the public from domestic chaos. In the shadow of Ukraine and Romania, the elite has pursued a policy of neutrality towards NATO and a strategy of band- wagoning in the field of foreign affairs as a whole. NATO’s open door policy has now led to serious talks about the alleged es- tablishment of a liaison office in Chisinau and reignited the existing sparks between parliament and president. As a side ef- fect, it widened the geopolitical chasm. Considering the consequences for Ukraine after the AA, Moldova has been wary of Moldovan President Igor Dodon and Russian President Vladimir Putin: inviting Western partners into the country. While Dodon prefers strict neutrality between Russian and the West the To conclude, societal polarisation, lack Moldovan parliament is inclined to pursue Euro-Atlantic integration of will to pursue the fight against cor- ruption and uncertainty over how much dent Dodon’s vision of a strictly neutral undertaking in the medium- and long- Moldova will align with the EU or Rus- Moldova and the parliament, which is term. As long as interests do not reverse sia continue to dominate the discourse. inclined to pursue Euro-Atlantic integra- from corruption towards stabilising the Moldova’s current political establishment tion. Also, the quarrel of interests within economy and the rule of law it cannot wishes to receive further funds from the the political pro-European coalition is sad halt cumulative emigration and improve EU but rejects accountability. Finally, a and increasingly worrisome and makes a prospects for a better future, which cur- clash of interests exists between Presi- future association with the EU an unlikely rently looks rather dim. L  SECURITY POLICY Armenia and the South Caucasus Security System

Gayane Novikova

The South Caucasus region is among the most vulnerable parts of Eurasia. Several external and internal factors greatly contribute to its instability. None can be analysed separately owing to their interconnection, interaction, and mutual influence. Photo: Armenia Tourism

Just as its Tatev monastery lies at the threshold of the mountains, Armenia marks the junction of Europe,­ Asia and the Middle East.

he most important factors have been of the South Caucasus is rooted also in the Turkey, and Afghanistan, as well as from Tdefined by unresolved conflicts and lack of even the notion of a regional secu- the North Caucasus. Armenia’s security the existence of three types of statehood rity system: three main stakeholders of this is quite sensitive to developments in the in the region: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and area – Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia Middle East, especially in regard to a) the Georgia are internationally recognised – bind their own security mainly to the dif- situation in Syria and the flow of Syrian states; Abkhazia and South Ossetia are ferent external powers. Moreover, unlike refugees mainly of Armenian descent into semi-recognised state entities; and the Georgia and Armenia, Azerbaijan builds Armenia, b) the Turkish-Iranian relations, Republic of Artsakh (until February 2017: and maintains its security without ac- and c) the regional implications of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic) is still not tively cooperating with or being engaged Kurdish referendum on independence recognised by any state. The vulnerability in any political-military bloc. To different from Iraq. degrees, each of these states has been And, finally, the degree of instability in the Author excluding its immediate neighbour(s) from South Caucasus has been defined also by its security orbit. the increasing or decreasing involvement Dr. Gayane Novikova is the founder Furthermore, the South Caucasus, being in the regional processes of external pow- and current director of the Center for in close proximity to the Middle East, faces ers, such as Russia, Turkey, Iran, the EU, Strategic Analysis, (Spectrum) in Yere- the risk of becoming a target of the dif- and the US, and their interaction with van, Armenia. ferent Islamist terrorist organisations that each other. Any complications between penetrate this region mainly from Syria, the main external – to the South Cauca-

26 European Security & Defence · September 2017 SECURITY POLICY 

• A significant increase in Azerbaijani mili- tary attacks not only along the Line of Contact between Azerbaijan and Na-

Photo: Achemish gorniy Karabakh but also in Armenia proper, followed by a growing number of casualties. • The noteworthy military spending of the parties to the conflict (according to SIPRI, in 2016, Armenia and Azerbaijan spent 4% of respectively $26.3 and $165Bn GPD). • The lack of contacts between the civil societies, and direct dependence of in- ternal processes upon the situation in the area of the NC conflict. Current military situation in Nagorno-Karabakh However, a full-scale war will become una- voidable only if a sharp shift and change in sus – powers can lead to drastic changes in From the regional security perspective – the balance of powers between the par- the security situation in this area. Although and Armenia’s security in particular – the ties to the conflict occurs and if main exter- the internal instability in all state entities Armenian-Azerbaijani relations define nal actors will saliently “agree” to allow a of the South Caucasus has different roots, the status quo in the South Caucasus. transformation of the NK conflict into the the external factors influence the internal As parties of the NK conflict, these two overt war. developments of these states significantly. In particular, a lack of strategic vision by Armenia’s political elites, combined with in- ternal political, economic, and social prob- lems, increases the vulnerability of Armenia Photo: US DoD to external threats. From the security viewpoint the case of Armenia is the most complicated. In many ways, it has been characterised by its di- rect involvement in the Nagorniy Karabakh (NK) conflict and full-scale political, eco- nomic, diplomatic, and military support to the unrecognised Republic of Artsakh. This factor lies at the foundation of Arme- nia’s relationships with all its neighbours and limits its manoeuvrability. It does not have diplomatic relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan – two of its immediate neighbours. Instead, it tries to achieve the highest possible level of partnership with Georgia and seeks to preserve balanced Georgian troops during the Georgian-Ossetian conflict relations with Iran. In the meantime, the Armenian-Russian relationship influences states have mutually exclusive approach- Turkey, whose relations with Armenia deter- Armenia’s relationships with its immediate es to its resolution. The four-day war in mine in many ways by the Armenian Geno- neighbours in many ways. April 2016 clearly indicated a dangerous cide during the Ottoman Empire, has been aggravation of tension. Furthermore, sev- contributing to the Armenian-Azerbaijani Armenia – Azerbaijan – eral secondary factors portend a further confrontation by its full-fledged support of Turkey: Quo Vadis? growth of tension that can contribute at Azerbaijan. This resulted first and foremost any moment to a resumption of a small- in a closure in 1993 of its border with Ar- Three main issues – speaking of the absence scale war. menia, and in its unwillingness to establish of diplomatic relations between Armenia Secondary Factors are: diplomatic relations with its neighbour. and Azerbaijan as well as Armenia and • A stagnation of the negotiation pro- It is not by chance that Turkey and Azer- Turkey, the unresolved NK conflict in which cess within the framework of the OSCE baijan, who share strategic interests in the Armenia and Azerbaijan (and the unrecog- Minsk Group. South Caucasus, are excluding Armenia nised Republic of Artsakh) are parties, and • Belligerent statements by the Azerbai- from regional economic cooperation pro- the strong psychological mutual depend- jani side and its rejection of an increase jects. However, a significant difference in ence between Turkey and Azerbaijan – have in the number of members of the OSCE their approaches toward Armenia exists. complicated Armenia’s relations with Turkey monitoring group and their location in For Azerbaijan, the resolution of the NK and Azerbaijan. They crucially narrow the the area of the conflict. conflict and the return of Nagorniy Kara- manoeuvring space for each side of this tri- • Azerbaijan’s refusal to withdraw snipers bakh and areas, which have been under angle while simultaneously intensifying it to along the Line of Contact with Nagorniy Armenian control since 1994, is an abso- a peak their interconnectedness. Karabakh. lute priority. As for Turkey, owing to its cur-

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 27  SECURITY POLICY

rent domestic and international develop- ments, Armenian affairs have become of secondary importance in its foreign policy. Any probability of Turkey’s direct partici- pation in an Azerbaijani military operation against Nagorniy Karabakh and Armenia is excluded.

Azerbaijan – Georgia – Turkey: A Pragmatic Partnership? In parallel with the complicated Armeni-

an-Turkish relations and the deficiency of Photo: Digdori Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, a trilateral DIDGORI 2 Georgian-made armoured personnel carrier partnership is emerging in the South Cau- casus: Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are because of its role in the NK conflict nego- security guarantor and a main supplier of moving to a closer and broader economic tiations on one hand and on the other hand weapons. Moreover, Armenia hosts a Rus- and political-military cooperation, in spite because they provided military support to sian military base that, in Georgia’s view, of existing problems in their bilateral rela- Armenia. According to the APA: “Noting can be used against it. tions. Broad security issues are of mutual the negative impact of international terror- b) Whereas Georgia sees NATO as the concern to these three states. ism and aggressive separatism on peace, only guarantor of its security, Armenia is a member of the Russia-led CSTO (Common Security Treaty Organization), and an active participant in several NATO programmes. c) Russia in many ways orchestrated the Photo: author “Georgian conflicts.” It later recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Os- setia and significantly increased its military presence in these territories. Conversely, Armenia appreciates Russia’s role as a me- diator in and out of the OSCE Minsk Group. Furthermore, as a party to the Nagorniy Karabakh conflict, Armenia has been forced to support Russia’s position regard- ing Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Samvel Mkrtchyan, Armenia's ambassador to Lebanon, hands UN medals to As a consequence of all of these factors, Armenian peacekeepers concluding the fifth shift in UNIFIL in June 2017. these two states have become reluctant neighbours. Armenia a priori is a secondary The trilateral Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia stability and development in the region, actor for Georgia in spite of many factors format in defence and security areas has the sides stressed the need for joint actions that could greatly contribute to a mutual- become quite productive over the last to confront threats directed against the ly-beneficial cooperation. However, from five years. The most recent meeting of security of states.” Other viable platforms Armenia’s security perspective, and in the three defence ministers took place on for a trilateral partnership are Azerbaijan’s context of developments in the South Cau- 23 May 2017 in Batumi, Georgia. Partici- energy resources, and the EU hesitation to casus, the Georgian direction is of strategic pants discussed the military and political enlarge and deepen its cooperation with importance. Hence, Armenia should secure situation in the region, prospects for a tri- Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, although a strong partnership with Georgia not only partite military cooperation, and regional for different reasons. on the level of bilateral relations, but also security issues. They agreed to widen the through broader cooperation in different joint military exercises and to create addi- Armenian-Georgian ­Mutual international organisations, such as NATO, tional mechanisms for cooperation in the Reluctance Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), the field of military education and military European Union, and the Council of Europe. medicine. The complexity of Armenia’s relationships Besides, a stable Armenian-Iranian relation- All three states have complicated relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey on the one ship can contribute to a reduction of Geor- with Russia, including those related to the hand and the tense Georgian-Russian re- gia’s dependence on Azerbaijani oil and gas. regional conflicts. For Turkey, Russia’s role lationship on the other hand, complicate in the Syrian conflict is problematic; for Armenian-Georgian relations, and sig- Conclusion Georgia, Russia is a direct participant in the nificantly limit the spheres of their mutual Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts interaction. The conflicting approaches in The security deficit in the South Caucasus is (both Abkhazia and South Ossetia have respect to security affairs are more sensitive growing, and each of the main internal and been recognised by Russia as independent and visible in the Armenia-Russia-Georgia external actors of this area contributes to it. states); and for Azerbaijan the confidence triangle. Armenia, owing to many factors, as partial- in Russia is low (despite the purchase of a) For Georgia, Russia is a main security ly analysed above, can maintain its security modern Russian weapons on a large scale), threat; for Armenia, the latter is a main only through the design and implementa-

28 European Security & Defence · September 2017 SECURITY POLICY  tion of more flexible and balanced foreign sovereignty within the framework of the Armenia can also contribute significantly as well as security policy. It is obvious that Eurasian Union and of acting as the liable to preventing the penetration of Islamist the resolution of the Nagorniy Karabakh partner for the European Union. Armenia terrorist groups and the return of ISIS fight- conflict is of high priority for Armenia. The should find a modus operandi with the EU ers through the South Caucasus in Europe. Armenian society at large understands that will contribute to the modernisation of In conclusion, it is possible to state that quite well that the state’s full-scale involve- its social-economic spheres of life as well. Armenia has obtained the potential to be- ment in this conflict is an obstacle to its There is hope that a new bilateral Armenia- come a strong actor in the South Caucasus. inclusion in several important regional EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partner- However, vulnerabilities of this area per se, projects. In the meantime, and despite the ship Agreement, which was initiated on 21 Armenia’s involvement in the Nagorniy efforts and appeals of mediators, there March 2017, will be signed in the foresee- Karabakh conflict, and growing discord is no sign of a peaceful resolution of the able future. between Russia and the West in general, conflict. Furthermore, at present, Armenia From a regional security perspective, Arme- constitute factors that have been reducing, is the only security guarantor for the Ar- nia can be viewed as a stabilising factor in and will continue to reduce, its capacity in menian population of the Republic of Art- the South Caucasus. the foreseeable future. L sakh. This factor cannot be ignored. Two other factors that strongly influence Armenia's political and economic (in)activity in the international are its membership in the Russia-led political-military (CSTO) and economic (Eurasian Union) organisations and Russia-EU disagreements. Therefore, Armenia’s gradual return to a more balanced foreign policy should be viewed as a necessary step in maintaining the security of this state in broader terms. In spite of its strategic part- nership with Russia and a delegation to the latter of a significant share of its sover- eignty, Armenia withstood Russian pressure and did not recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Osse- tia; it took a cautious position regarding Russia’s annexation of Crimea and, last but not least, enlarged its participa- tion in NATO-led peacekeep- ing operations. Armenia should find a way to balance the multilevel Rus- sian involvement in and influ- ence upon Armenia’s foreign and domestic issues with – under the given circumstanc- es and in conditions of very tense Russia-West relations – cooperation as active as pos- sible first of all with European THE th and Euro-Atlantic structures on a wide spectrum of is- sues. Armenia, as it is now speculated, can become a , 2018 bridge between the Euro- pean Union and the Eurasian , 2018 Union. However, this state must prove, in order to play this role, that it is capable of defending and preserving its

www.sofexjordan.com Viewpoint from Tbilisi

Beka Kiria Independent Political Analyst; former Defence and Security Policy-Maker at the Ministry of Defence of Georgia

Georgia – A New Corner- stone in Transatlantic Relations

he active transatlantic flirt between Europe and the USA was garia and Georgia. In the case of Turkey, its role in the regional Tre-energised after World War II and lasted until the end of the security architecture is still uncertain despite Turkey’s NATO mem- Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. bership. A state with aspirations of becoming a strong regional Tracing the story back, from a Georgian perspective transatlantic power, Turkey has wide-ranging partnership opportunities with cooperation began with the establishment of the Western Euro- Russia regarding the Black Sea and their shared anti-Western politi- pean Union (WEU), primarily against Germany. Subsequently, US cal inclinations. foreign policy underwent several abrupt changes, ushered in by Due to these political dynamics Georgia’s strategic significance has growing concern over the increasing power of the USSR as an greatly increased. First, its physical location between Turkey and actor that managed to succeed where Hitler’s Germany had not. Russia makes Georgia an important partner. Second, while aspiring Consequently, the principle of mutual defence was agreed, leading to be a member of NATO, the country supports and contributes to to the establishment of NATO - and the gates to the era of the Cold NATO’s security architecture within the Black Sea region. Third, as War were opened wide. part of the NATO Response Force, Georgia hosts the multinational After the USSR dissolved, former Soviet Republics embarked on US Army Europe-led exercise, Noble Partner. Noble Partner exercis- their own independent nation-building processes, significantly es were established in 2015 in order to train service members from impeded in separatist regions by civil and military conflicts orches- the Georgian Armed Forces and NATO member states for the NRF trated by the newly established Russian Federation, in order to and to assist Georgian troops in improving their interoperability keep particular strategic regions under its strategic control. Even with NATO military units. In a nutshell, the exercise enables Georgia today, 26 years since regaining their sovereignty, Ukraine, Georgia, to comply with, interoperate with and contribute to the NRF. Moldova, Armenia and Azerbaijan face and have faced multiple In contrast to the above-mentioned political dynamics, the world challenges engendered by the conflicts fostered and supported by operates on multiple levels. Aside from European security arrange- the Russian Federation in order to keep NATO and the WEU away ments, the US is facing a strategic shift from Europe to Asia that from Russia’s claimed “sphere of influence”. creates a significant uncertainty about Russia, and so the idea of The Russian invasions of Georgia and the Ukraine, in 2008 and enhancing European military capacity is discussed at length within 2014 respectively, helped NATO to reshape and re-define its role the EU. in the post-cold-war world, after a period of political recession as a But, before unleashing the EU’s military potential, a well-remem- military alliance. In the light of Russia’s undermining of the principle bered promise made at the NATO Bucharest Summit about the of territorial integrity, upon which the European security architec- Ukraine and Georgia joining the membership of NATO (a process ture had rested for decades, NATO resurrected itself and started to stalled by Russia’s actions) should be revisited as a matter of trust. consider ways to respond. Furthermore, reversing any apparent loss of trust between Rus- Notably, the NATO Warsaw Summit marked a major change in sia and NATO means recognizing Russia’s “sphere of influence”, the Alliance’s policy to strengthen the eastern flank. Earlier, at the which directly challenges Europe’s own security arrangements and NATO summit in Wales after the annexation of the Crimea, NATO the logic of Western sanctions on Russia. For instance, President promoted the idea of reforming already-existing forces – the NATO Obama’s attempt to rebuild trust between the West and Russia Response Force (NRF) and the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force resulted only in the latter’s invasion of the Ukraine and subsequent (VJTF). Stationed in carefully considered locations, these forces are involvement in Syria. Some may argue that multi-layered institu- a rapid action tool to deter possible conflict with Russia. tional arrangements should be employed in order to prevent Russia On top of that, the Black Sea has become an active strategic spot pressuring the rest of Europe, but we have to ask first if restoration encapsulated in NATO’s security arrangements with Romania, Bul- of trust actually means fulfillment of Russia’s “Soviet” ambitions?

30 European Security & Defence · September 2017 SECURITY POLICY  The Art of Bullying: Nuclear North Korea and its Place in East Asia

Jan Blinka

Demanding North Korea give up its nuclear programme is like asking Russia to return the Crimea to the Ukraine. We do not expect any of these events to happen in the near future, that would mean, for both countries, a retreat from their strategic interests and long-term policies. In its search for nuclear power status, Pyongyang has been successfully deflecting continuous pressure from the international community while bullying all concerned to accept a new status quo in East Asia.

orth Korea’s efforts to acquire nuclear Korea, which is about litical institutions, and Nweapons capacities are nothing new. ten times bigger – in strategic situation They can be traced back to the 1950s, 2016, it reached – influenced Mos- when cooperation between North Korean US$37.2Bn. cow’s foreign scientists and their colleagues from the So- Moreover, ob- policy during viet Union began. Since then, despite the taining nuclear the Cold War. efforts of the international community, military capa- Similarly, we the North Koreans managed to master bility is also can proceed production of nuclear material, to perform an important in the case five tests of nuclear devices, and to conduct source of in- of North Ko- a number of ballistic missile tests. Despite ternal stability rea. Over the those successes, the North Koreans are for the North course of still far from miniaturising nuclear devices Korean system. more than six- transferrable into nuclear warheads, even Nuclear status, ty years there though intercontinental ballistic missiles which the regime has been a dis- capable of hitting US mainland might soon has been publicly tinct understand- be reality. claiming since 2005, ing of North Kore- Although far from ready to be used opera- strengthens the legiti- an rationality, whose tionally, nuclear weapons have long been macy of the Kim dynasty roots can be found most the basis of foreign and domestic survival in front of the population and importantly in the Japanese strategies of North Korean regime. confirms the important position of occupation, the experience of the First, from a military point of view, they the army in the local power structure. In Korean War, South Korean military and deter any potential attacker, who can ever addition, thanks to atomic weapons, North economic superiority, the fear of a US think of removing Kim’s regime by force. Korea belongs to the "elite club" of a few preemptive strike, the loss of the Soviet Kim Jong-il, father of the current leader, nuclear powers of the world, which further and Chinese nuclear umbrellas, and in the learned well from the fate of the Iraqi dicta- increases the domestic reputation of the importance of the Kim dynasty for the tor Saddam Hussein and Libya’s Muammar regime. preservation of North Korea’s sovereignty. Gaddafi, who, according to Pyongyang’s By combining the aforementioned influ- understanding, were deprived of their My Rationality is Not Your ences, the North Korean regime has come power because they did not possess a nu- Rationality to the belief that nuclear weapon owner- clear deterrent. ship is the only reliable way to ensure its Second, the nuclear arsenal compensates The mistake that some observers, journal- survival. Pyongyang does not have the for the disproportion in military spending. ists, and diplomats are making is that they economic means to build a conventional Although North Korea annually spends an apply their own rationality to assess North army that would match the South Kore- average of US$3.5Bn, which is approxi- Korea’s behaviour. What, however, is rea- ans or diplomatic means to negotiate al- mately 23% of the country’s GDP , it is sonable and understandable for one, may liances that would provide protection much less than the military budget of South seem the opposite to another. Ground- against attack by a stronger opponent. In breaking work, which rejects the applica- this situation, development of the nuclear Author tion of a universal rationality to explain the programme was the most rational and eco- behaviour of states, was the RAND Corpo- nomical choice. Jan Blinka is an analyst at the ration report from 1977. In it, Jack L. Sny- Certainly, development of nuclear weap- Association for International Affairs der explained the unique strategic culture ons can be seen as an investment returned Research Centre. of the Soviet Union, which – based on a to the regime many times. Thanks to nucle- unique combination of Soviet history, po- ar weapons, a smaller regional state with a

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 31  SECURITY POLICY decaying economy becomes a global actor who can play along such powers as the United States, Russia, and China. Photo: J.A. de Roo The Master of Bullying

However, neither of those countries is par- ticularly content with North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. Since Pyongyang’s first test of nuclear devices in 2006, the members of the Security Council have shared the view that such actions are “detrimental to peace, stability and security,” responding to them by series of international sanctions. Their aim is to pressure regime economically forcing it to abandon its goal of develop- ing operational atomic weapons. Although several rounds of sanctions have been adopted, they have not contributed to the desired outcome – and the same can be said about six-party talks or about any other international negotiation for- mat. Moreover, different approaches and policies of US and South Korean presidents have failed to change Pyongyang’s attitude as well. To stop the North Korean nuclear programme, neither Bill Clinton’s coopera- tive stance, George Bush’s hawkish atti- The Kim regime enjoys popular support - or subservience. tude, nor even Barack Obama’s strategic patience brought desired result. status quo in East Asia – that the Kim survival, is so skilled in exploiting positive No matter what the external attitude is, dynasty rules a nuclear-power state. It is incentives while pushing its own goals, North Korea sticks to its main goal, bully- just surprising that North Korea, suppos- no matter the pressure from the outside ing successfully all others to accept new edly a crumbling country on the brink of world.

US Reaffirmed Its Commitments

However, discontent with recent accelera- tion of Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic programmes has grown widely among the countries of the East Asian region, which – as well as applying collective and individual sanctions – have taken concrete steps to strengthen their security. South Korea has already been increasing its military budget for several years, topping the sum of US$37.2Bn in 2016. Japan’s mili- tary expenditure increased in the same year as well, reaching US$41.6Bn. One of the major strategic changes occurred in 2015, when Tokyo approved a reinterpretation of its constitutional Article 9. This shift allows the country to participate in collective self- defence– for example in dealing with the North Korean problem. Additionally, Seoul and Tokyo last year signed an agreement on intelligence sharing to deepen their military cooperation, which could be the basis for the United States-led alliance in East Asia. Washington has re-affirmed repeatedly its commitments to East Asian partners and through the deployment of the THAAD

32 European Security & Defence · September 2017 SECURITY POLICY  antiballistic system increased its presence in South Korea, where currently 28,500 American soldiers are deployed. China, however, sees these steps as part of the Photo: taringa.net American containment strategy against Beijing and its superpower ambitions. For that reason, Kim Jong-un’s nuclear ambi- tions are gradually posing a major problem for China, for a long time the only ally of North Korea, as they justify the growing involvement of the United States in the re- gion.

China Does Nothing with North Korea The basis of the Chinese strategy towards the Korean Peninsula is to maintain an in- North Korean medical officers at a parade. dependent North Korean state as a buffer zone between the Chinese border and the American units in the southern part of the peninsula. Beijing therefore disagrees with any actions that might undermine the stability of the Kim regime and not even Photo: Roman Harak Washington´s greater presence in East Asia can change such a stance. Even though China publically pressured its neighbour by the termination of coal imports from North Korea for the rest of this year and warned Pyongyang that it will reduce its oil supplies if North Korea car- ries out a sixth nuclear test, overall trade between the two countries rose in the first half of 2017. To convince China to put more pressure on Pyongyang is supposedly one of the key elements of President Trump’s approach to North Korean nuclear problem. By doing Celebration of the close relationship between China and North Korea in that he wants to distinguish himself from Pyongyang. the so-called strategic patience of his pre- decessor, Barack Obama. However, so far, Consequently, the current US administra- ballistic missile tests acquiring slowly the President Trump has been unsuccessful in tion returned to the same components, capacity to hit the US mainland. From that his efforts. which Obama’s "strategic patience" had. point of view, President Trump has not yet One must point out that it was this policy, come up with right strategy to cope with Strategic Patience 2.0 which gave North Korea time to develop Kim Jong-un. its nuclear programme instead of ending The Kim regime would have to face a Soon after his inauguration, President it. President Trump added strong rhetoric grave threat to its survival to consider se- Trump stated that in dealing with Pyong- and a more assertive attitude to already riously the abandonment of its nuclear yang “all the possibilities for solutions are established mix of political tools. Under his ambitions. Indeed, North Korea did not on the table” – ranging from the discus- leadership, the United States continues to do that even in the 1990s, when the sion with Kim over a hamburger to a pre- pressure Pyongyang through uncompro- country had to deal with the loss of its al- emptive attack on North Korea’s nuclear mising rhetoric, strengthening its military lies, the dysfunctional economy, the lack facilities. presence in the region, transferring part of of fuel and foreign currency, and great Although President Trump recently reit- the responsibility to China, increasing coor- famine. erated that he would be willing to meet dination with East Asian allies and calling Today, in contrast, the situation is quite Kim Jong-un under “appropriate condi- for further UN sanctions. different. Despite occasional reports, Kim tions,” it does not seem that the offer of Jong-un is still firmly in power, widespread direct negotiations without preconditions Does US Policy Work? starvation is long gone, and North Korea´s is seriously considered in Washington. The economy is growing by 1-5% a year. The commitment to military action is unlikely Assessing whether President Trump’s pol- United States will have to augment its pres- as well, not only because of the uncertain icy towards North Korea is working is still sure on the regime exponentially or look outcome of such operation, but also be- rather premature. The sixth test of nuclear for a completely different strategy to solve cause of the possible escalation into open devices has not occurred, however, Pyong- finally the North Korean nuclear issue. For armed conflict. yang continues successfully with a series of that we will have to wait. L

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 33  SECURITY POLICY The North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 and its Relevance in 2017

Eugene Kogan

It should be remembered and emphasised that NATO and its founding principles are not just Article 5. Moreover, it is not only the benchmark that two percent of the GDP should be allocated for the needs of the Alliance, as the US Presidents and Secretaries of Defense have consistently said to the rest of the NATO allies. On the contrary, Article 3 of the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) clearly states that “the Parties, separately and jointly, by means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid, will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.” The analysis below highlights the relevant articles and discusses their relevance in 2017.

eading the 14 North Atlantic Treaty RArticles makes it possible to detect the

atmosphere of solidarity of the like-minded Photo: NATO partners in 1949 with the emphasis on the issue of sharing values within the North Atlantic area. At that time, the founding fathers prepared another Treaty, which did not mention the points concerning the shared values, as it was difficult to fore- see what may happen in the future. For instance, the Treaty did not cover the expul- sion of a member state for the alliance, not any penalties for misbehaviour of which- ever member of the alliance regarding the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. We need to remember US President Harry S. Truman signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Wash- that the founding principles were consid- ington DC on 4 April 1949. ered sacrosanct and the adversary, the So- viet Union, was clearly concretised. its military contingent out of Turkey – a found itself isolated by the members of the The Treaty can only be terminated by the member of the Alliance – to Jordan – a alliance to its own detriment. Whether or member state itself “after [it] has been in non-NATO member state – as a result of not Turkey will block the participation of force for twenty years” (Article 13). How- the Turkish government refusal to grant a a non-NATO member state in the alliance ever, the Treaty remains ambiguous as to if right to the members of the German Par- activities again does remain to be seen. and when the Party to the Treaty decides to liamentary Defence Committee visiting the leave the military structure voluntarily while Incirlik Air Base, underlines the dilemma of Cyber Attacks – Affecting remaining a part of the political structure of the Alliance in the 21st century. Peace and Security in the NATO, for example, like France in 1966 and The non-Alliance members’ participation 21st Century Greece in 1974. In other words, the Party was not foreseen back in 1949. And the to the Treaty has just partly terminated its Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme was The well-known Article 5 states: “The Par- membership and kept a right to rejoin the only established in 1994. Due to its conflict ties agreed that an armed attack against Alliance any time later on. And that is ex- with first Israel and recently , Turkey one or more of them in Europe or North actly what happened when Greece and blocked the participation of both countries America shall be considered an attack later France rejoined the Alliance. – as non-NATO states – in NATO activities. against them all,” which is why it should In addition to that, the Treaty omits infor- Speaking of Isreal, Turkey lifted the block- also include the 21st century novelties such mation about a NATO country blocking the ade right after the relations between the as cyber attacks that threaten both critical participation of the other members of the two countries improved. However, concern- military and civilian infrastructure as well as Alliance. This article was not envisaged at ing Austria, the NATO members, excluding the hybrid threats that incorporate a wide that time, since the main focus was on the Turkey, decided to maintain co-operating range of civilian tools. As a result, cyber cohesion and unity of the Alliance mem- individually. Thus, the way out of this politi- attacks and hybrid threats should also be bers. The recent case of Germany moving cal impasse was found. As a result, Turkey included in Article 6. In addition to that, Ar-

34 European Security & Defence · September 2017 SECURITY POLICY  ticle 6 should at the same time exclude the will not be integrated within the NATO following passage: “the Algerian Depart- air-defence system. ments of France”, since Algeria has become On the other hand, when NATO states an independent and sovereign state in the lack consensus regarding a potential NA- meantime. TO candidate country such as Georgia, On the other hand, the founding fathers the unity and cohesion of the alliance foresaw some potentially unfolding realities comes under duress and highlights the back in 1949 and, as a result, inserted Arti- weakness of the alliance. Thus, at this cle 10 into the Treaty: “The Parties may, by point NATO leaders need to think how to unanimous agreement, invite any other Eu- strengthen the consensus mechanism. ropean State in a position to further the prin- Besides, it is suggested that a new article ciples of this Treaty and to contribute to the on the right for expulsion as well as penal- security of the North Atlantic area to accede ties for misbehaviour should be included. to this Treaty.” Thus, what did happen from No member of the Alliance should block 1999 onward, namely NATO’s eastward as the proposed article, even though some well as southeast expansion, was laid down members may consider such an article as back in the Washington Treaty of 1949. infringing their rights. However, what is most surprising is why the An additional critical point was recently NATO allies did not update the Treaty arti- raised by Linas Linkevičius, Lithuania’s Min- cles in 2007 during the first ever cyber at- ister of Foreign Affairs. He called for reform tack on Estonia, a member of the alliance. and a much faster decision-making process

Even though Article 12 says that “after the Photo: NATO by NATO and its military command. Even Treaty has been in force for ten years, or at US President Donald Trump in though “a speeding-up of the decision- any time thereafter, the Parties shall, if any conversation with NATO Secretary making process within NATO is a compli- of them so requests, consult together for General Jens Stoltenberg: Since cated matter, we have to do more, faster the purpose of reviewing the Treaty, having NATO was founded the United since crises do not wait. Political supervision regard for the factors then affecting peace States has accepted a the lead role is important but NATO’s military authorities and security in the North Atlantic area.” Ar- in the Alliance. should be given more authority, more power ticles 4 and 12 have a commonality, namely to take action.” The short notice should be “consulting together” and “in the opinion the second time Turkey was embroiled in clearly defined by the leaders of the Alliance. of any of them, the territorial integrity, po- NATO’s internal dispute. Back in January As a final point, the North Atlantic Treaty to- litical independence and security of any of 2013, Turkey launched the long-range air- day is as relevant as it was in 1949. However, the Parties is threatened.” Peace and secu- defence programme known as T-LORA- with the 70th anniversary of NATO rapidly rity in the North Atlantic area was affected because of the 21st century novelty: cyber attacks. For this reason both articles can be

fully integrated by emphasising this hazard. Photo: NATO

NATO as a Consensus

Another important detail pointed out by Chris Donnelly is that NATO is a consensus rather than an organisation based on com- promises. By evolving a system which limits the actions of the Alliance to only those is- sues on which consensus can be achieved, and aligning national interests in these ar- eas, there is no essential loss of sovereignty and no threat to Allies’ national interests. But running a consensus process is difficult as well as laborious and consumes a lot of time, resources and political effort. There is no doubt that a consensus-built Faced with a more demanding security environment, NATO has taken structure has its strengths and weaknesses. steps to strengthen the Alliance. On the one hand, on 31 May 2017 German newspaper Die Welt reported that several MIDS. At that time, Turkey decided to look approaching, the presented update of the NATO countries led by Germany, France, for solutions in China and Russia. Although Treaty is urgently required. There is no doubt The Netherlands and Denmark were not Turkey selected China Precision Machin- that the founding fathers foresaw certain in favour of holding the NATO 2018 sum- ery Import-Export Corporation for the developments back in 1949, however, other mit in Istanbul. In consequence, when system in September 2013, it cancelled changes that occurred since 2007 onward NATO member states are united against the deal in November 2015 as a result were difficult to anticipate. Even though the their own member they are able to express of disagreement with its NATO allies. current Russia is no longer the former Soviet their dissatisfaction and voluntarily ask that Turkey´s allies made it clear that Turkey Union, Russia remains the adversary today member to reconsider its decision. This was can purchase the system, but the system as the Soviet Union was in 1949. L

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 35 Viewpoint from Madrid

Esteban Villarejo Ceballos Terror Attack in Spain

ihadism hit Europe again. Spain suffered a double attack with a THE MATERIALS OF THE “MOTHER OF SATAN” TATP: Among oth- Jvan in the Las Ramblas Boulevard of Barcelona and a car in the er things, the Catalan regional police found at least 120 canisters of seaside town of Cambrils (Tarragona). At least sixteen people were butane gas, 500 litres of acetone, hydrogen peroxide, bicarbonate, killed. Even though the attacks were not planned, the terrorist cell a large number of nails and buttons to activate the detonations. was very well organised and recruited. They had even been work- All these materials were intended to manufacture TATP (triacetone ing on a more destructive attack since February. It is the story of triperoxide), known among terrorists as the „Mother of Satan“ some shadows and a “miracle”. explosive. In addition, the nails were to be used as shrapnel to cause SQUATTERS IN A HOUSE: Spanish investigators consider that the as much damage as possible in the blast. Fifth shadow: how did jihadist cell might have prepared one or several attacks for at least they manage to buy such a quantity of acetone and bottles without six months. The “headquarters” of the cell was located at a house spawning suspicion? in Alcanar (Tarragona, Catalonia). First shadow: they were squat- INTERNATIONAL LINKS: Another mystery to be solved is the in- ters in a house owned by a bank. ternational connections of the jihadist cell, mainly in , “WELL INTEGRATED” YOUNG PEOPLE: It is assumed that at least France, Switzerland and Morocco. The Police already knew that 10 jihadists took part in the attack. They all lived in the little town the mastermind of the attack tried to find a job in the Belgian of Ripoll (Gerona, Catalonia region) where they were perceived as town of Vilvoorde (near Brussels). He was asked about his crimi- “well integrated” by their neighbours. Nine out of ten were be- nal background and he disappeared. Belgian authorities advised tween 17-27 years old. Nine out of ten were born in Morocco (one the Catalan Police about his return to Barcelona in an “informal” in Melilla, Spain). Second shadow: did their families not realise they conversation. This news was recognised by the Catalan police. were being radicalised by the local imam of the mosque of Ripoll? Besides, four of the terrorists were in Paris days before the at- THE IMAM OF RIPOLL: Abdelbaki Es Satty (born in Morocco, 45 tacks, two of them in Zurich and many of them had travelled to years old) is believed to be the mastermind of the jihadist cell. The Morocco this summer. Sixth shadow: is the international alert Spanish police knew him as a redicalised muslim and wiretapped system effective? his phone in 2005 due to possible connections with Al Qaeda. His THE JIHADISTS: Younes Abouyaaqoub, the terrorist driver of the name appeared in the context of other operations. He was in prison van in Barcelona, was shot after a woman had recognised him; for four years due to a drug trafficking crime. Third shadow: Es the five jihadists of the attacks in Cambrils were immediately shot Satty was not deported because of a judge who declared he was by a heroic Mosso d’Esquadra agent, the regional Catalan police already rooted in Spain. corp. Two other jihadists are now in prison. The leader of the cell THE EXPLOSION IN ALCANAR: Why did the terrorist cell decide to and another terrorist were killed by the explosion in Alcanar. attack? A huge explosion in the house of Alcanar on Wednesday THE “MIRACLE”: The objective of the jihadist cell was a huge night accelerated the attack with a “plan B”: a rampage with vans bombing attack against religious and touristic monuments. Ac- and attacks with knives and an axe in the Las Ramblas boulevard cording to the Police the Sagrada Familia Church, landmark of (Barcelona) and Cambrils (Tarragona). Fourth shadow: The Catalan Barcelona, was the main target of the terror attack. They had ma- regional police found around 20 canisters of butane and propane terials to manufacture 100-150 kg. of TATP for three van-bombs. gas and suggested those men were smuggling gas. Hours later, They could not accomplish the mission because of the accidental that explosion was connected to the Barcelona van attack. Should explosion of the operational base in the house in Alcanar. Secondly, the Catalan regional police have informed the Spanish National a second van broke down and they could not repeat the attack of Police about the explosion in Alcanar? Barcelona in Cambrils seven hours later.

36 European Security & Defence · September 2017 SECURITY POLICY  The Ukrainian Strategic Environment

David Saw

There are those moments in the history of a country when its people make brave choices, when there are no other options open to them and they decide to resist and rise up in protest against a kleptocracy that uses a veneer of democracy to legitimise its self-interested policies and its basic criminality. That was what happened in the Ukraine in November 2013 and continued until February 2014, when the protests became a revolution, leading to the collapse of the government and a movement to restore constitutionally guar- anteed rights to the people.

hat nobody could have foreseen pathetic to the narrative as it is portrayed Wwas that these popular protests as the result of an American plot. Others would lead to the annexation of Ukrainian just see it as a conflict that could have been national territory by a foreign power, or to avoided and are quite happy to blame the be more precise the de facto annexation EU, the US and any NGO that happened to of the Crimea by Russia and its local surro- be in the area. gates in February/March 2014. At the same This narrative was generated by Russia Photo: Ukraine Government time secessionist movements grew in the and has been artfully pushed in all sorts Donbass in eastern Ukraine, in the Donetsk of different fora. What the narrative fails and Luhansk oblasts, later to declare them- to answer is why would ordinary people selves as the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s flock to the Euromaidan protests in Maidan Republics. From March 2014 these seces- Nezalezhnosti, the central square in Kiev, sionist groups received military assistance when they knew that they would face ex- from Russia in terms of both personnel and treme violence or even death at the hands equipment. This set the scene for a Civil of security forces loyal to the regime? You War that has continued, albeit at various do not do that because you believe in EU levels of intensity, to the present day. Fur- expansion, or because you support US for- thermore it is quite clear that the Russian eign policy aims or because some NGO has government and its foreign intelligence persuaded you. You do that because you service are not only actively directing the sincerely believe that your country must secessionist forces in the Donbass, but change course and that a corrupt govern- have been actively providing direct military ment must be held to account. The bravery Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko assistance such as and armoured and sacrifice of those who demonstrated at meets with US Secretary of Defense Jim support. the Euromaidan cannot and should not be Mattis in Kiev in August 2017. Secretary There is another side to this story though, underestimated. Mattis stated: “Have no doubt…the Unit- where the causal factors are totally differ- ed States stands with the Ukraine.” The ent. What started everything was not the Finding Ukraine US might now supply defensive weapons anti-government protestors in the Ukraine, to the Ukraine. it was those who had directed, nourished The objective of this article is to explore the and sustained these protestors. Accord- Ukrainian strategic environment. A funda- lated into English as “The glory and the ing to this narrative it was the European mental problem for the Ukraine has been freedom of Ukraine has not yet perished,” Union (EU), the US government and Non- the inability to build strong national politi- or alternatively as “Ukraine has not yet Governmental Organisations (NGO) who cal institutions and fairly enforce the rule of perished.” The lyrics to the anthem were were the forces behind the protestors and law, added to which significant structural written by Pavlo Chubynsky in 1862 and who directed an effort to bring down a economic problems have not been tackled the music was written by Mykhailo Verbyt- legitimate government. The reason for all in a satisfactory manner. These negatives sky, the first public performance was as a of this was to put a puppet anti-Russian are reflected in the fact that there have choral work in the Ukraine Theatre in regime into power in Kiev, as a part of a been two revolutions (2004 and 2014) in 1864.The anthem was banned during concerted strategy to put pressure on the since independence was officially achieved the Soviet era. Russian government. in August 1991, a sign of an immature and/ After the First World War and the Russian This narrative has gained some rather di- or unworkable political/state structure. Revolution, the Ukraine had endured some verse supporters internationally. In Europe, To understand the Ukraine of today you seven years of war and in the early 1920s right-of-centre political groups have been have to look at its past and its long struggle there were already some signs of famine in sympathetic because the narrative reflects for national independence. The importance certain areas. This ought to have been im- their views of the expansionist nature of of this struggle is reflected in the national possible, the Ukraine was one of the rich- the EU. On the political left they are sym- anthem of the Ukraine which can be trans- est areas of agricultural land in Europe: by

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 37 1941 until November 1943, The Ukraine itself was finally freed from occupation in October 1944. The cost of the war was enormous, up to eight million Ukrain- ian civilians died, as did 1.4 million ethnic Ukrainians fighting in the Soviet Army. It is estimated that only 20% of industrial ca- pacity and 15% of agricultural equipment and machinery survived intact and there were more than 10 million homeless. Post- War border readjustments gained new ter-

Photo: Ukrainian Ministry of Defence ritory for the Ukraine from Poland, Roma- The Ukrainian Army has returned the 152mm/54 calibre HYACINTH-B nia and Czechoslovakia. However, Stalin’s (GIANTSINT-B) field gun to service to provide an effective counter- suspicion of Soviet citizens who had been battery capability. The gun has a range of 30 km and is shown here under foreign rule saw mass population in a training shoot in June 2017. transfers from the Ukraine and arrests of those whom the Soviets distrusted.

Independence

From the Ukrainian perspective the abject failure of the Soviet system was made plain Photo: Ukroboronprom by the Chernobyl disaster of April 1986. It was not just the fact of the explosion at a nuclear power plant, it was also the badly handled rescue and recovery effort. This was at the start of the Gorbachev era, when Mikhail Gorbachev had become the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). Gorbachev instituted policies such as Glasnost and Perestroika in an effort to reform and re- invigorate the Soviet Union; these efforts failed and eventually this set the scene for the fall of the Soviet Union. This then cre- ated the basis for the Ukraine to follow its A Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (KMDB) OPLOT tank own path and on December 1, 1991, a on display at a defence forum in the Ukraine in 2016. The Ukrainian Army referendum was held on the question of is due to receive 10 new OPLOT-M tanks in 2018. It is only now that the independence, turnout was 84% of eligible Ukrainian defence industry is receiving significant domestic orders. voters of whom 90% voted for Ukrainian independence. 1910 the provided 36.4% opponent or potential opponent of Stalin. On paper, with its industrial and agricultur- of world wheat needs with the vast major- This was the start of the agony of the al capabilities the Ukraine should have had ity of this coming from the Ukraine. Bear in Ukraine that led to what is today called the the tools to build a prosperous independ- mind this was achieved with limited mecha- ‘Holodomor’ or ‘Great Famine.’ Millions ent state, but it did not work like that. Build- nisation, even by the standards of the time, starved to death in a famine caused, not ing political and legal structures took time, and extremely inefficient land usage. just by collectivisation, but by the deliberate the economy was in a dreadful state (in- At the start of the Soviet era, Russian rule actions of the Soviet government. Had they flation reached over 4,700% in 1993) and in the Ukraine was not totally repressive, wished, they could have aided the Ukraine, the country only managed to establish a indeed Ukrainian culture and language instead while Ukrainians starved they ex- currency (the hryvnya) in 1996. Then came were encouraged. Things changed as Sta- ported food from the Ukraine to obtain for- the vast corruption created as the Ukraine lin became the leader of the Soviet Union eign currency. In parallel with the Holodo- saw the formation of its own oligarch class, - this was the time of the ‘Five-Year Plan’ mor came the start of the Stalinist purges with growth in both organised crime, in- - and by the end of the 1920s one of the where millions were murdered, worked to cluding drug and human trafficking, and in objectives was to commence a policy of in- death or sent to the Gulag. The terrifying street-level crime. dustrial development in the Ukraine. How- toll of the Holodomor and the purges could Establishing a nation state, the rule of law ever, Stalin had other objectives as well, the not be discussed in the Ukraine until it fi- and civil society was one challenge. The first of these was to purge the Ukrainian nally achieved independence in 1991, it is other major challenge was dealing with intelligentsia, then collectivise Ukrainian estimated that the human cost of Soviet Russia both as a domestic issue and as an agriculture and destroy the ‘Kulaks’ or rich rule in the Ukraine in the 1920s and 1930s issue of relations between States. There peasants who would oppose collectivisa- was some eight million dead. were certainly issues; inevitably, after in- tion. The purges started in the late 1920s, Then in June 1941 came the Nazi invasion dependence the Ukraine wanted to priori- then came collectivisation, action against of the Soviet Union, Kiev, the capital of the tise the over Russian, the Kulaks and anybody else seen as an Ukraine, was occupied from September which led to discontent amongst Russian

38 European Security & Defence · September 2017 SECURITY POLICY  speakers. That being said, as Ukrainians on Security Assurances on 5 December tion agreement with the EU in November make up 77.8% of the population, it is 1994, with the signatories being the Rus- 2013 in favour of forging closer links with understandable that they would want sian Federation, the US and the UK. China Russia. It was this that started the Euro- Ukrainian as a first language. The Russian and France also separately signed docu- maidan protests that eventually toppled community seemed to believe that Russian ments providing security guarantees to the the Yankovych government, which in turn would be made a national language jointly Ukraine. led to the loss of the Crimea and the out- with Ukrainian, although there was no Under the Memorandum the Ukraine break of Civil War. compelling reason for the Ukrainian gov- would remove the remaining nuclear Bear in mind that Russia had signed the ernment to adopt this policy. However, the weapons from its territory and ship them Budapest Memorandum and the Treaty of language issue remained problematic until to Russia. The contracting parties to the Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership a 2012 law giving ‘regional languages’ of- Memorandum agreed to respect the inde- and that both recognised and guaranteed ficial status in the Ukraine. pendence, sovereignty and existing bor- the national independence and sovereign Fundamentally the issue is very simple: Rus- ders of the Ukraine, refrain from the threat territory of the Ukraine. It would seem that sia had and has major difficulties in see- of or use of force against the Ukraine, re- Russia had wanted to turn the Ukraine into ing the Ukraine as an independent nation, frain from the use of economic pressure a client state with the Yankovych govern- with different cultural values and its own against the Ukraine and in addition there ment acting as the public face of the op- legitimate foreign policy requirements. The were other guarantees covering the threat eration. When Yankovych fled to Russia Russian belief is that in reality Russia and or actual use of nuclear weapons against after the revolution, Moscow decided that the Ukraine should be an indivisible whole. the Ukraine. This should have secured the the only option was direct action and de- A Ukrainian foreign policy of closer ties to- Ukraine against external threats, but, as we cided to seize control of the Crimea as an wards Europe, or even worse the North At- know, it did not. overture to the secession of the Eastern lantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is intoler- Ukraine. able as far as Russia is concerned; far better The Road to War Russia had learned the lessons of its inter- that the Ukraine recognise that it needs to vention in Georgia to support separatist align itself with Russia or adopt a quasi- Viktor Yanukovych was inaugurated as movements in Abkhazia and South Osse- neutralist stance and accept being guided President of the Ukraine on February 25, tia in August 2008; it had the plans and by Russia. Beyond that, Russia regards itself 2010. In April 2010, the Yanukovych ad- military assets in place and was thus able to as the guardian of the rights of ethnic Rus- ministration pushed a bill through parlia- react rapidly to the evolving situation in the sians, giving it the justification to intervene ment that extended the Russian lease on Ukraine and achieve its initial objectives. to protect ethnic Russian communities. In 1954 the rule of the Crimea was trans- ferred from Russia to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. On Ukrainian independ- ence the Crimea was the only part of the Ukraine with an ethnic Russian majority. Key factors in the context of the Crimea were the city of Sevastopol, the naval base and the Soviet Black Sea Fleet. The status of the Black Sea Fleet was resolved with Photo: Ukrainian Ministry of Defence the majority of the force being transferred to Russia. There was also an agreement on the naval base at Sevastopol, with a 20-year lease to Russia being agreed in 1997. Other issues were eventually resolved by the 1997 Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Part- nership signed between the Ukraine and Russia, which recognised the borders of the Ukraine and Ukrainian sovereignty within those borders. In April 2010 the Ukrainian Ukrainian troops on a training exercise with a BMP-2 IFV. Lightly pro- government agreed to extend the Russian tected IFV systems such as the BMP-2 have proven to be incredibly lease of the Sevastopol naval base out to vulnerable in combat operations in the eastern Ukraine. As yet no real 2042, in return they received concessionary alternative protected mobility options have emerged, despite private prices on Russian natural gas. domestic industry capabilities outside Ukroboronprom. There were other treaties between the Ukraine and Russia. On independence the Sevastopol naval base until 2042. Then In contrast the Ukraine found itself unable Ukraine found itself with the third-largest in June of 2010 it was decided that the to react in the initial period of the conflict; stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world: Ukraine would cease efforts to become a its readiness was low, there had been no some 50% of these weapons were shipped member of NATO. It was quite clear that expectation of or planning for conflict, and to Russia in 1992. The Ukraine wished to the Yankovych was tilting towards Moscow reaction and response from the Ukrainian resolve the issue of the remaining ex-Soviet in terms of foreign policy and that his gov- political and military leadership was too nuclear weapons and at the same time ob- ernment could be successfully pressured by slow. tain security guarantees for its independ- Moscow. The ultimate recognition of these It is also important to remember that the in- ence and territorial integrity. This saw the facts came when the Yankovych govern- ternational community has lessons to learn signature of the Budapest Memorandum ment backed away from signing an associa- from the initial period of the Ukraine crisis.

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 39  SECURITY POLICY

Security guarantees had been given to the Thus the industry had to focus on survival the Ukraine one significant weakness was Ukraine, they were implicit in the Budapest and this required an emphasis on exports the lack of modern anti-tank missiles in sig- Memorandum, and yet there was no con- at any cost to acquire funding. nificant numbers, as their capabilities in this structive response to aggression against The lack of preparedness of the Ukrain- area had been allowed to atrophy. the Ukraine. It is only now, some 42 months ian military and the neglected state of the Tanks have been very important in the after the start of the conflict, that the US Ukrainian defence industry would have conflict, and it became very clear that it has suggested that it might supply defen- extremely negative consequences as the was necessary to upgrade protection to sive weapons to the Ukraine! Sadly, even conflict in the Donbass unfolded. As the deal with a range of threats. Later, the ar- the shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines Ukraine got its act together and started to rival of more sophisticated vehicles on the Boeing 777 on 17 July 2014 by separatist successfully confront secessionist forces in battlefield, such as the T-72B3, underlined forces over the Donetsk oblast with 298 the Donbass, its task became even harder, that the Ukraine had to improve the fire fatalities (flight number MH17 flying from as Russian troops and equipment were in- control systems on its own tanks and look Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur), failed to troduced into the conflict to support the to enhance the penetrative capabilities of stimulate the international community to secessionists. Consequently the intensity of the main armament. Artillery has proven take concrete measures to bring the con- the conflict grew, as did the level and qual- to be very important in this conflict, with flict to a halt. ity of the threats being faced. Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) As to the situation of the Ukrainian mili- The fact that the Ukrainian government in particular demonstrating how devastat- tary in 2014, on paper it might have looked was involved in a real war would act as a ing they can be: the ability to mass MLRS rather formidable, but in reality the situ- catalyst for reform and reorganisation in fires is an area where Russian artillery has ation was very different. The military had both the military and the defence industry. shown itself to be very capable. Tube ar- been underfunded for years and its readi- This is a process that is still ongoing. The tillery has also played an important role ness was extremely low. While the Yanko- availability of more funding saw equip- in both traditional and more unusual ap- Photos: Ukrainian Ministry of Defence

A Ukrainian Army air defence unit prepares its ZU-23 An expedient solution to obtaining more firepower twin 23mm anti-aircraft artillery systems for a range ses- and mobility, a ZU-23 twin 23 mm anti-aircraft gun sion in June 2017. This gun system provides a useful ca- mounted on an MT-LB armoured vehicle in the Ukraine. pability against UAV targets, as well as extra firepower Note the condition of the vehicle: the Ukrainian mili- to support ground combat operations. tary has suffered from years of underinvestment.

vych government was prepared to lavish ment taken from storage, refurbished and/ plications, for example artillery in a direct resources upon internal security it had little or modernised and then deployed with the fire role. interest in the military, and added to which military. The industry also found itself with As things stand at present, there is no the need to acquire foreign currency saw significant domestic orders for the first time likely solution to the conflict in the Eastern much first-line equipment sold internation- and had to respond by ramping up produc- Ukraine and by implication the restoration ally and not replaced. For years the Ukraini- tion to meet these new demands. The con- of the territorial integrity of the Ukraine. an military had been asset stripped of much flict has also led to innovation within the Even if the Ukraine marshalled all of its of its best equipment, with very little, if any, military and industry, as they respond to resources to take military action to end of the money gained from these sales ever operational experience and evolving needs. the secession in the Donbass, it could not finding its way back as reinvestment in the In a military context the conflict in the East- prevail, as Russia would support its clients military. ern Ukraine has offered up some important in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. The Lack of investment in the military also had lessons, some new and some reinforcing Ukraine must continue to be prepared to negative effects on the health and well- existing knowledge. The importance of hold on to the territory it already has and being of the Ukrainian defence industry. In UAV capabilities became readily apparent, must look to diplomatic means to find a the Soviet era the Ukraine had been one this was an area in which the Ukraine was solution to the situation in the Donbass. of the most important centres of defence weak, and they had to develop a capabil- What the events in the Ukraine since 2014 production. However, after independence ity extremely rapidly. Russia proved itself reinforce is that a country must have a mili- the defence industrial base in the Ukraine adept at cyberwarfare, information war- tary that is capable of providing a credible found itself in an extremely difficult situa- fare and more traditional electronic war- deterrent and that countries should be very tion and the necessary reform and reorgan- fare tasks, attacking Ukrainian networks wary of relying on security guarantees from isation of the industry did not take place. and communications infrastructure. For others. L

40 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMED FORCES  CBRN Defence and NATO

Dan Kaszeta

ince the earliest days of the North At- Slantic Treaty Organisation, its members have worried about chemical, biological, Photo: SHAPE and nuclear warfare. Indeed, the nuclear context of the collective defence alliance has been an important component of NA- TO for decades. However, from a defensive standpoint, all of the NATO membership, old and new, has worried about being able to protect their members from CBRN threats and see that their forces can oper- ate on the CBRN battlefield. CBRN defence manifests itself in many different ways within NATO. CBRN de- fence has been part of the military land- scape that NATO first inhabited. While the risk of widespread chemical, biologi- cal, or nuclear warfare on NATO soil has greatly reduced since the end of the Cold War, it has not abated entirely. The post- Cold War era has seen the rise of both out-of-theatre activity for NATO mem- bers, both collectively as part of NATO actions and individually. Likewise, the threat of CBRN use by non-state actors A Danish soldier searching an area for a possible biological agent: The has risen in the past few decades. 14th edition of Exercise Precise Response was held at Canadian­ Forces Many associate NATO with bureaucracy, Base Suffield in Alberta in July 2017. and this is certainly evident to any who have had dealings with NATO entities. als in NATO countries without copious provided by Allied Engineering Publica- However, bureaucracy is not without reference to standardisation agreements tions 54 and 73 standardise these newer value, and “NATOcrats” have done some (STANAGs), Allied Technical Publications designs of respiratory protection as well. useful things. Interoperability and stand- (ATPs), Allied Engineering Publications Another aspect of CBRN defence where ardization are critical to multinational (AEPs), various “Triptychs” (as the name NATO standards have had a concrete im- operations. The longest-standing NATO suggests, three part documents) and re- pact is in the field of warning and report- contribution to CBRN defence is in stand- lated documents. These documents even ing. Allied Technical Publication 45 is a ardisation. NATO has been in the common permeate beyond NATO members and comprehensive methodology for calcula- standards business since the beginning, elements of them find use in places like tion of the hazards generated by CBRN and there are few, if any, CBRN manu- Sweden and South Korea. NATO stand- attacks. ATP-45 forms the basis for much ards often become industry standards by of what CBRN officers and NCOs learn Author default, as contractors and vendors want in their formal military education, even if to do business in NATO member states, they did not (as I did) realise it at the time. Dan Kaszeta’s career spans which represent the most lucrative seg- It provides a common, interoperable, and 25 years in the defence and security ment of the world defence market. importantly – manual and un-reliant on sectors. He has served as an officer For serving military personnel, one of the computers – system for calculating the in the US Army Chemical Corps and most visible NATO standards in CBRN has extent of hazards and communicating as a civil servant in the White House been the respirator filter. There is a stand- these hazards in ways that any NATO Military Office and US Secret Service. ard 40mm threading for CBRN respira- country can interpret. A Dane and an Ital- He moved to the UK in 2008 and tors, now in widespread use around the ian will both interpret an “NBC-2 Report” after three years at Smiths Detection world, not just in NATO members. This is in the same fashion. Once paper-based has been working as an independ- clearly an area where a NATO standard (and still possible with pencil and paper), ent consultant and writer. He is the becomes an industrial standard, or at a ATP-45 has migrated into electronic form author of “CBRN and Hazmat Inci- minimum, an option in a product line. and is used in automated warning and dents at Major Public Events” (Wiley, Even the newer filters and masks which reporting software. 2012) and numerous articles, primar- do not use the 40mm threat (e.g. the US In terms of both actual physical infra- ily in CBRN defence. M50 mask, the UK General Service Res- structure and bureaucracy, NATO now pirator) are part of the NATO framework has a Joint CBRN Centre of Excellence

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 41  ARMED FORCES

been many battalions, as its members are typically drawn from 8-10 member states and the various components serve in 6 month rotations. The Battalion is heavily slanted toward detection and decontami- nation, and consists of a reconnaissance Photo: JCBRN Defence CoE company, a light decontamination com- pany, a heavy decontamination company, deployable laboratories, a medical com- ponent, and a headquarters element. To date 21 NATO members have contributed equipment, soldiers, and leaders to the Battalion or Joint Assessment Team. A non-NATO member, Ukraine, contribut- ed a decontamination platoon in 2010. The process for certification to become part of the Battalion has been a valuable tool in increasing the readiness of CBRN units across NATO. The Battalion’s role as a rapid response entity for domestic support is a bit questionable, given its stated readiness time to be deployed with 5 to 20 days. However, support to major events and heightened alert status are both eminently possible. A task force from the Battalion supported the 2004 Over 200 attendees from seven countries participated in the NATO mul- Athens Olympics. tinational exercise CLEAN CARE 2016 that was conducted at the military Extension of NATO’s work from the mili- training area Tisá, , from 19-23 September 2016. tary sector into civil preparedness has al- ways been more mixed than its military (CoE), hosted by the Czech Republic in ness, and the exercise effort has received work. However, there is now work un- Vyškov. Established in 2007 and general- new emphasis since the establishment of derway by the Civil Emergency Planning ly led by a Czech CBRN Colonel, the CoE the JCBRN CoE. One example of many is staff at NATO, which includes a “Civil is typically staffed by military and civilian PRECISE RESPONSE 2017, which was re- Protection Group” that is attempting staff and support from at least 12 NATO cently held at Canadian Forces Base Suf- to address civilian emergency services members. The JCBRN CoE is organised field, Alberta. This year’s iteration was response to CBRN incidents. For exam- into three departments. The Transforma- 14th in the series. This exercise uses Can- ple, NATO has put forward a suggested tion Support Department works much ada’s ability to train with live toxic ma- international CBRN training curriculum as a CBRN staff in a large military head- terials and involves 400 personnel, from for emergency services involved in civil quarters would do, incorporating CBRN 10 NATO and Austria, which has been a protection. It must be said that this is elements into NATO doctrine, publica- NATO “Partnership for Peace” member clearly a “lowest common denominator” tions, and planning processes. The Train- since 1995. Another example was CLEAN product, but it is certainly a move in the ing, Education and Exercise Department, CARE 2016, which exercised decontami- right direction. Furthermore, NATO has not surprisingly, leads and manages a nation and medical care capabilities. yet to fully get to grips with the fact that training and exercise programme, pro- Hosted in the Czech Republic, it included many civil accidents involving hazardous vides mobile training teams, manages participants from 7 NATO countries. materials are, in practical ways, often the a “lessons learned” system, and works NATO has a decades-long tradition of same or similar to CBRN warfare. to integrate CBRN concerns into other “ready” “rapid” “response” “standing” As NATO is an organisation with 29 NATO exercise programmes. The Opera- and “alert” forces, some of which did member states and numerous partner- tional Support Department has a CBRN not deserve the adjectives applied to ship arrangements, it is useful to re- reach-back section to provide technical them. Battalions, brigades, groups of member that the vast majority of CBRN support to NATO members, a capability ships, even whole army corps have been operational capacity resides at national declared fully operational in 2016. There designated as NATO forces. In the CBRN level. While a detailed encyclopaedia of is an Operational Planning Support Sec- arena, there is now a NATO Combined CBRN capability and capacity would be tion to support NATO crisis response Joint CBRN Defence task force, created a lengthy effort, it is useful to highlight and operations planning efforts, and a in 2003. This Task Force is composed of some of the specific CBRN competencies Modelling and Simulation Section. This a Joint Assessment team and a Multina- that NATO members can (and often do) NATO Centre of Excellence is a valuable tional CBRN Defence Battalion. The Joint contribute to NATO. example of NATO CBRN capability, and Assessment Team is small, but agile, ca- The United States has always been the it aggregates expertise that might be pable of providing rapid assistance to as- biggest provider in NATO. Since the end very well dispersed and diluted across sess situations. The Battalion is structured of the Cold War, the US Army Chemical Europe. as a traditional military CBRN defence Corps’s footprint of traditional military The NATO programme of exercises is an battalion. In reality, since the Battalion CBRN units in Germany has been greatly important component of overall readi- has existed for many years now, it has reduced. However, there have been in-

42 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMED FORCES  teresting developments. The US Army detection and identification technology. at different rates in different places. Few maintains a WMD Civil Support Team in Germany (again) and Italy are Europe’s NATO members are truly ready to ad- Kaiserslautern, Germany. This is an asset leaders in decontamination technology. dress the issues of CBRN forensics, con- for military support to civil authorities in and Poland have interesting taminated evidence, and prosecution of the event of CBRN or similar incidents. technical niches in detection. terrorist offences involving CBRN materi- All of the other CSTs, over 50, are Na- hopes to lead in putting CBRN detection als. Some NATO members, such as the tional Guard assets for domestic use in onto unmanned systems. Denmark has Baltic states and Montenegro have mili- or near their home states. This one, the industrial capabilities in sensor integra- taries that are simply too small to have 773rd CST, is for use in Europe, not just in tion, warning, and reporting. Spain has widespread scope for CBRN capability, and around US bases, or even just within set up a CBRN unit (the Valencia Regi- despite having some individuals with ex- NATO members. Indeed, the author, who ment) and grown its capabilities since cellent CVs. Others have neglected CBRN once was a CST member in Maryland, its establishment. The German army has defence for reasons of budget. For exam- witnessed a 773rd CST training deploy- long had a well-respected chemical corps. ple, the went through ment to Switzerland in 2012. In addition, The UK, , Poland, and the Nether- a period where its army did not have a the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency lands, among others, have excellent labo- CBRN unit, CBRN defence having been has a significant forward presence in the ratories to support agent identification relegated to the Royal Air Force. In other European theatre, also in Kaiserslautern, and forensics. , a newcomer in cases, CBRN doctrine remains mired in Germany. NATO, has recent history of dealing with cold war scenarios and has not adapted Even a cursory survey of other NATO legacy chemical stockpiles. Belgium and to the modern battlefield. The author’s countries yields useful capabilities. Cana- France are veterans at dealing with First own experiences in Romania, Bulgaria da and the Czech Republic both can con- World War chemical ammunition, which and Poland have unearthed instances tribute the ability to safely train with ac- still turns up in farmers’ fields from time of Soviet-era dogma that simply will not tual chemical warfare agents. The Czech to time. All of this experience and ability abate. However, no NATO country (save Republic hosts the CBRN CoE and Multi- adds up, but needs coordination in order Iceland, which has no military) is bereft national Battalion for good reasons as it for it to be useful across NATO. of military CBRN capability, but none of has a very strong practical and theoretical Finally, no broad survey of the NATO them does it perfectly either. basis in military CBRN defence. Various countries should omit the deficits and However, the positives seem to outweigh NATO members have battalions or regi- gaps that exist. Most members neglect- the negatives. NATO, both individually ments of CBRN troops with reasonably ed CBRN defence in the immediate after- and collectively has built institutions and good reputations. Germany and the Unit- math of the Cold War, and the pendulum capabilities. The overall trajectory is up- ed Kingdom are the industrial heart of has swung back towards preparedness ward not downwards. L

VISIT US AT THE DSEI 12. 15. SEPTEMBER 2017 LONDON, UK

NEVER BEFORE HAS DECONTAMINATION BEEN SO FAST.

The new MPDS 2 makes pre-, main- and post-treatment simultaneously possible. www.kaercher-futuretech.com

RZ_Futuretech_CBRN - MPDS 2 186x138mm Quer_EN.indd 1 31.07.2017 09:45:23 September 2017 · European Security & Defence 43  ARMED FORCES 2018 US Defence Budget Proposal Restoration­ As a final budget deal is debated, top acquisition priorities remain unchanged

Joshua Cohen

he US President’s US$639.1Bn defence Allocations for non-combatant fleet as- inventory. Emphasising the growing Tbudget proposal awaits approval from sets include US$541M for a construction capability gap, an additional 10 SUPER a Congress reluctant to move on the ad- of a JOHN LEWIS class fleet replenish- HORNETs top the service’s FY-18 list of ministration’s plan to finance the armed ment oiler (T-AO), second of a planned unfunded priorities. According to Con- forces. At US$52Bn above a spending 20. Approximately US$76M will be ap- gressional testimony, the service origi- limit imposed by the Budget Control Act plied to a new class of towing, salvage, nally intended to zero out funding for of 2011, the figure has been criticised as and rescue ship (T-ATS). Based on a ma- new F/A-18E/F aircraft. As part of the insufficient to restore warfighting readi- ture commercial design, using off the Future Years Defence Programme, 80 are ness, degraded by frequent combat ro- shelf technology proven in the oil and now planned. Joining the new HORNETS, tation, reduced equipment inventories gas industry, the new class will replace four F-35C JOINT STRIKE FIGHTERs and and munitions stockpiles. Compounding the Navy’s aging POWHATAN (T-ATF six CMV-22B OSPREYs, replacing 1960’s the issue, years of sequestration funding 188) and SAFEGUARD class (T-ARS 50). era C-2 GREYHOUND Carrier Onboard levels have delayed aircraft and ground A US$1.25Bn -line item expected to re- Delivery (COD) aircraft are fully funded. vehicle refurbishment and modernisa- main in any final budget, 14 new F/A- At US$137Bn, a seven billion increase tion. While top service priorities are likely 18E/F Super Hornets are needed to ad- over the FY-17 budget, the US Army’s to survive ongoing budget negotiations, dress the service’s strike fighter shortfall. base allocation will have to be stretched funding lines in the final document may A result of excessive use and reduced far to support an end strength of not align with President Trump’s original maintenance, unavailability is reportedly 1,018,000 troops authorized in 2017. plan. running between 50-75% of the Navy’s The figure is expected to fund equip- The Navy’s US$171.5Bn proposal in- cludes US$30.4Bn for new shipbuilding and maritime systems, representing the largest portion of the service’s acquisi- tion budget. The amount provides for Image: US DoD eight new-construction ships, including US$1,880.7M in advance funding for the service’s future nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, CVN-80 ENTERPRISE. Also set aside, US$1.8Bn for procurement of long- lead items for COLUMBIA class nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN-826). The final pair of Block IV VIRGINIA (SSN) class nuclear-powered fast attack sub- marines are funded at US$5.2Bn. Part of a ten-hull multi-year procurement, two Flight III ARLEIGH BURKE guided missile destroyers (DDG-51) are included. Fund- ing for a single Littoral Combat Ship is provided, leading to some doubt about the programme’s future. Author Joshua Cohen writes on defence and aerospace issues with an em- phasis on naval subject matter. He served in the US Marine Corps in Artist impression of the USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-80). The US Navy’s 2nd Tank Battalion. proposal includes US$1,880.7M in advance funding for the service’s future nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

44 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMED FORCES  Photo: US Air Force

The F-35A LIGHTNING II fighter programme continues to be a top priority, with funding for 46 aircraft in the budget. ment modernisation accounts, long ne- purchase new and remanufactured 48 warfare, infrared search and track and glected due to sequestration mandated UH-60 BLACKHAWK transport helicop- computing power upgrades. Weapon cuts, while simultaneously supporting ters. Joining these, a combination of carrying capability is also set to increase the introduction of systems and capa- 62 new and remanufactured AH-64E from 12 to 16 hardpoints, new software bilities to keep pace with offensive capa- APACHE LONGBOW attack helicopters will enable deployment of a wider range bilities now available to many nations. In will be purchased with US$939M. Heavy of munitions. Orders for transport air- a May briefing, Major General Thomas lift assets get a boost with funding for craft are limited to an existing multi-year Horlander, the Army’s budget director, six rebuilt CH-47F CHINOOK cargo heli- procurement for five special operations outlined his service’s modernisation pri- copters. For ground troops, acquisition of MC-130J and two HC-130J. Funding lines orities. Horlander said air and missile 2,110 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles is budg- have been established to support con- defence represent the service’s number eted at US$804M. Another US$772M is tinued A-10 attack aircraft operations one priority. The service needs modern allocated for procurement of new and as the service now expects to keep the means of countering enemy area denial modernised PALADIN 155m self-pro- type operational until 2022. The aircraft, and anti-access capabilities as poten- pelled howitzers. Major investments are with questioned ability to successfully tially hostile nations field increasingly planned to modernise M1 ABRAMS tank operate in a modern air defence envi- modern weapons systems. Upgrades and M2 BRADLEY infantry combat vehi- ronment, have seen major upgrades include software modification kits for cle inventories. over the past decade. Among these, a 131 MIN-104 PATRIOT Advanced Capa- The Air Force requested US$132.4Bn for wing replacement and cockpit overhaul bility 3 (PAC-3) missiles. Shoring up short a budget that invests primarily in per- intended to keep the aircraft in service range air defences, acquisition of addi- sonnel; readiness, nuclear deterrence until 2030 were completed. tional AN/TWQ-1 Avenger systems will operations, space and cyber capabili- Providing deterrence and a counterforce defend ground forces from unmanned ties, combat units and infrastructure. to provocative displays by the Russian aerial vehicle and cruise missiles attacks. According to the service, the fifth gen- armed forces, the European Reassur- A product improvement and service life eration Lockheed Martin F-35A LIGHT- ance Initiative (ERI) is programmed to extension programme for FIM-92 Sting- NING II fighter programme continues receive US$4.8Bn, a US$1.4Bn increase er man-portable air defence systems will to be a top priority, with funding for over 2017. During a 1 June press brief- be accelerated. Replacement of dated 46 aircraft in the budget. A US$915M ing, Major General David W. Allvin (US- components and a new proximity fused request covers planned modernisation, AF), European Command’s director of warhead are expected to keep the in- reliability and improved maintainability strategy, explained the additional fund- ventory relevant for another decade. upgrades for service’s F-22 fifth gen- ing supports an increased presence. He Upon completion, the MANPAD will be eration superiority fighter. Funding in- said US$2.2Bn is earmarked for ‘en- redesignated FIM-92J. cludes integration, development and hanced’ prepositioned equipment, mu- Increasing long-range fires capability is testing for the AIM-120D and AIM-9X nitions, fuel and support activities. The another priority, one comprising a ten- air-to-air missiles, and enhanced elec- Army’s FY-18 budget request includes year service life extension for 121 expired tronic warfare protection. Upgrades US$253.9M from the FY-18 Overseas Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATacMS). will give the RAPTOR a ground attack Contingency Operations account, these Additionally, 6,000 rockets will be or- capability using the GBU-39 Small Di- funds will purchase 65 new Armored dered for the Guided Multiple Launch ameter Bomb. Multi-Purpose Vehicles in a one-off deal Rocket System (GMLRS). Production of The long serving F-15E STRIKE EAGLE specifically to support US forces partici- 88,000 unguided HYDRA 70 rockets inventory is programmed to receive pating in ERI. Also included in the FY-18 and 480 M982 EXCALIBUR GPS-guided US$931M in improvements, allowing budget proposal, US$150M to continue 155mm artillery munitions round out key the 1970’s vintage design to remain in efforts to train, equip and advise Ukrain- priorities. The service’s aviation compo- service until the 2040 timeframe. The ian government forces for internal de- nent will receive one billion dollars to inventory will see new radar, electronic fence operations. L

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 45  ARMED FORCES “We are actually working to reach the objective of 2%.”

Succeeding Pedro Argüelles, Agustín Conde took office as the new

Photo: MoD Spain Secretary of State in the Spanish Ministry of Defence on 19 November 2016. ESD spoke with him about his assessment of Spain’s current defensive capabilities and his near and medium-term plans and perspectives.

very soon after her taking office. They in- work with the entire Spanish society and volve several matters like human resources the political parties to agree on a new cycle policy, budgeting, infrastructures, new of investment, so that our personnel can acquisitions, maintenance, peacekeeping count on the best weapon systems in the operations, etc. future – equipment, gear, facilities and sup- If we focus the answer on this department, plies – to perform the tasks that have been our main goal is to provide for the women assigned to them. and men serving the country in the military ESD: With 0.9% of the country’s Gross the best tools available, so they can per- National Product in Spain's 2016 defence form their duties. Our armed forces have at budget – similar to those of many other ESD: The Council of Ministers of the Span- their disposal world-class weapon systems NATO nations – was significantly below the ish Government approved your appoint- and are supported by an ex- ment as Secretary of State for Defence at cellent industrial base. the end of November 2016. What is your However, it is well known that professional background, and what are Spain has suffered significant your priority objectives in your new and budget restrictions in previ- current position? ous years. It is also true that Conde: The priority objectives of the de- we all have contributed to the partment were clearly stated by the Minis- economic recovery of our na- ter of Defence, Maria Dolores de Cospedal, tion. Now our intention is to Photo: MoD Spain

Spain participates in the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) in Latvia.

46 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMED FORCES 

2% level advocated by NATO. Now that US ing, infrastructure and new acquisition of ously the different scopes of action are well President Donald Trump has threatened a weapon systems, so I am giving my answer defined by our constitution and legal sys- reduction of the US’ military support to the from this perspective. tem. However, it is clear that cooperation protection of NATO Europe, do you expect this figure to change – and if so, when and to what extent? Conde: The Minister of Defence, Maria Dolores de Cospedal, emphasised dur- Photo: MoD Spain ing her official statement in the National Parliament that it was the intention of this Government to fulfil all necessary condi- tions and steps to obtain an increase in the defence budget. However, it is also significant – as she clearly indicated – that this objective can only be achieved with a national agreement involv- ing all political parties represented in Parlia- ment. We are actually working to reach this objective.

ESD: Considering the current status of the Spanish Armed Forces in terms of person- nel and education, infrastructure, efforts required for maintenance and life cycle The Spanish frigate VICTORIA during a rescue mission off the shore of management, and equipment in service Libya in June 2017 and subject to procurement, are there ar- eas where you see need for improvement? There is always room for improvement. It is the key factor. Not only at a national, but Conde: The Department within the Min- is our mission to secure our freedom of also at an international level. I believe that istry of Defence which I have the honour action as a country, to guarantee our sov- we are working in the right direction. to be the head of, is in charge of budget- ereignty and the safety of our citizens. The need for new investments for ESD: We understand that some of your cur- equipment and infrastruc- rent capital defence materiel programmes ture, it is a must for every are also intended to strengthen the Spanish nation. To keep the armed defence industry. What is your perception forces fully trained, with the of the capabilities of the Spanish defence best equipment, to deal with industrial base? the growing threats in the Conde: The industry is the essential ac- globalised world in which tor to respond to the operational needs our citizens develop and ex- of the armed forces with viable indus- ercise their rights, it is our trial and technological solutions for the main objective. equipment and systems that we need as We have to ensure the best a nation. personal safeguard for the Innovation is the key strategic element to women and men serving in achieve and implement high-end technol- the Army, Navy and Air Force, ogy. It is the essence of all growth and so they can accomplish their development. Creativity is the key element mission, which is the protec- that enables more efficient and operational tion of Spanish citizens in any solutions. It solves complex problems and type of mission, in any sce- introduces improvements that redound to nario, present and future. the benefit in our society. A broad technology base is key if it comes ESD: In light of the new threat to generating a credible deterrent factor. environment characterised Investments in research and innovation are by terror and asymmetric indispensable elements to maintain our threats, can you elaborate on sovereignty and freedom of action and, the distribution of responsi- in case of a military conflict, attain the bilities and cooperation be- supremacy in defence of the interests of tween the Armed Forces and Spain and its allies. In this respect, Spain paramilitary forces like the can take advantage of a very capable de- Guardia Civil? fence industrial base, fully engaged to pro- Conde: All departments are vide high-tech solutions for the needs of responsible for the security our forces. and safeguarding of our de- The interview was conducted by mocracy and freedom. Obvi- Esteban Villarejo.

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 47 The Brussels Backdrop

The European Migration Crisis

Joris Verbeurgt

n 2011 a revolution broke out in large Iparts of North Africa and the Middle East. From Morocco in the West to Syria in the East, the Arab Spring raged alongside Eu- Photo: Frontex rope’s southern borders. In some cases, the street protests were easily suppressed by a mixture of concessions and repres- sion. In other cases, popular upheaval lead to armed rebellion aiming at nothing less than producing a regime change. The latter scenario was the case in Libya and Syria where “rebels” tried to overthrow the regimes of Muammar Gadaffi and Ba- shir al Assad. With the support of NATO and some EU countries, Gadaffi was soon driven from power and assassinated. As- sad, backed by Russia, was a tougher nut to crack. The attempts to overthrow these (semi-)dictatorial regimes, disliked by some Western and Arab powers, led to grue- A total of 26 EU countries have taken part in Frontex‘ Joint Operation some civil wars, instability, the spread of IS Triton by deploying either equipment or border guards. and - especially destabilising for Europe – to streams of refugees pouring into Europe gency measures, like the army patrolling the status of asylum seeker. Once they get and to a highly increased risk of terrorism the streets in major cities. Since the fall of in these countries, they are pretty sure they on European soil. Already in March 2011, Gadaffi and the start of the Syrian conflict can stay there and will not be removed. in an interview with the France 24 televi- in 2011, approximately 4.5 million asylum After some time, they can bring over their sion station, Gadaffi predicted the greatest seekers have entered Europe, with peaks families and new legal migration channels refugee crisis in Europe since WWII when of 1.3 million in 2015 and 1.2 million in emerge. The Schengen agreement that he warned that millions of Africans would 2016 (source: Eurostat). provides free passage from one European come to the Mediterranean to cross to Eu- Most asylum seekers entered Europe via country to another, makes it all easier. rope if Libya was to become unstable. On the Mediterranean Sea: in 2015 and 2016, First, the EU welcomed the migrants for more than one occasion, Assad warned more than two million migrants entered humanitarian reasons and because EU European leaders that the war in Syria Europe via the Eastern Mediterranean officials believed that the migrants were and the uncontrolled influx of hundreds route, coming from Turkey to Greece with highly-skilled workers, an asset for the Eu- of thousands of “refugees” into Europe the aid of human traffickers. Thousands of ropean workforce. Germany and Sweden would make this continent extremely vul- migrants, attracted by Angela Merkel’s fa- lead by example, letting in huge contin- nerable for terrorist attacks committed by mous words “Wir schaffen das”, drowned gents of migrants at once. However, soon IS and its supporters. during the crossing. The traffickers have the problems began: Sweden was so over- also other routes available: the Western whelmed by the influx of migrants that is The EU’s Open Door Policy Mediterranean route leading to Spain, the was forced to temporarily close its borders. Central Mediterranean route leading to Germany, too, experienced a reality check Both prophecies turned out to be true: Spain and Italy and the Southeastern Med- after new year’s eve 2016, when gangs Western-European countries were the iterranean route leading to Italy. From their of young migrants harassed and assaulted target of numerous terrorist plots and arrival point in Europe, the migrants seek German women in Cologne and other atrocities (Nice, Berlin, Brussels, …), killing to get to Northern European countries, like places. It turned out that a large majority and wounding hundreds of European citi- Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, of the migrants that were welcomed with zens and necessitating a variety of emer- where they hope to find refuge and finally open arms were young males and not fam-

48 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ilies with children; that only few possessed EU officials (pressed by Germany) opted for the skills needed by the European industry a strategy aiming at controlling the migra- and that most migrants would probably tion streams instead of trying to stop them; live on the already burdened social welfare a push-back policy – forcing intercepted system. Only a small minority was actually boats with migrants to return to the har- fleeing war or fearing for their life: most bours in North Africa and Turkey where Photo: NATO MARCOM migrants came from places as far as Nige- they originated from – was repudiated; a ria and Bangladesh (!) in the search for a proposal to set up camps in North Africa better life. The migrants have kept coming, where migrants could apply for asylum billions of tax payers’ money have been and only those eligible for asylum (actu- spent on housing and support of migrants, ally a mere 2%) could come over, was also crime rates – especially rape - skyrocketed, rejected. women have been harassed at festivals, … With IS almost defeated in Syria and migra- and in all European countries, the public tion from Turkey to Greece becoming a lot opinion has turned against the open bor- more difficult, human traffickers quickly NATO ships patrol the western ders policies promoted by Germany, the found other routes to land their human Mediterranean in the scope of EU and Western media. load on European soil in exchange for big Operation Sea Guardian. cash. In the spring of 2017, Libya –showing National Responses to the many traits of a “failed state” – became the them safely on land – were also criticised Migrant­ Crisis primary operating base for the smugglers for providing a de facto ferry service for and Italy its prime destination. While in the human traffickers. Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán was the first half of 2017 around 60,000 migrants The EU pledged for solidarity with Italy first statesman to understand what was arrived in Italy, in the four days between 24 more than once but with little to no ef- going on. Together with Poland, the Czech and 27 June, 8,863 migrants came ashore, fect. The Italian authorities therefore de- Republic and Slovakia (later joined by Aus- according to the International Office for cided to take matters in their one hands tria), he rejected the open borders policy Migration. Since the beginning of 2017, and negotiated an agreement with Libyan and started to build a fence along his bor- more than 1,500 people have been report- authorities to prevent human trafficking ders to prevent the trespassing of thou- ed to have died during the crossing from from Libya. Italy sponsors and supports sands of migrants per day. The EU reacted Libya to Italy. At this rate, Italy may well an effective Libyan Coast Guard that pre- half-heartedly: it condemned the fence exceed last year’s record of 200,000 arriv- vents the boats with migrants to set off in in Hungary but in March 2016 it closed als. The nationality of the migrants raises the direction of Europe. At the same time, a (costly) deal with Turkey to exchange important questions about how Europe the Italian Government imposed a code of large numbers of migrants. At the same is handling the migration crisis: Nigerian conduct for so-called rescue ships char- time, it established the European Border is the first declared nationality of around tered by NGOs. Several NGOs – Doctors and Coast Guard Agency to tackle migra- 15% of those arriving in 2017, followed Without Borders is among them – refused tion and security challenges at Europe’s by Bangladeshi (12%), Guinean (10%) and to sign the code and quit their activities external borders by conducting stress Ivorian (9%) – all countries without war at sea. Data show that migration from tests and identifying vulnerabilities before and thus making the migrants not eligible Libya to Italy dropped at once but that a crisis could hit. Since 2015 Frontex has for asylum status. the migration routes easily transfer from conducted two maritime operations in the one place to another and that the whole Mediterranean, Poseidon for Greece and Another Strategy is Needed Southern European coastline is at risk. As Triton for Italy, with the goal of controlling we write this, large quantities of migrants the influx and saving the lives of migrants Another aspect is the role of the NGOs are arriving in Spain, just a couple of miles risking the passage. These measures were operating in the Mediterranean Sea: many off the coast of North Africa. The migrant accompanied by a plan to equally spread of them act as an extension of the human crisis is far from over but has made one large numbers of migrants over all EU traffickers, taking over the migrants from thing clear: the EU has no strategy that is member states; the compulsory nature of the smugglers as soon as they leave the supported by the member states or by the the plan, especially striking Central- and coastline and transporting them to Italy. European population. It has no executable Eastern European nations that hitherto The Italian Department of Justice is investi- plan to prevent the uncontrolled influx of had no large Muslim communities living gating the contacts between certain NGOs migrants and countries like Hungary and in their country (and refuse to have so), and human traffickers since human traf- Italy have to rely on their own capabili- fiercely opposed the plan and continue to ficking is a crime and complicity to it pun- ties to prevent the migrants crisis turning do so. The question of the resettlement of ishable under law. EU and NATO maritime into an explosive political, social, economic refugees has become a very divisive sub- operations in the Aegean Sea – picking up and humanitarian situation. A change of ject in the EU. thousands of migrants at sea and bringing course is therefore more than desirable.

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 49  ARMED FORCES “This situation cannot go on.”

Interview with Deputy Defence Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Lt.Gen. Karim Valiyev

On 15 May 2014, the Azerbaijani President as Supreme Commander-in-Chief signed Presidential Decree No 466 in order to appoint Lieutenant-General Karim Valiyev (then 53) as the Deputy Defence Minister. Lt. Gen. Valiyev is a graduate of the Frunze Military Academy and served as the head of the Military Scientific Centre and the Chief of the Department of Defence Plan- ning/Military Strategy of the Azeri MoD and was also Commander of the Ist and – up to his appointment – the IVth Army Corps.

ESD: General, could you please give us an overview on the general background of the defence forces of Azerbajan, and how the forces see themselves? What is their spirit, Photos: Mader motivation or morale factor? Valiyev: You’re openly welcomed. While the Defence Forces of Azerbajan are, like many other armies, principally defence- oriented and committed to the defence of the motherland, it cannot be denied that in their motivation or morale they are of course up to today characterised by the more than 20 years of unresolved conflict on Nagorno-Karabakh and the accompa- nying illegitimate Armenian occupation of seven recognised Azerbaijani territories. It’s our land. I am sure you are aware of Take-off of two MIG-29UB of the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force the four UNSC-adopted resolutions – one at Nasosnaya air base of the main sources of international law – from 1993, regarding the Nagorno-Kara- but of course in the overall motivation or tunately. And – in opposition to the Vienna bakh conflict. Resolutions Nos. 822, 853, identity – for the whole nation, in fact, be- document which Yerevan also signed – 874 and 884 confirmed the occupation of cause the General Assembly in 2008 also there are hundreds of weapon systems and Azerbaijan territories by Armenian armed reaffirmed the inalienable right of the Azer- military vehicles still present on the territory forces and since then have called for the baijani population to return to their homes. of Karabakh and our occupied provinces. withdrawal of Armenian troops from Kel- This affected more than a million people; bajar, Agdam, Fizuli, Jabrayil, Qubadli and many thousands – a new generation – are ESD: It seems clear that this “frozen” con- Zangilan. Additionally, the UN General As- still living as domestic refugees and dis- flict along your western borders dominates sembly adopted a resolution in 2008, reaf- placed families. Also, many thousands of your security situation. Is there an outcome firming the territorial integrity of Azerbai- our servicemen and -women come from on the horizon, or is it for future genera- jan and demanding the withdrawal of all these territories and everybody knows tions to find a settlement? Armenian armed forces from the occupied someone from families expelled from these Valiyev: Let me be clear. There is nothing territories. So all these are recognized facts, regions or living under constant danger frozen out there. This term comes from upon which of course their liberation re- along the Line-of-Contact (LoC). As I am those who want such conflicts to last for- main a nationally-enshrined goal. sure you know, there is a ceasefire in effect ever in order to keep their influence. Fur- since 1994, but it’s very fragile. And ever thermore, this is anachronistic WWI-style ESD: Goals that also are shaping your since then, the international community trench warfare, but with NVGs and UAVs. military. – or the chairs of the mediating “Minsk- Soldiers and civilians are killed almost eve- Valiyev: Not in terms of the general force- group” (Russia, the US and France) – has ry week or month; the latest technique is structure, policy-orientation or dislocation, not sent any clear signal to Armenia, unfor- to drop explosives from small commercial

50 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMED FORCES 

UAVs. It is the biggest threat to the region and its development, so the conflict has to be resolved, one way or another. We long pursued the so-called “Madrid Prin- ciples”, refined in December 2009 at the behest of Russia, the US and France. This proper plan – to be ‘worked down’ by the OSCE’s “Minsk Group” – would step by step have allowed for the return home of 750,000 internally displaced people, the restoration of communication links and the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the seven regions and villages surrounding Karabakh. An interim status would then be given to an autonomous Nagorno- Karabakh with security guarantees to enable an international peacekeeping op- eration, pending a later decision on the About 100 MATADOR and 140 APCs, both from the territory’s final status. This offered a fair South African Paramount Group and produced in Azerbaijan, are in use way out of the current deadlock for both with the Azerbaijan Land Forces. sides. It could have been the foundation of a breakthrough. nia were liberated. They are well aware of Valiyev: No. The diplomatic process re- Azerbaijan’s military superiority and that mains the preferred path. But on the other ESD: And…? the military operations conducted on the hand, this situation cannot go on endlessly Valiyev: Well – in reality nothing hap- frontline in early April have demonstrated for another generation. Also because over pened. With regret we have heard noth- the strength of our army to the whole time the threat develops a new “quality” ing substantial from Armenia, except hefty world. And yes, we had casualties in this or dimension – such as there are now IS- words that these territories would never operation: each one will be painfully missed KANDER missiles in Armenia that threaten be Azeri again and so on. I mean, what by families and comrades. They will be re- even our capital. does Armenia gain from that rhetoric? flected in the memory of the Azerbaijani They cannot eat these lands! And what people and strengthen our confidence that ESD: Is that why Azerbaijan agreed with is Armenia’s status compared with Azer- by the blood of our martyrs the country’s Israel to get their IRON DOME missile de- baijan? Nothing. They are not along any territorial integrity will be restored. And you fence system, BARAK-8 SAMs and the financially relevant corridors or pipelines. can be sure that we will avenge our mar- GREEN PINE radar…? Their economy is poor. Their people are tyrs’ blood. I wish that our flag will again be Valiyev: Of course we have taken steps scattered over the entire planet. There is raised in our lands where our soldiers were to neutralise this threat. And – similar to an exodus of the young – especially from martyred. Inshallah. other partners like our brother-nation Tur- the occupied districts. We have a bigger key – Azerbaijan has developed a deep defence budget than their entire national ESD: Since then have there been other military partnership with Israel in recent budget. Yes, it may be the case that since clashes or shootings? I heard that in May years; our defence industry has developed the 2008 Georgian conflict – another simi- you destroyed a mobile Armenian OSA several joint co-operative projects with Is- lar situation in the same region – Yerevan [SA-8] air defence system? raeli manufacturers. Logically, Azerbaijan has closer relations with Russia after it rec- Valiyev: There are almost daily shootings has received many defensive and offensive ognised Georgia’s two breakaway regions. and explosions. Sometimes mortars. And weapons from Israel, or is assembling them But for us, any compromise could never sniper activity. The peak figure April of Ar- in partnership. That also includes airspace mean a secession of those territories to Ar- menian armed units breaking the ceasefire and air defence. menia! It could be a co-existence of both with Azerbaijan was a total of 112 times ethnic groups there. What do we hear re- throughout one day. The OSA-system you ESD: Let’s now focus onto your forces, garding this intermediate target? That it is mentioned, that happened in the Fuzuli re- please. Could you elaborate on the general “incompatible” gion, in the southernmost part of the LoC. orientation of your military? We knew it was there but when it was re- Valiyev: It’s unambiguous that Azerbaijan ESD: Did this situation lead to the short located forward to “paint” our helicopters, is in the process of integrating into NATO “April war” of last year? it was decided to destroy it. standards. While we study the experiences Valiyev: No, we have endured this pro- of different countries in the military sphere, longed status for a painfully long time, ESD: With what? An anti-radiation-missile? including Russia, the Army however is con- from well before. But as I told you, there Valiyev: No, by a missile from an tinuously developing in accordance with are weapon systems there, which simply armoured vehicle. NATO principles. It is not true to say that the should not be. And with infrequent barrag- Azeri Forces are inclined towards the for- es they threaten border villages and Azeri ESD: Isn’t it the case that your govern- mer Soviet or Russian military model: such citizens, especially with artillery. When such ment portrays last April as proof that it can claims are baseless. We, for example, have shelling happened again last April, thanks change the status quo on the ground in its over 200 servicemen studying in foreign to the counteroffensive conducted by the favour? Would you now be encouraged to countries, most of them in NATO nations. Azerbaijani armed forces, even some of use the military option if faith in the diplo- But we also have some in Russian military the strategic heights occupied by Arme- matic process fades? education institutions, which makes sense

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 51 an organization to work with mass me- dia representatives. Before you interrupt – yes, your kind of magazines are not truly “mass media” – but in the light of mod- ern information warfare, we need to deal with those professionally – also regard- ing things like security measures when taking them to the front along the LoC. Furthermore, this organisation develops general rules on how to work with media requests, basic directions and principles of media relations, rules for allowing jour- nalists to military facilities and so on. In POLNOCNY Class landing ship of the Azerbaijani Navy 2014 the first advanced training course for such Azerbaijani military personnel was since we still use many Russian-built weap- 80 military vehicles and 4 helicopters were completed. They gained knowledge and ons and equipment. So we will always need involved in the field exercise. The evalua- experience of how to work and build rela- some officers to study in Russian schools to tion was conducted by the multinational tions with media outlets, measures taken familiarise themselves with those weapons evaluation team and monitored by a NATO to develop regulations of accreditation in and that equipment. But programmes of Monitoring Team representing Allied Land connection with the activities of media the Russian education system are not used Command. representatives in military units and insti- in our tactical concepts or operational plan- tutions of the Armed Forces, organization ning. Our NATO-orientation is document- ESD: Finally, not too many foreign defence of seminars with journalists specialized in ed by constant evaluations of our units… journalists have been to your country or to military issues and their visits to military the different branches of your forces. Do units, arrangement of press conferences ESD: Like that rapid mobile battalion we you care for more media-visits or do you and other activities. It is essential to show, visited? pursue a certain public-relations strategy? more broadly and more openly – also Valiyev: Yes, that NEL-2 (NATO Evaluation Valiyev: Well you see, at least you are beyond our borders – who our men and Level 2) was held within the framework of here! But not many like you, from your women in uniform are – while not forget- the NATO Operational Capabilities Con- international colleagues. But while we ting about transmitting our message. cept (OCC) programme, in the Karahey- use and respect your publication, it is The interview was conducted bat Training Centre. About 700 soldiers, only since 2014 that we have developed by Georg Mader. Scan the QR code

General Information General Media Technical Partner Partner Partner

Ukraine, , Brovarsky Ave, 15 Viewpoint from Bern

Tasks of the Air Force

In the concept for the long-term security of airspace of 27 August 2014, as the Federal Council formulated it in the reply to the question submitted by Parliamentarian Galladé, a perfor- mance level of 55 combat jets has been defined to relieve the F/A-18 fleet, according to the political and policy framework for the future configuration of the Air Force. The Air Force should be in a position to carry out independently the role of policing the airspace, “to safeguard air sovereignty in times of increased tension over periods of months, and, ultimately, in terms of air defence, at least to maintain an advantageous situation in the air, and thereby ensure the freedom of action of the ground Peter Jenni forces”.

Four Options

Protecting Swiss The expert group set out four options as to how the perfor- mance level described could be put into effect with different areas of focus: The requirement is either about 55 to 70, or 40, Air Space 30 or 20 new combat jets. The idea with 20 units is that the existing F/A-18 fleet is retained in service until replacement n early 2016 the Chief Executive of the VBS (Swiss Federal in the 2030 decade. It is more than questionable, however, IDepartment of Defence, Civil Defence, and Sport) set up an whether the three last figures given will be sufficient to attain internal and an external working group and issued them with the performance level cited by the Federal Council in 2014. instructions to determine what Switzerland will need in the It is evident that the variant of 55 to 70 units best fulfils the future for monitoring, protecting, and defending its airspace. concepts put forward by the Federal Council. All the other options have more or less substantial disadvantages. Sustain- The internal group of experts under the guidance of Divisional ability is dependent on the size of the fleet. Based on the as- Commander Claude Meier, Army Chief of Staff, describes in its sumption that there will be four combat aircraft permanently 200-page report the magnitude and complexity of the task of in the air, this means that with 40 units sustainability will last protecting Swiss airspace and the role of ground-supported air about 30 days, then the curtain comes down. With 30 units, defence (Bodluv) in this connection. They also recalled, however, 24-hour protection of our airspace ends after two weeks. De- that as from 2020 not only the Air Force and air defence will pending on the variant, the costs fluctuate between CHF18Bn require new materiel, but also the ground forces. The supervi- to CHF5Bn for new combat aircraft and ground-based air sory group under the guidance of former parliamentarian Hans defence. Altherr set forth in their presentation 16 recommendations for the evaluation and procurement of a new combat aircraft. Recommendations This preparatory work is intended to put the Minister of Defence, Federal Counsellor Guy Parmelin, in a position to determine the As has been mentioned, the internal experts were supported stance of the VBS and to submit the appropriate applications to by an external guidance group, in which the political parties the Federal Council. A start on the evaluation needs to be made represented in the Federal Council each participated with one soon. The aim is to select the type by 2020, and to apply to member, as well as members of the VBS and other Depart- Parliament for the commitment credit in the 2022 Army budget. ments, as well as from industry and the Swiss Officer Corps. Their task was, taking account of all the aspects, to address Findings questions and problems of the evaluation and procurement of a new combat aircraft in an early phase. In a seven-page Not surprisingly, the experts found in their report that the airspace report the guidance group formulated 16 recommendations. is of strategic significance to the security of the country. In future, it The issues were the role of combat aircraft, what performance will continue to be defended by combat aircraft and ground-based capacities they are required to have, whether there are alterna- air defence resources. All states have to provide for security in the tives to combat aircraft, how sensible a one-fleet policy really airspace over their territory for themselves. Cooperation with our is, questions of independence and neutrality, are compensation neighbours is already being regularly rehearsed as far as is rea- transactions a good idea, how should ground-based air defence sonably possible, but a far-reaching cooperation arrangement is be modernised, and should aircraft from Russia and China come hardly feasible for reasons of neutrality and independence. into consideration.

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 53  ARMED FORCES Paradigm Shift at Infantry Company Level New Thinking on the Most Effective Weapons Mix

David Saw

There was a time when the conventional wisdom was that the smallest unit capable of independent operations was a brigade; then fashion and thinking changed, looking for more flexibility, and that led to development of the battlegroup.

he problem was that there was no Tright or wrong size for a battlegroup. It was often dependent on doctrine, but it could just as well be a stop-gap solution Photo: MOD UK using whatever units were to hand to deal with an emergency. Then came the idea to build a battlegroup on an existing battal- ion and simply add attachments, and now further tactical and organisational evolu- tion has seen company-sized formations increasingly given serious, independent operational tasks. Obviously there are limitations to what can be expected of a company-sized unit, and when giving a company an independ- ent operational task, specific attachments will be required. The French Army exten- sively uses the sous-groupement tactique interarmes (SGTIA) or Combined Arms Tactical Subgroup, which is a company- sized formation strengthened with attach- ments, commanded by a captain, with a strength of some 200 troops. The SGTIA In the midst of a firefight in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on 23 June is an established part of French military 2010, a British soldier with an L7 General Purpose (GPMG). doctrine and is deployed as a pre-existing Once a squad-level weapon, the GPMG is now, more often than not, a unit, but it is also possible for an SGTIA to battalion-level asset in the support company. The current L7A2 GPMG of be formed as an expedient solution from the British Army was built by Heckler & Koch. whatever units are available, as required. During Operation Serval in Mali (Decem- to the mix. It is noteworthy that the combat great distances and will give them access ber 2012 to July 2014), the French Army engineer platoon is equipped with the ECA to fire support and logistic support as they used SGTIA that were both pre-existing Group IT180 UAV, giving the SGTIA an or- need it. and organised in-theatre. ganic reconnaissance capability. The French Army SGTIA concept is prob- The SGTIA normally comprises a mixed Even more will be expected from French ably the ultimate evolution of the company command and logistic platoon, three in- Army SGTIA once their battlefield digitisa- structure, although it is a relatively standard fantry platoons, a platoon of , and tion effort comes to fruition. At the initial mechanised infantry company. The roots of a combat engineer platoon, with support- level this will be the future soldier system the SGTIA lie in the long history of interven- ing attachments including artillery, and an FELIN (Fantassin à Équipements et Liaisons tion operations by the French military in organisation responsible for fire support Intégrés). The complete French Army digi- Francophone Africa, and the development coordination, under the command of the tal architecture, the SCORPION integrated of effective task-based units to meet op- SGTIA second-in-command, usually a cap- network and information management erational requirements. The SGTIA is now tain. This could include a Joint Terminal At- system, is due to be online in 2025. This being seen as having a role to play out- tack Controller (JTAC) and a liaison, obser- investment in digitisation will be a key ena- side contingency operations and overseas vation and coordination detachment. Addi- bler for SGTIA-sized units to conduct rapid operations such as the French involvement tionally, an intelligence cell might be added manoeuvre warfare while dispersed over in Afghanistan, and this formation is now

54 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMED FORCES 

two standard M16A4 and a single M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). The weapons platoon has a headquar- ters, then a machine gun section of three squads, with each squad consisting of Photo: US Marine Corps two machine gun teams of three person- nel each, the weapons being six M240G 7.62x51mm machine guns. There is a mor- tar section consisting of three squads, each with three M224 60mm mortars, and fi- nally there is an assault section comprising three assault squads each of four person- nel, with a total of six Mk153 SMAW sys- tems across the section. All things considered, this is a reasonable, not excessive amount of firepower: at the infantry platoon level, assault rifles and M249 SAW in 5.56x45mm calibre and the M203 40mm grenade launcher, with the weapons platoon having six M240 A US Marine Corps M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) being used on 7.62x51mm machine guns, three M224 the range at Camp Lejeune. The M27 IAR is based on the Heckler & Koch 60mm mortars and six SMAW systems. HK416 and was selected by the Marines to replace the M249 light Then operational experience brought new machine gun at the squad level. Now there are 27 M27s in the three rifle­ insights, doctrine evolved and new equip- platoons and six M249s at company-level in a rifle company. ment entered service in response to these insights and to support the new doctrine, central to the organisational structure of enemy. If that fails, then they are to prevail and in the context of the USMC rifle com- the French ground forces. in combat, then stabilise the situation, and pany significant changes in weapons be- As unit sizes shrink in Western armies, finally enable the civil authority to take over. gan to emerge. due to factors such as budgetary limita- The rifle company has a headquarters ele- The starting point for this process was the tions and an inability to recruit and retain ment, with a weapons platoon and three decision for marine officers to replace their sufficient troops, it is likely that the “com- rifle platoons each comprising three rifle 9x19mm M9 pistols with the M4 carbine. pany with attachments” will become the squads, and each squad broken down into Then, those troops who were performing basic independent operational unit in three fire teams. Each fire team has four per- tasks where the full-size M16A4 rifle was many militaries. Some will not need to sonnel, and until quite recently the weap- too cumbersome were allowed to switch to follow this route: the US Army and the ons available to the fire team consisted of the M4. Following that, in mid-2015, it was US Marine Corps do not face the troop an M16A4 with M203 grenade launcher, announced that the M4 would become shortages common in other western armies, and have companies with a lot more bodies and a lot more equipment. For example, a US Marine Corps (USMC) rifle company has a command element, three rifle platoons and a weapons pla- toon, translating into some 180 troops. Photo: US Marine Corps The battalion to which the company be- longs will often add medical personnel, forward observers/fire controllers and support weapons from the heavy weap- ons company in the battalion, thus sig- nificantly boosting company capabilities and troop numbers.

Evolving Structures

While the USMC rifle company might not have the operational latitude given to a French Army SGTIA, it is capable of a lot more than a conventional infantry compa- ny at the end of the 1970s, for example. In the 1970s the company would be expected US Marines of Marine Rotational Force Europe 17.1 (MRF-E), register an to seize the initiative and dominate: some M224 60mm mortar system, in Porsangmoen, Norway, in February 2017. 40 years later the same holds true, but the Each US Marine rifle company has a mortar section with three M224 company can be tasked with other missions mortars to provide indirect fire support, with 81mm mortars at the as well, to shape the situation and deter the battalion level.

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 55  ARMED FORCES

standard issue for all marine infantry and decided to retain the weapon in service: be a work in progress, and solutions are that the M16A4 would be withdrawn and typically a Marine rifle company will have readily available, though not necessarily issued only to support troops where appro- 27 M27 IARs, replacing the M249 at the from within the USA. priate. On the surface, considering the em- fire team level, and six M249s at the com- While the M27 and the IAR concept ap- phasis that the Marines put on marksman- pany level. pear to be in line with USMC doctrine, it ship and accurate aimed fire, the decision Now the USMC is considering using the is significant that the initial plan to remove to adopt the M4 appears out of character. M27 IAR to replace the M4 at squad level. the M249 from service was halted. Good However, other steps were being taken to This is ironic, as the M27 is a development though the M27 is, it is still a 5.56x45mm alter the squad-level weapons mix. of the HK416, which itself is based on the NATO calibre weapon, with all the advan- tages and disadvantages that this implies. It also lacks the ability to deliver the sheer volume of suppressive fire of a belt-fed weapon like the M249. The fact that the Photo: US Army Marines have made the M249 a company- level asset is recognition of the importance of such suppressive fire. There is a danger in this, however: the fact that there are now six M249s at company level might lead to the suggestion that it would be sensible for the M249 replace the six M240Gs cur- rently fielded. That would be foolish: useful though the M249 is, it does not have the capabilities in terms of range and suppres- sion that the 7.62x51mm M240G has. (Having said that, a new 11 August 2017 acquisition Notice from the USMC Systems Command states that the Corps “intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source (FAR 6302.1 Range work with the M249 SAW for the Rhode Island Army National (a)(2)(ii)), based on substantial duplication Guard in July 2017. Unlike the Marines, the US Army still has the M249 of costs to the Government that are not as a squad-level asset, though this might change if the move towards expected to be recovered through compe- changing the standard rifle calibre goes ahead. This could see the tition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling demise of the M4/M16 and M249. the agency’s requirements. The Govern- ment intends to solicit and negotiate with The M249 SAW had been adopted by the M4. In an ideal world the Marines would Heckler & Koch (H&K) in Virginia for up Marines in 1985 on the back of the US probably look to equip all of their infantry to 50,814 M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles Army decision to acquire the FN MINIMI with the M27, but with the M27 costing (IAR).” It therefore seems that the USMC, as the M249, and was a logical way of get- three times more than an M4 that was at least, intends to dump the M4, having ting suppressive firepower into the hands widely considered to be unfeasible – until only made it standard issue in mid-2015 of the infantry fire team. For some, though, August 2017. At the fire team level there is and replace it totally with the M27. The this suppressive firepower was not enough already one M27 as the SAW replacement; M27 costs US$3,000 a weapon, so this is a and the thinking that accurate, aimed fire two more M27s could come into the fire big deal. – Ed.) could replace the SAW eventually led to a team in place of the M4; and the fire team programme known as the Infantry Auto- leader would retain the M4. In total, this Future matic Rifle (IAR). After evaluating offerings plan to add more than 11,000 new M27 from Colt, FN and Heckler & Koch, it was IARs for the USMC would cost in the region Overall the USMC rifle company is a very decided to go forward with the IAR version of US$33M. capable organisation, but there are some of the Heckler & Koch HK416. In mid-2010 There is certainly a lot of enthusiasm for structural issues. For example, the stand- this weapon was officially designated as bringing more M27s into service. The fact ard organisation does not have any organic the M27 IAR and entered service with the that the M27 weighs less, is more accu- anti-tank capabilities – these are kept at Marines in December 2010. rate and more reliable than the M4 are all battalion level in the weapons company The idea was that the M27 would replace positive points. It should also be noted that and deployed as necessary. The same ap- the M249 SAW: it was half the weight the M27, along with the M4, took part in plies to the heavy machine gun platoon (six and offered greater precision over similar an experiment on deployment to Norway, M2HB heavy machine guns and/or Mk19 ranges. The initial M27 requirement was where the weapons were fitted with sup- 40mm AGLs) or the mortar platoon with for 6,500 weapons, but only 4,476 were pressors. There were some advantages eight 81mm mortars. The company can initially contracted for. Some 4,153 were in noted, in particular signature reduction, acquire heavier weapons and specialist at- service by early 2016. While less weight and but the suppressors got very hot, added tachments from the battalion that can dra- more accuracy are helpful characteristics, extra weight and needed to be cleaned matically increase its combat power, assum- the loss of volume of suppressive fire is a carefully. At this point, finding an effective ing that these extra assets remain available. significant issue, and this led to a change suppressor for the M249, M240G and the The trend towards the acquisition of port- of course regarding the M249 and it was M2HB heavy machine gun appears to still able, lightweight firepower, particularly in

56 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMED FORCES 

tified a potential gap in the capability of ground forces and infantry to penetrate

Photo: Saab body armour using existing ammunition. To address this operational need, the Army is looking for an Interim Combat Service Rifle (ICSR) that is capable of defeating emerg- ing threats. The government has a require- ment to acquire a commercial 7.62mm ICSR to field with the M80A1 Enhanced Performance Round (EPR) to engage and defeat protected and unprotected threats. The ultimate objective of the program is to acquire and field a 7.62mm ICSR that will increase soldier lethality.” Whether the ICSR in 7.62x51mm is the eventual M4/M16 replacement or a step- ping stone is open to question, as is the eventual calibre selected – 7.62mm or an intermediate round. If this goes ahead it The British Army is considering the CARL-GUSTAF M4 multi-role weapon fundamentally changes the small arms mix system as a replacement for its 60mm mortars. The current generation CARL- at the squad and platoon level, and also GUSTAF M4 would make an excellent company-level firepower asset, and, impacts on support weapons at Company- with a tube weight under 7 kg, its weight burden is significantly reduced. level and beyond. If the US Army turns its back on 5.56mm, a new , IAR Afghanistan, has seen a resurgence of in- Army has been conducting the Small Arms and SAW will be required. If it decides to terest in the NAMMO M72 family of weap- Ammunition Configuration Study for a go for an intermediate round, might that ons. Originally a disposable Light Anti-Tank number of years, and this has now built challenge the dominance of 7.62x51mm as Weapon (LAW), the family has evolved fur- up a level of momentum which could see a machine gun calibre, leading to a new ther into multipurpose and Anti-Structure the end of the M4/M16 platform and the medium machine gun requirement? Munition (ASM) variants. The advantage of the M72 is that it is affordable, so it can be widely deployed, and it is lightweight, so reasonable numbers can be carried. The British Army used the M72 in Af- Photo: US Army ghanistan and then went on to acquire another system for the ASM application, the Dynamit Nobel RGW90. The RGW90 was originally developed by the Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA), Rafael of Israel and Dynamit No- bel to meet a (SAF) requirement that led to the MATA- DOR (man-portable anti-tank anti-door) or RGW90 family. The MATADOR entered service with the SAF in 2004 and was first used in combat by the Israel Defense Force in Gaza in January 2009. Another weapon that is of interest to the British Army is the Saab CARL-GUSTAF M4 The Georgia Army National Guard conducting a live fire with the system, which is described as a multi-role 7.62x51mm M240B machine gun in June 2017. For both the US Army weapon. The current M4 variant is smaller and the US Marine Corps, the M240, the US version of the FN MAG, is a and lighter than its predecessors, weigh- company-level asset providing sustained fire support and suppression. ing under 7 kg, and has an immense range of ammunition on offer, including anti- 5.56x45mm round in US Army service. The potential end of the 5.56mm calibre tank, ASM, HE, HEDP, illuminating and The ammunition study and other US Army opens up a host of possibilities: should the smoke. The British see the CARL-GUSTAF small arms research seemed to point to US Army subsequently decide to give up as a potential 60mm mortar replacement the selection of a new intermediate round on 7.62mm, it would open the doors to a – not the most obvious application – but in a 6.5mm to 7mm calibre. However, it new era for small arms. If the US Army does the CARL-GUSTAF has the capability to seems that this intermediate round is no follow a new small arms path, inevitably become an important and flexible com- longer seen as the solution, following a the rest of NATO will have to follow. As a pany-level firepower asset. solicitation issued by US Army Contract- consequence, this will change the picture Current developments in the US could ing Command, on 4 August 2017, for an as regards company-level fire support op- lead to a revolution in company-level Interim Combat Service Rifle (ICSR). tions, requiring new thinking on the most firepower as regards small arms. The US The solicitation states: “The Army has iden- effective weapons mix. L

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 57  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

MIV: FRESh Thinking? Tim Mahon

Britain’s Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) is an attempt to bring what several observers term “transfor- mational expeditionary warfare capability” to the Army. It has been talked about ever since the launch of the concept of Strike Brigades, for which it will be a core component. Yet nothing concrete seems to be happening and industry continues to wait on an obscure and frustrating decision-making process before committing to assertive action.

espite valiant attempts at acquisition Dreform, at accelerating the decision- making process and at making procure- ment of military equipment less vulnerable to public criticism, some projects seem to be doomed to failure from the start. Well

over a decade ago, the then much-vaunted Photo: Justin Howe, U.S. Army Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) aimed at giving the British Army some 4,000 mod- ern armoured vehicles to replace , FV432 and some of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) family of SCORPION, SCIMITAR AND SARACEN. Two variants were planned, dubbed FRES Utility Variant and Special Variant (FRES UV and FRES SV) respectively. From 1999 onwards the UK Ministry of Defence (UK- MoD) examined, considered and evaluated – sometimes at apparently glacial speed – a number of options for the vehicles. Given the potential value of contracts covering Polish version of Patria AMV known as KTO ROSOMAK type M1M in 4,000 vehicles, that was completely under- Afghanistan. standable. embracing as regards the breadth of mis- simply FRES UV by another name? Does Criticisms of Missteps, sion requirements expected of a single plat- the cancellation of FRES UV and the emer- Accusations of Mistakes form, too complex and eventually deemed gence of MIV as the ‘key enabler’ for the unaffordable and unworkable. FRES UV Army 2020 vision and beyond not prove Errors, overspends and wastage had made was therefore summarily cancelled in 2008, the MoD’s moral courage in taking what the MoD cautious about making rapid de- as a result of the two sides “failing to reach Sir Humphrey Appleby might have termed cisions. This, unfortunately, seems to have agreement regarding contractual issues,” “a brave decision, Minister?” Perhaps so; become something of a vicious circle – per- according to reports at the time. This left these are not entirely specious arguments. haps even a self-fulfilling prophecy – that a number of unsatisfied major companies But in order to support that view – and, is circling in the minds of many observers scratching their heads. Thales and Boeing, to a degree, to rehabilitate the Ministry in today, as the process for procuring the next who had been appointed as the System of the eyes of its many critics –the MIV pro- ‘big ticket item’ for the Army begins to un- Systems Integrator to oversee and resolve gramme needs reinvigorating and above fold – to similar cries of frustration and ac- the complexity of the programme (shades all needs to be lifted out of the morass of cusations of error. of Future Combat Systems, anyone?) saw “business as usual.” The government (for Despite the fact that the FRES SV pro- their role scrapped. ARTEC, whose BOXER it would be invidious to point the finger of gramme is going ahead as the AJAX pro- vehicle had seemed to be an ideal candi- responsibility solely at the MoD) has an op- gramme – albeit in reduced numbers and date, found themselves rejected after early portunity to use MIV as proof of its serious- after several requirements changes that enthusiasm – and must be suffering from a ness, its pragmatism and its ability to con- have delayed and disrupted progress – degree of déja vu. , who duct procurement in a sensible, responsible FRES as a whole was a failure. The FRES received the accolade of being nominated manner that addresses national as well as UV requirement was too broad, too all- as preferred supplier, with the Piranha V, military needs. waited with bated breath for contract sig- MIV is a different vehicle – to call it ‘son of Author nature and the appearance of orders for FRES UV’ would be misleading. However, production batches: in vain. it is evolutionary rather than revolutionary, Tim Mahon is defence and security In another sense, of course, supporters at least, that is what the observing commu- specialist and author of many expert of the FRES concept will (and do) point to nity believes. But it is difficult to tell, for al- articles based in London. the current evolution as a mark of success most exactly two years after the then Chief for the programme. After all, is not MIV of the General Staff General Sir Nick Carter

58 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

of the few issues that have been confirmed at this point is the putative quantity to be procured. At 307 vehicles, the number is a strong argument for accepting as much Photo: Artec GmbH ‘off the shelf’ content as possible in order to reduce any development costs to meet specific capability requirements, which, be- ing amortised across so small a fleet, would boost unit price considerably. The capabilities MIV will bring to the Ar- my, it is understood, revolve around the concept of the two Strike Brigades which were revealed as part of the Army’s evolv- ing plan in the Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) 2015. Rather than “ripping up Army 2020,” as some critics fulminated on SDSR’s publication, the Army prefers to see the Strike Brigades and the changes as- sociated with them as an evolution of the original vision, taking a longer timeframe and ongoing environmental changes into account. The period between SDSR 2010 The BOXER 8x8 from Artec GmbH (a joint venture between KMW and and its 2015 successor saw transformation- Rheinmetall) is a high-quality contender from Germany. al change in concepts of operations, occa- sioned by the evolving threat envelope and launched the concept at the DSEI show in 8x8 configuration. ESD understands from the necessity of a cohesive security policy to London in September 2015, there is still several sources close to the programme cater for them all – all the time. very little concrete information available. that a position paper was circulated to One of the fundamental changes has been Almost the only issues that are ‘known’ are industry earlier this year – though it is a recognition of what the MoD terms “the that MIV will be a wheeled vehicle (little sur- very long way from being even an outline pervasive nature of information in modern prise there) and will be in a ‘medium-heavy’ requirement at this stage, apparently. One warfare.” That in turn has led to recogni-

Built to survive. VistaMaster — Displays and panel PCs. Defence vehicle’s eye

The ATM VistaMaster is a central information interface in crucial situations. From video display to multi-function display to panel PC – VistaMaster offers you support with the analysis, decision- making and impact of the measure. Protected by an internal electronic monitoring system, VistaMaster is ideal for missions in extreme environments. | www.atm-computer.de |

ATM ComputerSysteme GmbH | +49 7531 808-4462 | [email protected]  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

tion of the evolving character of conflict: it is not overstating the case to say that militaries such as the British live in a perma- nent state of competition or conflict – there

Photo: Alf van Beem is no longer a clear-cut division between ‘peacetime’ and ‘wartime’. Leaving aside the academic arguments as to the defini- tion of war, there is a huge degree of truth in that assertion – which has already led to changes in structure, doctrine and the operational art. AJAX, for example, is in- creasingly referred to officially as a “C4ISR vehicle,” rather than purely a reconnais- sance platform. Its six variants will be “task organised to operate in tandem with a compatible armoured personnel carrier,” according to official sources. Enter MIV, stage left.

Acquisition without a Plan VBCI (Véhicule Blindé de Combat de l’Infanterie) is a highly-regarded contender for MIV from France. In the absence of a formal requirement having been issued (and if the MoD is seek- ing industrial input prior to issuing such a requirement, that is a laudable initiative) Photo: STK there are some things that can be assumed with a degree of confidence. One issue is that, if the vehicle is to bring “transforma- tional expeditionary warfare capability” to the Strike Brigades, the selected vehicle will need to be airportable – preferably in a C-130 or A400M, since recent history in heavy utilisation of the C-17 fleet makes its availability for platform transport some- what questionable. That imposes a weight restriction, which may militate against one or more of the potential contenders. Another requirement will be armament. “A 12.7mm or .50 calibre machine gun is not going to cut it as a solution,” an indus- trial observer of the programme told ESD. “Whether you’re facing modern Russian AIFVs in a traditional context or seeking to The STK TERREX could be viable contender for MIV. overwhelm lighter forces in an expedition- ary scenario, an automatic cannon of 30 or 35mm calibre – even 40mm, perhaps, will be a definite requirement.” One solu- tion that springs to mind immediately is Photo: GDELS the CTAI 40mm cannon that equips AJAX. Commonality of capability, a simplified lo- gistics footprint, reduced training burden and reduced lifecycle costs are all positive attributes of such a solution, but it is not without its detractors. According to dis- cussions in public fora on the Internet, the CTAI 40mm has a barrel life of little more than 1,000 rounds which, coupled with the reputedly very high ammunition costs, offer a challenging cost-benefits analysis equation for the user. Other aspects of MIV also reinforce the general feeling of uncertainty in industry. The -GDELS PIRANHA 8x8: earlier iterations of the PIRANHA V “Nothing has been said about an expected had already completed the UK’s FRES “Trials of Truth” back in 2007. in-service date as yet – but the fear is that

60 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  it will be a very challenging timeline,” the industrial observer stated. If that date turns out to be 2021-2022 – as is expected by fully half the contacts spoken to during the research for this article – then the issuing of a definitive requirement and negotiation

of a contract, not to mention the procure- Photos: FNSS and Yugoimport ment of long lead time items and the trivial issue of actual production mean that this could from the very beginning be a pro- gramme that will miss deadlines: big time. This would destroy much of the good work MoD is trying to do in facing its challenges and critics. The Army stands at the forefront of that work. To be frank, this is not before time, but it is all the more welcome for all that. The PARS (“Leopard”) from FNSS is a good example of an alternative Recognition of the flaws in the decision- potential supplier for when the UK MoD runs out of money again... making and procurement processes and above all an understanding that delays in any stage of the process can have cata- strophic effect on the desired end state have taken hold within the service in recent years. The Chief of the General Staff him- self, according to official statements last year, recognises that the degree of mod- ernisation the Army seeks “carries with it the challenge of running [the process] bet- ter and delivering better capability” – good news for industry as well as the wider de- fence and security community. The thorny problem that nobody has yet addressed to anybody’s satisfaction, how- ever, is an unsurprisingly and frustratingly familiar one. Where will the money come from? According to the MoD in late 2016 – before the circulation of the paper referred to earlier – “money for MIV has been ear- marked.” Which is interesting; the lack of a ...And other designs, such as the Yugoimport LAZAR need political firm requirement and the lack of any bids resolution to be genuinely considered, but are fully-capable in their so far make the pricing game pure guess- own right work. Obviously, generic platform and sup- port costs can be assumed and used in or- of the Army’s top priorities,” the MoD is understands that Defence Equipment & der to estimate the budget that needs to be on record as saying: but so too is the Chal- Supply (DE&S) has recently commissioned set aside, but experience shows that such lenger 2 upgrade, the acquisition of a vehi- an external third-party examination of al- sums fall all too easily prey to the predations cle for the Royal Marines and the increas- ternatives to the current programme, so of ministers and programme managers for ingly controversial Warrior Capability Sus- frustrated is it by the continuing delays and projects already under way. “MIV is one tainment Programme – for which last ESD obstacles being encountered. Cash for all

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 61  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

some manufacturing to be carried out at Armstrong Works in Newcastle, now op- erated by Pearson Engineering. “Made in

Photo: Kaminski America,” Made in Israel” and “Make in India” are all phrases increasingly heard around the bazaars. Why should “Make/ Made in Britain” not become equally fa- miliar? The situation for MIV is far from clear, but it would be a mistake to paint an entirely bleak picture. It is one of the more impor- tant addressable AFV procurement pro- grammes; it is a critically important issue for the British Army; it represents an opportu- nity for the UK government to demonstrate its resolve and capability in accelerating and sensibly managing a programme that will transform military capability; and it offers industry an opportunity to shine. The VBM FRECCIA is one of two top-level 8x8 vehicles from Italy that are Among the contenders likely to be put for- rarely mentioned in connection with MIV – why? ward for MIV are ARTEC’s BOXER, which was rumoured to be the MOD’s preferred choice (though such rumours have been unequivocally denied) and which some see

Photo: Bozen as too heavy and too expensive for the likely requirement, no matter how clever and flex- ible the modular configuration. PIRANHA V, which ESD understands General Dynamics refused to allow to be submitted, is back in the starting gate as a result of apparent changes of heart. It will, if current rumours prove to be true, be joined by a new, inno- vative and as yet unnamed design from the same stable. Nexter’s VBCI, which the Army evaluated briefly in a 2014-2015 trial, is also on offer, with the manufacturer having in- vested significantly in enhancing the areas in which it fell short during the FRES UV evalu- ations. Patria will offer at least one and pos- sibly two variants of the AMV and is being supported as a strong contender by many observers as flexible and capable. Finnish in- The SuperAV is chasing success (teamed with BAE Systems) with dustry is not well known in Britain and there the USMC, but is another “silent MIV contender” – at least in theory. are some who feel this will be a major barrier to having AMV objectively evaluated; but these has also been ‘earmarked.’ But what inexorably towards leaving the European the tradition of local manufacture is well- happens when any of these programmes Union: where will the selected vehicles be established for AMV. The dark horse could requires a further financial transfusion? built? be the Singapore Technologies Kinetics TER- Where does that money come from? The United Kingdom does not have much REX vehicle, though whether that will be recent experience of series production for TERREX 2 or TERREX 3, which is the com- Make in UK? medium-heavy armoured vehicles, except pany’s offering for the Australian Land 400 in collaboration with foreign enterprises. project, is as yet unknown. It is difficult not to have a degree of sym- That seems destined to continue. The 3-10a Photo 9 pathy for the MoD, which must sometimes problem becomes a starkly arithmetical: Which neatly summarises the programme: feel it will be pilloried and lambasted what- a total of 307 vehicles – even though that the fact that so many factors have had to ever decision it takes – or, indeed, if it takes may be a £1Bn+ order, and even if they are be considered in this article prior to iden- none. Regrettably, that is a reality of mod- all ordered simultaneously under a single tifying the contenders demonstrates just ern defence systems procurement, which contract, is just about on the edge of via- how complex and uncertain it is at the mo- is more subject to the capricious whims bility for the creation of a bespoke produc- ment. But it does not need to continue to of politics and politicians than almost any tion facility, no matter what contractual be so – indeed, it should not continue to other sector of government expenditure constraints or incentives may be included. be so. The British government has real op- – which leads to another consideration But compromises could be made – and at portunity here. It is devoutly to be hoped it worth reflecting on, and one that takes on least two vocal observers believe should has the will, the skill and the wherewithal a different complexion as the UK moves be made – in legislating for assembly and to address it successfully. L

62 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  Move Forward More Slowly The British CHALLENGER 2 Upgrade Programme

David Saw

The current era is one of grave uncertainty for the British Army: unsure of how much money will be available, concerned over their inability to recruit enough troops, and still searching for a convincing recipe that can define their role post-Iraq and post-Afghanistan.

here appears to be a crisis of confi- in five days. A VBCI-equivalent capabil- fence (UKMOD) is moving forward with Tdence brewing, and matters are not ity is to be acquired by the British Army the CHALLENGER 2 Life Extension Project helped when senior American officers under the Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (LEP) that will eventually see a contractor regularly comment on how small the Brit- (MIV) programme for an 8x8 vehicle. selected to upgrade the tank fleet and ish Army has become and how dangerous As tremendously useful as this future keep it in service through to 2035. that is. These are difficult times indeed “Strike Brigade” capability might be, it is for the Army, searching for a role in a somewhat limited in an operational envi- Beginnings world of political strategic fantasy where ronment where the threat is high-order dreams and reality are an entire budget conventional: just the sort of threat that The FV4030/4 CHALLENGER 1 entered ser- apart. The search has led to a tsunami could be encountered during the increas- vice with the British Army in April 1983 and production continued to 1990 with 420 tanks acquired. This MBT was not without its problems, but in the 1990/1991 Gulf War, in which the British participation was

Photo: MOD UK known as Operation Granby, British forces used some 221 CHALLENGER 1 MBTs, which knocked out 300 Iraqi tanks with- out loss, including a long range tank kill with an APFSDS munition at a range of 4,700 metres (the range is often given as 5,100 metres, but it appears that this was the range at which the target was lazered, not engaged). Despite having proven the critics wrong, by 1996 the CHALLENGER 1 MBT began to be withdrawn from British Army service. In June 1999, Britain agreed to supply Jordan with 288 surplus CHAL- LENGER 1 MBTs, following that up with a second agreement in February 2003 to sell a further 104. The reason for the withdrawal of the CHAL- A CHALLENGER 2 tank participating in Exercise “VENERABLE GAUNTLET” LENGER 1 was the belief that it was more in September 2016, this was the UK's national validation exercise for cost-effective to purchase a new-genera- the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (Land) 2017 (VJTF(L)17), tion tank in the form of the FV4034 CHAL- in which 14 NATO countries took part. This is a standard configuration LENGER 2. The story of that tank starts in CHALLENGER 2 with no additional protection. October 1986, when Vickers Defence Sys- tems acquired the Royal Ordnance Factory of Powerpoint presentations, countless ing number of deployments that the Brit- at Leeds (the CHALLENGER 1 manufactur- strategic reviews and an awful lot of talk- ish Army is making to the eastern border ing facility) as part of the government priva- ing, yet very little of real substance has of NATO, to places such as Poland and tisation programme. Vickers also had their emerged. There are some real changes the Baltic states. It is here that the Brit- own tank design and build capability based dawning, though: there remains a lot of ish Army will need heavy mechanised on their facility at Newcastle, and this all impetus behind deployable brigade-sized forces, but the problem is that the cur- made Vickers the only game in town as far formations, and plenty of interest shown rent British CHALLENGER 2 Main Battle as British MBTs were concerned. In Novem- in the French deployment to Mali in 2013, Tank (MBT) requires significant upgrade ber 1986, Vickers started working on the where a French battalion equipped with work to allow it to deal with present and CHALLENGER 2 design as a private venture. VBCI wheeled vehicles covered 2,000 km future threats. The British Ministry of De- Vickers held the first discussions with the

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 63  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY Photo: MOD UK Photo: MOD UK

The CHALLENGER 2 was an extremely well protected tank: one example in Iraq took 70 RPG hits! Developments in the IED and RPG threat led to the fielding of the Theatre Entry Standard (TES) variant of the CHAL- LENGER 2 with enhanced armour, IED jamming systems and other elec- tronic countermeasures.

multiple RPG hits as well as a Milan anti-

Photo: MOD UK tank missile hit; another CHALLENGER 2 reportedly took 70 RPG hits. There was ve- hicle damage when an RPG-29 managed to penetrate the driver’s compartment of a tank injuring the driver, while another in- cident saw an IED also injure a tank driver. The only combat loss of a CHALLENGER 2 was blue-on-blue in 2003, where a HESH round killed two crew and eventually the stowed ammunition detonated. Due to ongoing operations in Southern Iraq, there was significant emphasis on improving CHALLENGER 2 protection, with the ultimate development being the Theatre Entry Standard (TES), with appli- qué armour on the hull and turret sides, additional armour on the hull front un- CHALLENGER 2 loader prepared to load a Drill Sabot Trainer (DST) derside, bar armour at the rear of the hull into the L30A1 120 mm rifled tank gun during an exercise at the and an IED jamming system along with Castlemartin Ranges in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Replacing the rifled other protection improvements. TES rais- gun and its two-piece ammunition would require major changes to es the vehicle weight from 62.5 tonnes the turret interior. to over 74 tonnes, but this upgrade is not permanent and is only added in response MOD on the new MBT in March 1987 and a total of 38 tanks, and the second British to operational needs. procurement began in February 1988. order in July 1994 covered an additional 259 From 1988 to 1990 Vickers would conduct MBTs and nine DTTs. The first tanks for the Upgrade Path a demonstration phase, and in 1991 the British Army were delivered in January 1998, CHALLENGER 2 tank would be evaluated with the first being fully equipped The CHALLENGER 2 had been combat against the M1 ABRAMS and the LEOPARD by June of that year. All tanks were deliv- proven, so it would be logical to build on 2, with the assumption being that the Brit- ered by 2002. Subsequently Britain ordered this operational experience and upgrade ish tank would inevitably win. Interestingly, it CHALLENGER 2 variants, the TITAN AVLB the tank further to enhance its capabilities. appears that the user preference was for the bridgelayer (33 units) and TROJAN AVRE While the British would attempt – unsuc- with the M1 in second place: it Combat Engineer (33 units) vehicles. cessfully – to upgrade the CHALLENGER, was a political decision to proceed with the The CHALLENGER 2 made its combat there was a view that this activity was a CHALLENGER 2. debut in 2003 during Operation Telic in waste of time because tanks were resource The initial order was for 127 MBTs and 13 Iraq. It was extremely successful in com- intensive and of limited utility in the context Driver Training Tanks (DTT). Oman became bat operations, demonstrating high levels of operations which envisaged deployable the first export customer in 1993, ordering of reliability and protection. One tank took medium-weight forces. Indeed, as the Brit-

64 European Security & Defence · September 2017 24V Lithium 6T BaTTery

CHALLENGER 2 fires a High-Explosive Squash Head (HESH) practice round at the Castlemar- tin Ranges. HESH rounds have always been seen as extremely useful by the British Army • Reduce vehicle weight but were only available for rifled guns, to- day many HESH capabilities can be delivered • high PoweR and eneRgy by smoothbore guns using programmable • high cRanking HE rounds. PeRfoRmances ish Army became more involved in asymmetric conflict [-40°c +70°c] there was a school of thought that believed the attack • smaRt communication/ helicopter was of much more value than the tank. The first upgrade attempt was the CHALLENGER Le- PeRmanent BatteRy thality Improvement Programme (CLIP). This started in statu s January 2004, and the aim was to replace the L30A1 • mitigate logistics 120 mm rifled gun with the Rheinmetall 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun. A single tank had the new gun in- BuRden stalled and was successfully trialled in January 2006, but installing the new gun would be a difficult and expensive process: in particular, accommodating the single-piece ammunition of the smoothbore gun would require ma- jor changes to the turret architecture. CHALLENGER 2 Capability Sustainment Programme (C2 CSP) was the next upgrade effort and this would in- corporate a range of system enhancements, with BAE Systems being invited to bid for the programme in 2007. Both CLIP and CSP failed to progress, with lack of fund- ing being a major obstacle. Tank upgrade activity fell dormant until 2013 with the emergence of the CHAL- LENGER 2 Life Extension Project (LEP). Even then, this upgrade programme took time to gain momentum, with the LEP finally getting underway in 2015. As an alternative to LEP, acquisition of a new tank was considered. The UKMOD reportedly received offers from Germany for 100 to 400 LEOPARD 2 tanks, but while potentially attractive from a user perspective, the im- plications of LEOPARD 2 acquisition were considered politically unacceptable in Britain. This put the emphasis back on LEP. Numerous compa- nies responded to the requirement, with bidders for the

kakemono-6T-echelle1quart.indd 1 12/01/2015 10:50 Masthead European Security & Defence Issue 6/2017 · September 2017 ISSN 1617-7983 · www.euro-sd.com

Published by Mittler Report Verlag GmbH A company of the Tamm Media Group

Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Peter Bossdorf (pb) Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Henning Bartels (hb) Managing Editor (Magazine): Stephen Barnard (sb) Managing Editor (Newsletter): Dorothee Frank (df) Industrial Editors: Waldemar Geiger (wg), Gerhard Heiming (gwh), Jürgen Hensel (jh), Christian Kanig (ck), Beke Kratzmann (bk) Editor Special Assignments: Stefan Nitschke, Ph.D. (sn) Correspondents: Rolf Hilmes (Army Technology), Peter Preylowski (Airborne Systems) Regional Correspondents: Tamir Eshel (Israel), Tim Guest (UK), Jaime Karremann (The Netherlands), Beka Kiria (Georgia), Shinichi Kiyotani (Japan), Yury Laskin (Russia), J. Bo Leimand (Denmark), Jay Menon (India), Chet Nagle (USA), Luca Peruzzi (Italy), David Saw (France), Joris Verbeurgt (Belgium/EU/NATO), Esteban Villarejo (Spain) Supported by the editorial team of “Europäische Sicherheit & Technik” Publishers: Rainer Metzner, Henning Bartels Layout: davis creativ media GmbH, Germany Production: Lehmann Offsetdruck GmbH 22848 Norderstedt, Germany Office address: Mittler Report Verlag GmbH Baunscheidtstraße 11, 53113 Bonn, Germany Phone.: +49 228 3500870, Fax: +49 228 3500871 “Megatron” is a CHALLENGER 2 of the Armoured Email: [email protected], www.mittler-report.de Trials and Development Unit (ATDU) at Bovington, Director of Marketing shown here being tested with the Mobile Camou- Jürgen Hensel (jh) flage System (MCS). “Megatron” is the “reference” Baunscheidtstraße 11, 53113 Bonn, Germany Phone: +49 228 3500876, Fax: +49 228 3500871 current configuration Theatre Entry Standard (TES) Email: [email protected] CHALLENGER 2 with enhanced armour and an im- Advertising Representatives: proved electronic countermeasures capability. Dipl.-Betrw. Uwe Nemeyer, optiproject GmbH – Agentur für sicherheitspolitische und wehrtechnische Kommunikation assessment phase: BAE Systems with General Dynamics Land Von-Imhoff-Weg 5, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany Systems UK; CMI Defence with Ricardo UK; Lockheed Martin Phone: +49 2226 909637, Fax: +49 2226 909653 with Elbit Systems; Rheinmetall; and RUAG Defence. The LEP Email: [email protected], www.optiproject.de programme is funded up to GBP642M, inclusive of VAT and France/Italy initial logistic support, and will see the out-of-service date of the Diana Scogna CHALLENGER 2 extended to 2035. In total, 227 vehicles will be Phone.: +33 6-6252-2547, Email: [email protected] upgraded to confront obsolescence issues and provide what is Turkey described as a “precision direct fire manoeuvre capability across Özkilinc Consulting Korhan Özkilinc, General Manager a broad spectrum of operations.” mobile: +49 (0) 163 6930925, Email: [email protected] On 22 December 2016, the MOD announced that it had awarded UK/Ireland/Eastern Europe/Israel: contracts to BAE Systems and Rheinmetall Land Systeme GmbH Stephen Barnard, c/o Mittler Report Verlag GmbH to advance the CHALLENGER 2 LEP. These contracts, valued at Phone: +49 228 35 00 886, Email: [email protected] GBP23M each, mark the start of the competitive assessment USA/Canada: phase. According to the MOD, these contracts will allow the two Susan Spilman-Gardner Email: [email protected] teams to “undertake technical studies, produce detailed digital Phone: +1 817-751-5888 models and consider how upgrades will be integrated onto the Russia & CIS: current platform.” The MOD believes that: “recent developments Laguk Co., Yury Laskin, General Director in electronics, computing and sight optics mean upgrades to Krasnokholmskaya Nab., 11/15, 132, RF-109172 Moskau, Russian Federation several of the tank’s components are now possible.” The MOD Phone: 007-495-911-1340, Fax: 007-495-912-1260, Email: [email protected] also has an additional GBP7M in funding allocated to cover ad- Subscription/Reader Service: ditional work in the assessment phase. After the completion of PressUp GmbH, Postfach 70 13 11, 22013 Hamburg, Germany the assessment phase the winning bidder will be selected for Phone: +49 40 38 66 66-319, Fax: +49 38 66 66-299 CHALLENGER 2 LEP. Email: [email protected] Since the last CHALLENGER 2 was delivered in 2002, the ar- European Security & Defence moured vehicle industrial landscape in Britain has totally © 2017 Mittler Report Verlag GmbH changed. That year saw Alvis acquire Vickers Defence Systems, The views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. having acquired the armoured vehicle business of GKN in 1998. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher in Bonn. In 2004, BAE Systems acquired Alvis, thus becoming the domi- nant land systems company in Britain. That year also saw the Cover Photos: CZ, UK MoD/Crown Copyright, Royal Air Force/Crown Copyright final closure of the Royal Ordnance Leeds tank factory. BAE Annual subscription rate (8 issues): Systems would eventually go on to close the Newcastle tank €49.80 incl. postage factory in 2012.

66 European Security & Defence · September 2017 Photo: MOD UK industrial partners in this assessment pro- TYRON gramme include Textron and Frazer-Nash. The programme objective is to determine develops the the capabilities of the APS against a range super lightweight of threats, it will also include what the MOD describes as “a BAE Systems appli- qué integration of a MUSS system onto a CHALLENGER 2 to demonstrate potential ATR future capability.” It is anticipated that a fielding decision on what is designated as the CHALLENGER 2 Soft Kill Defensive Aid CARBON System will be made in April 2018. The successful introduction of an APS solution The lightest would also see the system fitted to other armoured vehicles such as AJAX, WAR- rubber runflat RIOR and the future MIV. in the world The Future

With CHALLENGER 2 LEP having reached the assessment phase and moving to- wards the selection of a prime contractor, it might appear that everything is pro- gressing satisfactorily. As previously not- ed, a total of 386 CHALLENGER 2 tanks The only true, active armoured vehicle pro- were acquired and all were delivered by duction facility in Britain belongs to Gen- 2002, but since that time there have been eral Dynamics Land Systems UK, at Merthyr combat losses and damage, and tanks Tydfil in South Wales, which is an Armoured have been broken up for spares and even The patented metal Fighting Vehicle Assembly, Integration and scrapped. Most sources suggest that Testing (AIT) facility to support the AJAX there are now 227 active tanks, hence spine in our rubber armoured vehicle programme. General Dy- the assumption that 227 vehicles will go runflat has been namics won a GBP3.5Bn contract in Sep- through the LEP upgrade. But the British re-designed in tember 2014 to deliver 589 AJAX armoured Army currently only has three tank regi- vehicles to the British Army, and it is antici- ments, all organised on a Type 56 struc- carbon fibre which pated that the Merthyr Tydfil site would be ture, each with 56 tanks, although these has reduced the total used for the upgrade programme. will not all be on hand. Current planning Ironically, the Newcastle factory where the calls for the number of tank to runflat weight by over last CHALLENGER 2 MBTs were built has be cut to two, with the third to convert to 50% returned to the tank business. The facility the AJAX in 2019 was acquired by the Reece Group, whose to deal with an undisclosed “different defence subsidiary Pearson Engineering is threat.” now located there, and reopened in Sep- So the British Army will field two ar- tember 2015. Adding to the irony, one of moured regiments with a paper strength the first tasks for the facility was to con- of 112 MBTs, some 30 tanks for training duct structural assessments of some 60 at BATUS in Canada, additional tanks for CHALLENGER 2 tanks, which provide the the Armoured Trials and Development Unit necessary basis for any future upgrade or (ATDU) at Bovington and a few for other remedial work. applications. It is therefore difficult to be- In an important related development in lieve 227 tanks will go through LEP; indeed early July 2016, the Defence Science and it is commonplace to see numbers of 170 or Technology Laboratory (Dstl) placed a fewer discussed. This is disappointing, but GBP7.6M contract with QinetiQ to evalu- might have an unlikely positive side effect ate an Active Protection System (APS) for if the budget can be preserved, as smaller armoured vehicles. This is part of the ME- numbers could possibly translate into a DUSA Technical Assessment Programme more comprehensive upgrade. (TAP) covering Dstl research into APS tech- In the end, after years of politically- nology, in tandem with a complementary driven cutbacks, built upon dubious effort to develop the open architecture to notions of national strategy and the support a future modular APS capability. consequent almost terminal neglect of QinetiQ will be using the Hensoldt MUSS the UK’s conventional warfighting ca- (Multifunctional Self-Protection System), pability, the only certainty in all of this www.tyron.com which is a soft-kill APS system as used is that CHALLENGER 2 still desperately on the German Army PUMA IFV. Other needs an upgrade. L

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 67  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY Type 26 Global Combat Ship: ­ Status Report

Conrad Waters

July 2017 saw two major, positive developments for the British Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme. The announcement of a £3.7Bn contract with BAE Systems for construction of the first three ships of the type early in the month was followed by the start of fabrication of the lead vessel – HMS GLASGOW – on 20 July. The ships will be known as the CITY Class in Royal Navy (RN) service. The project is of vital impor- tance to the RN’s future anti-submarine capabilities and the long-term health of British shipbuilding.

Project Background

The Type 26 programme has a long, com- plex history. Its origins can be traced to ini- tial concept work on replacements for the Image: BAE Systems Type 22 and Type 23 frigates during the mid-1990s. Following the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, the replacement escort became known as the Future Surface Com- batant. Various force mixes and designs were subsequently considered against the backdrop of a major restructuring of Brit- ish shipbuilding. By 2007 planning was fo- cused on a three tier force structure com- prising: • C1: An anti-submarine focused, high- A computer generated image of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship design end surface combatant; ordered for Britain’s Royal Navy. A GB£3.7Bn contract for the first three • C2: A general purpose, less capable vessels of the class was announced on 2 July 2017. surface combatant for stabilisation and escort missions; • C3: A flexible oceanic patrol vessel capa- ble of performing a range of secondary roles. In March 2010, BAE Systems was award- ed a four-year assessment phase contract to develop the C1 element of this force. Photo: Babcock International The Type 26 Global Combat Ship termi- nology was adopted at this time, reflect- ing a desire to highlight the new class’s flexibility. The subsequent 2010 Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) confirmed the Type 26 programme. However, a reduction in the RN’s size was reflected in changes to the project’s extent and scope. Most significantly, it was decided Author Conrad Waters is a naval and de- fence analyst based in the UK. He is The Global Combat Ship programme has its origins in the need to re- a regular contributor to ESD and Edi- place Britain’s Type 22 and Type 23 frigates. The Type 23s are benefit- tor of Seaforth World Naval Review ting from a rolling programme of upgrades before the new ships arrive – the newly modernised ARGYLL is shown here.

68 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  to use the Type 26 design to meet both ity to finalise contracts across the wider the C1 and C2 requirements. A total of supply chain. £1.9Bn had already been 13 ships were planned to replace the re- committed to the programme at that maining 13 Type 23s. Eight of these were time. The time taken to agree construc- to be fully equipped for anti-submarine tion also allowed project management Image: BAE Systems warfare, with the rest equipped for a to achieve a high level of design maturity general purpose role. It was also hoped across the ship. Detailed design has been to reduce overall size and sophistication split across twelve separate design zones, to reduce purchase costs. However, the with work now approaching completion requirements of a high-end design op- on those scheduled to enter production timised for anti-submarine warfare con- in the early stages of construction. flicted with this objective. By the time the An announcement that the Ministry of basic design was approved in mid-2012 it Defence (MoD) had signed a manufactur- had reverted to a size similar to that envis- ing contract with BAE Systems was finally aged for the original C1 ship. made on 2 July 2017. The £3.7Bn deal The project’s subsequent history has been includes considerable sums already allo- heavily influenced by the tensions inher- cated to long-lead items and project in- ent in balancing the cost of the large, frastructure. The contract was quickly fol- capable ship that emerged from the de- lowed by the formal start of construction. sign process with a constrained defence A first steel cutting ceremony performed budget. Although detailed design and de- by British Defence Minister Sir Michael Fal- velopment work progressed under a new lon was held on 20 July. It was revealed demonstration phase contract awarded in at the ceremony that the class would be early 2015 – and long-lead items for the known as the Type 26 CITY Class frigate first three ships were authorised – reach- in RN service and named after British cen- The Type 26 is a steel mono-hull ing agreement to start actual construction tres of commerce and industry. [1] The first displacing around 6,900 tonnes was slow. The impact of cost pressures ship will take the name GLASGOW, hon- with a focus on acoustic stealth was revealed in the SDSR 2015 review, ouring the city in which she is being built. for effective anti-submarine op- which reduced planned orders to eight erations. This bow view shows the ships. A new class of lighter, flexible and Build Programme locations of the forward 127mm exportable general purpose frigates – sub- gun, the 24-cell Mk 41 VLS and the sequently referred to as the Type 31 – will Speaking to ESD at the end of July 2017, 4 forward groups of 6-cell CAMM be acquired to complement the Type 26s. BAE Systems’ Type 26 Programme Director launch cells for the SEA CEPTOR Geoff Searle confirmed that assembly plans anti-air missile system in the Brit- Recent Developments for the current three-ship order envisage an ish CITY class version. approximate two-year interval between the In spite of the various delays, it has start of work on each ship. Assembly of the tinuous production throughout the overall been apparent that impetus behind the follow-on, five-ship batch – to be ordered in programme to avoid the inefficiencies that project has been accelerating in recent the early 2020s – is expected to be carried would arise from a break in assembly. months. November 2016 saw the release out in accordance with a faster, 18 month Following rejection of proposals for a of a statement of intent to commence drumbeat. This suggests that the class dedicated £200 million ‘frigate factory’ fabrication in the summer of 2017. This will still be under construction in the early at BAE Systems’ Scotstoun facility, pro- was accompanied by increasing activ- 2030s. An important aim is to ensure con- duction of the CITY class will take place at both the Govan and Scotstoun sites on the River Clyde in Glasgow. Assembly and outfitting will follow a process initi- ated with the later members of the Type 45 DARING Class destroyer and subse-

Graphic: BAE Systems quently refined with the Batch 2 RIVER or FORTH Class offshore patrol vessels that are currently under construction. [2] Under this process, Govan will undertake initial fabrication and assembly up to the load-out stage. Work will then transfer to the Scotstoun yard as the focal point for completion, systems commissioning and final acceptance. Appropriate levels of investment will be made in both sites to support CITY Class construction. Much of this will be devot- BAE Systems was awarded an initial four year assessment phase con- ed to improving the dry docks at Scot- tract to develop the Type 26 design in March 2010. This graphic was re- stoun to optimise them for the Type 26’s leased around that time and makes an interesting comparison with how hull form and to enhance other testing the design has developed subsequently. and commissioning facilities. Additional

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 69  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY Image: BAE Systems Image: BAE Systems

A visualisation of the Type 26 operations room released in 2015. The combat management system runs on a common computing architecture that enhances efficiency and eases upgrades.

sums will be spent adapting the Govan of control inherent in this method places The aft end of the Type 26 de- yard from the traditional process of com- less stress on a ship’s hull and allows a sign is dominated by a large pleting final assembly on a slipway fol- higher level of completion to be achieved flight deck capable of handling lowed by dynamic launch to integrating before she enters the water. CHINOOK-sized helicopters. The constituent blocks on a flat hardstanding Construction of each CITY Class frigate hangar is linked to a flexible mis- prior to transfer to a semi-submersible will involve the fabrication of approxi- sion bay immediately forward. barge for float-out. The improved level mately eighty separate units. It is an- ticipated that around five of these units will be in build by the end of 2017, with production ramping up during 2018 and 2019. The completed units will subse- quently be assembled to form two hull Images: BAE System sections and a forward superstructure block in the adjacent ship block and out- fit hall. These constituent sections will then be mated together on the hard- stand prior to the ship’s loading onto the barge for float-out and subsequent transfer to Scotstoun for completion and testing. Although a detailed schedule for GLASGOW’s construction has not been published, the similarly-sized DAR- ING took around six years from the start of fabrication to commissioning. This is broadly in line with MoD statements that GLASGOW will enter service in the ‘mid- 2020s’.

Ship Design

The Type 26 GCS uses a conventional steel mono-hull. Full load displacement is 6,900 tonnes, overall length of 149.9m and beam 20.8m. It is intended to be a multi-mission warship capable of oper- ating in high intensity warfare scenarios and, accordingly, incorporates high levels of resistance to shock and other damage. It has sufficient flexibility to incorporate a wide range of equipment fits depend- ent on user requirements. However, the Two illustrations of the Type 26’s flexible mission bay. It has the RN’s primary intended use for its CITY ­potential to accommodate a wide range of equipment. Class frigates remains focused on high-

70 European Security & Defence · September 2017 Type 26 in sight. end, anti-submarine warfare to protect the strategic submarine force and support carrier task groups. This has inevitably had a Rohde & Schwarz significant impact on the overall Type 26 GCS design. Notably, this emphasis on anti-submarine warfare has meant that minimising the ship’s acoustic signature has been a primary design consideration. It has exerted an influence across major on board. elements of the vessel, including a low-noise hull design, the configuration of the combined diesel-electric or gas (CODLOG) Rohde & Schwarz is proud to provide next-generation propulsion system and a focus on minimising the sound gener- communications technology for the Royal Navy’s new ated by auxiliary systems. Although experience gained from Type 26 Global Combat Ships. the current Type 23 DUKE Class anti-submarine frigates has informed choices, the ship adopts an entirely new hull-form. On board: ¸NAVICS. A fully IP-based switching solution Other important design drivers have been more heavily influ- providing internal and external voice and data communications enced by the multi-role specification. These include the incor- to ensure reliable and encrypted information exchange. poration of a flexible mission bay immediately forward of the hangar and provision of an extended helicopter deck able to ¸NAVICS – backbone for naval communications. handle rotorcraft up to CHINOOK size. Possibly reflecting the mixed success achieved with the innovative Type 45 destroy- More information: www.rohde-schwarz.com/ad/navics ers, there has been considerable emphasis on selecting mature technology for the new ships. Propulsion: The choice of CODLOG propulsion reflects a mis- Visit us at DSEI 2017 sion profile that could require a ship to sprint to the general September 12 to 15, 2017 location of a potential underwater contact before undertaking a ExCeL, London, South Hall lower speed search in silent mode. The diesel-electric element of the system encompasses four MTU 20V 4000 M53B generators Booth S2-268 that are also used, e.g., in the German F125 Class. These provide electricity both for ship systems and the two GE induction mo- tors that propel the ship at lower speeds. High speed capabilities are provided by a single Rolls-Royce MT-30 gas turbine similar to those installed in the QUEEN ELIZABETH class aircraft carriers and adopted by several overseas navies. It provides a maximum speed in excess of 26 knots. Range exceeds 7,000 nautical miles. There has been some criticism that the CITY Class has not used a more sophisticated combined diesel-electric and gas (CODLAG) arrangement. This allows a ship to exploit all its installed power output to maximise top speed. However, the less complex COD- LOG system specified comfortably meets the performance re- quirements set for the class. The propulsion and other key ship operating systems will be controlled by an integrated platform management system supplied by the UK arm of L3 MAPPS, perhaps the world leader in naval control technology. Network Infrastructure: The CITY Class’s combat, communica- tions and ship management systems are hosted on a common computing infrastructure utilising commercial, open architec- ture technology to ease subsequent upgrades. This shared in- frastructure replaces the separate hardware and associated net- works used to support specific functions found in previous RN ships. It also provides an ability to control a wide range of func- tions from common workstations. Processing power is provided by compact blade servers that provide reliable and powerful computing capabilities. Broadly similar shared architecture has already been successfully retrofitted to a number of existing RN warships. The combat management system supported by the shared network is a variant of the BAE Systems CMS-1 already in wide RN use. Equipment: The emphasis on an evolutionary, low-risk ap- proach to the GCS design extends to the equipment specified for the CITY Class. In particular, much technology used in the capability upgrades currently being performed on the Type 23 Class has been adopted. For example, the sonar suite will be focused on the capable Thales Sonar 2087 (CAPTAS-4) variable depth system already fitted to eight of the Type 23s. The CITY Class is also likely to incorporate the upgraded bow-mounted Sonar 2050TR being installed in these eight ships.

16335.005_Type26_Navy_EuropeanSecurityDefence-Sept17_106x297_e.indd 1 01.08.17 14:10  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

cruise missiles or ASROC rocket-launched torpedoes in due course. Aviation Facilities & Mission Bay: The importance of helicopters in anti-subma- Image: BAE Systems rine warfare operations is reflected in a hangar that can house a large, MERLIN- sized helicopter. The flight deck is large enough to support operations by all helicopters currently used by the British Armed Forces. One innovative feature incorporated in the Type 26 design is the adaptable mis- sion bay linked to the adjacent hangar. Similar in concept to the facility incor- porated in the USN’s Littoral Combat Ships, it can be used to ship a wide va- A MERLIN helicopter pictured operating with a Royal Navy CITY Class riety of equipment dependent on par- Type 26 variant. The Global Combat Ship design is intended to be suf- ticular mission requirements. The space ficiently flexible to be of interest to other navies seeking high-end anti- is large enough to house up to ten TEU submarine combatants. containers. Alternative payloads could in- clude various types of unmanned vehicle. The MBDA SEA CEPTOR surface-to-air The CITY Class does see the introduc- The bay’s location next to the helicopter missile system and BAE Systems Type tion of important new equipment to hangar is particularly useful in supple- 997 ARTISAN surveillance radar used RN service, notably the US Navy (USN) menting aviation capabilities, up to and in the class also originate from Type 23 127mm/62 Mk 45 Mod 4 gun. Its se- including the ability to ship a second, upgrades. The Common Anti-air Modu- lection marks the abandonment of the MERLIN helicopter. lar Missile (CAMM) at the heart of SEA 115mm weapon used in British escorts Accommodation: The CITY Class has CEPTOR uses active radar homing sup- since the Second World War but provide sufficient accommodation to support ported by mid-course guidance updates greater potential for adopting smart mu- 208 personnel, considerably in excess from data obtained by ARTISAN to allow nitions. Another USN system specified of the normal crew of 157. This allows engagements at ranges out to 25km and for the class is a 24-cell Mk 41 vertical additional personnel, such as embarked beyond. 48 canisters for the missile are launch system. This provides the option military forces, to be housed for spe- split into two groups forward and aft. to field weapons such as TOMAHAWK cific missions. The stated complement Graphic: BAE Systems

An infographic comparing the size of the Type 26 to other current generation Royal Navy surface warships. The class will be large and capable surface combatants that will refresh crucial anti-submarine warfare capa- bilities.

72 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

The GCS has also been mooted for other Statistics – Royal Navy CITY Class warship programmes, including a poten- tial bid with German Naval Yards for the Ships: 1 ship (GLASGOW) under construction MKS180 project. It is understood ongo- ing developments in the German naval 2 additional unnamed ships contracted sector mean these discussions are ‘on 5 further unnamed ships planned hold’ at the present time. Displacement (Full Load): 6,900 tonnes Conclusion Principal The start of Type 26 CITY Class construc- Dimensions: 149.9m x 20.8m tion will be a relief for the RN. The abil- Propulsion: Combined diesel-electric or gas (CODLOG) ity to field sophisticated anti-submarine 4 x MTU 20V 4000 M53B diesel generators, capabilities is increasingly important in 2 x GE electric motors an era of renewed East/West tensions. The new ships will be particularly impor- 1 x Rolls Royce MT-30 gas turbine tant in ensuring the safety of the new 2 x shafts DREADNOUGHT strategic submarines Maximum speed of over 26 knots, Range of over and QUEEN ELIZABETH carriers on which 7,000 nautical miles much British defence spending is cur- Armament: 1 x Mk 45 Mod 4 127mm main gun rently focused. Although sometimes criti- cised as expensive in headline compari- 2 x PHALANX CIWS, 2 x DS30M Mk 2 sons with apparently similar ships, such 30mm cannon comparisons rarely take account of the 1 x 24-cell Mk 41 VLS cost of the high levels of survivability and 48 x CAMM vertical launch canisters acoustic stealth that are inherent design features. Helicopter deck and hangar From an industrial perspective, the con- Flexible mission bay for a wide range of equipment tract helps secure the future of the key Crew: 157 core crew. Accommodation for 208 personnel. shipbuilding complex on the Clyde and marks a significant investment in the UK’s wider maritime supply chain. As is somewhat higher than the 118 figure ther development to meet the Australian of July 2017, 34 firms were on contract quoted in earlier documentation. It is un- requirement. A request for tenders was to the project, supporting 4,000 jobs derstood this reflects the reclassification issued to the three companies in March throughout the UK. It also has signifi- of certain mission specialists into the core 2017 with a decision scheduled in 2018. cant input from firms across Europe and crew rather than underlying growth in Construction is expected to start at the in North America. The prospect of ex- crewing requirements. Extensive use of Osborne yard in Adelaide during 2020 for porting the GCS design provides addi- automated systems has allowed a reduc- delivery of the first ship within a 2027-30 tional potential. However, timely invest- tion of around 30 sailors from the Type timescale. The overall programme is val- ment in the second CITY Class batch – 23s in spite of the new class’s greater size ued at AU$35Bn. Whilst all three designs as well as a positive outcome from the and capability. have strengths and weaknesses, the Type long-awaited UK National Shipbuilding 26 GCS’s strong anti-submarine warfare Strategy – will be crucial for further pro- Export Prospects emphasis provide it with strong creden- gress. The ongoing political debate on tials to meet Australia’s needs. Scottish independence remains a source One objective of the GCS project was to The other campaign relates to Canada’s re- of uncertainty. devise a design that had better export quirement for 15 ‘Canadian Surface Com- Concluding with the words of Pro- potential than recent RN warships. Whilst batants’. Its 2017 defence review affirmed gramme Director Geoff Searle, ‘July 2017 the sophistication and consequent high commitment to both the programme and has been a great month for the Type 26 cost associated with a specialised anti- planned numbers at an estimated cost of programme. Lots of hard work has been submarine frigate means that the GCS up to CAD$60Bn. Under Canada’s 2010 needed across the workforce to achieve will remain beyond the means of many National Shipbuilding Procurement Strat- the level of design maturity now reached navies, it is potentially attractive to fleets egy, it has already been decided that the but it gives us significant impetus as we needing this high-end capability. ships will be built by Irving Shipbuilding in enter the build phase. We are well placed Accordingly, the GCS is currently pursu- Halifax, Nova Scotia. An existing warship to deliver the ships the Royal Navy needs ing two export campaigns with navies design and combat system will be used to in a timely fashion and offer a competi- seeking anti-submarine warfare frigates. reduce risk and speed construction. After tive design to export markets’. L Both envisage the adaptation of an exist- two extensions in the timetable, propos- ing design for local production. The more als from up to twelve overseas companies Notes: advanced is Australia’s Project SEA 5000 were expected by mid-August 2017. A 1. This article refers to the British ships currently under for nine future frigates. In April 2016 it was decision should follow in 2018. It is likely order as the CITY class. The wider project – including po- tential export orders – is referred to as the Global Combat announced that the GCS had been short- that anti-submarine capabilities will fea- Ship. listed alongside Fincantieri’s FREMM and a ture highly in the ultimate selection, again 2. The patrol vessels were largely ordered to maintain pro- duction at the Clyde yards whilst Type 26 construction derivative of Navantia’s F-100 type for fur- favouring the GCS. was agreed.

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 73  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY QUEEN ELIZABETH Class Aircraft Carriers: Programme Update

Conrad Waters

On 26 June 2017, QUEEN ELIZABETH – the first of the British Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers – departed Rosyth Dockyard near Edinburgh to commence sea trials. Her maiden voyage marked another step towards the regeneration of a capability lost with the retirement of the previous INVINCIBLE class and their Harrier jets. However, much remains to be done before the new carrier becomes operational.

he QUEEN ELIZABETH aircraft carriers Ttrace their origins to design studies in the 1990s to identify replacements for the

INVINCIBLE class. The 1998 Strategic De- Photo: Royal Navy fence Review took the decision to procure two new strike carriers to replace the three, smaller INVINCIBLEs. However, subsequent progress to establish the capabilities and configuration of the new ships was slow. It was not until 2008 that a construction contract was awarded. This has been over- seen by an Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) comprising Babcock International, BAE Systems, Thales UK and the UK Ministry of Defence. The build-strategy involved the fabrication of the ships’ constituent blocks at yards around the UK, with final assem- bly at Babcock’s facility in Rosyth. Formal construction of the first ship started in July 2009. The two ships have been built to a ca. Christening of the HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH aircraft carrier. 65,000-tonne, 280-metre-long design configured for Short Take-Off and Vertical The design utilises an integrated electric Projection (CEPP) concept envisages the em- Landing (STOVL) operations. This configu- propulsion (IEP) system. Rolls-Royce MT-30 barkation of a range of tailored air groups ration was originally intended to support a gas turbines and Wärtsilä diesel generators comprising different mixes of aircraft. notional strike-focused aviation group of providing power to GE Power Conversion 36 fast jets and four surveillance and con- advanced induction motors by means of an From Naming to Maiden trol aircraft. The F-35B STOVL variant of the electrical distribution network. Voyage Lockheed Martin LIGHTNING II was select- There has been considerable fluctuation ed to provide the fast jet capability. Design in programme requirements since the innovations included the use of distinctive contract award. The UK’s 2010 Strategic QUEEN ELIZABETH was christened by Her twin islands to maximise flight deck area Security & Defence Review (SDSR) consid- Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 4 July 2014. and provide redundancy with respect to ered cancelling the project outright as part She was subsequently floated out of her key command and control functions. Con- of spending cuts. It ultimately decided to building dock on the 17th of the same siderable automation was specified to limit complete one ship to a revised Catapult month. Although structurally complete by crew size to the same level as the previous Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery this stage, considerable fitting out had still INVINCIBLE class despite the major uplift (CATOBAR) configuration using the F-35C to be completed before the lengthy and la- in capability represented by the new ships. carrier variant. The other was to be held in borious process of setting the ship’s equip- reserve or sold. By the end of 2014 both ment to work could commence. One com- Author these decisions had been reversed, with the plicating factor was the use of her building SDSR 2015 review subsequently confirming dock for assembly of her sister ship, PRINCE Conrad Waters is a naval and de- a requirement to maintain both ships to en- OF WALES. This prevented a return to the fence analyst based in the UK. He is a sure one was continuously available for op- dry dock whilst final outfitting and harbour regular contributor to ESD and Editor erations. Meanwhile, although providing a trials were underway. As a result, some of Seaforth World Naval Review. carrier strike capability remains the class’s significant work had to be carried out un- key function, a new Carrier Enabled Power derwater. This included installation of the

74 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ship’s two 33-tonne propellers, which were fitted by divers after completion of initial tests of the IEP system conducted whilst the carrier was still berthed at Rosyth. The underwater installation was claimed to be a world first at the time. The commissioning of QUEEN ELIZABETH’s power and propulsion system was one of a number of key activities that needed to be completed before her crew could move onboard and the ship be declared ready for sea. Other strands of work included

setting-to-work the various platform man- Photo: UK MoD/ Crown Copyright agement and mission systems and under- An historic photo: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH arrives at her home port of lying fibre optic cable network needed to Portsmouth for the first time, with the Type 45 Air Defence Destroyer HMS ensure the carrier’s safe operation as well DIAMOND close by and the masts of the 19th-century steam-powered, iron- as completing the more than 3,000 indi- armoured warship HMS WARRIOR visible in the background. vidual compartments located throughout the ship. The latter process was carried ficiently for her to squeeze under the Forth Considerable work has been completed out on a phased basis, with the first com- Railway Bridge, the lowest of the three at Portsmouth in preparation for the car- partment handed over to the ship’s staff bridges linking Edinburgh with northern rier’s imminent arrival. This has included as early as February 2016. Another major Scotland. Transit of the bridges took place the dredging of a new channel to facili- challenge was preparing the flight deck shortly before midnight with less than six tate access to the harbour and comple- and surrounding areas for the effects of feet of clearance from QUEEN ELIZABETH’s tion of upgraded berthing facilities – the the high temperatures generated by the F- highest point and with an even shallower Princess Royal Jetty – to accommodate 35B’s engine in STOVL mode. This included depth of water under her keel. the class. the application of a thermal metal spray At the time of departure, the planned trials coating to appropriate deck areas. programme envisaged around six weeks Next Steps Given the complexity of the setting-to- of platform systems tests off north-east work process, it is not surprising that chal- Scotland punctuated by a refuelling stopo- The completion of QUEEN ELIZABETH’s lenges arose that delayed the ship’s sea tri- ver at Invergordon, a former naval base on sea trials and her subsequent arrival in als. Although no official schedule was ever the Cromarty Firth. Afterwards, the carrier Portsmouth mark a major step towards released, it appears the initial hope was to was scheduled to return to Rosyth for a regenerating British fixed-wing naval avia- start these by the end of 2016. However, six-week period of defect rectification and tion. However, much work remains to be the construction contract made allowance completion of additional work packages. completed before an initial carrier strike for some slippage. This required delivery by She was then to sail for a second, short- capability – targeted for the end of 2020 the end of 2017, a schedule which currently er round of trials focused on her mission – can be achieved. The building blocks for seems set to be achieved. By mid-2017 it systems before heading south to her new this capability include not only the carrier Christening of the HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH aircraft carrier. was apparent that QUEEN ELIZABETH was home port of Portsmouth. This programme but also the F-35B jets and CROWSNEST approaching readiness for sea, with the was regarded as being fluid dependent on airborne radar-fitted helicopters that will crew moving on board on 26 May 2017. A the progress of testing. form her air group. simulated training cruise in early June pre- Reports on the progress of trials to date Following QUEEN ELIZABETH’s formal pared the crew for a range of scenarios that suggest they have been broadly successful commissioning, much of early 2018 will be might be expected whilst underway and despite some inevitable teething troubles. taken up with helicopter operations trials. marked the final stage of preparations for These have included problems with water- These should provide limited capability to the ship’s maiden departure. tight door mechanisms and the need to operate battlefield helicopters. The autumn undertake minor rectifications to the ship’s of 2018 should see the first F-35B flying Departure & Sea Trials propellers. The latter enforced an extended trials from the carrier off the east coast of stay at Invergordon whilst this work was the United States. These will pave the way The successful completion of the simulated undertaken. The ship was back at sea be- for a further, more extensive series of tri- cruise allowed Monday 26 June to be set fore the end of July, hosting a visit from als during 2019. The CROWSNEST radar for the start of QUEEN ELIZABETH’s trials. British Defence Minister Sir Michael Fallon system should be operational by April Local topography meant that the carrier’s on 24 July. In a statement to ESD at the 2020 and a LIGHTNING II squadron ready departure from Rosyth involved a compli- start of August, ACA partner BAE Systems for sea-based deployment later in the year, cated series of manoeuvres that could only said: “HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH is making allowing initial operating capability for car- be carried out within a given tidal window good progress through her sea trials pro- rier strike to be declared in December 2020. and in suitable weather conditions. More gramme, which is designed to test the full Realisation of this schedule remains subject specifically, exit from the non-tidal basin in spectrum of her systems. Her Ship’s Com- to considerable risk. Rosyth Dockyard had to be conducted at pany is looking forward to taking her to her The achievement of full CEPP will not oc- high tide and with only inches to spare on home port of Portsmouth in the coming cur until later in the decade, when PRINCE either side of the basin’s entrance. This evo- weeks.” Shortly after, it was confirmed her OF WALES will also be fully operational. lution was completed on the afternoon of maiden arrival had been accelerated to a She will be formally named at a ceremony 26 June. Subsequently, the ship had to an- window covering 17-22 August, the exact scheduled for 8 September 2017 and deliv- chor in the River Forth until the tide fell suf- date being subject to weather conditions. ered in mid-2019. L

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 75 Common Optimism Anti-Ship Missile Manufacturers to Set New Standards

The ship- and aircraft-launched RBS15 Mk3 Photo: Saab Stefan Nitschke anti-ship missile performs as a fire-and-forget system with a true re-attack capability.

he big picture for anti-ship missiles has NSM in its Vertical Launch (VL) variant – VENOM/ANL (Anti-Navire Léger). The new Tclearly changed in recent years, particu- also named VL-JSM (VL-Joint Strike Mis- anti-ship weapon, according to MBDA’s larly because of the ramp-up of several new sile); shipboard helicopters can deploy the announcements in 2016, is completing programmes to add a land attack capabil- air-launched version (JSM); road-mobile qualification ahead of an expected delivery ity. launchers ashore can employ the coastal to the Royal Navy in late 2020, equipping defence variant of NSM to counter targets Leonardo AW159 WILDCAT helicopters. Common Need at sea; and submarines may be fitted with The new missile is intended to replace SEA NSM-SL. SKUA rounds in the Royal Navy and the The challenges can be taken from emerg- Kongsberg seems to be very happy with AS-17 TT in French Navy service. Its com- ing threats ashore. To keep today’s anti- the development so far. “Every variant is bat range was quoted at 20 km (10.8NM). ship capabilities in shape, naval forces need optimised for its market,” according to the SEA VENOM reached crucial milestones to find alternatives to avoid dramatic obso- manufacturer earlier this summer, adding last year and earlier this year, including air lescence risks, replacing huge inventories that it is the world’s only fifth-generation carriage and jettison trials that were carried of legacy systems like EXOCET MM38s or naval strike missile with a land target capa- out from an AS365 DAUPHIN helicopter HARPOONs/Sub-HARPOONs. The ways bility. This exactly positions NSM for the US from the French DGA military procure- naval forces upgrade their surface, under- Navy’s anticipated LCS/FF (Littoral Combat ment agency in June. MBDA confirms it water, and airborne assets are changing Ship/Fast Frigate) missile competition. It has started the integration process on the almost as fast as new mission scenarios are calls for an over-the-horizon anti-ship and LYNX Mk8. evolving, including land attack. But how is low-level, terrain-following land attack ca- It is interesting to note that a number of that process going? pability. SEA SKUA operators – , Germany, Arguably the biggest challenge is to re- The development schedule for NSM as Kuwait, Malaysia, South Korea and Turkey place the variety of systems that do not both Norway’s and Germany’s system of – need to replace their existing inventories cope with present day needs: battlespace choice has been accelerated following the with a newer helicopter-launched over-the- dominance (neutralisation of land and announcement by the countries’ ministries horizon anti-ship weapon system. sea denial systems) and power projection of defence in February to extend naval co- ashore, directed at time-critical targets operation from submarines to anti-surface Often Underestimated such as relocatable assets. For now, many missiles. The intention is to jointly develop, systems in use with European navies must procure, and operate the NSM in both na- “Some of that money navies want to in- be upgraded or replaced by new multi-role vies, the value of the NSM sale to Germany vest in an enhanced [anti-ship/land at- systems. Newer candidates, like Kongsberg is estimated at NOK10BN (~€1.057BN). tack missile] capability is going to Saab’s Defence Systems’ NSM, are set to cope There is one principal reason for select- RBS15 Mk3,” a Saab representative said. with the extended mission roles of the next ing NSM: to react more flexibly to a wider Although it is a much heavier missile system generation of naval assets, including sub- range of threats with a single anti-ship/land than the NSM, thus sometimes complicat- merged platforms and shipboard aviation. attack weapon. ing aircraft installation, it has attracted the The NSM or Naval Strike Missile is Norway’s Several other modernisation efforts among interest of a number of countries, includ- answer to the navies’ growing demand for European NATO partners appear to be ing Germany, Poland, and Croatia. Saab’s a longer range precision strike weapon. It promising. France and the United Kingdom RBS15 Mk3 success in Poland, equipping will out-range many legacy systems: sur- (UK) are buying a common design for their ORKAN Class fast patrol boats, allows it to face warships of any size and type can carry shipboard rotary-wing assets, named SEA continue to grab a significant market share.

76 European Security & Defence · September 2017

 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

LITE-L weighs around 135 kg, measures 3.75 m in length, and travels up to 140 km (75.6 NM) at speeds between Mach 0.6 and more than Mach 3.0. HOPLITE uses an innovative Air Turbo-Rocket (ATR) propul- sion system that enables supersonic flight and subsonic dwell (loiter) for operator-in- the-loop targeting, said MBDA. Photo: Kongsberg Defence Systems MBDA scored additional successes over the past several years, 18% more than in the early 2000s. That figure also included the MdCN-NCM (Naval Cruise Missile) on delivery to the French Navy and the 30 km (16.2 NM) range MARTE Mk2/N ship- launched anti-ship missile system supplied to Qatar, Turkmenistan, and the UAE.

Challenging Technology

The surface ship-launched NSM is just the beginning: Because VL-JSM is consid- ered to be compatible with the US Navy’s Mk41 Vertical Launching System (VLS), it could directly compete with the 560 km The truck-mounted NSM CDS (Coastal Defence System) delivered to the (302 NM) range Long-Range Anti-Ship Polish Coastal Defence Missile Battalion Missile (LRSAM) currently under develop- ment by Lockheed Martin. The US Navy, The Mk3 variant, jointly produced and mar- nial systems. Encompassing two variants, the principal user of 1980s era HAR- keted by Saab and , utilises HOPLITE-L and HOPLITE-S, the concept POONs and TOMAHAWKs, is looking to a a pre-launch programmable active radar addresses cooperation in the air: one loi- new generation of fast, long-range strike seeker to provide a high hit probability at tering to provide laser designation for the missiles that “can be used by practically sea and ashore under adverse weather conditions. Its operational range is quoted to be in excess of 200 km (>108 NM).

Sales of anti-ship missiles are often under- Photo: DGA estimated. European primes like Kongs- berg, MBDA and Saab account for a sig- nificant chunk of the global market, with some sources quoting a combined total of 54-55% in 2014 and 60.5% last year. ESD learned that the Asia-Pacific region is about to emerge as a market for new systems offered by Kongsberg and Saab. “In the fu- ture, you will see Saab working with many more customers in Asia as you will with those in Europe,” Saab insisted. Addition- ally, with Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the (UAE) outfitting their surface assets and shipboard aviation with newer weapons, numbers in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region could significantly surpass past levels in the upcoming five to six years. MBDA is currently producing the latest ver- sion, EXOCET MM40 Block 3, for custom- ers in the region. SEA VENOM/ANL can be fitted to a variety of naval helicopters, Still a conceptual design, MBDA’s HOPLITE including the AS365 DAUPHIN (shown), LYNX, SUPER LYNX, NH90 system is set to offer an indirect precision NTH, and AW159 WILDCAT. attack capability for naval ships from 2035. It could represent a viable alternative for a other before striking its own target in some the entire surface and submarine fleet,” VL missile providing the next generation scenarios. MBDA intends HOPLITE-L to di- the service stated, challenging the naval of surface ships (e.g. Type 26) with greater rect mixed-salvo strikes via its data-link and audience following the first test to evalu- lethality than many other weapons utilised laser designator. Slightly heavier and a lit- ate the stealthy LRSAM in February 2015. for the neutralisation of land and sea de- tle shorter legged than the S-model, HOP- A development based on the AGM-158B

78 European Security & Defence · September 2017 JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) in service with the US Air Force, LRSAM, part of the Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW)/Increment 2 anti-ship missile, will be used only as an air-launched missile, to be deployed from the B-1B LANCER, with the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) expected in 2018, and the F/A-18E/F SUPER HORNET by mid-2019. The US Navy officially designated the air-launched variant AGM-158C in August 2015. GYRO Sweden has expressed interest in the LRASM in response to con- TACTICAL GRADE cerns at Russian actions in Eastern Europe and other potential us- ers, according to industry sources, may include Australia, Canada, and the UK. Diehl Defence in Germany, faced with cancellations of its fibre-optic guided missile in the 1990s and with the small quantity of RBS15 Mk3s delivered to Germany, is “still progressing” with the IDAS (Interactive Defence and Attack System for Submarines) concept. Following an equally slow start for IDAS’ entry, mainly due to politi- cal and budgetary reasons, and issues surrounding navy tactics, the consortium plans to accelerate its marketing activities, with Norway and Turkey representing an interesting market. IDAS is grouped as a short-range strike missile incorporating Man- In-The-Loop (MITL) guidance, able to strike targets ashore over 20 km (10.8 NM) away. The IDAS Consortium, originally formed by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Diehl BGT Defence, has already 1:1 scale conducted the first ejection trials with the submarine-launched IDAS missile system in Norwegian waters, with the Royal Norwegian Navy’s ULA class diesel-electric submarine HNoMS UREDD (S 305) serving as the launching platform. A full launch demonstration from a German Navy Type 212A submarine demonstrated the missile’s ability to be tube-launched, breaking through the water STIM210 is a small, lightweight Three Axis surface, and flying by keeping linkage to the launch platform via a fibre-optic cable. Gyro Module for accurate pointing and Another big talking point is technology for enhancing missile per- stabilization, fl ight control and guidance formance. Inertial Measurement Units or IMUs, based on MEMS (Micro-Electromechanical Systems) gyro technology, can signifi- applications. cantly improve a missile’s pin-point precision. “The most challeng- ing technology of any missile system is guidance and seeker and/or sensor technology,” Hans Richard Petersen, Vice President Sales & • ITAR free Marketing at Sensonor AS in Norway, told ESD on 14 August. “[...] • Small size, low weight, power and cost in the end, [it] defines the efficiency of a missile,” he added. One • Insensitive to magnetic fi elds of the company’s products, the STIM300 IMU is closing the perfor- • Low gyro bias instability (0.5°/h) mance gap to FOG (Fibre Optic Gyro). “For the STIM300, we see a number of applications, including […] missile stability and naviga- • Low gyro noise (0.15°/√h) tion […],” he said. The same affects the STIM210 three-axis gyro • Excellent performance under vibration and shock module that has been selected to mitigate effects of wave motion • Available in 1, 2 or 3 axes of a remote-controlled variant of MBDA’s SIMBAD twin launcher • Fully calibrated and customer confi gur able to the system. “MEMS gyros will continue to advance in performance,” specifi c application Petersen concluded. • Weight 55 grams, volume <2cu.in, power 1.5 W Conclusion STIM210 is fi eld proven in Missile systems, Target Making use of the new generation of anti-ship/land attack missiles acquisition systems, Airborne surveillance, DIRCM, requires a complete change in the way navies view Anti-Surface Remote Weapon Systems, Launch vehicles, Military Warfare (ASuW). Though, key decisions are to be taken into con- Land navigators and Satellites. sideration over large-scale procurement efforts aimed at improving navies’ capabilities chiefly in the fields of anti-ship and deep-strike needs. The latter was assigned renewed relevance in recent years due to the fact that engaging hostile forces ashore often failed to succeed. New technologies, among them guidance/seeker concepts and low observable (stealth) methodologies, are about to transform When size, performance and robustness matter the anti-ship/land attack missile into a deadly opponent. This also affects the new generation of loitering munitions, which utilise a common core design with adaptable modular elements (seeker, [email protected] • www.sensonor.com warhead, propulsion system), replacing entire families of heavier, near-obsolescent missile systems. L

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 79  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY Projects and Programmes of the NCI Agency

Dorothee Frank

The last decade has seen an impressive advance in the digital field that is leading to more possibilities, capa- bilities, chances, challenges and threats. To keep on track with civil industry and solutions, the NCI Agency has also seen a rise in its personnel, finance and importance. Several new technology fields are actually the focus of the NCI Agency’s future improvements and topics, and are thus enhancing the effectiveness of NATO.

ne of the most important fields for the US Special Operations Command Europe and best practices in line with the “Cloud Ofuture might be the NATO app store. have signed a licence agreement with the First” approach stemming from the NATO “Several Nations, including the United NCI Agency for the delivery of the NST.” Cloud Computing Policy. Introducing public Kingdom and the Netherlands, have already The aim of the project is to replace the cloud technologies is breaking new ground made a policy to re-use existing NATO solu- manual software delivery process, which for the NCI Agency and NATO, resulting in tions to save on national investments while most NATO nations are using at the mo- policy and procedures being adapted.” at the same time ensuring interoperabil- ment, with a modern toolset providing fast Quantum Computing

One of the new technologies that is most hard to understand is "quantum" and its

Photo: U.S. Army impact on technology. As most people know, a computer uses lines of 0 and 1 to describe, memorise and calculate eve- rything. Quantum computing means that every value can be both: 0 and 1 are the same. It is like Schrödinger’s cat. The Aus- trian physicist Erwin Schrödinger had de- scribed quantum mechanics with a cat in a box. The cat can be alive or dead and in “quantum” it is both dead and alive, which is called quantum superposition. Only when an observer looks into the box, will the cat be either dead or alive. Some very intelli- gent scientists are working on combining this quantum superposition with the binary code of computers – and they have already made some very impressive progress. Quantum technology surely leaves the realms of what men are able to under- Afghanistan has been the testbed for many communication stand – apart from maybe two handfuls and information sharing solutions. of scientists worldwide – but the effects lead especially to an impressive increase in ity with NATO systems. The solutions are and reliable services. The service is now up possible calculation capacities. Therefore it also available to NATO Partner countries,” and running, and it has already been used poses a threat to cryptology, which is not NCI Agency’s Electronic Definitive Media to distribute NATO. It is also used to support only essential for the modern military but Library team explains, describing said app operations such as patch management, also relies on the assumption that the need- store. The original project name of the and NATO Response Force exercises. The ed factoring of large numbers outreaches NATO app store is the Electronic Definitive EDML team describes: “In developing the the capabilities of available computers. The Media Library (EDML). The team continues: project, the Agency focused on agile de- NCI Agency has therefore been working “The NATO Software Tools (NST) initiative velopment, minimising costs. The project on the concept of “quantum-safe" cryp- covers 19 NATO software tools that can is another step forward in NATO embrac- tography for some years now. According to be used for free by NATO Nations for test- ing the creative use of cloud solutions. The the NCI Agency, quantum-safe algorithms ing, evaluation and operational purposes. EDML is implemented in the public cloud have already been developed and equip- Consequently, 25 NATO Nations, six NATO and Agile (SCRUM) development based on ment using these algorithms is beginning Response Force units, US Army Europe and three iterative Sprints with DevOps tools to become available commercially.

80 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

Due to its high processing capabilities, quantum computing will also enhance

the protection to networks against at- Photo: NATO tacks through Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). The NCI Agency explained that, “the same quantum principle of QKD can be applied to the entire communication network. A 2,000 km quantum com- munication link now operates between Beijing and Shanghai, demonstrating the concept is viable for long distances. In August 2016, China also launched a sat- ellite purported to be able to generate and distribute quantum encryption keys from space. Most current technology ad- dresses point-to-point communications, as using this technology for many-to- many network connections is complex. However, there is significant research ac- tivity in this area from both the govern- ment and commercial sectors, so rapid In 2014, NATO and Russia started to develop a remote medical services advances will happen.” system using Russia’s advanced national telemedicine system, which includes satellite communication in order to be able to respond to emer- Communication gency crises over large distances.

Even though the NCI Agency believes that system for connecting deployed forces. to provide this critical connectivity. The the aforementioned projects signpost The construction of satellite hubs with NCI Agency said: “Later this year, the the future of technology, the bread-and- two Satellite Ground Stations (SGSs) in NCI Agency will be competing a major butter business is still communication, Kester, Belgium, and Lughezzano, Italy, contract, worth some €1.5Bn for satellite with satellite communication as the core is being undertaken by the NCI Agency bandwidth capacity, as well as a €200M

PUSHING THE LIMITS New ERX 3003 - HF SDR with 24 kHz Wideband Capability

-20 dBm

-25 dBm

-30 dBm

-35 dBm

-40 dBm

-45 dBm

-50 dBm

-55 dBm 6.730k 6.740k 6.750k 6.760k 6.770k

LIVE DEMONSTRATION AT DSEi / PACIFIC 2017: ERX 3003 – the new Core Unit of our HF Radio Transceiver Family HF@SATCOM speed: • Up to 24 kHz bandwidth allowing up to 120 kBit/s data transmission speed SEE FOR YOURSELF AT Booth S9-470 • High dynamic conversion technology for outstanding co-site performance DSEi London PACIFIC Sydney Booth 3F08 • Plug&play replacement of the prominent exciter /receiver ERX 3000

Hagenuk Marinekommunikation GmbH Hamburger Chaussee 25 | 24220 Flintbek | Germany Phone: +49 4347 714-101 | Fax +49 4347 714-110 Hagenuk Marinekommunikation [email protected] | www.hmk.atlas-elektronik.com A company of the ATLAS ELEKTRONIK Group

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 81 In international operations soldiers need technology that can be simply accesed by allied forces.

static piece is one we sustain from day to day, and an important piece of that static communications is satellite. Deployments for operations have become a somewhat

Photo: Miks Uzans/NATOChannel primary use of satellite communications for NATO. We depend on Industry heav- contract for satellite terminals to support said about the importance of satellite ily. Of course, we do have our ability from NATO’s Response Force, designed to de- capabilities for NATO: “We have a static a ground infrastructure perspective to al- ploy anywhere in the world at short no- infrastructure that provides connectiv- locate bandwidth and do the separations tice.” Dr Gregory Edwards, Director of ity to our Commands throughout NATO, that are necessary to get our abilities to Infrastructure Services at the NCI Agency located throughout our 28 nations. That deployed forces.” Other communication efforts focus on standardisation, in order not on- ly to make communication possible, NATIONAL TRAINING AND SIMULATION ASSOCIATION but also to share information. Since THE WORLD’S LARGEST MODELING & SIMULATION EVENT the very first Afghanistan Mission Aerospace Simulation & Training Network, information sharing has Aircrew Trainers been a core aspect for all projects, Applied R&D added by a Cloud-First premise in Applied Systems Engineering recent times. Supreme Allied Com- Big Data INTERSERVICE/INDUSTRY TRAINING, Classroom Training Products SIMULATION & EDUCATION CONFERENCE mander for Transformation (SACT) & Services General Denis Mercier said in an Cloud Computing HARNESSING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO WIN IN A COMPLEX WORLD interview with Nadja El Fertasi Computer Hardware from the NCI Agency’s magazine Construction / Mining Communicator: “When thinking in Consultancy/Project Management Cyber terms of desired effect, cloud-com- DIS IEEE 1278.1x or HLA 1516 Capable bat platforms combine the different Disaster Relief/Planning Simulations domains – land, air, sea and cyber Distance Learning – to ensure we deliver the appropri- Distributed Simulation and Learning ate effect. For me, the key combat Educational Products & Services Electronic Components system is C4ISR and how we as- Electronic Training/Synthetic sociate these different capabilities. Engineering/Damage Control Trainers If we look at a single platoon for Exercise Management instance, it has many sensors on the Flight Simulation & Training Gaming ground. But how are we fusing this Homeland Security Simulation & Training vast amount of information using Instructional Systems Design artificial intelligence and re-distrib- LVC (Live, Virtual, Constructive) uting this intelligence at the appro- Manufacturing priate levels?” Mercier answered Medical Simulation & Training Mission Planning/Mission Rehearsal his own question with the capabili- Modeling Services ties offered by Federated Mission Oil, Gas, Energy Network, the follower of Afghani- Operational & Maintenance Services stan Mission Network. About the Operator/Driver Trainers core element of communication Physical Training Equipment Pre-Brief/After Action Review – and therefore the core element Research & Development of the NCI Agency’s efforts – Mer- Shiphandling Trainers cier pointed out: “Interoperability Simulation Security standards are essential, which is Simulation Software why we are developing Federated Simulation Toolkits Small Arms Training Mission Networking (FMN) to en- Small Business sure interoperability between the Staffing/Logistics Support different national systems. In Iraq, STEM Why I/ITSEC? for example, this is not a NATO Tactics Trainers u 15,300 attendees operation, but all the forces can Trade Publication / Media operate together because they use Training Products u 489 exhibitors Training Services NATO standards. That is the value u 188,000 sq ft exhibit hall Transportation of it, knowing that when we de- Vehicle Trainers u 1,700 international ploy together, we will link up our Verification & Validation attendees, from 58 systems, and it works.” L Visual Computing countries Visual Display Products Weapon Systems Trainers & Equipment 82 European Security & Defence · September 2017 WWW.IITSEC.ORG u NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 1, 2017 ORLANDO, FLORIDA

IITSEC2017MittlerAdFull.indd 1 7/12/17 12:54 PM

 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY “Speed of Light to the Fight” Promise and Prospects of Directed Energy Weapons

Sidney E. Dean

Directed Energy Weapon Systems (DEWS) engage targets with various forms of electromagnetic energy. Theoretically, the the term includes particle beam and plasma weapons, but for now these remain concep- tual. Practical DEWS applications are currently restricted to High Power Microwave (HPM) and laser systems.

dvantages attributed to all DEWS in- hypersonic weapons. This attribute led the vehicle engines, missiles, air defence, C4ISR Aclude the precision to disable targets US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to and sensor systems, as well as electronics without a significant risk of human casual- coin the phrase “ light to the fight“. embedded in combat vehicles or carried ties or collateral damage. Other shared at- One current disadvantage of all DEWS is the by infantry (e.g. GPS, targeting systems). tributes include the following: much lower fact that power generation systems for these Potential naval applications include a mi- operating cost (frequently cited as “a dol- weapons still tend to be large and heavy. crowave self-defence system that would lar per shot”) when compared to kinetic Improving the Size, Weight And Power disable incoming anti-ship missiles. weapons; the “deep magazine” aspect (SWAP) ratio is therefore one major avenue Microwave emissions can be narrowly fo- cused on a particular target or target area, or be sent out in a wide arc to effect targets spread over a greater air or ground sector. Photo: USN The beam can penetrate unshielded walls and strikes too quickly for safety mecha- nisms such as surge protectors or circuit breakers to react. The US armed forces are working on several HPM weapons. The Counter-electronics High-power-mi- crowave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP) was developed by the AFRL, Boeing and Raytheon. The weapon emits high power microwaves for a fraction of a second, cre- ating an electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) that overloads and destroys electronic circuits (alternately the power can be scaled down in order to temporarily shut down elec- tronic systems without destroying them). In contrast to EMP created by aerial deto- US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson is briefed on nation of a nuclear weapon, CHAMP’s en- General Atomics‘ research toward a 150 kW laser demonstrator. ergy is emitted as a tight beam which can be directly aimed at a designated target (DEWS can hypothetically operate as long of research. Improving efficiency, measured building. This allows selective neutralisation as there is fuel to generate electricity for as the percentage of energy created by the of key military assets without blacking out the weapon); the level of damage can be weapon system which is actually translated civilian infrastructure. Also in contrast to an selectively controlled by varying the energy into the energy beam, is another priority. airburst weapon, CHAMP can fire multiple intensity of the beam (scalable effect); the Numerous nations are developing DEWS. times during a mission. attack is silent and invisible, preserving the The United States military alone is allocating The emitter can be attached to a variety element of surprise and potentially dam- US$3.4Bn for DEWS programmes over the of manned and unmanned platforms; any aging enemy morale. Related to the latter next five years. The Pentagon is also work- carrier platform will need to be customised point is the fact that DEWS’ energy beams ing on its first Directed Energy Weapon to withstand the potential effects of the travel at light-speed, making them ideal for Roadmap, which will be published in EMP on its own systems. CHAMP was suc- engagement of moving targets including March 2018. cessfully tested in 2012 on board an AGM- 86 Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Mis- Author Microwave Weapons sile. The missile loitered over the test range for an hour, sequentially attacking seven Sidney E. Dean is President of Trans- Microwave weapons emit energy pulses different targets where it disabled comput- atlantic Euro–American Multimedia which overload electronic systems in the ers, electronics and surveillance cameras. LLC and a regular contributor to ESD. targeted area, shutting them down and In May 2015, AFRL commander Major destroying the circuitry. This can disable General Tom Masiello described CHAMP

84 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

ment. This is partly the result of progress in component technologies such as mi- croelectronics, power systems, and optics, sometimes borrowed from other indus- tries. For example, advancements in fibre optic communications and from industrial laser drilling and cutting applications have been adapted to improve beam-combina- tion techniques. Video game technology

Image: Boeing has been leveraged to improve beam con- CHAMP is the first microwave weapon to become operational with the trol systems. US armed forces. Further improvements in power produc- tion and management, SWAP ratio and as “an operational system already in our Roadmap" presented in 2013. Research- beam control are expected over the next tactical air force". As far as publicly known, ers are seeking ways to adapt the science- few years. First generation tactical High only five systems have been procured to grade KALI particle accelerator for use as a Energy Laser (HEL) weapons are expected date. AFRL continues work to improve the microwave weapon (primarily for missile- to enter service by the mid-2020s. Initial SWAP ratio. Current planning is to deploy defence purposes) including possible min- applications will primarily be defensive. As the miniaturised CHAMP on the Joint Air- iaturisation to develop an aircraft-borne more powerful HELs mature, their mission to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended weapon. Indian researchers admit that profile will expand to include defensive and Range (JASSM-ER). practical military application of this system offensive operations against more sophisti- While CHAMP is designed for highly se- is still many years out. cated targets. lective targeting, there remains interest in a non-nuclear EMP weapon with blanket effects over a limited area. Such a weapon could “soften up” large enemy formations before an assault, or isolate hostile forces in control of urban areas without long- term damage to civilian infrastructure. In Photo: Lockheed Martin November 2016 the US Army released a solicitation for a “Munitions Delivered Non- Kinetic Effects” system intended to deliver “non-kinetic RF effects against a wide range of electronics, critical infrastructure, and computer-based systems.” The pay- load is to be delivered via 155mm howit- zer. The solicitation cited recent advances in munitions-based microelectronics and power technologies which are expected to make development of the desired system In 2015, the 30 kW Advanced Test High Energy Asset (ATHENA) possible. destroyed the engine of an unarmoured small truck. Other HPM/RF research projects include boat- and shipboard systems as well as Russia, meanwhile, claims to have op- Lasers do come with inherent limitations: vehicle-mounted systems, all to be used erational microwave weapons. Vladimir the weapon requires line-of-sight to the tar- in force protection roles. Some of these Mikheev, a director of the state-owned get; while range is theoretically farther than projects are tuned to stopping oncoming Russian electronics firm KRET, cited a range that of kinetic munitions (with the exception vehicles and vessels, while others use non- of “tens of kilometres” in a 2016 interview of missiles), beam cohesion suffers with dis- lethal, pain-inducing microwave frequen- with TASS. Mikheev said Russia intends tance, reducing effectiveness; atmospheric cies for crowd control and deterrence. to mount the weapon on unmanned 6th conditions (moisture, dust, smoke) can im- While the US military is considered to be Generation aircraft expected to enter ser- pair beam cohesion; even white or reflective leading in the development of HPM weap- vice circa 2025. The potential danger of the paint on the target can negate laser effects. onry, other nations are also pursuing this microwave radiation to humans would pre- Lasers mounted on moving platforms are option. clude deploying the weapon on manned further subject to vibration which can im- Chinese media report that Beijing is work- aircraft, he said. pede aiming and beam cohesion. To coun- ing on a system similar to CHAMP. The teract these liabilities research on tactical la- Chinese weapon – which is allegedly not Mobile Tactical Laser ser is not solely concentrated on improving yet operational – is intended to stop mis- Weapons power and beam generation, but also on siles and ground combat vehicles includ- beam control technology as well as weapon ing tanks. The emitter is said to be small For the past decade most laser weapon re- integration with platforms and sensors. enough to fit on vehicles, manned and un- search has centred on electric Solid State manned aircraft, or missiles. Lasers (SSL) – especially fibre lasers – which US DoD Development of EMP weapons is one goal offer the most favourable SWAP ratio of all From an investment perspective and with enumerated in the Indian MoD’s 15-year laser types. The past five years have seen regard to the volume of research, the Unit- "Technology Perspective and Capability significant progress in weapons develop- ed States Department of Defense (DoD) is

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 85  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

the global leader in laser weapon devel- mounts a 10 kW SSL and an Army de- developed concepts for a 30-50 kW system opment. DoD’s High Energy Laser Joint veloped agile beam control system. In with an appropriate beam control system Technology Office (HEL-JTO) coordinates April, HELMTT participated in a tacti- on a platform, which is very capa- research and testing projects involving mul- cal field exercise during which it was ble against UAS,” said Adam Aberle, head tiple government agency, academic and in- integrated, for the first time, into the of the Army’s HEL technology office. “It is dustry partners. In 2012 HEL-JTO devised Army command and control network. not going to be really capable against hard- the Robust Electric Laser Initiative (RELI), The laser is being replaced with a new er targets with very short times of flight,” pursuing technologies to enable the field- 60kW Lockheed Martin system which Aberle said last August. ing of laser weapons on mobile platforms. has proven highly efficient, translating Each service has its own priorities and ap- 43 percent of energy output into the USMC plications for HEL weapons; for that reason actual laser beam. The US Marine Corps is researching lasers each service is pursuing its own research • Mobile Expeditionary HEL (MEHEL): A for its Ground Based Air Defence pro- under the RELI programme, in coordina- 5 kW laser developed by General Dy- gramme, using a -mounted short- tion with the HEL-JTO and with the Penta- namics is in testing as a CUAS mobile range 30 kW laser as testbed. The USMC gon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects force protection weapon mounted atop also plans to mount laser weapon pods on Agency (DARPA). STRYKER infantry carriers; the laser will KC-130 gunships and, once sufficiently min- be upgraded to 10 kW this year. General iaturised, on F-35 attack planes and AH-1 US Army Dynamics has stated that it could have COBRA attack helicopters. The US Army has been testing vehicle an 18 kW version available for IOC in mounted HEL weapon demonstrators since 2018. US Navy 2011, and currently has several test projects • High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Dem- The 30 kW Laser Weapon System (LaWS) running. To date experiments have been onstrator (HEL TVD): Initiated in 2016 was installed aboard the former amphibi- Photos: US Army

Photo left: While the designation HELMTT was adopted in 2016, a vehicle-mounted laser testbed has been deployed since 2010. The original HEL Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD) was a 10 kW commercial welding laser paired with the Ar- my’s HEL TD beam control system, both mounted on a truck. During testing in 2014, the HEL MD successfully engaged 150 targets including 60mm mortar rounds, class 1 and class 2 UAVs, as well as ground targets representing fuelling and ammunition stations. Photo right: The Mobile Expeditionary HEL is a US Army programme to develop mobile force protection against UAVs. The system is designed as an add-on to tactical vehicles, such as the STRYKER infantry car- rier. Demonstrations began with a 2 kW laser which was upgraded to 5 kW and will soon operate at 10 kW.

geared toward force protection applica- and classified as a pre-prototype sys- ous warship USS PONCE in 2014 for test- tions such as Counter (short range) Rocket, tem, HEL TVD will host a 100 kW HEL ing and destroyed or disabled all UAS and Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) and Counter- on a medium-sized tactical truck. The speedboat targets at several kilometres UAS (CUAS), although test lasers have also objective is to develop and mature laser distance. LaWS remains on the ship as an destroyed the engines of unarmoured light technologies that will transition from authorised self-defence system, making it trucks. Ultimately a high-powered opera- technology development into engineer- the first operational tactical laser weapon tional HEL should be able to down cruise ing and manufacturing development of fielded by the US armed forces. missiles. a high-power tactical laser to be mount- The Navy plans to fire a 150 kW laser • HEL Mobile Test Truck (HELMTT ): Since ed on a STRYKER or BRADLEY-sized ve- aboard the self-defence test ship USS PAUL 2016, this system has collected more hicle. The weapon would serve for C- F. FOSTER this year and from an aircraft than four terabytes of data on laser RAM, CUAS and cruise missile defence. carrier or destroyer in 2018. This Maritime propagation in varying environments. HEL TVD testing is scheduled for 2022 Laser Weapon System (MLWS) concept The Army’s stated goal “is to integrate and could transition to an acquisitions demonstrator developed by Northrop and demonstrate maturing technolo- programme. Grumman is designed to destroy incom- gies to the point where lethal engage- While the Army will accept interim opera- ing anti-ship missiles. Northrop described it ment in a relevant environment can be tional systems in the 30-60 kW range, the as “near-term operational” and states that demonstrated.” The vehicle currently end-goal is a 100+ kW system. “We have MLWS could be installed aboard ARLEIGH

86 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

BURKE Class Flight II destroyers with mini- mal modification. The Navy’s long-term goal is to field lasers on a wide variety of warships to destroy boats, missiles and aircraft, and to integrate laser weapons into the AEGIS combat sys- tem. On vessels other than aircraft carriers or

electric drive ships a HEL weapon will require Photo: MDA power storage modules to provide surge en- The Missile Defense Agency terminated its first attempt to develop an air- ergy. DRS Power and Control Technologies borne high-power laser to combat boost phase ballistic missiles in 2011. reports development of a battery system The test weapon consisted of a chemical laser mounted on a Boeing 747 and holding energy for 100 laser shots. firing through a nose-turret. The programme failed because the chemical laser proved both too weak and too cumbersome for practical application. US Air Force According to the AFRL, laser weapons have Fighter and ground attack aircraft will tomatic weapon with an internally carried demonstrated sufficient technical matu- utilise laser pods carried on external hard- pallet-mounted 150 kW HEL. As an interim rity to permit operational integration on air points. Initial applications would be aircraft solution AFSOC may begin with a wing- platforms within the next decade. The US self-defence against missiles. As power, mounted laser pod, and/or lower-grade Air Force (USAF) currently has two laser Ad- precision and range improve, additional weapons (60-100 kW). Proof-of-concept vanced Technology Demonstrators running: missions would be added: terminal phase testing of a laser weapon on board an AC- • The Self-protect High-Energy Laser ballistic missile/hypersonic missile defence 130 is scheduled to begin next year. Demonstrator (ShiELD) will test integra- (including homeland defence), aerial com- Innovative concepts could enhance perfor- mance. USAF chief scientist Greg Zacharias cited such examples as synchronising laser weapons with optics from a telescope to Photo: USN improve tracking of fast moving targets. Al- ternately, the aircraft’s phased array radar and the laser could be connected by syn- chronising their wavelengths, said Zacharias. And Lockheed Martin has already produced a turret which will allow 360 degrees of fire, as well as counteract turbulence.

MDA The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is interested in developing airborne HEL weapons to destroy ballistic missiles in their boost phase. The laser would be carried by high-altitude, high-endurance UAVs. The The LaWS (Laser Weapon System) was installed on the Afloat Forward agency plans to deploy a low-power laser Staging Base (Interim) USS PONCE (AFSB(I) 15) for operational demon- demonstrator mounted on a REAPER UAV stration in 2014 and deployed to the Arabian Sea. Formerly an amphibi- in 2021 to test target discrimination and ous warship, the USS PONCE was chosen because it provided sufficient other issues surrounding high-altitude de- room for the weapon’s bulky power generation system. Future opera- ployment of a laser weapon. The MDA has tional laser weapons will be more compact. requested concept and technology propos- als from industry. Lockheed Martin has pro- tion of a compact, medium-powered bat, and ground/sea-surface attack. De- posed mounting the operational laser on an laser-weapon pod on a fighter aircraft fensive laser pods could also be carried unmanned variant of the high-altitude U-2 for defensive use against ground-to-air by bombers and transport aircraft. Pods reconnaissance plane. and air-to-air weapons. Flight testing is might carry their own batteries as a power expected to begin 2020/2021. source; this would alleviate the need for Global • The Demonstrator Laser Weapon System modifications to the carrier aircraft and al- As with microwave weapons, the United (DLWS) will be tested jointly with DARPA. low any plane with external hardpoints to States is but one nation pursuing battlefield It will integrate DARPA’s 150 kW High accept the pod. While initial pods might laser technology. Research is most active Energy Liquid Laser Area Defence System be restricted to 30 kW output or less, the in Europe, Russia and Asia. For example, (HELLADS) with the Army’s beam control ultimate goal is to field 100-150 kW sys- Rheinmetall is testing land- and seabased system in order to conduct ground tests tems, as stronger lasers destroy targets high-energy lasers in conjunction with the against rockets, mortars and surface- more quickly; this is essential when both German Bundeswehr. The most recent pro- to-air missiles, to determine an aircraft- the target and the platform aircraft are fast ject is Dragonfire, a 50 kW HEL defensive mounted laser’s potential against such and manoeuvrable. weapon demonstrator for British land- and targets. The US Air Force Special Operations Com- sea-forces. As announced in January, the AFRL plans to have an airborne laser pro- mand (AFSOC) is planning to install a laser Dragonfire prototype is being developed by gramme of record in place by 2023. USAF ground attack weapon on AC-130 gun- a European consortium led by MBDA, and aspires to two different airborne lasers. ships. The goal is to replace the 30mm au- will be completed in 2019. L

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 87  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY Weighty Decisions Over Heavy Helicopters

Andrew Drwiega

Replacing the German Air Force’s (Luftwaffe) ageing fleet of Sikorsky CH-53GA/GS helicopters through the Heavy Transport Helicopter (Schwerer Transporthubschrauber, or STH) programme is proving to be quite a headache for the German government.

he contenders for the expected €4Bn Torder are Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky with the CH-53K KING STALLION, a new design based around the successful CH- Photo: Sikorsky 53 series, Boeing CH-47F – the latest ver- sion of its own legendary CHINOOK – and potentially a new entrant through Airbus’ development of the twin-engine X6 single rotor helicopter which is currently at the concept stage. What initially began around 2003 as a European requirement identified by both the German and French armed forces and support by the European Defence agency (EDA), which does not itself acquire equip- ment, failed to get any funding commit- ment at the time due to falling defence budgets across Europe, not to mention the ongoing cost of unifying east and west Germany that began in 1990. Now after more than a decade, the need to replace the Air Force’s fleet of around 60 CH-53G/GS has become a more imme- diate priority. While this is a “big ticket” The Sikorsky CH-53K KING STALLION heavy lift cargo helicopter is one item for the German Ministry of Defence, candidate for German procurement. particularly at a time when defence spend- ing in real-terms is not growing, there are sion then as now was between Sikorsky’s 53GAs to the Bundeswehr at a ceremony problems not only in terms of which plat- CH-53 and Boeing’s CH-47 CHINOOK, all at the ILA Berlin Airshow. The helicopter form to acquire, but also from industry’s but two of 110 helicopters were built in was received by Army Aviation Command- standpoint, who will provide the through- Germany under licence by VFW-Fokker. er then-Brigadier Reinhard Wolski and was life support which is usually as valuable as Since then Airbus has provided the main designated CH-53GS. the acquisition, particularly when a plat- MRO services to keep the heavy lift heli- Ralf Barnscheidt, senior vice president of form such as this remains in service over copter updated in terms of new engines, Eurocopter Germany and head of the Mili- any length of time. avionics and mission systems. tary Support Centre said at the time: “This The German aviation industry, predomi- CH-53GA upgrade is an impressive exam- nantly led by Airbus, is fighting hard to Airbus and the CH-53 ple of our close and fruitful partnership retain what has been a central role in the with the Bundeswehr, which has seen us maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of In 2002, Airbus (then Eurocopter) under- working together to implement necessary the existing fleet. When the decision was took an upgrade worth around €23M of improvements for the helicopter’s future made back in 1968 to buy a heavy lift heli- 38 CH-53G to CH-53GS (Special) which mission requirements.” copter for the German Army, and the deci- was placed by the Federal Office for De- Airbus was able to use its continuing up- fence Technology and Procurement (BWB). grade of the CH-53GA as a tie-in to in- Author This would ensure that they could fly in IMC stall avionics and communications systems (Instrument Meteorological Conditions) which were “approved for use alongside Andrew Drwiega is Director/Editor and the order was to be completed by the the TIGER support helicopter and NH90 of DefenceWorX Ltd, based in Amer- end of 2005. transport helicopter.” The upgrade added sham, UK. In 2012, another upgrade saw Eurocop- a four-axis autopilot with auto-hover au- ter deliver the first of 40 modernised CH- tomatic flight control system, an electronic

88 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

lobbying strategy of the government and even push for a commitment which would allow it to turn its X6 from concept into a Photo: US Army programme.

The Options

When the German Air Force took over op- erational control over the Army’s CH-53G helicopters the majority (around 48) were allocated as Helicopter Wing 64 comprising two groups, a flying group and a techni- cal group based at Laupheim Air Base. A third transport group of around 12 aircraft is sited at Holzdorf Air Base. The Luftwaffe currently has around 70 active CH-53s in total. The German twin-engine CH-53s have been used across a range of missions from national requirements through to interna- tional operations conducted on behalf of NATO and the United Nations. These in- A CH-47F CHINOOK helicopter lifts off with an M1114 up-armoured clude Iraq, Kosovo with KFOR, with IFOR in HUMVEE during slingload training. , and more recently with ISAF in Afghanistan. warfare system, and a glass cockpit with modernising heavy transport helicopters One of the questions concerning the deci- five multifunction displays. Specific mission for decades. We have the necessary infra- sion of what to buy must focus on what equipment packages now available to the structure, highly trained professionals and the intended use of the new helicopter is aircraft included forward looking infrared can guarantee supply for all Bundeswehr likely to be in the future. Just how much (FLIR) turrets, a satellite communications models.” Airbus will fight hard to ensure heavy lift does the Bundeswehr require package, and range extending auxiliary that it has a future in maintaining heavy and how likely is it that it will be called fuel tanks. helicopters, whether they be foreign built to support NATO, UN or even European aircraft or those yet to come. Union operations. More Work for Airbus Airbus’ Military Support Center plays a It has long been a fact that western Eu- significant role in the support and servic- ropean countries within NATO generally More recently, in February this year the Fed- eral Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, In- formation Technology and In-Service Sup- port (BAAINBw) awarded Airbus an obso- lescence management contract to retrofit 26 CH-53s (20 CH-53GS and six CH-53GE) with new components and up-to-date parts. The contract is valued at €135M and

will focus on replacing outdated parts and Photo: Bundeswehr/Michael Mandt those that are no longer manufactured or replaceable. All of the helicopters will also receive a new cockpit with multifunction displays, a new radar altimeter and auto- pilot. The plan is to extend the life of these helicopters out until the early 2030s. Beginning this year, the obsolescence management programme contract will run through to 2022 and work will be carried out at Airbus Helicopters’ Military Sup- port Centre in Donauwörth, Germany. The statement made by Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of Airbus Helicopters Germany, speaks to what is truly at stake for the Ger- German CH-53G helicopter releasing a WIESEL tactical vehicle. man contractor: “This order enables both the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) ing of German military helicopters, includ- lack heavy lift, both rotary and fixed wing, and also our Donauwörth plant to plan ing MRO. Its employees are also located so the Bundeswehr retaining its heavy lift ahead with certainty,” he said, adding at Bundeswehr bases around Germany to capability would certainly be of value mili- “Airbus Helicopters has been the German provide on-line maintenance support. This tarily and politically to the German gov- specialist for maintaining, repairing and new contract could strengthen Airbus’ ernment.

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 89  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

Sikorsky CH-53K While Lockheed Martin has been eager on when the German government wants to underline the “three times” lift capac- deliveries to begin will guide how “low While this seems to be the most straightfor- ity of the CH-53K over the CH-53E, it is risk” the CH-53K is – and how much time ward acquisition, it is not that simple. The questionable whether the Bundeswehr the USMC will have had to iron-out the CH-53K KING STALLION is not yet in service needs a large fleet of 60 plus aircraft with wrinkles associated with fielding any new with its main customer, the United States this capability now. And being new it will aviation platform. Marine Corps (USMC), although in April have a relatively high unit cost compared to Boeing has actually been in “on-off’ dis- it was successfully passed by the Defense Boeing’s CH-47F, a factor that will only be cussions regarding deeper cooperation with Airbus for some years, although there has never been any formal agreement an- nounced between the two companies and main discussions over a joint heavy lift helicopter were dropped due to cost. Photo: US Marines Both Boeing and Sikorsky have also been talking to national and regional third party suppliers.

Airbus – and the X6?

While Airbus does not currently have an helicopter to deliver a heavy cargo capabil- ity along the lines of either the CH-53K or the CH-47F, it has developed the X6 con- cept helicopter, potentially a design that followed on from its earlier discussions with the EDA and Boeing about concepts for a new heavy helicopter. However, Airbus is The US Army plans to have a pure fleet of 473 F-model CHINOOKs by unlikely to advance that beyond concept 2018 and to field a new “Block 2” upgraded CHINOOK F by 2021. without a clear indication that German and other European customers would finan- Acquisition Board (DAB), achieving a Mile- mitigated if a large number of helicopters cially back its development or guarantee stone C decision that approves funding for is purchased. orders. low rate initial production (LRIP). The USMC In addition to Germany, Lockheed Martin In the short term, therefore, Airbus wants expects its first units to announce Initial Op- is also targeting its CH-53K sales efforts to be the prime supplier on any contract to erating Capability (IOC) during 2019. towards existing CH-53 users Israel and secure the MRO of either of the existing On 5 July, Lockheed Martin announced Japan. types that the German government might that a CH-53K had just successfully com- In 2016, Germany sent a Request for buy. Both Lockheed Martin and Boeing are pleted its first extended cross country flight Proposal (RfP) to the US Government for firmly against this as they would be surren- from Sikorsky’s West Palm Beach Develop- around 41 aircraft in 2016 to request pric- dering a huge chunk of ongoing revenue ment Centre in Florida to the Naval Air Sta- ing and availability. Lockheed Martin would derived from the through-life support, tion Patuxent River, in Maryland. be interested in adding additional foreign maintenance and upgrade of either plat- By then the four CH-53K Engineering De- orders into the Sikorsky production line, form. Sikorsky has not reaped big rewards velopment Model (EDM) aircraft had com- particularly if the finance generated would while Airbus continues to maintain the ex- pleted over 450 hours of flight testing from compensate for a slower than anticipated isting German CH-53 fleet, something that West Palm Beach, including flights with in- acquisition by the USMC. it is keen to change due to the high cost ternal and external loads. The flight test of the development of the CH-53K. Both programme continues, conducted by an In- Boeing CH-47F American organisations have been work- tegrated Test Team (ITT) comprising Sikor- ing hard to secure new and reconfirm exist- sky, US Navy Naval Air Systems Command While Germany has never operated Boe- ing third party supplier agreements. (NAVAIR), and US Marine Corps (USMC) ing’s CH-47F CHINOOK, the fact that many While Airbus declares that the German personnel. of its allies including US Army Aviation, the aerospace sector needs to be supported This marks the transition between ground Royal Air Force (RAF), the Royal Netherlands by a decision in its favour, both Lockheed testing and initial flights to a more robust Air Force (RNLAF) and the Royal Canadian Martin and Boeing will work to prove that flight test programme which will largely Air Force have already decided on the CH- they too will allow this to happen if they be carried out at the flight test facilities at 47F may well be an influential factor. win the contract. Patuxent River (PAX). In fact during a recent gathering of industry One more imaginative view might be that “This first movement of CH-53K flight test- and politicians at the Bückeburg training the German government considers a small- ing to our customer’s facility denotes that airfield in Germany, where the RAF and er fleet of either the CH-53K or the CH-47F, the aircraft have achieved sufficient matu- American Army brought two of their latest particularly as the latest upgrades will take rity to begin transitioning the focus of the CH-47s (an RAF Mk5 with added fuel tanks at least 26 of the current CH-53GS/GE fleet test programme from envelope expansion and a CH-47F), the Reuters news agency out to 2030, then look at encouraging Air- to system qualification testing,” said Dr. reported that “German defence officials bus to develop a heavy-medium platform Michael Torok, Sikorsky Vice President CH- have said they want a low-risk heavy-lift to join the Luftwaffe as their replacements 53K Programs. helicopter that already exists.” Depending in the 2030s. L

90 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  Medium-Calibre Ammunition Developments

Remigiusz Wilk

The rapid development of medium-calibre ammunition has been observed for more than 20 years. ­ This includes both projectiles for 20–60mm automatic cannons, and lower velocity 20-40mm grenades launched from single-shot and automatic grenade launchers.

he driving factors are the rapid devel- Topment of ever smaller, more reliable and increasingly resilient electronics, intro- duction of insensitive explosives and new shell and liner technologies, as well as the Photo: Rheinmetall requirements generated from the experi- ences of recent and anticipated conflicts. One of the most noticeable trends is the growing number of various calibre weapon systems for air burst munition (ABM). The shooter sets the projectile detonation point and the round detonates at a designated distance above the target, even behind cover. ABM constitutes a replacement to current high explosive and fragmentation projectiles.

Air Burst

The development of Rheinmetall De- To achieve improved efficiency, air burst ammunition with a pro- fence’s (former Oerlikon Contraves Py- grammed detonation time is gradually replacing older high-explosive rotec) AHEAD air burst programmable and fragmentation projectiles. ammunition as one of the first and most successful variants began in 1988. The nation the weapon systems are equipped that a 40mm Cased Telescoped Arma- serial production started in 1996 with de- with a sophisticated battery-powered sys- ment System (CTAS) ammunition was in liveries to the Canadian and other armed tem including a day and night sight, a la- full-scale production. The weapon system forces. AHEAD was initially designed as a ser rangefinder, an atmospheric sensor, a had been developed since 1994. It includes close-range air defence system, primarily digital inclinometer and compass, a ballistic a telescopic round with a projectile com- to defeat cruise missiles. Since then, it has computer and a fuse programming device. pletely enveloped by the propellant. The been used in fire support and anti-armour The fuse setter can be located at the muz- advantage is in reducing the ammunition´s roles with land based platforms, and to de- zle brake, in the feeder or in the chamber; overall length. The CTAS ammunition family feat small and fast naval targets from ships also, the round can be programmed in includes a general purpose round-airburst- and boats. The Afghanistan and Iraq mis- flight by infra-red or radio waves. tracer (GPR-AB-T, range 2,500 m) and in the sions also spawned a requirement for an The peripheral equipment increases the future an anti-aerial airburst-tracer (A3B-T) improved C-RAM (counter-rocket, artillery, weapon system’s cost and weight, not to will be introduced. It is the largest medium and mortar) capability. Following a similar mention energy consumption, which is an calibre weapon programme in Europe. principle, Bofors developed the 3P and issue for the infantry weapons. However, In early 2017, the Russian company NPO Orbital ATK the Mk 310 PABM-T rounds. the benefit is increased accuracy and le- Pribor confirmed that it was in the early To achieve the designated point of deto- thality, as well as a significant reduction stages of an ABM development for use of the number of rounds needed to de- with 30mm 2A42 and 2A72, and 57mm Author stroy the target. American soldiers using BM57 cannons. The 57mm x 348 round the 25mm experimental XM25 semi-au- emerged in 2013 when Remigiusz Wilk is a Poland-based tomatic grenade launcher in Afghanistan cooperated with Petrel company to jointly defence journalist and the Polish praised the ABMs and called them “the develop the ATOM 8x8 vehicle. The 57mm correspondent of Jane's JDW/IDR/ game changer”. ammunition and UVZ AU-220M BAIKAL JIW/JMR. In February 2017, CTAI (a Nexter Systems remote-controlled turret have been pro- and BAE Systems joint venture) announced moted since.

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 91  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY Photo: Rheinmetall Photo:

The 40mm x 53 DM131 ABM is be- ing delivered to the Bundeswehr and was qualified by German (2014) and Dutch (2013) armed The Russian AU-220M BAIKAL unmanned turret armed with the 57mm forces. The range is programmed BM57 automatic cannon. Russia is working on 30mm and 57mm air burst via infrared interface. ammunition.

Also, the 88 VILKAS (ARTEC Boxer 8x8) IFV armed with a 25mm M811 cannon. The vehicles recently procured by Lithuania ammunition is based on CTAS. In Iraq and are to be capable of firing ATK’s 30mm Afghanistan APACHE helicopter crews dis- Mk 310 Mod 0 PABM-T. The vehicle is covered that the 30mm x 113 M789 HEDP

Photo: JSSAP-ARDEC equipped with Rafael’s ADS SAMSON Mk ammunition was ineffective against ground II unmanned turret armed with a BUSH- targets when hitting sandy surfaces. There- MASTER II cannon. In February 2017, the fore a proximity sensor fuse for the round US Army launched a tender for 30,000 Mk was developed by ARDEC. It increases the 310 PABM-T rounds for delivery in 2019. lethality against soft targets and may be They are for use with the XM813 cannon also be used to engage unmanned aerial (an ABM-capable variant of the Mk 44). vehicles and small boats. Older systems have recently been upgrad- ed to fire ABMs with regard to increased ABM Grenades lethality and combat effectiveness. One example is a contract for Nexter Systems to The ABM development started with air de- design a 25mm x 137 HEI-AB programma- fence weapon systems, then evolved to the ble round for the French VBCI 8x8 wheeled soldier level. The requirement for counter

The US Army has developed the 40mm SAGM air burst grenade

with proximity fuse since 2012. Photo: Raytheon It has been designed for in-service grenade launchers.

In May 2017, Aselsan reported that the development and qualification of 35mm air burst ATOM ammunition was com- plete. The round is similar to that of AHEAD and is designed for use with KORKUT twin 35mm self-propelled anti- aircraft guns. In October 2016, Poland started search- ing for a 30mm x 173 ABM for the wheeled ROSOMAK 8x8 and the fu- ture BORSUK tracked infantry fight- ing vehicles (IFVs). New ammunition is to be used in the ZSSW-30 remote- controlled turret (developed by Huta Stalowa Wola and WB Electronics) armed The 40mm semi-active laser-guided SPIKE ammunition from Raytheon is with ATK’s 30mm Mk 44S cannon. to increase single soldier lethality and the firing range to 2,000 m.

92 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  Photo: Orbital ATK Photo: Rheinmetall

The 30mm x 173 Mk 310 PABM-T ABM has been qualified for the Mk 44 BUSHMASTER/XM813 automatic cannon used with the STRYKER DRA- GOON. The ammunition has also been subject to a Belgian procurement effort to equip their PIRANHA IFVs. Drawing: PM-MAS

The AHEAD projectile developed in the 1990s is currently used in 30mm x 173 calibre for the Rhein- metall MK 30-2/ABM cannon fitted Proposed 30mm x 113 anti-personnel ammunition for the APACHE M230 to the PUMA infantry fighting with an additional shear liner to enhance lethality by forming vehicle. uniform fragments

defilade projectiles came from in-theatre x 53 high velocity (HV, 240 m/s, range 2,200 use in the anti-personnel role. In the mid- experience. Since the late 1990s, air burst m) ammunition, which was integrated with 2000s, the HV programmable grenades technology has been introduced for 40mm automatic grenade launchers (AGLs) for were matured and qualified. Currently in www.Police-Exhibition.eu GPEC® 2018 – Europe’s only One-Stop-Shop for Homeland Security 2018

10th International Exhibition for Police and Special Equipment 20 - 22 February 2018 in Frankfurt, Germany

GPEC® is Europe‘s leading closed specialized trade fair for police and law enforcement equipment. At GPEC®

operational equipment to 6,694 experts from 55 countries. Since the inauguration event in 2000 GPEC® and only representative overview for all kinds of command, control and tactical equipment of homeland security:

Speci c specialist conferences and ocial working group meetings round o GPEC® as branch and user meeting for all management levels. At the globally renowned trade fair venue Frankfurt a.M. with its excellent accessibility from all over the world the international character of GPEC® will be further developed.

Equipment – Training – Operation

EMW Exhibition & Media Wehrstedt GmbH Hagenbreite 9 · 06463 Falkenstein/Harz · Germany E-Mail: [email protected] · Internet: www.police-exhibition.eu  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

The IRAP objective is the development of a 50-600 m range pro- Photo: Nammo jectile to provide a small unit a higher first shot hit probability (reduc- tion of range error by a half), coupled with the ability to defeat targets in defilade positions at increased ranges with greater accuracy and lethality, for example against body armour. The SAGM design is based on a philosophy different from earlier air burst rounds, and it is simpler to use. The gre- nade is not connected with any FCS, and does not require an addi- tional power source or weapon accessories, The 25mm x 137 PGU-47/U APEX (Armour-Piercing Explosive) round developed by Nammo nor is programming a for all three variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter requirement. It uses a miniaturised defilade service are Rheinmetall’s DM131 round (the nese 35mm LG5 portable AGL, promoted detection proximity sensor. The side-look- Bundeswehr purchased a large quantity in as an anti-sniper weapon. ing fuse with a 360-degree radio frequency 2015) for the H&K GMG AGL coupled with A poor man’s equivalent of sophisticated pattern detects defensive structure close a VINGMATE fire control system (FCS), Nam- ABM grenades without a fire control sys- to its flight trajectory and detonates at 1m mo Mk 285 PPHE for the General Dynamics tems and a fuse setter are the 40mm x above the ground and 0.5m behind the tar- OTS Mk 47 STRIKER 40 AGL with Raytheon 46 LV and MV bouncing grenades, such get. One weakness of current prototypes is AN/PVG-1 LVS FCS, ST Kinetics AMBS for as the Bulgarian Armaco AR466M2-MV. that the projectile is not able to distinguish the STK 40 AGL Mk 2 AGL, and Nammo When the projectile hits the ground, it is between friendly or hostile units nor is there C171 PPHE-RF for the C16 CASW (GMG- kicked back 0.5-1.5 m into the air by a small a selection mode for obstacles if there is E) AGL with VINGMATE FCS. The US Army charge and then detonates. more than one. plans to introduce the 40mm HV round for In the scope of the Increased Range Anti- The proximity fuse and the Mk 19 Mod 3 AGL in a couple of years. Personnel (IRAP) programme, the US Army delay mode are also The development of hybrid systems like has developed an air burst grenade named to be used in the Air the 20/5.56mm XM29 OICW grenade Small Arms Grenade Munitions (SAGM) Drawing: Nammo Burst Non-Lethal Mu- launcher-rifle and the 25mm XM25 CD- since 2012. nition (ANLM). The TE stand-alone semi-automatic grenade flash-bang XM1112 launcher, capable of firing a smaller calibre LV round can be fired and higher velocity programmable ammu- with standard 40mm GLs. nition, seems to have failed. Therefore, it The next step in the development of seems that there will be more cost ef- this ammunition is marking and tagging fective 40mm x 46 low velocity rounds to maintain observation of military (LV, 78 m/s, range 400 m) and targets and following their moves. 40mm x 46/x 51 medium velocity (MV, 105 m/s, Door Breaching range 800 m) ABM. The ammunition has The US Armed Forces are looking for a new been developed by generation door breaching cartridge. The Rheinmetall Defence, A niche in the development of requirements are based on combat expe- IMI and ST Kinetics, modern medium-calibre ammu- rience, namely soldiers lacking the ability among others. While the LV round is to nition is is being addressed by of rapidly breaching up to 50 m, without be chambered in a single-shot stand-alone the supercavitating Mk 258 Mod a pause between the actual single shot or add-on grenade launcher (GL), some of 1 30mm round developed by breach and entry of initial force. Rheinmet- the MV rounds are designed to be used Nammo or DSG Technology Cav-X all ARGES has developed the two LV High- only in multi-shot revolver grenade launch- models. It enables precision for Explosive Blast Enhanced door breaching ers (MSGL). target engagements in the air cartridges HEBE16-50/100. The grenade is It is worth mentioning that programmable and in water, thus expanding the equipped with a retractable spike to max- rounds are to be introduced for the Chi- lethality of ship-based cannons. imise the blast effect to breach doors with

94 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  minimal fragmentation and low collateral weapon. In an emergency it is possible The projectile incorporates a user-adjust- damage. HEBE16 grenades are charged to use the system alone, because for the able gas bleed feature to adjust velocity. with 51 g or 101 g explosives. first 15 seconds of flight no guidance is The US Armed Forces are also look- Nammo Talley has completed man rating of needed. The 770 g projectile is 425 mm ing for a 40mm LV Short-Range Anti- the Door Breaching Round (DBR) in April long and equipped with a 270 g blast Personnel (SRAP) cartridge for close- 2016. DBR is a low velocity (63 m/s) gre- fragmentation warhead with a lethality quarter combat. The SRAP is to be de- nade with 50 m effective range, intended radius of 10 metres. signed to allow the engagement of en- to breach doors without producing pro- emy soldiers with high accuracy and en- jectile fragments and with no significant Other Developments hanced lethal effects at a distance of 0 rearward projecting fragmentation. The to 50 metres. injection-moulded plastic projectile body An interesting, less-lethal concept is With the increasing number of thermal and is filled with 195 g IM PBX explosives. the Adjustable Range Impact Munition night vision devices (IR and NV sights and Chemring Ordnance has developed its (ARIM) developed by The Safariland goggles) modern armed forces are looking Rapid Access Munition (RAM) which al- Group. ARIM is a direct-fire blunt impact for day and night thermal training LV lows grenadiers to quickly gain access (also with irritant or marking payload) and HV cartridges. There is also constant to the building or other urban structure. round, that can be adjusted according to development of environmentally friendly The US Navy was interested in purchas- short (0-40 m) and long (40-70 m) ranges. 40mm training grenades. L ing 1,000 RAM rounds in September 2016. th Anti-Drone 10 International Defence Exhibition And Seminar

The emergence of a number of cheap and easy accessible unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance and attack has spawned the development of UAV countermeasures. Among them is the 40mm non-lethal LV/MV ammunition fired from a GL/MSGL and equipped with a net warhead. It allows the use of existing weapons to launch a non- destructive projectile to neutralise and recover the hostile UAV. Also multi- segmented projectiles were designed, 27- 30 November 2018 such as the SKYNET drone defence Karachi Expo Centre round offered by Amtech Less-Lethal www.ideaspakistan.gov.pk Systems company. It resembles a bolas- type weapon made of projectile seg- ments at the ends of interconnected strings, separated with centrifugal force, and creates a “capture net” to trap the drone’s propellers, causing it to fail.

Extended Range

The US Armed Forces have a require- ment for an extended range medium- calibre guided weapon with a range of up to 1,000 m. In October 2015, Raytheon unveiled a miniature semi- active laser-guided precision ammuni- tion “pike“ developed in cooperation with Nammo Talley. It can be loaded in the 40mm LV single-shot GL allow- ing the use of very long ammunition (such as the side-open H&K M320 or

FN Herstal Mk 13 Mod 0). The pike Official Publisher of Show Daily Media Partners is fired like a standard grenade, but during flight is powered by its own rocket motor, thus achieving ranges in IDEAS SECRETARIAT excess of 2,000 m. Usually one soldier C-175, Block-9, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Near Aziz Bhatti Park, Karachi. Tel: (92-21) 34821159, (92-21) 34821160 Fax: (92-21) 34821179 uses a small laser designator pointing Email: [email protected] at a target, while another fires the

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 95  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY Glock Modular Handgun System

Jan-Phillipp Weisswange

Glock was one of two participants in the US Army's Modular Handgun System (MHS) solicitation to reach the Competitive Range. Contrary to many claims, the company from Deutsch-Wagram (near Vienna, Austria) did not come up with just an adaptation of a standard model, but with a specially developed system. ESD was able to take a look at the Glock-MHS on-site.

lock began to develop its Modular tem: a pistol with corresponding, effec- calibre of the weapon. Also, applicants GHandgun System based on a request tive ammunition and the following ac- were allowed to submit several models for proposal (RFP) of several hundred cessories; training kits for special training for selection. pages issued by the US Army, which ammunition, and threaded barrels for Glock therefore came up with two pro- specified pistol and ammunition require- silencer application. posals: the Glock 19 MHS in calibre 9 x

The Glock 19 MHS kit: pistol with inserted standard size magazine, two extended 19-round magazines and interchangeable back straps ments. The US Army needed not just a Optical sights were not a requirement, 19mm and the Glock 23 MHS in calibre new service pistol, but a complete sys- but a manual safety was. In addition to .40. In addition, the company joined forces improved ergonomics and high reliability, with the ammunition manufacturer Vista Author the US Army demanded primarily higher Outdoor for this project. The 9 x 19mm efficiency and accuracy for its future calibre Enhanced Barrier Round (EBR) am- Jan-P. Weisswange PhD is com- service pistol system. "In terms of accu- munition type was developed specifically munication manager in the defence racy the requirements asked for a Match for this project. It is similar to the projectile industry. This article reflects his per- Pistol," says Richard Flür, Director of In- of the M855A1 5.56 x 45mm Enhanced sonal opinion. ternational Sales with the Austrian arms Performance Round, which has been in- manufacturer. The RFP did not specify the troduced as new, standard ammunition of

96 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

The Glock 19 MHS also features the Rough Textured Frame Surface already introduced with the Glock Gen4. The Rough Texture Frame Surface makes the weapon pleasant and easy to grip. A closer look at the frame reveals that the Glock 19 MHS has the compact length of the 19 Series, but the standard height of the 17 Series models. This way, the weapon takes the larger 17-round magazine. In addition to a standard magazine, the Glock MHS kit also includes two extended 19-round magazines. All are Coyote coloured. Be- hind the magazine well is a lanyard clip. The Glock 19 MHS also features the newly developed Glock Marksman Bar- rel. It has a new, hexagonal running pro- file with a right-hand twist; the rifling length is 250mm.

Ambidextrous concept: The manual safety, the slide stop lever and the Ambidextrous Concept disassembly lever can be operated from both sides. The extended magazine release button can be deployed in an ambidextrous way. Like the Gen4 model there is the extend- ed magazine release button which can be deployed ambidextrously. A new feature Glock 19 MHS Glock 23 MHS is the ambidextrous slide stop lever which can now be operated from both sides and which can easily be reached with both, the strong and the weaker shooting hand. An ambidextrous manual safety is also a new feature. If the shooter pushes it downwards to the “F” position, it is ready to fire; if the shooter pushes it upwards to “S”, it blocks Calibre 9 x 19 mm .40 S&W the trigger bar. Incorporation of the manual Functional principle Safe-Action-Trigger, firing Safe-Action-Trigger, firing safety was a specific demand of the US pin safety, drop safety, pin safety, drop safety, Army. As a standard feature, the pistol has, additional manual safety additional manual safety of course, the Glock-typical Safe-Action- Magazine capacity 17 and 19 rounds 15 and 22 rounds System and the three proven independent safeties: trigger safety, firing pin safety and Trigger pull weight 20 – 31 N 20 – 31 N drop safety. Barrel length 102 mm 102 mm On the Shooting Range Sizes (L/W/H with a 185 mm x 34 mm x 138 185 mm x 34 mm x 138 magazine) mm mm The Glock 19 MHS is easy to grip. The Weight (with an 708 g 786 g author, with relatively large hands, imme- empty magazine) diately liked the combination of compact 19-length and full-size 17-height. The self- illuminating three-point sights allow for the US Army for the M4 carbine and the durable coated slide are “Coyote”-col- easy pickup of the target and fast aiming. M16A4. However, according to Vista, there oured, which is good for camouflaging The trigger breaks clear, and the trigger re- are major differences in design and tech- in almost all climatic regions. set is very good. nology. The self-financed development of Glock chose a one-gun solution for its When shooting with the special EBR car- the Glock MHS was remarkably fast, taking MHS application: one pistol that fulfilled tridge, the stronger charge is immediately only 18 months. all the requirements of both the full-size apparent, giving you a sense of using an and the compact pistol, which is logis- effective and powerful combat gun sys- The Glock 19 MHS – tically convenient and convincing. The tem. Furthermore, recoil and impact can a One-Gun Solution designers left out the finger grooves on be managed easily. At a distance of sev- the frame, just like on the FBI version. en metres, the impacts were – with few Glock presented the Glock 19 MHS Together with the interchangeable back shooter-related outliers – hole in hole even model to ESD during a company visit. On straps (with a beavertail option), this will in the case of faster series. Shooting from the surface, the weapon distinguishes ensure better adaptability for different the shooting machine at a 25-metre range itself from the usual models by its colour. hand sizes and for a better grip, for ex- the Glock 19 MHS delivered groups within Both the polymer frame and the very ample when using gloves. a three-centimetre diameter.

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 97  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

The 9 x 19mm Enhanced Barrier Round cartridge

Experienced shooters consistently hit the the decision in the MHS award proce- Nine and the Ten in the German Shooting dure (see interview), but even though Confederation (DSB) Target. the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) ultimately rejected the complaint, Outlook mainly on financial grounds on 5 June, the MHS project from Deutsch-Wagram Several hundred of the Glock 19 MHS is not in vain, as the company is planning have been produced in recent months. to make a variation of its MHS pistol avail- In view of this promising self-developed able for the commercial market. Future weapon system, and due to several in- Glock products will also benefit from the The self-illuminating three-point consistencies in the US Army’s selection company‘s experience in the MHS solici- sights allow easy targeting. process, Glock filed a protest against tation. L

Shooting with the Glock 19 MHS. Despite the stronger charge of the EBR cartridge, the recoil and impact can be managed easily.

98 European Security & Defence · September 2017 A Further Insight:

Interview with Dr. Stephan Dörler, Managing Director, and Richard Flür, Head of International Sales, Glock GmbH.

ESD: At the moment, there is lots of discussion about the are actually needed. It would be easy to determine this US Army‘s Modular Handgun System bid, due to incomplete based on performed durability testing. This can even give information. How do you feel about the decision? products with high spare parts consumption an advantage, Flür: Of course, we are not happy about it. We find it par- because the gun price can be subsidised through margins ticularly unfortunate that the decision was made only on on the spare parts. the basis of one part of the originally planned tests: it would Also, logistics and personnel costs for repair and mainte- have been possible to do all the tests for both pistols remain- nance are rarely taken into account in the calculation of ing in the competition with relatively little cost involved, and the total costs – although these are usually higher than the then decide which pistol best meets the requirements. In the price of the actual pistol itself when looking at the whole first phase, the pistols were almost exclusively shot from a life cycle. machine, and no tests were carried out concerning different environmental conditions. ESD: Did the proposed MHS solutions also differ in terms of logistics? ESD: Glock‘s protest against the decision of the US Army Flür: Yes. While our competitor offered a solution with was rejected. Was the protest a mistake? two pistol models (Full Size and Compact), we submitted Dörler: It is true that the protest did not result in any change a solution with only one gun (one-gun solution) that met to the decision. But most points of our protest were con- all requirements regarding dimensions, magazine capacity firmed. However, it was decided that the contracting au- and accuracy. thorities have huge discretion in technical evaluation, which The indisputable logistical advantages of handling only one goes so far that it was decided not to rate the test results for product, combined with the significantly smaller number of the compact pistol reliability function after doing the actual different spare parts, were not taken into account in the testing. Ultimately, price, only the seventh most important cost assessment. criterion according to the RFP, was the decisive factor. Here, our competitor apparently had the much cheaper offer. ESD: Do you have any knowledge about the shooting perfor- mance of your products compared to the competing pistols? ESD: Was the competing Sig Sauer offer really US$100M Dörler: We do not know the results of the rejected competi- lower than yours? tor products. During the protest we received comparative da- Dörler: The total price is comprised of a number of dif- ta for the two competitors that advanced to the Competitive ferent factors, from the pistol to various kits, spare parts Range. In this regard, too, the protest was meaningful to us: it packages to ammunition. We made a big effort to submit showed us that our engineers did a great job in developing a an attractive price offer. highly innovative pistol, in combination with the ammunition The detailed price structure of the Sig Sauer proposal is not resulting in a highly innovative system that achieved the best known to us. There is, however, a statement from Major results in reliability, precision and effectiveness. General Robert Scales Jr., in the course of a hearing at the Our ammunition partner, Vista Outdoor, also did an excellent US Senate Armed Service Committee that Sig had offered job. In many situations the 9mm EBR cartridge is more effec- its pistols two thirds below wholesale price. This would be tive than .45 calibre ammunition. roughly US$150 per pistol. If this is true, this would actually ESD: Will there be a version of the Glock Modular Handgun be an extremely low price for a pistol with night sights and System pistol for the commercial market? a surface that is very difficult to produce. Flür: Yes. We think this is a great pistol and would like to give I would be very interested to know whether the serial pro- all interested parties the opportunity to try and purchase it. duction pistols that will finally be delivered are identical to the test pistols submitted for the bid – but I assume that this information will not be released. As I stated, this surface treatment is a real challenge in mass production. US$150 per pistol would not be possible for us even for such a large customer. All customers are important to us; we try to treat them all equally. Extract from the GAO decision of 5 June 2017 ESD: Were life cycle costs taken into account during the bidding process, or were procurement costs alone the de- All costs associated with the development of the pistol were cisive factor? financed by Glock, so it is also possible to market the pistol Flür: We see this as a problem of most handgun tenders: independently. life cycle costs are not really determined, which of course Of course, we will be able to make good use of the experi- leads to a misrepresentation of the real costs. In most cases, ence gained from completing this project. Some aspects will only a defined quantity of pistols and spare parts are multi- certainly be reflected in future Glock products. plied by the prices per piece, not taking into account what The interview was conducted by Waldemar Geiger round-counts the pistols endure, or how many spare parts on 1 August 2017.

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 99  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY New Vehicles for the Belgian Light Brigade

Joris Verbeurgt

On 30 June 2017, the Council of Ministers of the Belgian Government gave the green light for the tender calling for the acquisition of 199 Light Troop Transport Vehicles (LTTV) for the Light Brigade. First delivery of the vehicles is planned for 2019, the last batch is to be delivered by 2021.

Commandos, Paratroopers when Belgian volunteers escaped from oc- Republic of Congo). Experienced in sup- and Special Forces cupied Europe to Britain and where they pressing revolts and extracting and evacu- were trained as commandos to help with ating Belgian citizens at sudden outbursts The Light Brigade – formerly known as the the liberation of Europe. Until today, tradi- of violence, Belgian paratroopers are highly Regiment Para-Commando – consists of a tions of British commandos and Special Air regarded by friend and foe for their unique headquarters in Marche-en-Famenne in Service men are honoured by the Belgian experience in dealing with specific Central- the Belgian Ardennes, a commando bat- paratroopers. The motto is “Nec jactan- African problems. talion located in Flawinne, a paratroopers tia, nec metu” (“no bragging, no fear”). The 2nd Battalion Commando and the 3rd battalion in Tielen, the special forces group Belgian paratroopers are highly respected Battalion Paratroopers (the 1st Battalion in Heverlee, a training facility for comman- elite-soldiers undergoing a severe selection Paratroopers was dissolved in 2010) take dos in Marche-les-Dames and one for para- process and a hard training programme. part in peace keeping operations and in troopers in Schaffen. The light equipment They are often deployed in theatres where the defence of the Belgian territory. They and intensive training of the 2.000 staff conditions are tough and the environment are trained to combat terrorism, to sup- brigade allows it to deploy at short notice, hostile. In the 1960s and 70s (and later) port the nation in case of catastrophes and at home and worldwide. The light-infantry they earned the reputation of being fierce are integral parts of the EU Battle Group unit is trained in infantry techniques but fighters and professional soldiers during and the NATO Response Force. The Light can engage on land, at sea and in the air. Its several military interventions in Belgium’s Brigade plays an important role in NEO origins go back to the Second World War former colony Zaire (now the Democratic (Non-combattant Evacuaton Operation)

The Belgian Armed Forces operate a large fleet of UNIMOG type vehicles, part of which will become subject to replacement by the new Light Troop Transport Vehicle (LTTV).

100 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  of European citizens and takes part in UN and NATO Operations. The two battalions "Main characteristics of the LTTV are support the Belgian Naval Component in good strategic­ and tactical mobility." anti-intrusion operations and deliver sup- port to the Special Forces Group (SFG). The Belgian SFG consists of hyper-trained Interview with Lieutenant-Colonel Tom Bilo soldiers that can be deployed at any time for any type of operation. Observation From 2011 to 2014 LTC Tom Bilo was the commander of the Belgian Special Forces Group. He and the gathering of information is the is currently the Deputy Director of the newly established Belgian Special Operations Command main task of an SF operator. But the FSG and in charge of the procurement effort for 199 Light Troop Transport Vehicles (LTTV) by the also takes care of the training of the se- Belgian Defence Department. curity personnel of the Belgian embas- sies (DAS or Détachement d’Agents de ESD: Can you describe the role of the Special Forces Group (SFGp) within the Belgian Armed Sécurité). The FSG disposes of teams for Forces? amphibious-, land- and air operations Bilo: As a separately organised and specially equipped and trained unit that is directly com- and the team members can specialise manded by the Chief of Defence but operationally subordinate to the Assistant Chief-of-Staff as paratrooper, sniper, combat diver or for Operations and Training the SFGp is prepared to deploy at very short notice to conduct the mountaineering expert. The motto of the complete NATO and EU spectrum of special operations (special reconnaissance, direct action & Special Forces is “Far Ahead”, which is no military assistance). The FSGp also performs specific tasks as part of a national non-combatant exaggeration. evacuation operations and nationally-directed special operations on or outside the national territory, including strategic- and operational-level intelligence gathering in support of other Modularity and Defence Staff departments, or other departments of the Federal Government. ­Multi-Faceted Deployments ESD: What exactly is the requirement for the new LTTVs? What will they be used for? The LTTV will be one of the base vehicles Bilo: The LTTV will replace the Mercedes UNIMOG which has been in service since the early of the special operations forces inventory. nineties in the SF Gp and all the Paracommando units and is currently reaching the end of its A high degree of modularity is required for service life. Main characteristics of the LTTV are good strategic and tactical mobility, including the vehicles to function in a broad range airlift by C-130/A400M and, once in theatre, a good all terrain capacity. Another feature is ac- of missions and in all sorts of terrain and tive protection: to allow good observation, flexibility and adaptability in case of incidents and climatic conditions. The acquisition of also a better interaction with the local populace outside the vehicle; therefore, the vehicle has a new LTTVs has been assigned high-pri- semi-open structure. The vehicle will be heavily armed, as SOF teams often work in completely ority since the current UNIMOG vehicles autonomous small groups. Different mountings will be foreseen to equip the vehicle (front and (produced by Mercedes) date back to the 1990’s and are unarmoured/unprotected, backside) with machine guns up to calibre 12,7mm and 40mm automatic grenade launchers. which prevents their deployment in to- This will be complemented by a series of 40mm smoke dischargers. For passive protection, all day’s types of military operations in which vehicles will have protection against mines. Depending on the mission, the vehicle will offer mines, roadside bombs and all sorts of the possibility to be equipped with extra protection modules. Regarding the load capacity, the EOD’s are the enemies’ preferred weapon requirements for strategic and tactical mobility have to be taken into account, meaning that of choice. The €63.3 million order com- the vehicle will offer the necessary space and payload to provide 48 hours of autonomy to a prises 199 standard platforms and 175 paracommando squad and even more for an SF team with a different organisation. mission modules to be installed on the standard platforms. Ballistic protection kits ESD: Which roles must the new LTTV’s be able to perform? (42), mounted 12.7 (heavy) and 7.62 mm Bilo: As already suggested by the designation, the LTTV is a light troop transport vehicle. This is (light) machine-guns and 40 mm smoke the primary role. The LTTV will also function as a logistic platform (“mother ship”) when special pot launchers complete the order. A multi- operations forces conduct long-term operations in remote theatres of operation. Depending on year technical assistance agreement is also the mission and the use by special forces or paracommandos the configurations will be slightly part of the deal. An version is different. There will also be an ambulance version of the LTTV. planned for the future. In accordance with the ambition level of the Belgian Defence ESD: How will new LTTV’s help the SFGp in future operations/to counter future threats? and in line with the Strategic Vision of the Bilo: Together with the Rapid Reaction Vehicles (RRV), which will be delivered very soon, the Belgian Government, the new LTTVs must LTTV will be the basic mobility platform of the paracommandos and special forces. Their special allow the Light Brigade and the SFG to re- design features and characteristics will allow the SF group and the other units of the Special main a high-readiness force able to deploy Operations Regiment to conduct a broad range of SOF missions, from military assistance and at short notice. The decision to buy new “assist and advice” types of operational engagements, through to non-combatant evacuation LTTVs also meets the demand of NATO operations and full-blown direct action missions.” for Belgium to strengthens its SO capacity. Since speed, autonomy and flexibility are ESD: What is the single most important feature of the new LTTV? key to the types of operations they will be Bilo: The most important feature is that the vehicle answers to the soldiers’ and operators’ involved, the LTTV must be transportable needs in all environmental conditions. Hence, it is important that the vehicle offers a good bal- by air and by sea. ance in terms of strategic mobility, robustness, range, payload, protection, all-terrain mobility, Two versions of the LTTV will be build, speed, firepower and technical reliability. with each version corresponding to a mis- The interview was conducted by Joris Verbeurgt on 25 August 2017. sion module. For the A Special Opera- tions version the mission module will be

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 101  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY open to guarantee the broadest possible observation- and firing sector, as well as the quickest reaction time in case of an incident. The Special Operations version will come in two types, namely ‘Special (Image: MoD Belgium) Forces’, offering space to four passengers (twenty-seven vehicles of this type will be purchased), and ‘Paracommando (SOF capable), able to carry six persons. 140 vehicles of this type are required. The order will also comprise eight vehi- cles of an ‘Ambulance’ version. This mis- sion module will be closed (type shelter) and will dispose of two seats and two lying boxes that can hold a stretcher.

Technical Specifications, ­Armament and Passive ­Protection According to the public tender docu- Concept study of the future LTTV ment, the standard platforms must be equipped with corner fittings so that the Defence Department. Both automatic place in the course of this year. They will modules can be attached by means of weapons systems will be equipped with a replace the unprotected ILTIS jeeps. The twistlocks. The LTTV must the specifica- damped gun carriage recoil mechanism. Belgian Minister of Defence Steven Van- tions for the N2G category (transport of 167 40 mm smoke pot launcher systems deput made a point to the press that “This personnel and goods), with a maximum complement the armament of the LTTV. procurement is in correspondence with weight of between 3.5 and 12 tons. It All standard platforms must be equipped my strategic vision and must be seen in must have specific technical characteris- with fixed anti-mine protection. 42 dis- the context of strengthening the special tics for off-road use and have an optimal mountable ballistic protection kits must operations forces-capacity of the Belgian all terrain mobility. It must also be trans- protect the vehicles from direct and indi- Defence, as demanded by NATO”. The portable by air with C-130 HERCULES and rect fire. Finally, the public tender docu- purchase of new LTTV’s is not the only A400M, respectively the current and the ment prescribes that the provider of the measure taken by the Belgian Govern- future aircraft for tactical air transport in LTTV must at least have one service point in ment to boost SOF capabilities. Not only use by the Belgian Air Force. The loading Belgium for the procurement of spares and will the SFG be equipped with the newest capacity must be more than nine tons the maintenance and repair of the vehicles. specialised material, the tasks of the com- and less than twelve tons. mando battalion and of the para-battalion The armament of the LTTV will be as fol- The Way Ahead will be extended to encompass support to lows: a 12.7 mm M3M weapon system SF operations. National and international from FN Herstal or equivalent (159 piec- The LTTV’s will be a useful addition to command- and control structures are de- es). 167 pieces of the 7.62 mm weapon the armoured rapid reaction vehicles that veloped and the acquirement of special system, already in use with the Belgian were ordered by the Belgian Government SOF-airplanes is scheduled for the 2025- Army, will be furnished by the Belgian in 2015 and of which delivery will take 2027 timeframe. L

European Security & Defence Now available in e-paper format!

Enjoy reading European Security & Defence as e-paper for your tablet computer or smartphone.

App available in Axel Springer AG’s iKiosk

Install iKiosk app on your Select European Security & Single copy: 2.99 Euro 10.99 Euro 1. tablet device 2. Defence in iKiosk and order! (8 issues/year) Subscription (available as freeware in European Apple App Store and Security Google Play Store) & Defence ORDER MITTLER REPORT VERLAG GMBH · Baunscheidtstraße 11 · 53113 Bonn, Germany Fax: +49 (0) 228 35 00 871 · [email protected] · www.mittler-report-shop.de

102 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  Upgrading Legacy Soviet Tanks

David Saw

By the early years of the 1990s the European defence environment had changed dramatically, with German Reunification, the end of the Warsaw Pact, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty. In the 26 years since then, new countries have emerged and the facts on the ground in Eastern Europe are totally different. The only constant over these 27 years has been the presence of legacy Soviet military equipment.

oday the era of legacy Soviet equip- lic, Hungary and Poland joined NATO, fol- to meet real operational needs. Hence the Tment is coming to an end in many parts lowed in 2004 by Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, “Former Soviet Core” states would place of Eastern Europe, for others though this Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. real resources into upgrading their military equipment will continue to remain in ser- Then in 2009 came Albania and Croatia, capabilities, arguably far more so than the vice. Expanding the definition of Eastern with Montenegro being the most recent former Warsaw Pact states. Europe to include what might be described country to join. as the “Former Soviet Core” in the form of In an ideal world, those nations that had Tank Upgrade Programmes Russia and the Ukraine, with Belarus as a joined NATO would have liked to equip supporting player, provides us with a to- themselves with NATO standard systems If there is one area of legacy Soviet equip- tally different set of experiences as regards and retire their legacy Soviet systems. Even ment that has seen major upgrade activity legacy Soviet equipment and its future. if this had been possible, there was never it is is that of armoured vehicles, particu- larly tanks. The T-72 tank entered service in the early 1970s and more than 25,000 have been manufactured, with the tank in service all over the world. The T-72M/ Photo: Author M1 version of the tank (an export variant of the T-72A) was produced under licence in Czechoslovakia (ZTS Martin in today’s Slovakia), Poland (Bumar Labedy) and pro- vided the basis for the Romanian TR-125 tank and the M-84/M-84A tank produced in the former Yugoslavia (both Croatia and Serbia are working on M-84 upgrade pro- grammes). The largest single operator of T-72 tanks is Russia, having an estimated 9,000 tanks either in service or in storage. The baseline configuration for the Russian Army T-72 is the T-72B variant that became available in 1985 and offered improved firepower, protection and mobility over earlier mod- els. Then came the T-72BM featuring the Kontakt 1 ERA system, in 1989 the T-72BM was fitted with the Kontakt 5 ERA system The latest upgrade of the T-72 to enter service with the Russian Army as well as improved standard armour. The is the T-72B3. This brings the tank up to T-90 standards. A further up- 1990 T-72BM variant, with an improved fire grade with a new commander’s panoramic sight is being worked on, control system, provided the basis for the and this will reportedly provide the basis for the next upgrade variant: T-72BU, which eventually emerged in 1993 the T-72B4. as the T-90. It is expected that some 400 T- 90A tanks in service with the Russian Army One of the most significant series of events the money to achieve this, nor, in many will be upgraded to the T-90M standard in the evolution of the modern defence cases, any real need as Soviet equipment with improved firepower and protection environment in Eastern Europe started at was perfectly adequate to meet necessary characteristics. the end of the 1990s with the eastward mission requirements. There were there- Work continued on enhancing T-72BM expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty fore sound reasons to keep Soviet equip- performance, and in 2006 this led to the Organisation (NATO) alliance to welcome ment in service, and in the Ukraine, for ex- T-72BM ROGATKA. This variant has an im- former Warsaw Pact members and newly ample, upgrading legacy Soviet equipment proved gun and gunner’s sight, enhanced emerging states. In 1999 the Czech Repub- was the only logical and affordable choice engine and improved protection via the Re-

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 103  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

effort was the T-72SIM-1 in Georgia. This saw the integration of Kontakt 5 ERA and a number components from the Polish PT- Photo: Author 91 TVARDY programme including the FCS and sights. At the end of the Soviet era, Poland was looking to acquire a new tanks, and there had been discussions with the Soviet Union over the acquisition of the T-80. The Soviet collapse put an end to the T-80 acquisition and instead Poland looked to develop a new tank based on the T-72M1 but incor- porating a higher performance Polish-de- signed engine, the Drawa fire control sys- tem and an enhanced protection package developed in Poland, resulting in the PT- 91 TVARDY. The Polish Army received the first new production PT-91 tanks in 1993, in parallel existing T-72M1 tanks were also upgraded to the PT-91 standard. Today the Polish Army operates some 232 PT-91 TVARDY tanks, along with some 150 T-72M/M1 tanks, with 300 more T-72s in store. The PT-91/T-72 still provides a major Ukrainian industry developed a number of T-72 upgrades, with Ethiopia proportion of the Polish tank fleet, but with being the customer for 171 upgraded T-72UA1 tanks between 2011 and significant growth in potential threat tanks, 2013. These tanks have Nozh ERA, and a new engine, APU and cooling there is increasing interest in finding a re- system. The Ukrainian Army has also received some 30 T-72UA1 tanks. placement for existing tanks or looking to significantly upgrade them to cope with the likt 3rd generation ERA system. The next One of the most ambitious T-72 upgrade escalating threat. One potential solution is variant of the T-72 for the Russian Army was programmes took place in the Czech Re- to proceed with the PT-16 upgrade devel- the T-72B3 that arrived in 2013, this fea- public in the form of the T-72M4 CZ. Origi- oped by Bumar Labedy and other parts of tures a high-performance FCS including a nally, this would have seen over 300 tanks the Polish Armament Group (PGZ). The PT- new ballistic computer. Initially, 150 T-72B3 upgraded, but complexity and cost limited 16 upgrade is aimed at both the PT-91 and tanks were acquired with first deliveries to the number of upgraded tanks to a little the T-72 and features a new 120mm NATO the Russian Army in 2014. Belarus received more than 30 units. Another T-72 upgrade standard gun, sourced either from Slovakia an initial batch of four T-72B3 tanks from Uralvagonzavod in early July, with official statements noting the upgrade of Belarus Soviet Aircraft in the Polish Air Force Army T-72B tanks to the B3 configuration The Polish Air Force has operated both legacy Soviet equipment and more recently could be undertaken in Russia and at the US-supplied equipment. In 1984 they received Sukhoi Su-22M4 and Su-22UM3K same price that the Russian Army pays. An combat aircraft from the Soviet Union to provide an attack capability. These aircraft, agreement has been reached on upgrad- although reduced in number to 12 Su-22M4s and 6 Su-22M3Ks, are still in service ing a further batch of Belarus T-72B to the with the Polish Air Force. The Sukhoi is rugged and reliable, and has proven easy to T-72B3 configuration in Russia. maintain over its extended service life, the only upgrades being new communications With more than 1,400 T-72 tanks (the ma- and cockpit instrumentation. jority being the T-72B), Belarus is obviously Another Soviet-era survivor is the MiG-29/MiG-29UB fleet, these arrived in 1989 and looking to upgrade its tank fleet. A domestic still remain in service, although the numbers were sustained via the arrival of ex-Czech upgrade is the T-72BM1, which features the and ex-German aircraft. It took until August 2011 for the first significant contract to be indigenous Peleng Sosna-U gunner’s sight awarded for the upgrade of the Polish MiG-29 fleet, with Military Aviation Works No.2 (as used in the Russian T-72B3), more recent- at Bydgoszcz being tasked with the upgrade of 13 MiG-29A and three MiG-29UB ly Belarus Army Repair Plant 140 in Borisov aircraft. The upgrade, carried out in association with IAI of Israel, included the instal- has proposed the T-72BME upgrade, which lation of a MIL-STD-1553B databus, new mission computer, navigation system and a focuses on upgrades to sights and electron- NATO standard communications system. Significantly, the upgrade did not include the ics, as well as increased protection. It remains installation of a NATO standard IFF system. Poland hopes to replace both the Sukhoi to be seen whether Belarus will look to meet Su-22 and the MiG-29 by 2025 with a new combat aircraft type. the majority of its T-72B upgrade needs via While they retained the Sukhoi Su-22 and the MiG-29 in service, Poland retired its the Russian T-72B3 upgrade or will look to MiG-23 fleet in the 1990s, with the MiG-21 fleet going in the early 2000s. Between emphasise domestic tank upgrade capa- 2006 and 2008, Poland took delivery of 48 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52+ bilities. Industry in Belarus has proposed a aircraft under the Peace Sky programme. The cost and the complexity of the F-16 number of upgrade programmes for legacy acquisition soaked up much of the Polish Air Force budget, meaning that it was neces- Soviet armour, including such systems as the sary to continue to operate the Su-22 and the MiG-29 as they offered an affordable BTR-50 personnel carrier, BRDM-2 recon- and supportable operational capability, with spares easy to acquire from the Ukraine. naissance vehicle and the PT-76 .

104 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  or the Ukraine, increased protection, a new vanced variant of the OPLOT, known as the known as Object 434 was under develop- powerplant and improved suspension. OPLOT-M, has been developed, while an ment, this vehicle was equipped with a 125 export variant of the system has been sold mm smoothbore gun, improved sights and Ukrainian Upgrades to Thailand. The Ukraine is due to receive armour and many other modifications, this 10 new OPLOT-M tanks in 2018. was later classified as the T-64A. As the Ukraine emerged from the wreck- The Ukraine has developed a number of The T-64A was further modified through age of the Soviet Union, it found itself upgrade proposals for T-72 tanks, includ- the 1970s, at the same time work was pro- with a significant defence industrial base, ing the T-72UA1 upgrade. Ethiopia re- ceeding on a further evolution of the de- including the Kharkiv Morozov Machine ceived 171 T-72UA1 tanks with deliveries sign under the Object 447 designator, this Building Design Bureau (KMDB), one of in 2011/2013, with the tanks having a new had an improved gun and engine and other the most important armoured vehicle engine, APU and cooling system, plus Nozh modifications and entered production in design and manufacturing complexes in ERA. A small number of Ukrainian Army 1975 as the T-64B. Further modifications the former Soviet Union. Along with this T-72 tanks have reportedly been upgraded were introduced for both the T-64A and came the sub-contractor base with cer- to this standard in response to the conflict T-64B across the 1980s, with production tain limitations, for example initially there in the Donbass that started in March 2014, of the tank finishing in 1987. was no tank gun production capability in the Ukraine. There were also important military-run facilities as well, including a major tank repair and overhaul facility in Kyiv and the central BMP rebuild facility in the Soviet Union, which was located at Zhytomyr. The Zhytomyr facility still repairs the BMP, but its remit it now far wider and it works three shifts a day repairing all types of armoured vehicles for the Ukrain- Photo: Ukrainian Ministry of Defence ian military. The Ukraine also found itself with vast quantities of military equipment, far more than it could support and more than it could ever envisage needing at that time. There were thousands of armoured vehicles in- cluding T-80UD, T-72 and T-64 tanks. Over time the Ukraine would sell on a lot of this surplus equipment, with Ukrainian industry often becoming involved to refurbish said equipment prior to delivery. For example, one major contract was the sale of 320 T-80UD tanks to Pakistan with deliveries from 1997 to 2002. The Soviet T-80 programme was originally The presence of the KMDB tank design and manufacturing complex in not allocated to KMDB in the Ukraine. The the Ukraine has allowed the Ukraine to sustain its tank fleet and devel- need to produce a diesel powered variant op upgrades such as the T-64BM BULAT. KMDB will supply the OPLOT-M, of the tank (T-80UD) in place of the gas tur- its latest generation tank, to the Ukrainian Army in 2018. bine powered standard T-80 saw produc- tion start in the Ukraine. Although KMDB although the Ukraine has placed most of After the fall of the Soviet Union, the ma- was a production site for the T-80, the its T-72 fleet in store, favouring the T-64 as jority of T-64 tanks ended up with Rus- need to prepare T-80UD tanks for export its standard tank. More recently on 14 July sia and the Ukraine, with Russia gradually exposed the lack of industrial capability in 2017, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko withdrawing the tanks from service in fa- certain key areas, for example, as previously announced during a visit to the Lviv Armour vour of the T-72, T-80 and later the T-90. mentioned, tank guns. This stimulated ef- Vehicle Factory (LAVF) that the Ukrainian For the Ukraine they had in excess of 2,000 forts to fill these capability gaps and make military would receive 72 upgraded T-72 tanks initially, and as KMDB manufactured certain that the Ukraine had a full armoured tanks this year. The LAVF offers upgrade the vehicle it was decided that these would vehicle industrial base. and modernisation packages for T-72B and form the bulk of their tank force. As Ukraine Towards the end of the 1990s an improve- T-72B1 tanks. had very little money to spend on defence, ment in the financial circumstances in the KMDB started work on the T-64 tank in the active T-64 fleet was reduced to some Ukraine and the realisation of a need to the 1950s, but advances in technology and 600 tanks, a substantial number were put support the defence industrial base, al- the threat forced a rethink and led to the into storage and other tanks were broken lowed progress on a development of the Object 432 design that entered production up for spares or scrapped. T-80UD known locally as the T-84. This led in 1963 and officially entered service with KMDB then developed an upgrade to the development of the more advanced the Soviet Army in 1966. This tank was programme for the T-64 known as the OPLOT variant, some 10 of which were ac- equipped with a 115 mm smoothbore gun, T-64BM BULAT, this is described as a quired by the Ukraine for trials. If required, and it is believed that some 600 of this ver- “deep modernisation” and the objective the standard T-80UD can be upgraded sion of the tank were built. While this was is to bring performance up to the level to the OPLOT configuration. A more ad- happening, a further evolution of the tank of the Ukrainian T-84. The BULAT has

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 105  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY new add-on armour, accommodates the Refleks 9K120 or the Ukrainian KOMBAT gun-launched anti-tank missiles, can use newly developed Ukrainian APFSDS rounds, has a new fire control system and sights (including a thermal sight) and a new engine. By 2009 a total of 86 tanks had been upgraded to the BULAT configuration, currently the Ukraine has more than 100 of these tanks in service. Further T-64 upgrades continue to be in- vestigated.

Conclusion Photo: Ukspetsexport The Ukrainian Army participated in the Strong Europe Tank Challenge In the final analysis, the era of wide- (SETC) event hosted by US Army Europe and the German Army in May spread use of Soviet legacy equipment 2017, sending along an upgraded T-64BM BULAT to participate. The T-64 in the majority of Eastern European na- tank forms the largest proportion of the Ukrainian tank fleet. tions that have joined NATO is coming to an end. Fundamentally this is due to it is the beginning of the end for Soviet backed up by large numbers of upgraded the fact that much of this equipment has legacy systems. T-72 and T-90 tanks. reached or is reaching the end of its use- Move further east and the situation is very As far as the Ukraine is concerned there ful life. Added to which, today’s mission different, here legacy Soviet equipment is little doubt that they would like to re- profiles for Eastern European militaries both upgraded and new production is invigorate their tank force through the are very different to what they were in fundamental to current military capabili- large-scale acquisition of KMDB OPLOT-M the Warsaw Pact era and therefore re- ties. The latest Russian T-72 upgrade, the tanks and move to develop their own next quire different types of equipment. That T-72B3, is a very capable tank and can com- generation tank. Realistically this is not go- is not to say that Soviet era equipment pete with current NATO peer tanks and the ing to happen any time soon, as a result will disappear completely, for some op- expected future T-72B4 upgrade will be the only solution to preserve the strength erators it still offers unique capabilities, even more competitive. If Russia wants a and capability of the armoured force is to for example in areas like assault bridging. large tank force, the only affordable way upgrade T-64 and T-80 series tanks. For the Even so, it would be fair to say that for the to achieve it is through a limited quantity of Ukraine, upgrading Soviet era equipment is majority of militaries in Eastern Europe state-of-the-art T-14 ARMATA tanks being not a choice, it is essential. L ESD Spotlight

Published by New Fortnightly Newsletter

Issue 2 / 2015 European Security & Defence is escorted by the new bi-weekly newsletter ESD Spotlight which is distributed by email. ESD Spotlight is available free of charge. You can order your subscription by Procurement programmes in Sweden sending an informal email message to [email protected]. Sweden not only chairs the Nordic Defense genera- Cooperation (NORDEFCO), the Swedish Ar- tion sub- med Forces have also several procurement marines projects on schedule for 2015. The largest (NGU) Alternatively, there is a subscription order form on the magazine’s website at www.euro-sd.com. three programmes comprise the develop- for Swe- ment of the next generation of the JAS Gripen den. Content fighter system (JAS E), the development of The new the next generation submarine (NGU) and the subma- • Sweden modification of the Leopard main battle tank rines will base on the Type 612 submarines, Issue 2 / 2015 system. that Saab Kockums has built for the Royal Aus- Issue 2 / 2015 • Defence Issue 2 / 2015 tralian Navy. 2 7 • Technology Next generation of the JAS Gripen But there will be changes, since the Australi- The Swedish government ordered 60 JAS Gri- an submarine has 4,000 tonnes and the Swe- 3 • Industry pen E (plus 10 as option) with scheduled de- dish NGO programme is heading for a 3,000 defence • IDEX Preview livery from 2018 to 2027. Contrary to initial tonnes submarine with some elements of the technology plans all the future JAS Gripen E will be new- cancelled A26 programme included. gressive dive/ decisions to strengthen NAtO built fighters and not upgrades of existing Gri- The first of the five Swedish submarines is The second firing was at very close range - pull-up evasi- the size and scope of a new very high rea- The defence ministers also decided to IRIS-t SL demonstrates to the launch point to prove the missi ve manoeu- Defence) Diehl (Photo: (df) The defence ministers of the NATO diness force or Spearhead Force. “We deci- immediately establish six command and MAStheAd pen C. The first flight of the pre-production planned to be operating by 2023. full performance le´s short range engagement capabilities. vres. countries have taken several decisions to ded that this very high readiness force will control units in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, JAS Gripen E is expected within this year. During this firing, IRIS-T SL jettisoned its IRIS-T SL is strengthen the Alliance’s collective de- consist of a land brigade of around 5,000 Lithuania, Poland and Romania. (df) With system validation completed Roketsan eSd Spotlight The JAS Gripen E will be slightly larger than Modification of the Leopard last year, Diehl Defence´s IRIS-T Surface - aerodynamic cover shortly after launch the missile fence. NATO Secretary General Jens Stol- troops. These will be supported by air, www.nato.int Email newsletter of the bimonthly magazine Launched (IRIS-T SL) SAM system demons immediately initiating a hard turn-over of the new tenberg said the decisions would “ensure sea and special forces”, said Stoltenberg. (df) Roketsan will display several new and/ the predecessors. Giving place to an increase The Swedish version of the main battle tank “European Security & Defence” (ESD) trated its full performance. All of the jet - manoeuvre towards the low flying target. IRIS-T SLM that we have the right forces, in the right He explained the Spearhead Force would or enhanced products at the IDEX 2015. tegrated and used by AH-1W Cobra helicop- of the fuselage tank with the new and bigger Leopard has additional protection, including target drones of different sizes, which per The entire engagement lasted less than 10 air defence place, at the right time”. The ministers be backed up by two more brigades “as a Very interesting is the 2.75” Laser Guided ter, AT-802 Arc Angel Border Patrol Aircraft editor-in-Chief: Dr. Peter Bossdorf system and NATO) (Photo: Missile, so called “CIRIT”, an all-up round nose bearing most of the main gear. The com- overall coverage, mine protection, an extra formed a large variety of realistic evasive seconds with a direct hit. agreed on the implementation of a so rapid reinforcement capability in case of and on EC635 Light Combat Helicopter. weapon stations, autonomous stationary/ deputy editor-in-Chief: Henning Bartels manoeuvres, were directly hit. The third firing was carried out against is planned to called Spearhead Force. a major crisis. Altogether, the enhanced missile designed to eliminate light armored, CIRIT is also integrated on vehicle mounted mobile weapon platforms, stabilized naval Managing editors: Dorothee Frank (newslet- pany Saab stated, that the new fighter has an bomblet protection for the turret, a modern The first target was engaged at a distance of a very small, fast and agile target drone - be a compo- Also the NATO Response Force will be en- NATO Response Force will count up to stationary/moving opportunity targets with weapon platforms for patrol boats and Tac- ter) and Stephen Barnard (magazine) increase of 40% in internal fuel capacity. command system and an improved fire-con- more than 30 km. The IRIS-T SL missile flight featuring high agility and extreme mano nent of the future German Air and Missile hanced. The Defence Ministers agreed on around 30,000 troops.” high precision and affordable cost. CIRIT, tical UAV. The combat proven CIRIT has a editors: Gerhard Heiming (gwh), Yuri Laski (yl) Defence System. designed as the main weapon system of Apart from this two additional weapon sta- trol system. time was about one minute reaching an alti- euvrebility. A direct hit was achieved at a quite long range with 8 km, MEMS Based tude above 12 km. Despite an evasive mano- range of 12.5 km range at an altitude of 1.5 www.diehl.com/en/diehl-defence.html T-129 ATAK Turkish attack helicopter, is in- IMU, restriction-free components, Type V Layout: davis creativ media GmbH, Bonn, tions have been installed. The JAS Gripen E At the moment the Swedish Armed Forces euvre involving changing direction and alti- km even though the drone performed ag- NORdeFCO plans more cooperation border defence cooperation. Also Sweden from Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania insensitive munitions characteristics for Germany tude, a direct hit of the target was achieved. (Photo: Roketsan)warhead and rocket motor against bullet im- Photo front page: Matthias Kabel will also have a new landing gear, modern sen- plan further improvements and uses of the (df) The Nordic Defense Cooperation is pushing forward an initiative to form and Norway. te Connectivity nes and IED, which will be completed by pact and liquid fluid fire and smart launcher. sor configuratuions like the Selex Skyward-G Leopard. Especially the communication sys- (NORDEFCO), consisting of Denmark, Fin- a modular Nordic-Baltic battle group The aims of the Swedish initiatives are to guarantor of basic protection against small mine-protection-seats and spall-liners. A (df) TE Connectivity will display it’s latest www.roketsan.com.tr Published by land, Iceland, Norway and actual chaired (NBBG), that could be seen as a counter- give more protection to areas, such as Arc- infrared search and track (IRST) turret or the tems and a weight reduced armour system are Protected Bulat 6x6 for the fire and shell splinters. The V-shaped bel- remote weapon station may be fitted to electrical interconnect solutions that provi- vehicle must carry. The result of networ Mittler Report Verlag GmbH by Sweden, wants to improve the collec- part of the EU Nordic Battle Group (NBG), tic region or Baltic Sea. Russian Army ly provides protection against blast of mi- the roof. Kamaz contributes subsystems - de connectivity and high-speed data trans- king is an overall reduction in the size and A company of Tamm Media Group advanced interrogation friend-or-foe suite. in the focus. Elements of the Leopard 2A7, in tive border defence by installing a cross- that is led by Sweden with soldiers coming www.government.se (gwh) The Russian Army has ordered 50 like the Diesel power train with 191 kW in mission for networking in armored vehicles weight of systems within each vehicle, less - space savings, and a variety of options in service at the German Armed Forces, will be cluding transmissions and suspensions for - in electronic warfare and C4ISR applications. redundancy in the network, and yet great Mittler Report Verlag GmbH protected type Bulat SBA-60-K2 armoured The equipment fit inclu gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) con Next generation submarine included. personnel carriers for a crew of ten from axles and wheels. Goldstein new General Manager A system of networked ground vehicles ability for vehicles to share data and elec- nectivity to help meet tough application

Baunscheidtstrasse 11 Khlopotov) A. (Photo: Improved HAWK Officer Course at the GAF Manager des a central tire inflation system (CTIS), air NAMeAdSMA provides situational awareness for troops tronic warfare capabilities. challenges. Also on display at the booth, - 53113 Bonn, Germany The first programme on procuring modern sub- Additionally Sweden purchased three Leguan the manufacturer Zashcita. The first 15 are Air Defense School, Ft. Bliss, Texas, in 1981. & Director to be delivered before the end of 2015. conditioning, fire suppression system and on the battlefield, as well as reduces the TE will feature several rugged and flexible TE will be showcasing its compact, high- Phone: +49 228 350087-0 (df) Col. Michael T. Goldstein of the Ger- Later, Goldstein served as a platoon leader Technical In- marines to replace the four Walrus serving in bridge layers on Leopard 2 chassis. In this vari- With less than 20 tons gross weight the racks for personal weapons. number of independent systems that each end-to-end solutions that offer design speed CeeLok FAS-T connector. The CeeLok Telefax: +49 228 350087-1 man Air Force was assigned the position Hawk at the 4th Battery SAM Battalion 34 tegration on NAMEADSMA) (Photo: the Swedish Navy, known as the A26 program- ant, the Leguan is capable of laying a 26 metre vehicle features a payload of 3.5 tons www.zashchita.ru engineers modularity for easy integra- FAS-T connector among the most rugged, Email: [email protected] of General Manager of the NATO Medium in Manching, later Head of Patriot Scena- 01 July 2014 depending on the protection level. The tion, advanced components for weight and 10 GbE, field terminable I/O connectors in www.mittler-report.de me, has been cancelled in February 2014. Then bridge or two 14 metre bridges independent Extended Air Defense System Manage- rio Generation Seciton, GAFADS, Ft. Bliss, and now Ge- FN herstal all-welded steel monocoque hull is the the defence marketplace. going to test the containers with regard to ment Agency (NAMEADSMA) on 01 Febru- Texas. Other assignments included Deputy neral Mana- Managing Directors: Thomas Bantle, Dr. Peter in December 2014 an agreement between of each other, whose MLC 80 (approx. 70 ton- (df) FN Herstal will show several of it’s www.te.com ary 2015. He took over the responsibili- System Manager Patriot at the Federal Mi- ger & Direc- Bossdorf and Peter Tamm Saab and Damen Shipyards was announced nes) load capacity can be used by even heavy ners from Multicon Solar and can be used if and how solar power can be integrated modern weapon systems and at fence, this highly modular system gives Smart energy container ties from Gregory Kee, who had been the nistry of Defence for almost three years. On tor Technical The company is located in Bonn as power plants for military camps and bi- with the energy supply of military camps. IDEX and also be hosting a variety of exhi- naval ships and coastguards the armament to jointly develop, offer and build the next equipment. Dorothee Frank agency‘s General Manager since Novem- 01 August 2012 Goldstein became Director Integration District Court of Bonn – HRB 18658 (gwh) The German Armed Forces have - vouacs. They are designed to replace or to - www.multicon-solar.de bits that allow attendees to view up close to be in control at all times. It can be moun- bolster fuel-operated generators. The Ger www.aleo-solar.de ber 2008. Goldstein joined the German Air Technical Integration at NAMEADSMA, fol- NAMEADSMA. its equipment. On display for the first time ted on a variety of vessels, from fast patrol Identification number DE 811 223 089 procured mobile containers with high per ) formance photovoltaic modules from Aleo man procurement agency BAAINBw is now Force on 01 July 1975 and completed the lowed by the position as Deputy General http://meads-amd.com/ in the Middle East will be FN Herstal’s Sea boats up to large ships, and its universal

Herstal Solar. The modules are integrated in contai- deFNder remote weapon station. cradle can house an extensive range of FN Whether intercepting smugglers, running Herstal weaponry. to: FN It support for Norwegian logistics (Pho fitted to a number of the Volvo Group‘s civil 1999 for military logistics including con- repair, overhaul (MRO), and supply chain. anti-terrorism operations, or for self-de- Packed with several new features, the Sea hybrid drive system vehicles that have demonstrated pollution (gwh) The Swedish International Financial figuration management, document and The Navy’s recent decision to cover addi- deFNder also has a sight module (CCD + pad control handle, and 2-axis gyroscope reduction and consumption qualities, and Services company (IFS) has rolled out the spare parts management, maintenance, tional users means that IFS’s industry solu- (gwh) As part of an advanced design plan Defense) Trucks Renault (Photo: IR uncooled or cooled), one-hand or game to provide rock solid stability on any naval Savox Communications assigned to Renault Trucks Defense, the could now be used for military applications. IFS applications to cover additional Navy tion will empower more personnel working operation. Electer demonstrator fitted with a parallel The features of the hybrid drive system are: personnel, now supporting 2,500 users deployed on one of its vessels or on land. (df) Savox Communications will be unvei- www.fnherstal.com hybrid drive system and developed on the Booster with more than 170 kW additional Large generator delivering power of up to in the Armed Forces with mission-critical The solution is distributed between vessels ling at IDEX a new future infantry soldier nally in the Middle East, where Savox alrea- (Photo: FMV) (Photo: basis of a VAB MK III has been delivered to electrical power, thereby reducing its tac- - 15 kW for mobile internal and 70 kW for configuration management, MRO, and lo- and onshore sites, also offering integration modernisation headgear system that has dy has a number of Special Forces custo- static external use. the French defence procurement agency tical “leap forward” time. Stealth mobili gistics. with the government finance and HR sys- major applications for soldiers on tomor mers, and globally. system, IMP, on which CPIC is based. The www.renault-trucks-defense.com (DGA) on 13 January 2015. ty to move silently over more than 10 km The Norwegian Armed Forces (Air Force, tem. row’s battlefield, as well as for homeland Savox will also show the compact intercom new intercom system is suited to applica- Combining an electric machine and a Diesel through the sole use of the electric motor. Army, and Navy including the Coast Guard) www.forsvaret.no security and special ops forces, both regio-- system, CPIC. The system broadens the tions on land, for the widest B-vehicle in engine, the parallel hybrid drive system is have been using IFS Applications since www.ifsworld.com C3 capabilities of Savox’ software-defined ventory, and at sea, aboard smaller vessels, lightweight, rugged command and control such as RIBs, as well as the largest, such as - destroyers and aircraft carriers. www.savox.com

MITTLER REPORT VERLAG GMBH Baunscheidtstraße 11 · 53113 Bonn · Germany Fax: +49 228 35 00 871 · [email protected] · www.mittler-report.de

106 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  Comprehensive Force Protection Concept for Armoured Combat Vehicles A Holistic View

Rolf Hilmes

Beyond doubt, protection and survivability constitute, in addition to firepower and mobility, the most important criteria for armoured combat vehicles.

nterestingly enough, protection has no- courses of action in battle clarified the fol- to prevent/hamper the acquisition/detec- Iticeably become more relevant to the de- lowing action chain: tion of a target and secondly to avoid a sign of main battle tanks in Germany over • What is on the battlefield will be recon- direct hit, while direct protective meas- the past 50 years. While the battle weight noitred ures shall take effect when the vehicle is of the LEOPARD 1 main battle tank (MBT) • What has been reconnoitred is taken hit, mainly by preventing/impeding the was just less than 40 tonnes at the time under fire penetration of rounds. In a next step, of its introduction in 1965, the current • What has been taken under fire is hit conceptual measures were developed to LEOPARD 2 A7 version comes at almost • What has been hit is penetrated minimise the vulnerability of the weapon 64 tonnes – that means a weight increase • What has been penetrated is destroyed. platform and to prevent the total loss of of 60 per cent in that period. Based on these findings, Germany devel- crew and equipment. The survivability of armoured vehicles in oped a “Comprehensive Force Protection the 60s was largely based on the follow- Concept” for the design of armoured Indirect Protective Measures ing measures: combat vehicles. - Camouflage paint, camouflage net, Avoiding Detection smoke grenade dischargers, Comprehensive Force Protec- Since their first appearance on the battle- - armour, CBRN protection (incomplete) tion Concept fields, tanks have been camouflaged to and fire safety (incomplete). avoid their detection. Camouflage means Yet in the 70s, military conflicts and opera- The Comprehensive Force Protection making vehicles to the best possible ex- tions research studies revealed that such Concept comprises a holistic approach tent indistinguishable from the surround- protective measures were far from guar- to, and a combination of, indirect and ing terrain features. While it used to be anteeing adequate survivability for crew direct protective measures. Indirect pro- sufficient in the past to concentrate only and equipment. A closer inspection of the tective measures are supposed primarily on the visible surroundings, the introduc- (Pictures: Author)

Well-camouflaged combat vehicles in defence positions are hardly visible to the eye.

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 107  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY tion of, among others, smart anti-armour electromagnetic EMT-7 countermine sys- culate the required lead angle irrespec- systems nowadays requires a closer look tem mounted on their upper front plate tive of the speed rate of their targets. at the entire electromagnetic spectrum whose integrated coil windings generate A vehicle may only avoid a hit effectively under camouflage aspects: an artificial magnetic field that is supposed by continuously changing its lateral accel- eration, because in this case even the most sophisticated fire control systems are inca- pable of determining an accurate predic- tion. This fact gave rise to the development of the twin-gunned turretless casemate de- sign concept in Germany in the early 70s. Vehicles of that design were to engage the enemy on the move while their movement profile resembled the course of a wede- ling skier. For all that, the attempt to avoid hits through high mobility counteracts the principle of non-detectability and makes it more difficult for the crew to accomplish their tactical mission. Laying a smoke screen into the line of sight/ aiming line between target and enemy gunner would be another option for avoid- The conspicuous IR signature of a front-engined IFV (here: WARRIOR) ing a hit on one’s own vehicle. To be ef- would also pose camouflage problems in defensive positions. fective against gunfire, this measure would have to be taken prior to firing – in addition, • Camouflage measures in the visible to trigger magneto-ignited mines. Experts the vehicle would have to move at least by range nevertheless challenge the effectiveness of half its length right after discharging the • Camouflage in the infrared (IR) range this measure as the structure and strength smoke grenades. • Camouflage in the radar range of such an artificial magnetic field differ sig- A smoke screen is still more promising in • Acoustic camouflage measures nificantly from the magnetic field naturally the case of guided missiles because they • Magnetic camouflage measures and surrounding a vehicle. approach their targets with only low veloc- • Seismic camouflage measures. ity (< 300 m/sec). Ideal for this case would Yet the possible camouflage measures Avoiding Hits be the operation of a UV sensor – in addi- among this group greatly differ in their In principle, vehicular movement profiles tion to a laser warning sensor – which au- practical efficiency. While, in general, stati- may circumvent possible hits. Owing to tomatically recognises the exhaust plume cally deployed vehicles – e.g. in defence po- the performance of advanced fire control emission spectrum of a guided missile and sitions – may elude reconnaissance relative- systems, however, a (constantly) high ve- immediately triggers countermeasures. ly well, moving targets on the battlefield hicle speed no longer guarantees escap- Among these countermeasures could be the cannot do so anymore (their movement ing a hit. Accounting for combat range immediate creation of a smoke screen ob- signature alone will unmask them). That is and type of ammunition and by track- structing the enemy operator’s line of sight why a unit prepared to conduct defensive ing the target with the aiming line of the to the target. A faster countermeasure than actions definitely has the inside track at the sighting device a few seconds prior to a smoke screen, for use against an incoming outset of a battle. firing, the current fire control systems cal- SACLOS-guided missile, for example, would Measures to minimise the IR and radar signatures are today indispensable for re- ducing the lock-on or release distances, respectively, of smart artillery munition and fire-and-forget missiles. However, state-of-the-art thermal imaging systems (3rd generation) have meanwhile become so efficient that the detection of armoured vehicles can only be avoided in well-estab- lished defence positions. Yet even there a front-driven tracked vehicle lacking any IR camouflage measures around the engine compartment would encounter problems. Camouflage measures in the acoustic, magnetic, and seismic ranges would, of course, be more than desirable considering the state-of-the-art fuze technologies used in some mine types, but, understandably, such measures cannot be put into practice. A 60-tonne vehicle will always keep emit- (ERA) on a Russian BMP-3 IFV (project for the United ting distinct signatures in the mentioned Arab Emirates). Thin basic armour requires a much greater amount of ranges. Some Russian MBTs carry the appliqué reactive armour.

108 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  be an infrared jammer that misinforms the Direct Protective Measures LENGER 2 TES H), thereby getting again goniometer in the enemy missile launcher close to the battle weights of the heaviest about the position of the target, causing the Avoiding Penetration tanks of World War II (Tiger II (KÖNIGSTI- missile to crash on the ground. The classical method to avoid penetration GER): 69.8 t, Tiger Ausf. B The combination of the described sensors after a hit consists in the conversion of ki- (JAGDTIGER): 75.2 t, A39 TORTOISE: 79.2 t). and effectors represents – in addition to netic energy into deformation work and The high battle weight of modern MBTs the system computer – the core element heat – as happens when the round pen- may not hide the fact that their strongest of state-of-the-art active soft-kill systems, etrates through an armour plate. The tradi- armour is limited to their front surface +/- among them e.g. MUSS (Germany) and tional contest between “sword” (weapon 30 degrees – referring to the dimensions SHTORA-1 (Russia). Today, the created effect) and “shield” (armour) brought of the crew compartment – all other sur- faces (incl. the roof) are considerably less protected. Although much more efficient engines and transmission and track de- signs are presently available compared to the heavy armoured vehicles of World War II, the classical problems during operations (transportability, usage of infrastructure, high logistic expenditure etc.) still persist. The invention and introduction of reac- tive armour in the early 80s improved to some degree the protection against the threat arising from shaped charge jets, but the effectiveness of these armour ele- ments strongly depends on their mounting angle and the round’s point of impact so that reactive armour can only provide, in connection with side effects, a statistical protective cover ratio of not more than ap- prox. 50 to 60 per cent. Moreover, reactive Destruction of an approaching MILAN missile by a directed energy beam armour elements cannot be applied to all from the AMAP-ADS active protection system. surfaces of the vehicle. The weight and vol- ume (and amount of explosives) of appliqué smoke screen should obstruct the enemy´s about a considerable increase in vehicle reactive armour elements on surfaces with sight in both the visible light and infrared weights over the past 100 years. low basic armour would have to be greatly ranges and contain aerosol particles to dis- The area density in the front part of modern increased – while concurrently the reactive rupt laser illumination beams to the targets. MBTs reaches as much as about 3.5 tonnes forces to the basic structure would have to The advantage of a UV sensor is that it per metre squared despite the introduction be limited. The same implications occur also detects any type of guided missiles – ir- of special armour with particular disruptive with armour elements intended to defend respective of the underlying guidance sys- effects (primarily against the jets of shaped KE penetrators, not forgetting the collat- tem (SACLOS, laser beam-riding or radar- charges). Accordingly, present MBTs feature eral damage caused by exploding reactive guided) – while the laser warning sensor of battle weights of, for example 71.5 tonnes armour elements to the vehicle itself and the Russian SHTORA-1 system disregards (MERKAVA Mk. IV) or 74.95 tonnes (CHAL- nearby friendly troops on the battlefield. incoming SACLOS guided missiles. Obviously enough, active soft-kill systems can only counter the threat arising from guided missiles. The response times of the protective systems are counted in millisec- onds – yet this is sufficient because of the low missile velocity. Moreover, owing to their long duration of flight, guided mis- siles need a clear view of target and can safely be controlled only after they have reached a specific minimum distance from their launchers. That is why soft-kill systems and guided missiles play only a minor role in urban warfare. Reportedly, dummy tanks in World War II helped to avoid hits on own vehicles with great success, but now they would hardly be of use considering the characteristics of modern battles. Present dummies would need to emit both an optical signature and corresponding signatures in the IR and ra- The packing density of Russian MBTs enables the design of smaller and dar ranges. lighter vehicles, but almost every hit causes a total kill.

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 109  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

The search for alternative protection tech- excellent results in that respect – all the • Crew (three-man-crew, accommodated nologies is therefore easy to understand. more as additional criteria for the ergo- in a separate armoured compact crew Some hope for the future has been seen nomic design of the operator work ar- compartment) in reactive hard-kill protection systems eas were taken into account. Yet a tight • Ammunition (in connection with an au- (, IRON FIST, AMAP-ADS, AWISS, packing density increases the number toloader) ARENA-E, and so on) that detect an in- of vulnerable points in the vehicle, as al- • Fuel and coming threat (e.g. via radar) and trigger most every penetrating round could hit • Engine. appropriate computer-controlled effec- critical elements in the crew compart- All compartments will be isolated from tors (blast effects, fragmentation/blast ment (crew, fuel, ammunition). Previous each other. The ammunition and fuel grenades). Hard-kill systems are equally lessons learned by the Russians in battle compartments have to be provided with effective against guided missiles and rock- have shown that such hits very frequently effective “blow-off-panels”. The technical et-propelled grenades. They are supposed resulted in a total kill of their MBTs. implementation of these requirements will to cause damage in advance to, or destroy, Even Western state-of-the-art combat ve- result in combat vehicles with a centre- the attacker. Defending against incoming hicles have so far seen inadequate meas- mounted main gun in an unmanned upper carriage. The crew will be accommodated in a well-protected compact compartment in the hull (chassis). Since the early 60s, many Western na- tions have investigated overhead mount- ed concepts which ensure – within a giv- en weight limit – maximum survivability for the crew but suffer – like any other tank concept – from a number of draw- backs, such as: • Problems in implementing a practicable optical system concept to provide the crew with the appropriate all-round vi- sion and the required situational aware- ness • Implementation of a high-quality im- age display for vision and sight systems (resolution, transparency, colour quality etc.) • Implementation of a practicable emer- gency mode concept for the functions of aiming – laying – loading – firing • Avoidance of a high firepower kill prob- Water jackets to store propellant charges in a CHALLENGER 1 MBT – ability in case of hits into the relatively a contribution to reducing vulnerability. exposed main gun In the 60s and 70s, Western nations ad- KE penetrators that approach with an en- ures to reduce their vulnerability under fire dressed the aforementioned problems (by ergy of approx. 10 MJ, a weight of approx. effectively. way of concept studies, construction of 6 kg and 4.5 times the speed of sound, is Some progress was achieved by, for in- demonstrators, operations research stud- extremely demanding. The system has to stance: ies, andso on) and eventually departed react within microseconds (one millionth • Storing propellant charges in so-called from the series production and introduc- of a second), and the robust structure of “water jackets” (CHALLENGER) tion of centre-mounted gun designs. Yet the penetrator requires a corresponding • Storing part of the ammunition away the significant increase in the extent and counterforce of the effector. from the crew in a separate compart- quality of the expected threats in future Accordingly, hard-kill systems may pro- ment surrounded by “blow-off-panels” conflicts has meanwhile given rise to a vide additional protection against guided (M 1; LEOPARD 2) change of thinking. The first results of this missiles and rocket-propelled grenades • Using electric systems rather than hy- reorientation are the new Russian T-14 – possibly also in urban scenarios. How- draulic assemblies ARMATA MBT and the German PUMA In- ever, the systems do not provide any (ad- • Installing self-sealing rubber fuel tanks, fantry Fighting Vehicle – both vehicles are ditional) protection against blast threats and equipped with an external mounted gun in (mines, IEDs) or explosively formed pen- • Installing quick-acting fire and explosion an unmanned upper compartment etrators (EFPs) so that parts of the vehicle suppression systems. will still require massive basic armour. Considering the extent and the high ef- Conclusion ficiency of threats in current conflicts, the Reducing Vulnerability/Avoiding aforementioned measures will continue to This article has shown that the measures Total Kill fail in ensuring a sufficient probability of applied to armoured combat vehicles in In the past, armoured combat vehicles survival in battle. The decisive step should the 60s and 70s to ensure a sufficient were designed with an eye to tight pack- be made towards “compartmentalisation” probability of survival for crew and equip- ing density to minimise the protected vol- – the clean-cut allocation of the useful com- ment had become inadequate. This fact ume. Russian design engineers achieved partments in a future combat vehicle to: led to a holistic approach to the investiga-

110 European Security & Defence · September 2017 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

This cross-section through a Russian T-14 MBT illustrates the principle of "compartmentalisation".

Separate ammunition compart- detailed consideration of indirect protec- be retained in order to ensure a sufficient ment for ready-to-fire rounds in a tive measures. The Comprehensive Force chance of survival for future combat vehi- LEOPARD 2 MBT. Protection Concept is subject to progres- cles because “smart” systems are not capa- sive development. ble of building up an adequate protection tion into armoured platform protection in On the one hand, selection and design, re- capability against “silly” threats (e.g. blast the 70s, which eventually produced the spectively, of protective measures have to and explosively formed penetrator IEDs and “Comprehensive Force Protection Con- find their bearings by current and future- KE rounds). cept for Armoured Combat Vehicles”. oriented threat scenarios. On the other The weight increase of future armoured Reasons for that approach were inter alia hand, the technological progress mainly in vehicles may therefore be slowed down the advent of smart and terminally guided the areas of electronics and data process- but not stopped. In addition, new protec- ammunition, fire-and-forget missiles and ing enables the design of novel protection tion concepts for threats to be expected the increasing use of thermal imaging sys- systems – such as active active protection in the future (such as laser weapons, raids tems and mines with advanced ignition systems (ADS). Despite all advancements by drone swarms etc.) ought to be taken systems. The improvement of the protec- in smart protection systems, a solid basic into consideration and developed already tion against these threats required a more protection (armour) will always have to today. L

PRESENTS THE 7TH ANNUAL

25th-26th October 2017 London, United Kingdom Maintaining Advantage in Dynamic Tactical Environments

Introducing the speaker panel:

Colonel Nick Cowey, Lieutenant Colonel Eungsoon Jang, Major Nick Gregson, Lieutenant Colonel Refael Aviya, Major Peter Koliennikov, Assistant Head Close Andrea Bandieri, Director of Armored OIC of Enlisted Gunnery & Head of the Keshet Section, Company Commander, Field Artillery Combat Capability, ACOS Training Innovation Vehicle Project Team, Cannoneer Schools, Weaponry Department, And Rocket Forces Department, British Army HQ & Interoperability, South Korea Defense Acquisition US Marine Corps Israeli Ground Forces Ukrainian Army Italian Special Operations Forces Program Administration

2017 Sponsors

[email protected]  +44 (0)20 7036 1300 www.future-mortars.co.uk

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 111  INDUSTRY & MARKETS DSEI Preview – New Technology Poised to Enter Maritime Domain

Stefan Nitschke

Data provided by manufacturers make it possible to characterise major maritime defence equipment trends at DSEI 2017. Photo: AEUK

n 2013, European Union (EU) member naval training is going ‘high-tech’ in re- within the “comfort zone” much longer, Istates shipped some €25.98Bn worth of sponse to longer deployments and budg- since ship stability benefits enormously defence items over European borders, or etary restraints. Reduced manning levels on from the catamaran-type hull concept, 70.8% of the total European arms exports, modern surface warships mean individual thereby increasing the crew’s capabilities, according to the EU’s 16th Annual Report crew members have multiple roles and according to Thomas Haake, A&R’s Head on Arms Exports. Some of the lead import- tasks. Consequently, additional training of Naval Projects, at the DWT Marineform ers were key allies or trading partners, a slots are required. Training capabilities must in Linstow, Germany, last year. “We have to trend that continues until today. The Mid- therefore be fully independent of the ship take into consideration – more than in the dle East is the main non-EU destination of and other training hardware, further boost- past – conventional hullforms [monohull], EU arms exports, totalling €7.7Bn in 2013 ing shore-based training as provided by the meaning not to focus on SWATH trimarans and €8.22Bn in 2015, according to varying company’s Command Team Trainers. These only; but, to also focus on completely new sources. The facts show that naval tech- are embedded simulators that run on the propulsion technology.” nology was behind only land systems and ship’s installed equipment to provide real- A&R’s newest concept is called SWASH aerospace defence products. istic training for the bridge watch team in (Small Waterplane Area Single Hull). It is a Against the background of a changing se- all aspects of navigation, seamanship, and stabilised single hull vessel whose displace- curity environment, naval technology is go- ship handling. ment is in its central hull tube. ing to address new applications like cyber, There is also a tend in maritime forces “Industry has done a tremendous amount with noteworthy results. Industry notes choosing unconventional hullforms like of work in these fields and has achieved that naval ships can be equipped with a SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) a lot,” a key shipbuilding representative variety of subsystems with heterogeneous or ‘eco-friendly’ engines and ‘greener’ al- told ESD last July. Contrary to this, indus- security levels (e.g. navigation, propulsion, ternative fuels for surface platforms. MTU try sources have been less effusive, com- power supply, battle management sys- Friedrichshafen’s expertise in the field of plaining that, “a number of deals have tems, communications); but, there also is a ‘green ship’ technologies goes beyond been slow to be green-lighted,” while strong need to train ship crews more con- this with their most recent ‘Green Fleet’ some potential deals find it difficult to gain sistently. These measures can significantly programmes, with the aim to replace 50% government backing. A striking example reduce the threats that still emerge within of fossil fuels with synthesised bio-compo- is Germany’s reluctance over the acquisi- own ranks. Cyber training accounts for a nents. Alternative fuels with less fossil fuel tion of a shipboard drone, equipping Type significant chunk of the vibrant military content (target 50/50 blend) are well under K130 corvettes as a long-standing require- training and simulation market. way, but long-term experience is still to be ment. Despite the availability of a number Another crucial part of the equation, simu- gathered. of proven systems on the market, the Ger- lation and training is experiencing extraor- The SWATH technology innovated by man Navy Command and Parliamentary dinary achievements. “In this new age of Abeking & Rasmussen (A&R) in Germa- circles certainly do have a different view digitisation, it is even more [important] to ny is more expensive than other existing on the issue. train surface and submarine crews to per- technologies, but as it gives the necessary As to the modernisation of Europe’s current form in asymmetric threat scenarios that stability with a smaller hull length, the inventories of Maritime Patrol Aircraft are becoming to dominate the naval bat- cost of building such a ship is comparable (MPA), defence ministers of a number of tlespace,” an industry source suggested to to the cost of building a catamaran and NATO member states recently agreed in ESD. According to Rheinmetall Electronics, more economical than ordering a single- a Letter of Intent (LoI) to initiate evalua- hull ship. SWATH platforms can remain tions of successors for in-service MPAs,

112 European Security & Defence · September 2017

 INDUSTRY & MARKETS

predominantly BREGUET ATLANTIQUEs benefit from completely new propulsion ESD was told in July that DSEI will recognise and P-3C ORIONs. Here too, manufac- concepts. Data show that for the surface the “growing demand for integrated navi- turers do have mission-proven platforms ship sector, combined propulsion systems gation systems [aboard naval ships].” With on offer. This figure includes Saab, which like CODELAG (Combined Diesel Electric the SYNAPSIS Tactical Command System developed a new generation of its ERIEYE And Gas turbine), RENK’s newly developed (SYNTACS), Raytheon Anschütz was the airborne surveillance radar and integrat- low-noise AED (Advanced Electric Drive) first naval system integrator to offer such ed it on the Bombardier GLOBAL 6000 module or electric propulsion concepts are an integrated navigation and C2 system. ultra-long-range aircraft. In combination about to have significant effects on naval “Smart network architecture and inno- with a new command and control (C2) ship design at a world scale. Naval ship- vative system modules not only dramati- system, maritime surveillance radar, elec- builders like BAE Systems Marine, CMM cally reduce complexity, but also improve tronic warfare (EW) devices, and tactical Group, Damen Group, Fincantieri, Fr. Lürs- bridge system integration,” said Marketing data-links, this platform is now available sen Werft, Naval Group (formerly DCNS), Manager Martin Richter. “This way, ship to customers as the GLOBALEYE. and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems noted owners receive their ‘entrance ticket’ to that this major trend cannot be ignored. Navigation 4.0.” Veritable Engineering When looking at DSEI this year, it is pretty Naval use of unmanned systems also mat- Marvels much understood that new propulsion ters. “We’re moving UAV [unmanned technologies are becoming the new norm. aerial vehicle] technology from informa- As in previous years, DSEI 2017 is going to In fact, a look at the latest shipbuilding pro- tion-sharing to precision strike,” said Pe- attract international navies to showcase grammes indicates that next-generation ter Austermann, President of Global Busi- some of their surface assets in the Naval warships will be fitted with more advanced ness Development (GBD) headquartered Zone, with the dockside outside of ExCeL combined propulsors like CODOG (Com- in Niceville, Florida. There is a number of hosting up to eight warships – destroyers, bined Diesel Or Gas turbine) or CODAG UAVs available on the market, both rotary- frigates, corvettes, Offshore Patrol Ves- (Combined Diesel And Gas turbine), re- wing and fixed-wing types, which can be sels (OPVs) and mine countermeasures sulting in less ‘thirsty’ engines and lower operated from small-deck ships, a capabil- vessels – plus a number of rotary-wing exhaust emissions. The Royal Navy started ity that makes critical information available aircraft. The programme will also feature this revolution with its TYPE 45 destroyers to multiple users and levels of command, dynamic demonstrations daily, displaying kitted out with an all-electric propulsion and can predict the impact of sudden de- Photos: René Lipmann; GreenSea Systems Inc.

The STIDD DPD is the most widely used military-grade The openSea software suite provides a previously underwater mobility platform available on the market, unavailable autopilot feature, increasing DPD location seen here employed by the Netherlands Maritime Special accuracy and control. Operations Forces (NLMARSOF).

the remarkable capability of specialised system. “Platforms with new propulsion velopments on naval operations. He also boats and unmanned systems, together concepts, in conjunction with a higher points to small attack UAVs like AeroViron- with associated equipment. This all indi- level of ship automation [fewer personnel], ment’s SWITCHBLADE that comprises a cates that this year’s DSEI will function as will be the norm,” said Kai Glasebach, Sales Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) precision strike the ‘test bench’ for new, innovative ma- Director Navy & Governmental, at Schottel solution with minimal collateral effects. rine technology, an industry source quoted GmbH. “Industry shall examine completely This particular solution has been evaluated earlier this summer. Ship propulsion is just new technologies for high-tech platforms by the US Marine Corps. one item that intends to change the view like the OPV [Offshore Patrol Vessel]. Our An issue is the increasing use of unmanned of naval operations. Bernhard Vollmer, customer nations in [the] Asia-Pacific [re- surface vehicles (USVs). Different missions Head of Sales at RENK AG, suggested to gion] have first outlined this demand,” he require different USV performance char- ESD on 18 May that the naval sector might noted. acteristics, with smaller, but modular pay-

114 European Security & Defence · September 2017 INDUSTRY & MARKETS 

loads plus intelligent software tools playing a decisive role. A system in this category is the ARCIMS (ATLAS Remote Combined Influence Minesweeping System) from ATLAS Elektronik UK (AEUK) that can be deployed as a reconfigurable system with modular payloads for mine countermeas-

ures, hydrography, coastal ASW (Anti-Sub- Photo: Raytheon Anschütz GmbH marine Warfare), maritime security, and force protection. As read by AEUK’s fact sheet, ARCIMS functions as a “toolbox of capabilities for multi-influence minesweep- ing, minehunting, and other operations.” This new capability was demonstrated at UNMANNED WARRIOR 2016 (UMW16) in Scottish waters last October. Operators of unmanned underwater vehi- cles (UUVs) have the choice of using bet- ter software components for command, control, and navigation. STIDD Systems Inc. fitted its new Recon Navigation System 2 (RNAV2) to the Diver Propulsion Device (DPD). It is both modular and multirole in SYNTACS is an extension of the Command Bridge concept, integrating a character, with the capability of either ‘clip- versatile C2 solution with the capabilities of the IMO-certified Synapsis ping’ into the DPD control console, or for use integrated navigation system to add enhanced situational awareness in handheld mode. RNAV2 is powered by and a tactical common operating picture to the bridge system. powerful navigation control software from Vermont, USA-based GreenSea Systems unachievable with existing technology. ASW or Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW); Inc. This combination represents a break- All these technology ‘triumphs’ are ahead however, even the need for massive re- through in control and navigation previously of more traditional systems as used for juvenation of legacy systems or entire Source: The Netherlands Ministry of Defence

Pre-contract Cost savings on support Advisory newbuilding projects services Certification and quality assurance

YOUR RELIABLE PARTNER FOR NAVAL SHIPS Contact us: [email protected]

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 115  INDUSTRY & MARKETS Photos: Thales UK; SN

The AW101 MERLIN ASaC helicopter (left) replaces the ageing SEA KING Mk7 ASaC helicopter equipped with earlier variants of the SEARCHWATER and CERBERUS systems. The right-hand image shows the Thales SEARCHWATER workstations. domains like ASuW is not unheard of in Rheinmetall Defence’s or MBDA’s HELs ing technologies to maximise the detec- the naval community. As a consequence, can be employed to counter saturation tion of submerged threats in deep and there are currently plenty of programmes attacks by supersonic, sea-skimming anti- coastal waters. The manufacturer stated that call for better weapons and associ- ship missiles. A little bit more complicated that VENOM, “reduces operator workload ated sensors. The ‘first wave’ of weapons is the railgun technology currently being and alleviates size, weight, and power includes small-calibre, rapid-fire cannons eyed by a handful of navies, including concerns in the cramped cabins of modern and fully integrated, remote weapon sta- those of Germany, France, and the US. military aircraft.” tions (RWS), functioning as ‘last ditch’ defence weapon systems that can help Backfit is in Demand Conclusion improve ship survivability under all cir- cumstances. A number of competitors Retrofitting existing platforms – aircraft, Against the background of cyber as a bat- were emerging onto this market segment: surface ships, submarines – with newer tlespace domain, traditional warfare areas Aselsan (SMASH; STAMP); FN Herstal (Sea equipment is a major issue at DSEI this – ASuW, ASW and AAW – remain high deFNder RWS); Kongsberg Defence Sys- year. Sonar technology is one example. represented on the floor at DSEI. But there tems (Sea PROTECTOR); Leonardo (HI- Representatives of Wärtsilä ELAC Nautik are some major changes on the brink. Rus- TROLE family); MSI-Defence Systems (SIG- GmbH underlined that the company’s sia’s demonstration of military power in MA); Nexter Systems (NARWHAL); Rafael SCOUT mine/obstacle avoidance sonar the Baltic region, its increasing hybrid war- (Mini TYPHOON); Raytheon (PHALANX); can be installed on-board existing subma- fare abilities, continuing war within Syria, Rheinmetall Defence (MILLENNIUM; SEA- rines as some sort of a backfit. and the threat of terrorist activities have RANGE); Saab (TRACKFIRE); and SAGEM A major UK programme, the CROWSNEST shown Europe’s military capabilities are (SEA WASP). An independent survey of project aims to migrate the SEARCHWA- not where they want to be with respect naval RWS has revealed that both mod- TER SAR/GMTI (synthetic aperture radar/ to: long-range precision fires; sea-based ularity and agility of such weapons may ground moving target indicator) radar and and airborne EW; defence against cruise represent key criteria in the process of se- its associated mission system from the cur- missiles and unmanned aircraft; and cyber lecting the appropriate weapon. rent SEA KING platform onto the Leonar- protection. Large-calibre naval guns are the other side do EH101 MERLIN rotary-wing aircraft. As It is feared that some defence equipment of the medal. Two manufacturers, BAE told, all the Royal Navy’s 30 MERLIN HM.2 acquisitions will not deliver the capabilities Systems and Leonardo, are still dominat- helicopters will receive ‘fit-to-receive’ naval forces need fast enough to tackle ing this market segment. modifications to enable the rapid installa- rapidly emerging threats, also in the un- At the ‘higher end’ of the performance tion of the CROWSNEST mission package. derwater domain. As heard at many ex- spectrum are laser-based weapons. “We The new capability will enter operational hibition stands at the last edition of DSEI are not seeing widespread demand for service in 2018 when the last of the SEA in September 2015, navies “must act [shipboard] lasers, even high-energy lasers KING Mk7 AsaC (Airborne Surveillance & immediately,” to receive and adapt new (HEL) for short-range air defence,” naval Control) helicopters are retired. technology solutions from the commercial strategists said; but, laser-based weapons Revisiting naval aviation, in-service MPAs sector. This is not an easy task in times could be able to complement or replace can be retrofitted with new on-board of shrinking budgets; but, flexibility is key existing Close-in-Weapon Systems (CIWS) sensors and processing means. General and naval services must come up with in- on-board a smaller number of future war- Dynamics Canada developed the VENOM novative procurement procedures. In this ship classes. Their adoption will be some- airborne acoustic processing system that environment, sharing responsibilities with what sporadic. “In some cases, like the US was launched in 2013. It leverages com- allies is more important than ever. ‘Part- Navy, it will go quick, and in other cases, mercial-level advances in hardware and nership’ will thus be one of the buzzwords the navies won’t adapt that quickly.” the latest innovations in signal process- at this year’s DSEI. L

116 European Security & Defence · September 2017 5 & 6 December | Frankfurt Marriott Hotel | Frankfurt, Germany 6th Advanced Forum on US Defence Contracting & DFARS Compliance in Europe Develop your FAR and DFARS compliance strategies to secure valuable contracts, whilst managing increased regulatory oversight

Benchmark and Gain Practical Guidance on FAR and DFARS Compliance from: Addx (USA) Leidos (USA) Booz Allen Hamilton (USA) MorphoTrust USA LLC Draper Laboratories (USA) Nammo (Norway) Elmatica (Norway) New Century (Guernsey) Harris Corporation (USA) Orbital ATK Inc (USA) Inchcape Shipping Services (UK) Vectrus (Germany) Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (Norway)

For Mittler readers quote D15-999-MRV18 when registering and SAVE 15% [email protected] | +44 (0)20 7878 6888 | C5-Online.com/DFARS

Media Partners:

Join the Conversation C5Live_Trade #C5DFARS International Trade Compliance Experts  INDUSTRY & MARKETS “DSO is the front end, talking to ­customers.“

Interview with Stephen Phipson Head of DSO in the UK

Stephen Phipson is the Head of the Defence and Security Organisation (DSO) within the Department for International Trade (DIT). DSO is responsible for ensuring outstanding support to UK defence and security businesses seek- ing to export and develop joint ventures and partnerships overseas; and to

Photo: DSO overseas defence and security businesses seeking to invest in the UK.

ESD: Could you please comment on the It is getting a lot of cross-government in- completely new process the government status both commercially and technologi- terest, and we are starting to see good just introduced, primarily aimed at those cally on the UK’s SMEs? example of that actually working. Using SMEs. The process includes identifying Phipson: Well, the SME community in automation technology in new ships, for them, assisting them financially and mak- our defence sector is the bedrock of example, is a new way of thinking. Also in ing sure we are aware of them, so we can what we do, where most of the innova- the medical industry; they solved a specific proactively help with marketing, export- tion takes place. We have a little more problem that we also had in defence and ing and everything else. Second is the real than 10,000 SMEs in the defence sup- we were able to move that technology determination in Defence Procurement to ply chain in the UK, and the MoD has from one sector to another. get to the 20% figure I mentioned ear- a target to reach 20% of procurement There is a lot of encouragement and sup- lier. For many very small companies the directly through SMEs. Last year Michael port in government for SMEs. The Depart- MoD is a daunting bureaucratic prospect, Fallon launched the Defence and Security ment for International Trade through its so part of the process is to make that Accelerator which aims at encouraging General Export Support campaign – a great simpler and more straightforward. MOD more and more innovation from our SME campaign – has been able to provide lots of has made a lot of progress and is proud community, and we work very closely to advice, and we have a small business unit to be reaching the target – and they are support that community. It is quite hard in DSO that supports directly as many as reaching out to more and more SMEs on in large defence contracts overseas for SMEs as we can. We work with the rest of a direct basis. We have a role to play in SMEs to compete and directly export the community, trade bodies like ADS and terms of match-making, making sure we themselves, and with government con- others to reach out to as many companies have the right SMEs with programmes tracts you tend to be asked for bid bonds as possible, much of that support means and primes. For exports, more and more and performance bonds and so on that introducing them to the right primes. consortia are forming with lots of SMEs make it difficult for small companies. We in them, which is really good to see, but make sure they are teamed up appropri- ESD: National technological ingenu- it is not just about contractors doing it ately and DSO are working hard to intro- ity and creativity seem to an extent to themselves: getting the best possible in- duce SMEs to the right primes who can have been masked by a failure or lack of novation into a solution which has MOD take on those prime contracts and mak- interest in getting to market, especially approval, helping those SMEs meet the ing sure we have the latest innovations as with very small companies. Do you offer right people – that’s part of our role. part of our toolbox. broader, underlying marketing support to A recent quite important development is such companies? ESD: From a slightly bigger perspective: we are increasingly seeing SMEs from oth- Phipson: Two things are designed to ad- how does the UK’s security policy impact er non-defence-related sectors coming in dress this. First is the Defence and Se- the country’s defence and security indus- with great solutions. In the automotive curity Accelerator, a GB£850M over the try? sector, for example, commercial answers term of the parliament, reaching out to Phipson: We are more and more “joined can be highly relevant to defence, and as many innovative companies as possi- up” on the security side. Recent events there are new ways of thinking about ad- ble, challenging them and enabling them have led to a really close community vanced technologies in other sectors that to come back, on a funded basis, with working across government with all the we can use more effectively in defence. ideas. It’s a very important new step: a agencies involved to create a coherent

118 European Security & Defence · September 2017 INDUSTRY & MARKETS 

UK approach – and I would contend defence sectors, and lessons we have in the other direction. In the MOD we’ve that we are probably one of the most learned and capabilities we have devel- got the most open and transparent pro- joined-up governments in the world in oped in the Defence sector are being curement activity in the world and as a this respect. We are regularly asked for applied more broadly into the Security result of that lots of companies are at- advice by other countries which is an sector. tracted to come in. important starting point in terms of our ESD: With due regard for the hypotheti- ESD: The UK’s and therefore, DSO’s op- policy. Regarding exports, Security is one cal nature of the question, what is the timum relationship with foreign defence of our growing sectors, doing very well likely impact of Brexit on the UK’s de- manufacturers going ahead: what will with about a 10% increase at slightly over fence companies? that be? GB£4Bn per year. Phipson: Of course, it is very difficult to Phipson: I think we are going away from Other countries particularly value our say what is going to happen at the end the traditional approach of developing a expertise in integrating security systems: of the process. We don’t know. But if we capability and then highlighting where we we are very good at that. Many border look at Europe as a defence market for want to cooperate militarily with another protection schemes bought and funded the UK, it is important, but relatively small nation and then trying to stimulate inter- by national governments were tradi- – about 7% of our exports. It is our fo- operability by selling the same capability tionally run by armed forces with lots of cus on NATO that is important, and some to them. Now we see trends of countries personnel, but now with technological European countries have the same, so we developing their indigenous defence man- solutions – ground-based radar systems, work together at the NATO Alliance level ufacturing capability. Consider Turkey, Ko- surveillance systems, space-based sys- which I think goes beyond trade negotia- rea, Japan, the UAE. This might seem to tems – UK integration expertise is in high tions on Brexit. We are firmly of the belief be a threat but it is actually a good oppor- demand: it’s a key strength. that this survives the Brexit discussions. tunity. An example is the Turkish fighter The other is innovation. Security is prob- One result so far is that we many other development programme, TFX. We are ably one of the areas of highest innova- countries come to us wanting to be close saying to those countries: we will help tion. We are without doubt the world partners, so we have a kind of “boost” of you to develop your indigenous industry leader in aviation security – we provide countries looking to form closer defence and platforms, using British technology, a substantial part of US aviation secu- links because they see an opportunity to in a world where we can transfer intellec- rity, and at Heathrow, one of our pre- benefit from any separation. All of that tual property under controlled conditions; mier airports, you will see some of the is on the positive side, where we see the and we encourage joint ventures and the latest security systems, with complete effects of the current negotiations with use of the UK supply chain, together in situational awareness: we are very, very the EU. Of course there are risks for the partnership. We can be talking about bil- good at that. Carriers and so on We learned a lot from the 2012 Olympics, if we don’t form which were probably a pivotal moment the right trade in having a coherent approach across all agreements, but of government, and as a result lots of we can’t comment systems and processes are working bet- on that because we ter. Many countries have come to ask don’t know the an- how to implement them themselves, and swers. Testing for knowledge thinking about major games – the Qatar Also, in Europe is World Cup, the Tokyo Olympic Games, that we have some the Panamanian games – they all present very strong co- opportunities for our companies. development pro- Our real differentiator is providing an grammes that have integrated security solution, whether in been going on for aviation, borders, major games or any many years. If you other large activities. Our networked po- look at Eurofight- lice capability is considered to be the best er, for example, in the world, building on how we run that is not going to our operation centres and join together end in two years’ many systems to give the police a com- time: it’s a very plete integrated picture: this is the thing strong alliance be- that really makes us stand out against tween countries competition. under separate For Defence our most important alliance treaty. Look at is NATO. Sir Michael Fallon (Secretary of missile production See us at Stand No. N2-220 State for Defence) speaks about NATO – complex weap- The Swedish Pavilion and interoperability all the time; our focus ons, MBDA, other at DSEI, Sept 12–15, 2017 goes to NATO. And a lot of the integra- arrangements be- tion technologies we use in the security tween countries Explore our sector are defence technologies. A word across Europe – we I like to use with the CEOs of the large absolutely believe Test Ranges in Sweden defence companies is “convergence”. those things will We are going through a process of con- go from strength vergence between the security and the to strength, not go

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 119  INDUSTRY & MARKETS Image: TAI DSO supports a number of countries to develop their indigenous industry and platforms, using British technology. An example is the Turkish fighter development programme, TFX. lions of Pounds of value, and we’re also already developed or that we can modify Some great market research has come developing latest-generation technology very quickly, in really close partnership out of it and we’re developing some re- which will take us forward too. That is the with the MoD. ally interesting strategies for individual future rather than trying to sell something The DGP is about getting a longer-term countries. Our overseas partners like the we developed ourselves. There are many view in terms of these opportunities; concept because they’re seeing the best examples, such as the ship campaigns in which small number of countries can we 90% of UK industry: the DGP includes Canada and Australia, so it’s a growing focus on to be able to develop a long- not only the major companies but also trend. The winners will be people offer- term capability partnership? Our defence the SMEs and the trade associations. It is ing support to build up indigenous capa- industry, working as a team instead of as a really good way forward, and a pretty bilities: “Make in India” is all about future competitors, together with the UK gov- good thing. DSO is the front end, talking contracts that will be part of the largest ernment, can say to a country: “Can we to customers. We did it with TFX, but defence acquisition programmes over the help you to develop your next generation now the question is: Can we do it with next 10 years, and we will be able to set capability?” It’s a really strong proposition. other countries? up and partner with Indian companies and The structure of DGP is two parts: the provide technology and jobs locally, and Defence Solutions Centre in Farnbor- ESD: Training and simulation must sure- also use our expertise and supply chain to ough, where industry gets together for ly be one of the growth areas the DSO fill any gaps. Strategies built around that initial market research: which countries would want to be involved in. Any com- are a really significant trend and I think that will have what challenges over the next ment on that? is the future. Countries unable or unwilling 15 years? How does that match up with Phipson: Absolutely! – More and more will lose out, so we think taking a forward our capabilities in the UK? What long- of what we are doing with overseas position, with all the right controls around term opportunity can we get? Then countries is about setting up their own it, is how to win in the end and keep the there is the DSO part, which comprises facilities: I see a very good market for fast number 2 exporting position. building a team from industry that looks jet trainers, in terms of actually setting at the 5 to 15 year period to identify up pilot training facilities. We are pretty ESD: Please tell us your view of the De- which issues might come from the 36 good at training military officers, and we fence Growth Partnership program? core countries: Which 3 or 4 do we want often find our best partners have been Phipson: This is really positive! As a gov- to concentrate on to do co-development trained at Sandhurst or RCDS. “Defence” ernment agency our export opportunity going forward? Which partners and al- is pretty flat with small growth, depend- horizon is about five years. We measure lies that we currently trade with would ing on the year, but training is growing ourselves and we plan based on oppor- be willing, and would really want, the quite substantially – and simulation in tunities that we identify in core markets, UK to work with them on long-term ca- particular. In terms of exhibitions the is- working on a 5 year rolling cycle. We pability development? What I and the sue always is limited resources: we always work closely with overseas governments, ministers like about it is that we have have to make choices about where we and we are converting over 50% of the CEOs of industry around the table pre- go. If I had more money I would do train- net funds we’ve identified so it’s a really paring and working together. Normally ing in a heartbeat. good, solid process. But the 5 year time- that is quite a challenging environment: The interview was conducted by line means it works with things we have they are not all best friends at all times! Stephen Barnard.

120 European Security & Defence · September 2017 CROWSNEST The Strike Carrier’s Eye in the Sky

CROWSNEST is the name for the project to provide a new airborne early warning system for the Royal Navy. SEA KING Mk 7 helicopters operated by 849 Naval Air Squadron currently operate in this role and provide what is now called Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC). They are the last SEA KING remaining active in UK service but are due to retire in 2018, by which time this type will have served for nearly 50 years.

The Common Sense Solution have added risk, time and cost, as well as adding an aircraft the CROWSNEST will not involve the purchase of any new aircraft. UK does not (yet) possess to the inventory. Instead, the RN will receive 10 equipment kits for fitting to The correct choice has probably been made, but the UKMoD some of its 30 MERLIN HM2s. The GBP269M contract for these spent more than 17 years and some GBP40M on the CROWS- kits was finally placed in January 2017 (including GBP£9M NEST project in an excessively drawn out “assessment phase”. In worth of spares). Development of the system has been under- stark contrast, the original helicopter-borne AEW concept was way for some time and flying trials have started. The project will developed on a shoestring in just 11 weeks and rushed into ser- provide work for more than 200 people in the UK; Lockheed vice in the wake of Falklands War. Martin (Havant), Thales (Crawley) and Leonardo Helicopters (Yeovil). In Service, in Time, Mind the Gap The first CROWSNEST kit is due to be delivered in October 2018 and fitted to an operational aircraft by June 2019. Initial Operat- ing Capability for the ASaC MERLINS will be in 2020, although

Image: Thales probably only 2 or 3 aircraft. Effectively there will be a ‘capability gap’, where the RN has no operational AEW capability, between 2018 and 2020. 824 Naval Air Squadron trains ASW MERLIN aircrew and will also take on ASaC training. Nearly 850 NAS personnel have already begun to convert from the SEA KING to the MERLIN, ready for the new CROWSNEST aircraft in 2018. Full Operating Capability for CROWSNEST (Ideally at least 6 aircraft and trained aircrew) should be achieved in early 2022, slightly ahead of the FOC for HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Carrier Strike role in 2023. Computer-generated image of a MERLIN Mk2 with the CROWSNEST surveillance system fitted to the side of the helicopter Kits not Aircraft With just 30 MERLIN HM2 airframes available to the RN, it is The CROWSNEST system is an evolution of the well-proven CER- unfortunate that the CROWSNEST aircraft will have to be drawn BERUS tactical sensor suite and the SEARCHWATER 2000 radar from this fleet. To add to the pressures and delays, each HM2 that currently equips the SEA KING Mk7s. The radar is mounted will have to be withdrawn from service while Leonardo spends in an inflatable bag on the port side of the helicopter and can around 15 weeks adding wiring and mountings for the CROWS- be raised by rotating through 90° for landing. The CROWSNEST NEST kit. Fitting out all 30 aircraft will have to be spread over system will employ a slightly adapted mounting but will work in several years. a similar way. The CERBERUS system has successfully evolved over Theoretically, the CROWSNEST kit can be installed in any MER- many years and is able to monitor up to 600 contacts simulta- LIN in a process that should take around 24 hours: a MERLIN neously. The SEARCHWATER radar is able to “look down” and changing from the ASW role to ASaC will have its dipping sonar, track small, fast-moving targets over land and water or “look up” sonobuoy carousel and ASW consoles replaced with the ASaC and track multiple aircraft. The “baggers” as the ASaC helicop- equipment. It is expected that between 6 and 8 MERLINs will ters are affectionately called, proved their worth in Afghanistan, have the ASaC kit fitted at any one time, with spares available clocking up 3,000 flying hours and over 800 missions providing at sea, which offers some useful flexibility as the carriers will over-watch for NATO forces on the ground. At sea they have suc- need continuous ASaC capability most of the time. Switching cessfully provided reassurance for the RN and its allies in multiple precious ASaC platforms to ASW (or vice versa) is far from ideal: operations since 1982. the MERLIN may have lower maintenance requirements than the The exact details of the range and capabilities of the new sys- SEA KING, but 13 aircraft are being replaced by 6-8 kits, fitted to tem are obviously not in the public domain but it will feature aircraft in the existing fleet – another significant and unwelcome an improved human interface, better target identification and fall in the total number of available airframes. hardening against electronic jamming. The UKMoD has selected CROWSNEST will be a small upgrade in capability, but having a very low-risk and affordable solution, building upon existing proved very useful in non-maritime environments, RAF ISTAR as- technology and fitting it on an aircraft that is already in service sets are stretched and our aircraft carriers need proper protection. that will not need a new logistics or training pipeline. There is a very strong case for expanding the number of aircraft, In the current fiscal climate, MERLIN/CERBERUS was the only the obvious solution being to use the 10 “spare” MERLIN HM1 realistic option. Lockheed Martin had proposed a more sophisti- airframes in mothballs, even if they are not upgraded to HM2 cated MERLIN-based option using a podded AESA radar, derived standard. Even the very modest funds to refurbish these aircraft from the F-35, but it was obviously more expensive. Many would do not seem to be available and the Service is again obliged to have liked to have seen a V-22 OSPREY-based ASaC solution, the compromise its capabilities due to budgets. tilt-rotor aircraft potentially offering better range and surveillance This report, lightly edited, is reproduced courtesy of coverage, but unfortunately this is only paper concept and would www. savetheroyalnavy.org

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 121  INDUSTRY & MARKETS Climate Management on Naval Vessels HVAC and CBRN Protection Systems

Dieter Stockfisch

The ability of a naval vessel to deploy as an integrated system and eration. The “citadel” is the part of the ship which is supplied with protective air, remain deployed is based to no small degree on properly functioning in other words filtered air which is free of and effective climate control. CBRN elements. Most other navies work on the concept of “change over”. With this approach, the vessels are operated openly under regular conditions, and only hat imposes immense demands on the function of CBRN protection, shielding the in threat situations they switch into citadel Tclimate control systems on naval ves- crew and the material of the vessel against operation, known as Closed Ship Mode. sels: They must withstand shocks and vi- chemical, biological, radiological and nu- In the scope of the Class 125 frigate pro- brations far beyond normal, with minimum clear threats. gramme the German Navy has raised the noise emissions, the capacity to function In order to provide permanent CBRN protection requirements for the ship as a in environments ranging from the Baltic to protection and unlike the units of most whole, and this is clearly reflected in the the tropics, intensive utilisation capability, other navies the ships of the German Navy climate control technology. An intense low maintenance costs, and much more are equipped with what is referred to as utilisation capacity and reduction in crew besides. In addition to the HVAC (Heat- permanent protective air climate control numbers in concert with the new multi- ing, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) per- (DSK). The vessel is permanently operated crew concept has brought along new formance functions usually provided on at an over-pressure by means of the CBRN challenges for the design of the climate civilian ships, naval vessels require the vital protection stations, known as citadel op- management systems. Among other fac- Image: Royal Navy

The two aircraft carriers of the British Royal Navy’s QUEEN ELIZABETH Class

122 European Security & Defence · September 2017 INDUSTRY & MARKETS 

tors, a reduction of maintenance intervals and MTBF analyses (Mean Time Between Failures) constitute priorities for the design of the HVAC system. A company which has successfully de- signed and built HVAC systems in re- sponse to such challenges for decades is Hamburg-based AERIUS Marine GmbH. The company is a leading specialist in sys- tems for climate control and fire protection on naval vessels and cruise ships alike. AE- RIUS Marine has its roots in the company

(Photo: BAAINBw) Rud. Otto Meyer, which was established in The BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG, FoC of the German Navy’s four Class F125 1858, and which supplied heating systems frigates for the ships of the German Imperial Navy. Since then, AERIUS Marine has developed into a concern operating on a worldwide scale, with 450 staff members in Germany, France, Great Britain, and India. Plans for the current year include the establishment

Photo: AERIUS Marine of new branches, AERIUS Marine Canada and AERIUS Marine Australia. About 50 percent of AERIUS’ total turnover today is generated from naval programmes. In this context, as part of its commitment AERIUS Marine not only considers the supply for new building programmes, but rather support during the entire life cycle of the ships. An in-house ILS department (Integrated Logistic Support) provides the customer with spares, maintenance, ob- solescence management etc. and is fully integrated in the design process for instal- lations and systems at AERIUS. AERIUS Marine can look back on more than just vast experience in the scope of more than 50 cruise ship programmes. When it comes to naval shipbuilding, AE- AERIUS Marine ventilator fan module for the F125 frigate. Up to ten RIUS Marine’s expertise is based on experi- modules are installed per unit. ence from both the German and numerous international navies. The company is an ex- pert in all kinds of CBRN systems. Recent references include the Class F124 and F125 frigates and the task group support ship (EGV) BONN for the German Navy. Since

Photo: AERIUS Marine 2004 AERIUS Marine has been fitting out the new aircraft carriers QUEEN ELIZA- BETH and PRINCE OF WALES for the Royal Navy with turnkey HVAC/CBRN installa- tions, as well as the cold water systems, including the chillers and heating systems. For the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigate programme, AERIUS Marine is the single- source service provider for the develop- ment and construction of the HVAC/CBRN system. The naval portfolio is rounded off by orders in Poland (OPV) and in India, where a fleet support vessel is being fit- ted out with climate control and ventilation systems, as well as with the chillers. And for the Israeli Navy, AERIUS Marine is equip- ping four corvettes with fire protection by way of low-pressure water mist systems Climate control centre of a cruise ship and gas fire extinguishing installations. L

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 123  INDUSTRY & MARKETS

Q&A: ity parameters. Another very specific mission profiles, such as operations in the example which sets us apart from the North Sea and the Baltic. Likewise, the competition is our ability to handle lo- maintenance concepts and the degree of gistically more complex naval projects. automation were oriented around criteria For instance, we handled the equipping which originated from the forms of op- of the blocks of the British aircraft car- eration from Cold War days. With today’s riers at six dockyards in Great Britain. mission profiles for the vessels, however, Photo: AERIUS Marine With a material flow with peak values which are manifestly less clear-cut with of more than €2 million per month, the regard to region as well as content, the logistics demands could only be met by demands on the climate control systems our processes and systems, which are have fundamentally altered in the past tried and trusted in the building of cruise few years. In principle, use anywhere ships and have really proved their worth. in the world is specified, which means When it comes to the German Navy pro- complete and continuous cooling and jects, too, this complex form of manage- dehumidification, and not just ventilation ment using different dockyards, which and heating, and, among other things, often operate in very different ways, is involves considerable challenges with re- Thomas P. Arlit, CEO of AERIUS becoming normal practice, such as with gard to the spatial integration of these Marine GmbH the task force support ship BONN. additional part systems. In every respect, the significance of what might be referred ESD: What sets AERIUS Marine apart ESD: What challenges must AERIUS Ma- to as intensive utilisation capacity for the from other companies on the market? rine overcome in the conception and in- Class 125 frigates has exceeded all expec- Arlit: For more than 20 years we have stallation of its systems? tations. The operating costs are increas- been almost exclusively involved with Arlit: As system integrators, we ensure ingly playing a part, too, since after the fitting out naval and cruise ships. We that a very large number of climate control propulsion systems the climate manage- have focused on these market seg- components and modules, which are to ment systems are the largest consuming ments because climate control is mis- be found in every nook and cranny of the elements on board a naval vessel. Here, sion critical for both classes of vessels. ship, are seamlessly integrated with both AERIUS Marine can transfer experience On a cruise ship, the quality of the cli- the climate management element as well from the cruise ship sector, where energy mate control technology influences the as with all of the ship’s systems. For exam- efficiency has long played a major part. tourists’ experience of the ship, and on ple, if everything except the climate con- And, not least, I would also like to men- a naval vessel our systems are responsi- trol technology were to be masked out of tion that the criterion of comfort is also ble, for example, for protecting the crew a 3D model of a vessel, the representation becoming more significant. True, as be- against CBRN threats. Unlike other gen- of the ducting and piping networks would fore, a frigate is not a cruise ship, but the eralists, the fact that we have focused still provide a complete image of the ship’s crew can still expect today’s systems to in this way means that we have a vast contour. The ducting and pipework of an provide a certain degree of comfort with range of knowledge as to how a naval average frigate alone weigh about 140 regard to regulation control, low noise vessel is operated, and what demands tonnes, and are about eight to ten kilo- levels, exclusion of draughts, and so on. and challenges are going to be imposed metres in length. This results not only in In years to come, the development that on our climate control systems. With- the challenges already mentioned for ma- ships should be able to be used univer- out this understanding, climate control terial logistics, but also calls for immense sally, and are able to be operated more technology will always be a dark horse co-ordination of interfaces with almost all effectively and more easily, is going to in the ship as an integrated system, the other areas of work at every phase be paramount. We are meeting this de- difficult to integrate, and incapable of of the ship’s construction. Our work may velopment by modularisation, automa- supporting the mission of the ship and represent only about three to five percent tion and the application of decentralised its crew. Another difference is that we of the total costs of the vessel, but it has concepts. Another trend is undoubtedly can offer our customers turnkey pro- an over-proportional significance and going to be the mixed use of specially duction. In other words, we cover the importance, due to its presence through- introduced parts and what are known as entire chain, from preliminary studies to out the ship, and due to the number of COTS equipment (Commercial Off The design, from component procurement interfaces involved. Added to that is the Shelf, i.e. civil standard components) for and logistics to installation and commis- issue of modifications, which ushers in a areas which, with regard to the type of sioning. And after the delivery of the further level of complexity for our project use, do not necessarily need to be ap- ship the support continues by way of management. plied the demanding navy standards. our ILS team. For example, we have just In these cases we can score points with received the order to ensure spare parts ESD: Where is the development of cli- our experience from the construction of supply, obsolescence management, mate control systems for naval vessels cruise ships because, up to now, cost- conversions, training, documentation, heading? performance considerations have always and so on for a number of classes of Arlit: With classes of ships of which the been more sharply in focus than in naval vessels of a European navy. Control will conceptual origin lies in the 1980’s and shipbuilding. be maintained on the basis of availabil- 1990’s, the demands on the climate con- The questions were asked by trol systems were based on quite specific Dieter Stockfisch.

124 European Security & Defence · September 2017 INTELLIGENCE FOR THE INTELLIGENT

 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY An Overview of Trends and Developments in Decontamination

Dan Kaszeta

CBRN weapons and agents can cause either short-term or long-term contamination. Decontamination, is the (hopefully) orderly and systematic removal of liquid and solid contaminants. Decontamination is necessary to reduce casualties, to prevent the spread of contamination to clean areas, to return vital equipment to service and to allow for operations to be performed without the need to wear cumbersome protective equipment. a 7.90 econtamination is an essential compo - nent of CBRN defence, both in terms taries must assume that the use European Security D of CBRN and methods to deal with contaminated of doctrine and technology. Most modern weapons will result in something getting militaries place great emphasis on “con dirty somewhere. rooms and building, or things that are

D tamination avoidance” by using detection,- From the viewpoint of technology and in harmed by more traditional wet methods, - hazard prediction, and reporting systems to dustry, it is useful to break decontamina such as aircraft interiors and electronics. European - tion into three segments: hardware, chem Numerous companies provide generic ma - teriel such as tents and hoses, but this is- a segment too broad and non-specialised to examine here. There is ample opportunity & & Defence for crossover in this market as a customer can easily buy one company’s sprayer and (Photo: USMC) use it with another company’s chemistry. Security There’s nothing stopping a customer from spraying Cristanini decontamination agent or soapy water with, say, an OWR sprayer.

Systems and Chemicals from ES the 80s and 90s 2/2017 • Politics Decontamination is an example of a portion & Defence of the CBRN space which resists dominance by US companies. Non-US firms are quite International Security and Defence Journal a large segment of the decontamination industry. Whereas the detection market is heavily driven by a series of major US mili tary procurements, decontamination has- • Armed Forces not been as seriously influenced in recent years. US acquisition has been largely fol Decontamination training of the US Marine Corps with the M26 Joint - Service Transportable Decontamination System. lowing the market rather than leading it. In both hardware and chemistry, the US minimize the amount of personnel, terrain, Army is still heavily reliant on systems and and equipment that are contaminated by istry and fumigation are distinct segments. generic chemicals purchased in the 1980s persistent agents. Some militaries, such as Some companies operate in a single seg and 1990s. These include the large M12 • Economy ment; others operate in all three. - and M17 decontamination sprayers, which the UK’s, place a high premium on contam - The hardware segment is largely composed the author learned to use in 1993 as a jun ination avoidance, with the aim of much - of sprayers, pumps, dispensers and ancillary ior officer. Indeed, the US Defense Depart lower costs for protection and decontami - nation. However, no avoidance measures- hardware for dispensing either proprietary ment investment and procurement in the can completely assure that soldiers, equip or generic decontaminants. decontamination space is somewhat low ment or vehicles are not contaminated. -Mili The chemistry segment comprises a variety compared to other areas of CBRN defence. - of wet and dry substances used to remove, While the US government is spending • Technology ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY absord, adsorb, and/or neutralize contami money on research and development in Author nants. Some products work through multi- this area, very little is being spent on actual ple mechanisms. Some chemistry products- procurement. The last major investments Dan Kaszeta is Managing Director at are designed for use on equipment, while were the Joint Service Transportable Decon Strongpoint Security Ltd. - Naval Missile Evolutionary Trendsothers are designed for use on human skin. tamination System (JSTDS), a procurement The fumigation segment includes systems which commenced ten years ago, and the adoption of Reactive Skin Decontamination David Saw 66 European Security & Defence · March 2017 Naval missile systems in the context of anti-ship and air defence systems are undoubtedly a broad area to cover, but there is obviously linkage between offensive and defensive naval missile systems.

Superficially, it might seem that the naval missileumbr_ESD_02_2017.indd market place 66 is characterised by limited, incremental improvements. (delivered in 2011), further missiles were supplied in 2013 leading to an Israeli air -raid single C-802/NOOR (Iranian version of the- 15.03.17 11:52 Chinese C-802 system) fired from a Hezbol on the Latakia warehouse where the mis or example, work on the EXOCET anti- siles were stored on the basis that the new ship missile started in France in 1967 lah coastal battery. F Then there is the example of the Iranian- missiles were to be passed on to Hezbollah. and the first MM38 EXOCET, with a range Now Hezbollah has the YAKHONT, though of 70 km, entered service in 1973. While- supported Houthi rebels in Yemen, who in October 2016 successfully attacked an it is unknown whether they have complete EXOCET is still in production today, the lat Bastion systems or will configure their own est variant (the MM40 Block 3) is a far more Incat high-speed catamaran leased to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) military with coastal defence system, something they formidable system with a maximum range are capable of achieving. Why is this im- in the region of 180 km. It might still be - anti-ship missiles fired from a shore battery. - portant? YAKHONT presents a formidable called EXOCET, but it is designed to incor- The Houthi then tried to engage a US Navy destroyer later that month, but were de threat to Israeli naval units, merchant ship porate a whole series of advanced technol traffic heading to or from Israel will have to ogies that were simply inconceivable when be routed away from the range envelope of YAKHONT, and Israeli gas extraction platforms in the eastern Mediterranean

can be targeted by the missile. This is a big Photo: MBDA Systems MBDA Photo: (3,000 kg on launch), high speed (up to - Mach 2.5) missile capable of inflicting sig Assault Rifles nificant damage on maritime targets. The YAKHONT missile has a solid-propellant booster for launch and then uses a ramjet, guidance is via an inertial navigation system ESD – with a Granit-Elektron seeker offering both active and passive modes for the terminal

ISSN 1617-7983 phase of the engagement. Maximum range is out to some 290 km (dependent on flight- profile selected). However, the Russian ver sion of the missile, the P-800 ONIKS, has a range of some 600 km. Russia deployed BASTION-P coastal defence missile systems- to Syria last year, where the system dem for the step onstrated its land attack capabilities. The YAKHONT has also been acquired by the Indonesian Navy in a four-missile vertical- EXOCET MM40 Block 3 is the new generation long range anti-ship - launch system (VLS) installation on a single missile system from MBDA. feated by the defensive systems of the de AHMAD YANI class (ex-Royal Netherlands Navy VAN SPEYK class) frigate, OSWALD- the original EXOCET programme started. stroyer. At end of January this year, a Royal Saudi Navy frigate patrolling off Yemen SIAHAN. According to the US Office of Na The point to remember is to look beyond val Intelligence, Iran is currently negotiating the name in naval missile programmes. was hit in the stern by a Houthi suicide boat beyond thought attack, showing another development in to acquire the YAKHONT missile to use in a

www.euro-sd.com • - coastal defence application. the asymmetric threat faced by navies.  ARMED FORCES • Proliferation Issues YAKHONT also provides the basis for - Mention must also be made of further de BRAHMOS, the joint missile programme There are also other factors that are impact velopments in terms of asymmetric threat in the Middle East, with Hezbollah in Leba- between India and Russia. BrahMos ing on the evolution of the naval missile en- Aerospace, a joint venture between NPO- vironment. The first of these is proliferation, non once more involved. Hezbollah is now Belgian- Mashinostroyenia of Modernisation Russia and the In Plans in not in the context of recognised navies, but credited with being in possession of the dian Defence Research & Development t h a l e s g r o u p . c o m / s m a r t - l Brazilian Air Force Protecting Naval Vessels leadership in the development of an asymmetric anti- P-800 YAKHONT missile (NATO designa Organisation (DRDO) was established in ship missile threat from non-state actors. tor SS-N-26 Strobile) usually the missile is Planning, budgets and major procurement programmes Threats, concepts and systems employed as part of the Bastion-P coastalCooperation 1998 and the first BRAHMOS missile waswith The Netherlands The first example of this was the 14 July defence missile system. Russia has already fired in 2001. Since then, the missile has

March 2017 2006 attack on INS HANIT, A SA’AR 5 class corvette of the Israeli Navy, some 18.5 km supplied Syria with the BASTION-P systemJaime Karremann off the Lebanese coast. HANIT was hit by a In 2016, Belgium and The Netherlands embarked on a large bi-national naval programme which will result SMART-L EWC. · March 2017 38 European Security & Defence in at least 16 new naval vessels. Moreover, Belgium wants to equip its new frigates with missiles that can Politics · Armed Forces · Procurement · Technology intercept ballistic missiles in space. 15.03.17 11:51 Innovative radar solutions en years ago the first of two Belgian umbr_ESD_02_2017.indd 38 M-frigates, BNS LEOPOLD I, was Belgium and the frigates in The Nether T - commissioned for the Naval Component lands. The four frigates underwent the gian and Dutch ships frequently exercise in to counter threats titel_ESD_02_2017.indd 1 15.03.17 11:45 same mid-life upgrade in Den Helder. On a combined group of ships. The Next Step Wherever safety and security matter, we deliver As the M-frigates and minehunters ap Photo: BAF proach the end of their service life, bi-na- tional cooperation in replacing the ships - had been anticipated. But when Brussels announced new budget cuts in early PROVEN TECHNOLOGY 2015, this cooperation was in doubt. The The newest addition to the Thales family budget cuts caused deep concerns in The of multi-beam surveillance radars INTERNATIONAL CO OPERATION Netherlands, because a cancellation of In line with NATO’s plans for the Belgian procurement would have had international Ballistic Missile Defence enormous consequences for the Dutch Navy. However, in late 2015 Belgium de - cided to invest €9.4M until 2030. The RAPID DETECTION investment plan included two new frig Early Warning Capability for split- - Belgium and The Netherlands ordered the same NH-90 helicopter. ates and six new mine countermeasures second missile launch detection vessels. The decision came as a relief for the Bel of the Belgian Armed Forces. The frig - ate had served for 16 years in the Roy - top of that the military staff of the two na gian and the Dutch navies. But quite a - al Netherlands Navy as HNLMS KAREL - vies are combined, the Admiral Benelux is few challenges remain. Although the two the Commander of the Royal Netherlands navies are in fact merged, the procure DOORMAN. When the second Belgian - M-frigate followed one year later, the Navy and the position of Deputy Admi ment processes are very different. When - programme was completed and an im ral Benelux is held by the Commander of Belgium decided to replace the eight EFFECTIVE DEPLOYMENT EUROPEAN SECURITY & DEFENCE is a specialist magazine portant milestone was reached. From - the Belgian Naval Component. Of course, ships, The Netherlands had already con SMART-L EWC can be installed - then on, Belgium and The Netherlands both navies cooperate closely at sea. Bel ducted studies on the new ships, even on any frigate-sized vessel - operated the same frigates, the same though a Dutch political decision on the TRIPARTITE minehunters and had or dered the same NH-90 helicopter. - To operate with identical equipment was an important goal for the two na tracking events and developments in the defence and security arena. - Photo: MoD Belgium vies which have cooperated closely since ANTI AIR WARFARE CAPABILITY 1948. Especially in the last decade, the The world’s best long-range two navies have cooperated in all do naval surveillance radar mains and on all levels. Belgian and Dutch- navy personnel are trained in bi-national schools in both countries. Dutch and Bel gian minehunters receive maintenance in- Millions of critical decisions are made every day by Navies to protect Author valuable assets from potential threats. Thales is at the heart of this with the early warning SMART-L EWC and S1850 volume search radars. One of the magazine’s objectives is to describe, explain and interpret European Jaime Karremann Famous for their impressive range, low false alarm rate and capability is the editor- in-chief of the Dutch naval website to detect small targets, they provide early warning and highly accurate marineschepen.nl. tracking information to sea and land-based effectors. Additionally, for The TRIPARTITE minehunters are the first ships to be replaced by the Ballistic Missile Defence, Thales has developed Early Warning Dutch and the Belgian navies. Capability to increase the radars’ performance to detect and track a ballistic missile. Every moment of every day, wherever safety and 30 European Security & Defence and transatlantic security policy – which extends far beyond conventional · March 2017 security are critical, Thales delivers. Search: Thalesgroup

umbr_ESD_02_2017.indd 30

15.03.17 11:51 defence with military forces – in all its complex and sophisticated correlations. SMARTL14_English_C38846.018_297x210_Mar17_EuroSecDef_v1.indd 1

08/03/2017 11:03 EUROPEAN SECURITY & DEFENCE provides answers to questions on international affairs, business, technology and defence/security matters. Our analysis is based on neutral and in-depth investigation.

The primary mission of EUROPEAN SECURITY & DEFENCE, both in print and online, and including the daughter publication ESD SPOTLIGHT, is to convey information and influence within the European theatre, to and from decision makers at all levels in the security and defence arenas.

 Annual Subscription Rate: € 49.80 (print format; postage included) Annual subscription includes 8 issues, special issues and free access to the “subscribers’ area” at www.euro-sd.com.

Test EUROPEAN SECURITY & DEFENCE and order a free copy now! Mittler Report Verlag GmbH – Subscription/Reader Service PressUp GmbH · Postfach 70 13 11 · D-22013 Hamburg Phone: +49 40 38 66 66-319 · Fax: +49 38 66 66-299 · [email protected] www.euro-sd.com

anz-abo_ESD_A4-3-2017.indd 1 01.09.17 14:24 Firms & Faces

Defence Industry of Bosnia and The last conference was attended by 130 Kent also have a spares and repairs facility Herzegovina companies from 15 countries. The second to refurbish periscopes and legacy sight- (ck) For the first time, the defence industry conference will see participants from Air- ing systems. Kent have won contracts with of Bosnia and Herzegovina participated at bus Defence & Space, Boeing, Lockheed major vehicle OEM’s primes and integrators this year‘s IDEF exhibition in Istanbul. Eight Martin, Rheinmetall, Dynamit Nobel De- across the globe including in the Middle companies exhibited in the B&H pavilion: fence and others. East and Asia Pacific regions. In UK, Kent Igman Konjic, Unis Ginex Goražde, Pre- 2nd Eastern Europe Defence Week 2017, are supplying periscopes to General Dy- 6-7 November, Warsaw, Poland namics and an auxiliary sight to Lockheed www.easterneuropedefence.com Martin for the UK Scout SV programme. Kent also have been selected to supply Kent Periscopes to Cooperate their Embedded Image Periscopes (EIP) to with Marketing Agency Chamois Lockheed Martin for the Warrior Capability (ck) Kent Periscopes, a UK based supplier of Sustainment Programme (WCSP).

of Bosnia and Herzegovina periscopes and vehicle sights for armoured

Photo: Foreign Trade Chamber fighting vehicles, has signed a contract with NIDV Symposium on Public the UK based marketing agency, Chamois Security Consulting Ltd. Chamois will provide an in- (ck) During the Dutch NIDV Symposium on tis Vogošća, Tvornica remonta Bratunac, tegrated marketing service. Already estab- 30 November 2017 in Ahoy, Rotterdam, Pobjeda Technology Goražde, Ac-Unity lished in the armoured vehicle market, Kent representatives of the Dutch government Goražde, Binas Bugojno and Unis Group Periscopes want to increase sales. Cham- and industry will voice their opinions on Sarajevo. These companies produce ex- ois will support Kent’s growth strategy by the ability of Dutch public security organi- plosives, ammunition, percussion prim- assisting them in improving the profile of zations to adapt to a changing security en- ers, boosters for artillery and anti-aircraft their brand. Kent Periscopes’ sighting so- vironment. The Minister of Defence of The ammunition, detonators and igniters for lutions are used by numerous armoured Netherlands is striving for adaptive armed grenades and missiles, fuses, grenade vehicle manufacturers. Kent manufac- forces based on the Total Force Concept. launchers, mortar and artillery ammuni- tures vision periscopes, Embedded Image In addition, the police and the fire brigade tion, antitank and tank ammunition, and Periscopes (EIPs), a range of Sabre Gunner/ are also undergoing developments that are bombs. The defence industry is one of Commander sights, the Passive Driver‘s intended to lead to greater adaptivity. As the drivers for economic growth in Bosnia Periscope (PDP), Vision Blocks and other a result, government officials and industry and Herzegovina. It exports to nearly 50 related equipment for armoured vehicles. leaders are discussing whether the Dutch countries worldwide. It is a fast-developing industry with export value of US$75M in Excelitas Qioptiq Supports the Antarctica Ice Maidens 2016, which is 23% higher than in 2015. (sb) Excelitas’ Qioptiq is recognised as a primary supplier to many of the defence and The main export markets are Egypt (26%), aerospace sector’s foremost companies and the world’s militaries, with a product Saudi Arabia (20%) and USA (15%). range that includes some of the most advanced optical technologies ranging from Night Vision Sights to Head Up Display Optical modules through to Space Compo- 2nd Eastern Europe Defence nents, all of which will be on display at DSEI. But it’s not just about supply and support Week 2017 of equipment; the com- (ck) The 2nd Eastern Europe Defence Week pany looks to support in November 2017 in Warsaw, Poland UK service men and aims to help Eastern European nations to

Image: Qioptiq women, and is a Gold strengthen collective defence and optimise member of Team Army. procurement processes by facilitating an Sport is critical to wel- environment where industry will be able fare and morale, and to develop partnerships and share knowl- Qioptiq’s sponsorship edge. Because of increased instability, helps to make sport Eastern European states see the necessity more accessible for to strengthen collective defence. Facing a both able-bodied and challenging security environment, the re- injured troops to com- gion’s countries seek to modernise their pete. The association armed forces and are looking for partners with Team Army pre- to assist them. The conference aims to sents the opportunity give attendees an understanding of recent to enable service men and women to engage in golf, sailing and skiing as well as trends in defence procurement and will al- supporting other endeavours such as the Ice Maiden expedition. low participants to connect with decision Ice Maiden: - in November 2017 five British women (all serving in the British Army or makers from the region’s relevant entities. Army Reserve) aim to become the first all-female team to ski coast-to-coast across Speakers are decision makers from NATO Antarctica. No team of women, from any nation, has completed this formidable chal- (NATO Defence Investment, NATO Support lenge. Qioptiq are proud of what they do and honoured to support Team Army and and Procurement Agency, NATO Industrial the extraordinary Ice Maiden endeavour. For more information see Advisory Group) and from the region’s http://exicemaiden.com/ and http://teamarmy.org/ most relevant MoDs (Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania and more).

126 European Security & Defence · September 2017 structive simulations and how their interac- sensor systems supplied by third-party pro- tion in a fast-paced, complex and shifting viders. Their portfolio includes flight man-

Photo: NIDV environment can be incorporated into les- agement systems as well as avionics com- sons learned. Other cutting edge events puters and autopilot systems, particularly will include Black Swan, an exploration of for UAVs. Apart from the headquarters in low probability, high consequence events Pforzheim, the company has subsidiaries in and how modeling and simulation can be the UK, the US and Switzerland. used to analyze their implications and con- sequences to identify optimal outcomes. Harel Locker Elected as IAI’s Board Other key elements of I/ITSEC 2017 include Chairman defence and security branches are suf- an international Serious Games Competi- (df) Israel Aero- ficiently adaptive, proactive, future-proof tion, now recognized as one of the lead- space Industries Photo: IAI and flexible. The top political level of the ing worldwide events of its kind, as well (IAI) board of di- Ministries of Defence, Economic Affairs, as over a dozen special events and other rectors elected Foreign Affairs and Security & Justice and presentations focusing on the entire range Adv. Harel Locker members of the Dutch States General will of modeling and simulation applications. for the position also attend the symposium. Representa- With the advent of Artificial Intelligence, of the board’s tives of the armed forces, the police, the Augmented and Virtual Reality, as well as Chairman. The fire brigade, the ambulance service, the the fast-approaching revolution in military appointment will coast guard and other public security or- and security technologies, I/ITSEC 2017 is be sent for ap- ganizations will also be present. During the not to be missed. proval to the gov- symposium, more than 130 companies will www.iitsec.org ernment’s Com- show their potential. Security organizations panies Authority and businesses will comment on important HENSOLDT Acquires EuroAvionics Appointments Committee and for final security issues during the breakout ses- (df) HENSOLDT announced that it has approval by the Israeli Minister of Defence sions. taken over the Pforzheim-based company and Minister of Finance. Harel Locker was www.nidv.eu/symposium/ EuroAvionics GmbH, a supplier of avion- in charge as the Prime Minister’s Office Di- ics systems for helicopters and UAVs. Now rector-General from 2011 to 2015. Under I/ITSEC 2017 that all the legal requirements have been his responsibilities were the government’s The 2017 Interservice/Industry Training, met, the signed share purchase agreement socio-economic policies and programmes Simulation and Education Conference (I/ has taken effect. HENSOLDT expects the and the approval of Israel’s state budget, ITSEC) promises to be one of the most ex- takeover to give their existing avionics busi- including the defence budget. Locker led citing and comprehensive yet. Tobe held ness a new boost as part of their growth many international partnerships and stra- from November 27th to December 1 at tegic national programmes such as the re- the Orange County Convention Center location of central IDF bases to the Negev, in Orlando, Florida, the exhibit hall space establishment of the Government Cyber for year‘s event is already close to selling Authority, development of settlements out. Attendance, bolstered by more liberal in the Negev and areas surrounding the government travel regulations, is expected Photo: EuroAvionics Gaza Strip after Operation Protective Edge, to at least equal last year‘s 15,000, while reforms in regulations governing paral- high-level representation, both American lel marketing of food, the privatisation of and international, is also expected to be sig- Israel Military Industries, the digital Israel nificant. As industry awaits further clarifica- project and more. tion from the administration on spending plans for the military and national security, strategy. “The takeover of EuroAvionics is NATO Opens CERT in Jordan expectations of an enhanced fiscal envi- the perfect example of a strategic acqui- (df) NATO and the Jordanian Armed Forces ronment are reflected in the early demand sition since both parties generate added inaugurated the newly established Com- for exhibit space in the Convention Center. value from our collaboration,” said Celia puter Emergency Response Team (CERT) in The theme for I/ITSEC 2017, „Harnessing Pelaz, Head of Strategic Business Develop- Amman on 19 July. The CERT was set up as New Technologies to Win in a Complex ment. “We can now develop a comprehen- part of a NATO Science for Peace and Secu- World“, testifies to the wide range of front sive avionics product line at HENSOLDT by rity (SPS) project to enhance Jordanian cyber line technologies that will be on display on combining the strengths of EuroAvionics in defence capabilities. Jordan’s geographical the exhibit hall floor, as well as the subject the civilian market and our own portfolio, location and security environment – the con- of dozens of special events and technical which has primarily been geared towards flict in Syria and Iraq on its borders, the refu- paper presentations. Emblematic of the the military up until now.” In this way, HEN- gee crisis in the region and the threat of ter- pioneering nature of I/ITSEC, „Operation SOLDT will improve its access to civilian heli- rorist organisations such as ISIL – make the Blended Warrior“ will again be a promi- copter manufacturers and fleet operators. country vulnerable to a number of threats. nent feature this year. A scenario-driven, EuroAvionics Group generates revenues of Particularly challenging are cyber attacks. floor wide four day exercise involving pri- approx. €20M with around 100 employ- Launched in 2014, the SPS project – led by vate exhibiting companies and numerous ees. They are particularly strong in the mar- experts from Germany and Jordan and fur- government agencies, OBW will explore ket for civil certified avionics equipment for ther supported by France and the United the nexus between live, virtual and con- helicopters with interfaces to avionics and States – responds to a key national priority

September 2017 · European Security & Defence 127 Firms & Faces  INDUSTRY & MARKETS

and forms part of the Defence and Related Olivier Janin to Head Marketing resistant armour and clothing for police Security Capacity Building (DCB) package at Dyneema and military personnel. DSM delivers an- for Jordan. The DCB Initiative reinforces (ck) Olivier Ja- nual net sales of about €10Bn with 25,000 NATO’s commitment to partners and helps nin joined DSM employees. to project stability beyond NATO’s borders Dyneema as its by providing support to nations requesting Vice President of Manroy is now FNH UK

defence capacity assistance from NATO. marketing and Photo: DSM Dyneema (ck) Three years ago, the Belgian small sales. He will re- arms manufacturer FN Herstal bought New Executive Director for Aus- port directly to the British weapons supplier Manroy En- tralian Submarine Programme DSM President gineering headquartered in Sandhurst, (bk) Naval Group an- Golnar Motahari Berkshire. Since its acquisition by FN Her- nounced that Jean-Michel Pour. Mr. Janin stal, Manroy Engineering has followed Billig commences as the has broad global experience in sales and a programme of integration within the Executive Director to work marketing and P&L positions in the mate- Herstal Group. This has included product

Photo: Naval Group with the Commonwealth rial science sector. Most recently he served alignment with FN Herstal, investments of Australia and Lockheed as Sales Director for Saudi Arabia Basic In- to modernise the UK production facilities Martin Australia on the Aus- dustries Corp. Olivier Janin graduated with and a wider product portfolio. As part of tralian Future Submarine degrees in business administration and in- the integration process, the UK business programme. Billig joined dustrial marketing from the University of will adopt FN Herstal’s name. Glyn Bot- the company in May 2017 Exeter in the U.K. and from Paris-Sud Uni- tomley, FNH UK CEO says: “Manroy En- as special advisor to Hervé Guillou, President versity in France. DSM is the inventor and gineering was originally formed in 1975 and CEO. He will contribute in finalising all manufacturer of Dyneema fiber. Dyneema and has been a supplier of weapon parts the contractual and industrial provisions that fibers offer maximum strength combined and weapons to the UK MOD through- will underpin the success of the programme. with minimum weight. Dyneema is up to out. Since its acquisition Manroy, now During the last two years Jean-Michel Billig 15 times stronger than quality steel and FNH UK, has undergone transformation was CEO of Zodiac Seats and member of the up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, in the areas of manufacturing and capac- Executive Committee of Zodiac Aerospace. both on weight for weight basis. Dynee- ity. The corporate integration of the busi- From 1988 to 2012 he worked for the EADS ma is an important component in ropes, ness within FN Herstal will enable FNH UK Group. He was responsible for the techni- cables and nets in the fishing, shipping to offer the UK market the full range of cal management of Eurocopter, which later and offshore industries. Dyneema is also products from the FN Herstal portfolio, became Airbus Helicopters and from 2003 used in safety gloves for the metalworking which includes FN SCAR assault rifles, FN to 2007, he was appointed director at Airbus industry and in applications in the medi- MINIMI Mk3 machine guns, and airborne, Military on behalf of France for A400M. cal sector. Dyneema is also used in bullet land and sea weapon systems.”

Preview ESD 7/2017 · November 2017 • Technology Focus: Self Protection / Countermeasures • Norway's Response to Russia in the Arctic • NATO's JISR Initiative • Discreet Uparmouring • Combat Helicopter Programmes Update • Italian Defence Procurement Dossier • Romanian Procurement Programmes • Weapon Stations • Training Simulator Technology • Naval Radars • Field Camp Operation and Equipment • Middle East Military Aircraft Market • Defence Industry in Denmark • Country Focus: Finland

Mittler Report Verlag GmbH Baunscheidtstr. 11 · 53113 Bonn, Germany Phone: +49 228 35008 70 · [email protected] www.mittler-report.de · www.euro-sd.com

128 European Security & Defence · September 2017 FULLY INTEGRATED

C4I SOFTWARE

Visit us on stand S5-160 at DSEI and booth 219 at AUSA

DSEI 2017 - ESD Full Page Ad 176 x 257mm.indd 1 22/08/2017 13:24:34 The Mortar Company.

DSEI, ExC 12 - 15eL SEPT., LONDON 2017 BOOTH NO. S2 - 240

THE COMPREHENSIVE 60 MM COMANDO MORTAR SYSTEMS.

The 60 mm Cdo system is the consequent realization of a highly mobile and effective re support weapon system for infantry units, which can make a difference on the battle eld, by providing high angle 60 mm re support from within. Operated, aligned and commanded by the group commander, the quick and easy usa- bility of the weapon is combined with the high performance of the different types of the Commando mortar ammunition family like high explosives, smoke or illumination. Every element of the 60 mm Cdo system was designed to maintain the high mobility by lowering the man burden and accomplish supremacy in re power.

With the 60 mm Cdo system every infantry group becomes one´s own 60 mm re support team.

hds.hirtenberger.com