a 7.90 D 14974 E

D European & Security ES & Defence 4/2019 International Security and Defence Journal

COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS ISSN 1617-7983 Arming the Attack Helicopter

• The US and NATO • Water Purification

www.euro-sd.com • • Digitisation of Land Forces

• • Cyber Defence • European Air Transport Command • Fleet Replenishment Ships • Croatian Air Force • Armasuisse

April 2019 • Active and Reactive Vehicle Protection • 3-D Printing

Politics · Armed Forces · Procurement · Technology UNLABELLED LEAKING BARREL

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70 Years of NATO

This spring NATO is looking back at 70 years of existence. Unlike comparable anniversaries in the past, however, this time no major festivities are being planned. The reason is not to be seen in the Alliance having lost any relevance or self-confidence; on the contrary, since the Wales Summit NATO has proved that it has not forgotten its original task, and that it is trying hard to cope with it. The road to the complete restoration of military capabilities required now may be long and rough, but it will be travelled, and the first signs of success are unmistakeable. The festive mood at NATO is spoiled more by disputes which have overshadowed all summit conferences of late. At heart is a topic which for decades has been a recurring theme on the agenda. The USA may accept that it contributes by far the greater part of the defence capabili- ties of the Alliance. They owe this to their status as a global superpower and their claim to leadership. Their criticism, however, is that the Europeans, whose protection is, after all, the prime aim of NATO, are investing too little in their security, and do not hold to agreements to change this. In the past three decades, they have become accustomed to going along for a comfortable free ride, and diverting defence budgetary resources in favour of other budget items (predominantly welfare spending). Donald Trump is no longer inclined to maintain the cloak of silence. He is expressly demanding that words become deeds, and rapidly. The European answer is to complain about the allegedly undiplomatic tone set by the US President, and to accuse him of thinking less about the military capabilities of the Alliance than the export opportunities for the American defence industry. These outpourings, however, are helpless, and somewhat pitiable, because the num- bers speak clearly for themselves. In 2018 the United States spent 3.5 percent of its gross national product on defence. In addition, only four other NATO partners exceeded the thresh- old seen as mandatory benchmark: Estonia, Latvia, Greece, and the United Kingdom. Three others, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania, barely missed the target. In fact, the members of the Alliance had all committed themselves in 2014 to attaining the two percent target in 2024. NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg is now hoping that at least half of the states will fulfil their promises. But one should not be overly optimistic; every economic crisis and every rise in the interest rate (the departure from the zero interest policy is regarded as long overdue) will restrict the financial scope of the states still further, and experience has shown that when it comes to cuts it is the military that bleeds first, because this is easiest to push through in terms of domestic policy. The bargaining for a fair burden sharing is overlaid by a further problem, however, which is of a more fundamental nature. The Alliance, soon to have 30 members, has grown to a size at which it can no longer disregard the fact that there are different interpretations as to which security threats are to be regarded as the prioritie. The Baltic states, Poland, and also Romania, regard, and for good reason, Russia’s hegemony policy as the primary danger, and they expect the Alliance to credibly confirm its commitment to mutual assistance. In turn, the southern European states are watching with concern the developments on the African continent. What they fear, however, are not military threats. Political mayhem and economic development which is too slow in relation to population growth give rise to instability becoming visible in migration movements which are already almost beyond control. Turkey, on the south-east flank of the Al- liance, is confronted by conflicts in the immediate neighbourhood, and terrorist threats as well, and can hardly expect NATO to make a contribution to overcoming them. With the contention that they are pursuing a 360 degree approach to security, in other words not only to the east but to all points of the compass, the Alliance has been trying to bring all these different concerns under one roof. But this is not really convincing. Credible are only its ambitions to discourage Russia from adventurism, because in the first instance this involves traditional mili- tary deterrence, and above that protection against disinformation and attacks in cyberspace. All other challenges to security and stability in which civil instruments, as, above all, economic means, need to come into effect, exceed its capabilities. If there has to be established a real worksharing between NATO and the European Union, this is where it is to be sought.

Peter Bossdorf

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 1 Contents

SECURITY POLICY 32 Increasing Investment in Defence Procurement Overview: The Netherlands 12 The US and NATO: What Lies Ahead? Edward Hobbs John Antal 41 The Netherlands' Maritime Defence Industry 19 A Ticking Bomb? Guy Toremans Chinese Immigration to Russia’s Far East Eugene Kogan 45 “It is very important for us to keep our OEM cluster alive” 22 The Policy of the United States Interview with Richard Keulen, in the South Caucasus Director Naval Sales Support, Gayane Novikova Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS)

COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS ARMED FORCES

26 A Question of Balance 48 Cyber Defence: The Netherlands between Atlanticism and European Army NATO’s Challenges Thomas Bauer Joris Verbeurgt 30 “Europe has to take up its responsibility to 53 The European Air Transport Command secure and defend its citizens.” Tasks and Missions Interview with Christoffer Jonker, Giulia Tilenni Director International Affairs and Operations, 58 The NATO Strategic Communications Centre Ministry of Defence, The Netherlands of Excellence Linda Curika 60 Što Sada, Croatian Air Force? Index of Advertisers Georg Mader

Bren-Tronics 9 Damen 4th cover ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY DNV GL 31 DSEI 103 64 Arming the Attack Helicopter EW Europe 93 Doug Richardson FLIR 2nd cover, 80-81 69 Active and Reactive Vehicle Future Artillery 88 Protection Systems General Dynamics European Land Systems 13 Sidney E. Dean Hawk Associates 7 75 British Army WARRIOR Upgrade Trials Under Way HEMUS 2020 81 Christopher F. Foss IDET 14 76 Water Purification ISDEF 111 Dan Kaszeta ITEC 21 Leonardo 65 82 Digitisation of Land Forces: The Military Embraces 4IR Motor Sich 10-11 Tamir Eshel Naval Group 35 Nexter 5 86 Arctic Tests of the BRONCO 3 Completed Proengin 77 Gerhard Heiming RC 73 89 Fleet Replenishment Ships: Rheinmetall 33 the Workhorses of Many Navies secunet 49 Guy Toremans Sensonor 3 96 “The largest and most important procurement thyssenkrupp Marine Systems 37 programme currently in place is AIR2030.” UDT 27 Interview with Martin Sonderegger, Head of Switzerland's UK Pavilion LAAD 94–95 Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse WEW – A Thielmann Company 79

2 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 INDUSTRY AND MARKETS

99 Will 3-D Printing Revolutionise the A&D Industry? GYRO Bindiya Carmeline Thomas 104 “Our team has developed a service portfolio that TACTICAL GRADE complements classification services for naval ships.” Interview with Christian Freiherr von Oldershausen, Vice President Naval Business DNV GL Maritime 105 Franco-German Defence Cooperation Giulia Tilenni 109 “Europe is at a difficult crossroads” Interview with General José Conde de Arjona, Spokesperson of FEINDEF and Chief of Institutional Support of the Spanish Ministry of Defence

THE BRUSSELS BACKDROP

56 President Trump and NATO: 1:1 scale a Mid-Term Review, Part 2 Joris Verbeurgt

STIM210 is a small, lightweight Three Axis VIEWPOINT FROM … Gyro Module for accurate pointing and 15 London Conrad Waters stabilization, fl ight control and guidance applications. 16 Dublin Tommy Martin 17 Belfast • ITAR free James Dornan • Small size, low weight, power and cost • Insensitive to magnetic fi elds 18 Edinburgh • Low gyro bias instability (0.3°/h) John Cooke • Low gyro noise (0.15°/√h) 52 Prague • Excellent performance under vibration and shock Petr Jirásek • Available in 1, 2 or 3 axes • Fully calibrated and customer confi gur able to the specifi c application COLUMNS • Weight 55 grams, volume <2cu.in, power 1.5 W 1 Editorial STIM210 is fi eld proven in Missile systems, Target 4 Periscope acquisition systems, Airborne surveillance, DIRCM, Remote Weapon Systems, Launch vehicles, Military 28 Masthead Land navigators and Satellites.

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4/2019 · European Security & Defence 3 Periscope

Red Dot Sights for US Army Antarctic Programme. To date, more than is to increase the number of locations where (ck) The US military contracted Aimpoint, 1,280 helicopters of the H135 family are in the detectors can be fitted. FPGs can easily the manufacturer of Red Dot sights, to operation around the globe, having flown be fitted in security equipment that allows supply the Aimpoint FCS13-RE fire control 4.9 million flight hours. for the detection of radioactive sources, system. The contract has a total value of while one of the most intriguing concepts US$24M. The system will be used with the Pratt & Whitney Engines is “Sensing Walls”, where detectors are new M3-E1 MAAWS lightweight 84mm for US Navy H135s concealed behind walls or billboards. Inte- CARL GUSTAF anti-armour weapon from (ck) Airbus Helicopters selected the Pratt& gration into other systems is enhanced by SAAB Dynamics. The FCS13-RE is a direct Whitney PW206B3 engine to power the having signal processing on board the de- view dynamic universal reflex sight, which Airbus H135 helicopter the company is pro- tector; trials have already been carried out posing for the US Navy helicopter trainer in drone applications, where sensitivity per replacement. Company officials made the payload is key. announcement at the 2019 Heli Expo indus- try trade show in Atlanta. Pratt & Whitney Advanced Survivability

Photo: Aimpoint engines power a large portion of the H135 for VAB Mk3 fleet flying in North America. The H135, (ck) At IDEX 2019, AR- which is IFR certified by the Federal Aviation QUUS introduced its Administration, allows pilot training in envi- Advanced Survivabil- ronments and scenarios similar to the Na- ity System fitted on

vy’s warfighting rotorcraft fleet. The H135 a Véhicule de l’Avant Photo: Peter Bossdorf trainer features a HELIONIX avionics system Blindé (VAB) Mk3. The utilises an integrated laser range finder and with colour digital multi-function displays, VAB infantry fighting ballistic computer to give the gunner an a four-axis autopilot, integrated flight man- vehicle has been the aiming point corrected for range, type of agement system, and engines with full au- battle horse of the munition, terrain angle, and environmental French Army for dec- conditions. The system can also be utilised ades. The new VAB on other crew served weapons including Mk3 is a family of 40mm high velocity grenade launchers, and 6x6 medium weight 12.7mm (.50 caliber) heavy machine guns. armoured vehicles of- The FCS13-RE provides a high probability of fering high mobility, protection and pay-

first-shot hit at both stationary and moving Photo: Airbus Helicopters load. The Advanced Survivability System is targets. The system can be enhanced with thought as a complete system designed to thermal imagers and is compatible with all make the VAB Mk3 the best in class pro- generations of military night vision equip- tected combat vehicle. The system makes ment. Deliveries are scheduled for 2019. thority digital engine control and one engine the VAB Mk3 the first vehicle protected The system will be fielded by the US Army, inoperative (OEI) training mode. The H135 against tandem warhead threats.The inte- US Marine Corps, and US Special Opera- is in use with ten military services in nine grated systems aboard the vehicle detect tions Command. nations for initial and advanced rotary-wing the impact of warheads on the hull and pilot training. Airbus will manufacture the launch countermeasures which neutralise Brazil to Order H135s H135 for the Navy at its production facilities the tandem warhead effect. The Véhicule (ck) The Brazilian Navy has ordered three in Columbus, Ms. de l’Avant Blindé has a low profile which H135 light twin-engine helicopters for a provides for stealth in all terrains, and it wide range of missions, such as special op- Flat Panel Gamma Detector comes with new ballistic and mine protec- (ck) Radiation detection specialist Arktis tion features which improve the protec- Radiations Detectors has developed a flat tion of the vehicle and its crew against all panel gamma (FPG) detector for radioactive conventional threats of the battlefield. To substances. This type of detector allows op- ensure the best possible level of tactical erators to distinguish dangerous radioactive awareness, the VAB Mk3 has also been isotopes from benign ones. The slim form equipped with ARQUUS’ own BATTLENET

Photo: Airbus Helicopters factor of Arktis’ new detector means that information and communication system. gamma detectors can now be placed in areas where it was previously unfeasible or Drone Detection untenable for cost reasons. The modest size, On-The-Move erations, transport of troops and freight, na- weight and power requirements of the FPGs (ck) In response to the growing threat of hos- val inspection, SAR, and medical evacuation. tile UAS and other air threats, AVT Australia Two of the helicopters will be equipped with has introduced its Expeditionary Mobile Air aeromedical kits. Other equipment will in- Defence Integrated System (X-MADIS) for

clude a cargo hook, an emergency flotation Photo: Arktis on-the-move, mobile and fixed site applica- system, a winch, as well as weather radar. tions. X-MADIS is a portable solution that The H135 will replace the current light twin- detects, identifies, tracks, and defeats air- engine AS355s; they are also earmarked borne threats, including improvised armed for missions in the scope of the Brazilian UAS and UAS swarms. X-MADIS is a battle-

4 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 that armed officers are equipped with. Hydraulic Equipment for For this reason, BCB International has de- the Royal Navy Photo: AVT signed an adjustable and foldable stock (ck) The UK MoD has called FRAMM that allows firearms offic- awarded Babcock Inter- ers to comfortably shoulder, aim and dis- national a contract to sup- charge their firearms in all firing positions ply hydraulic equipment while wearing a ballistic helmet with the on board the Royal Navy’s visor fully lowered.At a press of a button, surface ships and subma-

FRAMM enables an officer to switch from rines. Under the terms Photo: Babcock International proven and rugged solution, providing pro- a classic straight alignment to a lowered of the contract, Babcock tection both on the move and in fixed loca- setting thereby eliminating the risk of their will utilise its engineering tions. It is a platform agnostic, multi-mission helmet visors interfering with the aiming capabilities to maintain, solution that achieves long-range airborne and firing of their weapon. The French repair and manage the threat detection, identification and defeat systems and equipment, while moving at speeds exceeding 40mph. ensuring they meet cus- The X-MADIS’ mission set includes VIP pro- tomer standards. The tection, combat operations, and civilian facil- five-year contract, with a two-year option, ity protection for security, military and law will include new manufactured equipment enforcement personnel. Several systems are spares supply, equipment repairs and the

currently in operation in the Middle East. Photo: BCB International provision of ad-hoc technical services for ongoing post design activities. The work Rifle Stock for French will be carried out by a team of technicians Police Elite drawing on their hydraulic repairs and over- (ck) Riot and ballistic face shields are es- elite police tactical unit GIGN has selected haul capability in the Combined Weapons sential for law enforcement officers. The the FRAMM modular stock for their H&K and Equipment Workshop (CWEW) facility. problem with these face shields is that once G36 and HK-UMP rifles. The production This facility already undertakes a range of fully lowered they interfere with the assault of FRAMM variants for other firearms is hydraulic work in support of both ships and rifles and/or less-lethal baton round guns planned in the near future. submarines maintenance periods.

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TitusKNDSNexter_210x150_VA_2019.indd 1 20/03/2019 15:51 Periscope

Twelve Mine Hunters for which are rarely utilised. This focus has made Belgian and Dutch Navies the SENTRY one of the smallest and light- (ck) Following a call for tenders launched in est manpacks currently available. It comple- the summer of 2018, Belgium has selected ments Codan’s other SDR communication Photo: GA-ASI the Belgium Naval & and data interoperability products to specifi- Robotics consortium, cally address the tactical defence market. The consisting of Naval SENTRY-H 6110-MP software-defined man- Group and ECA Robot- pack integrates recent technology allowing ics, for the supply of for ease of use and quicker upgrades. GCS promises to reduce manpower require- twelve mine-hunting ments; it provides separation of flight critical vessels and their tool- Unsinkable Naval Drone components to increase flight safety pos- box (payloads). Six ships (ck) ECA GROUP, in collaboration with its ture, and it features an intuitive glass cock-

Photo: Belgium Naval and Robotics are for the Belgian na- subsidiary MAURIC, has added a new Un- pit design that reduces operator workload vy; the other six will be manned Surface Vehicle (USV) to its range of through electronic checklists and integrated delivered to the Dutch naval drones. The new INSPECTOR 125 is de- mission data information displays. navy. The contract with signed for high seas operations and defence a value of almost €2Bn missions such as mine countermeasures, Bavarian Police to Select will last 10 years. anti-submarine warfare, intelligence / surveil- FN SCAR Rifle lance / reconnaissance or forces support and (ck) The Police of the German State of Ba- Maritime Surveillance Sys- protection. Combining a MAURIC V2 NG varia has selected the FN SCAR-L as their tems for Asian Coast Guard next rifle (Mitteldistanzwaffe).The semi- (ck) CONTROP Precision Technologies, a auto weapon features a 13” barrel, Key- company specialising in Mod receiver, and RFID tag integrated into

the field of electro-optics Image: ECA the receiver. The RFID tag is an electronic (EO) and infrared (IR) de- system developed by FN Herstal that al- fence and homeland se- lows digital identification of the weapon, Photo: Controp curity solutions, will equip hence enabling optimised inventory and an Asian country's coast in-and-out management of the weapon guard with its ISEA EO/IR fleet. The RFID tag can be integrated in any maritime surveillance pay- FN SCAR weapon, including precision rifles. loads. The systems will be rescue boat with an ECA drone kit, INSPEC- Moreover, FN Herstal’s new FN SCAR-SC deployed on several mari- TOR 125 is designed to be unsinkable even subcompact carbine in 5.56x45mm (.223) time vessels beginning in after damage. The platform is propelled by 2019 for territorial water two 410hp engines allowing a top speed of protection missions. The over 25 knots. It features autonomous navi- easy-to-install, easy-to- gation capabilities as well as several launch

operate systems include a long-range thermal and recovery systems for various drones. Photo: FN Herstal camera, a high definition (HD) visible surveil- With a length of 12.3m and an overall width lance camera, and an eye-safe laser range of 4.2m, INSPECTOR 125 can carry up to finder (ELRF). The system features advanced 3 tonnes of payload. Its large rear deck, its image processing and video enhancement al- mast and underwater pole allow carrying designed for law enforcement personnel gorithms, automatic video tracker (AVT) and payloads and sensors. INSPECTOR 125 can is now also available in 7.62x35mm (.300 an automatic gain control (AGC). The gyro- be operated and deployed from a ship or BLK) calibre. It features a standard telescop- stabilised camera systems provide clear day from ashore and is also air-transportable. ic buttstock and is available with a wide and night images at very long distances. choice of accessories. New Ground Control Lightweight SDR Manpack Station for MQ-9 REAPER New Loitering Munition (ck) Building on its Software-Defined Radio (ck) The US Air Force’s new Block 50 Ground (ck) Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has (SDR) products, Codan Communications has Control Station (GCS) developed by General developed loitering munition called MINI developed a new manpack, the SENTRY-H Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) for HARPY, which combines the capabilities of 6110-MP. Codan`s focus is on providing cus- the first time controlled an MQ-9 REAPER IAI’s HAROP and the HARPY missiles, of- tomers only the feature set the company sees from the GA-ASI Gray Butte Flight Opera- fering detection of broadcast radiation with as necessary while avoiding costly features tions Facility near Palmdale, Calif. The Block electro-optical capabilities. The MINI HARPY 50 GCS cockpit has improved capabilities through a human-machine interface that enhances aircrew situational awareness and Photo: IAI

Photo: Codan allows for single seat operations. It integrates multi-level security feeds with onboard sen- sors to display a comprehensive picture of the battlespace and it has improved infor- mation assurance capabilities that protect against cybersecurity risks. The Block 50

6 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 H a w k A s s o c i a t e s ‘ I m p r o v i n g P e r f o r m a n c e ’

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can neutralise radiation emitting threats or underground targets in heavily surface-to- and detect electro-optical threats with high air-defended areas. ROCKS is launched well quality video footage for the operator. The outside of the enemy's air-defence coverage munition can be launched from mobile land area, and performs a high velocity trajec- Photo: Paramount and naval platforms. MINI HARPY thus pro- tory towards the target. This minimises the vides independence in intelligence collection launch aircraft exposure to threats. ROCKS for an updated situational picture. The mis- uses its INS/GPS for midcourse navigation, siles are launched towards the target area while homing on to the target is performed where they loiter in the sky until the threat is by using its EO seeker and advanced image detected. Upon detection, the system locks tection STANAG 4569-Level 4a & 4b) and processing algorithms, which ensures hitting on to the threat and attacks it for quick, protection against a 50 kg TNT side blast lethal execution. The system was designed or IED/roadside bomb. Its applique armour to provide operators with control up to the packages can provide higher levels of bal-

last moment, including cessation of attack listic protection (up to level 4) and mine pro- Photo: Rafael at any stage. Electrically powered, it is quiet tection when needed. Another key feature and operates in a mission range of 100 km is a burst speed of 140 km/h and a rear-door for the duration of two hours. ramp proven in combat on 6x6 and 8x8 IFVs. The 16 tonne vehicle offers a payload Self-Protection Module of nearly three tonnes, encapsulating weap- targets with great precision, overcoming GPS for Surface Ships on systems, ammunition, crew and supplies. jamming or denial. ROCKS answers a grow- (ck) At Navdex 2019, MBDA presented the The MBOMBE 4 can accommodate a wide ing demand for long range, GPS-independ- SPIMM (Self-Protection Integrated MISTRAL range of payloads and turrets, and its mis- ent air-to-ground precision strike capability. Module), an all-in-one air defence module sion computer and interface system is able based on the SIMBAD-RC system and de- to integrate with both western and eastern- LYNX on Offer to Australia signed to equip surface ships of all types, made weapon systems. (ck) Under the Land 400 Phase 3 Programme, particularly those without a combat system, Australia is looking to procure a mounted such as supply ships. The SPIMM module Night Vision Binoculars close combat capability and has issued a Re- for the German Army quest For Tender (RFT). Rheinmetall will offer (ck) To bolster their night operations capabil- its LYNX Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) with ity, the German armed forces have contracted the LANCE turret and the LYNX Manoeu-

Photo: MBDA the French company Photonis to supply 1,700 vre Support Vehicle (MSV) to the Austral- night vision binoculars with modern image ian Army. The LYNX IFV and the LYNX MSV intensifier tubes. The Photonis 4G high FOM have a modular architecture which means image intensifier tubes will be integrated with that only two LYNX base vehicle configura- Theon Sensors’ new NYX binoculars. 4G im- age intensification technology increases the consists of a SIMBAD-RC automated naval ability to locate and engage threats under all turret equipped with two ready-to-fire MIS- night conditions. The 4G standard is the lat- TRAL missiles and a 360° infrared panoramic est technology in intensified night vision as it system to detect and track air and surface provides the highest performance possible for Photo: Rheinmetall threats. The system is entirely controlled by driving at night; two operators located in a shelter inside the it is designed module which can be positioned on the deck to address the of a ship using a crane. Designed to protect stringent require- tions are required to achieve the nine roles surface vessels against conventional airborne Photo: Photonis ments of special sought under the Australian Army’s RFT. threats (anti-ship missiles, combat aircraft, forces operators. LYNX provides protection against blast, IED, helicopters and UAVs), the SIMBAD-RC and Only 4G can direct and indirect fire, cluster munitions, MISTRAL can neutralise asymmetric threats offer ultra-fast and anti-tank guided missiles. The IFV has a such as Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC). auto-gating, the crew of three and provides room for six dis- smallest halo and unrivalled spectral range mounts. The Rheinmetall LANCE turret has UAE to Buy MBOMBE 4 APC from ultraviolet to near infrared. already been contracted to be delivered to (ck) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will the Australian Army under Land 400 Phase procure Paramount Group’s newly launched New Air-to-Surface Missile 2, and will be manufactured in Brisbane. The MBOMBE 4 armoured personnel car- (ck) Rafael has developed a new long-range digital LANCE turret provides the crew with rier (APC). The MBOMBE 4 is based on the stand-off air-to-surface missile. Based on sensor systems, advanced automatic track- MBOMBE 8x8, now in production follow- Rafael`s SPICE, ROCKS is an air-to-surface ing and targeting capabilities, and weapon ing its launch in 2016, and the MBOMBE missile, which may be used against high integrated battle management. 6x6, which has entered service. Displaying a value stationary and mobile targets, even in new design and featuring recent technolo- theatres where the enemy employs effective New Laser Weapon Station gies, the MBOMBE 4 offers high levels of GPS countermeasures. Equipped with either (ck) In December 2018, Rheinmetall suc- ballistic and mine protection (e.g. crew com- a penetration or blast fragmentation war- cessfully conducted trials with a laser partment STANAG 4569-Level 3, blast pro- head, the missile can destroy above-ground weapon station. The weapon station can

8 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 be armed with lasers in the 100 kW output Schiebel CAMCOPTER Sight (BVLOS) operation. The CAMCOPTER power range. During the tests conducted Tested on Nigerian Pipeline S-100 does not require any prepared sur- at the company’s test centre in Switzerland, (ck) The international oil and gas industry is faces or support equipment for take-off and increasingly interested in using UAS to moni- landing. It works day and night, in adverse tor and control the oil and gas infrastructure. weather conditions, with a range of 200 Therefore, in January 2019, a European oil km. The carbon fiber and titanium hull of- and gas company tested the Schiebel CAM- fers space for a variety of payloads. In a typi- COPTER S-100 off the coast of Rivers State cal configuration, the CAMCOPTER S-100 Photo: Rheinmetall to investigate the advantages of UAS tech- carries a payload of 34 kg up to 10 hours. nology. The event was attended by repre- High-resolution images are transmitted to the control centre in real time. drones and mortar rounds were engaged Off-Grid Power for Interna- at operationally relevant ranges. The laser tional Defence Organisation weapon station consists of four compo- Photo: Schiebel (ck) SFC Energy, a provider of off-grid power nents: the laser source, beam director with solutions, has delivered a major order of SFC the telescope, and course tracker (weapon Energy’s portable JENNY fuel cells to an in- station). The mobile weapon station per- ternational defence organisation. The deliv- forms the task of mechanically aiming the sentatives of the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian ery has a total value of over laser toward the target. The laser weapon Navy, Nigerian Army, Kongsberg Geospatial €1M. This is the second station was combined with a beam director and local UAS service provider Aerial Robot- batch of JENNYs 1200 sold and high-performance Rheinmetall lasers. ix. The Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) to this organisation. The It is also designed to be combined with a CAMCOPTER UAS is designed to improve fuel cells are used in multi- Photo: SFC Energy soon-to-be-available 20 kW laser source, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance day missions and help the likewise made by Rheinmetall. Among the (ISR) missions in an oil and gas production soldiers save up to 80 % laser weapon station’s performance pa- environment. The CAMCOPTER performed of carry-along weight. The rameters are its accurate mechanical aiming day and night flights to monitor pipeline portable JENNY 1200 fuel function, coupled with an unlimited, 360° routeability (ROW), inspect oil and gas well- cell with a nominal power traversing zone and an elevation range in heads and equipment, and perform first line of 50 W is based on direct methanol fuel cell excess of 270°. The system is oriented to maintenance inspections. The CAMCOPTER technology. Advantages of the system are the MANTIS air defence system now in ser- was also able to detect illegal activities on no spare batteries to be carried by soldiers, vice with the German armed forces, and the customer's pipeline. Kongsberg Geo- automatic clean battery recharge, no noise thus offers interfaces for connecting it to spatial's IRIS UAS application supported the and maintenance, almost no detectable heat higher-echelon air defence safe execution of this Beyond Visual Line Of signature, and a lower cost of ownership.

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4/2019 · European Security & Defence 9 Marketing Report: MOTOR SICH JSC

MOTOR SICH at AERO 2019

MOTOR SICH JSC is a company specialising in the development, production, and after-sales service of aircraft gas turbine engines, industrial gas turbine drives and gas turbine power plants.

Recently, the company has also actively supported the development of a helicop- ter-building industry in Ukraine. The company has an Experimental Design versions with a takeoff power of 450 to Bureau certified by the State Aviation Ad- 495 and 630 to 750 hp. respectively; the ministration of Ukraine as a designer. engines are designed for general purpose MOTOR SICH JSC has developed its own airplanes and training aircraft, including scientific and technical base for design, the aerobatic category (the AI-450CP manufacture, tests and certification of and AI-450CP-2 engine versions). helicopters. In 2017, Type Certificate was obtained for Currently, the list of MOTOR SICH en- the engines of the AI-450C family, and in gines in commercial production and at 2018 for the AI-450CP engine. various stages of development for pas- It should be noted that the work on the senger, transport, and military transport development of these engines was initi- aircraft includes: ated by Mr. Christian Dries who is well- • Turboprop and turboprop-fan engines known to many participants of AERO. At of 400 to 14,000 hp, with the most that time, he headed Diamond Aircraft advanced engine of this type being the Industry, and his engineering talent and type D-27, the only turboprop-fan in the high organisational skills made it possi- world; ble to develop the DA50-JP7 seven-seat • Bypass engines of 1,500 to 23,400 kgf. demonstration aircraft powered by these

It is pertinent to highlight the D-18T Photos: MOTOR SICH JSC engines and the DART-450 training air- engine designed for Ruslan and Mriya Vyacheslav A. Boguslayev craft which is currently in production. cargo aircraft that possess the greatest President, MOTOR SICH JSC Under the leadership of Mr. Dries, projects cargo capacity worldwide, with their were launched to develop several new air- payloads being 150 and 250 tons, re- MOTOR SICH JSC has produced more craft powered by MOTOR SICH engines. spectively. than 30 thousand helicopter engines Unfortunately, a change of ownership of MOTOR SICH is currently producing the of the TV3-117V family, and it is per- Diamond in 2018 suspended these works D-436 bypass engines for the An-148 manently working to improve them. To (we hope that the suspension would be and An-158 passenger aircraft, the Be- improve helicopter flight performance, temporary). 200 amphibious aircraft and the new the company has developed the new The AI-450C engine is used in a pro- An-178 transport aircraft. The company TV3-117VMA-SBM1V engine that paved gramme carried out by MOTOR SICH ISC also participates in the work carried the way for the engine family. to re-engine the Yak-52 trainer (UTL-450 out by by GP Ivchenko-Progress Design Today, small aircraft are in high demand project). The company hopes that this Agency to upgrade the D-18T and D-136 in the world; against this background, project will also be of interest for AER- engines and to develop the AI-28 engine MOTOR SICH JSC is involved in the work OSTAR S.A., Romania, which has built of 9 to 11 tons of thrust with a geared carried out by Ivchenko-Progress to de- more than 1,900 airplanes of this type fan drive. velop small turboshaft and turboprop and continues to do so. MOTOR SICH JSC is the world leader in engines of the AI-450 family. MOTOR SICH JSC, together with An- the production of turboshaft engines On 15 April 2015, the AI-450M engine tonov State Enterprise, carried out work for helicopters. The company produces version obtained the Type Certificate is- to upgrade the An-2 aircraft, the general a wide range of helicopter engines, in- sued by the Aviation Register of the In- purpose “veteran” aircraft. In addition to cluding the TV3-117V family of engines terstate Aviation Committee (IAC), with installing the MS-14 turboprop engine that power practically all medium Mi and engine takeoff power being 400 hp, 430 of 1,500 hp instead of the ASH-62 pis- Ka helicopters in 96 countries worldwide; hp or 465 hp depending on the configu- ton engine, the propeller and navigation also, the world's most powerful D-136 ration of its automatic control system. equipment were replaced in the aircraft. engine designed for the Mi-26 helicopter, At the same time, work is underway on The aircraft was certified and received the the world's most powerful helicopter. the AI-450C and AI-450C-2 turboprop designation An-2-100. It is powered by a

10 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 Mi-2 helicopter powered by AI-450M-B engines

new powerful engine that improves the aircraft's manoeuvrability, increases the load capacity, flight altitude and range. Today, the company is working to de- velop a family of MS-500V new genera- tion turboshaft engines with a take-off power of 600 to 1,100 hp. The engine is designed for helicopters that have a take- off weight of 3.5 to 6 tons. The MS-500V and MS-500V-01 engine versions, which have a take-off power of 630 hp and 810 hp respectively, were The helicopter production of MOTOR SICH production of light helicopters. The first certified with Type Certificates issued by JSC includes mechanical and assembly certified helicopter developed by MOTOR the Aviation Register of IAC. shops equipped with modern equipment, SICH JSC in this class was the Mi-2 helicop- The development of some other engine an area for removing and applying paint ter powered by AI-450M-B engines. versions is underway: the MS-500V-02 coatings, the flight test complex, and the The helicopter instrumentation includes engine version with a take-off power training centre to train crews for all types digital displays of engine parameters. of 1,050 hp and the MS-500V-03 en- of the helicopters manufactured. A new set of onboard equipment, such gine version with a take-off power of The first project implemented within the as a “glass cabin”, may be installed. 950 hp. Also, work is underway on the scope of the MOTOR SICH helicopter pro- On 18 April, 2016, powered by AI-450M-B MS-500V-S turboprop engine versions gramme was the Mi-8MSB helicopter, a engines, the Mi-2 helicopter set a record: medium multi-purpose helicopter capable it overcame an altitude of 7,000 me- of carrying a maximum take-off weight ters. The MSB-2 light multipurpose heli- of 12,000 kg. The helicopter is equipped copter is unified partially with the Mi-2 with a powerplant helicopter: both helicopters are powered consisting of two by AI-450M-B engines. However, the TV3-117VMA- MSB-2 helicopter is powered by more SBM1V 4E series powerful AI-450M-P engines generating gas turbine en- 465 hp each, and it is equipped with a gines with elec- new transmission based on the VR-442 tric start. main gearbox. Poweredby TV3- MOTOR SICH JSC has manufactured the AI-450M-B 117VMA-SBM1V first helicopter which is currently under 4E series engines, tests, ground and flight. the Mi-8MSB helicopter set a number of Today, the MOTOR SICH JSC activities with a take-off power of 950 to 1,050 world records, including the absolute re- fully meet current economic criteria. hp, which are designed for general pur- cord for level flight altitude of 9,155 m The company's strategy is aimed at in- pose aviation, trainers and passenger in the E1 class, which is 300 m higher than creasing production output and sales, aircraft. For example, in MOTOR SICH Mount Everest, the world's highest moun- upgrade of products, development and opinion, they may be successfully used tain peak. commercialisation of serial manufacture in the project of the D6 single-engine The helicopter is equipped with a mod- of brand new promising products and nine-seat aircraft developed by CZECH ern navigation system that meets EASA expansion of markets. GENERAL AIRCRAFT, Czech Republic, and ICAO requirements. and other similar projects of single and Another vector of the MOTOR SICH heli- For more information please visit twin-engine aircraft. copter programme is the development and our site: http//www.motorsich.com

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 11  SECURITY POLICY The US and NATO: What Lies Ahead?

John Antal

Are we headed for a new war in Europe? In light of a resurgent munitions, fuel-air explosives, high explo- sive-fragmentation, a bunker-busting earth Russia, this is the serious question that many diplomats and penetrator munition, an anti-radar electro- military officers are asking today. magnetic pulse device, a cruise missile, and most importantly, a nuclear warhead. Russia has also deployed advanced Russian S-400 n 16 February 2019, Belarusian Presi- 2024, Putin could place himself in power as air defence systems and the BAL and BAS- Odent Alexander Lukashenko declared the leader of the newly declared Russian– TION coastal defence missile systems. Even that Belarus was ready to unite with Rus- Belarusian Union and fulfil his desire to be more threatening, satellite images of the ex- sia anytime, as agreed to in the 1999 Un- leader-for-life like his friend Lukashenko. clave in late 2018 confirmed that the exist- ion Treaty. It is worth remembering that ing nuclear weapons storage bunkers from Lukashenko was the leader of Belarus in A Russian–Belarusian Union the Cold War have been modernised. With 1999 who signed the 1999 Union Treaty such an arsenal, the Russian Kaliningrad mili- and remains the undisputed dictator-for-life If the two countries join, the Union of Russia tary complex will be able to influence a vast to this day. Lukashenko’s announcement and Belarus would create a powerful new area including much of Poland, all the Baltic may move both countries closer to a pos- geopolitical calculus. While this possible States, and most of the Baltic Sea. sible new Russian–Belarusian confedera- amalgamation looms, Russia remains active, tion. Such a union would most likely be led planning several steps ahead. In the strategic Another Cuban Missile Crisis? by Vladimir Putin. Since such an arrange- Russian military exclave in Kaliningrad, the Kaliningrad has a population of nearly a million Russian citizens and a total area of 15,100 sq km. It was formerly the city of Koenigsberg and the capital of the old Ger-

Photos: US Army man State of Prussia. It has now become the world’s newest flashpoint. As an exclave, it is further isolated from Belarus and Russia by NATO nations. To move supplies overland to Kaliningrad, Russia must transit the NATO countries of Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Poland, or Poland and Belarus, depending on the route. Russia yearns for a land bridge and to have complete control of the territory from Kaliningrad to Belarus. In 1991, Rus- sia and Lithuania agreed to access rights for Russia to transit Lithuanian territory at regu- lated times from Belarus to Kaliningrad. This US Soldiers conducting a live-fire exercise at Bemowo Piskie Training transit takes place along a narrow strip of Area in Northeast Poland in February 2019. NATO's “Enhanced Forward land called the Suwalki Corridor, a 65-mile Presence Battle Group Poland” is comprised of US, UK, Croatian and stretch from Belarus to Kaliningrad along Romanian soldiers. the Poland-Lithuania border. Only an hour’s drive halts Kaliningrad’s physical reunifica- ment would trump the Russian constitu- Russians have reinforced, upgraded, and tion with Russia. tion, which precludes Putin from assuming hardened key facilities. Situated on the Bal- Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the presidency of the Russian Federation in tic Sea coast, a leftover from the Cold War, tensions have risen and NATO has suspended Kaliningrad is a vital position for Putin, as it all practical military and civilian cooperation Author is Russia’s last foothold in formerly Soviet with Russia. Alarmed by Russia’s aggressive lands, and its vital naval base is the home moves, the Baltic States have increased their John Antal is an expert on military of the Russian Baltic Fleet, which consists defence spending and readiness. Lithuania affairs. He has published 14 books of 56 warships. The exclave also includes a and Poland have pledged to raise their de- on military and leadership subjects strong Russian Army garrison and a robust fence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. and over 500 articles in military and sophisticated A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area In March 2018, Poland made an agreement professional journals. He served 30 Denial) missile complex. Reports that Russia with the US Government to purchase two years as a soldier in the US Army, has moved the 500 km-range ISKANDER-M PATRIOT Configuration 3+ batteries for de- retiring as a colonel, having com- missiles to Kaliningrad have increased ten- liveries in 2022 for US$4.75Bn. In April 2018, manded combat arms units from sions. The ISKANDER-M, designated as the Russian officials warned that NATO had platoon to brigade. SS-26 STONE by NATO, can carry a variety crossed a 'Red Line' with the expansion of of conventional warheads, including cluster NATO and what they perceive as the “grow-

12 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 SECURITY POLICY 

R-500 ISKANDER-K, the vehicles in a convoy carrying the missile violates the Interme- were part of the Russian armed forces”) – the diate-Range Nuclear chances of a military clash between NATO Forces (INF) Treaty as and the Russian Federation have increased. its estimated range From a resurgent Russia’s point of view in is beyond 500 km. 2019, the status quo of NATO moving ever This, along with the closer to Russia is unacceptable. Breaking deployment of other NATO, then, would be a significant gain for US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, Poland’s short-range Russian Moscow. If Russia were to seize the Suwalki Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jacek Czaputowicz, and missiles, was one of Corridor in a quick stab-and-grab operation, Poland’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Marek Lapin- the reasons the US for example, the Baltic NATO states would ski, visited NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence, backed out of the INF be cut off from the rest of NATO. In Article Battle Group Poland on 6 February 2019. treaty on 2 February 5 of the NATO Alliance Treaty, each mem- 2019, following an ber has pledged that an attack on one is an ing militarisation of Poland”. Russia’s deputy announcement the day before by US Secre- attack on all. If NATO did not or could not foreign minister Alexander Grushko stated: tary of State Mike Pompeo. respond, and Russia was to prove Article 5 “Not only in politics, but also in the field of a hollow promise, then the independence of military development, NATO began resort- A Resurgent Russia the Baltic States and the future of the NATO ing to Cold War schemes that should have Alliance would be in jeopardy. been left in the past”. According to the Mos- These developments in Belarus, Russia, cow Times on 19 October 2018, Putin has and Kaliningrad are a primary concern for Credible Deterrence “unveiled an array of new nuclear weapons NATO. As the Soviet Union collapsed, many in one of his most bellicose speeches in years, countries of the former Soviet Union sought The US and NATO are alert to this threat. saying they could hit almost any point in the independence. Lithuania, Latvia, and Esto- If NATO is to deter war, it must continue world and not be intercepted”. To emphasise nia gained their freedom and NATO added to improve its presence and capabilities Putin’s power, the Moscow Times headlines these Baltic States to the Alliance in 1999. to defend the Suwalki Corridor. The US, for 21 February 2019, read: “I’m Ready for A succession of East-West crises – Russia’s regardless of what you read in some of Another Cuban Missile Crisis if You Want war in Georgia in 2008, the annexation of the American press reports, is fully com- One, Putin Tells US.” Crimea in 2014, the continuing Russian-led mitted to the NATO Alliance. President The US and its Allies are listening and have proxy war in Ukraine, and the downing of Donald Trump recognises the danger and been monitoring this situation carefully. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) on 17 July wants NATO members to step up their The US has argued that the cruise mis- 2014 (in May 2018 the BBC reported that defence spending to the levels they have sile version of the ISKANDER, the SSC-8 the Joint Investigation Team reported: "All previously pledged. As Kori Schake wrote

gdels.com The Transatlantic Partner for Land Defense in Europe  SECURITY POLICY

in his article “NATO Without America”, ance and emphasised America’s commit- Europe and America need NATO. We share some European NATO members have ment to its allies to deter war and maintain democratic values, military standards, a responded to President Donald Trump’s the peace. “As we enter the fifth year of unified command structure, and NATO exhortation that each member meet their Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, a war he can put together effective multinational 2% spending obligation as “How dare launched on European soil, we take seri- forces better than any other alliance in the they?” not “How dare we?” It is far past ously those concerns that Russia may one world. The seventy-year Alliance is, by far, time for every member of the Alliance to day try to open a front along a line right the most successful political and military get serious, pull their own weight, and here. In light of this threat, the NATO alliance alliance in history and every member na- pay their pledged amount. Arguing over remains indispensable for the protection of tion should consider this fact. As for the military budgets aside, the Alliance mem- the free peoples of Europe….Now, it is every US, America has consistently shown its bers pledged on 7 June 2018, to the NATO ally’s responsibility to keep Europe free. Rus- commitment to the Alliance and to NATO’s Readiness Initiative where each member sia has grand designs of dominating Europe founding ideals of preserving the peace in state committed, by 2020, to support a and reasserting its influence on the world Europe. As Secretary Pompeo emphasised force of 30 battalions, 30 air squadrons, stage. Vladimir Putin seeks to splinter the in Poland in February 2019, “the men who and 30 naval combat vessels ready to use NATO alliance, weaken the United States, set NATO’s foundation were determined within 30 days, to move within Europe and disrupt Western democracies. Russia’s that Europe would never again face tyranny and across the Atlantic – to respond to invasions of Georgia and Ukraine, its unpro- and war.” As the fears of the old Cold War a security emergency in Europe. This is a voked attack on Ukrainian naval vessels in have been replaced by a resurgent Russia major step toward creating a credible de- the Black Sea this past November, and its that might take military action in Eastern terrent force, but it is not enough. If you ongoing hybrid warfare against us and our Europe, there is much to consider. Is NATO want peace, you must prepare for war, and allies are direct challenges to our security ready for what lies ahead? Can NATO still NATO’s defences are currently inadequate and to our way of life…. Those threats must deter war and, if deterrence fails, fight to deter a determined Russian attempt to be met with similarly strong commitments and win as a unified Alliance? It can, but seize the corridor, declare a ceasefire and from each and every NATO ally”. only if every member nation plays its part, wait and see if NATO will respond. Fear is a reaction, courage is a decision. leads by example to pay its pledged share, On 22 February 2019, the US Secretary The Cold War may be over, but a new, and acts with courage. NATO members of State Mike R. Pompeo visited Poland equally dangerous situation has emerged. have overcome disagreements before. In and watched NATO forces training at the It seems clear that NATO will be tested in the face of these new challenges, every Bemowo Piskie Training Area. His words the months and years ahead. The reality member of the NATO Alliance must stand reinforced the purpose of the NATO Alli- facing all members of the Alliance is that together and decide on courage.  15tH iNtErNaTiOnAl dEfEnCe SoLuTiOnS aNd sEcUrItY FoR SeCuRiTy TeChNoLoGiEs fAiR

2019 PyRoS, iSeT 29. 5.–1. 6. 2019

University of Defence

BVV Trade Fair Brno Výstavište 405/1 29.–31.14 European 5. Security 2019 & Defence · 4/2019 CZ – 603 00 Brno phone: +420 541 152 926 fax: +420 541 153 044 BrNo, cZeCh rEpUbLiC [email protected] www.idet.cz

210x150_A.indd 1 20.02.19 9:27 Viewpoint from London

The Headwinds of Brexit Uncertainty

Conrad Waters

t the time of writ- the removal of the UK’s restraining hand could facilitate a welcome Aing this viewpoint acceleration of moves to develop a true European military. A strength- only two weeks remain ened Franco-German alliance is likely to be central to this process. before the United King- This is evidenced by the signature of the Aachen Treaty on 22 January

Photo: Conrad Waters dom is officially due to 2019. Although a bilateral document, the agreement has a signifi- leave the European Un- cant emphasis on developing joint military capabilities to bolster Eu- ion. There is still no clarity as to how, when or even if departure rope’s ability to act autonomously. Subsequently, influential German will take place. The resulting political crisis speaks volumes about the Christian Democratic Union leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has inadequacy of Britain’s political class to deal with the challenges that proposed a “symbolic project” to build a common European aircraft confront them. With the country’s two main parliamentary parties carrier. It remains to be seen whether the upgraded partnership can seemingly vying to trump each other’s dysfunctional behaviour, Brexit overcome fundamental differences in French and German approaches has become the ‘Project Chaos’ of the UK’s governing elite. to defence strategy and spending. Whatever the ultimate outcome of the current crisis, what is clear is Whatever the outcome, the prospect of a closer Franco-German alli- that the aftermath of the UK’s Brexit vote is already having significant ance dominating Europe’s political and military trajectory is unlikely to consequences for European security and defence. From a domestic, receive a universal welcome across the continent. The two partners’ British, perspective, the country’s previous leading position in Europe’s flagship project is for the new Future Combat Air System. This will re- security architecture is being weakened, perhaps irreversibly so. The place the existing EUROFIGHTER and RAFALE jets in the 2040s. French UK has become seen as a less reliable partner and this is impacting and German dominance of the programme has already drawn the ire collaboration with allies. For example, the ambitious objectives for of the Italian aerospace sector, which sees its own industrial capabilities strengthened Anglo-French defence cooperation heralded by the being marginalised as a result. For other European countries – notably 2010 Lancaster House Treaties have been increasingly overtaken by those to the east – the litmus test of further EU defence integration will events. Britain’s exclusion from European security projects, most no- be its impact on the stability of the NATO alliance, the final guarantor of tably the encrypted elements of the Galileo satellite programme, will their security against a resurgent Russia. The potential loss of the UK’s further reduce its influence over time. role as an arbiter in EU and NATO relations will be a concern. The UK is attempting to counter these negative consequences by Brexit uncertainty comes at a time when European security faces a talking up its worldwide military potential as part of the post-Brexit multitude of challenges. The hazards posed by, for example, mass ‘Global Britain’ vision. In February 2019, British Defence Secretary migration, terrorism, Russian adventurism and US neo-isolationism are Gavin Williamson majored on this theme in a speech entitled ‘Defence diverse in nature. However, all require a considered and well-resourced in Global Britain’ given to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). response. The United Kingdom has brought considerable know-how Stating that the UK “must be prepared to compete for our interests and capabilities to the EU’s efforts to combat these threats and gained and our values far, far from home”, he announced a range of ini- much in return. Whatever the outcome of Brexit machinations, it is tiatives. They included the creation of two new littoral strike groups, hard to escape the conclusion that the security of both the UK and the one to be permanently deployed East of Suez. The establishment of rest of the Europe has been damaged by the Brexit debate. new bases in the Caribbean and the Asia-Pacific region is also being investigated. Ironically, the unanswered question remains whether the British Armed Forces can be provided with the financial resources needed to achieve these ambitions given the economic headwinds produced by Brexit uncertainties.

From a European perspective, the new political backdrop will be seen Photo: Immanuel Giel by some as an opportunity but by others as a threat. For federalists,

A Brexit Mural in Dover. The work of street artist Banksy appeared overnight near the Dover/Calais ferry terminal.

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 15 Viewpoint from Dublin

Photo: Tommy Martin Brexit: It Is Such a Pity

Tommy Martin

here are any number of ways to gauge the mood of the ordinary Britain. Irish people support English soccer teams and watch British Tman and woman in the street, and, frequently, the most accurate soap operas, with both countries having so much more in common is the most unsophisticated – listening to them where you meet than they realise. As with all neighbours, they have disagreed, but in them, on trains, taxis, and in public places. The talk in Ireland today recent years, and certainly post the 1995 Good Friday Agreement, is about many things, and just one thing – Brexit. Brexit has been a Ireland and Britain have both acknowledged that what unites them feature of Irish life for the past two years, but like many things un- is far stronger than what divides them. Much of the inherent histori- palatable, Brexit only began to be taken seriously by Seán and Aíne cal suspicions and mistrust, on both sides, have been systematically Citizen as the date for the British withdrawal from the European and cogently eroded, and Britain and Ireland have never had a closer, Union came rapidly into view. more harmonious relationship. But the dialogue around Brexit, the What is interesting about the process of Brexit, irrespective of the hardening of attitudes, and the very public, high-stakes Brexit nego- final outcome, is just how indecisively it has been managed, com- tiations haves damaged mutual respect. municated and played out in a very public way, with social media strongly influencing public opinion. The minority Governments in Thrown under a Bus both countries, Britain and Ireland, are reliant on a "confidence and supply" arrangement with other parties and individuals. What this Ireland suffered more than most during the worldwide financial has done, is make it much harder to agree a consensus, with each crash of 2008, plunging the country into years of recession, austerity, new development having the potential to bring down a government, and a loss of confidence of our place in the world. Relations with the should it not receive the required support. At a time when dynamic European Union were tested, and there was a strong belief amongst and decisive leadership is needed, governing by agreement and ordinary men and women that Ireland was somehow thrown under assent has conspired to dilute the effectiveness of the mandates of a bus to protect the European Union dream. That memory has not both governments, increasing the uncertainty of a post-Brexit world. gone away, and there lingers a nagging doubt in the minds of many, that when push comes to shove on the border and Brexit, Ireland’s A Sense of Disbelief needs may yet again be sacrificed for the perceived greater good of those with their hands on the levers of power. In the immediate aftermath of the 2016 Brexit referendum in Britain, Britains' withdrawal from the European Union impacts Ireland most there was a general sense of disbelief in Ireland that Brexit would actu- of all – they are our nearest and most important trading partner, we ally go ahead; or, if it was to go ahead, it was thought that the format have a shared political and social history, we uniquely share the same of it would be such that it wouldn’t really make that much difference language. Britain joined the then European Economic Community to everyday life in Ireland. While there was initial unease about the in 1973, prompting Ireland to follow suit. Ireland today has matured future status of the open border between the Republic of Ireland and and developed to such an extent that no serious consideration was Northern Ireland, the detail of the "backstop" reassured everyone, and given to Ireland following Britain and leaving the European Union. Brexit was relegated to a matter of lesser importance in the minds of And what do the man and woman on the street say about it all? In many. This early optimism has since been replaced with uncertainty, Ireland, where free speech and the right to disagree are cherished, trepidation and genuine concern about what the future may hold. the British decision to leave the European Union is respected. But it Ireland’s history has been bound up with Britain for nigh on 800 is such a pity it has come to this – and it could have been handled a years. There isn’t a family in Ireland that doesn’t have relatives in whole lot better.

16 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 Viewpoint from Belfast

The Irish Border Poll: We Need Facts

James Dornan Photo: James Dornan

ilitary expediency dictated that Britain retained an inter- and indeed perhaps a new relationship with Scotland could be Mest in having a foothold in Ireland for many centuries. But considered. The times they are a changing and the relationship on 9 November 1990, Peter Brooke, the then Northern Ireland twixt England and Scotland is visibly fraying as the former’s na- (NI) Secretary of State, declared that Britain had “no longer any tionalist body seem to be increasingly and somewhat disturbingly selfish, strategic or economic interest” in NI and would accept finding its voice. unification.” While all this unfolds, by a combination of inevitability and “events The Good Friday Agreement (GFA) of 1998 declared that a bor- dear boy, events”, the security situation in Ireland will increasingly der poll could be called at the discretion of the Sec. of State, and come under the microscope. the fallout of Brexit, allied with the failure of the local legislative While SF are undoubtedly operating a peaceful, though I would Assembly to meet for two years, has brought a persistent call for contend a somewhat flawed strategy, there are still perhaps a few the same from Sinn Fein (SF) in recent days. hundred in the background who are wedded to using terror to Brexit was not supported by the majority in NI, but the Democratic achieve their aims. Unionist Party (DUP), established by the late Rev. Ian Paisley, are the The forces and services of the law are constantly negating up- majority party in NI and have been in a strong bond with Mrs May’s surges, and are likely to continue to need to do so for some time. Tories in recent times with the aim, in their words, of “consolidating But surveillance systems and communication techniques are at the Union”. However, any hardening of the border is likely to do the least as smart as the perceived “enemy” in the majority of cases, exact opposite. High risk politics are the current order of the day. and the population within which they reside are very different to The reader would do well to be informed of the following facts: the “hear no evil, see no evil” attitude prevalent during the trou- The DUP have never polled more that 23% of the voting popula- bles. In the current developed world local terrorism is considered tion, and SF never more that 21%. Therefore 56% do not vote for passé by most observers. either. Of that 56%, 1/3 never vote, 1/3 vote for “other parties” On the unionist side, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and its and 1/3 just vote at important times, such as for the GFA which myriad of off-shoots, still have not forgiven Paisley for leading had a 82% turnout. The latter 1/3 would vote in a border poll. them up to the top of the hill in 1986, and then seemingly aban- The current political vacuum has increasingly led to the middle doning them there, when he tried to form the Ulster Resistance. ground finding its voice, and they want to see the GFA imple- Old sins have long shadows. Many believe that any loyalist reac- mented fully, and they accept that a border poll could well be tion to a border poll and its results will be dictated by the loyalists called within the next decade, and wish to be presented with clear themselves, and not the DUP. They have also stated that they are facts to enable them to vote intelligently rather than on the basis democrats first and foremost and will abide by the decisions of of a slogan written on the side of a bus. the ballot box. While the DUP and SF will have many in their ranks that would vote The days ahead are fascinating, but I do not think there is a great with their heart in preference to their heads, the middle 56% are appetite for the preservation of the Union in mainland Britain. more savvy and could be described as “soft” unionist or national- The Republic of Ireland still has some convincing arguments but ist, and more likely to see economic considerations as crucial in any have history pushing them strongly. The EU is unlikely to be found future new dispensation being agreed within these Celtic Islands. wanting when called. A vote to remove the border would not necessarily lead to a The Irish border’s days are likely to be numbered, unless, and this single entity United Ireland, but indeed all outcomes should be is very possible, Sinn Fein blows it by constantly playing to their considered. The status quo, a new Ireland, an independent Ulster, core constituency and antagonising the “56%” middle ground.

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 17 Viewpoint from Edinburgh

Photo: John Cooke Scotland’s Take on Brexit

John Cooke

f the UK’s contor- People in the oil and gas industry seem more relaxed: Brexit is just Itions over Brexit one more uncertainty among many. However, some worry about were portrayed in delays in the supply chain for equipment used on offshore plat- art form, something forms or in subsea vehicles, while EU nationals comprise about 7% by Hieronymus of its workforce. And independent academic research calculates Bosch might pro- that Aberdeen, the ‘oil capital of Europe’, would see the largest vide a useful model. reduction in output, measured by gross value added, of any UK At the time of writing, British MPs have voted twice (possibly more city as a result of Brexit. by the time you read this) to reject the deal that Theresa May’s Scotland's east coast fishermen – no fans of the Common Fisheries Government agreed with the EU last November; they have also Policy (CFP) – were vociferous for leaving the EU. But Scotland's fish voted not to leave the EU without any deal; and to ask the EU for processors, who account for nearly half the UK industry, saw how a delay to the UK leaving the EU under 'Article 50'. And while all Norway’s industry declined because of EU tariffs, and fear a similar these votes were ‘meaningful’, none is legally binding. Meanwhile, fate if they don't have full access to EU markets. the UK’s proposals for tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit would The case of 87 year-old grandmother, Tove MacDonald, has likely breach WTO rules, according to Phil Hogan, the EU's Agricul- highlighted the plight of EU citizens in Scotland, which seems ture and Rural Development Commissioner. more open to free movement of people than other parts of the So, what does Scotland – where 62% of voters opted to remain UK. Born in Copenhagen, Mrs MacDonald moved to Scotland within the EU – make of all this? in 1960, married a Scotsman, and has been here ever since. She Her universities, and her life sciences and digital industries, all of tearfully told reporters how she couldn't understand why the which are instinctively international in outlook, were never keen UK Home Office – not known as a beacon of compassion - had on leaving. told her to register to stay in the land that’s been her home for The agricultural sector was more divided, but relies heavily on 59 years. seasonal workers from the EU. Scotland’s farmers say that the What all this means for Scotland’s political landscape remains to number of visas for such workers in a proposed UK-wide scheme be seen, especially on the question of independence, which is the isn’t enough. That could see soft fruit rotting in the fields for lack major fault-line in Scottish politics. of anyone to pick it. Independence supporters point to how 26 other member states Scotch Whisky, as well as being Scotland’s national drink, has an have stood solidly with Ireland – with less than one percent of the export value of around £4.7Bn per annum. Without it, the UK’s total EU population – in the negotiations, contrasting this with trade deficit would be 3% worse than it is. Brexit could threaten what they see as Theresa May’s ‘dismissive’ attitude to Scotland. that, as the protection given to Scotch in some countries is the They also highlight that in the European Union, a single, small result of agreements negotiated by the EU. member state can veto a policy it does not like – the extension to Article 50, for example; whereas in the UK Union, Scotland has no such veto over UK policy that would damage its interests. Whether they will be able to persuade those who opted to stay in the UK in 2014, but to remain in the EU in 2016, to vote for inde- Photo: Pixabay pendence now, is far from certain. Some have made that journey, but equally, some who voted to leave the UK in 2014, also voted to leave the EU. And those against independence claim the difficulty in negotiating Brexit shows the difficulty in disentangling political unions. The Danish physicist, Niels Bohr, once said, “prediction is difficult, especially about the future”. That's true of many things, but par- ticularly of Brexit. SECURITY POLICY  A Ticking Bomb?

Chinese Immigration to Russia’s Far East Eugene Kogan

Chinese immigration to the Russian Far East and the debate about its advantages and disadvantages began in Russia in the early 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The idea of Chinese immigrants being a ticking bomb has been disseminated by Russian officials for years.

ltimately, the bomb did not go off or A Peaceful Invasion? Resettlement Programmes Uharm the Russians living in the region. Nevertheless, Russian media propagated an Chinese immigration to the Far East of Rus- In order to stop the shrinking of the Russian image of Chinese immigrants invading the sia is not a recent phenomenon, and govern- population in Siberia, President Vladimir Russian Far East quietly and depriving the ment officials have previously distorted the Putin launched a state programme in June Russians of their jobs, thus posing an imme- growth of the Chinese population in Russia, 2006 to encourage Russian compatriots liv- diate threat. Also this immediate threat did reinforcing the feeling that a silent invasion ing abroad to voluntarily resettle to the Far not materialise. After all, China's population is under way. In July 1999, Viktor Izhaev, for- East. The programme aimed primarily at is ageing rapidly, and China itself will soon mer governor of the Khabarovsk region and ethnic Russians, people who now frequent- face labour shortages. As a result of domes- former representative of the President of the ly live as second-class citizens in the former tic political changes in China, the number Russian Far East, made an alarming state- Soviet republics. But the programme has of Chinese workers seeking work in Russia is declining. Therefore, the myth of hordes of Chinese taking over the Russian Far East was precisely that; but it lives on among the Russians in the Far East. The Russian Far East (RFE) is a very impor- Photo: ESD Archive tant region for three important production sites of the Russian military aviation indus- try. These are the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant (KNAAPO), manufacturer of fighter aircraft Su-27/30/35, the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (UUAP), manufacturer of Su- 25 fighter aircraft, and the Progress pro- duction site in the Primorsky region, man- ufacturer of military and civil helicopters from Kamov. In addition, the Russian East- ern Military District (MD) headquartered in Khabarovsk and the Pacific Fleet head- quartered in Vladivostok remain important The Russian border gate near Manzhouli, China elements to fend off any attack from the East. Therefore, President Vladimir Putin's ment: "The entire country in the Russian Far been tacitly abandoned as the government government is carefully monitoring Chi- East will be bought by Chinese. A peaceful has recognised the plan as unfeasible. That nese immigration to the Russian Far East, occupation of the Far East is under way" and should come as no surprise. Russian mi- and if necessary would restrict or expel it would only be a matter of time before the grants returning to Russia prefer to settle Chinese immigrants. For example, in 2006, Chinese would seek the return of what they in the more developed areas rather than 100,000 Chinese merchants were forced consider their historical territory. Such per- in the Far East, and the meagre financial to leave Russia, and the Russian Far East ceptions were later reinforced by President incentives offered by the Russian Govern- suffered serious consequences. Such an act Vladimir Putin; during a visit to the border ment do not tempt Russian migrants. can be repeated at any time despite im- town of Blagoveshchensk in July 2000, Putin proved bilateral Russian-Chinese relations; told the inhabitants: "If you do nothing to One Hectare for Free Russia's domestic considerations outweigh change the economic development of the its external relations. region, your children will speak Chinese". The latest “Strategy for the Economic and This kind of rhetoric is not new, and little has Social Development of the Far East and Author been done to dispel the fears of the popula- Lake Baikal Region”, signed by Putin in De- tion. In the last three decades, only a few cember 2009, says nothing about increas- Eugene Kogan is a defence Chinese immigrants have invaded the Rus- ing the population with new settlers, but and security expert based in Tbilisi, sian Far East, but they mostly stayed in the focuses on encouraging existing Russian Georgia. region for a short time or used the region as residents to stay in the region by "creating a transit point on their way to Central Asia. comfortable living conditions" and "reach-

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 19 To counter allegations of Chinese extrac- tion of raw materials at Russia's expense in the Far East, Russia and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in early 2016 to relocate Chinese compa- nies to the Far East in twelve key sectors, including agriculture, energy, engineer- ing, metallurgy, shipbuilding, textiles and telecommunications. At least theoreti- cally, Chinese companies should want to relocate to the Russian Far East because of China's overproduction, access to the Russian market and its growth potential, as well as the region's natural resources,

Photo: Alex1979 less stringent environmental regulation Decrepit industrial facilities dominate the city of Amursk in Russia’s Far and lower overheads due to the devalu- East. More than 1.2 million Russians have left the region since the col- ation of the rouble. Chinese factories lapse of the Soviet Union. could in turn create new employment opportunities for the region. ing the average level of social and eco- The Russian leadership and analysts have nomic development in Russia". But even pointed to this demographic imbalance A Chinese Takeover this goal was not achieved, and the Rus- and the often exaggerated figures of il- sians continue to leave the Far East. Mos- legal Chinese migration to highlight the For instance, the Ministry for Development cow has also sponsored the so-called “Far vulnerability of Russia's Far East. Howev- of the Russian Far East (Minvostokrazvitiya) Eastern Hectare” immigration promotion er, the Russian programmes mentioned reported on 29 November 2017 that Rus- programme, but according to a November above are not good enough to overcome sia‘s Far East Investment and Export Agency 2016 survey by the Russian Public Opinion vulnerability, and the incentives associ- and China’s Paper Corporation, a division Research Centre (VTsIOM), only 14% of ated with the Russian programmes do of China Chengtong Holdings, signed an Russians and 27% of people MoU on the implementation of a project living in the Far East would to build a pulp-and-paper mill in the city even consider applying for of Amursk in the Khabarovsk region. The one hectare of land in the mill will produce up to 500,000 tonnes of

Russian Far East under this Photo: Facebook pulp per year; overall investment in the pro- programme. ject will total about US$1.5Bn. No progress According to official statis- in the implementation of the project has tics, the population in the been reported since the MoU was signed. Russian Far East decreased Therefore, the cross-border transfer of Chi- by 1.75 million (out of 8 nese companies remains limited and is not million) between 1990 and expected to increase in the coming years. 2010. Whether or not the In Russia, many of these initiatives have shrinking Russian popula- met with resistance at the local level. Al- EARLY BIRD tion in the Far East can be though sometimes misinformed, such an supplemented by Chinese opposition shows the different perspec- ENDS ON immigrants is uncertain, The Kremlin’s plans to lease more than 100,000 tives between federal and local govern- 19 MARCH but President Putin's gov- hectares of land for 49 years to a Chinese com- ments regarding China's role in the Rus- 14-16 May 2019 ernment sees the issue as a pany triggered a nationalist uproar in Russia. sian Far East. In mid-2015, for example, Stockholmsmässan, Sweden threat to national security A meme circulating widely in social networks major demonstrations took place in the rather than an opportunity shows Putin and a Chinese. The caption reads: Baikal region against the lease of more for the country's economy. “Krim is ours, Siberia is yours!” than 100,000 hectares of land for 49 TRAINING AND EDUCATION Moreover, the Russian per- years to Hia'e Xingbang, a private Chi- ception of Chinese immigrants as a yel- not lead to the migration of Russians nese company, for US$440M. The plan TECHNOLOGIES FOR low danger is deeply rooted in the Rus- to the Far East. At the same time, since was not implemented. These concerns sian psyche. To be on the safe side, Russia 2015, immigrants have had to take a result in part from the "farm rush" of the THE DEFENCE AND CIVIL accepts Chinese immigrants as tempo- comprehensive examination to test their 1990s and early 2000s, when farm work- rary workers, but they do not want them knowledge of the Russian language, his- ers from China moved to the fertile land PROTECTION COMMUNITIES to settle in the RFE in the long term. Such tory and relevant laws before they can in the Far East along the border. JOIN US IN 2019 AND EXPECT: a policy is no incentive for the Chinese to apply for the necessary permits and doc- Some Russians have pointed to this mi- emigrate to Russia, and Russian percep- uments. Shortly after the introduction gration flow as evidence of a Chinese tions are unlikely to change in the fore- of the comprehensive test, China asked takeover of the Russian Far East. In real- seeable future. Russia to abolish the Russian language ity, land under cultivation in the region REGISTRATION OPEN Today, the 6.3 million inhabitants of the test for Chinese guest workers, but this declined by about 60% between 1990 2,000 60+ 4 100+ industry specific countries conference international Russian Far East face 110 million Chinese request was rejected. As a result, Chi- and 2006, while Chinese farms have MILITARY ATTEND FOR FREE attendees represented streams VIPs in the three provinces of Manchuria on nese immigrants were unable to stay in been commercially motivated, primarily the other side of the once porous border. the region. producing crops for the Russian market. To find out more: Organised by Organised by Organisers of Organisers of Organisers of W: www.itec.co.uk 20 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 T: +44 (0) 20 7384 7788

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To dispel these fears, Alexander Galush- companies do not provide immediate Conclusion ka, Minister for Development of the Rus- payoffs to local officials compared to nat- sian Far East, has repeatedly emphasised ural resource extraction. Therefore, the In summary, it can be said that Chinese im- that the “Russian workers are priority and economic factor outweighs the human migration is certainly not a ticking bomb, then foreigners who will not have prob- factor, and Russian bureaucratic hurdles but a rather exaggerated perception of lems with adaptation; those who know hamper Chinese investments. threat that both Russian officials and Rus- the Russian language, and are close to us The arguments against lifting the visa sian people living in the Far East are unwill- in history and culture.” requirement are even more speculative. ing to overcome. There is also agreement in Galushka stressed that the framework Some fear that visa-free travel could lead Russia that Russians living in the Far East tol- agreement with China on the establish- to uncontrolled immigration; alarmists say erate the presence of Chinese immigrants ment of the Russian-Chinese Agrofund that an influx of Chinese could lead to eth- as long as the West maintains economic provided that at least 80% of employ- nic crime, environmental disasters and even sanctions against Russia. As soon as the ees in joint projects must be Russians. the secession of the Far East from Russia. It West no longer sanctions Russia, Russian Nevertheless, the Russians fear that the remains unclear on what basis the scare- tolerance will turn into intolerance and the growing Chinese presence will facilitate mongers are making their allegations, but threat from China will be re-emphasised. China's economic dominance in the Rus- for now the scaremongers have the upper However, there is an additional factor that sian Far East at the expense of foreign hand and the lifting of the visa requirement the Russian authorities can no longer ig- competitors and Russian companies. To for Chinese is not on the agenda. nore. China's population is ageing rapidly. address these concerns, the Ministry of After all, geopolitics has always been a fun- This means that, given the labour shortage Development of the Far East of Russia has damental concern of the central govern- in China and rising wages, the willingness stated that Russian contractors and sup- ment in its dealings with the Far East. Be- of Chinese workers to seek work in Russia pliers will be given priority in these com- cause of the region's remoteness from the is likely to decrease in the coming years. panies. The locals have also expressed centre of the country, its sparse population, This would have a negative impact on the concern about the pollution caused by poor transport infrastructure and the pres- local Russian population, which will decline the relocation of Chinese dirty industries ence of large and ambitious powers in its in the foreseeable future. The shortage of to Russia. All these concerns have con- neighbourhood, Moscow must always be skilled labour in the region will remain a tributed to more bureaucratic hurdles be- very careful when it comes to the Far East's major problem for some time to come. As ing imposed on the Russian side. Moreo- external relations. And Moscow manages a result, both local residents and Chinese ver, local officials do not view the im- external relations with great care, maintain- immigrants are in a vicious circle that the plementation of these projects with the ing balance with its neighbours and keep- Putin government cannot or may not want same expediency, as these value-adding ing Chinese immigrants on a leash. to solve. 

EARLY BIRD ENDS ON 19 MARCH 14-16 May 2019 Stockholmsmässan, Sweden

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J411467_ITEC_Generic Advert_198x135_2019_v1.indd 1 28/02/2019 11:20  SECURITY POLICY The Policy of the United States in the South Caucasus

Gayane Novikova

What does the new foreign policy under Donald Trump mean for the complex security environment? This article analyses the interaction between the three main actors of the South Caucasus region, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, through the prism of change and continuity in US regional policy.

ny discussion regarding the current some extent provocative and unpredicta- vironment to the extent that global peace Astate of US foreign policy contains ble: In many cases they can give an impulse and security is affected. more questions than answers. The more to irreversible changes in the security envi- This article therefore aims to analyse the recent trend has been determined by the ronment in certain regions. On the other frameworks of interaction between the slogan "America First!", which means on hand, there is both a visible and hidden United States and the three main stake- the one hand that the US is moving toward continuity in respect to the main directions holders of the South Caucasus region: Ar- a more isolationistic policy. Steps which aim and approaches toward the core issues of menia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, through to serve only American interests can be to the American foreign policy. the prism of change and continuity in US regional policy.

The US National Security Strategy The Trump administration introduced its National Security Strategy (NSS) Photo: US State Department in December 2017. It states that the "America First foreign policy celebrates America's influence in the world as a positive force that can help set the con- ditions for peace, prosperity, and the development of successful societies." To analyse the exact results of this in- fluence upon the other states, which are both US partners and rivals, it is necessary to note that the foreign pol- icy of Donald Trump possesses several distinctive aspects in comparison with the foreign policy of his predecessor Barack Obama. Within the context of this article, the most important are the approaches to international peace and security and the role of global actors in preserving stability and promoting democracy. In the NSSs of both presi- dents, the global threats to US security US Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Armenian President have been Russian, Chinese, and Iranian Serzh Sagsyan on 16 May 2016 at the Bristol Hotel in Vienna, Austria, ambitions, as well as international ter- before US, Russian, and French officials sat down with Armenian and rorism and crime. Azerbaijani leaders in an effort to calm tensions over the disputed Na- The main difference lies in their ap- gorno-Karabakh region. proaches to the avenues to eliminate these threats. President Obama intro- Author Changes and continuity in US foreign policy duced "strategic patience" in interac- can be found not only in regard to global is- tions with other actors and emphasised Dr. Gayane Novikova is the founder sues. The dynamic of developments even in that the "rules-based international order and current director of the Center for areas of the world peripheral for the US or advanced by US leadership […] promotes Strategic Analysis, (Spectrum) in Yere- – at first glance – around "insignificant" or peace, security, and opportunity through van, Armenia. less important issues can provoke the col- stronger cooperation to meet global chal- lapse of a very fragile regional security en- lenges." President Trump, who views for-

22 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 SECURITY POLICY  eign policy per se as his personal domain East. From the US perspective, it accom- and significantly to limit the space avail- (which means that it can be – to a certain plishes at least three important functions. able to them for political, economic, and degree – unpredictable and impulsive), First, as a buffer zone, the South Cau- military manoeuvring. conversely demonstrates "strategic im- casus reduces the scale of penetration Insertion of the US into this scheme as patience", as he attempts to shape the of a broad spectrum of security threats a third-level supra-regional actor brings international order in accordance with (including Islamic radicalism, terrorism, even more intricacy and complexity into his vision of how to protect US sover- drug- and human trafficking, and uncon- relations on the ground. The US sanc- eignty: "My Administration's National trolled migration) emanating from the tions against Russia, its withdrawal from Security Strategy lays out a strategic vi- vulnerable Middle East. Second, in part the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action sion for protecting the American people it can be viewed as an obstacle against a ("Iran Deal") in May 2018, the growing and preserving our way more active inclusion of tension in the US-Turkey bilateral rela- of life, promoting our Russia in Middle Eastern tionship, suspension of the INF Treaty prosperity, preserv- processes. (The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces ing peace through Treaty) in February 2019 by both the US strength, and ad- and Russia all indicate a dan- vancing American influ- gerous trend toward trans- ence in the world. […] we formation of the geopolitical will serve the American competition into a geopolitical people and uphold their confrontation. right to a government that prioritises their security, their prosperity, and their interests. This National Security Strategy puts America First." Accord- ing to the NSS, "The United States will respond to the growing political, eco- nomic, and military competitions we face around the world… These competitions The South require the United States to rethink the Caucasus area policies of the past two decades – poli- is a crossroads cies based on the assumption that en- of oil and gas gagement with rivals and their inclusion pipelines that in international institutions and global diversify energy commerce would turn them into benign supplies to the sev- actors and trustworthy partners. For the eral European states thereby Graphic: Mapsproject most part, this premise turned out to be reducing their dependence false." Therefore, it is correct to evaluate upon Russia. The existing and the current version of the NSS as based proposed trade and com- not on cooperation but on competition. munication routes are of sig- Although the South Caucasus region was nificant importance, providing not mentioned in the 2017 NSS, some fea- transport corridors which connect The increasing US in- volvement in tures mark a trend toward a multilayer in- the Central Asian states and China to Eu- South Caucasus affairs aims: a) to limit volvement of the US into processes in this rope. This region is essential for China's Russia's presence in the region; b) to area. In the preamble to the NSS's chapter "Belt and Road" initiative. restrict Iran and to control the interac- "The Strategy in the Regional Context," it The geopolitical competition with the tions of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and (to a was stated that the US "must tailor [its] inclusion of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and lesser extent) Georgia, with Iran, and c) approaches to different regions of the Georgia, can be analysed in a three-level to promote mutual interests in the Mid- world to protect US national interests. We overlapping and mutually influential dle East with Turkey as a strategic partner require integrated regional strategies that framework. At its first level are Arme- and ally. In the meantime, an intensifying appreciate the nature and magnitude of nia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, which have tension between the regional powers and threats, the intensity of competitions, and very complicated relationships with each the US will cause a further deterioration of the promise of available opportunities, all other. Numerous regional contradictions security in the South Caucasus. in the context of local political, economic, have shaped the Georgian-Azerbaijani social, and historical realities." strategic partnership, the Armenian- Regional Conflicts The long-term strategic interests of the Georgian friendly relations and the Ar- US toward the South Caucasus region menian-Azerbaijani enmity. These states Another set of factors which determines can be identified by – among others – also either border with, or are in close the strategic interest of the US toward two important factors: its location and proximity to, three regional powers: Rus- the South Caucasus states is related to fragile security environment. sia, Iran, and Turkey. These powers con- the three unresolved conflicts of this stitute the second level of actors directly area. Developments in and around each Geopolitical Competition involved in South Caucasus processes. of these conflicts can pose a serious se- The strategic interests of Russia, Iran, curity threat: Under certain conditions, a The South Caucasus region can be con- and Turkey, as well as their models of small war can transform into a regional sidered as a constituent part of larger interaction with each other, allow them one that involves the participation of regions, in particular the Broader Middle to manipulate the South Caucasus states several regional actors.

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 23  SECURITY POLICY

In the Abkhazian and South Ossetian Georgia's reliance and its resilience and its to negotiate a solution based upon a mu- conflicts, the United States is actually self-defence capabilities." Later, in the US tual compromise (namely, the so-called excluded as a player. After the outbreak NSS (2017) the only reference to the South Madrid Principles, as updated in 2009). of the Russian-Georgian war in August Caucasus was related to Georgia: "With its The outbreak of the conflict in April 2016 2008, the EU (France and its President invasions of Georgia and Ukraine, Russia clearly demonstrated the growing danger Nicolas Sarkozy, in particular) took the demonstrated its willingness to violate the to regional peace and security. initiative to negotiate a six-point peace sovereignty of states in the region." The parties to the conflict directly and plan to end the war and to find a politi- Another statement, indirectly concerned indirectly have been blaming the media- cal solution. However, the signed Med- with the "Georgian conflicts", appeared tors for their inability to suggest some- vedev–Sarkozy agreement was factually in September 2018. Assistant Secretary of thing critically new regarding principles annulled after recognition of Abkhaz- State for European and Eurasian Affairs, A. for a resolution. Meanwhile, in the course ian and South Ossetian independence Wess Mitchell, addressing the 2018 Tbilisi of the last ten years, the co-chairs of the by Russia in September 2008. Conse- International Conference, stressed that "to- OSCE Minsk Group have attempted to quently, these two conflicts have been gether with the weapons and training that give a new impulse to the negotiations. In transformed from internal ethno-po- we provide, [our bilateral relations] demon- particular, the former US Co-Chair, Am- litical conflicts into international ones. strate very clearly that the US will commit the bassador Richard Hoagland, recognised: Antagonistic Russian-Georgian rela- resources and the attention to supporting "There are several unresolved, protracted tions still prevent an implementation Georgia and to making sure that Georgia conflicts on the territory of the former So- of any model of reconciliation between is able to defend its territory. First and fore- viet Union, and each one is somewhat dif- Georgia and the two breakaway semi- most, the territorial integrity, sovereignty, ferent. …you have to look at exactly what recognised statelets, at least in the and independence of Georgia have been are the elements involved in that con- foreseeable future. The US currently and remain at the heart of the United States flict… In fact, I'd go so far as to say maybe lacks a comprehensive policy in these strategic objectives in the Caucasus." this [the NK conflict] is just an example "Georgian conflicts": It has withdrawn of good diplomacy and what I would call from any discussions and limited itself to The Nagorniy Karabakh Realpolitik." Furthermore, his statement statements that support Georgia's terri- Conflict that "there can be no settlement with- torial integrity. There is no sign that the out respect for Azerbaijan's sovereignty US has any desire to be directly involved A different approach can be observed and the recognition that sovereignty over in the resolution of the Abkhazian and in the US involvement as a mediator in these [surrounding Nagorniy Karabakh] South Ossetian conflicts. the Nagorniy Karabakh (NK) conflict. territories must be restored" provoked in- It must be noted that the discussions Currently the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) tensive discussions between the parties to around the Georgian conflicts have intensi- platform (established as a framework the conflict on whether he intentionally fied since the annexation of Crimea by Rus- for the mediation for settlement of the avoided mentioning Azerbaijan's territo- sia in 2014. In July 2016, the US and Geor- NK conflict) remains probably the only rial integrity and this is a sign of a new policy by the US and /or the Minsk Group, or he simply modified this term slightly. There are some signs of the US readiness

Photo: OSCE to play a more active role and to speed the NK conflict resolution. A visit by US National Security Advisor John Bolton to the region in October 2018, and his press conferences in Baku and Yerevan, indicated that the US is in favour of a com- promise that will bring both Azerbaijan (as a US strategic partner) and Armenia (the relations with which he described as "a top priority") closer to the West, and thereby to reduce Russia's influence in the region. He said, "From Armenia's point of view, the surest way to reduce excessive outside influence in Armenia is to reach a resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh." Advi- On 26 May 2016, the OSCE PA Special Representative on the South Cau- sor Bolton also discussed arms purchases, casus Kristian Vigenin visited the boundary line separating South Osse- stressing that purchasing of weapons tia from Georgia near the village Khurvaleti. from Russia "has clearly not contributed to a resolution of the dispute, because of gia signed a new agreement that shifted area of US–Russia cooperation, in spite the enormous leverage it gives Russia over military assistance to Georgia from the of existing differences. As a co-chair both parties…We [Americans] believe in training of its troops for international de- of the MG, the US, together with Rus- competition as a spur to improvement, ployment to an increase of its self-defence sia and France, is trying to facilitate a and our military equipment is better than capabilities. As John Kerry, the former US consensus between the parties to the the Russians' in all cases. This is something Secretary of State, mentioned, this agree- conflict, namely Armenia, the Republic we should consider." This offer to sell ment "defines our security partnership and of Artsakh (also known as the Nagorno- weapons to the parties to the NK conflict the steps we will take together to further Karabakh Republic), and Azerbaijan, and should be viewed not only through the

24 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 SECURITY POLICY  prism of the US–Russia relationships and growing owing to the location of this area: Velvet Revolution. His answer did not refer the desire of the US to contain Iran, but it stands at a crossroads where the inter- to the peaceful change of power, an im- also be evaluated as a step toward further ests of three core actors – Russia, Turkey, provement of the human rights situation, escalation of an arms race in the already and Iran – coincide, overlap, or confront or progress in the fight against corruption. heavily militarised area. Given the situa- each other. Depending upon geopolitical Instead, he stressed that, after the parlia- tion where the NK conflict is still very far developments, the US can find itself fac- mentary elections in a December 2018, from resolution, any violation of balance ing an increasing joint resistance of these "the most opportune moment [will have of powers can be extremely dangerous. states toward its policies in the Broader come] to take strong action in number of Several direct and indirect factors influ- Middle East and in the South Caucasus in different respects... There is no better time ence the US position regarding resolution particular. to try and take decisive action [in the reso- of the Nagorniy Karabakh conflict. Among Moreover, the critical goal of the US as con- lution of the NK conflict.].” In Baku, Bol- them should be mentioned the following: cerns the interaction with the three regional ton's answer to a question about an "un- • Azerbaijan has been viewed by US au- states – Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia relenting crackdown on civil society and thorities as a secular Muslim state that – involves their more active engagement independent media in Azerbaijan", was a can (together with Turkey) be helpful and larger participation in providing and quote from President Trump's speech at the in the fight against global Islamist ter- securing US strategic political-military and UN GA; to him, the US has "a desire not to rorism; economic interests in the area of dominant lecture other countries". • Azerbaijan allows use of its air and sea Russian, Turkish, and Iranian presence and Although the threats and challenges ports as essential transit points for US influence. In regard to the growing secu- emanating from the wider Middle East and NATO troops, supporting their rity deficit in different parts of the world, are common to all the above-mentioned missions in Afghanistan; and especially in the South Caucasus, the states, the possibility of a broad coopera- • Azerbaijan is a key actor in regard to following statement in the US NSS should tion to prevent or minimise them is quite energy supplies to several European be considered seriously: "We will compete low; a shared strategic vision has been re- states; with all tools of national power to ensure placed by Realpolitik. • In 2018 alone, the US invested US$13Bn that regions of the world are not dominat- Finally, the South Caucasus states are in Azerbaijan's economy, including ed by one power." already involved in a vicious circle of in- more than US$1Bn in the country's A promotion of democratic values as the tensifying and expanding geopolitical non-oil sector; US global mission is currently not on the US competition. Against a background of a • The efforts of the Armenian lobby, which agenda. In contrast to President Obama's growing confrontation between the US is focused on Armenian Genocide rec- National Security Strategy, which stated and Russia, an increasing hostility be- ognition and on maintaining US direct that "defending democracy and human tween the US and Iran, and an ambiva- economic support to Armenia and the rights is related to every enduring national lent US–Turkey relationship, three South Republic of Artsakh, and on recogni- interest", the Trump administration in its Caucasus states have a special task: To tion of Artsakh's independence by vari- first NSS made it clear that it is "not going find for themselves an acceptable modus ous states in the USA, are limited by the to impose our values on others." This posi- operandi with all these external actors united efforts of Turkish and a growing tion echoed quite clearly the US attitude and to avoid by all means a further in- number of Azerbaijani lobbyists. toward the South Caucasus states: the se- crease in regional security deficit. Reach- curity agenda is prioritised over democratic ing this goal will be difficult under the Concluding Remarks values and human rights. At the press con- present circumstances: Existing regional ference in Yerevan, the US National Secu- bilateral and multilateral problems have In conclusion, the US strategic interests rity Advisor John Bolton was asked about become instrumentalised amidst the ge- toward the South Caucasus as a region is Washington's reaction to the Armenian opolitical games of others. 

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4/2019 · European Security & Defence 25 COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS A Question of Balance The Netherlands between Atlanticism and European Army

Thomas Bauer

In a speech at the University of Zurich in February this year, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called for a dec- laration of commitment by Europe to more “Realpolitik”. This rallying cry revealed a fundamental dilemma in the security and defence policy of many European states, and above all of the Netherlands. The crisis in trans- atlantic relationships is perceived by many as an opportunity for developing a new self-awareness in Europe in terms of security policy. A difficult balancing act, which could be orchestrated by the Netherlands in particular.

his has to do not only with the rumours drives and developments always take place Two-Pillars Approach Tthat the Dutch Premier wanted, by way in the sense and spirit of the transatlantic of the speech, to move into a lead position Alliance and NATO. This is where the dif- The Netherlands have for many years been within Europe, rumours which Mark Rutte ferences come to light in comparison with supporters of a stronger European coop- himself rapidly dispelled. Rather, the Neth- the aspirations of French President Macron, eration with respect to a common secu- erlands represent a group of states in the who with his plans for a European Army rity and defence policy. The basis for this is European Union which not only advocate wants to achieve a clearly more independ- also the membership of NATO, which the every European initiative towards develop- ent stance by Europe in relation to the USA, Netherlands have belonged to since it was founded in 1949. The experiences from the first half of the 20th century led The Hague to the realisation that the protec- tion and guarantee of national sovereignty of the Netherlands can only be assured by a lasting commitment by a power outside Europe to the security of Europe itself. The Photo: European Parliament loyalty of the Netherlands to NATO came under enormous pressure during the peace movements of the late 1970s. Confronted with a massive opposition against nuclear weapons, the government under Minister President Ruud Lubbers in the 1980s pur- sued a seesaw policy supporting the NATO double-track decision on the one hand and at the same time insisting on independent Dutch decisions against the possible sta- tioning of American warheads. The agree- ment concluded between Washington and Moscow in 1987 to do away with all nucle- ar intermediate-range missiles (INF treaty), Dutch PM Mark Rutte addressing a plenary session of the European brought this balancing act to an end. Parliament in Strasbourg Besides NATO membership, all the govern- ments in The Hague after Second World ing security and defence policy capacities but also on the part of NATO. In his speech War have also supported moves towards and capabilities, but also support this by in Zurich, the Dutch Premier accordingly a far-reaching European integration. The appropriate measures and by a great deal emphasised the need for Europe, in mat- guideline concept in this context was of commitment. At the same time, howev- ters of a stronger military commitment, not the conviction that the smaller European er, it is important to The Hague that these to hide any longer behind a perceived sense countries would only be able to prevent of moral superiority, while at the same the dominance of the big States like France Author time enjoying the security of the protective or Germany by taking part in the integra- shield offered by the USA. The European tion process. This consideration also result- Thomas Bauer is a freelance defence Union should be "less naive and more re- ed in the clear preference at The Hague and security journalist and analyst alistic" about its foreign policy and not be for supranational efforts, in other words based in Bavaria, Germany. afraid to exercise power, Mark Rutte said initiatives, which lead to the transfer of in his speech. national powers to European institutions.

26 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS

ghanistan and Iraq wars, the terror attacks of 11 September 2001, and the rise of new regional powers such as China induced a

Photo: defensie.nl "pivot to Asia" proclaimed by the former Barack Obama administration. The protec- tion and maintaining of the security of Eu- rope would in future have to be ensured by the Europeans’ own initiatives towards establishing robust capabilities and capaci- ties. Developing a European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and all the aspects associated with this, such as the Europe- an Security Strategy (ESS), the European Headline Goal (EHG), or the system of the European Battlegroups, therefore found approval in The Hague only on the premise that the new European security and de- fence dimension would always have to be viewed in the context of maintaining and Humanitarian aid conducted by Dutch troops on the Caribbean island strengthening the transatlantic Alliance. Sint Maarten after a hurricane disaster in September 2017 In November 2017 the Netherlands were among the first countries to express sup- Conversely, the plans by French President the clear orientation of Dutch security and port for a close security policy coopera- de Gaulle or German Chancellor Konrad defence policy towards the transatlantic tion within the framework of the EU, by Adenauer for the crafting of a European Alliance. At the same time, the change in participation in the Permanent Structured Political Union, or even a European defence the international security structure and the Cooperation arrangement (PESCO). The association outside NATO, were categori- shift from a bipolar to a multipolar world first PESCO flagship project with the aim of cally rejected by the Netherlands. called for a new positioning of Europe, and expanding military mobility is actually un- Even with the end of the Cold War, all the therefore also of the Netherlands. The con- der Dutch leadership. Military mobility aims governments at The Hague adhered to flicts in the Near and Middle East, the Af- at improving arrangements, laws, regula-

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J411466_UDT_Generic Advert_210x150_2019_v3.indd 1 27/02/2019 12:47 Masthead European Security & Defence Issue 4/2019 · April 2019 tions and infrastructure in order to speed up the movement of ISSN 1617-7983 · www.euro-sd.com military equipment throughout Europe. It requires a tremen- dous amount of European decisions and actions, but it primarily Published by serves NATO reinforcements for Article 5 contingencies. The Mittler Report Verlag GmbH A company of the Tamm support of the Netherlands towards strengthening the Euro- Media Group pean security dimension is therefore always to be understood as strengthening the European column within the transatlantic Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Peter Bossdorf (pb) partnership, not as a substitute for it. Managing Editor (Magazine): Stephen Barnard (sb) In the light of the ambiguous attitudes of the Trump admin- Managing Editor (Newsletter): Dorothee Frank (df) istration towards NATO it is important for the Netherlands to Industrial Editors: Rolf Clement (rc), Waldemar Geiger (wg), Gerhard Heiming (gwh), Jürgen Hensel (jh), Hans Uwe Mergener (hum) find the right balance between the pro-European initiatives Sub-Editors: Christopher Ellaway-Barnard (cb), Christian Kanig (ck) of the past few months and the attempts to revive the trans- Correspondents: Rolf Hilmes (Army Technology), Peter Preylowski (Airborne Systems) atlantic security and defence framework. The central aim for Regional Correspondents: Sidney Dean (USA), Tamir Eshel (Israel), Tim Guest (UK), The Hague must therefore be to avoid an either/or between Alex Horobets (Ukraine), Jaime Karremann (The Netherlands), Beka Kiria (Georgia), Shinichi Kiyotani (sk; Japan), Yury Laskin (Russia), J. Bo Leimand (Denmark), Jay Atlanticism and Europe. It is for this reason that Mark Rutte Menon (India), Chet Nagle (USA), Korhan Özkilinc (Turkey), Luca Peruzzi (Italy), is currently coming out against the plans for developing a David Saw (France), Joris Verbeurgt (Belgium/EU/NATO), Esteban Villarejo (Spain) European Army. "NATO remains our first line of defence and Layout: our guarantee of security, and in my opinion that rules out a CREATIVE.CONSULTING GmbH, Germany European army," he said. Production: Lehmann Offsetdruck GmbH New Strategic Focus 22848 Norderstedt, Germany In May 2018 a new strategy paper was published in The Hague Office address: Mittler Report Verlag GmbH which sketches the path for Dutch security and defence policy Baunscheidtstraße 11, 53113 Bonn, Germany up to 2022, the Integrated International Security Strategy 2018- Phone.: +49 228 35 00 870, Fax: +49 228 35 00 871 2022 (IISS). The document outlines the strategic framework Email: [email protected], www.mittler-report.de within which the Netherlands will move in future. The three core Director of Marketing elements of the IISS are "prevent", "defend" and "strengthen". Jürgen Hensel (jh) The IISS casts light on the broad spectrum of different challenges Phone: +49 228 35 00 876, Fax: +49 228 35 00 871 and threats. If the six threats which are given closer scrutiny are Email: [email protected] subdivided into blocks, the changes in the security picture which Marketing & Business Development have occurred in the last 30 years can be clearly read. Block One Dr. Andreas Himmelsbach comprises the classic threats from conventional military forces Phone: +49 228 35 00 877, Fax: +49 228 35 00 871 and weapons of mass destruction. If, at the end of the Cold [email protected] War, there had still been hope in Europe of being spared these Waldemar Geiger threats in future, it has been dashed by the increasing tensions Phone: +49 228 35 00 887, Fax: +49 228 35 00 871 and risks in the region brought about by the Ukraine conflict, the [email protected] dispute between NATO and Russia regarding the stationing of Advertising Representatives: intermediate range missiles, and the failing of the great disarma- ment treaties. Block Two is circumscribed by terrorist strikes and UK/Ireland/Eastern Europe/Israel/Turkey: Stephen Barnard, c/o Mittler Report Verlag GmbH cyber attacks, which have dominated the threat scenarios for the Phone: +49 228 35 00 886, Email: [email protected] last two decades. All attempts made since 11 September 2001 USA/Canada: to bring this danger under control by military and non-military Susan Spilman-Gardner measures have contributed little to global security. Deteriorating Email: [email protected] state structures are still prolific on every continent in the world, Phone: +1 817-751-5888 and accordingly offer adequate space for terrorist groups to with- Russia & CIS: draw, recruit, and proliferate. The third group, with terms such as Laguk Co., Yury Laskin, General Director “Undesirable foreign interference and disruption” and “Threats Krasnokholmskaya Nab., 11/15, 132, RF-109172 Moskau, Russian Federation to vital economic processes” introduces two more recent threat Phone: 007-495-911-1340, Fax: 007-495-912-1260, Email: [email protected] scenarios, the investigation and assessment of which in respect Subscription/Reader Service: of influence and scope are still a work in progress. PressUp GmbH, Postfach 70 13 11, In all, thirteen aims are defined in the three columns with 22013 Hamburg, Germany Phone: +49 40 38 66 66-319, Fax: +49 38 66 66-299 which the security of the Netherlands, but also for Europe Email: [email protected] and the rest of the world are supposed to be guaranteed. In the Prevention section, the aims to be found are: (1) Prevent- European Security & Defence © 2019 Mittler Report Verlag GmbH ing conflict around Europe and the Kingdom, (2) Eliminating the root causes of terrorism, (3) Disarmament, arms control The views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and written permission of the publisher in Bonn. (4) Clear international norms for cyber activities. In the De- fend section, the aims defined are: (5) Modern collective Cover Photo: Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office self-defence and protection of Dutch and NATO territory, (6) Annual subscription rate (10 issues): Forceful cyber deterrence, (7) Counterterrorism, (8) Societal € 49.80 incl. postage resilience to foreign interference, as well as (9) Safeguard- ing economic security and (10) Tackling cross-border crime.

28 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS

Finally, the last column, Strengthen, har- is both a wake-up call and a sharp thrust. Brexit, France and Germany will dominate bours the aims of (11) Promoting the in- In his speech in Zurich the Dutch Minister the direction of European defence cooper- ternational legal order, (12) Strengthen- President stressed the need to take more ation even more. Together, they will spend ing international security cooperation, forceful account of soft und hard power. almost €90Bn on defence in 2021 or about and (13) Robust and balanced integrated "Today we live in a multipolar world, in half of European defence expenditure af- border management and control. which a growing number of countries and ter Brexit. The Dutch interests will be best This very broad initial analysis illustrates political leaders seem to believe that inter- served by closely teaming up with these that on the one hand it addresses the national relations are a zero-sum game. This two leading European powers and not by complexity of the current security policy means that the EU, which was built on the staying aside and rejecting immediately theme issues and threats, but at the same power of principles, is increasingly being proposals for a European Army, even if they time also pinpoints the necessity of main- confronted by the principles of power. But I are vague and provocative.” taining multilateral cooperation in order to bring these under control. And this neces- sity is reduced not only to the classic hard power approaches. Specifically, as well as the military and terrorist challenges, climate change is also causing increasing unease among the security policy strate- gists in The Hague. Climate changes lead to additional threat scenarios, which in future will result in the more frequent and more widespread commitment of military Photo: Hille Hillinga, Mediacentrum Defensie forces, both at home and abroad. “The threats are real. We already see them. And the threats will grow as the temperature rises,” a representative of the Netherlands' Ministry of Defence warned, speaking at a conference on climate change and se- curity. About a thousand Dutch troops, for instance, were called out for a month to provide humanitarian help and security when powerful Hurricane Irma slammed into Sint Maarten, a Caribbean island that is part of the Netherlands, in 2017. Ank Bijleveld, Dutch Minister of Defence, and Admiral Rob Bauer (left), With the foreseeable rise in such events in Dutch Chief of Defence, visiting camp Rodsmoen in North Norway frequency and vehemence, the pressure during Exercise Trident Juncture in October 2018 on the military forces and the associated budget will increase too. “Globally, mili- seriously doubt whether this, on its own, will An example of this somewhat pragmatic taries are going to be more stretched with make the EU as effective and influential as it balancing act is the supplementary agree- operations deriving from climate-induced could be, as it wants to be, and as it should ment by The Hague to the plans for an impacts,” she said, calling climate change be in the future," he said. Rutte also men- own EU headquarters. While this idea was “the single greatest threat to the secu- tioned US President Donald Trump´ s criti- defined in the beginning as counterpro- rity, livelihoods and well-being of people cism of multilateral organisations, and called ductive to cooperation within the NATO of the Pacific”. For many nations, threats on the EU to seize that as an opportunity to framework, the considerations towards at home are also growing. The Hague sits reform the UN and the World Trade Organi- strengthening the planning and leader- three metres (10 feet) below sea level, pro- zation. At the same time he emphasised that ship capabilities now in focus are being tected by a system of dikes and pumping the criticism of the US President with regard viewed as an advantage. “The choice stations, said retired General Tom Mid- to what, from Washington’s point of view, for any European country, including the dendorp, a former Dutch Chief of De- amounts to too little outlay on the part of Netherlands, is not between Atlantic or fence. Dutch forces already spend about the Europeans for defence and armaments Europe. NATO can no longer function un- 25 percent of their efforts supporting civil cannot be simply brushed aside. The agreed der American dominance as was the case authorities, including by protecting the aim between the NATO partners to attain in the past. The US itself calls for more Eu- anti-flood systems, Middendorp said. a ratio of 2% of gross national product on ropean contributions because China and defence expenditure by 2020 is still far off. other rising powers will force Washing- Teaming up with France "We need to stand by this commitment, not ton to dedicate more defence resources and Germany? only because the Americans have a point to its military efforts in other parts of the when they press for a larger European con- world. Despite the stepped-up efforts in Confronted with the pending departure of tribution, but above all because it is in our recent years, Europe needs to do more London from the EU, the development of own interest," said Rutte. to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and de- antagonistic relationships in Italy, Hungary Dick Zandee, Senior Research Fellow at fence posture”, as Dick Zandee empha- and Poland towards Brussels, and the pro- the renowned Clingendael Institute, has sises. Perhaps The Hague, with its “both European initiatives from Paris and Berlin, argued that The Hague should make more and” solution will trigger not only discus- Mark Rutte appears to regard as necessary powerful use of its position as a moderator sions in Europe, but also within NATO and the adoption of a position in Europe which between Atlanticism and Europe: “After the transatlantic relationships. 

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 29 COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS “Europe has to take up its responsibility to secure and defend its citizens.”

Interview with Christoffer Jonker, Director International Affairs and Operations, Ministry of Defence, The Netherlands

to the issue of capability development believes that the focus should be on the and in achieving more interoperability operationalisation of the Stabilisation and between EU armed forces, which are Support to Capacity Building scenario with- essential when it comes to Europe’s ca- in the EU level of ambition. pacity to act. Furthermore the Netherlands believes ESD: What are the PESCO initiatives the that a strong role for the Council (includ- Netherlands is currently involved in? ing Defence Ministers) and linking inter- Jonker: The Netherlands currently partici- nal and external security are essential in pates in 9 out of 34 PESCO projects as a making CDSP more effective. The Coun- project member. These projects are the cil should be leading efforts to enable following: a more effective CSDP and the HR and 1. Military mobility

Photo: Ministerie van Defensie Commission should facilitate a truly in- 2. Maritime (semi-) Autonomous Systems tegrated approach. These efforts should for Mine Countermeasures (MAS MCM) also be reflected in the future agenda 3. Network of Logistic Hubs in Europe and ESD: What do the Netherlands expect and format of the meetings of the Coun- Support to Operations from the recent European CSDP initiatives cil and its preparatory and decision mak- 4. European Secure Software defined Ra- PESCO, CARD and EDF? What are the (first) ing procedures. dio (ESSOR) lessons learned 15 months after the kick- 5. Cyber Rapid Response Teams and Mu- off? ESD: What is the Dutch point of view tual Assistance in Cyber Security Jonker: The Netherlands is fully committed towards the "worksharing" of NATO 6. European Medical Command to take European defence cooperation to a and EU in ensuring security and peace 7. European Union Training Mission Com- next level. Given the security situation and in Europe? Do we need more European petence Centre (EU TM CC) the inefficiencies and duplications in the "strategic autonomy" or should the focus 8. Co-basing capability programmes of all EU member be primarily be on strengthening the Eu- 9. Integrated Unmanned Ground System states, there is an absolute necessity to do ropean pillar of a continuing Transatlantic (UGS) so. The Netherlands expects CARD, PESCO alliance? Of course, the Netherlands was and is also and EDF to be of added value in relation to Jonker: Given the geopolitical situation fully involved in the initiatives concerning this ambition. the Netherlands does believe that Europe the “architecture” of PESCO (e.g. PESCO As for the lessons learned the following needs the capacity to decide and act with governance, PESCO commitments, se- can be stated: now that the architecture is partners wherever possible, but also on its quencing, third party participation etc.) in place, it is time to implement and yield own when and where necessary. In short: concrete results, showing a Europe that Europe has to take up its responsibility to ESD: What are the perspectives PESCO and protects. In this context the Netherlands secure and defend its citizens. EDF offer for the Dutch defence industry believes that the EU needs: Thereby the Netherlands is convinced that and/or for their partnerships with compa- • More focus/prioritising in the opera- addressing today’s challenges requires col- nies from abroad? tionalisation of the defined EU level of lective responses, and organisations like Jonker: Both PESCO and EDF, especially ambition, taking into account the EU’s the EU, NATO and the UN have unique EDF which is focussed on industry, po- unique strengths and that of its strategic strengths. Combining strengths and com- tentially offer significant opportunities partners, especially NATO (also see the parative advantages is especially necessary for Dutch defence industry (and not just answer to question nr. 2). knowing that nations have a single set of Dutch defence industry) and partnerships • A coherent “translation” of priorities forces and limited defence budgets. with companies abroad. Thereby a foot- into capability development initiatives, In our view NATO is and should remain the note is that third party participation in EDF to ensure focus and to generate the primary actor when it comes to deterrence is limited and that third party participation needed output when it comes to PESCO and collective defence. in PESCO is still being negotiated. In gen- and EDIDP/EDF projects. The EU’s combined civil-military toolbox eral, the Netherlands believes that work- • A more output oriented approach: in- and the EU’s integrated approach in which ing together with third parties is crucial. troducing concrete deliverables and focus on the internal-external security nex- In our view an outward oriented PESCO timelines by means of specific FAC con- us and the deployment of a broad range is needed to make it work. In general clusions, could be a modus operandi to of instruments are essential, are to be seen working together with strategic partners be applied more broadly in the EU con- as EU strengths that should be developed is in our view necessary to make Europe text. This is especially relevant in relation further. In this context the Netherlands stronger, realism thus being an important

30 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 reason to look for strategic partnerships. Related to the EDF, the Netherlands has recently set up a coordinating body (In- terdepartmental Coordinating Group on European Defence Cooperation – ICG EDC) in order to coordinate the national effort regarding EDF. In the ICG EDC the Ministries of Defence, of Economic Affairs and Climate, of Foreign Affairs, of Finance and of General Affairs participate, as well as a representative of the NIDV founda-

tion (representing the Dutch defence and Photo: EU security-related industry). Working closely The European Council adopted an updated list of projects to be undertaken together with all stakeholders, nationally under PESCO on 19 November 2018. It included 17 new projects in addition and internationally, is paramount to make to the initial 17 projects agreed on in December 2017 and formally adopted the EDF a success. on 6 March 2018.

ESD: In most NATO and EU countries, budget, leading to substantial growth in the purchase and maintenance (including the changed security-political situation absolute terms. Between 2013 and 2017, midlife update) of major equipment has in Europe has induced governments to additional budget was added in a series been set up. This fund allows for making allocate additional funds for defence and of annual steps, leading to a structural rise long term commitments, thereby making armament. To what extent and in what of the defence budget of €929M in 2017. the investment budget more robust and way has this trend influenced things in Planned cuts have been halted and several future-proof. your country? areas of shortfall have been addressed. Going forward, the Netherlands will con- Jonker: In December last year the Neth- In 2018 new measures were taken to ex- tinue its step-by-step efforts to keep an erlands formulated its National Plan on the pand the defence budget further, with up upward trend in its defence spending out- Defence Investment Pledge and informed to €1.5Bn per year. Because of these in- look. the Dutch Parliament. In the plan it is stat- vestments, the Dutch defence budget has ed that the Netherlands has reversed the grown with more than 25% since 2013. The interview was conducted by declining trend of the national defence Furthermore a Military Investment Fund for Peter Bossdorf.

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Edward Hobbs

On a strictly nominal basis, the Netherlands is one of the biggest investors in defence among the dual NATO-EU nations. Yet despite a willingness to invest in its armed forces, the Netherlands does not prioritise the defence budget at the expense of other areas.

his is evidenced by its annual level of Like so many dual EU-NATO members, the tions. The coalition agreement published Tspending in proportion to national Netherlands was quick to cash in on the on 26 October 2017 called for steadily in- wealth which formerly stood around 1.5% "peace dividend" resulting from the end creasing investment in defence by allocat- of GDP, but post-2009 this figure steadily of the Cold War. Its once strong military ing additional resources eventually exceed- plummeted until bottoming out at around shrank from above 105,000 troops in 1989 ing €1.5Bn per year beginning in 2021. The 1.15% of GDP in 2014. to just 37,000 by 2016. Capacity and capa- additional money is to restore basic military bility atrophied, while an economic reces- readiness levels and improve operational Defence Spending sion in 2009 and concurrent spike in the readiness by replacing and upgrading ma- nation's budget deficit prompted Dutch teriel and high-end hardware. Furthermore, in spite of anticipated upticks lawmakers to seek ways in which to wring A new Defence White Paper released on 26 in nominal spending – as per the Defence savings from the government checkbook. March 2018 calls for modernising defence Minister's September 2015 statement and By 2016, the defence budget had fallen to via an infusion of over €25M across 15 years (2018 to 2033) for capital investment. The largest recipient will be the Royal Nether- lands Navy, which will receive funding for projects to replace existing inventories of M-class frigates, mine countermeasures vessels, and diesel submarines. Army invest-

Photo: MoD Netherlands ments will be geared toward upgrading ex- isting platforms, including the BUSHMAS- TER wheeled armoured vehicles, FENNEK armoured reconnaissance vehicles, CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, short-range air defence systems, and Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs). The Air Force will seek to upgrade and expand its APACHE combat and CHINOOK transport helicopter fleets, while adding the A330 multirole tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft under a multinational programme. Funding over the short term will be topped up with an additional €910M in 2018, €1.21Bn in 2019, €1.41Bn in 2020, and A Dutch F-16 and a Dutch F-35 flying side by side €1.51Bn in 2021. Despite the additional funding, however, the defence budget is a new Defence White Paper published in 1.17% of GDP and the military – the Army not expected to rise above 1.3% of GDP March 2018 – the level of military invest- in particular – had become overstretched during this timeframe. ment as a share of national wealth is ex- by operational demands ranging from co- The missions of the Dutch military will re- pected to hold steady at 1.2 to 1.3% of operative security within a Benelux aegis to main largely the same going forward. The GDP out to 2022 and likely beyond. NATO/EU rapid response and peacekeep- Netherlands has long served as a strong ing missions, while being hollowed-out contributor to overseas operations under Author from within. the NATO, EU, and UN flags, and empha- When a new four-party coalition govern- sises flexibility, response, and interoperabil- Edward Hobbs is a Director at Hawk ment under Prime Minister Mark Rutte ity when training and outfitting its armed Associates, one of the leading global finally emerged in October 2017, the part- forces. providers of security and defence ners formed a consensus that favoured Cooperative arrangements have been intelligence and analysis for govern- bolstering defence capability as a means of formed to maximise limited resources and ments and industry. meeting NATO collective defence obliga- forge stronger bonds with allied partners.

32 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 These include the trinational Benelux De- fence Cooperation (building on the bina- tional Belgian-Dutch naval cooperation), the joint 1st German Netherlands Corps (1GNC) based in Germany, the coopera- tive Royal Netherlands Marine Corps and German Navy Sea Battalion arrangement (which reached Initial Operational Capability in September 2017), and the long-standing UK-Netherlands Landing Force active since

1973 (now part of the UK-led Joint Expedi- Photo: US Air Force tionary Force), as well as the integration of A Royal Netherlands Air Force C-130 HERCULES sits on a runway at an the Netherlands' 11 Airmobile Brigade with undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, 6 October 2017. The RNLAF has Germany's new paratrooper commando di- been supporting Coalition forces in Baghdad with supply missions. vision (operational in 2014). The Royal Netherlands Army, in particular, The RNLAF F-16 fleet has shrunk since 2003, what they expect will evolve into a pool- has sought integration with the German Bun- and going forward will be composed of 58 ing and sharing arrangement to include deswehr as a means of retaining core capabili- fighters assigned to four squadrons. European partners Belgium, Germany, ties and punching above its weight regionally. In the transport role, the RNLAF has two Norway, and Poland. The purchase will C-130H-30 "stretched" HERCULES, plus see the two aircraft stationed at the Aircraft Programmes two C-130Hs rebuilt from C-130Q stand- Dutch air base at Eindhoven, where they ard that were delivered in 2010. Additional will be exclusively operated by the Neth- The premier defence project among all fixed-wing transport is provided through erlands and Luxembourg until the fleet the Dutch military service branches is the the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) pro- expands by another six air-to-air tankers F-16 fighter replacement programme. The gramme in which the Netherlands is allo- under the NATO Support and Procure- original plan was to order 85 aircraft for the cated 500 flying hours per year on the C-17s ment Agency's Multinational MRTT Fleet Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) at an based at Papa, Hungary. (MMF) programme. The A330s will be estimated cost of €6.1Bn. That plan has now The Netherlands and Luxembourg are delivered in 2020, just in time for the shrunk to an expected order of just 37 F-35s, purchasing two Airbus A330 multirole Royal Netherlands Air Force to retire its two of which are test aircraft. tanker transports (MRTTs) together, in pair of KDC-10 tankers.

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the Dutch MoD on 26 March 2015. These units are to be delivered by 2019. In terms of local industrial involvement in the JSF programme, former Defence Minis- ter Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert estimated in

Photo: MoD Netherlands November 2016 that Dutch work share in component maintenance totaled €4.7Bn, with work potentially involving 100 Dutch businesses. This announcement came shortly after the Pentagon picked the Neth- erlands to act as the maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U) service centre for 14 components (mostly landing gear parts) of the F-35. Then on 13 April 2017, the Dutch MoD inked an agreement for the Netherlands to act as an engine maintenance provider for the F-35 The radar of a Dutch PATRIOT missile system at its Logistic Center Woensdrecht. Another selection followed in August 2017, when the The RNLAF training role is assumed by a via a €4.5Bn (US$6Bn) special budget ear- Netherlands was picked by the Pentagon to fleet of F-16Bs and PILATUS PC-7s. The lat- marked for the project (the total estimate act as the F-35 spare parts centre and distri- ter were acquired between 1989 and 1997, was revised upward to US$5.2Bn in Septem- bution hub for Europe. and a replacement is expected to be sought ber 2015). The Dutch Parliament's ratifica- between 2020 and 2027. tion of the government's choice of the F-35 Transport/Tanker Fleet on November 7, 2013, meant the RNLAF Fighter Fleet finally knew what it would operate in the The RNLAF has a small fleet of transports years ahead. and tankers. The transport fleet is com- The RNLAF fighter fleet is composed of 68 F- The Dutch F-35s will be gradually brought posed of four C-130H HERCULES, the 16AM fighters (another 21 F-16Bs form part into service between 2019 and 2024 as the first two of which (both in the C-130H-30 of the trainer fleet with the PILATUS PC-7s). F-16s are retired. The possibility of acquiring "stretched" variant) replaced four Fokker In 2005, these aircraft underwent the Pacer additional F-35s as production ramps up and 60 twin-turboprops in 2006. Two more Amstel modification programme, which up- units prices come down has not been ruled aircraft were purchased in November 2005 graded the aircraft to an M3 designation. The out, though reports emerged in November under a US$63M contract with Derco Aer- previous M1 update (introducing the Terma 2017 that, due to the high dollar exchange ospace. These ex-U.S. Navy EC-130Qs were ALQ-213 electronic warfare management rate, funding for the final three units of the converted to C-130H standard by Marshall system on the aircraft) and M2 update (soft- 37 may prove tight. Aerospace in the UK. The first reconfigured ware update allowing LANTIRN pods to be A Level 2 partner in the Joint Strike Fight- C-130H was delivered to the RNLAF on 2 added) were conducted in 1998 and 1999, er (JSF) programme, the Netherlands March 2010, while the second was deliv- respectively. The M4 software update quick- purchased two test aircraft at a cost of ered on 15 July 2010. ly followed the Pacer Amstel programme in US$250M as part of the programme's ini- Meanwhile, the RNLAF will fill any capa- 2006, allowing the aircraft to carry improved tial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) bility gaps by hiring commercial aircraft, infrared guided air-to-air weaponry. All 68 phase (and invested US$800M in the JSF and by participating in the NATO Strategic F-16s not being retired were to undergo the development phase). Airlift Capability (SAC) programme, which M5 upgrade through 2016. The first of these made its maiden flight provides for three C-17As based at Papa The retirement of the F-16 fleet and its on 6 August 2012 and was delivered to Air Base in Hungary to be used by the Alli- replacement have remained a source of the Dutch in July 2013, from low-rate ini- ance's Heavy Airlift Wing. disagreement in the Netherlands since tial production (LRIP) Lot 3. The first flight Another project conducted through part- 2009, when the full effects of the global of this aircraft conducted by an RNLAF pi- nership involves the A330 MRTT aircraft. financial crisis began to be felt in the Dutch lot occurred in December 2013. The sec- The Netherlands and Luxembourg are to- economy. It had long been planned to have ond aircraft was delivered on 14 February gether purchasing two Airbus A330s in a successor to the F-16 fighters chosen by 2014, from LRIP Lot 4. Both are based at what they expect will evolve into a pooling 2009, but political disagreement within the Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where they and sharing arrangement to include Eu- former Balkenende coalition government are pooled with other F-35 trainers be- ropean partners Belgium, Germany, Nor- resulted in an agreement to postpone the longing to the US and UK as part of a way, and Poland. The purchase – largely decision until 2012. common international test and evaluation financed by the Netherlands' MoD – will That date was then pushed back to 2014 (T&E) fleet. see the two aircraft stationed at the Dutch as per an agreement by the left-right coali- Once the T&E phase is completed in mid- air base at Eindhoven, where they will be tion government formed by Prime Minister 2019, the two aircraft will be utilised by the exclusively operated by the Netherlands Mark Rutte (Rutte II) in October 2012. RNLAF primarily for training purposes, but and Luxembourg until the fleet expands Finally, following some 15-plus years of also for occasional operational use. Dutch by another six air-to-air tankers under the political wrangling, the government green- F-35 pilots will initially be trained in Italy on NATO Support and Procurement Agency's lighted what had long been considered a the Alenia Aermacchi M-346. MMF programme. The effort to procure foregone conclusion. On 17 September A first fully operational production batch or- A330 MRTTs to outfit NATO partners is be- 2013, it announced a purchase of 37 F-35s der for eight new F-35s was announced by ing led by OCCAR, the European organi-

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sation managing multinational weapons Helicopter Programmes at US$1.191Bn. The remanufacture will in- acquisition programmes. volve replacing the legacy engines with the In December 2014, a trio of European NA- Under the "Defence after the Credit Cri- more powerful T700-GE-701D engine and TO partners – the Netherlands, Norway, sis" white paper unveiled in April 2011, the new transmissions, rotorblades and other and Poland – announced their intentions Dutch armed forces' Netherlands Defence components. Work is expected to be con- to open negotiations with Airbus to acquire Helicopter Command (DHC) began to ex- ducted between 2021 and 2025. up to four A330 MRTTs, yet so far only the perience capabilities pressure. The plan Netherlands has taken an active step in the required the retirement of the entire fleet CH-47F CHINOOK process. The two aircraft being ordered by of 14 AS 532 COUGAR transport helicop- Despite initial budget frustrations and set- backs, the efforts to expand the capabilities of the Royal Netherlands Air Force in stra-

Photo: RNLAF tegic and tactical air mobility have resulted in boosts to the fleet of CH-47 CHINOOKs. In January 2006, the Defence Materiel Or- ganisation signed a production preparation agreement with Boeing for the purchase of six to nine new CH-47F CHINOOKs. A final direct commercial contract worth US$335M was signed with Boeing on 15 February 2007, for six new-build CH-47F CHINOOKs to be delivered by 2011. The original deliv- ery schedule of July 2009-January 2010 was pushed back due to software problems. The maiden flight of the first new CHINOOK CH- 47F occurred on 25 January 2011. Delivery of the first two new CH-47Fs to The maiden flight of the first new RNLAF CHINOOK CH-47F occurred on the Defence Materiel Command at Gilze- 25 January 2011. Rijen air base finally occurred in July 2012, after which modifications were made be- the Dutch MoD will be delivered in 2020, ters. A later amendment to that plan noted fore handover to the DHC on 8 October just in time for the Royal Netherlands Air that eight of the COUGARs would instead 2012. The sixth and final CH-47F was hand- Force to retire its pair of KDC-10 tanker/ be retained through 2019 to serve in the ed over in early 2013. transports. search-and-rescue (SAR) role. These, how- Three of the CH-47F CHINOOKs operate ever, may remain in service through 2023 out of 298th Squadron based at Gilze-Rijen UAV Programmes (the end date for their useful service lives) air base. The other three are stationed in due to issues with the NH90s. the United States as part of a permanent The Dutch Defence Materiel Organisa- In the meantime, the Royal Netherlands Chinook training detachment. tion (DMO) began the process of pro- Navy's multipurpose, shipborne Westland While the six CH-47Fs were being acquired, curing medium-altitude, long-endur- LYNX SH-14Ds were retired on 11 Septem- plans were put into motion to upgrade all ance unmanned aerial vehicles (MALE ber 2012, in favour of the NH90 NATO Frig- 11 CH-47D CHINOOKs to the "F" stand- UAVs) in 2003, with consummation ate Helicopter (NFH90). Their retirement is ard starting in 2016. Then, in a surprise taking 15 years to accomplish. The being followed by that of the AB-412s, statement to Parliament on 16 May 2012, on-again, off-again project was post- which have been used in the SAR role and then-Defence Minister Hans Hillen stated poned in 2005, brought back in 2010, are also being supplanted by the NFH90. that rather than upgrade the older D mod- and then postponed again after 2011. The RNLAF acquired 30 AH-64D APACHE els, a purchase of 11 new-build F stand- Finally, a tender was published on Feb- Block I attack helicopters from 1997 ard Chinooks would be pursued. This was ruary 6, 2012. Then, on 21 November through 2002. A total of 28 remain active deemed to be the more cost-effective solu- 2013, then-Defence Minister Hennis- in the RNLAF inventory. The service intends tion to ensuring the Chinook fleet's viability Plasschaert announced in a letter to to retain these units in operational use out through 2045. Parliament that the MoD had selected to 2050. In order to ensure their service- An 11-unit CH-47F procurement was esti- the MQ-9 REAPER as its MALE UAV so- ability, the MoD will put the fleet through mated at well over €250M, a cost that the lution. a remanufacture upgrade that will bring MoD hoped to partially offset through the A sale of the REAPER to the Netherlands them up to AH-64E GUARDIAN standard. sale of the older CH-47Ds. was cleared by the US State Department on An earlier upgrade to Block II status was But, in another surprise step, the Nether- 6 February 2015. The total sales package – undertaken from 2013 through 2016. lands placed a government-to-government which includes training, the four UAVs, four On 20 February 2018, the US Defence De- sales request with Washington calling for mobile ground control stations, and two partment's Defence Security Cooperation 17 CH-47Fs instead of 11. The State Depart- spare engines, plus additional elements Agency (DSCA) notified Congress that the ment signed off on the request, and a po- and subsystems – is estimated at US$339M US State Department had approved a For- tential FMS deal estimated at US$1.05Bn was in value. But it was not until 17 July 2018, eign Military Sale (FMS) for the remanu- announced to Congress on 19 March 2015. at the Farnborough Airshow that a contract facture/upgrade of the Dutch APACHEs to Then, on 7 September 2015, then De- was finally signed for four MQ-9 REAPER AH-64E GUARDIAN standard. The noti- fence Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plass- Block 5 UAVs. fication estimated the cost of the project chaert announced to the lower house of

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Parliament that the Netherlands would copter (TTH) and marinised NATO Frigate The Dutch NFH90s are operated by two purchase 14 new-build CH-47F MYII heli- Helicopter (NFH90). squadrons: 860 Squadron at De Kooy (12 copters having a Common Avionics Ar- The Netherlands initially ordered 20 NFH NFH90s) and 300 Squadron at Gilze-Rijen chitecture System (CAAS); i.e., the same versions of the helicopter. In December (8 NFH90 MTTHs). as on the models operated by the US mili- 2005, the order was altered to 12 under tary. Hennis-Plasschaert stated that the a new contract, with the remaining eight Warship Programmes purchase would be made in December to come in the Maritime Tactical Transport 2015 in order to take advantage of the Helicopter (MTTH) configuration. An op- The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) has seen significant changes since 2004, shed- ding six of its eight KAREL DOORMAN class M frigates and concentrating on a more expeditionary-based outlook. The effort fell under the Dutch "Navy Study 2005" (it is also referred to as the "2005 Naval Trans-

Photo: MoD Netherlands formation Plan") calling for a versatile RNLN fleet that can both protect home waters and act as a maritime base from which to initiate and support expeditionary efforts on land. As part of the reorganised force, four ocean- going patrol vessels, a second landing plat- form dock, and a joint support ship (KAREL DOORMAN) were ordered, with the latter commissioned in 2015 to replace the replen- ishment oiler HNLMS ZUIDERKRUIS. Also in the works is the €50M to €150M Service Life Extension programme for the RNLN's four WALRUS class submarines. In order to replace its ageing fleet of AS 532 COUGAR and LYNX helicop- The WALRUS class submarine SLEP – a pro- ters, the Netherlands has procured the NH90 helicopter. Depicted is a gramme referred to as the Instandhoud- Royal Netherlands Navy NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter. ings programma WALRUS-klasse (IP-W) – began on 13 May 2013, and ran through economies of scale created by the US's tion for an additional two helicopters was 2018. The SLEP will enable the RNLN to own second multiyear CH-47F procure- included in the new contract. keep the vessels in service until 2025-2030. ment package. In April 2007, the Dutch MoD announced The ships were designed and built by Dutch In the meantime, the Netherlands would delays to the programme that pushed back industry and entered service in the early move forward with modernisation of the the initial delivery schedule to 2009. Under 1990s. six existing CH-47F NLs. the revised plan, the first two NH90s were The Royal Netherlands Navy is attempting On 14 April 2016, Boeing was awarded a to be delivered in late 2009, followed by to secure approval for the launch of a WAL- contract by the US Department of Defence four in 2010, five each in 2011 and 2012, RUS class replacement project entailing for the manufacture of 12 CH-47Fs and and a final four in 2013. The latter dates ul- new flexible submarines that would enter their delivery to the Netherlands. The value timately became a victim of further delays; service at the time the elder submarines of the contract was US$308M. A follow- delivery of the first Dutch NFH90 occurred neared their end-of-life date. The Dutch on modification to the contract was an- on 21 April 2010. The second NFH90 was government has announced its intention nounced by the Pentagon on 28 April 2017, delivered on 21 July 2010. of maintaining a future submarine compo- to include the final two CH-47F units, thus The first NFH90 operationally deployed nent as a crucial niche strategic capability, bringing the full order up to 14 helicopters. was assigned to the EU Naval Force's coun- and the project is in the earliest research All deliveries are to be wrapped up by 31 ter-piracy "Operation Atalanta" in the first phase. A refined research phase, type December 2020. half of 2013. A second unit was deployed downselect, and contract negotiations Under the 2018 Defence White Paper there to the Caribbean in the latter half of the with a supplier are to be undertaken by is mention of adding three more CHINOOK same year. 2021 in hopes that the lead submarine will CH-47Fs in the future, thus completing the By June 2014, 12 NH90s had been handed enter service by 2027. full 17-unit quantity outlined in the original over to the DHC at the Maritime Air Sta- The two remaining KAREL DOORMAN 2015 FMS request. tion De Kooy in Den Helder, but just five class M frigates, VAN SPEIJK and VAN AM- had been delivered in the so-called Full STEL, began two-year upgrades (the first NFH90 Operational Capability (FOC) configuration began in September 2010 and the second (the first Dutch FOC-configured NFH90 was in October 2012). Following their upgrades, In order to replace its ageing fleets of AS delivered on 30 January 2013). these ships are slated to remain in RNLN 532 COUGARs and Royal Netherlands The others had arrived in Medium Opera- service through 2024. Navy AgustaWestland SH-14D LYNX heli- tional Capability (MOC) configuration, with In the meantime the respective defence copters, the Netherlands has procured the two having since been returned to Italy for ministries of Belgium and the Netherlands NH Industries NH90 helicopter. Developed update to FOC configuration. signed a letter of intent on November 30, by a consortium including then domestic The remaining five units in MOC condition 2016, regarding the joint procurement of Stork Fokker, the NH90 is produced in two were to be brought up to FOC standard four new frigates and 12 new minehunters. primary variants – Tactical Transport Heli- throughout 2018. Belgium will be tasked with the minehunter

38 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS element, under which delivery of the new minehunters to replace the existing TRIPAR- TITE class is to begin in 2023. Belgium and

the Netherlands will receive six minehunters Photo: Kees Torn apiece. For its part, the Netherlands will be tasked with overseeing the frigate project under which ships displacing 4,000-5,000 tonnes will be built, with anti-submarine warfare to be their primary mission. A final Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the two countries in 2018, followed by final contracts for ship production. Secretary of State for Defence Barbara Visser announced to Parliament on 2 May 2018, that the Navy will be getting its two new frigates and six minehunters, plus an additional combat support ship (CSS) to supplement the joint logistic support ship In 2015, the Royal Netherlands Navy commissioned the joint support KAREL DOORMAN and enable the Navy to ship Zr.Ms. KAREL DOORMAN to replace the replenishment oiler HNLMS always have an available support ship. ZUIDERKRUIS. The new CSS will be purchased off the shelf to expedite delivery, which is expected by produced PATRIOT batteries. These sys- battalion is a joint Dutch-German undertak- 2023. The first of the two new frigates will tems were approaching the end of their ing begun in 2015. It comes under the com- be delivered in 2024-2025. Delivery of the useful service lives when then Defence mand of the Dutch 43 Mechanised Brigade, six new minehunters is planned for comple- Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert pro- which in turn forms part of the German 1st tion by 2030. vided testimony to the Dutch Parliament Panzer Division. Defence Committee in the fall of 2015 that Under the 2018 Defence White Paper, the Missile Programmes a service-life extension of the PATRIOTs Army's inventories of BUSHMASTERs, FEN- made more sense than an outside procure- NEKs, CV90s and PzH 2000 self-propelled The Netherlands is involved in the NATO ment. In anticipation of the modernisation howitzers will all receive midlife updates SEASPARROW consortium, which collec- process, the Dutch PATRIOT batteries were roughly between 2021 and 2023. The tively purchased 294 Evolved SEASPAR- removed from Turkey's border with Syria in Army will also receive 12 new-build CBRN ROW Missiles (ESSMs) from Raytheon for the fourth quarter of 2015. (chemical, biological, radiological and nu- US$223M. The Dutch ESSM Block 1 air The Netherlands awarded Raytheon the clear) reconnaissance vehicles, procured defence systems on the four DE ZEVEN PATRIOT upgrade contract on 6 October through a pooled arrangement with a Eu- PROVINCIEN class air defence and com- 2016. The contract involves the service life ropean NATO ally from 2018 through 2022. mand frigates are being upgraded to Block extension of the existing PATRIOT systems, The Netherlands Army is currently seeking 2 standard, which will be the standard uti- plus the acquisition of Modern Man Sta- a solution for its Wheeled Vehicle Replace- lised on the successor class to the two M- tions (MMSs) from Raytheon. The MMSs ment programme (DVOW in Dutch acro- class frigates. will replace the legacy control panels in the nym) under which new air assault and light- The Netherlands MoD is also upgrading the command and control shelters of the exist- weight protected vehicles will be acquired. Raytheon Mk 48 heavyweight torpedoes ing Dutch PATRIOT systems. used on the Royal Netherlands Navy's four The modernisation process began in March BOXER Multi-Role WALRUS class submarines. The RNLN uses 2018 and will run through 2022, and once Armoured Vehicle a Dutch version of the Mk 48 designed in completed will ensure the PATRIOTs remain the 1970s for deployment in deep waters. serviceable through 2040. After much drama and hesitation, the BOX- This torpedo has only limited shallow-water ER programme is moving forward to meet capabilities, and the Dutch MoD wants to Vehicle Programmes German and Dutch Army requirements. adopt an Australia-Canada-US model for The BOXER is an 8x8 Multi-Role Armoured use in shallow waters. An FMS order for Mk After deciding to phase-out and mothball its Vehicle (MRAV) being produced by the Ar- 48 Mod 7 advanced-technology torpedo remaining fleet of LEOPARD 2 main battle moured Technology (ARTEC) consortium. conversion kits, at a cost of US$150M, was tanks (MBTs) in April 2011, the Royal Nether- The BOXER will replace the obsolete YPR- placed on behalf of the Netherlands via the lands Army disbanded its two tank battalions 765 tracked infantry carriers still in service Pentagon's DSCA on 29 July 2010. a month later in May 2011. But by September with the Royal Netherlands Army. The Royal Netherlands Army's short-range air 2015, the decision to discard MBT capability The ARTEC consortium, based in Munich, defence systems are to receive midlife up- altogether had been reversed. The Nether- consists of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (36%) grades as per the 2018 Defence White Paper. lands sold its remaining stock of 16-18 retired and Rheinmetall Landsysteme (14%) of LEOPARD 2A6 tanks to Germany at a sym- Germany, and the Dutch company Stork Patriot Modernisation bolic price in return for the right to use them (50%). The BOXER MRAV is being built for from German stocks. As such, all 18 units are high protection against both direct and in- Rather than pursue the acquisition of a being upgraded by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann direct fire weapons. It is being fitted with new air defence missile system such as the to the 2A6MA2 standard by 2019. These will an air conditioning system, a heating sys- Lockheed Martin MEADS, the Netherlands equip a Dutch tank company within the Ger- tem, a fire detection and suppression sys- is opting to upgrade its existing Raytheon- man Army's Panzerbataillon 414. This tank tem, an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical)

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 39 COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS

support roles for infantry units utilising the Hagglunds CV9035 infantry fighting vehicle. Photo: ESD Archive Electronics Programmes

The Netherlands requested a possible FMS of 32 AAR-57A(V)7 common missile warning systems (CMWS) from the US. A formal noti- fication to Congress regarding the sale, valued at an estimated US$58.2M, was made by the Pentagon's DSCA on 10 July 2017. The prime contractor for the project is BAE Systems. The new missile warning systems will equip the RNLAF's AH-64D APACHE helicopters.

VOSS Soldier System

The Netherlands is developing its own indi- A Dutch LEOPARD 2A4 MBT vidual soldier system called VOSS (Improved Operational Soldier System). The pro- system, and a GPS; it will be outfitted for In response, ARTEC's Dutch manufacturer, gramme was launched in 2008, and the first C3I workstation integration. Stork PWV, began renewing negotiations to elements to be ordered were a "smart vest" In 1999, Germany and the UK signed a devel- reduce the unit price to an acceptable level. and a C4I module upon which other aspects opment contract regarding the BOXER. The Due to the price reductions, the MoD, under of the system – ballistic protection and load Dutch entered the programme in 2001. But van der Knaap, advised Parliament that it carriage – will be integrated. This order was in July 2003, the UK made official its long- wanted to go ahead with the programme. expected in 2013, following the issuance of expected withdrawal from the trinational Based on this recommendation, the Dutch a Request for Proposals in December 2011. BOXER armoured vehicle programme. Ger- Parliament approved plans to proceed with The acquisition of up to 5,500 complete in- man participation often appeared tenuous the BOXER procurement. On 19 December fantry suites was planned to begin in 2014 because of constant reports that Germany 2007, both Germany and the Netherlands and run through 2018. The small arms ele- was critical of the programme. Any indica- approved production of the BOXER. ment of the programme did not proceed tion that Germany was having doubts would The approved order was scaled back to the until 2015. have effectively killed the programme. original production requirement, which Britain's departure from the programme called for 200 BOXER vehicles in five vari- SMART-L Air Search caused the cost of the BOXER to rise to €3M ants (command post – 60 units, cargo – 27 Radar Upgrade from €1.7M. With escalating costs in mind, units, ambulance – 52 units, driver-trainers – the Dutch MoD advised ARTEC that it must 8 units, engineer model – 53 units). This mix The Dutch MoD plans to upgrade the present an acceptable production price by was altered under a new agreement with SMART-L air search radars on the Royal September 2005, and correct several defects OCCAR signed on 25 May 2016. Instead the Netherlands Navy's four DE ZEVEN PRO- by introducing technical modifications. The Dutch will receive 36 command post vehi- VINCIEN class frigates with an extended ARTEC bid would also have to exhibit a level cles, 92 engineering variants, and 12 cargo long-range (ELR) mode. The announce- of Dutch industrial participation in order for variants to go with eight driver-trainer mod- ment was made on 26 September 2011, it to be deemed palatable. Faced with these els and the 52 armoured ambulances. and a €116M contract was extended to stipulations, ARTEC asked for an extension, The value of the contract for 200 BOXERs Thales Nederland by the DMO in June which it received from both the Dutch and is an estimated €624M (US$783M), with 2012. The first upgrade was fitted by 2017, Germans. But on 28 February 2006, the 30-year operating costs reduced to €938M and the entire upgrade programme will be Dutch state secretary in the MoD, Cees van (US$1.177Bn) from the original estimate of completed by 2021. der Knaap, reported in a letter to Parliament €1.125Bn (US$1.4Bn). When the insertion of the new technol- that the revised unit price for the BOXER was Deliveries of the first units – eight driver- ogy is complete, the ships will be able to still too high. The new price presented by AR- training variants – occurred in 2011, with first detect and track ballistic missiles from a TEC was around €2.6M to €2.9M per vehicle. delivery of the ambulance variant (NL AMB) range estimated at 2,000 kilometres. Once By this time, the Dutch order had changed occurring on 7 April 2014. OCCAR said that enhanced, the DE ZEVEN PROVINCIEN frig- due to operational requirements. The new all deliveries would be completed by 2018, ates may become part of NATO's Active requirement was for 257 new vehicles (from and the last series-produced unit rolled off Layered Theater Ballistic Missile Defence an original request of 200) in five variants: the production line on 17 July 2018. How- programme. command and control, battlefield repair and ever, due to the need to create financial The Royal Netherlands Air Force is acquiring recovery, ambulance, transporter, and com- space for the F-35 acquisition programme, land-based versions of the SMART-L radar bat engineer. Disgruntled by the ARTEC pro- the MoD has opted to sell 12 BOXERs prior system as a replacement for its Thomson- posal, the Dutch MoD proposed reopening to their handover to Dutch forces. CSF Medium Power Radars (MPRs) acquired the MRAV competition to include Giat In- The BOXER vehicle has been given in 1972. The new SMART-L radars have a dustries' VBCI, Iveco Fiat/Oto Melara's CEN- the designation Pantser Wiel Voertuig ballistic missile defence capability. They will TAURO, Swiss General Dynamics' MOWAG (PWV) by the Royal Netherlands Army. be located in Wier and Herwijnen. FOC for PIRANHA IV, and Patria's AMV. The BOXER is used by the RNLA in select these radars is slated for 2020. 

40 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 CF 5

COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS The Netherlands’ Maritime Defence Industry

Guy Toremans

A powerful maritime nation from days of old, with strong trading links around the world, the Netherlands gained an almost unrivaled expertise in shipbuilding, naval research and other naval-related matters.

his resulted in the creation of strong erational decision-making, instruction, The Maritime Defence Tsynergies and interactions between training and simulation. As an inde- Industry the MoD’s Defence Material Organisation pendent subcontractor of the technical (DMO), industry, and research & develop- knowledge the DMO wants to purchase, Three companies can be regarded as the ment (R&D) institutes. These three actors TNO attracts industrial partners for joint leaders of the maritime defence indus- form one of the strongest maritime clusters development and commercialisation of try: Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in the world, the so-called Dutch Naval Clus- product innovations. One of the organi- (DSNS), Thales Netherlands and RH Ma- ter with a workforce of 37,693 people and sation’s latest developments is the ‘Gaudi rine Group (partner of Bakker Sliedrecht an economic value in the Netherlands esti- mated to be €1.107Bnn in 2018, comprising a direct economic value of €719M and an

indirect economic value of €388M. Photo: Thales

The Maritime Defence Cluster

The Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) DMO is responsible for the procurement of all military equipment for the Netherlands Armed Forces. The procurement of material with a value of US$6.5M or more has to follow the Defence Materiel Process (DMP). Such acquisitions are categorised as either mandated or non-mandated projects. The final producer is selected from those firms that are on this qualified source list. As a consequence it is important for companies to request placement on the qualified source list for military procurements, because the Netherlands does not advertise procure- ment opportunities for military equipment. Foreign firms that do business with the Thales Nederland's SMART-L MM radar. Equipped with a prototype Netherlands could be subject to some type HNLMS DE ZEVEN PROVINCIEN participated in a demonstration off the of offset arrangement, with these offsets coast of Scotland in October 2015. The radar detected and tracked an aimed to help maintain and improve Dutch exo-atmospheric ballistic missile travelling at a speed of 7,000 km/h and defence-related industries. provided real-time target information to a USN destroyer for the en- gagement of the threat with an SM-3 missile. The Research Institutes • The Toegepast Natuurkundig Onder- Project’ in which TNO, Thales, RH Marine, and Pon Holdings). Another 45 compa- zoek (TNO) is a ‘one-stop-shop’ partner Alewijnse and the DMO jointly developed nies, many of which are niche-oriented for Research and Development (R&D) an Integrated Mission Management Sys- and active in both the civil and military of defence-related products, including tem, featuring an Integrated Combat, domain, and members of the Dutch In- military operations and equipment, op- Platform & Bridge Management System dustry for Defence and Security Asso- with an ‘open architecture’. ciation and/or the Netherlands Maritime Author • The Maritime Research Institute (MARIN) Technology Association, are delivering which acts as a consultive service in the dedicated equipment to the three core Guy Toremans is a freelance naval fields of mathematical modeling, and companies. In addition, there are about journalist based in Belgium. model experiments for shipbuilding and another 100 smaller contractors deliver- shipping ing generic products.

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 41 COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS

The Core Companies

Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) is one of the foremost shipbuilding groups in the world and part of the Damen Shipyards Group which had a turnover in 2018 of some €2Bn and a workforce of more than 12,000 employees, of which some 3,500 are in the Netherlands. The Group owns 54 companies worldwide, including 34 shipyards, of which 16 are in the Neth- erlands, which delivered 176 ships in 2018 – 76 tugs/workboats, 3 offshore vessels, 40 high-speed craft and ferries, 21 pontoons and barges, 13 dredgers, 5 yachts and 18 ships for navies, coast guards and police. DSNS has long track record in the develop-

ment and construction of a wide variety Photo: DSNS of platforms either on its own shipyards or Variant of the Swedish A26 design as it is on offer from DSNS and Saab at non-Damen shipyards under the Damen Kockums in the scope of the RNLN's WALRUS replacement programme. Technical Corporation programme. The company’s portfolio covers the complete to the client’s operational requirements. The (MCMVs) replacement programme for the range of vessels in the surface combatants SIGMA line has firmly established Damen Belgian and Dutch navies, through a ‘Tem- sector for navies, coastguards and maritime Schelde Naval Shipbuilding’s export creden- porary Trade Association’ with IMTECH law enforcement agencies; from 7-metre- tials with sales to the Indonesian, Moroccon, Belgium, with a 91-metre-long MCM- long RHIBs, and fast interceptors, through and Mexican navies, the latter being the mothership and a displacement of approx. to frigates, offshore patrol vessels, inshore/ Patrulla Oceánica de Largo Alcance (POLA) 3,025 tonnes, based on the training vessel STAN patrol vessels, naval auxiliary vessel , type – a SIGMA 10514 variant, constructed for the Australian Navy, MV SYCAMORE. multirole auxiliary vessels, landing ships and at the ASTIMAR 20 Shipyard in Salina Cruz However, on 15 March Naval Group and landing craft, up to support vessels more under the aforementioned Damen Techni- ECA Group /Belgium Naval & Robotics than 200 metres in length and landing plat- cal Corporation programme, and a SIGMA- gained the contract for the construction form dock ships. variant also being proposed to the Roma- of the 12 units. In recent years, DSNS gained a strong ex- nian Navy. Another innovative design is the DSNS’s most ambitious campaign is to port position with its Ship Integrated Geo- CROSSOVER hybrid ship concept, a platform re-establish submarine construction in metrical Modularity Approach (SIGMA) type with the fighting power of a frigate, and the the Netherlands in partnership with Saab platforms. This successful design covers the endurance, versatility and flexibility of an am- Kockums to jointly pursue the WALRUS whole spectrum from offshore patrol vessels phibious ship. replacement programme. The two com- to frigates, ranging from 50 up to 150 m long DSNS was also vying for the 12-ship New panies are offering an enlarged, extend- and where each vessel can be tailor-made Generation Mine Countermeasure Vessels ed-range derivative of Sweden’s new Picture: ESD archives

The four Dutch OPVs of the HOLLAND class are equipped with the IM-400 integrated mast from Thales.

42 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS

Dutch Naval Companies Beyond the "big players" the Dutch naval industry comprises a large number of specialist companies Shipbuilding and Hull EST-Floattech – lithium–polymer batteries and electronic Bayards Aluminium Constructies – aluminium structures, systems for submarines bulkheads for radar masts, C containers, ship superstructures MAN Diesel & Turbo Benelux – diesel and gas/LNG en- and decompression tanks gines Bolidt Kunststoftoepassing – shipdeck specialist Nevesbu – engineering office for naval platforms, subma- Hertel Marine Services – fire and heat insulation and accom- rines in particular modation installations Pon Power – propulsion and electric power generation systems Hull Vane – underwater spoilers, for example, fixed foils below SARC – software for ship design, fire-fighting and damage the stern control (FF/DC) systems Royal IHC – a maritime technology innovator with expertise in Siemens Nederland – diesel-electric propulsion systems, engineering and manufacturing high-performance integrated power generation, gearboxes, vessels and equipment Voith Turbo – propulsion systems SMI Groep – custom-made welded parts Wärtsilä Nederland – propulsion systems, Solico – design and development of composite products Ten Cate Advanced Composites – composite protection for Support Services accomodation, ammunition storage rooms, mission-critical com- Bachmann Electronic – modular high-end automation partments, bridge and comms compartments, engine rooms systems VDL Defence Technologies – emissions abatement systems Bosch Rexroth – Underway Replenishment (UNREP) and Venko COBI-Neutra – corrosion protection and painting of naval units radar stabilisation systems Vogel Tube Bending – tubes and pipes Contour Advanced Systems – installation of navigation bridge systems and bridge simulators Sensors and Command Systems Croon Elektrotechniek – installation of electronic systems. ABIOM – communications systems Globecomm Maritime – communication systems Airborne Composites – UAVs Hatenboer Water – specialist in reverse osmosis systems Atmos UAV – high-end drones, aerial surveying and data col- Heinen & Hopman Eengineering – ventilation, air condi- lection systems tioning, refrigeration and central heating Alphatron Marine – supplier of integrated bridge solutions Johnson Controls – refrigeration, ventilation and air con- Alewijnse Marine – electrical and automation systems, com- ditioning systems munication equipment, Integrated Bridge Management Sys- Mafo Naval Closures – hydraulic doors for naval units tems (IBMS), Integrated Platform Management Systems (IPMS), Rohde & Schwarz Nederland – telecommunications Power & Energy Distribution Systems Integration Rubber Design – one of the market leaders in suppressing Bakker Sliedrecht – design and installation of electrical systems noise and engine vibrations CSI control – control & monitoring solutions Stork-Bronswerk – cooling and climate systems De Regt Marine Cables – cable solutions for sonar systems THR Marine – deck equipment, such as winches, wind- Nedinsco – optical systems, cameras and periscopes lasses, capstans, mooring winches Terma – C2/C3/C4I solutions Trelleborg Antivibrations Solutions – composite and thermoplastic bearings, shock-absorbing systems Propulsion and Engineering Van Halteren Special Products – high-tech power packs, Discom – exhaust systems cooling systems and Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) Eekels Elektrotechniek – electrical drive systems, power con- protection, climate control and cooling of electronic equip- verters, shore power connections ment, chilled water plants

A 26 submarine, with Saab building pres- in 2018, and its systems are operational in fence) system. This radar is under contract sure hull sections in Karlskrona after which more than 30 navies. for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s four DE these hull sections will then be shipped to Amongst the company’s latest devel- ZEVEN PROVINCIËN class frigates. And in Vlissingen for final outfitting. opments is the range of 4D dual-axis cooperation with DMO, Thales is devel- multi-beam AESA radars (the NS100, oping the Above Water Warfare System Thales Nederland, headquartered in Hen- NS200, SM400 and Europe's first fully (AWWS) for the Royal Netherlands and gelo, is part of the French Thales Group. digital L-band radar SMART-L MM) and Belgian navies’ next-generation multipur- Although part of this French multinational, the I-MAST family of integrated modular pose frigates, including a fully digital dual- the Dutch state still owns shares and, as masts. Of particular note, the I-MAST 400 band X/S radar suite, consisting of an in- such, can veto the export of sensitive prod- is installed on board the four HOLLAND tegral combination of Active Phased Array ucts. Thales Nederland is a Centre of Excel- class offshore patrol vessels and the Joint Radar (APAR) and Sea Master 400 radars. lence in the field of radar and sensor tech- Support Ship HNLMS KAREL DOORMAN. nology. The company is one of the mar- Another innovative radar system is the RH Marine is part of the RH Marine Group ket leaders of naval radar technology and SMART-L Early Warning Capability (EWC) (RHMG), the Dutch leading system integra- combat management systems. Thales Ned- radar, with an impressive range of up to tor of technical expertise and innovative, erland, with a workforce of about 1,700 2,000 km and capable of interfacing with sustainable technology solutions in the people, had a turnover of some €500M the American BMD (Ballistic Missile De- fields of power generation/distribution,

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 43 COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS ship automation, navigation and commu- cific submarine knowledge and exper- Navy’s Future Submarine programme. nication, integrated bridge and platform tise joined forces. The DUKC-members The two companies say they are already management systems, propulsion solu- comprise Airborne Composite, Bolidt, engaging with potential Dutch industry tions, fire-fighting and fire protection tech- Bosch Rexroth, Damen Schelde Naval partners. nology and heating/ventilation systems. In Shipbuilding, De Regt Marine Cables, 2018, the company had revenues of some EST-Floattech, Heinen & Hopman Engi- Outlook €340M and a workforce of 1,350 full-time neering, Nedinsco, Nevesbu, RH Marine, equivalents. Thales Nederland, Trelleborg Antivibra- This summary shows that the Dutch mari- time defence cluster has highly developed naval technology to offer and has formed numerous partnerships and consortia

Photo: DSNS over the past years, but nonetheless, the future still holds many challenges. The domestic market is too small to support the available expertise, which is why ex- ports are a prerequisite for preserving the Netherlands' knowledge. Consequently, important steps towards positioning the Dutch naval defence industry on inter- national markets in general and on the European market in particular, are im- perative. Taking into account the shrinking defence budgets, cooperation in the maritime de- fence-related industry has become indis- pensible and vital. Few in the shipbuilding industry doubt that mergers and alliances are necessary in a sector that has 11 prime contractors and 23 vying with one another to build Europe's warships. With the pub- lication of its Defence Industry Strategy (DIS), the Dutch Government voices the importance it attaches to the maritime defence industry and encourages the do- Surface combatants of DSNS' SIGMA design can be flexibly adapted to mestic companies to participate in inter- dedicated customer requirements. Shown here is a MARTADINATA class national cooperation. It is crucial that naval frigate of the Indonesian Navy. platforms and naval-related systems should be designed with exports in mind, in order Recently, RH Marine has been involved in tion Solutions, Van Halteren Special to give the companies an opportunity to the mid-life upgrade programme of the Products and Verebus. DUKC is already develop their own local industry. Therefore, Dutch WALRUS class submarines and is fulfilling an important role in the mod- the Royal Netherlands Navy's procurement commissioned to deliver the low-voltage ernisation of the RNLN’s WALRUS class plans are a forecast indicator; it shows in systems for the Royal Navy’s new T26 submarines. The ambition of the DUKC which areas advertising can be made in the frigates. Some of RH Marine's latest de- members is to contribute to the replace- future, whereby the parent navy serves as velopments are the integration of an op- ment of the WALRUS class, particularly an important reference for entering the in- tical bearing device (OBD) in the military in the design and equipment areas, and ternational market. digital chart system WECDIS, and the R95 eventually construct the new boats with However, as many of the companies Ellipse, a special algorithm which calcu- the help of an international yard with mentioned above have a strong civil lates the most likely position of the ship submarine programme management sector, it is uncertain whether they are with 95% accuracy. experience. prepared to maintain defence capabili- On the other hand, the Dutch company ties and continue to offer naval products The Dutch Underwater Royal IHC and the French Naval Group in the future. This depends to a large Knowledge Centre (DUKC) signed an agreement to become partners extent on the companies' assessment in the bid for the WALRUS class subma- of the expected order situation and on While the Netherlands has no indigenous rine replacement programme. Under the the political climate in the Netherlands, submarine builder, following the demise terms set out in this partnership, Naval which is why the state must continue of RDM Submarines Shipyard back in Group is to develop the submarine design to promote research and development, 2004, it has retained a significant level and Royal IHC perform the construction secure national procurement, take a of technical and engineering knowledge and outfitting of the end product, lever- reliable position on arms exports and through the Dutch Underwater Knowl- aging capacity and skills within the Dutch adopt an active political stance in arms edge Centre (DUKC) – a collaboration maritime sector. Naval Group is offering a cooperation. Ultimately, a robust grey platform under the Netherlands Industry new design sized between its SCORPENE ship market is essential to fully utilise for Defence and Security Association, by design and the SHORTFIN BARRACUDA the highly specialised workforce of the which those Dutch companies with spe- proposal developed for Royal Australia Dutch maritime defence industry. 

44 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS “It is very important for us to keep our OEM cluster alive”

Interview with Richard Keulen, Director Naval Sales Support, Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS)

In 2000, Royal Schelde was taken over by we engage often with in platform automa- the Damen Shipyards Group which is the tion. We also contract other European part- largest shipbuilder in the Netherlands and ners, e.g. for effectors. But basically, in the a global player, with more than 12,000 Netherlands we have all the expertise employees at 35 facilities worldwide. Da- needed to develop complex naval projects.

Photos: DSNS men Shipyards Group has a wide portfolio, This is why the cluster is of strategic impor- ranging from more civilian-based security tance for the Netherlands. solutions like OPVs (Offshore Patrol Ves- Currently, we are involved in a Dutch pro- ESD: Now that the Dutch Government has sels) to tug boats, pilot vessels and cruise gramme which is an addition to the Joint identified a number of projects to mod- vessels. By acquiring DSNS, Damen added Support Ship. The Netherlands has a world- ernise the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) an entire naval portfolio to its capabilities, wide operating blue ocean fleet, heavy frig- fleet, your company has moved into the ranging from military OPVs, high speed pa- ates, heavy amphibs, and two replenish- spotlight. DSNS is also a strong European trol vessels to full-fledged air defence frig- ment ships. Due to budget cuts and retiring player. Could you give us some insight into ates, amphibious units and supply ships. of vessels, we ended up for a very short DSNS' situation today? DSNS is responsible for development, engi- time with no logistic support vessels at all DSNS: Since the Dutch fleet is ageing, we neering, building, integration and delivery and the joint support ship HNLMS KAREL are now seeing programmes to replace of naval ships to its navy customers. All in DOORMAN, the latest unit provided to the frigates, MCM vessels (MCM – Mine Coun- all, we can offer the entire naval portfo- RNLN, now executes replenishment at sea ter Measures) and submarines. There is also lio, ranging from the lower end like wa- tasks. a programme for a new logistic supply ves- ter police vessels all the way up to heavy The KAREL DOORMAN has three main sel to be commissioned in 2023. combatants. In addition, we have strong functions: underway replenishment, stra- First, let's have a look at the Dutch Naval Dutch partners like RH Marine, a partner tegic transport and supporting amphibi- Cluster which is a group of companies around a so-called OEM (Original Equip- ment Manufacturer) capability and which is well established in Europe. Essentially, the Netherlands has a full-fledged indus- try cluster that can develop complex ships from a clean sheet of paper up to the very ends of operation, maintenance and midlife updating. DSNS constitutes the OEM capability of that cluster. Formerly called Royal Schelde, DSNS has built ships for the RNLN since the 1870s. It is a very old company, and in the last decades we have developed very successful launching customer projects; we have initiated innovative projects for the RNLN offering room for improvement, new developments, future-oriented weap- ons and sensors and so forth. This allows us to turn these novelties into successful export items which in return strengthen Artist impression of what the Royal Netherlands Navy‘s new combat and maintain our naval cluster. support ship DEN HELDER will look like

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 45 COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS ous or littoral operations. Thus, she has de Guerre des Mines) in Ostend, Belgium. tend to develop from such launching cus- various tasks and cannot be restricted to This is also where Belgium's NATO Centre tomer projects. There are several examples, replenishment. As in many other countries, of Excellence for MCM is. one being the air-defence and command the budget of the Dutch MoD has grown, Now both nations have decided to replace frigate of the DE ZEVEN PROVINCIËN Class which is why an additional dedicated sup- their MCMVs and frigates. Belgium is in developed under a similar launching cus- port ship can be commissioned, and we charge of the MCMV project, while the tomer set up. Once provided to the Navy, are now proposing an engineering solu- Netherlands is responsible for the frigate we were able to turn that high-end ship tion and a design for that ship to the MoD; programme of both nations. It will start into a lighter export family of ships, the so- we will be contracted to build that ship, shortly after the MCM programme and called SIGMA series. HNLMS DEN HELDER. the delivery of the units will commence at Now we are about to deliver the tenth SIGMA series ship, this time to Mexico. Based on that launching customer idea, we have been able to export to a number of na- vies without the support of the Government. This is how our Naval Cluster survives and this is why this set-up is so important to us. So, when it comes to the M frigate, we are looking at four frigates in total. A so- called “A-letter”, a report from our Govern- ment to Parliament gives the rough outline of these frigates; they are multi-purpose frigates with a focus on anti-submarine warfare (ASW). They should also feature new forms of propulsion and new weapon systems like high-energy weapons. We ex- pect the specific requirements to come out in the next six to nine months.

ESD: What about submarines? DSNS: When it comes to submarines, the Netherlands has four unique WALRUS class boats in service. It is important to under- Different variants of the SIGMA design have been exported to stand why we are in this programme. The Indonesia, Morocco and Mexico. WALRUS class is an ocean-going submarine design, and the four boats will undergo ESD: The Netherlands has embarked on an about the same time. We expect further an extensive midlife update in the Nether- important cooperation programme with steps in the months ahead. lands. The WALRUS submarine is designed Belgium for frigates and MCMV. What is The frigate programme provides for the joint to support expeditionary operations which the current status and what constitutes the replacement of the four M Class frigates by are important within the NATO framework. basis for this cooperative effort? two frigates for Belgium and two for the In fact, they might become even more im- DSNS: The cooperation between Belgium Netherlands. As an OEM in the Netherlands, portant in the near future. Up until recently, and the Netherlands is a good example of we are able to offer all types of high-end we thought that maritime developments how medium-sized nations in Europe can frigates and work directly with the Dutch were more headed toward the littorals, successfully cooperate in procurement. I Naval Cluster and the customer to arrive at but now developments in Russia, China, think this cooperation is worth being no- a so-called project definition. Once in the and India lead us back to the blue water ticed in Europe because it is lean, efficient lead, we will go for an engineering solution domain. This is why the expeditionary as- and focused on identical requirements. The in close cooperation with the Dutch Defence pect is still important. Secondly, because Netherlands and Belgium have signed a Materiel Organisation as the customer. This of that midlife update we have retained joint collective agreement on the provision will enable us to build these four ships. considerable submarine expertise; I would of frigates and MCMVs with a joint Letter As expressed in the Letter of Intent and the say that 80% of the expertise is still in the of Intent and two MoUs. This very close Memoranda of Understanding, Belgium Netherlands. and strategic cooperation pattern is called will follow the Netherlands. This model of And finally, as with the frigates, the subma- "Belgisch-Nederlandse samenwerking" a launching customer project is vital for us rine project will be designed as a launching (Belgian-Dutch cooperation - BENESAM). as it provides both future-proof and inno- customer project to allow for the genera- It has been in existence for more than forty vative solutions to our domestic customer, tion of export potential. years and reaches into every vein of our the Royal Netherlands Navy, but it also of- Are we competing with Norway and Germa- navies. But it does not only mean identi- fers us the means to turn these innovations ny? I think they are just another ball game. cal material; we have the same M frigates, into export lines. As a private company we For good reasons, these two nations have also built by Damen, we have the same survive by exporting our products; we do focused the operational concept of their co- MCMVs, and we also share training, logis- not get government support like some of operation on submarines with a more littoral tics, operation and apprentice training. For our competitors. This is why we need to alignment. According to our market analy- example, the knowledge base of Dutch and have the best project when it comes to lean sis, we consider it necessary to offer a more Belgian MCM forces is brought together at production, efficient pricing and other con- expedition-oriented alternative. This is why the Eguermin Mine Action School (Ecole tractual issues. Such export lines frequently we work exclusively with SAAB Kockums

46 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 COUNTRY FOCUS: THE NETHERLANDS from Sweden and for three reasons: important and we hope we can explain this DSNS: Firstly, the German Government First, because of their COLLINS class pro- to the Dutch Government. has called for an open European tender, gramme for the RAN. SAAB Kockums has The Government is currently examining all and of course we can offer the German a similar expedition-oriented focus and offers in response to the so-called market Government a future-proof frigate. As knowledge of the operational concept of monitoring and we expect it to decide a trustworthy partner in Europe, we the Dutch submarine service; they have a in the coming months what to do next. are responding to BAAINBw's very ex- larger submarine sailing around in Australia Will they continue with all parties or se- tensive requirements profile in order to with blue-water tasking. lect some? Much has been rumoured, but offer the German Ministry of Defence Secondly, it is very important for us to keep nothing is official. the optimal frigate, if required. This pro- our OEM cluster alive. Our self-sustainable innovative cluster works very well; we are lean, we are quick and, given the limited budgets of our own navy, for example, we can provide in-budget solutions. If we want to maintain the capabilities, we need to find a balanced partner. Thus, we are looking to cooperate with a medium-sized nation that has a similar approach, and Sweden has an impressive OEM base; just look at its car production, or other military activities such as submarines, armoured vehicles, or even fighters. Sweden is a real engineering powerhouse. When it comes to size and relations, SAAB Kockums fits very well into the Dutch naval cluster, and they offer us deep and integrative cooperation. That’s why we will cooperate exclusively with SAAB Kockums; we will not only build the boat together but will also design it, engi- neer it, procure and manage it together – a real 50:50 deal. SAAB Kockums will bring in the skills that At IndoDefence 2018 Damen presented its OMEGA design of a next we lack. At the moment, they are using generation medium-size frigate. this knowledge in support of two current programmes: Firstly, in the midlife update ESD: At IndoDefence 2018, a tri service gramme requires a maximum of German of the GOTLAND, which is a big de-risker defence exposition in Jakarta, Indonesia, content and we achieve this in all areas and is really going well, and secondly, in the Damen presented the new 6,000 tonnes of competence, as already mentioned. construction of the most modern diesel- class OMEGA frigate design. What are the This is very important to understand, electric submarine in Europe, the A-26. characteristics of this project? because some people reject our of- As a team, we both can gather knowledge DSNS: Generally, when looking at the fer as a Dutch offer, although it is not. from these programmes in a risk-controlled OMEGA design, we see a growing demand With Blohm&Voss, owned by Lürssen, manner: we are integrating the new devel- for slightly larger frigates offering more mod- we have a strong partner who has many opments into our own common design for ularity, more growth potential to add extra suppliers in Germany, which allows us the Netherlands MoD. That is why SAAB systems, for example, unmanned systems to realise this programme as a German Kockums is a very important partner. We and which offer capabilities which might re- programme. Our participation is actu- need development, we need intellectual late to new effectors like high-energy weap- ally quite limited. Not only is the entire property on knowledge and on design; this ons, or new sensors, with a reduced radar construction carried out on the prem- is how we can survive in exports. cross-section, and so on. We feel that it is ises of Blohm&Voss, we also involve our And finally, SAAB Kockums as the designer time for a larger concept that offers more German partners in the engineering, and DSNS as the co-designer are comple- opportunities to integrate the next genera- procurement, etc. We will carry out this mentary knowledge-wise when it comes tion of effectors, radars and technology. project together and in genuine coop- to procurement, management, design We see the demand from left and right, for eration. That is very important! The pro- and engineering. When it comes to build- example, from South America where some ject is as German as possible, as we fully ing and operational project management nations consider larger frigates than those understand that the extensive funds that and integration, we will act as the builder they currently have in service. Many nations Germany provides for the realisation of and SAAB will act as the co-builder. It is still operate the earlier 1980s and 1990s frig- this project for the German Navy should a perfectly balanced cooperation, with a ates which at that time did not exceed 3,000 also strengthen the German naval clus- lot of Dutch content, which allows us to tonnes. To improve seaworthiness, sustain- ter. And that is convenient for us be- develop the knowledge and the capability ability and other factors, many navies are cause that is how we operate. to sustain the boat over its entire lifecycle now looking for larger platforms. So, this in the Netherlands. This strategic capability could be the solution. ESD: Thank you for the interview. will make our Navy and the Defence Mate- riel Organisation completely independent. ESD: The MKS180 is an important project The interview was conducted by This is why cooperating with SAAB is so for the German Navy. What is your share? Hans Uwe Mergener.

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 47  ARMED FORCES Cyber Defence: NATO’s Challenges Joris Verbeurgt

With our societies increasingly dependent on modern information technologies, rapidly evolving cyber threats pose a growing threat. NATO will have to find a response.

ince the 1990s, billions of people world- devices by various means of malicious acts, plugin. This advanced cyber espionage Swide have been using information and usually originating from an anonymous campaign was aimed at diplomatic, govern- communication technologies (ICT). The In- source that either steals, alters, or destroys a mental and scientific research institutions ternet has evolved from a simple informa- specified target by hacking into a susceptible worldwide. It was never revealed who was tion exchange platform to the backbone of system", are more common than we think. behind these attacks. modern economies and societies. The im- Many of these attackers use advanced per- pact of ICT on our personal, social and pro- sistent threats (APTs) as their modus oper- Destructive Attacks

A second category of attacks are "destruc- tive attacks" – attacks aimed at harming the target organisation. Examples are the Photo: US Army malware "Wiper", which deleted informa- tion from the hard disks of Iranian oil com- panies in 2011. The modular computer virus "Shamoon", a malicious phishing email that entered Saudi gasoline company Aramco in 2012, caused the company to spend a week restoring its services. When it comes to defense, the best known malicious com- puter worm is "Stuxnet". It was allegedly designed by the US and Israel to sabotage Iran's nuclear programme and cause a series of "unfortunate accidents". It was discov- ered in 2010 and has since emerged in vari- ous forms and shapes. In 2017, all of the 41 Cyber Mission Force teams of the US Army Cyber Command achieved full operational capability. Depicted is the 780th Cyberwarfare Military Intelligence Brigade operations center at Fort Meade, Md. A third category of cyberattacks is labelled fessional lives is enormous, and the benefits andi to stealthily enter networks or systems ‘cyberwarfare’: politically motivated de- of Internet connectivity and the opportuni- and remain undetected for years. structive attacks aimed at sabotage and ties it offers to individuals and businesses A cyberattack can take many shapes and espionage. Some examples are the 2007 are obvious. But there are two sides to every forms. Based on the source, the target and cyberattacks on Estonia, targeting govern- coin: While the confidence of our societies in the intended damage, cyberattacks can be ment and commercial institutions. Other digital infrastructure is growing exponential- divided in a number of broad categories. cases of cyberwarfare took place in Asia: ly, technology remains inherently vulnerable. in July 2009, major government, news me- The rapidly evolving cyber threats challenge Indiscrimate Cyberattacks dia and financial websites in South Korea the confidentiality, integrity and availability and the USA fell victim to a series of coordi- of ICT infrastructures and can lead to disas- The first category are "arbitrary attacks" nated cyberattacks, involving a ‘botnet’ or ters of unknown magnitude. – far-reaching, global attacks that do not a large number of hijacked computers that To understand the challenges NATO is fac- distinguish between governments and busi- maliciously caused a server overload due ing in terms of cyber defence, it is neces- nesses. A well-known example of an undif- to the influx of data. Between 50.000 and sary to first address the various attacks and ferentiated attack is the Red October cyber 166.000 computers were hijacked during threats in cyberspace. espionage malware programme, which the attack, with a majority located in South was discovered in 2012. "Red October" Korea. The timing of the attacks, coinciding Cyberattacks was operated worldwide for five years be- with a North Korean short-range ballistic fore it was discovered and transmitted in- missile test, made researchers to believe that Cyberattacks, defined as “any type of of- formation ranging from diplomatic secrets North Korea was the source of the attack, fensive manoeuver employed by individuals to personal information. The malware was although no substantial evidence was pro- or whole organisations that target computer installed by email with attached documents vided for this claim. In 2010, rivalry between information systems, infrastructures, com- programmed to exploit vulnerabilities in Mi- South Korea and Japan in female figure ice puter networks, and/or personal computer crosoft Word, Excel and the Java browser skating at the Vancouver Winter Olympics,

48 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMED FORCES  triggered a cyberwar between “netizens” (a incident between the two countries. With ist is Julian Assange, the man behind the contraction of (inter)net and citizens) from ‘Titan Rain’, a series of coordinated attacks non-profit organisation Wikileaks. In 2010, both countries. Other cyberattacks occured on American computer systems in 2003, this whistleblowing organisation published during the Russo-Georgian War in 2008 hackers gained access to sensitive infor- more than 90.000 documents on the and against Iranian nuclear facilities in 2006: mation on the computers of US defence wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Perhaps President Bush then launched one of the contractors like Lockheed Martin, Sandia the most well known hacktivist group is first known uses of offensive cyberweapons National Laboratories, Redstone Arsenal “Anonymous” which has been very active when he ordered the execution of Opera- and NASA. The attackers were able to in the last decade. It attacked the Scientol- tion Olympic Games, targeting the Iranian hide their identity, but it is believed that this ogy Church in 2008 and with Operation nuclear facility at Natanz. Bush ordered the government-inspired espionage originated Payback, it attacked high-profile oppo- operation since he believed that it was the in China. An example of a corporate espio- nents of internet piracy like the Motion Pic- only way to prevent Israel from striking the nage cyberattack is ‘Operation Aurora’, a ture Association of America and the British facility with conventional weapons. series of cyberattacks in 2009 conducted Phonographic Industry. Law firms, politi- from Beijing that targeted dozens of or- cians like Sarah Palin and Joseph Lieberman Cyberespionage ganisations, such as Adobe, Juniper Net- and financial services providers like Master- works, Yahoo, Symantec, Morgan Stanley card, Visa and Paypall were also hacked by Other categories of cyberattacks involve and Dow Chemical. The perpetrators had Anonymous. Anymous also declared war government espionage (stealing informa- ties to the Chinese Army and tried to gain on ISIS after the 2015 Paris terror attacks tion from/about government organisations) access to these high tech, security and de- and in February 2017, it took down more and corporate espionage (stealing data fence contractor companies, and possibly than 10.000 child pornography sites on the from corporations related to proprietary tried to modify source code repositories. Dark Web. methods or emerging products/services). Other categories in cyberattacks are: steal- A well-known example of government es- Internet (H)ac(k)tivism ing e-mail addresses and login credentials for pionage is the massive spying by the US on specific web resources, stealing credit card many countries, including allies, as revealed Another cyberattack category is “internet and financial data, and stealing medical data. by Edward Snowden. The disclosure of the activism” (also called “hacktivism”), the fact that the National Security Agency use of technology to promote a political Soft and Hard Threats (NSA) also spied on Germany’s Chancel- agenda or social change, often related to lor Angela Merkel, made news headlines free speech, human rights or freedom of From a national security standpoint, cyber- all over the world and caused a diplomatic information networks. A famous hacktiv- attacks present a multitude of threats, of

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IT security partner of the Federal Republic of Germany ing in financial losses in the millions. Only recently, the controversial president of Ven- ezuela, Nicolàs Maduro, accused the USA of sabotaging the Venezuelan power grid with cyber attacks, which led to an almost com- plete power failure in the afflicted country.

NATO and Cyber Defence

Since cyberattacks pose a genuine threat to

Photo: NATO CCDCOE national security and to the stability of the The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence is a multina- international system, states have developed tional and interdisciplinary hub of cyber defence expertise. It hosts the cyber defence strategies and established annual CyCon International Conference on Cyber Conflict. organisations within their defence and in- telligence departments to counter cyber which espionage, sabotage, propaganda ceptions, manipulate emotions and direct attacks. Of course, NATO could not fall be- and economic disruption are the most im- the behaviour of large internet audiences hind. The first time that cyber defence was portant types. to achieve a response that furthers the in- on the Alliance's agenda was at the Prague tent of the propagandist. Cyberpropaganda Summit in 2002. The need to improve the Cyberespionage can also be used to influence elections in protection of communications systems was democratic countries. A case currently under reaffirmed at the 2006 Riga Summit, but it Cyberespionage, or cyberspying, is ‘the use investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mu- was the major cyber attack on NATO ally Es- of computer networks to gain illicit access to eller is that of the presumed Russian attempt tonia a year later that triggered NATO cyber confidential information, typically that held to manipulate the 2016 US presidential elec- defence action. First, a NATO Cooperative by a government or other organisation’. tions. The theft and leaking of Hillary Clinton Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence was es- The ‘soft’ threat of espionage, including cy- e-mails while she was Secretary of State un- tablished in Tallinn in Estonia. Nearby, at the berespionage, is not considered an act of der President Obama, are a good illustration NATO Cyber Range in Tartu, cyber experts war since all major powers use it. However, of cyberespionage and cyberpropaganda at can develop their capabilities through real- espionage incidents can cause serious ten- once. istic exercises. As of January 2018, CCDCOE sions between nations. Succesful cyber- But cyberattacks are not per definition ‘soft’ is responsible for identifying and coordinat- espionage operations can give the spying threats. They also consist of ‘hard’ threats and ing education and training in cyber defence country a considerable advantage over the can be used to support traditional warfare. for all NATO bodies across the Alliance. Sec- country that was spied on: all powers spend ondly, the first NATO Policy on Cyber De- large sums of money on finding out what Cybersabotage fence was approved in January 2008 and at the adversary is doing and to what intent. A the Lisbon Summit in 2010, a new Strategic succesful cyberespionage operation in the Cybersabotage or “destructive hacking” Concept was adopted. An in-depth NATO field of defence technology can save the can be defined as “the deliberate and ma- cyber policy was to be developed, as well spying country a lot of money on research licious use of cyber means to disrupt the as an action plan to implement it, both of and development, or bridge a technologi- normal processes and functions of cyber in- which were approved in June 2011 by the cal gap in a short time span that otherwise frastructure or to destroy or damage equip- NATO defence ministers. A year later, cy- would have taken years. The attackers use ment or information”. Cybersabotage can ber defence was integrated into the NATO cyberespionage for economic, political, or take place when contaminated hardware or Defence Planning Process, in which relevant military gain. They are deliberately recruited software are purposefully installed during cyber defence requirements were identified and are highly valued for their technical the manufacturing and installation process and prioritised throughout the process. In know-how. China has several cyberespio- or are delivered over the internet. Not only 2012, at the Chicago Summit, the Allies re- nage battalions, of which Unit 61398 is the military systems like computers and satellites affirmed their commitment to bring all of most controversial one since it is believed can be targeted. Since power, water, fuel, NATO’s networks under centralised protec- to be responsible for several attacks on the communications and transportation infra- tion and in The Hague (in the Netherlands), US. The US, Russia and North Korea also structure are all connected to the internet the NATO Communication and Information have units within the armed forces and the and with cyberspace, they are all vulnerable Agency (NCIA) was established to be in the security forces that specialise in cyberspying. to disruption. Potential targets also include frontlines against cyberattacks. In close co- power grids, trains, or the stock market. operation with governments, the industry Cyberpropaganda The military and civilian spheres of a nation and the academic world, the NCIA provides are susceptible to malicious interception. In resilient Command, Control, Communica- Cyberpropaganda, defined as “‘the use of cybersabotage, a denial-of-service (DoS) at- tions, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance information technologies to manipulate an tack is the most common attack: an attempt and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems to event or influence public perception toward to make a machine or network resource un- acquire, deploy and defend NATO’s com- a certain point of view”, is a second ‘soft’ available to its intended users. A DoS, when munications systems. A Cyber Security form of cyberattacks. It is a form of psy- properly executed, can be as devastating Service Line (NCIACSSL) was established chological warfare that uses social media, as a physical attack against the infrastruc- for the planning and execution of life cy- fake news websites and other digital means ture. Coordinated DoS attacks can lead to cle management activities. It also provides with the aim of de-legitimising the political large-scale economic disruptions. In 2017, specialised cyber security services covering and social system of a country. Cyber propa- Ukraine and the British National Health Ser- the spectrum of scientific, technical, acqui- gandists deliberately attempt to shape per- vice became victims of DoS attacks result- sition, operational, maintenance and repair

50 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMED FORCES 

industrial singularities; it is a real challenge to design a concrete NATO strategy and ac- tion plan for cyber defence that takes into account all these national interests. Which brings us to the fourth challenge: the legal and judicial aspects of a NATO- led cyber defence. NATO’s three essential core tasks – collective defence (Article 5), crisis management and cooperative security

Photo: NATO CCDCOE – should also be executed in cyberspace. In August 2018, about 400 computer experts participated in a major However, in cyberspace there are many cyber security drill called “Operation Locked Shield” at Estonia’s NATO more stakeholders, myriad threat actors and Cyber CoE as part of NATO’s efforts to upgrade its capability to counter a lot of actions in grey space. Questions that potentially debilitating hacker attacks. need an answer are, for example, the rela- tionship between national capabilities and support throughout the lifecycle of NATO in- NATO’s Challenges sovereignty, and the authority of NATO. The formation communications and technology. efforts undertaken by NATO to mainstream The Wales Summit in 2014 was another Cyber threats continue to evolve. NATO net- cybersecurity activities have thus far proven milestone in developing NATO’s cyber de- works, covering over 60 different locations insufficient to fully address the growing cy- fence capabilities, when a new Cyber De- and serving more than 100,000 people, berthreat. And what about privacy regula- fence Policy was endorsed which aimed at have experienced increasing cyber attacks tions? NATO is forbidden to target the citi- boosting cooperation with the private sec- over the past decade. NATO's cyber defence zens of its member states, but does this also tor and the NATO Industry Cyber Partner- systems register suspicious events on a daily apply to cyberspace? Does Article 5 apply ship (NICP) was established. In 2016, NATO basis, ranging from simple attempts to tech- to cyberattacks, and what should be the re- and the EU concluded a Technical Arrange- nologically sophisticated attacks on NATO's sponse? What is the role of international law ment (TA) on Cyber Defence to help both IT infrastructure. Most of these attacks are in cyberspace and with regard to defensive organisations to prevent and respond to detected and handled automatically, while and offensive cyberweapons? There is no cyberattacks. The TA provides a framework others require expert analysis and response. coherent international legal framework, for exchanging information and sharing best NATO, in close cooperation with the EU and due to the technicality of the cyber defence practices between the emergency response industry, is already making big efforts in the issues and, perhaps, because major powers teams of the 200 strong NATO Computer field of cyber defence. But the following like the US, Russia and China prefer to oper- Incident Response Capability (NCIRC) that challenges remain. ate in ambiguity. And what about the law was established within the NCIA and the In cyberspace, there is no clear division be- of armed conflict, telecommunications or Computer Emergency Response Team of tween the military and the civilan realm. Cy- satellite law, and criminal law, which are all the EU (CERT-EU). At the Warsaw Summit, berattacks on civilian targets can be as dev- affected by cyber defence measures? What the NATO Allies recognised cyberspace as astating as a physical attack. Although the will be the actual or legal responsibility of a domain on its own, in addition to the ex- outcome of the cyberattack can be military, NATO? These questions are a serious chal- isting operational domains of air, sea and cyber defence cannot be achieved through lenge for NATO in the near future. land. Other updates, initiatives and pledges military means alone. Many more actors Challenge number five is the rapid pace of followed suit, and on 8 November 2017, the are involved, like civilian governments, pri- change in cyberspace. Serious investments defence ministers created a new Cyberspace vate industry and individuals (think of Bill in information gathering, human talent and Operations Centre to be established in Bel- Gates or Marc Zuckerberg, or Assange and technical capalities are necessary to keep gium. The Centre will provide situational Snowden). This challenge is already tackled abreast of the threats. Cyber technology awareness and coordination of NATO op- by NATO, but experts are just beginning to continues to evolve and the vulnerability erational activity within cyberspace. To do understand the complexity of cyberspace to attacks increases as a greater range and so, NATO can make use of national cyber and the consequences of worldwide inter- number of devices connect to each other capabilities for its missions and operations. connectivity and dependence on ICT. A lot and to the internet. More cooperation with Finally, Allies took stock of their progress more has to be done, in close cooperation the industry and civilian actors is required to enhance national resilience through the with the industry and academia. to prepare for the future cyber battlefield Cyber Defence Pledge. Although each Ally Another challenge for NATO is to determine where there will be no line between the remains responsible for its own cyber de- who the adversary is: most hostile cyber ac- military and the civilian world. fence, NATO supports its members in boost- tivity is below the threshold of armed conflict. ing these defences by sharing real-time in- Malicious cyber activity can come from state Conclusion formation about threats and by exchanging actors or non-state actors (terrorist organisa- best practices on handling cyberthreats. In tions, hacktivists or individuals) or state actors NATO has already come a long way on cy- addition, NATO maintains rapid-reaction disguised as non-state actors. It is difficult ber defence issues and is doing much to cyber defence teams that can be sent to (even dangerous) to determine a proportion- improve the Alliance's cyber defence capa- help Allies in addressing cyber challenges. It ate and effective response if the actual source bilities. At the same time, the ever-evolving also develops targets for Allies to facilitate a of the threat is unknown or uncertain. cyber environment and the ongoing evolu- common approach to their cyber defence A third challenge for NATO is to align the tion of threats require NATO to step up its capabilities; and invests in education, train- various national cyber defence strategies investment and cooperation with industry ing and exercises, such as Cyber Coalition, that individual Allies have developed. These and civilian actors. While the foundation one of the largest cyber defence exercises strategies are based on national assump- stone has been laid, the building itself is still in the world. tions, preferences, and technological and under construction. 

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 51 Viewpoint from Prague

for the critical systems that provide security for the state where it is Current Threats pretty obvious that this is an unacceptable risk. For decades, our developers have been given the possibility to roll out systems and applications without guarantees, without respon- in the Cyber World sibility, without supervision. We are unwilling to take responsibility, even in part, for the development, reliability and quality of such Petr Jirásek systems. Still, we are always surprised when our electronic systems prove vulnerable and imperfect. On the other hand, we believe that standards, regulations and laws will e are living in fascinating times we solve all problems. If one does not have many years of experience, such Wcould not even imagine just a few standards are good prerequisites, but certainly not a solution. Finally, years ago. And we enjoy freedom: We can in road transport we have many legal standards and a traffic system buy products in our cities that were made with modern regulations, driving licences, TÜV certificates, traffic signs, on the other side of the world. We can trav- technical and police checks and many other aspects, including preven- el almost anytime and anywhere, we can tive and repressive measures. Nevertheless, year after year we have mil- communicate almost free of charge with lions of road accidents and deaths on the roads and many court cases. anyone on the planet, often with people What then leads us to conclude that by creating laws, regulations and we don't even know and who have a false technical certifications in the cyber area, we can solve all the problems identity. We live predominantly in a virtual of the digital world? reality full of social networks, information Many experts believe that it would be a good solution to consist- technologies and now even artificial intel- ently secure critical processes and important information systems ligence. On the one hand, we do our best and even to separate them from the outside world. The economies to protect our privacy, and on the other of our countries, however, are mainly driven by small and medium-

Photo: Petr Jirásek hand, we frequently put it to the mercy of sized enterprises and not by critical systems. In the European Union fate in digital space. We are mortally ad- alone, SMEs account for more than half of GDP. We invest too little Petr Jirásek is Cyber Secu- dicted to modern technologies. We are so in education and general awareness. We offer too little help to small rity & IT Adviser and Chair- addicted that we cannot imagine life with- firms, which usually have neither many sensitisation opportunities man of the Czech Cyber out electricity, the internet, computers or nor the financial means to invest in security and especially cyber secu- Security Working Group. smartphones. rity (after all, it is not their core business). However, these companies For the most part, we have no understand- are the pillars of our economies. Do we offer them enough help and ing of this new "modern" environment; we are fascinated lay people opportunities to safely develop and run their businesses? who admire the perfection and beauty of the environment. And we are unwilling to be aware of the dangers of digital space (cyber- A Cultural Change space). After all, it is only virtual reality. The biggest danger is therefore our addiction, inadequate education We don't have enough experts. But it is not only the experts who are and poor understanding of the opportunities and risks that modern missing, but also the IT-literate users, managers, lawyers, diplomats, technologies involve. For thousands of years, we have learned to live members of science – simply the informed society. On the one hand, in the real world and to behave appropriately. Yet the digital world we should start shaping a younger, better-informed generation and has only been around for a few decades and we believe that nothing do so at a tender age. Maybe in this way we can bring about cultural bad can happen. We are becoming more and more dependent and change and raise a generation of people who not only move easily we often lack critical thinking and common sense – “The main thing through the virtual world, but can transform the virtual world for the is that it makes our lives easier.” We are often unable to decide and good of society. On the other hand, we must also take care of our distinguish what is meaningful and contributes to our lives and what current employees and expand their knowledge and retrain them. is just a "gadget" that we can skip. Nonetheless, this learning process will take at least a generation. Events in the cyber world may not be so visible and are certainly An Unacceptable Risk less tangible. However, the same laws apply here as in the real world. There are many risks and threats that exploit human and We may be a man on the street, a businessman, a large company technological vulnerabilities. These cannot be completely elimi- or sometimes even the state, and we are all too quick to give up our nated, but we can minimise their impact. But this requires an ac- technological sovereignty. Quite often, we don't even mind giving tive interest in our technology, an understanding of the principles up control of supply chain security for our critical systems and ap- and shortcomings, and, above all, not a thoughtless acceptance plications. And that's usually the case when the applications are of what we encounter in cyberspace. Our world is teeming with developed by unknown programmers and distributed to different daydreamers and cheaters. The biggest threat is then excessive public data repositories ("The main thing is, I can install it on my trust and unwillingness to expand our knowledge and overcome smartphone..."), or when we're dealing with large supply chains the lack of critical thinking.

52 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMED FORCES  The European Air Transport Command Tasks and Missions

Giulia Tilenni

Established in 2010 in Eindhoven to fill the gap European countries had in strategic transportation, the European Air Transport Command (EATC) has become a staple in European air transport, air-to-air refuel- ling, and medical evacuation.

he idea of establishing a joint air trans- the Command’s achievements exceeded Tport command in Europe dates back to the initial mission of providing enhanced 1999, when France and Germany decided air transport capabilities to its members, to jointly fill the capability gap in air trans- because EATC rapidly developed highly rel- portation identified by the EU and NATO. evant capacities in the whole spectrum of Security and Defence Policy). However, its The basic idea was to establish a multina- air mobility operations. Thanks to pooling assets could contribute to the EU-led civil tional command structure with an opera- and sharing of aerial assets and integrat- and military missions organised under ar- tional and functional authority to optimise ing operational responsibilities, the Com- ticle 42.3 of the European Union Treaty. the scarce national resources in this domain mand pursues air-to-air refuelling (AAR), According to this article, multinational thanks to pooling and sharing. Belgium cargo and passengers transport, air and forces that have been jointly established by member states could be made available for CSDP’s objectives. All this considered, the idea of creating a European command dedicated to air transport missions was initially part of the European common defence architecture. The objective of “establishing a Euro- Photo: Jose Luiz Lezg / EATC pean air transport command to increase the number of readily deployable troops; and to enhance strategic sea lift capacity” was among the collective capability goals listed at the Helsinki European Council of December 1999, expected to pave the way for the implementation of a real European defence cooperation. The fulfilment of the so-called Headline Goal identified in the meeting conclusions and expected to be reached by 2003 should have allowed EU members to cover the Petersberg tasks, which defined the EU military role in cri- This Spanish A400M is part of the EATC fleet. sis situations. Although these objectives are still far from being achieved, the fact and the Netherlands first, and Italy, Lux- parachute dropping, and MEDEVAC mis- that the establishment of a transport com- embourg and Spain subsequently, decided sions. In addition to that, EATC works on mand was identified as a common need to join the Command, which was formally harmonising processes and standardising to satisfy at the European level reaffirms established in its current structure in 2010. procedures in order to ease interoperability the ambition of EATC’s missions, and ex- Thanks to EATC, a number of aerial assets among its members and to provide them plains the importance of the Command’s from the seven member nations are oper- with innovative solutions thanks to the ap- cooperation with other EU entities. In- ated under one command and according plication of best practice. deed, EATC’s experience provides a great to a common standard of rules. Over time, contribution to EU cooperative efforts in EATC’s Connections the defence domain thanks to the close Author with EU Defence collaboration with the European Defence Agency (EDA). For instance, part of EATC’s Giulia Tilenni is an analyst for inter- EATC has no formal connections with EU personnel supports the daily activities of national affairs based in Paris, France. defence policies and structures, as it is not the European Tactical Airlift Centre inau- part of PESCO nor of the CSDP (Common gurated in Zaragoza in 2017, which serves

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 53  ARMED FORCES

as headquarters for the European Air Trans- port Fleet training programme. Moreover, EATC and EDA collaborate with OCCAR on harmonising procedures and certifications, for instance within the Single European Sky programme, but also in relation to in- service support for the A400M fleet to be assigned to EATC’s command.

EATC: An Organisation Based on Three Pillars In order to maximise the impact of inte-

gration on the efficiency and effective- Photo: EATC ness of air transport missions organised by In the last ten years, EATC has airdropped 800,000 paratroopers. member states, EATC is organised around three divisions that constantly interact with ing common operation manuals in order to 11 European countries, consists of train- one another: Operational, Functional, and to reach the highest possible level of inter- ing activities concerning airlift (ETAP-T), crew Policy and Support divisions. This structure operability among its aerial assets. For in- members’ missions (ETAP-C) and instructor provides the functional and operational au- stance, when EATC was established each of pilots' tasks (ETAP-I). The organisation of thority that the founding members wanted the seven members worked in its national a yearly symposium involving participants to give to the Command. language and used its own procedures for (ETAP-S) is also part of the framework. It al- passenger and cargo handling. Thanks to lows discussion of existing procedures and The Divisions the use of EATC’s Operational Manual (OM) lessons learned. and Ground Operation Manual (EGOM), The two divisions, acting under the control which are periodically revised to remain The Policy and Support of EATC’s chief of staff Brigadier General compliant with the relevant operational en- Division Andreas Schick, are in charge of harmonis- vironments, member countries have finally ing the doctrines and procedures of EATC- adopted English as the language used for The Policy and Support Division provides led missions and liaising with external enti- their air transport-related activities, and have broad-spectrum support to EATC’s activi- ties, respectively. started working on the optimisation of their ties, such as mission analysis and report- limited fleets of transport aircraft. The in- ing, and contributes to the development The Functional Division tensive training activities organised by EATC of innovative strategies to be implemented provide an important contribution to the by the members. The ATARES cashless ex- The Functional Division enables the pro- maximisation of commonalities. The Com- change system for air transport services motion of shared values and harmonised mand offers several professional training provides an interesting example of the ac- doctrines, procedures and regulations in programmes in air refuelling (EART), disa- tivities this Division is committed to. This relation to employment, training and lo- bled aircraft recovery (DART), and combined system, which is in use among 28 NATO gistics. Training and exercise are at the core air terminal operations (CATO, CATT and and EU countries, consists of services’ ex- of EATC’s activities, as they allow member ACATT). E-learning tools are also part of the changes calculated on the price of one nations to strengthen their cooperation training offer. The seven member nations C-130/C-160 flying hour. It allows users to and they maximise EATC’s positive impact also participate in broader European training optimise their aircraft load factor by reduc- on their air transport activities. Since 2013, activities, namely the European Tactical Air- ing empty space and to make savings on the Command has also worked on draft- lift Programme (ETAP). ETAP, which is open outsourcing expenses, also providing ad- ditional training opportunities for crews. One of the strongest of ATARES’ features is the fact that exchanges go beyond bilateral

Photo: EATC reciprocity, being extended to all the states that have adopted the system.

The Operational Division

The EATC consists of a 200-people-strong multinational and integrated team of ex- perts, working 24/7 and carrying out about 60 missions per day. The Operational Di- vision, which acts under the control of EATC’s deputy commander Brigadier Gen- eral Francesco Saverio Agresti, is in charge for running the five different phases of each mission cycle. On the behalf of member states, this division is responsible for plan- ning, tasking, controlling, and intelligence An Italian Aeronautica Militare Boeing KC-767 gathering during peace and war times, as

54 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMED FORCES  well as for mission management, which is In order to stress the European dimen- reached approximately 400,000 flying pursued thanks to MEAT (Management sion of the A400M programme, EATC has hours and completed more than 67,000 of European Air Transport). This dedicated signed several cooperation agreements missions. These include more than 2,300 tool is in-house developed multi-user soft- with relevant European stakeholders and AAR missions, the transport of 2.5 million ware that has about 2,800 users. It is pe- partners. This includes the A400 Interoper- passengers and 150,000 tonnes of cargo, riodically adjusted to better serve member ability Framework signed with the UK and the evacuation of 9,000 patients, and the states’ needs. the A400M Vision Paper jointly signed with airdrop of 800,000 paratroopers. In ac- The Command’s fleet operates from 12 OCCAR in 2016, which lists and analyses cordance with the objectives given to the bases in addition to the Eindhoven head- the crisis scenarios that could involve com- Command when it was founded, EATC’s quarters: Melsbroek (Belgium); Hohn, activities provided a great contribution to Wunstorf and Köln-Wahn (Germany); the efficiency and effectiveness of member Luxembourg; Pisa and Pratica di Mare (It- countries’ strategic transportation. During

aly); Zaragoza and Getafe (Spain); Orlèans, Photo: EATC the 2011 NATO-led operation Unified Pro- Evreux and Paris Charles de Gaulle (France). tector, the Command helped out in filling EATC’s missions are carried out thanks the capability gap that European countries to a 170-aircraft-strong fleet. The Com- had to face, as it allowed maximum use mand’s aerial assets include the following of EATC members' scarce reliable aerial models: assets. Despite the Command’s efforts, • Airbus C-295, CN-235, A310 MRTT, however, this operation demonstrated A310, A321, A340, A400M to what extent European countries were • Boeing KC-767A dependent on US AAR capabilities, which • Leonardo Velivoli C-27J SPARTAN remained an indispensable support for Eu- • Lockheed-Martin C-130H HERCULES ropean contributing countries during the and C-130J SUPER HERCULES whole mission. • Transall C-160 • Embraer 135/145 Future Perspectives • FALCON 900 • Gulfstream IV In 2012, lessons learned from that opera- • McDonald Douglas KDC-10 tion pushed European states to address their capabilities shortfalls in the AAR do- Airbus A400M: main thanks to pooling and sharing and EATC’s Key Enabler according to four pillars – short-term gap filling, optimisation of existing assets and Since the beginning of the first deliveries Major General Laurent Marboeuf, organisations, A400M tanker kits and in 2013, the Command has chosen the in- Commander EATC. strategic tanker capabilities. As lead of tegration of A400M aircraft belonging to the second pillar, the EATC is in charge for members as its lighthouse programme. In mon airlift capabilities. In 2018, EATC also seeking innovative procedures to further particular, the EATC is in charge of optimis- signed a Letter of Intent with EDA and OC- enhance its members’ AAR capabilities, ing the use and increasing the effectiveness CAR aimed at using synergies to avoid du- and more generally for the whole spec- of the Belgian, French, German, Luxem- plications and maximise the efficiency of trum of air mobility tasks. EATC’s expertise bourg and Spanish A400M fleets, which the A400M European fleet. and employment of best practice are used are the result of one of the most important In the future, the Command is expected to to make pooling and sharing increasingly and ambitious European cooperative aerial increase its role in the ramp-up of the fleet. effective, and to apply the Command’s programmes. To reach this objective, the Today, EATC has operational control of the know-how to the operational use of the Command has been working on defining current 38-aircraft-strong fleet, being re- newest assets joining the fleet. In the near concepts and manuals to maximise the im- sponsible for planning, tasking, controlling future, EATC will have a central role in pact that cooperation could have on the and reporting on missions on the behalf the establishment of binational and mul- use of these aircraft in operational theatres. of users. In the future, the Command will tinational fleets, namely the multinational The A400M Atlas Common Concept (2013) work on pushing forward the whole fleet’s A330 MRTT fleet based in Eindhoven and and Doctrine (2016) are intended to guide interoperability (138 aircraft) according to Köln-Wahn and involving the German, Bel- users in pursuing cost savings thanks to a its mandate. In the meantime, EATC will try gian, Dutch, Luxembourg and Norwegian dedicated framework that includes proce- maximise interoperability and effectiveness assets; the Belgian-Luxembourg A400M dures' standardisation and harmonisation. in an attempt to fill the capability gap in fleet based in Melsbroek and the Franco- In particular, the Doctrine sets interoper- the transportation sector and to reduce the German C130J fleet in Evreux. To remain at ability in the domains of command and negative impact that the delays in A400M the forefront of European AAR capabilities, control, communication and information deliveries had on users’ aerial capabilities. the Command’s fleet is expected to triple systems, operations, logistics and training. in the coming years thanks to the deliver- EATC has also set the basis for enhancing Results Achieved ies of A400Ms and KC-130Js. To beef this cooperation among the whole A400M up, EATC will become the major European Operational Users group, with a particu- Since its establishment, EATC’s daily activi- force provider, and its large operational op- lar focus on standardising relevant docu- ties have been fulfilled according to inte- tions will finally reinforce the operational ments, sharing databases and information, gration, innovation and effectiveness, the capabilities of member countries, allowing and harmonising mission preparation and three core values the Command is based them to increase their strategic independ- planning, as well as engineering practices. on. In the last ten years, EATC’s assets ence in this domain. 

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 55

 ARMED FORCES The Brussels Backdrop

President Trump and NATO:

a Mid-Term Review Part 2

Joris Verbeurgt

resident Trump has been in office for two and declared that other European coun- On 15 December, after Trump had signed Pyears now. In the previous Brussels Back- tries would follow the British example and the National Defense Authorization Act's drop, we covered President Trump as a per- leave the EU. 2018 budget, providing US$25M dollars for son and his statements on NATO before be- Ten days later, May visited Trump after his road-based cruise missile technology, in vio- coming president. In this Brussels Backdrop, inauguration. In their joint press confer- lation of the 1987 and 1988 Intermediate- we will assess US foreign policy under Trump ence, it was May who confirmed Trump’s Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia, and his course of action towards NATO and “100% commitment toward NATO”. The NATO released a statement in support of the European allies. president himself kept quiet which wor- Trump’s decision, stating that “full compli- ried the European Allies, especially Po- ance with the INF Treaty is essential”. Rus- land and the Baltic States. To reassure sia was blamed for breaking the Treaty first, them, Trump reiterated the US support and the Allies gave their full support to the for NATO in a phone call he made with American actions. NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg on 5 At a meeting of NATO Heads of State on Photo: White House February. A month later, Trump tweeted 11 July 2018 in Brussels, Trump turned up that “Germany owes vast sums of money late for the summit, with an agenda that to NATO” and that “the United States would stun the Allies. First, he accused Ger- must be paid more for the powerful, many of not spending enough money on and very expensive, defence it provides defence and of being a “captive” of Russia to Germany”. Germany’s Minister of De- by becoming dependent on Russian energy fence, Ursula von der Leyen, quickly re- supplies. Later on, he made a surprise de- buked Trump’s allegations and said that mand for members to raise their defence “there is no debt account at NATO” and spending to 4% of GDP, even though most that America's military commitment to members don’t even spend the agreed 2% NATO was not a “favour to Europe” but on their defence budget. Then he left May, a mutually beneficial arrangement, be- Merkel and Macron waiting at a meeting cause keeping Europe “whole and free” about Georgia and Afghanistan and when was key to US interests. he finally arrived, he went on a diplomatic rampage. Trump dispensed with the usual President Trump and NATO Secre- It’s all about Money diplomatic niceties and charged forward, tary Stoltenberg at NATO Head- saying his predecessors in the White House quarters in Brussels, 11 July 2018. On 25 and 26 May 2017, at the new NATO had pushed for an increase by Europeans Headquarters in Brussels, Trump criticised on defence spending and he was not going Is NATO Obsolete? member states for their levels of defence to put up with it. He said that the European spending, but at the same time he received Allies had to raise spending by January 2019, During his presidential campaign, Trump a commitment from NATO to formally join or the United States would leave NATO, thus promised to tackle the free-riding of some the international anti-ISIS coalition. How- abandoning the alliance that had been the European allies and to make fair burden ever, he broke with diplomatic rules when cornerstone of its military strategy for 69 sharing a cornerstone of his NATO policy. he publicly castigated 23 of 28 NATO mem- years. The ultimatum set by Trump that all He also complained that NATO was not bers for failing to spend enough on defence, European Allies had to reach NATO’s de- enough involved in counterterrorism and placing an unfair burden on US taxpayers. fence spending target that same year, urged in defending Ukraine. In an interview with Once more, Trump’s statements alarmed NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg to call The Times on 16 January 2016, Trump said European Allies, who openly questioned an emergency meeting. However, the meet- that the West should trust Putin and that America’s commitment to Article 5 of the ing broke up, without Stoltenberg or any ‘NATO was obsolete’. He invited British NATO charter regarding the mutual obliga- of the other European leaders offering a Prime Minister May to the White House tion for common defence. single concession. At the press conference

56 European Security & Defence · 4/2019

ARMED FORCES 

that was held later, Trump hailed the sum- bers; everyone believed that Trump would world of international politics and diploma- mit as a success and praised NATO. He fur- announce in his State of the Union on 5 cy. He was a New York businessman and a ther insisted that his relationship with other February that the US would withdraw from TV celebrity with a reputation of being un- NATO leaders was good and – though other NATO. Stoltenberg rushed to Washington couth and telling it as it is. This attitude won European leaders later disputed this – that in an attempt to smooth things over. He him great popularity with many Americans, they had agreed to significant increases in did not get to meet the president, but met and finally also the presidency. If Trump is spending. with Pompeo instead. In an interview with as narcissistic as many believe, then being popular with his voters is the most impor- Trump and Macron: tant thing on his mind. What else does he a Bromance Gone Wrong have to win or lose? He is in his seventies Photo: Time and he is a prominent billionaire and holds Under Trump, US relations with Germany the most important office in the world. The are at a low not seen since the Second ‘American dream’ really came true for him. World War. With the second biggest power As an outsider, with few ties to the politi- of the EU, France, relations are also trou- cal and media establishment, he ownes his bled. Although Trump and Macron at first position entirely to the American public. It found themselves in what was described as is for his voters that Trump wants to de- a “bromance”, tensions rose high at several liver. He shares their dislike for Europeans occasions. In November 2018, Trump made and for liberals like Merkel and Macron some remarkable tweets about Macron and and for diplomatic rules and established France. In a radio interview, Macron had ap- policies that are perceived as unfavourable peared to cast the United States as a threat. towards the US. With his re-election com- Trump rejected Macron’s warnings against ing up in less than two years, it is very the threat of nationalism, delivered during likely that this will influence his political an emotional ceremony in Paris attended by standpoints and actions in the near future scores of world leaders. When pointing to (for example, the wall on the border with Macron’s recent comments about Europe’s Mexico he insists on building). need to protect itself, he tweeted “it was A mid-July 2018 TIME magazine There is a pattern to his moves: Trump first Germany in World Wars One & Two - How cover illustrated the rift between threatens to drop the Article 5 obligation, did that work out for France? They were the US and its European NATO or else leave NATO, and then one of his starting to learn German in Paris before the allies. staff softens the consequences. The panic US came along. Pay for NATO or not!” But his statements cause, are used for political the final blow to Franco-American relations Fox News, Trump’s preferred TV channel, gain for the US on the international scene: was given when Trump unilaterally decided Stoltenberg stressed that the European Al- letting go of the INF Treaty, Europeans con- on 19 December, in total neglect of France’s lies had understood Trump’s message and tributing more to the fight against ISIS, the strategy and interests in the region, to with- that they would continue to act accordingly. retreat from Syria and above all, European draw American forces from Syria. Since 2016, the European member states Allies spending more money on defence. An article that was published in the New and Canada had already invested US$41Bn All these actions, including insulting Euro- York Times on 14 January 2019 again set on defence and by 2020, that figure would pean leaders, make him a great president off alarm bells in the NATO Headquarters rise to US$100Bn. Soon after, Trump tweet- in the eyes of his electorate. In other words: and in the capitals of Europe: apparently, ed: “Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary Gen- the president and his administration blow Trump keeps saying in meetings, that NATO eral, just stated that because of me NATO hot and cold at the same time. With regard is costing the US too much money and that has been able to raise far more money than to North Korea and to European defence it would be better for the US to leave the Al- ever before from its members after many spending, this strategy bore fruits. After all, liance. The official reaction from the White years of decline. It’s called burden sharing. Trump’s critique on Europe isn’t new: almost House, stating that the US valued NATO and Also, more united. Dems & Fake News like all presidents since Bush senior have asked was strongly committed to the Alliance, did to portray the opposite!” for larger European contributions, in vain. little to reassure NATO diplomats. Again, Trump, with his non-conformistic approach, fears were raised that the US would go its Conclusion succeeded where his predecessors failed. As own way if the Europeans did not comply. part of the deal, Trump accepts bad relations When Defence Secretary Pompeo refused Now, what to think of Trump’s parcours with European leaders like Merkel and Ma- to deny the statements made in the NYT with NATO and the European Allies after cron. There is no mutual sympathy anyway, article and refused to guarantee that the two years of presidency? and Trump is more focusing on the Pacific US would comply with the Article 5 obliga- The first thing that catches the eye is that and China, believing that Europe is a power tions, panic took hold among NATO mem- Trump is a complete political outsider to the of the past.

4/20194/2019 · ·European European Security Security & & Defence Defence 57  ARMED FORCES The NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence

Linda Curika

Since its establishment in 2014, the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (NATO StratCom COE) in Riga has developed into a knowledge hub in the ever-changing world of strategic communications. The Centre is a multinational organisation recognised by NATO.

he NATO Strategic Communica- StratCom COE has been developing sig- StratCom COE is a diverse group of in- Ttions Centre of Excellence (NATO nificant expertise in countering hostile ternational experts. StratCom COE) is a multinational and information activities by state and non- Since its establishment in 2014, NATO NATO-accredited organisation. Its mis- state actors. StratCom COE in Riga has become a hub of knowledge in the ever-chang- ing world of strategic communications. Strategic communication plays an im- portant role for NATO countries, and the Centre’s mission is to support coun- tries in their Strategic Communications efforts by bringing together military, academic, business and government knowledge. Photos/Graphic: NATO StratCom COE Arctic Narratives and Political Values Recently, NATO StratCom COE published a report "Arctic Narratives and Political Values: Canada, Russia and China in the High North" that provides an analysis of the Arctic-related press statements, official policy doctrine and speeches that have been made publicly available in English since 2012. Researchers have analysed how countries build their arctic identities, promoting a shared national identity in the Arctic, connecting domes- tic audiences to the region and forging an Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, US Senator John McCain emotional and often romanticised con- and Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis giving a joint press conference nection towards it. after the inauguration of the NATO Stratcom CoE in Riga, Latvia, on 20 August 2015. “Virtual Russian World in the Baltics” sion is to contribute to the Alliance’s The NATO StratCom COE was initially communication processes by providing founded by Latvia, Estonia, Germany, The report “The Virtual Russian World comprehensive analysis, timely advice, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, and the United in the Baltics”, published in early 2018, and practical support. Besides research Kingdom. The Netherlands, Finland, concludes that Russia views the Baltic studies and training for governments Sweden and Canada joined at a later States – and their Russian-speaking on strategic communication, the NATO stage. Additionally, France and Slovakia populations – as key target groups that are finalising their joining procedures. can be used as focal points to spread dis- Author Participants from the civilian and mili- ruptive influence, reshape political and tary, private and academic sector – aid- popular opinion, and reinforce mislead- Linda Curika is Public Realtion ed by modern technologies and virtual ing or false images and narratives. The Officer at the NATO Strategic Com- tools for analysis, research, and deci- main objective of this research report munications Centre of Excellence. sion-making – constitute our advanced was to study the demographics, public capabilities. At the heart of the NATO posts, and behaviour patterns of Rus-

58 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMED FORCES  sian-speaking users of social networks like VK, OK, and Facebook in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. STEERING Analysis revealed the presence of a rela- COMMITTEE tively small but significant proportion of DIRECTORATE active ideological users in every network GROUP in each of the Baltic States. The study showed that 10% of Russian-speaking DIRECTOR social network users (identified as real people rather than bots) generate 70% DIGITAL FORENSICS of the ideological information found on those networks. Many events taking place offline are used as pretexts to push certain CHIEF OF STAFF DEPUTY DIRECTOR topics into public discussion, making use of dramatic language. Particular atten- tion is paid to topics related to the Second World War, the USSR, present-day Rus- TECHNICAL DOCTRINE, CONCEPT EDUCATION & OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK NATION sia, and anti-Western sentiment. Russian- & SCIENTIFIC & EXPERIMENTATION TRAINING SUPPORT SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT speaking sectors of social networks in the BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH Baltic States are thus widely used both to BRANCH continue Russia’s information activities against EU and NATO member countries The structure of NATO’s StratCom COE while cementing its own positive image among the Russian-speaking population tion on social networks. The Centre thus game designed to help readers develop of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. calls on social media companies to keep ‘fake news’ spotting abilities. The game Researchers identified clusters of clearly investing in countering platform misuse. is hosted on Facebook and is open for all active and interconnected ideological us- Additionally, the Robotrolling report pre- Facebook users. Players are put in charge ers, each of which specialises in the crea- sents the first quantitative analysis com- of their own publishing company; they tion (Writers), distribution (Distributors), paring English- and Russian-language earn virtual currency and gain an audi- or consumption (Readers) of ideological posts from accounts attributed to the St ence for publishing accurate news. The information. There is a significant – and Petersburg ‘troll factory’. Amongst the game is divided into three levels, each en- growing – number of Russian-speaking accounts identified by Twitter as originat- couraging the players to think about the social media communities based in the ing from the notorious St Petersburg ‘troll possible ways they could be fooled. The Baltic States which exhibit pro-Kremlin, factory’ – the Internet Research Agency Fact Checker screen prompts the players pro-Russian and anti-Western orienta- (IRA) – 26 also posted about NATO in to question the sources and provides tips tions. They serve as sources of ideologi- the Baltics and Poland. Our algorithm on how to distinguish between an ac- cal posts that are widely disseminated correctly identified 24 of these as bot curate and a misleading story. With this by active users who capitalise on their accounts. The other two accounts were game, the NATO StratCom COE hopes to connectivity and visibility among the anonymous human-controlled (troll) ac- burst the bubble of an elite-dominated Russian-speaking users of VK, OK and FB counts. discussion about critical thinking and in the Baltics. The IRA bombarded citizens in Russia and empower the society to become more neighbouring states with pro-Kremlin conscious users of media through a The “Robotrolling” propaganda. English-language content gamified approach. The game intends Quarterly Report created by the IRA sought to exacerbate to enhance readers’ resilience against societal divisions by posting to fake ac- the disinformation. The latest quarterly of the Robotrolling counts supposedly operated by Trump report has concluded that anonymous supporters, and by arguing both sides The Riga StratCom Dialogue human-controlled English-language ac- of the Black Lives Matter controversy. counts, expressing positions in support Russian-language material closely ech- Each year, NATO StratCom COE organis- of or in opposition to the US President, oed and amplified the narratives popu- es the the two-day conference ‘The Riga have dominated online conversations on larised by Russian state media. The fake StratCom Dialogue’. In 2018, the confer- Twitter. Robotrolling considers mentions accounts posted messages in support of ence looked at what makes an impact on on Twitter of NATO together with one or Putin, his government, and its positions people, how we process information, how more of the host countries Estonia, Latvia, on Syria and Ukraine, and also published technology affects us, and how it affects Lithuania, and Poland. In the period from material exaggerating threats to Western social processes, and in particular, elections. 1 May to 31 July 2018, Russian-language democracies. The Riga StratCom Dialogue gathered 700 bots created 49% of all Russian-language people from 42 countries which provides messages about NATO in the Baltic States “The News Hero” Game for a multitude of very different perspec- and Poland. In comparison, bots created tives, a rich background for the debate, and 19% of all English-language messages Use of technology and social media is a an even richer background for the potential for the quarter. The increasing proportion focus point of the NATO StratCom COE. solutions. All conference sessions are pub- of anonymous accounts active during key After a hackathon that took place in lished on the Centre’s YouTube channel. political moments indicates that anonym- 2017, the Centre gave an opportunity to The next Riga StratCom Dialogue will take ity is being abused to cloak manipula- execute one of the ideas – a Facebook place on 11-12 June 2019. 

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 59  ARMED FORCES Što Sada, Croatian Air Force?

Georg Mader

It's just embarrassing in many ways – for the Croatian political elite, for the Israeli programme officials involved and for the Croatian pilots who now have to risk their lives again in the worn-out MiG-21. The question in the title – "What now? – is followed by the sobering answer "Back to the beginning".

n February, the Croatian Prime Minister for a debate on the failed jet purchase as while it was the prime minister and the IAndrej Plenković had to justify himself unfounded and false and proposes that president who failed: "You didn’t lobby before the Zagreb Parliament because of Parliament reject the conclusions of the President Trump!" Citing military analysts, the failed purchase of the Israeli fighter air- motion. Such a motion for the unsuccess- he further claimed that "NATO's strategy did not foresee Croatia having its own combat aircraft." Prime Minister Plenković rejected opposi- tion allegations that the failed jet purchase jeopardised Croatia's security and position Photo: MoD Croatia in the international community, adding that the allegations were based on superfi- cial assessments, a lack of understanding of the issue, and political opportunism.

No Aircraft for Croatia

Defence Minister Damir Krstičević recalled that "in connection with the US approval for transfer by third parties (TPT) I would like to stress that the country that sells the military equipment, in this case Israel, is re- sponsible for obtaining approval for TPT. Croatia was aware from the outset of the need to obtain approval for TPT, but it is im- Croatian Air Force MiG-21bis jets possible to completely eliminate all risks in the process. The public has been informed craft F-16 BARAK. He stressed that he fully ful overhaul of MiG jets had not been filed, about every step of the procurement pro- supported the strongly criticised Defence although the case was then the subject cess, including the difficulties in obtaining Minister Damir Krstičević as all activities of legal proceedings in both Croatia and approval for TPT". related to the purchase had been carried Ukraine." Diplomats and military personnel from all out transparently and lawfully, and he re- Although the opposition tried to make sides involved, including the US ambassa- minded Parliament that one of the reasons political gains, it had to make some con- dor to Croatia, Robert Kohorst, repeatedly why the purchase of the fighter aircraft cessions when it came to the fluctuating stressed that Croatia's international reputa- had been started in the first place was a number of jets: "Your government has re- tion had not suffered. Kohorst contradicted botched Ukrainian overhaul of the outdat- duced one of the most important strategic media claims that the US never advised ed MiG-21 in 2013, when the government decisions to a cheap PR exercise and crisis Croatia not to buy the Israeli F-16s, and was led by the Social Democrats. communication. With your lack of trans- both the US and Israel stressed that they parency, you have given new arguments wanted to further expand NATO and part- Wild Allegations to the numerous opponents of the plan to ner relations with Croatia and deepen their buy fighter planes, thus endangering the defence cooperation with the Western Bal- Plenković said during a debate on the mo- future of the Croatian Air Force (HRZ) and kans nation. The Israeli Ministry of Defence tion supported by the SDP: "The govern- national security. How can you trust your publicly stated that Croatia demonstrated ment rejects all allegations in the motion plans if you want more used aircraft one professionalism and sound judgment at day and fewer new jets the next? You are every stage of the process, but was not Author no better than those who think that the responsible for the outcome of the process, skies over Croatia should be handed over as confirmed by the US. Georg Mader is a defence corre- to Italians and Hungarians," said Nikola Gr- However, Croatian officials have informed spondent and freelance aerospace moja of the opposition MOST party. the local media that the US Government journalist based in Vienna, Austria, Another opposition member, HRAST MP accused Israel of unfair competition; the and a regular contributor to ESD. Hrvoje Zekanović, added that Defence Americans had also offered their own used Minister Krstičević had done a good job, F-16s to Croatia in the tender. Other bid-

60 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMED FORCES 

Javier Bolsonaro, he noted that Israel was "not ready to remove all Israeli equipment from the F-16s" and de facto confirmed that it could not supply Croatia with the Photo: MoD Croatia F-16 in the desired configuration. The Israeli Air Force had about 125 BARAKs in service; at the time these were the back- bone of the combat strength of the service. About 48 of these aircraft are two-seater D-models. These are fully missionised and have the same combat capabilities as the single-seaters, although the D-models car- ry a little less fuel internally and have slightly different handling characteristics at the outer edges of its flight envelope. Israel has upgraded this fleet several times, including improvements to its mission systems, cock- pit displays, HUD and structures. Further EW upgrades were probably also part of In August 2018, Israeli F-16s flew to Croatia to promote their sale. this series of modifications and other up- grades, including those required to make ders were Greece, which also offered used important thing is that the US has not pro- the aircraft fully NATO/Europe compatible F-16s, and Sweden's FMV, which offered hibited the sale of Israeli aircraft to Croatia for Croatia. JAS 39 GRIPEN fighters. After the failure of in any official document, but has issued the Israel's offer to Croatia has changed sig- the Israeli BARAKs, it is likely that the equal- official provisional licence required for the nificantly over the course of 36 months. ly unfortunate US Government could offer initial validity of the Israeli offer". Originally, F-16A/B models were to be improved F-16Vs or even newly built F-16 offered, and then a so-called mixed fleet Block-70s at a good price, ruining Saab's last TPT as the Breaking Point with F-16C/D models was also considered. hope of selling GRIPEN in Eastern Europe or In the end, it seemed that Croatia chose the Balkans. It is noteworthy that a decade At midnight on 5 January, the deadline set only two-seater D-models with their char- ago the GRIPEN lost – quite unexpectedly by the US State Department for Israel to acteristic equipment tunnel between cock- – to various F-16s in Romania and Slovakia, officially respond to the US demand for the pit and stern. These two-seater aircraft are and it is likely to do so again in Bulgaria. Al- removal of all non-American technologies particularly appreciated by the Israeli Air though the GRIPEN might even have been from aircraft sold to the HRZ expired. Ac- Force and have proven their worth several the better solution for these nations, the po- cording to Israeli sources, Israel did not send times in operation. litical importance of their country of origin, an answer to the Americans. When Zagreb It was therefore not an option for anyone Sweden, proved once again to be too small found that the obstacles were mounting, to remove the considerable amount of when compared to the "security orienta- Croatia established its own deadline for deeply embedded EW and target systems tion" towards the USA. Israel to deliver the aircraft; Croatia clearly that Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and ELBIT noted that it was up to Israel to obtain US had installed since the end of the 1908s in Over 1,000 E-mails approval to deliver the aircraft. When Israeli the F-16s and return the jets to their original Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met condition before selling them to Croatia. The Croatian news agency HINA reported US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Bra- The Croatian MoD had even stressed sev- on a "non-paper" of the American embas- zil at the inauguration of the new President eral times that these changes were deci- sy in correspondence with Deputy Defence Minister Petar Mihatov, with which the embassy allegedly "warned" against pro- curing the used F-16s from Israel. Mihatov replied: "During the award procedure there were many official and unofficial commu- Photo: Georg Mader nications, as well as many questions which we solved in consultation with our part- ners, because it was a very complex project. In such a complex process, in which over a thousand e-mails were exchanged, there was demanding correspondence at several levels. We had a number of additional con- sultations with both the American and Is- raeli sides. What is crucial, however, is what is stated in all official documents that Israel, as the selected bidder, had an obligation to obtain the US licence to which it officially committed itself when accepting the bid by attaching a provisional licence. The only Croatian AF MiG-21s at Pula Air Base

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 61  ARMED FORCES sive for its choice. "This aircraft meets our found their dark way into embargo coun- oped UMD model two-seaters. This was needs," confirmed Davor Tretinjak, official try, although it was later found out that back in in 2003, with a prolonged service of the MoD, in 2018. they had been acquired in Ukraine. life of 10 years or a warranty as to the In the end, everything collapsed when the Like many other FISHBED users, the Croa- "expiration date". outgoing US Secretary of Defense James tian AF suffered losses – not at the terrible Ten years later and still without any tan- Mattis refused in one of his last official acts speed of the Indian AF, but nonetheless gible political commitment on the radar, to soften the US conditions for the trans- painful given Croatia's small fleet. In Sep- Croatia approached Ukraine, and in April 2014 the HRZ from Odessa received the first MiG-21bis fighter aircraft to be up- graded from Pleso Air Base near Zagreb. Seven Croatian jets – now MiG-21bis-D (in Croatian "D" stands for "Doraden" or

Photo: Georg Mader "Modified") – were initially overhauled by the Ukrainian state company Ukrspec- export under a contract worth €13.9M signed in June 2013. In addition to the NA- TO and ICAO standards, the agreement also included the supply of five additional single-seaters, which were converted and equipped according to the specifications of the Croatian Air Force. A Ukrainian team of experts supported the Croatian engineers and technicians in reassembling the aircraft in Croatia and prepared the aircraft for final testing and acceptance by HRZ. The last aircraft was delivered in July 2015, after the Air Force had conducted flight tests. However, the delivery of the entire fleet was delayed due to problems with the integration of new navigation and communication devices and chal- One of 16 OH-58D KIOWA WARRIORs donated to Croatia by the US lenges posed by analogue-to-digital sig- under the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) partner programme nal conversion. In fact, according to the author's sources fer of the aircraft. Israel then announced tember 2010, two MiG-21s collided and in Croatia, problems began to crop up that it had not received US approval for the crashed, with the two pilots successfully since the arrival of the planes. In early TPT. This was the moment when Croatia ejecting. In 2013, the unique and striking 2016, only three aircraft were available decided to cancel the acquisition of the 12 red and white checkerboarded MiG-21UM for operation, while five were not opera- former Israeli AF jets for about US$500M '165' lost its rear canopy in flight. tional. Investigators found that some se- (HRK2.9Bn) to be repaid over a 10-year pe- And when pilot Stanko Hrženjak took a rial numbers on the airframes had been riod. Nevertheless, the government had to burning MiG-21 – not one of the 12 soon changed to Algerian and that the changed admit that no guarantees were obtained to be overhauled in Ukraine - to a con- parts did not correspond to those listed during the planned purchase, as this type of trolled crash in an unpopulated area hav- in the documents, giving rise to the sus- procurement does not require guarantees. ing successfully ejected, now retired gen- picion that the additional aircraft and/or At the same time, the MoD announced eral and former Croatian "air chief" Josip parts could be much older than indicated that the next attempt to buy fighter air- Štimac stressed that the MoD and the HRZ by the accompanying documents sup- craft would place more emphasis on the should create conditions for military pilots plied by the Ukrainian company. It was interdepartmental nature of the process. so that Croatia would not lose its air de- then examined and confirmed that the fence capability. Referring to Slovenia and modernised FISHBEDs did indeed contain The Croatian MiG-21 Saga the Baltic States, he recalled that "Croatia old parts from Bulgaria, Algeria and the must not lose this capability under any cir- former USSR. To make matters worse, The author, who lives in Vienna, has been cumstances, and I hope that the relevant the Yemeni Air Force (now wiped out by acquainted with the Croatian MiGs since people in our government and armed Saudi and UAE attacks) complained that Rudi Peresin flew a JRV MiG-21 to Klagen- forces understand this problem and will five of the jets procured by Croatia were furt in 1991 (to return to Croatia one week address it seriously." actually still in Yemen's possession, even later, only to die three years later when For many years, there was no funding and though Yemen had left these aircraft sit- shooting over the Save border). While his no political will for a replacement, and two ting unpaid for in the Odessa repair plant MiG-21R is still in the Air Force Museum on attempts were made to modernise the for years. the Zeltweg, the author briefly did some dwindling fleet. Croatia initially placed an Therefore, Croatia then returned four of research in Zagreb-Pleso in in the 1990s, order for the overhaul of the Romanian the repaired MiG-21s due to malfunctions because rumours were circulating that the Aerostar, which included the modernisa- caused by sloppy work, such as fuel leaks up to 40 MiG jets used in 1995 from the tion of eight MiG-21bis fighter jets. The and defective navigation equipment. To former East German NVA inventory had company also supplied four further devel- make matters worse, in February 2018

62 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMED FORCES 

Croatian media reported that the District Court of Zagreb was considering a case of corruption in the repair of the aircraft in Ukraine. The Bureau for Combating

Organised Crime of the Croatian Minis- Photo: Georg Mader try of Justice had accused two people of receiving bribes in the purchase and repair of the 12 MiGs purchased at the Odessa Aircraft Repair Plant. Croatian sources later reported to the au- thor that Zagreb had claimed contractual penalties as a result of late delivery and that the daily availability of aircraft had again fallen to less than the fingers on one hand. Regarding the upgrades in Romania and Ukraine, however, Gen. (ret.) Štimac said these were desperate short-term solu- tions and the HRZ would need a long- term solution for the Croatian Air Force for the next 30, 40 or 50 years. "We need a professional debate, and this recent crash should awaken Croatia – not only A Croatian Mi-171 helicopter during the KFOR mission the public, but above all the people who care about Croatia's future – to see what Rotory Modernisation manufacturers have presented their prod- we should do above our heads in the next ucts in recent years. However, in 2016 it was 30, 40 years." In developments parallel to the messed up determined that Bell helicopters were too Due to 15 years of delays in the acquisi- fighter acquisition, the Croatian MoD is expensive for Croatia. tion of a new jet squadron and the unsuc- adding to the HRZ equipment with second- The Croatian MoD was subsequently invited cessful overhaul of the current MiG-21s hand BLACK HAWK UH-60 helicopters. to send a request to the US for a donation in Ukraine, the HRZ now has on aver- Defence Minister Krstičević met HRZ pilots of 12 UH-60 model-A helicopters, as part age only three to four fully operational at the Pleso Air Base last year and informed of the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) part- aircraft, which is the very minimum. If them that the Ministry was working on a ner programme. Through this programme, the capability of the HRZ continues to be tactical-technical study on the acquisition of the US military donates or sells its defence compromised or unsafe, Croatia has no multipurpose helicopters. The study, which surplus to partner countries. This way, the choice but to inform NATO's command has not yet been published, will show which Croatian Army has already received MRAP of its inability to control its skies and de- helicopters are best suited to the needs of and M-ATV vehicles and 16 surplus OH- mand that responsibility be assumed by the armed forces. It is planned to receive 58D KIOWA WARRIOR light helicopters. the air arm of one of the neighbouring a squadron of new transport helicopters Delivered by ship to Zadar-Zemunik from Member States. by 2025, when the current Mi-8 helicop- August 2016 on, in September 2017 the ters will be phased out. The aim is to switch latter successfully conducted the first tacti- Showing Determination to Western aviation technology in the next cal live firing and rocket launching within few years, with the exception of the 10 the 93 Squadron which involved 12.7mm The Croatian president is determined that newly built Mi-171Sh transport helicopters, MGs, 70mm HYDRA unguided rockets, this will not happen: "We will learn les- purchased as a partial payment for Soviet HELLFIRE training rounds and Heckler & sons from this, but we are determined debt; they are currently undergoing a gen- Koch G36CV guns. to modernise the Air Force and we will eral overhaul and will remain in service for The A-model of the BLACK HAWK is the launch new activities to that end. We will another 10 years. original version of the helicopter; it has a launch a new call for tenders for fighter The purchase of BLACK HAWK helicopters crew of four and a transport capacity for aircraft to provide Croatia with the high- has been debated since 2014, when former 11 passengers. It was produced from 1977 quality multipurpose aircraft it needs to Minister of Defence Ante Kotromanović dis- to 1989, while the upgraded model flew monitor its airspace and contribute to cussed the idea with former US Vice Presi- until 2002 and is equipped with larger ro- the Alliance. Our government will do dent Joe Biden. The aim was to make Croa- tor blades ensuring higher lift and carrying everything in its power to make this hap- tia more independent from Russian technol- capacity, digital avionics, including an early pen." And President Plenković addressed ogy. According to unofficial sources, in 2015 glass cockpit (the obsolete and unsupported the opposition in Parliament: "Thanks the US Government submitted its offer for Rockwell-Collins displays of which are forc- to the Lord neither you nor these peo- the new BLACK HAWK UH-60 model-M ing Austria to renew the cockpits with US ple of MOST will ever be able to decide and for the used and overhauled UH-60 supplier ACE Aeronautics' ACEHAWK con- anything that concerns the government, model-A, which – similar to Austria – will cept), and a more advanced computer flying neither the Air Force nor foreign policy. be upgraded to model-L. The new UH-60 system. If these plans are put into practice, These are nothing but the dreams of you model-M will be available in the near future. it would mean that the process of replacing people who use these issues to attract The US Government also submitted an offer Russian technology with Western equip- public attention without providing argu- for 16 new Bell UH-1Y VENOM helicopters ment in another "new" NATO member is ments or having technical knowledge." worth HKR760M. In addition, several other almost complete. 

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 63  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY Arming the Attack Helicopter

Doug Richardson

Developed and fielded as a result of early US combat experience in Vietnam, the attack helicopter has become a vital tool on the modern battlefield, hunting down and engaging enemy vehicles or even personnel.

ts armament can be a mixture of custom- case, load a fresh round, close and lock attacking ground targets, or proximity- Idesigned weapons, or existing weapons the breech, then release the firing pin in fused rounds when attacking enemy heli- that have been adapted for the airborne order to explode the cartridge and repeat copters. role. These fall into three broad catego- the entire cycle. On the Mi-28 series, 2A42 is installed in the ries – guns, unguided rockets, and guided The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) chin-mounted NPPU-280 turret, but since missiles. TIGER HAP (Hélicoptère d'Appui Protec- the Kamov types use a dual-rotor configu- tion) and HCP (Hélicoptère de Combat ration that allows the nose to be positioned Single-Barrel Weapons Polyvalent) were an early application for independently of the flight vector, the can- the GIAT (now Nexter) THL30 turret sys- non is installed in a semi-rigid mount on Single-barrel machine guns and cannons tem and 30 M781 cannon. The gun is the helicopter's side which allows only a use part of the energy released by the a single-barrelled weapon with a single small degree of movement in elevation and exploding cartridge – obtained either by ammunition feed. On the TIGER instal- azimuth. making use of the otherwise-wasted recoil lation, the turret contains 450 rounds of While early examples of the Mi-24 HIND-E helicopter had a nose-mounted 12.7mm Yakushev-Borzov YAK-B rotary machine gun, the later Mi-24VP and Mi-35 versions use the GSh-23L cannon. Best known as Photo: UK MoD the weapon installed on many Soviet-era jet fighters such as the MiG-23 FLOGGER and late-model versions of MiG-21 FISH- BED, this has two barrels that share a sin- gle mechanism which uses the recoil from firing one barrel to load the other. IST Dynamics' F-2 cannon turret used to arm the Denel ROOIVALK attack helicop- ter uses an unusual configuration in that the ammunition bins are mounted on the outside of the aircraft rather than inter- nally – a feature intended to make is easy to integrate the turret onto new types of helicopter such as the Algerian Air Force's upgraded Mi-24s. It uses a 20mm GI 2 single-barrelled cannon firing at up to 750 rounds per minute.

Rotating Series of Barrels A British Army technician adjusts the 30mm Chain Gun of an AgustaWestland APACHE AH Mk 1 helicopter. One weakness of a single-barrel weapon is that if a round of ammunition does not energy or by extracting a small amount of 30 x 113B ammunition, and the cannon detonate when its primer is initiated, the the hot gases from the barrel – to unlock can be set to fire single shots, bursts of gun stops firing. This potential unreliability and open the breech, extract the spent preset length, or continuous fire. can be avoided by using some form of Originally developed to arm the BMP- power-driven breech, and relying on an Author 1 tracked infantry fighting vehicle, the external source of power for loading and 30mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon was unloading. Following an earlier career in adopted for the Mil Mi-28 and -28N HAV- The best-known modern example of this engineering, Doug Richardson is a OC, Kamov Ka-50 HOKUM-A and Ka-52 approach is the General Electric M61A1 defence journalist specialising in HOKUM-B attack helicopters. Designed VULCAN cannon carried by many US topics such as aircraft, missiles, and by the KBP Instrument Bureau, the 2A42 fighters, each of whose rotating series of military electronics. is a single-barrelled gas-operated weapon barrels is at a different part of the loading/ that can fire armour-piercing rounds when unloading cycle, with the energy needed

64 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

to turn the barrels and operate the indi- but the round was fired only as it became As the chain rotates, a bolt carrier lo- vidual breech mechanisms being provided aligned to the weapon's single barrel. cated at one point along its length drags by an electric or hydraulic motor. While For its Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), the weapon's bolt forward toward the one barrel is firing, the others are being HAL selected the Nexter THL20 turret breech, pushing a round into the cham- progressively loaded and unloaded during armed with a 20mm M621 externally- ber, forcing the bolt face into the breech, the time taken for the entire barrel assem- powered revolver cannon. As its desig- and providing the power needed to turn bly to make one revolution around its axis. nation Tourelle Hélicoptère Leger (THL) and lock it. As the bolt carrier begins its The most commonly used helicopter arma- indicates, the THL20 was designed to be journey towards the rear of the weapon, ment of this type is the General Dynamics a lightweight system suitable for use on it unlocks the breech and extracts the Armament and Technical products M197, helicopters destined for the close-support spent case. Once fully rearward, it re- a three-barrelled derivative of the VUL- role. The cannon fires 20mm M50 am- peats the cycle for as long as the chain is CAN cannon. Committed to production in munition, which is interchangeable with being power driven. Since this operation 1969, it is used by types that include the US M56 rounds. cycle is not dependent on variables such modernised AH-1F, the AH-1J SEACOBRA, When engineers from what was then as weapon cleanliness, spring tension or the AH-1W SUPERCOBRA, and the Agusta Hughes Helicopters began an inde- gas pressure, the weapon is resistant to A129 MANGUSTA. It has a rate of fire that pendent research and development the effects of dirt and wear, and is very is selectable, with a maximum of 1,500 programme in 1972 with the aim of de- reliable. rounds per minute. veloping an externally powered single- barrel weapon able to fire the US Army's Unguided Rockets The Revolver Cannon existing M50 20mm round, they opted to base their design on a continuous belt Like guns, unguided rockets can be used In the early 1940s, the Mauser company of industrial chain of the type commonly when a helicopter is hovering, in forward developed a scheme in which the rotating used to create drive belts for machinery. flight, or in a dive. In the latter two cases, assembly did not include barrels. A revolv- This is positioned in a horizontal rec- the helicopter's forward airspeed increas- ing drum allowed a process of loading and tangular track by four sprockets, one of es the delivery accuracy. Being relatively unloading similar to that of the VULCAN, which is powered. simple, rockets are easy to store and han-

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SEACOBRA, AH-1W SUPERCOBRA, and Bell AH-1Z VIPER. For many users, a calibre of around 70mm seems to meet most requirements, so Photo: US Air Force rockets of this type are widely available. Typical examples used on helicopters are the TDA Armament SNEB 68mm rocket and the FZ 70mm rocket. When more ex- plosive is needed on target, one solution was the 5 inch (130 mm) ZUNI rocket. Able to carry a warhead in the 50-60kg class, this can be fired from four-round LAU- 10D/A launchers carried by helicopters such as the AH-1J SEACOBRA and AH-1W SUPERCOBRA. However, most users have now phased this weapon out. Russia has its own patterns of unguided The Target Acquisition Designation Sight (TADS) of a US AH-64 APACHE rocket, including the 57mm S-5, 80mm captured this image of a Taliban infantry unit. An exploding missile S-8 and 122mm S-13. The heaviest Rus- warhead (presumably a HELLFIRE) and the smaller explosions caused by sian unguided rocket currently in service 30mm cannon rounds demonstrated that these weapons were as lethal on attack helicopters is the 240mm S-24. to exposed infantry as ground-based machine guns had been in the 1914-18 conflict. None of the targeted Taliban combatants survived this Reach Out and Touch engagement. Someone dle; and being relatively cheap, can be round. While fixed-wing aircraft continued A famous late 1970s advertising slogan by fired in large numbers. to use the Mk4 rocket, the M40 was used a US phone company urged us to 'reach The standard US Mk 4 2.75 inch (70mm) by US Army helicopters. out and touch someone'. In the world of rocket was not the ideal helicopter weap- The US Navy developed a higher-thrust the attack helicopter, this can best be done on. When fired from a high-speed aircraft, Mk 66 motor which was adopted for tri- at long range by using a guided missile. the rocket finds itself in a high-speed slip- service use. It was combined with new The simplest form of guidance that can stream when it leaves the launcher, but launchers and warheads and fielded be used involves transmitting from the when fired from a helicopter, it is in a low- as the HYDRA 70 weapon system. The launcher to the weapon of steering com- speed slipstream and exposed to down- HYDRA series is widely-used on Western mands generated by an operator. At first wash from the rotor. To get around this attack helicopters such as the Boeing AH- this was done via a trailing wire, but some problem, the motor nozzle was redesigned 64 APACHE, TAI/AgustaWestland T129 systems such as the 9M17 PHALANGA into a scarfed form, and the resulting Mk40 ATAK, and various versions of the Bell AH- (AT-2 SWATTER) carried by early exam- motor imparted a degree of spin to the 1 such as the AH-1 SUPERCOBRA, AH-1J ples of the Mi-24 used a radio command link. Steering a manually-guided missile was not an easy task, but semi-automatic command to line-of-sight (SACLOS) guid- ance reduced the operator's task to that of keeping his sight aligned with the tar- Photo: Doug Richardson get, while an automatic system tracked the missile and generated the commands needed to keep it on the line-of-sight. Still used to arm helicopters such as the AH-1W SUPERCOBRA, and the Agusta A129 MANGUSTA, the Raytheon (former- ly Hughes) BGM-71 TOW is a classic missile of this type. Although gradually improved over the decades since it was first fielded, receiving the improved warheads and fus- ing needed to deal with advances in tank armour, it retained wire guidance until wireless versions were introduced in 2012. Fielded in 1976, the 9K113 SHTURM (AT- 6 SPIRAL) became the primary antitank weapon of the Mi-24V and -24P versions of Mil's well-known attack helicopter. It This view of the nose section of a TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK heli- flies a lofted trajectory so as not to in- copter shows the aircraft's electro-optical turret and M197 three-barrel terfere with the tracking sensor of the rotary cannon. helicopter's SACLOS guidance system,

66 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 but descends onto the sightline during Photo: UK MoD the final approach to the target. Further development of the 9K113 SHTURM led to the 9M120 ATAKA-V (AT-9 SPIRAL-2), which arms the Mi-28 HAVOC and the upgraded Mi-24V and -24P. It also serves on late-model HIND variants including the Mi-24PN, -24PK-2, -24VK-2, as well as the Mi-35M and -35P. Norinco's HJ-8 (more recently redesignat- ed as the KD-8) uses wire-based SACLOS guidance. It was originally fielded as a man- portable system, but has been offered for use on CAIC's Z-10 attack helicopter. A British AH-64 fires a salvo of unguided rockets.

SAL Missiles Tactical Rocket - Laser (GATR-L). Harbin rocket relies on sideways-firing mini- Jiancheng's SKY ARROW 90 is a SAL- thrusters rather than aerodynamic con- Missiles that use semi-active laser guid- guided version of the Type 90-1 90mm trol surfaces. ance are gradually supplanting SACLOS unguided rocket, but Roketsan's CIRIT is Some missiles use laser beam-riding guid- designs. The best-known SAL missile on a custom-designed weapon. MBDA has ance. The 9K121 VIKHR (AT-16 SCALLION) service aboard attack helicopters is prob- developed a SAL-guided version of the 5 has four rearward facing detectors that ably the Lockheed Martin/Boeing AGM- inch ZUNI rocket. respond to the laser beam transmitted by 114 HELLFIRE. This first entered service In 2015 TDA Armaments was awarded a the launch aircraft, and are likely to prove in its AGM-114A form for use on the contract to provide its 70mm ACULEUS- invulnerable to any tank-mounted EO jam- AH-64, but was soon followed by the LG SAL-guided rocket to France's Light Ar- ming system. VIKHR has a 10 km range -114B and -114C variants developed for my Aviation. After launch, the rocket flies and is armed with a tandem HEAT war- shipboard use. for a few seconds while its nose-mounted head. Similar in appearance to the laser A tandem warhead intended to defeat re- seeker searches for a laser-designated tar- beam-riding Israeli MAPATS and South active tank armour was introduced by the get. If laser energy with the correct code African ZT3 INGWE anti-tank missiles, the -114F, while the -114K and -114K2 HELL- is detected, the rocket deploys its canard Norinco HJ-9 (RED ARROW-9) has a maxi- FIRE II versions introduced an improved control surfaces, then begins to correct mum range of 5.5 km. The basic version seeker and a digital autopilot. Combat its course. uses laser beam-riding guidance. experience with HELLFIRE spurred devel- Addition of the UGROZA guidance sys- KBM's 9M123 KHRIZANTEMA (AT-15 opment of the -114M and -114N with blast tem to Russian S-5, S-8, and S-13 rockets SPRINGER) was developed for use from fragmentation and thermobaric warheads converts these proven Russian weapons helicopters or from ground vehicles. It is respectively. The -114R added an IMU to to the S-5KOR, S-8KOR, and S-13KOR known to exist in four variants that use the guidance system and introduced a 'tu- respectively. The UGROZA upgrade fits different permutations of guidance (radar neable' multipurpose warhead. the rocket with a SAL-based guidance or laser-based beam riding) and tandem SAL guidance is also used in weapons system, but the method of steering the HEAT or thermobaric warheads. such as the Mokopa ATGM offered for use on the Denel ROOIVALK, and the HJ- 10 (also known as the AKD-10) carried by the CAIC Z-10. Roketsan uses SAL guid- ance for its L-UMTAS missile. The KBP Photo: US Airforce Instrument Design Bureau's HERMES-A is used on the Kamov-52K. A multi-stage missile with a high-powered booster, it uses a combination of radio command and SAL guidance. SAL guidance is also being used to cre- ate high-accuracy versions of existing unguided rockets. A range of designs is currently on offer, most of which add a new nose section combining a SAL seek- er and canard control surfaces to off- the-shelf warheads and rocket motors. Current offerings include the BAE System APKWS and the Raytheon and Emirates Advanced Investments TALON, both of which are based on existing HYDRA 70 This Russian-made Mi-24 helicopter was used to provide simulated components. Other candidates include a hostile threats during a US Joint Service Combat Search and Rescue guided rocket by FZ that incorporates a (CSAR) exercise in February 2000. The aircraft has fuselage-mounted SAL seeker, IMU and control actuator sys- gun armament, and carries missiles and unguided rockets under its tem, and the ATL/Elbit Guided Advanced stub wings.

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 67  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

with the detection of camouflaged targets. A tandem HEAT warhead is intended to cope with the armour of all known MBTs and provide an anti-structure capability, but an alternative Penetration, Blast, and Frag- Photo: Doug Richardson mentation (PBF) warhead is available for use against strongly-fortified positions. Spike NLOS gives attack helicopters an even more impressive reach; in Septem- ber 2018 Israel conducted a trial in the Negev Desert during which an Israeli AH-64 APACHE used a SPIKE NLOS mis- sile to strike a target more than 50 km away. Roketsan's MIZRAK-U (previously known as UMTAS) uses a two-way RF datalink provides communications with the launch platform, and an IIR seeker of- fering lock-on before launch and lock-on after launch attack modes. India's Bharat Dynamics’ HELINA is a hel- icopter-mounted version of the NAG fire- Rafael's SPIKE-NLOS is probably the longest-range air-to-surface missile and-forget missile. This is equipped with currently available for use on attack helicopters. a 8-12 micron cadmium mercury telluride seeker and a tandem HEAT warhead, but has suffered from a protracted develop- ment programme. Development started

Photo: BMVg in 1988, and test firings started in 1990. Although the Indian MoD claimed in 2006 that development had been com- pleted, this statement proved premature. Final user trials of NAG are due to begin in the summer of 2019, allowing the sys- tem to enter production at the end of the year. The HELINA version will equip HAL's Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). With the arrival of the AH-64D and its mast-mounted AN/APG-78 millimetric- wave radar also came the AGM-114L LONGBOW HELLFIRE, which was essen- tially a HELLFIRE II with a nose-mounted Ka-band active radar seeker. There have been no recent reports of progress with a planned millimetric-wave version of HELINA, but China's HJ-9A follow-on to the laser beam-riding HJ-9 is known to use semi-active millimetre wave radar guidance. Ground crew loading a containerised PARS 3 LR missile into a launcher Some attack helicopters are equipped mounted under the stub wing of a Eurocopter TIGER with air-to-air missiles, either for self- protection or as a weapon for use when Fire-and-Forget Missiles and the UK had lost interest in the system. attacking enemy helicopters. In most As a result, it was adopted only by Ger- cases, an existing air-to-air missile such In many ways, the 'ultimate' weapon for many for its Tiger UHT helicopter as the AIM-9 SIDEWINDER or VYMPEL an attack helicopter is the fire-and-forget Originally known as the NT-Dandy or NT- R-73 (AA-11 ARCHER) is carried, but a missile in which an EO or IIR seeker can be D, Rafael's Spike-ER (Extended Range) has more common solution is a man-portable locked onto the image of a distant target, a maximum range of 8 km. It is compatible surface-to-air missile such as STINGER, and the missile fired and allowed to home with the TIGER, AW129 MANGUSTA, TAI/ MISTRAL, FN-6 and QW series. China's onto its victim with no further action be- AgustaWestland T129 ATAK, and the SUPER TY-90 air-to-air missile was custom-de- ing needed by the operator. COBRA. The addition of a new RF datalink signed for helicopter use. This IR-homing PARSYS PARS 3 LR (originally LR-TRIGAT) extends the range of the SPIKE ER2 variant weapon weighs only 20 kg, and has a was Europe's first IIR fire-and-forget mis- to 16 km. Its seeker combines high-resolu- range of 6 km. It initially entered service sile. Development of this 6 km range tion IR and day sensors, and the operator on Z-9W and -9A licence-built versions of weapon started in 1988 but was not com- can switch from one to the other while the the Eurocopter DAUPHIN, but now arms pleted until 2001, by which time France missile is in flight, a feature that could help the Z-10 attack helicopter. 

68 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  Active and Reactive Vehicle Protection Systems

Sidney E. Dean

As anti-armour weapons have become more powerful, armies have reacted by increasing the thickness and resilience of vehicle armour. Modern ammunition, however, destroys even the strongest armour, forcing armies to develop reactive and active protection systems.

he advent of potent shaped-charge Twarheads and kinetic-energy penetra- tors (KEPs) capable of defeating very thick armour forced armed forces to rethink their approach to vehicle protection, especially Photo: Rheinmetall since thicker – and heavier – armour im- pedes mobility, increases fuel consumption and imposes significant strain on the power train and suspension.

Reactive Protection Systems

Reactive armour (RA) is designed to neu- tralise the impact of shaped-charge war- heads and kinetic penetrators. It can be integrated into the vehicle’s primary ar- mour or employed as modular or applique Rheinmetall’s ADS active protection system mounted on a German Army armour attached over the vehicle’s organic FUCHS armoured personnel carrier. The US Army is currently evaluating armour. Reactive armour was first patented the ADS for the STRYKER infantry fighting vehicle. in West Germany in 1970, but Israel was the first nation to introduce it operation- ally, deploying RA-equipped M-60 tanks during the Lebanon War of 1982. There are various categories of reactive ar- mour, including Explosive RA (ERA), Non- Photo: Rheinmetall Explosive RA (NERA), and Electric/Electro- magnetic RA. ERA is composed of high-explosive sand- wiched between two armour plates. When a shaped charge strikes the ERA, the war- head’s energy causes the sandwiched explosive to detonate, neutralising the warhead’s energy before it reaches the ve- hicle’s organic armour. Similarly, the ERA’s explosive force deflects KEPs such as sabot rounds, preventing their penetration of the main armour; heavy ERA can even break the kinetic rods. Rheinmetall’s ADS active protection system mounted on a LEOPARD 2 MBT Modern anti-tank missiles (ATM) often employ a tandem shaped charge warhead; this consists of a smaller explosive charge safe distance from the vehicle rather than at the warhead’s tip, which has the sole sheltering in its vicinity. Author purpose of tripping the ERA and expos- In place of the high-explosive, NERA em- ing the underlying organic armour, and a ploys an inert material such as rubber as Sidney E. Dean is President of larger main charge intended to attack the liner between the armour plates. The basic Transatlantic Euro-American now exposed organic armour. In addition principle behind its function – dissipating Multimedia LLC. and a regular to this vulnerability, explosive armour has the warhead’s energy prematurely – is the contributor to ESD. the disadvantage that it creates shrapnel, same as that of ERAs, but non-explosive forcing dismounted infantry to remain at a reactive armour is generally less effective

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 69  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

Photo: Artis LLC horizontally to defend against vehicle- mounted and man-portable weapons such as RPGs. The M32 ARAT 2 was introduced in 2008 and resembles ceramic roof tiles. The curved shape is better suited to de- flecting high-energy ordnance. Unlike the M19, the M32 can be mounted at a down- ward or upward angle to optimise defence against IEDs or against altitude-launched weapons. The M19 can be mounted alone. Alternately, the M32 can be placed directly over the M19, creating a two-layer ERA sys- tem. Importantly, ARAT is designed to only react to high-energy explosive or kinetic weapons; small arms fire will not set off the tiles, so enemies cannot strip a tank of The IRON CURTAIN APS developed by US firm Artis LLC destroys incom- its RA through machine gun fire. ing projectiles only centimetres before impact on the protected vehicle. GDLS, in conjunction with Rafael, also It was under consideration for the STRYKER IFV, but in 2018 the US Army supplies separate ERA systems for the M2 found that, while generally effective, the IRON CURTAIN did not per- BRADLEY Fighting Vehicle System (BFVS form sufficiently well under adverse weather conditions. Armour Tiles) and for the STRYKER family

than explosive plates. On the other hand, NERA is lighter and cannot be defeated by tandem warheads. Electric or Electromagnetic RA is a com- paratively recent concept. It consists of two Photo: Ishai Abigail metal plates separated by a nonconductive buffer. The plates are under a high-voltage charge, forming a capacitor. When a war- head or KEP strikes the outer plate, it pen- etrates the nonconductive buffer, bringing the two charged plates into contact. The capacitor releases its accumulated energy, repelling or weakening the projectile’s blast or kinetic energy.

United States

Reactive armour is deployed worldwide, especially on heavier armoured vehicles ca- An IDF NAMER IFV. The hexagonal radar (one of four) and trapezoidal pable of carrying extra weight. Because of countermeasure launcher (one of two) are mounted atop and to the rear the various negative factors – including the of the vehicle. burden imposed by the additional weight – it is normally mounted only in high-threat scenarios, such as operations against forces

deploying sophisticated anti-tank weapons Photo: SAAB or IEDs. The US Army provides a prime example. The organic armour on the ABRAMS M1 MBT is considered among the best in the world, eliminating the need for add-on protection in many cases. However, reac- tive armour was mounted on ABRAMS tanks as extra protection against IEDs dur- ing stabilisation operations in Iraq. In 2017, ERA kits were also sent to armoured units in Germany in reaction to rising tensions with Russia. The US Army maintains two different ERA systems for the M1; both are designated as ARAT (ABRAMS Reactive Armour Tile) and SAAB’s Land Electronic Defence System 50 soft-kill electronic coun- supplied by GDLS. The brick-like M19 ARAT termeasure system is deployed on the Swedish army’s CV90 combat 1 was introduced in 2006 and is mounted vehicles.

70 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

Swiss company RUAG has also developed a composite-based ERA. The SidePRO-CE applique armour is applied to the flanks of armoured vehicles to defend against high-

Photo: Vitaly Kuzmin energy anti-tank systems (including those with tandem warheads) as well as against KEPs. According to RUAG, the ERA’s ex- plosive reaction is confined to a minimal area, reducing the potential for collateral- inducing shrapnel. Customers include Jor- dan (M60 PHOENIX MBT). Poland has improved its original ERAWA (Explosive Reactive Armour – Wiśniewski, Adam, named to honour its developer) by introducing the ERAWA 2. The ERAWA 2 contains two explosive charges and is specifically designed to neutralise tandem warheads. There is also a limited capability against KEPs. ERAWA and ERAWA 2 plates The sensors and countermeasure launchers of the AFGHANIT hard kill are smaller than most ERAs, with each APS are positioned atop the turret of the T-14 MBT. block measuring 15x15 centimetres. This allows for a very tight fit, with minimal gaps (STRYKER Reactive Armour Tiles – SRAT II). Rad/Kette ("shaped charge defence for between blocks. ERAWA is suitable for me- Introduced in 2014, these rectangular tiles wheeled and tracked vehicles"). By utilis- dium to lightweight armoured vehicles. use an insensitive high-energy explosive ing composite fibre materials rather than to counter shaped charge threats, and are metal or ceramic plates, CLARA reduces Russia lighter than previous ERA applique systems. the threat posed by shrapnel from detonat- The BFVS Armoured Tiles are rated against ing ERA blocks. Several variants are pro- Russia’s third-generation RELIKT ERA intro- all shoulder-fired and most tube-launched duced, with aerial density – defined as the duced in 2006 is deployed on the T-72B, AT-weapons, while SRAT II is optimised for weight of the armoured panel (in grammes T-80B and T-90AM MBTs as well as the urban settings. per square metre) divided by the protection BMPT RAMKA/TERMINATOR fire support area of the panel – varying between 70 and vehicle. It consists of a 2 kg explosive tile Europe 270 kg per square metre. The lowest-den- sandwiched between two metal plates; sity segments provide protection against an inert buffer between the ERA and the Several European firms are refining their RPGs, while the strongest variant can stop organic armour provides additional protec- reactive protection systems, hoping to im- 30mm sabot rounds. CLARA has deployed tion for the tank body. Rectangular ERA prove performance while minimising nega- on German Army PUMA IFVs and been boxes protect the flanks and back of the tive aspects. tested on the MARDER IFV as well as the tank, while trapezoidal ERA kits are arrayed Dynamit Nobel Defence GmbH has de- BOXER APC variant. In late 2017, the United around the turret. The manufacturer NII veloped CLARA (Composite Lightweight Arab Emirates News Agency released im- Stali describes RELIKT as twice as effective Adaptable Reactive Armour), also known ages of UAE LECLERC MBTs equipped with against shaped charges as the Soviet-era, under the German designation HL-Schutz the CLARA system. second-generation Kontakt-5 ERA. It also reduces sabot penetration by 50%. With the advent of the ARMATA armoured vehicle series, Russia has introduced a fourth-generation ERA designated as MALACHIT. The precise composition of

Photo: Vitaly Kuzmin the ERA is not publicly known; Western experts speculate that the plates might be composed of a laminated ceramic com- posite matrix. The Russian news agency Tass has reported that the ARMATA T-14 MBT will be fully protected not only against Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) but also against tank shells up to a calibre of 150mm.

Active Protection Systems – Hard Kill Of course this claimed level of protection is Russia’s ARMATA T-14 MBT is equipped with MALACHIT explosive not based solely on the performance of the reactive armour and the AFGHANIT APS. Details of the MALACHIT ERA MALACHIT reactive armour. The ARMATA remain classified. family is also equipped with the AFGHANIT

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 71  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

APS for the M1 ABRAMS MBT. The Ger- man Army has selected TROPHY to protect one LEOPARD 2 tank company to be de- ployed with the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force as of 2023. The TROPHY-LV was introduced in 2014 for light and medium vehicles, ranging from 4x4 jeeps to armoured personnel carriers and IFVs. Both variants utilise a 360° Elta EL/M-2133 fire-control radar system for detection and targeting. Two rotating containers atop the vehicle fire 35 metal balls against each incoming mis- sile, rocket or RPG, targeting the war-

Photo: US Army head. The balls are miniaturised explo- US Army soldiers apply the ABRAMS Reactive Armour Tile 1 M19 to an sively formed projectiles (EFP) which can ABRAMS MBT in Germany. either disable the incoming weapon – the preferred solution – or cause it to explode Active Protection System (APS). The AFGH- second. Finally, the APS must not inter- prematurely. Both variants offer a hostile ANIT APS includes both electronic or “soft fere with other on-board systems, either fire detection capability to identify the kill” subsystems and kinetic or “hard kill” through excessive demand for electricity source of incoming fire. Each container countermeasures. The former includes an or through its electromagnetic signals. has three countermeasure warheads, so electronic warfare suite to disrupt warhead that a TROPHY-equipped vehicle can only guidance systems including laser guidance Israel defeat six incoming projectiles before re- systems. The latter includes interceptor loading. rounds with explosively formed penetra- Israel has been a pioneer in APS develop- The HV variant is effective against ATGMs, tors to physically destroy incoming mis- ment. Two systems stand out. The TROPHY RPGs, recoilless rifles and tank-fired HEAT siles, grenades and shells. Russian claims APS developed by Rafael was declared op- rounds, but not KEPs. It can react to simul- that the interceptor rounds can even defeat erational by the Israeli Army in 2009 and taneous threats from different directions, incoming KEPs are put in question by many first tested in combat in 2011. The origi- including projectiles approaching from a western experts. nal TROPHY, now designated TROPHY-HV high angle. The LV is designed primarily for Many nations are currently pursuing APS (Heavy Vehicle) is designed for medium to urban operations and is optimised against technology, which is defined as the capa- heavy combat vehicles; it is currently in use RPGs, including those with dual/tandem bility to intercept enemy projectiles short- on the MERKAVA MBT and the NAMER warheads. The system is easily mounted ly before impact. An APS is mounted on Armoured Fighting Vehicle, and it has been atop wheeled and tracked vehicles using an each individual vehicle and protects only successfully integrated on the GDLS LAV III. integrated roof-rack assembly. In addition that vehicle. The concept offers numer- In June 2018, the US Army awarded Rafael to the radar, the LV incorporates electro- ous benefits: an APS weighs less than the initial contract to supply the TROPHY optical sensors which trigger the counter- additional organic armour or applique armour, and can eliminate the need for bulky slat armour; by stopping incom- ing ordnance before impact, it minimises concussion of the vehicle and crew, and Photo: US Army eliminates the risk of gaps being created in the applique armour through repeated enemy targeting of the same spot. Of course, there are also negative aspects to an APS. Since hard kill systems fire projectiles, there is the risk of collateral damage/victims through shrapnel or if the APS-fired projectile misses its tar- get; since APS countermeasures are only activated immediately before impact, secondary protective measures (such as RA) may still be required in case of APS failure to intercept; APS requires an au- tonomous on-board battle management system to interface on-board sensors and the actual countermeasure weapons, dif- ferentiate threats from non-threats, cal- culate fire-solutions, choose the optimal weapon from the countermeasure suite, The ABRAMS Reactive Armour Tile 2 (M32) resembles a terracotta roof and engage at the optimal time – deci- tile. It is applied over the box-shaped M19 ARAT 1 tiles to create a dou- sions to be made within fractions of a ble layer of defence.

72 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  measures when the enemy projectile enters the system's field of vision. The IRON FIST APS produced by IMI also comes in different variants optimised for heavy and for medium to light vehicle classes, respectively. It utilises both infra- red and radio-frequency sensors for sur- veillance and targeting. Each Iron Fist has two launchers, with each launcher mount- ing two tubes. The tubes fire high-energy

blast grenades armed with proximity fuses Photo: mjabb which detonate within 80 centimetres of A Polish-built Malaysian Army PT-91M PENDEKAR MBT with Polish the incoming projectile; target destruction ERAWA 2 reactive armour. or deflection is achieved solely through the grenade’s blast wave, without any frag- IRON FIST Light has entered phase 2 Europe mentation effect. The system is effective evaluation for the US Army’s BRADLEY against ATGMs, RPGs, recoilless rifles and IFV, while the Australian Defence Force Several European firms are also pursuing KEPs. The heavy configuration includes has asked Rheinmetall to evaluate IRON or upgrading APS solutions. Rheinmet- a soft-kill electro-optical and laser jam- FIST for use on the BOXER Combat Re- all Defence offers the Advanced Modu- mer as a primary option before deploying connaissance Vehicle. Other weapon lar Armour Protection – Active Defence the hard-kill projectile. This enables the systems being hypothetically paired System (AMAP-ADS). This flexible system heavy-vehicle IRON FIST to theoretically with the IRON FIST include the GDLS can be customised to meet client needs. engage an unlimited number of incoming AJAX armoured fighting vehicle and the It provides a dual layer of sensors. Ac- threats, in contrast to the purely hard-kill, BAE CV90. cording to the manufacturer, the first light-vehicle variant or the TROPHY ASP. In 2014, IMI and Rafael agreed to collabo- ring of sensors consists of a multi-fre- The IRON FIST has garnered several export rate on development of a next-generation quency radar with planar antenna. This contracts. The Royal Netherlands Army has APS integrating the best features of the early warning system detects and classi- contracted BAE Systems to integrate the TROPHY and IRON FIST concepts. Rafael fies threats, and enables initial trajectory IRON FIST Light Compact (IF-LC) system on is to act as prime contractor, with IMI and calculation. It demands only a low level its CV9035NL. Israel Aerospace Industries as partners. of radiated power, thereby avoiding in-

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 73  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY terference with other radars. The second ers mounts three pods containing high-ex- as few as four – before reloading. Vehicles or inner sensor ring consists of a high- plosive fragmentation grenades capable of mounting both soft and hard kill systems resolution electro-optical system which intercepting ATGMs, RPGs and tank-fired engage first with the former, holding the confirms the radar findings and calculates HEAT rounds. Intercept range is circa ten hard kill weapons as a reserve. a more precise estimate of the incom- ing projectile’s point and time of impact, enabling a fire solution. According to Rheinmetall, initial radar detection takes place 50-200 milliseconds (10-35 metres) Photo: Cell105 before impact, while the optical system acquires incoming ordnance 10 millisec- onds or two metres before impact. Hard kill countermeasures deploy only four mil- liseconds before the hostile warhead’s impact, destroying it at a distance of one metre from the protected vehicle. This is significantly closer than most APS systems, which tend (on average) to en- gage at a range of circa ten metres. The difference is that Rheinmetall’s ADS relies fully on directed energy to destroy or di- vert the incoming warhead; it does not fire any projectile or shrapnel of its own. This eliminates the threat of collateral (except, of course, from the remnants of the incoming weapon). Sensors and countermeasure pods are distributed all around the protected vehicle. Depend- An Indian Army T-90 tank with Russian-made RELIKT-5 reactive armour. ing on configuration, the entire system adds between 140 and 500 kg of weight, metres from the protected vehicle. Accord- The US Army is planning to include both making it suitable for light wheeled vehi- ing to NORINCO, a second grenade can be hard and soft kill capabilities in its Modu- cles as well as medium to heavy IFVs and fired if the first fails to destroy or deflect the lar APS architecture (MAPS). Still being MBTs. Since larger projectiles may only be incoming projectile. The GL5 is suitable for defined, MAPS will provide a framework fragmented but not completely stopped the full range of vehicles, from light tactical for future APS solutions across the vehi- by the ADS, some form of organic or ap- vehicles to MBTs. cle fleet. It is intended to integrate vari- plique armour is recommended to ensure ous technologies and systems offered by full vehicle protection. Electronic Protection Systems different manufacturers. In late 2018, the At the IDEX 2019 Exposition in Abu Dha- – Soft Kill US Army conducted a so-called “Soft Kill bi, Rheinmetall introduced its new Hybrid Rodeo” to evaluate three contenders for Protection Module. It combines the ADS While most APS concepts are built around the soft kill component. All three contend- with two layers of passive armour com- hard kill options to destroy or physically de- ers – BAE Systems’ RAVEN Multi-Function ponents as an integrated module. The flect incoming ordnance, some include soft Counter-Measure (MFCM), Northrop ADS sensors are sandwiched between kill options as part of the package. The term Grumman’s Multifunction Electro-Optical the outer and inner passive armour lay- “soft kill” is actually misleading, as these System (MEOS), and Ariel Photonics’ Col- ers, which protects them against shell systems are not intended to bring down our Light Operational Unit for Deflection fragments and small arms fire. The ADS the incoming projectile, but simply to mis- (CLOUD) – utilise electronic countermeas- countermeasure component is embed- direct it so that it flies past the intended ures to defeat incoming ATGMs. The MAPS ded within the external armour plate. The target. The Land Electronic Defence Sys- base kit was used to control all three sys- individual modules measure 18x15 centi- tem (LEDS) marketed by Saab, for instance, tems during the test. metres and are intended to replace other begins with a laser-detection and soft kill While all three systems reportedly per- passive modular armour on the flanks of suite, adding a hard kill option as an up- formed well, the US Army selected the tracked and wheeled vehicles. grade. Soft kill elements of LEDS include BAE Systems RAVEN MFCM – a derivative smoke grenades to counter laser guidance of an airborne electronic warfare jamming China systems and dispensing flame retardant system – for further evaluation. It will be foam to alter the vehicle's infrared and ra- mounted – together with the MAPS base China’s NORINCO demonstrated its more dar signature. MONGOOSE rockets can be kit control unit and the hard kill IRON FIST traditional GL5 APS hard kill system to for- added as a hard kill option. APS – on a BRADLEY IFV for a more chal- eign observers in 2017 and presented it to Other soft kill systems are based on elec- lenging layered demonstrator scheduled the general public at the China Air Show tronic warfare or laser technology, and they for July through September of this year. in November 2018. As presented, the GL5 can include so-called dazzlers to blind opti- This trial will further evaluate the individual consists of four multipurpose millimetre- cal targeting systems. Such systems have ASPs, but more importantly, it will evalu- wave radars distributed for 360° coverage, the advantage of a virtually unlimited mag- ate the capability of the MAPS controller to four countermeasure launcher sets, and a azine, while a hard kill APS can engage only integrate and coordinate the hard and soft control computer. Each of the four launch- a limited number of targets – in some cases kill systems effectively. 

74 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  British Army WARRIOR Upgrade Trials Under Way

Christopher F. Foss

Currently, trials are underway to confirm the reliability of an upgrade designed to extend the service life of the British WARRIOR infantry fighting vehicle. Due to the cost explo- sion, however, fewer vehicles than originally planned are to be modernised.

ockheed Martin UK have confirmed with the CTAI 40mm Cased Telescoped the FV520 WARRIOR IFV section vehicle, Lthat reliability growth trials of the WAR- Weapon System (CTAS) and a 7.62mm co- FV521 WARRIOR IFV command, FV522 RIOR Capability Sustainment Programme axial MG MG coupled to a computerised WARRIOR repair, FV523 WARRIOR re- (WCSP) have started at the British Army’s fire-control system which includes new covery/repair and FV524 WARRIOR artil- Armoured Trials and Development Unit day/thermal sights. This will enable sta- lery observation post vehicle. (ATDU) at Bovington Camp, Southern England and are expected to be complet- ed in July 2020, if all goes to plan. According to the UK MoD, entry to the Demonstration and Manufacture Phases of WCSP was approved in July 2011 at a cost of £1.3Bn with an In Service Date Photo: Christopher Foss (ISD) of 2020, but this will now not oc- cur. The programme is now at least three years behind schedule and has a cost growth of about £227M. The aim of the WCSP is to extend the out of service date (OSD) to beyond 2040 and includes the WARRIOR Fightability & Lethality Im- provement Programme (WFLIP), WAR- RIOR Enhanced Electronic Architecture (WEEA) and WARRIOR Modular Protec- tion System (WMPS). The current WARRIOR IFV is armed with an unstabilised and slow-firing RARDEN 30mm cannon and a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun (MG) in a two-person tur- ret originally designed by Vickers Defence Systems; the vehicle has to halt in order to engage the target. This turret has been re- placed by a brand new LM UK turret armed A WARRIOR AIFV upgraded to the WCSP standard Author tionary and moving targets to be engaged It was expected that up to 380 WARRIORs Christopher F. Foss has been writing under almost all weather conditions with would be upgraded to the WCSP stand- on armoured fighting vehicles and high first round hit probability while the ard, which would be supplied to the two artillery systems since 1970 and until WCSP is stationary or moving. WARRIOR battalions in each of the three recently was editor of Jane's “Ar- The 40mm CTAS is supplied as govern- armoured infantry brigades plus addition- moured Fighting Vehicles” and the ment furnished equipment (GFE) and is al vehicles for war reserve and training. artillery element of “Jane's Artillery also installed in the General Dynamics UK As the British Army will now form at and Air Defence”. He has lectured AJAX reconnaissance vehicle soon to en- least two strike brigades and reduce to on these subjects in many countries ter service and in the French Army’s new two armoured infantry brigades, the and well as chairing conferences all JAGUAR (6x6) reconnaissance vehicle. number of WCSP vehicles is expected to over the world. He has driven over 50 LM UK have supplied 11 WCSP dem- be reduced to perhaps 250 to 280 units tracked and wheeled AFV. onstration vehicles for the reliability with a potential commit to production in growth trials at ATDU, and these include early 2020. 

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 75  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY Water Purification

Dan Kaszeta

The logistical need for water in modern conflicts is enormous. What is the Threat?

Various military operations in dry climate zones such as Iraq The principal threat stems from waterborne and Afghanistan require extensive water supplies. diseases, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. A second threat is pollution by contaminants, both artificial (for example apoleon famously, if apocryphally, engine cooling, washing vehicles, decon- chemicals such as fertilisers, insecticides, Nwrote that an army travels on its tamination, or field laundry is not likely fuels, etc.) and natural (for example mud stomach. However, an army might even to require the same level of purification and particles). The severity of the threat fight for a day or three without any food. as potable water. However, potable water ranges from mild to critical. Some water- But an army needs water every single day for drinking, personal hygiene, heat casu- borne illnesses such as dysentery or cholera or the soldiers start to fall over. alty treatment, field catering, and medical can level entire armies. Before the mod- ern era, poor sanitation often killed more soldiers than weaponry did, and modern commanders forget those lessons at their

Photo: MMW peril. In the Vietnam War, disease from wa- ter was a serious consideration and was a leading cause of hospitalisation among American troops. However, serious medi- cal and logistical planning during that war meant that cholera was ruled out as a health threat. Waterborne illness has also been a serious consideration in more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. A US Ar- my study shows that, across the US military deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2001 to 2007, over a million person-days were lost due to diarrhoea. Food safety, various illnesses not related to water intake (for example flu) and other sanitation issues are a large portion of this total, but some of it will be from water sources. Water purifi- cation is also essential for various purposes beyond human consumption. Boiler plants do not work well with dirty water, for ex- The reverse osmosis process of an RO system produced by the company ample. MMW which eliminates unwanted contaminants in drinking water. The A secondary, but not trivial, consideration MMW unit has two barriers – the Reverse Osmosis membrane and the UV is the quality of the water post-purification. sterilisation lamp. The purification process will remove more than 99,5% Water that looks, tastes, or smells foul, even of all contaminants, organic material, chemicals and pesticides. if it meets technical standards for safety, is not good for military operations. Soldiers Looking at the logistical requirements uses adds up. Requirements will change will drink less of it than they might need. for water in modern conflict, it is easy based on the operating environment and Hygiene may suffer. Morale will suffer if to see that the demands are huge. Vari- climate. poor quality water makes food taste bad. ous military deployments in arid climates It is important to understand the true scale This correspondent’s own experiences with such as Iraq and Afghanistan have needed of the requirements. The US Army has wa- over-chlorinated water during a summer of extensive deployment of support troops ter planning guides that are well thought US Army training in Kansas were unpleas- and contractors to ensure a viable water out and likely are very similar to those of ant indeed. Water doesn’t need to be tasty, supply. Only a subset of the water require- other militaries. One easily available plan- but it needs to not appear to be foul. ments will require purification. Water for ning document published by the US Army’s It should be noted that, although it does Quartermaster Corps, and it gives interest- come up occasionally in defensive doctrine Author ing planning factors. The US Army tables and manuals, the threat to water from give daily requirements per person in the CBRN attack is secondary. Biological war- Dan Kaszeta’s is Managing Direc- deployed force. Based on the type of op- fare agents are, for the most part, the same tor at Strongpoint Security Ltd. and a eration and climate, these requirements part of the threat spectrum as naturally regular contributor to ESD. range from 24.9 litres to 58.8 litres of po- occurring waterborne threats, although table water per person per day. it is possible that some biological warfare

76 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  agents might be deliberately crafted for use in water supplies. Chemical warfare agents, such as nerve or blister agents, are a more esoteric threat against military water Photo: Stella-Meta supplies. In general, the nerve and blister agents react with water over time, but the decomposition products are also inherently nasty substances that nobody would want to drink. Some chemical warfare agents do not readily dissolve in water. Sulphur Mus- tard, so-called “Mustard Gas” is actually not a gas, but an oily liquid. Drops of it may float on the top of water. Radiological and nuclear threats to water are largely in the form of particles that might contaminate lakes and rivers. Therefore, military water purification requirements must account for CBRN threats. Chemical treatment of water is a time-hon- oured tactic. Soldiers can be issued with wa- ter purification tablets for treatment of local- ly collected water. Iodine compounds have A Stella-Meta NBC FW water purification unit currently in service with a long history in this role. On a larger basis, the British Army chlorination of water is a long-established technique to make water safe. Once done and water storage bladders. Chemical treat- Chemical treatment of water, however, has with chlorine gas or various hypochlorite ment of water is a well established niche in problems. On an individual soldier basis, it compounds such as calcium hypochlorite, military water supply. As the products used requires training and discipline. Water pu- newer forms of chlorination use safer chlo- are largely generic, the list of products and rification tablets are a local stop-gap, not a ramine compounds. Furthermore, chlorine suppliers in this segment is too fragmented solution to the dozens or hundreds of litres compounds can be used to sanitise tanks and lengthy for serious comment here. a day needed to support a modern mili-  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY tary force. At a technical level, it addresses Reverse osmosis is not without its draw- issues. These factors must be taken into only part of the threat. Chemical treatment backs. ROWPUs use a lot of power. For ex- account when planning water supply for addresses bacteria, viruses, and parasites ample, the 3000 gallon per hour ROWPU ongoing operations. Finally, there is a waste in water but does not remove particles or used by the US military in the 1990s used stream produced by any ROWPU, as eve- dissolved chemicals. Various chemical pol- a 60 kilowatt generator. (Apologies to rything that comes out of the clean water lutants could be left in the water, as could the European reader: the US military still goes out of another part of the apparatus things like radioactive particles. Or, for that uses – non-imperial – gallons). From the as sludge. In some environments, the waste matter, minerals that make the water un- viewpoint of some logisticians, this merely effluent from a water purification unit can palatable. means the requirement for litres of water be highly toxic and require special disposal. ROWPUs can be fixed or mobile. Generally, the military ROWPU market is for mobile units, even though the large end of the ROWPU market is comprised of very large Foto: US Army units that require special transport arrange- ments. Water storage and distribution are as important as water purification and should be considered as part of the overall approach to water purification. However, a detailed discussion of water containers, bladders, tanks, and trucks is beyond the basic scope of this article. Looking around the world, the largest sin- gle market segment in military water purifi- cation is the US military, as with many types of military expenditure. Therefore, there is a large amount of technology and many products developed around US military re- quirements and budgets. These are then marketed by US producers to what they The US Army annually hosts the RO Water Treatment Rodeo, in which realistically but often patronisingly refer to various water treatment teams compete against each other. Shown here as “the rest of the world” market. Scratch a is the 753rd Composite Supply Company team transporting equipment ROWPU in the EMEA or Asia Pacific market into the Atlantic Ocean on 12 June 2017 to produce drinking water from and you might find an American MIL-SPEC seawater. somewhere. The trick, this author discov- ered, is to see if a given system is rated for By far the most significant technology and is shifted over one column on their chart, gallons per hour (gph), the US metric of family of products in this sector are reverse to litres of fuel. But it does so at a greatly choice in measuring water output. 1 gph is osmosis water purification units (ROW- favourable ratio. The 60 kilowatt genera- equivalent to 3.785 litres per hour, or 0.832 PUs). ROWPUs, to use the now-prolific US tor of the 3000 gallons per hour ROWPU’s imperial gallons per hour. military nomenclature for them, are the uses about 5 gallons of diesel fuel per hour, Product differentiation can be difficult in workhorse of military water purification. thus equating to a 600:1 by volume ratio of this area, as the basic output is the same Reverse osmosis is a superior technology water to diesel. For any logistician, this is a – clean water. Differences between prod- for deployable water purification, as it is large gain. ucts built largely to the same specification a scaleable technology. Reverse osmosis Likewise, few of them are designed for can be slight: a wide variety of manufac- units range from the size of a suitcase to continuous use. The 3000 gallon per hour turers make water purification systems for those as big as a house. They work on a ROWPU previously mentioned is quite ro- military use. Generally, anything for military principle of passing water through mem- bust, but even so is only designed to op- requirements integrates removal of CBRN branes that only allow water molecules to erate 20 hours a day instead of 24. They hazards into the specifications, whereas pass. Reverse osmosis units tend to have also require replacement of consumable units built for civil use, such as disaster as- either “single pass” (one pass through the parts, such as filters. As ROWPUs are com- sistance, may not be rated for such use. membrane), or “double pass” modes, de- plex machines with many working parts, Mostly, reverse osmosis handles such con- pending on the quality of the water to be both routine maintenance and emergency tingencies and lack of a specification for processed. They have a variety of filters repair of breakdowns are important fac- CBRN use is often due to a manufacturer on the front end to deal with the mud, tors. Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) not submitting a particular model for test- muck, and particulates before the serious statistics are usually closely held by the ing and/or not wanting to deal with the work at the membrane begins. In theory, manufacturers, but complex machinery waste effluent. a good reverse osmosis unit can take a will have breakdowns and intervals out of First, there is the substantial American bucket of mud damp with sea water, para- service for routine maintenance. Also, the market, which is based on providing 600 sites, and Mustard Gas in the front end MTBF for generators supplying power to gph, 3000 gph, and the newer, smaller and squeeze out a glass of pristine drink- ROWPUs must be factored into planning. “Lightweight Water Purification System” ing water at the back end. It should also A US Marine Corps document refers to ROWPUs. Larger systems are often in- be noted that reverse osmosis has also re- many generators having 24 day MTBF, so tended for shipboard or fixed installa- placed older technologies for desalination long-term provision of power to support tion usage. A basic survey of the ROWPU on many naval vessels. water operations can be hobbled by power world shows a number of manufacturers

78 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  making comparable products. AMPAC, a ACWA produced equipment for urgent Outside North America and Europe there specialty manufacturer of water purifica- deployment in 2003. The firm Stella-Meta, are both markets and players. Examples tion systems for military and civil custom- in Hampshire provides a range of water are too many to list here, but Tecimer (Tur- ers, is based in Montclair, California, and purification equipment for UK military re- key), Rowater (Australia), and ELW Global produces the entire range of water purifi- quirements. (South Africa) are some examples out of cation systems, which start with suitcase- sized units that produce 10 gallons per day (gpd) all the way up to massive industrial scale 1,000,000 gpd units designed for installation on major facilities and bases. MECO, based in Louisiana, is a similar in-

dustrial player in the field, with every con- Photo: Kärcher Futuretech ceivable size of water purification device for the defence market in its portfolio. It should be noted that both AMPAC and MECO are specialty engineering compa- nies with some military business, rather than defence contractors dabbling in wa- ter. The Pennsylvania based Terra Group, which also markets under the “Tactical Water” brand, has a product line that covers the US military requirements. Their Lightweight Water Purification System, used by the US military, is small and highly deployable and purifies 75 gph of salt wa- ter or 125 gph of fresh water. Many hun- dreds of systems have been procured by A Kärcher RO Water Treatment Unit in operation in Ethopia the US Marine Corps. The company also does larger systems, including a trailer- Force projection into places with little exist- many. Bulk Handling Australia, while not based 3000 gph system. ing water infrastructure is a requirement a water purification provider, is a signifi- Non-American companies and customers in many militaries. Berkefeld, a Germany- cant producer of water storage solutions are significant as well. Over the last few based arm of the French conglomerate Ve- for military use. decades, deployments outside of Europe, olia produces 6 different mainstream prod- What does the future hold? Reverse os- often to arid climates, in support of various ucts. For example, their BERKEFELD M6 mosis is a stable and mature technology. coalitions, alliances, and peace-keeping will process up to 6 cubic metres of water Development of lighter, more power-ef- efforts have driven many European mili- an hour. (Cubic metre per hour becomes ficient systems is likely as the established taries to renew their emphasis on water the standard metric outside US defence manufacturers seek to effect incremen- logistics. The first Gulf War in 1991 saw circles: one cubic metre equals approxi- tal improvements. Perhaps the most in- some military allies of the USA turning up mately 264 US gallons.) The German firm teresting technology is to extract water in the theatre of operations reliant upon US Kärcher Futuretech, well known in CBRN from the air. The Israeli firm Water-Gen military water supplies, not all of which had circles for its decontamination products, is pushing the frontiers in this sector, and been forecast by American logisticians. The produces about ten different ROWPU units is one to watch. While such systems will UK military was faced with water needs in for military or disaster response use. They never achieve the volumes of water that 2003 with the invasion of Iraq. The Brit- also have filtration units and chlorination reverse osmosis can produce, they will fill ish Army was reliant on drilling boreholes systems, for situations not requiring a full a valuable niche in situations where little in Afghanistan, and to a lesser extent in reverse osmosis system, as well as a variety or no surface or underground water can southern Iraq. The Yorkshire-based firm of water storage and distribution products. be found. 

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 79 Marketing Report: FLIR Detection

Building a Chemical Threat Response Toolkit

Clint Wichert M.S., Director of Product Management, FLIR Detection

From accidental leaks and improper Operators must also understand the state of differences in sample quantities, operators handling of hazardous materials, to an the hazard (vapour, liquid, or solid) for critical can then consider what chemical response intentional chemical attack, exposure on-scene response. This can inform the op- tools are required. After all, no single tool to unknown or toxic chemicals can hap- erator about what kind of personal protec- will accomplish every task. Chemical detec- pen anywhere. Due to the rising threat tive equipment (PPE) is required, along with tors vary in sensitivity and specificity, so it’s of terrorism and the myriad ways people sample or evidence collection procedures important to understand the capabilities of can be exposed to toxic materials in the and the selection of proper detectors. each technology to select the right tools for environment, the ability to detect and the job. identify chemical threats is more crucial Trace Versus Bulk Sampling than ever. Another important consideration is the Detection/Classification Tools quantity of a threat that needs to be sam- (Least Costly) pled: bulk or trace. • Colourimetric: Single-use, inexpensive TECHNOLOGY BREADTH OF SENSITIVITY RANGE In practice, a bulk sample can be seen and tests to determine the presence of a DETECTION BULK TRACE easily weighed, while a trace sample is vir- threat and its chemical class. tually invisible. Concealed threats typically • Multi-Gas Monitor: Used to detect have trace residue on the exterior; therefore, toxic gas leaks, including carbon mon- Colormetric Raman Photo/Graphic: FLIR FTIR IMS HPMS GC/MS

A detection specialist in PPE using the FLIR GRIFFIN G510 GC-MS A critical line of defence is the combina- tion of chemical threat detection tools a detector with trace-level sensitivity is re- oxide and chlorine. Some monitors are and the personnel who operate them. quired. Further, many gas-phase threats can equipped with photo-ionisation detec- But before selecting equipment in the cause harm at the trace-level, so having a tors for volatile organic chemical (VOC) responder toolkit, it’s first important to system that can detect minute amounts is detection, but they are susceptible to understand the landscape of chemical critical. interferants and are not confirmatory. hazards and their potential impact on life, Conversely, solid threats are typically con- property, and the environment: sidered bulk. Although most trace detec- Presumptive Identification • Health Hazards: narcotics, chemical tors can detect bulk samples, operators can (Middle Cost Range) warfare agents and toxins. expect a trade-off on system performance. • Spectroscopic Tools, including Raman • Physical Hazards: Flammable chemicals, and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) corrosive/oxidising agents, and explosives. Types of Chemical Response Tools Spectroscopy: Primarily used for bulk • Environment Hazards: Toxic industrial By understanding the various types of samples, these can quickly interrogate chemicals. chemical threats, the phases of matter and unknown solids and some liquids, in-

80 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 cluding narcotics and explosives. This gold standard technology, GC-MS tools Ease-of-Use And Survivability equipment is lightweight and fast, but analyse complex samples, including va- In addition to detection capabilities, it’s just not ideal for trace-level detection or pour, liquid, and solid-phase chemicals. as important to consider the specific condi- complex mixtures. Although the most expensive, GC-MS tions and scenarios in which a given tool and • IMS (Ion Mobility Spectrometry) Sys- is selective and sensitive while offering its personnel may be placed. Hazardous en- tems: Quick and sensitive, IMS sys- the broadest capability, making it the vironments demand tools that are not only tems provide critical early warnings ultimate confirmatory tool. easy to use, especially when individuals must of chemical threats but are prone to operate quickly while wearing PPE, but can frequent false positive readings due to Consider Chemical Libraries also survive extreme conditions. sample overloading and environmen- Chemical libraries are the software, elec- tal effects. tronic, or colour change-based templates Determining the Toolkit • High-Pressure Mass Spectrometry for the responses of certain chemicals. Li- With all the factors listed above, govern- (HPMS): An emerging technology, braries range in fidelity from a colour shift ments and organisations responsible for this tool only uses mass spectrometry on pH paper to electronically matching chemical detection must also consider for analysis. It has similar benefits and the mass fragment chemical fingerprint. costs, the required coverage area and drawbacks to IMS, but enables larger When determining the appropriate tools, personnel training. Only then can they libraries and greater data processing review the missions and types of threats take the appropriate steps required to along with fewer false alarms. encountered. Some operators may con- create a truly effective chemical detec- sistently respond to the same 10-15 tion toolkit. Confirmatory Identification threats, suggesting a colourimetric tool In the end, the right toolkit can be the (Most Costly) might work best. For others, the ability difference between a catastrophe and a • Portable or lab-based Gas Chromatog- to identify unknown chemicals is mission rapid response that helps keep the public raphy–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS): A critical. and personnel safe from harm.

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“А platform on which the European Union meets“А its platform partners”[email protected] on which the European Union • www.hemusbg.org meets its partners”

Linked In: ‘Hemus’ IDEE

TRADITION of a quarter century INTERNATIONAL 25 years since the first edition 350 VIPs from 60 countries invited Visitors from EU and NATO Institutions, INNOVATION EDA, NCIA, NSPA, STO, etc. Strong presence of R&D, Science and University Sectors Tailor-made solutions REGIONAL EXPERIENCE High importance on the Balkan Live firings and demonstrations, region 12 countries within 700 Conference, Forums, Meetings km distance EXHIBITION by name, EXPERIENCE by nature  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY Digitisation of Land Forces: The Military Embraces 4IR

Tamir Eshel

The integration of communications and information is driving a worldwide transition that is being termed the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Armed forces and security organisations around the globe are embracing this transformation, by fielding digital communications networks and interconnected systems of systems, empowered by information services.

he capabilities they deliver empower mili- the same time, the military was slow to common waveforms, rather than identical Ttary forces, enabling smaller forces to de- convert because of the huge investments equipment to ensure interoperability and liver big, decisive actions. This article exam- in acquisition and deployment of military information sharing, an essential capabil- ines some of the elements of such networks specific systems, rapid obsolescence of ity for operations within joint forces and and the systems and services they enable. such systems, and complexities address- between coalition partners. Frequent over- the-net upgrades enable users to respond to evolving challenges and address new threats by updating equipment with new algorithms and software patches on the fly. With waveforms becoming common Photo: Elbit Systems among military users, more agile forms of communications are introduced, sup- porting highly robust, secure information transfer methods designed to be resilient in complex environment and more immune to interference and jamming.

The SDR Revolution

SDRs have grown to become a significant change agent for defence systems and mili- tary organisations. Primarily, those radios provide a robust and reliable alternative to traditional two-way communications, by Elbit Systems’ E-LYNX is a typical SDR supporting multiple voice ses- enabling better, more dependable commu- sions and data transmissions. nications with narrower VOIP channels, thus improving spectrum utilisation. Additionally, A prominent step in this direction is the ing standardisation, interoperability, field with baseline communications going digi- modernisation of communications sys- operation and information security. tal, a single radio set could support multi- tems from analogue, voice-based radio ple voice and data channels, secured and and telephone systems to digital systems, Software-Defined Radios encrypted, offering more efficient use of utilising Voice-Over-IP (VOIP) internet available assets. By implementing advanced protocols. This move began in the 1970s, The introduction of Software-Defined waveforms, standard radios can now act as with the introduction of IP technology Radios (SDRs) in the early 2000s changed repeaters, point-to-point links or as mem- that provided the basis for the internet in the radio communications paradigm by bers of Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks (MANET), the 1990s and revolutionised the global producing radio transceiver hardware and establishing seamless, flexible, self-formed, commercial telecommunication in the supports standard-based software. It ena- self-healing networking in areas where oth- 2000s. The commercial world was quick bled users to leverage equipment for years, er means of communications do not per- to adapt the new technology, given the by updating and upgrading the ‘operat- form reliably. A major advantage of these huge commercial values it delivered. At ing system’, rather than replacing major new radios is maintaining compatibility and electronic subsystems in a complex and interoperability with hundreds of thousands Author expensive upgrade. This software upgrade of combat-net-radios sold worldwide. method is similar to the operating system Traditional equipment offered military per- Tamir Eshel is a security and de- update on mobile phones and PCs. Moreo- sonnel the ability to tune into a single pre- fence commentator based in Israel. ver, with radios covering larger bandwidths ferred frequency and supported only one than their predecessors, users can rely on protocol. With SDR, users can monitor and

82 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

perform their job. The new radio set can support two channels simultaneously, with secure voice and simultaneous data trans- Photo: US Army fer. Full motion video comes as an extra bonus that previously required dedicated communications gear. A two-channel ra- dio means troops can carry fewer radios and spare batteries, thus reducing their loads.

Satellite Based Networks

While terrestrial networks are effective supporting land operations, their coverage is limited by terrain, jamming and interfer- ence that requires careful planning to mini- mise crossband interference. To maintain such communications, military forces have established dedicated networks designed The satellite-based WIN-T network enables military users to integrate for expeditionary and deployed operations. an 'everything-over-internet' protocol to provide connectivity across Such networks are adapted to support the an extended, non-linear battlefield and in locations. specific military doctrine and represent a significant capability and investment that communicate over a large portion of the ated by multiple radios on board and sim- cannot be replaced as frequently as com- spectrum (typically HF-VHF-UHF-L Band) plifies spectrum allocation management. mercial communications technology. while supporting multiple protocols. Oper- Like other tactical SDRs, the E-LYNX wire- Satellite-based communications networks ating in various protocols enables military less solution provides frequency coverage are available to support global connectiv- SDR sets to link different domains such as from 30 MHz to 1.8 GHz with multiple ity as well as link units across mountain- land forces, pilots or naval units, through waveforms. It is available in high-power ous area or in urban terrain that hampers terrestrial, airborne and satellite-based dual- or single-channel vehicular/airborne land-bound communications even at close networking. They harness all available and manpack sets and down to handheld range. However, unlike standard radios, connectivity means, including Bluetooth, CDMA, GSM, LTE or WiFi, along with spe- cific services unique to the military service of coalition. Specific gear and waveforms are also employed, for example, to estab- lish low-latency connectivity necessary for

real-time applications such as targeting and Photo: Rhode & Schwartz remote control. SDR has come a long way since the early days when computing technology limited the amount of processing, and therefore the capabilities of SDR. Modern radios are highly secured network-controlled devices that can be programmed and updated on the fly. Although they employ common SDRs are part of Rhode & Schwartz’ SOVERON architecture, supporting hardware and software modules, different tactical communications scenarios and for deployment on airborne plat- systems are offered to address specific user forms. The family includes SOVERON D, which is the product created un- needs, as part of a “family of radios” each der the joint radio system project of the German Armed Forces (SVFuA). offers unique advantages. A typical SDR supporting multiple voice and personal role soldier configurations. A satellite terminals require highly trained sessions and data transmissions, as well major advantage is its extended network- specialist operators and technicians that as backward compatibility to legacy wave- ing coverage, particularly over harsh ter- are rarely available with tactical units. For forms is Elbit Systems’ E-LYNX, a radio rain, using multi-hop concurrent flooding this purpose, the US Army invested in the family that provides the essential element technique that improves spectral usability Warfighter Information Network – Tactical for cross-network integration. Operating and efficiency and immunity to interfer- (WIN-T) Program of Record developed and simultaneously on a single physical chan- ence. New configurations released last year produced by General Dynamics Mission nel, E-LYNX enables users to communicate include lighter, compact, low-power-con- Systems. WIN-T provides reliable, secure, in several voice networks at the same time, sumption manpacks and a new configura- and seamless communications for units op- and independently transfer data, reducing tion of vehicular sets that easily integrates erating at theatre level and below. the number of single channel radios on into modern combat vehicles. The satellite-based WIN-T network enables board, along with the associated anten- Having a digital two-channel radio is a ma- military users to integrate an 'everything- nae, cables and power consumption. It also jor advantage to dismounted unit leaders over-internet' protocol to provide connec- eliminates co-location interference gener- who, until now, relied on three radios to tivity across an extended, non-linear battle-

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 83  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY field and at remote locations. The network bandwidth capacity they provide to users. situational awareness and broadband data was designed to deploy over a period of Unlike commercial activities that are care- in addition to delivering messages across all 30 years in four increments. The first incre- fully planned, coordinated and regulated by units and throughout the entire operational ment was fielded in 2002 and established government and international organisations, area, even in areas not covered by the fixed, rapidly deployable means to exchange military communications are designed to terrestrial network. voice, video, data, and imagery between operate in a chaotic operating environment The system supports multiple network to- command posts using compact, mobile dominated by inconsistent connectivity due pologies, including point-to-point (P2P), Ku-band and Ka-band satellite-based to enemy actions, loss of assets point-to-multipoint (P2mP) and more com- network terminals mounted on and the need to maintain plex mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) con- vehicles. As the terminals mobility and survivability. figurations. This gives the user the flexibility were limited to station- On the other hand, the to adapt the network to the situation, which ary positions, this in- demand for bandwidth means higher tolerance to any threat that crement was referred is ever increasing, with might block a link connection or disable net- to as ‘Networking at- user reliance on video work nodes. the-Halt'. and real-time informa- The second incre- tion. Networked Applications ment was introduced Driven by Digital in 2012, providing Militarised Communications mobile communi- Communica- cations capabilities tions Networks As smartphones transformed our daily at the division level life, C2 apps transform military command and below, pro- To enable deployed and control. Such apps are deployed viding manoeuvre military networks to quickly and change frequently, enabling commanders with evolve at a rate closer to designers and users to adapt their user initial ‘command those of the commercial interface and operation to meet soldiers and control on-the- world, many armies turn likes and needs. move’. Increment 2 to ‘militarised’ 4G LTE Leveraging such capability, the US Army uses vehicle-mount- technology, coupling has recently tested two mission com- ed directional SAT- the military communica- mand ‘apps’ called MCE (Mounted Com- COM terminals tions environment with puting Environment) and MMC (Mount- that can operate commercially based ed Mission compare user experience with when vehicles are ruggedised equipment. different apps that reduce network com- moving. Supporting The Finnish Defence plexity and provide soldiers with an intui-

units from battalion Photo: Bittium Forces (FDF) have se- tive system. Both systems were evaluated to company level, lected the TAC WIN IP in November 2018, during the Network WIN-T Increment 2 networking solution Integration Experiment (NIE 18.2) event. improved command from Bittium for its new Soldiers received the systems and oper- and control and se- Tactical Wireless IP Net- ated them in simulated combat, as the cure communications work. The decision to systems were rated on metrics ranging within manoeuvre bri- modernise the network from message completion rate, bridging gades. The command was part of the FDF re- multiple networks simultaneously, cy- vehicles carrying those The Finnish Defence Forces organisation, enabling bersecurity posture, interoperability and satellite terminals in- (FDF) have selected the TAC its land force to employ backwards compatibility with currently clude M-ATV, STRYKER WIN IP networking solution smaller, better-equipped fielded army systems. and HMMWVs acting from Bittium for its new mobile combat units that The US Army began developing MCE as a ‘Point of Presence’ Tactical Wireless IP Network. can manoeuvre on larger in-house but soon realised emerging (PoP) employing ra- areas and effectively en- commercial solutions would best meet dios with terrestrial Highband Networking gage an enemy with better results than for- its needs. MCE was developed by the Waveform and a satellite Network Centric mer linear forces. Smaller, more manoeu- Army using the government-developed Waveform to reach back to the satellite net- vrable units require an equally agile network Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) app work and distribute information to nearby that could only be enabled by SDR technol- to provide simple and intuitive Mission users. ogy and all-IP tactical networks. Command on-the-Move and situational The third increment of WIN-T was supposed This ambitious goal required significant in- awareness down to the tactical edge as to support full networking on the move by vestment in digital network technology, and part of the Army's common operating 2020 but this phase was terminated as the a practical approach was to utilise hardware environment. It leverages the existing Army decided to pursue more versatile net- and protocols, but also technologies such as Joint Battle Command-Platform (JBC-P) working assets for the tactical level. 'Full cognitive radio, MESH networks, and adap- hardware and network and will eventu- Networking on-the-Move' was to provide tive antenna concepts developed for com- ally replace JBC-P software on the Army’s full mobility mission command for all Army mercial applications. Research and develop- Mounted Family of Computer Systems field commanders, from theatre to com- ment in waveform development also lever- Hardware and the Blue Force Tracking 2 pany level using networked airborne com- age efforts made by other NATO members SATCOM network. munication relays. that shared the European Secure Software The second app, MMC, is is based on One of the most pressing challenges to Defined Radio (ESSOR). In addition to voice Frontline v2.0, a commercial product of military network operators is the limited and networking, the system should support the SitaWare brand from Systematic.

84 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

The company’s applications are also part of the US Army's Command Post Computing Environment (CPCE) to be fielded this year with the first Army unit. CPCE is a package of hardware and software to improve command and Graphic: General Dynamics control and minimise the command post’s physical and energy footprint. Units accessing the command post computing environment will be able to drop graphics into maps, share docu- ments or chat with soldiers in the field, facilitating increased lethality. CPCE is a new capability being introduced by the Army under the Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) concept that utilises mili- tary, militarised and commercial elements in a network designed to be resilient and operate in a contested environment. Rapid development and deployment of the new network is a high priority for the Network Cross Functional Team (N-CFT), an agile research, development and ac- General Dynamics’ FORTRESS Wireless gateway is a vehicle mounted quisition organisation launched last year networking module allowing users to connect securely to a wireless by the newly established US Army Fu- network to enhance and extend wireless network coverage. tures Command. The first increment of ITN is expected to become operational in One of the important advantages ITN Powered by highly integrated networking, 2020. Future enhancements will include introduces is a ‘secure but unclassified’ Harris FALCON NET provides such data- utilisation of low-earth-orbit satellites, (SBU) service level, being more suitable centric services to offer converged voice, new waveforms, cross-domain solutions for tactical users. Unlike highly encrypted data and full motion video interoperability and artificial intelligence/machine learn- military networks that support Secret level throughout the FALCON family. Support- ing, as emerging technologies become and above, ITN is designed for tactical use ing over 50 waveforms over SDRs, FALCON available. at battalion level, where secrecy is time- NET enables users to cope with demand- Components of the ITN include existing sensitive and therefore becomes unclassi- ing operational environments, through low single-channel and two-channel leader fied after a while. Therefore, having high latency, anti-jam, and mobile networking. radios with advanced networking wave- security becomes a liability, rather than an As part of that ecosystem, Harris also offers forms, handheld Link 16 radios, small ap- advantage. Utilising less powerful encryp- applications previously implemented by us- erture satellite terminals, as well as com- tions, SBU leverages a combination of mili- ers or third-party providers. Such applica- mercial systems such as 4G/LTE/Wi-Fi tary and commercially available networks tions support anything from basic chat and and smartphone-based end user devices. and security measures that offer more flex- messaging and position location reporting, General Dynamics Mission Systems ibility by using all available networks. While to battle management, common operating provides such a network system with SBU information is not classified, the ITN’s picture, network planning and monitoring its FORTRESS Wireless Network solu- multiple layers of encryption protect data design. Relying on a single provider for tion. The system utilised Mesh and 4G transmitted over military or commercial ‘everything digital’ may be risky but help LTE products designed for optimal size, networks, the internet, cellular networks ensure the success and ‘future proof’ of weight, power, cost and outdoor use, or compatible but non-military waveforms. such programmes. and customisable for specific frequency Other benefits include simplified training, bands to fit a variety of mobile applica- setup and employment of the network, Summary tions from tactical deployments through which speeds up planning time and cre- to cluttered urban environments. ates a more collaborative planning environ- Significant increases in defence spending The wireless gateway is a vehicle-mount- ment, including communications with joint among most of the NATO and European ed networking module allowing users to and coalition partners. members reflect the growing need for force connect quickly and securely to a wireless modernisation. The future force may not be network to enhance and extend wireless Data-Driven Ecosystems bigger or stronger, but far more agile, em- network coverage. Designed as a secure powered by modern digital networks, pro- communications gateway for tactical use, Utilising standard-based communications, viding the dynamics bringing the total force it provides connectivity, roaming and the military flattens the networks, intro- to effect. Modern digital communication is mesh networking capabilities extend- ducing more competition. Responding to the enabler for such capabilities. Carrying ing cellular networks over the licensed the competition, companies specialised in voice, data and video to bond individual and unlicensed spectrum, for Wi-Fi and military communications tighten their ser- units with weapon systems and support- LTE networks. Users can also connect vice offerings by leveraging radios, wave- ing elements, such communication is es- their existing mobile devices, like smart- forms and applications to provide users sential to turn multinational forces and phones, cameras and tablets to the net- with an easily deployed ‘ecosystem’ that joint commands into cohesive combat work via the Wireless Gateway. can instantly deploy on their networks. forces. 

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 85  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY Arctic Tests of the BRONCO 3 Completed

Gerhard Heiming

Currently, ST Engineering Land Systems is finalising the development of the BRONCO 3 vehicle. For the end of a test campaign lasting several weeks, ST Engineering invited interested parties from Europe, America and Asia, as well as international specialised journalists, to Ivalo/Finland – 300 km north of the Arctic Circle – to present and demonstrate the performance of the vehicle under Arctic conditions.

he BRONCO 3 can cross rough terrain Development in the tracks improved the ballistic protection Twith low bearing capacity without BRONCO Family against mines/IEDs while providing more preparation thanks to its particularly low space for the crew. The front body of the ground pressure (0.3 bar) at 16 tonnes The development of the BRONCO 3 was latest BRONCO version has an interior vol- combat weight and its unusual articu- based on lessons learned in missions with ume of 5.9 m³ and the rear body 7.9 m³, lated steering. The vehicle can transition its predecessors, including the BRONCO with an interior height of 1.25 m, which from soft to swampy ground to water 2, which the British Army deployed to Af- allows for more efficient crew operation. In without external support. Propelled by ghanistan as WARTHOG. The central de- the passenger transport version, the BRON- CO 3 offers space for five (front) or eight (rear) soldiers; the rear seats are attached to the side wall and fitted with footrests to protect against blast. Photo: Heiming For protection against mines, the under- body of both vehicle bodies is a continuous, V-shaped armour steel plate. The rear car has a ground clearance of about 1 metre. The cabin walls are made of armoured steel to protect against ballistic threats. The ba-

Nominal Ground Pressure Nominal ground pressure (NGP) and combat weight are the two most im- portant characteristics to assess the off-road capability of a combat vehicle. A common method to calculate NGP is the ratio of combat weight to track contact area. The latter is the product of track length on ground and track width. On solid ground, the NGP is higher, because only the raised parts of the track profile are in contact with the ground. On soft ground, the NGP decreases with the sinking depth until The articulated, two-body BRONCO 3 successfully completed Arctic tests. the hull rests on the ground. A marching infantryman with 120 kg tracks, the fully amphibious vehicle can velopment goal was to reduce its empty (combat equipment included) gen- swim at speeds of up to 5 km/h. On firm weight by two tonnes while maintaining its erates an NGP of approx. 0.7 bar, a ground, the vehicle – powered by a Mer- protection level by optimising the structure modern medium battle tank like the cedes-MTU TD 106 diesel engine (Euro and using lighter components. Buoyancy LEOPARD 2 A7 V comes to 1.0 bar, 3) – reaches a top speed of 65 km/h. was not to be impaired by the payload of the NGP of an 8x8 wheeled vehicle – The vehicles of the BRONCO family are four tonnes. On land, it should be possi- depending on tyre type and adjusted steered by an articulated joint connecting ble to increase the payload by two tonnes air pressure – achieves more than 2.0 the two bodies of the vehicle. The four (combat weight 18 tonnes) in a system- bar. The 0.3-bar NGP of the BRONCO tracks are all driven at different speeds compatible manner. A new stowage con- is below all them. during steering cept and not placing the seats above the

86 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  sic protection is level 2a/2b according to STANAG 4569 and can be increased to ST Engineering level 3 (ballistic only) when required, at the ST Engineering Land Systems is part of the engineering and defence group ST Engi- expense of available payload. For self-pro- neering, which employs 22,000 employees in 100 countries. In 2018, the group's four tection, a remote-controlled weapon sta- divisions accounted for revenues of US$5B: Aerospace (39%), Electronics (32%), Land tion can be integrated on the roof with a Systems (19%) and Marine (9%). Defence activities make up about one-third of the heavy (12.7mm calibre) machine gun about revenues. Most customers are located in Asia (62%); 20% are from the US and 11% which ST Engineering has not given further from Europe. specifications. The product spectrum of ST Engineering Land Systems includes among others tracked The running gear uses a Soucy Compos- (BRONCO) and wheeled (TERREX) vehicles, soldier systems (ARIELE), robotic systems, ite Rubber Track (CRT). Standard width is small arms, weapon stations, mortars and howitzers, as well as ammunition, special 0.6 m, but wider tracks of 0.65 m or 0.7 vehicles and technical services. m can be mounted in order to maintain the low ground pressure when increasing the overall weight. The 0.65 m track has different track profiles to increase climbing ability, for example, in mountainous areas. Depending on the driving style and ground Photo: Heiming conditions, the tracks achieve a mileage in the order of 6,000 km, and changing them requires maintenance personnel and spe- cial equipment. In order to be able to operate the electronic equipment required in modern warfare, for example, for observation, reconnaissance, command and control and communication, a generator supplies 550 A at 24 V; the ve- hicle concept envisages the integration of an additional power generator (Auxiliary Power Unit, APU). Power and data are dis- tributed via an open electrical architecture that is compatible with the Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA). The standard BRONCO The articulated coupling is the one of the basic features of BRONCO 3 3 is equipped with a front and rear camera system that supports the driver in driving the features mounting rails to rapidly change The BRONCO DAWN is a highly mobile vehicle and provides the entire crew with in- devices depending on the mission, ST En- mortar system; the front body features formation on the situation in the immediate gineering also offers an open box and a a radar for reconnaissance, target track- vicinity of the vehicle. flatbed for logistics transport. ST Engineer- ing and identification friend-or-foe (IFF), A special feature of the rear body is the ing has developed numerous other vari- a shot detector, a remote-controlled consistent division into chassis and mission ants with special equipment for reconnais- 12.7mm weapon station and the rear body structure; this allows the rear body to be sance, combat (with increased protection, an automatic 120mm mortar. The system equipped for other missions in a short time a weapon station and extended range), can detect slow-flying objects with a low via quick connectors. Next to the stand- indirect fire, medical evacuation and treat- radar cross-section, such as unmanned ard cabin for passenger transport, which ment, as well as recovery and repair. aerial systems, gliders and helicopters and engage them with the weapon station. The Arctic tests in Ivalo are at the end of the company’s trials; final tests in hot weather will follow. From ST Engineering's point of view, the BRONCO 3 is ready for series pro- duction. Production can start at short no-

Graphics: ST Engineering tice, with a rate of eight vehicles per month. If required, the rate can be doubled in two- shift operation.

The Next Step

The next development step has been initi- ated and has reached the prototype stage; ST Engineering has introduced a patented diesel-electric hybrid drive for autonomous operation of the rear body. The rear body is fitted with batteries in the The BRONCO 3's modular design provides a high level of flexibility, chassis and an engine/generator (MoGen), facilitating quick and easy mission module switching. which is driven through the articulated joint

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 87  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

transmission between the inner and outer tracks for regenerative steering, so that the rear body can be positioned by remote con- trol alone via an autonomous set to bring sensors or weapons into position without endangering the crew. The energy supply will allow a range of up to 20 km depending on battery size.

Market

ST Engineering sees opportunities to market the new BRONCO 3 to armed forces; the company had invited specialist personnel to the demonstration. However, sales opportu- nities are also seen in nations which want to replace the BV206, introduced decades ago with the same vehicle concept. Experiences gained in disaster operations – such as the Hybrid drive is provided by a combustion engine in the front body snow disaster in Germany in early 2019 – and a motor/generator with batteries in the rear body. show that the built-in protection can also re- duce the risk of falling trees or debris. For this in (coupled) normal operation and charges – the BRONCO 3 can approach its position reason, civilian disaster prevention officers the batteries with a portion of the power almost silently with the electric drive. are also part of the target group. Japan, for of the main engine in the front body. In this The electric drive in the rear body also allows example, uses the EXTREM V – the commer- operating mode, the steering takes place it to be operated autonomously (Manned– cial variant of BRONCO – for this purpose. unchanged via the articulated joint with the Unmanned Teaming, MUT). For this pur- To date, ST Engineering has sold around tracks running at the same speed. For silent pose, the two bodies need to be discon- 1,200 BRONCOs in over 20 versions; the driving, the main engine can be switched off nected, which takes a few seconds. New new BRONCO 3 offers the opportunity to and – due to the CRT being quiet anyway steering gears in both cars enable power increase sales further. 

presents Register Now & Save 10% With FUTURE Discount Code ARTILLERY ESD10 Taking Firepower Forward The World’s Most Prestigious and Influential Joint Fires Conference

Dates: 13th – 15th May 2019 A high quality event with very qualified attendees which was extremely valuable Venue: and thought provoking Stamford Bridge Football – Colonel Milan Kalina, Chief of Artillery, Czech Army Stadium, London, UK futureartillery.iqpc.co.uk ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  Fleet Replenishment Ships: the Workhorses of Many Navies

Guy Toremans

Although underway replenishment and fleet sustainment are often regarded as the less glamorous aspects of maritime operations, logistic support vessels are one of the most critical factors for a successful employment of naval assets.

aving to contribute to an ever wider Hvariety of missions, a number of naval forces are recapitalising their afloat logistics capabilities with more versatile platforms that offer not only a replenishement role but can carry out a myriad of other services. ESD takes a look at the European support vessels market, where, as of end-2018, some 22 new replenishments ship projects for 13 European navies were in the pipeline.

Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Navy’s (Voennomorski Sili) two 1,270-tonne support oilers BALCHIK and AKIN, which entered the fleet in 1994 and 2000 respectively, are not suited to presents Register Now comply to their NATO commitments. Hence the sea service’s requirement for a more ca- Photo: Guy Toremans & Save 10% With pable replenishment ship to replace both The Turkish Navy’s fleet support ship (AORH) TCG AKAR Discount Code support tankers. It is anticipated that the Bulgarian Navy may either attempt to pro- units. The design development is antici- small landing craft, rigid-hulled inflatable FUTURE cure a second-hand logistic support ship pated to start in 2025 in order to have the boats (RHIBs) and also suitability for use as ESD10 from a NATO nation or purchase a newly construction contract signed by 2027 for a a command platform. However, on 10 April built platform, the latter likely to be con- commission by 2030. 2017, the French MoD decided to select structed at one of Bulgaria’s shipyards in the Italian Fincantieri’s VULCANO design, ARTILLERY Varna or Bourgas. In case the navy opts for France currently under construction for the Ital- an in-use ship, the vessel could be selected ian Navy. This decision was followed by the Taking Firepower Forward as early as 2022. If the new construction Although France’s overseas departments formal purchase of 50% of STX Shipyard option is selected, the contract will prob- assure the French Navy (Marine Nationale) France by Fincantieri in February 2018. The ably be in place by the end of this decade. of a number of ports where it can refuel and construction could commence as early as The World’s Most Prestigious and Influential replenish its ships; the sea service maintains 2020, with deliveries scheduled for 2023, Croatia an underway replenishment capability with 2025 and 2026. Joint Fires Conference its three 18,797-tonne DURANCE class re- The Croatian MoD’s “Long-Term Develop- plenishment tankers FS VAR, FS MARNE and Germany ment Plan 2015–2024” set out the navy's FS SOMME, commissioned in 1983, 1987 (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica) maritime pro- and 1990, respectively. Under the ‘Flotte As Germany takes a bigger role in NATO Dates: grammes, including the procurement of Logistique’ Programme (FLOTLOG), the na- and EU maritime operations, the German up to four new offshore patrol vessels an- vy plans for their replacement by three new Navy needs a larger replenishment force to 13th – 15th May 2019 A high quality event with very qualified ticipated to enter service through the late- logistic supply ships. Initially, Naval Group sustain its ships operating in key strategic attendees which was extremely valuable 2020s, and the acquisition of a supply ship (ex- DCNS) was the frontrunner, offering its areas around the world. Consequently, the Venue: and thought provoking to provide logistic support to these new 205 m long Bătiment Ravitailleur d’Escadre sea service will replace its two 1974-vintage Stamford Bridge Football (BRAVE) concept. Displacing approximately replenishment tankers FGS RHÖN and FGS – Colonel Milan Kalina, Chief of Artillery, Czech Army Stadium, London, UK Author 30,000 tonnes, the BRAVE design features SPESSART, with two new fast combat sup- two replenishment-at-sea stations on each port ships to supplement the three BERLIN Guy Toremans is a freelance naval beam for fuel and dry stores, a helicopter class combat stores ships already in service. journalist based in Belgium. deck and hangar for two mid-sized heli- Due to the navy’s higher priorities, such as copters, facilities for vehicles, containers, the Type 212A submarines, the additional futureartillery.iqpc.co.uk 4/2019 · European Security & Defence 89  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

the ITS VULCANO is equipped with four re- fuelling stations (two each side) for liquids, two stations (one per side) for heavy load transfer, two stations (one on each side) for

Photo: Guy Toremans light material and one aft refuelling station for fuel only. In terms of cargo capacity, the ITS VULCANO can transport up to 8,700 cubic metres of F36 marine fuel, 3,700 cu- bic metres of F44 JP5 aviation fuel, 800 cubic metres of fresh water, 220 tonnes of ammunition, 15 tonnes of lube oil, 30,000 food rations, and 20 tonnes of spare parts. It also features multipurpose workshops as well as technical workshops in the heli- copter hangar that can provide full Level 2 maintenance. The ship is also outfitted with a NATO Role 2 medical facility. Once commissioned into the fleet, scheduled for the first quarter of 2019, ITS VULCANO will provide the prerequisite for the Ma- The Greek Navy’s support ship (ARL) HS AXIOS, the former German rina Militare to undertake a wide variety of FGS COBURG national and international missions. Apart from providing fuel and stores, the ship will K-130 corvettes, the BADEN-WURTTEM- ond-hand support ship purchased on the be capable of conducting fleet repair as- BERG class and MKS-180 multipurpose international market. sistance, acting as a command platform, surface combatants, the new fast combat supporting mine countermeasures vessels, support ships, expected to be quite similar Italy and undertaking disaster or humanitarian to the BERLIN class, may probably be or- relief operations. dered by 2025 with their commissioning With Italy more strongly supporting its Although the Italian MoD has already out- anticipated in 2029 and 2031 respectively. European Union and NATO allies in ‘out- lined the requirement for an additional USL of-area’ missions, the Italian Navy (Marina to replace the ITS VESUVIO, there are no Greece Militare) needs larger supply ships in order indications on the procurement timeline. to extend the operational capacity of its Currently, the Hellenic Navy’s inven- assets beyond the Mediterranean. In 2013, The Netherlands tory of replenishment ship consists of the the Marina Militare began looking into a 13,615-tonne replenishment oiler HS PRO- replacement for its two 8,650-tonne sup- The Netherlands' "2018 Defense White Pa- METHEUS, based on the Italian ETNA de- port ships ITS STROMBOLI and ITS VESU- per" outlines that the Royal Netherlands sign and delivered in 2003, and the two VIO, commissioned in 1975 and 1978 re- Navy can acquire a second Combat Sup- 1968-vintage AXIOS class support ships spectively. The navy selected Fincantieri's port Ship (CSS) to supplement the joint HS AXIOS (ex-FGS COBURG) and HS ALIA- Unita di Supporto Logistico (USL) design. logistic support ship HMNS KAREL DOOR- KANON (ex-FGS SAARBURG) purchased The construction of the USL – christened MAN that entered the fleet in April 2015. from the German Navy in 1991 and 1994 ITS VULCANO – kicked off on 9 February Requiring a proven design, this new combat respectively. It is estimated that the navy 2016. With a length of 192.2 m and a dis- support ship could be one of Damen Schel- will decommission the two 4,487-tonne placement of approx. 27,200 tonnes, the de Naval Shipbuilding's (DSNS) newly de- AXIOS tankers in 2020 and replace them ITS VULCANO is the largest support ship signed Logistic Support Vessel Replenisher with one auxiliary oiler replenishment ves- ever built for the Italian Navy. Designed to (LSVR) platforms: either the LSVR 20,000 sel, either a newly built platform or a sec- provide a five-ship strong naval task group, type which is a 187-metre-long platform displacing approximately 20,300 tonnes or the 175-metre-long LSVR 19,000 type with a displacement of around 19000 tonnes. With the construction contract expected in 2023, with commissioning anticipated

Photo: Guy Toremans for 2027. The new combat support ship is likely to be built at DSNS in the Netherlands or at DSNS’s shipyard in Galatz, Romania.

Norway

In 2006, the Norwegian MoD approved the procurement of a newly built Logistics Support Vessel (LSV) for the Royal Norwe- gian Navy. The Norwegian Defence Logis- tics Organisation (NDLO) initiated the plans The Polish Navy’s Project ZP-1200 tanker (AOL) ORP BALTYK. for the new platform, codenamed Project

90 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY  Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Naval Group to Build Four Naval Replenishment Tankers for the French Navy Norwegian Navy on 16 November 2018. A temporary consortium of Chantiers de l'Atlantique and Naval Group was commis- Following the completion of her sea trials sioned to build four Logistic Support Ships (LSS) and maintain them for the first six in South Korean waters, she is scheduled to years. This contract for the French Navy is part of the Franco-Italian LSS programme arrive in Norway during first trimester 2019. led by OCCAR, Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, on behalf of the DGA, HNoMS MAUD will provide the basis for the French Defence Procurement Authority and its Italian counterpart NAVARM. The the Royal Norwegian Navy's new mission delivery of these ships will take place between 2022 and 2029. A signing ceremony spectrum, providing nearly all kinds of ma- was held today with stakeholder representatives. These tankers, with a tank volume terial to a task force for the Norwegian Task of 13,000 cubic metres, will provide logistical support for the combat vessels of Force, serve as mothership, with mooring the French and allied navies. They will transport fuel for ships, kerosene for aircraft, and fendering arrangements for subma- weapons and ammunition, spare parts and food. The ships will also be equipped with rines, small craft and frigates, submarines, disposal solutions and repair shops. corvettes, MCM-vessels or special forces, act as a command platform, or undertake humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) operations.

Poland

Although refitted in 2013, the Polish Navy Photo: Chantiers de l'Atlantique (MarynarkaWojenna) has a pressing need to replace its 1991-vintage replenishment oiler (AORL) ORP BALTYK by a modern sup- port ship. With its length of 84.4 m and displacing 3,098 tonnes, the ORP BALTYK cannot comply with the navy’s requirements for a modernised naval force, nor with the requirements of NATO, including as part of Their characteristics will adapt as well to their specific missions in support of the avia- the NATO Partnership for Peace initiative. tion group constituted around the aircraft carrier CHARLES DE GAULLE. One of the likely designs considered is the The design of the vessels will be based on the Italian LSS VULCANO (already under Remontowa Marine Design and Consulting construction by Fincantieri), the first ship of the Italian–French Logistic Support Ship RMDC 3227 concept, but the navy could (LSS) programme managed by OCCAR. The industrial organisation of this major pro- also choose a foreign supplier for a design gramme will mobilise the industrial capabilities of both nations. that will probably be constructed at the Pol- Main characteristics of the vessels: ish Gdynia Naval Shipyard. With a length Gross tonnage: 28,700 GRT of some 130 m, the RMDC 3227 platform Dimensions: 194 x 27.4 metres displaces about 12,000 tonnes and mounts Crew capacity: 190 two replenishment and three heavy lift sta- Deadweight: 14,870 tonnes tions, the ability to transport TEU containers Freight volume: 13,000 cubic metres and embark a command facility. The navy is Armament: 40mm guns expected to select the design by 2024 with CMS: POLARIS Combat Management System an anticipated in-service date of 2030.

2513. In March 2013, South Korean Dae- woo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd’s (DSME) BMT AEGIR 18NR design was downselected and the construction

contract was signed on 28 June 2013. Photo: Guy Toremans The first module of the LSV – christened HNoMS MAUD – was laid down at the DSME Shipyards in Okpo, South Korea, in September 2015 and the ship entered her natural element on 4 June 2016. The 183 m-long ship features two replenish- ment-at-sea stations on each side, an astern refuelling capability, and a flight deck de- signed to operate medium- and heavy-sized helicopters. Her cargo capacity includes up to 6,000 tonnes of liquids, 900 tonnes of dry stores, a capacity to embark containers and/or different types of vehicles and medi- cal facilities allowing her to act in a Role 1 capacity, extendable to a Role 2. HNoMS MAUD was handed over to the The Swedish Navy’s support ship (AG) HSwMS CARLSKRONA

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 91  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

Portugal

The Portuguese Navy is pushing for a new replenishment ship to replace its 11,707-tonne replenishment tanker NRP BERRIO – the ex-RFA BLUE ROVER, com- missioned into the UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary in July 1970 and purchased by Portugal in March 1993. With various European navies replacing their support ships, the Portu- guese Navy could either join one of these

Under Con- In COUNTRY struction or Service

Projected Photo: Guy Toremans Belgium 1 - The Italian replenishment tanker (AORH) ITS ETNA Bulgaria 2 1 construction programmes or consider the in the 13,000–15,000 tonnes range and Croatia - 1 acquisition of a second-hand vessel from possibly based on the Danish Navy’s Denmark 2 - one of these EU navies. The latter option ABSALON class (L10 type) design. With may be a more likely option due to the lim- the priority of the A26 class submarines France 3 3 ited available budget. Such a vessel could and new frigates, the RSwN decided to Germany 5 2 then be procured by 2021. However, if the continue operating its two 1980-vin- Greece 3 1 Portugese Navy opts for a new construc- tage support ships, the 3658-tonne sup- tion, the programme may not start prior ply ship HSwMS CARLSKRONA and the Italy 3 2 to 2027. Potential shipyards to bid for such 2,174-tonne support ship HSwMS TROS- Latvia 1 - a new platform could include DCNS, STX SO until 2025. The RSwN may start the Netherlands 1 1 France, Navantia, Fincantieri, thyssenkrupp design phase in 2019 in order to have a Marine Systems (TKMS), Hyundai Heavy construction contract ready in 2021 for Norway - 1 Industries (HHI), Daewoo Shipbuilding & commissioning by 2025. Poland 1 1 Marine Engineering (DSME) and BMT De- Portugal 1 1 fence Services. Turkey Romania 2 - Sweden On 24 November 2014, the Turkish Naval Spain 2 - Force signed a contract with Selah Ma- Sweden 2 1 The Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN) has a rine Shipyard for the construction of two requirement for a large auxiliary ship to new 3,800-tonne logistic support ships Turkey 3 4 provide not only replenishment, but also to supplement the TCG Akar, TCG Yarbay Ukraine 1 - repair, maintenance and medical sup- Kudret Güngör and TCG Binbasi Sadet- United Kingdom 6 3 port to the fleet and, additionally, be tin Gürcan fleet support ships which en- suitable for use as a command platform. tered the fleet in 1987, 1995 and 1970, TOTAL 39 22 Indications are that the navy is looking respectively. The lead ship TCG YÜZ- European navies' logistic support into a support ship with a length be- BASI GÜNGÖR DURMUS entered ser- vessels in service as of end-2018. tween 145–160 m and a displacement vice in 2017 while the second unit, TCG ÜSTEĞGEM ARIF EKMEKÇI, is scheduled to commission in 2019. Turkey is also pushing ahead with the development of a new 22,000-tonne multirole combat support ship – the

Photo: Guy Toremans Denizde Ikmal Muharebe Destek Gemi- si (DIMDEG) project, designed by STM Shipyard. At 190 metres, the new vessel will feature one alongside replenishment- at-sea (RAS) on each side, a cargo ca- pacity of 14,000 tonnes of fuels; 2,000 tonnes of water; 1,000 tonnes of lube oil as well as 400 tonnes of ammunition and stores. In October 2018, the Turkish Under-Secretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) awarded the construction contract to Sefine Shipyard. Entry into service of the first of class is anticipated in 2020 and the construction of the second vessel The Danish combat support ship (AGF/AKR/AH) HDMS ESBERN SNARE could follow in the mid-2020s.

92 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

of some 235 m and a displacement of around 40,000 tonnes, will replace the RFA’s fleet replenishment ships RFA FORT AUSTIN, RFA FORT ROSALIE, and RFA FORT VICTORIA. Primary tasks of the FSS units will be to provide supplies to the RN’s two QUEEN ELIZABETH class aircraft carriers, as well as to amphibious forces. The first unit may start construc-

Photo: Guy Toremans tion as early as 2021 and enter service ITS STROMBOLI, one of the Italian Navy’s two STROMBOLI class replen- in 2026, with the second and third to ishment tankers (AORH) follow in 2027 and 2028.

UK at-sea (RAS) stations for diesel and aviation Conclusion fuel and fresh water, one solid RAS station The UK’s 2010 Strategic Defence & Security and a reel for stern replenishments. The Due to strained defence budgets, navies try Review (SDSR) outlined the Royal Fleet Aux- flight deck and hangar can operate MERLIN to put significant tonnages of a wide range iliary’s (RFA) requirement to maintain a fleet or CH-47 CHINOOK helicopters. The lead of supplies into their new fleet replenishment of support ships scaled to operate out-of- ship, RFA TIDESPRING, was delivered in Janu- ships in order to improve their operational area for prolonged periods of time through ary 2017 and arrived in the UK on 3 April capabilities and be able to undertake a mul- the two Military Afloat Reach and Sustain- 2017. RFA TIDERACE and RFA TIDESURGE titude of support roles. An extreme example ability (MARS) programmes, namely thee arrived in the UK in March 2018 and RFA of such a platform is the Norwegian Navy’s MARS Tanker Project and the MARS Future TIDEFORCE in August 2018. Upon their ar- HNoMS MAUD. Obviously, for small- and Solid Support Project. The MARS Tanker rival in the UK, each ship goes to the A&P medium-sized navies, such multirole support project comprises the construction of four Shipyard in Falmouth to complete the RFA ships are an appealing solution to reduce 37,000-tonne TIDE class units, based on the Customisation Package. costs. However, it is not only challenging to BMT's AEGIR-26 design and constructed by The second phase of the RFA’s recapitali- cram so much capability into one platform, DSME – partnered with BMT Defence Servic- sation comes in the shape of the three- but bringing into service support ships fea- es – at the Okpo Shipyard, South Korea. The ship MARS Future Solid Support (FSS) turing new capabilities also requires new tankers feature three abeam replenishment- programme. These units, with a length training and maintenance procedures. 

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Cobham Aerospace Connectiv- RT-7000 Sistema de Rádio Tático SEA supplies a range of Maritime Combat Sys- A SEA fornece uma gama de equipamentos ity’s RT-7000 Airborne Tactical Aéreo da Cobham Aerospace Con- tems equipment, including Torpedo and Decoy de Sistema de Combate Marítimo, incluindo Radio System delivers maximum nectivity proporciona a maior inter- launchers, Weapons Handling Systems, com- os lançadores de Torpedo e Decoy, Sistemas interoperability in a modular, operabilidae em uma modular ar- munications and Sonar sensor systems plus the de Manuseio de Armas, sistemas de sensores software-defined architecture quitetura de software e montagem required mission system support capabilities. de comunicação e Sonar, além dos recursos and mounts in the cockpit or em cockpit ou em cabine. Ele é car- SEA’s Torpedo Launcher System provides the necessários para o suporte ao sistema da cabin. It features a multi-col- acterizado por um display multicolor rapid launch of a range of weapon types, avail- missão. O Sistema de Lançador de Torpedo our touchscreen display, cus- com touchscreen, customisado GUI able in multiple launcher configurations to suit da SEA fornece rápido lançamento de uma tomisable GUI, and multi-key e multiuso cifrado FIPS-140-2. differing platforms and is designed to meet all variedade de tipos de armas, disponíveis em FIPS-140-2 encryption. requirements from Coastal Patrol Vessels to múltiplas configurações de lançadores para Aircraft Carriers. Our Sonar Systems products atender plataformas diferentes e é projetado Cobham Antenna Systems is a have applications in Anti-Submarine Warfare, para atender aos requisitos desde Navios da market-leading supplier of ad- Cobham Antenna Systems é for- mine warfare and maritime security. KRAITAR- Patrulha Costeira a porta-aviões. Nossos vanced, ultra-reliable integrated necedor líder no mercado de RAY™, the low profile miniaturised acoustic ar- produtos de Sistema de Sonar têm aplicação systems for avionics, radar, sur- sistemas integrados avançados, ray, is suitable for deployment from unmanned em batalhas submarinas, no uso de explo- veillance and Satcom applica- ultra- confiáveis para aviônicos, assets and smaller platforms. sivos em minas e na segurança marítima. tions. Our Anti-Jam GPS, Tetra, radar, vigilância e aplicações de O KraitArray ™, o discreto arranjo acústico Tactical Direction Finders, and Direction Finding Systems are highly resil- comunicações por satélite. Nossos anti-jam GPS, Tetra, Tactical Direction miniaturizado, é adequado para a implan- ient, totally dependable solutions with low through-life costs that deliver Finders e Direction Finding Systems são altamente resilentes, com soluções tação de bens não-tripulados e plataformas outstanding performance and outstanding value. totalmente independentes com baixo custo-benefício que proporporciona menores. uma performance de alto nível e alto valor;

Pavilion_ESD_04_2019_V2.indd 2-3 24.03.19 12:35 Faun Trackway USA, Inc. is the global leader in Faun Trackway USA, Inc é a líder mundial em the design, manufacture and supply of access projeto, fabricação e fornecimento de Sistema terrain systems for ground stabilisation. Boast- de acesso em terrenos para estabilização terres- ing a product range so unique and versatile, tre. Capitaneando uma gama de produtos única our aluminium portable roadway, over the e versátil, nosso navegador portátil de alumínio, shore and aviation solutions are relied upon para soluções na praia e aviação são aprova- daily by military engineers in over 40 coun- das diariamente por engenheiros militares em tries. Designed for multi-climate operations, mais de 40 países. Projetado para operações em our temporary roadways and marine access qualquer clima, nossos navegadores terrestre e routes comprise M150 and M30H Trackway®, marítimo temporários para acesso de rotas com- preventing vehicle damage and protecting preendem buscadores M 150 e M 130H, evitan- environments. With our innovative, in-house do danos veiculares e protegendo ambientes. engineers creating world leading solutions Com nossos inovativos engenheiros, criando for Airfield Damage Repair, UAV and Aircraft soluções líderes para Reparo de Danos em Pis- Landing Mats and Helipads, we have a proven track record for use in the tas, Pista de Pouso de UAV e Heliportos, nós temos uma pista comproivada harshest environments by the world's most demanding customers. para uso nos mais difíceis ambientes pelo mais exigentes clients do mundo. MEET THE GREAT BRITISH COMPANIES AT LAAD 2019! ENCONTRE AS GRANDES EMPRESAS BRITÂNICAS NA LAAD 2019 Hiab Limited. With over 60 years experience, Hiab Hiab Limited. Com mais de 60 anos de experiência, is the world’s leading provider of on- and off-road Hiab é o fornecedor líder mundial de equipamento load handling equipment in the ever changing de manuseio de carga em estrada e fora de estrada, logistics environment. Hiab’s product range in- em qualquer ambiente logístico. A linha de produto cludes HIAB loader cranes, MULTILIFT demounta- da Hiab inclui guindastes de carga HIAB, MULTILIFT bles, MOFFETT truck mounted forklifts, as well as desmontáveis, caminhão com forklift montado LOGLIFT forestry cranes and ZEPRO taillifts. Hiab MOFFET, bem como LOGLIFT guindastes de flores- Critical Communications Today is dedicated to Critical Communications: Atualmente é dedicada products and services are available in more than tas e elevadores de retaguarda ZEPRO. Os produtos the global critical communications market. It ao mercado global de comunicações críticas. Tem 100 countries and 600 different locations. Hiab de- e serviços Hiab estão disponíveis em mais de 100 aims to inspire and inform the critical commu- por meta motivar e informar à comunidade de signs, manufactures, sells and supports the latest países e 600 locais diferentes. Hiab projeta, fabrica, nications community and is published with the comunicações críticas e é publicada com o apoio solutions for the handling of military payloads. Our vende e dá suporte às últimas soluções para manu- support of TCCA. Initially launched in 2010 as da TCCA. Lançada inicialmente em 2010 como products maximise the functionality of every vehicle seio de cargas militares. Nossos produtos maximisam TETRA Today, this publication provides technical TETRA hoje esta publicação proporciona infor- within the logistic fleet, offering savings in cost, a funcionalidade de qualquer veículo de uma frota advice, authoritative editorial and commentary mação técnica, editorial autorizativo e comen- time and manpower. logística, oferecendo reduções nos custos, no tempo spanning all areas of mission-critical comms. tários abrangendo todas áreas com missões de e na mão de obra. comunicações críticas.

Chemring Technology Solutions (CTS), a leading Chemring Technology Solutions (CTS): fornece- Pearson Engineering is a world leading pro- Pearson Engineering é um fornecedor líder Electronic Warfare (EW) and Counter-IED solu- dor líder de soluções para Guerra e Contra Me- vider of Counter-Mine, Counter-IED, Combat mundialmente de Antiminas, Anti IED, equi- tions provider will showcase the third-generation didas Eletrônicas estará apresentando a terceira Earth Moving and Assault Bridging Equip- pamentos de movimento terrestre para o com- RESOLVE Manpack Electronic Surveillance Sys- geração do sistema de vigilância com Equipa- ment for Armoured Fighting Vehicles. Crea- bate e pontes de assalto para veículos de com- tem. RESOLVE is the most operationally proven mento Individual RESOLVE. RESOLVE é o Sistema tive engineering and market expertise ensure bate blindados. Nossas engenharia de inovação manpack electronic support system, developed de apoio eletrônico individual mais comprovado, that we provide future focussed capability to e experiência de mercado asseguram que nós and designed for any operational environment. desenvolvido e projetado para utilização em counter modern threats. Many products are provided as interchangeable proporcionamos capacidade futura com foco para conter modernas ameaças. RESOLVE is successfully deployed around the qualquer ambiente operacional. Ele foi empre- vehicle attachments enabling Commanders to optimise vehicle capability Muitos produtos possuem componentes intercambiáveis para veículos pos- world, providing a modular, scaleable EW system for the interception and gado com sucesso em todo mundo, proporcionando um Sistema EW based on the mission. Products include Mine Ploughs, Combat Dozer sibilitando aos comandantes otimisar a capacidade do veículo de acordo com geolocation of tactical communications. It provides operators with access modular e escalonável para a interceptação e localização de comunicações Blades, Earth Anchor Blades, Excavator Arms, Mine Rollers, Surface Clear- a sua missão. Os produtos incluem Buscadores de minas, Lâminas para carros to the HF/VHF and UHF frequency spectrum offering 40MHz instanta- táticas. Permite aos operadores o acesso ao spectrum de frequências HF/ ance Devices, Mechanical De-mining machines, Obstacle Marker Systems, de combate, Lâminas de ancoragem no solo, Braços escavadores, Rolagem neous bandwidth, unrivalled intercept capabilities and rapid survey and VHF e UHF, oferecendo uma banda instantânea de 40 MHZ, capacidades IED Route Clearance Equipment and Vehicle Remote Control Systems. para minas, Dispositivo para Limpesa de Superfície, Máquinas mecânicas anti- monitoring of the EM spectrum through the use of its PREFIX software. de interceptar inalcançáveis e rápida vigilância e monitoramentodo do minas, Sistemas marcadores de obstáculos, Equipamento de limpesa de rota espectrum EM com a utilização de seu software PREFIX. IED e Sistemas de controle remoto de veículos.

Cobham Aerospace Connectiv- RT-7000 Sistema de Rádio Tático SEA supplies a range of Maritime Combat Sys- A SEA fornece uma gama de equipamentos ity’s RT-7000 Airborne Tactical Aéreo da Cobham Aerospace Con- tems equipment, including Torpedo and Decoy de Sistema de Combate Marítimo, incluindo Radio System delivers maximum nectivity proporciona a maior inter- launchers, Weapons Handling Systems, com- os lançadores de Torpedo e Decoy, Sistemas interoperability in a modular, operabilidae em uma modular ar- munications and Sonar sensor systems plus the de Manuseio de Armas, sistemas de sensores software-defined architecture quitetura de software e montagem required mission system support capabilities. de comunicação e Sonar, além dos recursos and mounts in the cockpit or em cockpit ou em cabine. Ele é car- SEA’s Torpedo Launcher System provides the necessários para o suporte ao sistema da cabin. It features a multi-col- acterizado por um display multicolor rapid launch of a range of weapon types, avail- missão. O Sistema de Lançador de Torpedo our touchscreen display, cus- com touchscreen, customisado GUI able in multiple launcher configurations to suit da SEA fornece rápido lançamento de uma tomisable GUI, and multi-key e multiuso cifrado FIPS-140-2. differing platforms and is designed to meet all variedade de tipos de armas, disponíveis em FIPS-140-2 encryption. requirements from Coastal Patrol Vessels to múltiplas configurações de lançadores para Aircraft Carriers. Our Sonar Systems products atender plataformas diferentes e é projetado Cobham Antenna Systems is a have applications in Anti-Submarine Warfare, para atender aos requisitos desde Navios da market-leading supplier of ad- Cobham Antenna Systems é for- mine warfare and maritime security. KRAITAR- Patrulha Costeira a porta-aviões. Nossos vanced, ultra-reliable integrated necedor líder no mercado de RAY™, the low profile miniaturised acoustic ar- produtos de Sistema de Sonar têm aplicação systems for avionics, radar, sur- sistemas integrados avançados, ray, is suitable for deployment from unmanned em batalhas submarinas, no uso de explo- veillance and Satcom applica- ultra- confiáveis para aviônicos, assets and smaller platforms. sivos em minas e na segurança marítima. tions. Our Anti-Jam GPS, Tetra, radar, vigilância e aplicações de O KraitArray ™, o discreto arranjo acústico Tactical Direction Finders, and Direction Finding Systems are highly resil- comunicações por satélite. Nossos anti-jam GPS, Tetra, Tactical Direction miniaturizado, é adequado para a implan- ient, totally dependable solutions with low through-life costs that deliver Finders e Direction Finding Systems são altamente resilentes, com soluções tação de bens não-tripulados e plataformas outstanding performance and outstanding value. totalmente independentes com baixo custo-benefício que proporporciona menores. uma performance de alto nível e alto valor;

Pavilion_ESD_04_2019_V2.indd 2-3 24.03.19 12:35  ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY “The largest and most important procurement programme currently in place is AIR2030.”

Interview with Martin Sonderegger, Head of Switzerland's Federal Office Photo: armasuisse for Defence Procurement armasuisse

Switzerland's military procurement is unique, in that all defence projects are subject to a parliamentary decision, and in individual cases also to a referendum. ESD spoke with Martin Sonderegger, the Swiss Armament Director and Head of the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse.

ESD: How long has armasuisse been in ex- Today, armasuisse employs some 850 peo- ESD: If you compare armasuisse with other istence as the Federal Office for Defence ple in a wide variety of job profiles. In addi- defence procurement organisations like Procurement? What is the structure and tion to the main locations in Bern, Thun and Sweden's FMV or Germany's BAAINBw, what are the main tasks of your organisa- Emmen, armasuisse operates nine branch where do you see commonalities, where tion? offices in the real estate sector throughout differences? Sonderegger: The Federal Office for De- Switzerland. Internationally, we are present Sonderegger: I regularly exchange fence Procurement armasuisse is the pro- with offices in Brussels/BEL and Washing- views with my counterparts, especially curement organisation of the Federal Min- ton DC/USA. from European countries. We also dis- istry of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (Verteidigung, Bevölkerungsschutz und Sport - VBS) and, as an administrative unit, reports directly to the Head of the VBS. Its activities range from the evaluation, Photo: Eurofighter procurement, maintenance and liquida- tion of systems and materials to real estate management at the VBS and the provision of scientific and technical services. Even though we are increasingly taking on third- party contracts for other departments, the armed forces clearly remain our main client and customer. Last year, armasuisse celebrated its 50th anniversary. armasuisse emerged from its predecessor organisations Gruppe für Rüstungsdienste (GRD) and Gruppe Rüs- tung (GR). The trigger for the establish- ment of the GRD in the sixties was the so-called MIRAGE Affair. The Military Technical Assistance Department (KTA), which was subordinate to the army, was separated from the area of responsibility Within the framework of AIR2030, the purchase of a new fighter aircraft of the military leadership and transferred in an as yet unnamed number of units for the Swiss Air Force is planned. to an independent, civilian organisation Possible contenders include the Eurofighter TYPHOON, F/A-18 SUPER directly subordinate to the head of the HORNET, GRIPEN E and RAFALE. The picture shows a German Air Force department. single seat TYPHOON over Lithuania as part of NATO´s Baltic air policing.

96 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

vehicles of the engineer troops and artillery still based on the M-113 infantry fighting

Photo: RUAG vehicle, Type 93 reconnaissance vehicles and the entire fleet of PIRANHA wheeled infantry fighting vehicles. It remains to be seen whether these innovations could be implemented in cooperation with other states.

ESD: In 2013, the procurement of the GRIP- EN fighter aircraft was cancelled based on a respective confederative referendum. Are any of the above programmes threatened by a similar fate? As a rule, when is a de- fence procurement effort made subject to a national referendum? Sonderegger: It is likely that at least the As a strategic technology partner of the Swiss Armed Forces, RUAG makes planned procurement of fighter aircraft will a significant contribution to internal security. The picture shows the tank be subject to a public vote, either on the repair facility within the framework of a cooperative model in Thun. aircraft alone or on a package of aircraft and an extended-range ground-based air cuss country-specific differences in de- Sonderegger: The largest and most im- defence system. fence procurement. One of the special portant procurement programme cur- A public vote can be brought about in features of defence procurement in rently in place is AIR2030. The programme two ways: by government and parliament Switzerland is certainly the more politi- comprises the replacement of all airspace adopting a planning decision or law relat- cally dominated procurement process. protection systems, i.e. combat aircraft, an- ing to the procurement, or by any interest Parliament has a decisive influence in ti-aircraft defence and air surveillance sys- group proposing, by popular initiative, an this process and approves all procure- tems. In the coming years, there will also be amendment to the constitution referring ment programmes. Voters can also have further need for renewal and regeneration, to limiting or prohibiting the planned pro- a say in certain procurements via direct- particularly in indirect fire support at short curement. democratic instruments such as refer- and very short distances, tactical recon- Parliament decided in 2018 that it wants a endums and popular initiatives. As the naissance and mobile communication. In referendum, thus the question is currently procurement authority, we are therefore the 2020s, in addition to the entire system which instrument to use to bring this about called upon to explain transparently to for protecting this airspace, almost all the – probably a planning decision. A public politicians and the public how we work. other main systems procured by the armed vote could take place in 2020 at the earliest. For many states, on the other hand, the forces in the 1980s and 1990s will reach Even if the procurement is approved in the general framework of procurement law the end of their service life within a few scope of such a referendum, it remains still is relatively similar. At the technological years. In particular, this applies to artillery, possible to try to block it subsequently by a level, we are confronted with compara- the LEOPARD main battle tanks, all special popular initiative. ble issues.

ESD: Do armasuisse's responsibilities in-

clude research and development for new Photo: EXPAL defence materiel? Sonderegger: armasuisse conducts re- search programmes with the objective of recognising and evaluating emerging technologies in time. The findings re- duce armed forces planning risks. In ad- dition, research serves the development of competences necessary to be able to expertly assess technologies in the con- text of procurement processes. While the development of entire systems tends to be the exception in Switzerland, de- velopment projects for the integration of system components or for system-of- systems integration are inevitable.

ESD: What are the major current and up- coming defence procurement programmes The Swiss army has a strong demand for renewal and regeneration, for the Swiss armed forces? Are any of particularly with respect to the indirect fire support capabilities at short these programmes executed in coopera- and very short distances. The 81 mm mortar form EXPAL was selected tion with other countries? as a new 81 mm standard mortar for the Swiss army in late 2018.

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ESD: To what extent do industrial policy considerations influence the procurement of defence materiel? Are there any offset and compensation requirements for for-

Photo: GDELS-Mowag eign suppliers? Sonderegger: Throughout the entire pro- curement process, we pay attention to long- term and sustainable business relationships with industry. Already in the planning phase, a business model with a clear allocation of tasks, responsibilities, procedures and re- sponsibilities is defined for cooperation with external industrial service providers. At the same time, an efficient national technological and industrial base is an important component of security policy. Selected technologies and industrial ca- pabilities, the mastery of which is central to national security, should therefore be strengthened in Switzerland. The focus is The latest generation of PIRANHA wheeled infantry fighting vehicles on strengthening the competitiveness of companies and research institutions with ESD: In what areas can the materiel require- Sonderegger: In Switzerland, the empha- such capabilities. This is to be achieved with ments of the Swiss armed forces be met by sis is on the principle of economic efficiency measures that are fundamentally compat- the national defence industrial base, and in and, as far as possible, the generation of ible with the market. One example of this what areas do you have to cooperate with competitive situations. The equipment to is offset business. foreign suppliers? be procured must always be assessed com- If defence material is procured abroad, Sonderegger: Today, there are only a few prehensively throughout its entire service a compensation of 100 percent of the pro- states that can fully equip their armed forces life. In order to reduce costs, international curement volume in Switzerland is gener- supported by their national defence indus- standards are also to be applied wherever ally required from the foreign supplier in trial base alone. Switzerland is not one of possible, and commercially available ma- the case of larger transactions. A distinc- them. Although Swiss industry has proven terial is given preference. The purchasing tion is made between two types of offset top products in individual areas, we are potential can be further optimised by es- business: In the case of direct transactions, dependent on the procurement of foreign tablishing long-term and reliable partner- the services provided by Swiss companies systems and components. ships with industry. The state-owned RUAG are included and considered for the de- is the most important industrial partner of fence equipment to be procured. In indi- ESD: In what way do the public procure- the Swiss Armed Forces. It has a special po- rect transactions, Swiss companies receive ment directives in Switzerland differ from sition in that it generally acts as a centre of orders that are not directly related to the those of other European countries? Does material competence for the Swiss Armed equipment items to be procured. In our RUAG, as a state-owned defence company, Forces in the procurement of complex and view, offset business can thus open up ac- enjoy a position of preference? safety-relevant systems. cess to cutting-edge technologies, enable expertise to be acquired, generate addi- tional export volumes and strengthen the position of Swiss industry on international markets.

Photo: GDELS-Mowag ESD: Does armasuisse support the export efforts of the Swiss defence industry? Sonderegger: armasuisse does not actually play an active support role. Of course, we support my foreign counter- parts with information and direct con- tacts to the national industry.

ESD: Are there any materiel, logistic or training requirements in Switzerland that are being addressed through public–pri- vate partnerships? Sonderegger: No, there are currently no public–private partnerships in these areas.

The interview was conducted by EAGLE V 6x6 reconnaissance vehicle, selected by the Swiss Army. Peter Bossdorf and Jürgen Hensel.

98 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 INDUSTRY & MARKETS  Will 3-D Printing Revolutionise the A&D Industry?

Bindiya Carmeline Thomas

Although we are not yet living in the futuristic world many 20th-century science-fiction writers predicted, many recent technological advances were inspired by the stuff of fantasies.

nventions such as GPS, Bluetooth head- Isets, tablet computers, automatic doors, big screen displays, real-time universal translators and teleconferencing among Photo: US Army others all owe their genesis to Star Trek. Among the technology converted from fic- tion into real science is the replicator from Star Trek, a device capable of replicating machine parts, clothing, foodstuffs of ac- ceptable "nutritional value" and even alco- hol. Star Trek coined the scientific term for this technology: 3-D printing. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) defines Additive Manufac- turing (AM), or '3-D printing', as processes in which layers of material are deposited and bonded together by a machine, to form an object of nearly any shape. The most widely known AM machines use plastic polymers The 3-D-printed On-Demand Small Unmanned Aircraft System, or in a process similar to the functioning of a ODSUAS, is a new concept: Soldiers provide requirements to mission common inkjet printer, thus often referred planning software, and the system determines the optimal configura- to as '3-D printing’. tion for an aerial vehicle. It's printed and delivered within 24 hours. Though not quite as capable as the replica- tor, the potential benefits of 3-D printing als help to shorten the supply timeline and, plement traditional manufacturing pro- in aerospace and defence include waste therefore, improve the performance of 3-D- cesses. Engineers are exploring the use of reduction during production, as well as printed aircraft parts and components for 3-D printing to lay down conductive mate- increases in production speed, shape com- manufacturing aircraft, the report added. rials for electrical circuits, create housings plexity, eco-friendliness, and logistical ef- for the company's revolutionary gallium ficiency, among others. The Present Scenario nitride transmitters, and fabricate fins for With such high hopes for 3-D printing tech- guided artillery shells. nology, it's no surprise then that aerospace 3-D printing might be a disruptive force Earlier this year, the US Air Force announced and defence 3-D printing market is expected today, but it is not a new technology. The that it is looking into additive manufactur- to reach US$3Bn at a CAGR of over 25%, concept of 3-D printing has existed since ing to expand its hypersonic flight capabili- during 2018-2023, the forecast period, ac- the 1980s. Charles Hull, the father of 3-D ties. Scientists with the Air Force Research cording to a Mordor Intelligence study. printing, invented the solid imaging process Laboratory Aerospace Systems Directo- The market is mainly driven by the grow- known as stereolithography, the first com- rate recently entered into a Cooperative ing demand for lightweight components mercial 3-D printing technology. Research and Development – Material and parts, lightweight raw materials, such Over the last decade, the technology has Transfer Agreement with HRL Laborato- as steel, titanium, and a range of plastics advanced substantially. In 2015, Raytheon ries to test additively manufactured silicon that are used to increase fuel efficiency and announced that "the day is coming when oxycarbide (SiOC) materials. The geomet- the overall performance of an aerospace missiles can be printed”, having already cre- ric complexity of components that can be component. These plastics and raw materi- ated nearly every component (about 80%) produced through additive manufacturing of a guided weapon using additive manu- in conjunction with the refractory nature Author facturing. The components include rocket of ceramics holds enormous potential for engines, fins, parts for the guidance and a variety of future Air Force applications. Bindiya Carmeline Thomas is a control systems, and more. One such possible application is hypersonic specialist defence and aerospace jour- The progress is part of a companywide flight, which exposes materials to extreme nalist and a regular contributor to ESD. push into additive manufacturing and 3-D environments, including high temperatures. printing, including projects meant to sup- The United States may be paving the way

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for 3D printing, but American allies are Computer-Aided Design (CAD), 3-D printing quickly catching up to the technology. and software development. This workshop Earlier this year, the Royal Australian Navy is based around a 3-D printer, new electronic

announced that it was adopting additive kits and various civilian software tools. Photo: Raytheon manufacturing techniques to solve prob- On the other side of the world, the Nether- lems of regular occurrence onboard the lands Aerospace Centre (NLR) announced HMAS WARRAMUNGA. According to the late last year that it had produced a metal Navy, the WARRAMUNGA recently took compressor wheel for a microturbine using full advantage of the new equipment when 3-D printing techniques and successfully the ship experienced an issue with a pres- tested the compressor wheel at speeds of sure sensor. Able Seaman Electronics Tech- up to 200,000 revolutions per minute. A cutaway model showing the nician Luke Pozzi used the new equipment The NLR measured an existing compressor printable components of a small to design, print and fit a temporary replace- wheel using a 3D optical scanner and then missile. ment part at sea, restoring full functional- redesigned it using special software. The ducing a statically loaded component for the NH-90 helicopter in late 2016, further progress has now been made in applying 3-D printing techniques to a rotating com- ponent subjected to critical loads. NLR’s Metal Additive Manufacturing Technology Centre (MAMTeC) in Marknesse, the Neth- erlands, offers advanced 3-D scanning and printing capabilities," the statement added. Photo: Cpl. Justin Updegraff, USMC

The Promise of 3-D Printing

The tactical advantages of 3-D printing are enormous. Growing at breakneck speed, 3-D printing could essentially alter how mil- itaries around the world operate. Or as the US Army Research, Development and En- gineering Command envisions it: "Additive manufacturing will allow soldiers deployed in remote outposts around the world to 'print' virtually anything they need, from food to shelter to weapons or even print A Marine makes small adjustments to a 3-D printer before loading a de- new skin cells to repair burned skin." sign during a class at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC, 2 June 2016. Rapid Prototyping ity, the statement explained. “We looked at redesign was aimed at ensuring printability our options and thought ‘why not just print and weight reduction rather than any aero- The first stage of fabricating a tool is usu- a fix’ and within 24 hours we were able to dynamic improvements. During the redesign ally protracted and repetitive. Enter rapid print and fit the part”, said Able Seaman process, calculations were performed to de- prototyping: an ingenious method using Pozzi. “Initially we weren’t sure if it would termine the stress levels due to the weight three-dimensional CAD data to quickly fab- work, so it was quite a buzz when the sys- reduction under the expected operating con- ricate a scale model of a part or assembly. tem came up to the correct pressure.” ditions, the NLR explains on its website. Besides being significantly faster, the ad- On-board tutorials for the new equipment "With this new 3-D-printed compressor vantage of 3-D printing prototypes is that it were developed and tailored by the ship’s en- wheel, NLR has taken a new step in the allows developers to immediately conduct gineers who conduct weekly workshops on field of additive manufacturing. After pro- design reviews, find flaws in parts, make re- visions, and get a product to market much faster. PROS CONS In December 2017, the US Navy partnered Lighter, stronger parts Low speed with E&G Associates to turn explosives into custom shapes using commercial 3-D print- Complex geometries Does not offer economies of scale ing techniques. The idea is to allow the Navy (printing large quantities of an object to figure out "how to turn plastic explosives would be incredibly slow and expensive) into a nylon powder that can be fed into an off-the-shelf Hewlett Packard 3-D printer to Customisation Size constraints make explosives charges of varying shapes," according to a report in the Times Free Press. Waste reduction Materials restriction In 2016, the US Navy announced that it Cost effective Dangerous items can be printed had developed a next-generation, futuris- without oversight or restriction tic, 3-D-printed prototype called the Divers Augmented Visual Display (DAVD) to erase

100 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 INDUSTRY & MARKETS  the problem of low visibility underwater. Wearable Sensors and meals can be printed with the right amount By adding smart glasses to the inside of the Clothing of vitamins and minerals to meet the indi- helmet, divers will be able to receive sonar vidual nutritional needs of the fighter. "We images showing their location, as well as Future combat uniforms will be designed have a three-year shelf-life requirement for text messages and schematics of under- for a network-centric battlefield. 3-D- the MRE [Meal Ready-to-Eat]," Oleksyk said. water objectives. printed uniforms will be better suited to "We're interested in maybe printing food the harsh combat environment, comfort- that is tailored to a soldier's nutritional needs Weapons Development able and lighter than current uniforms and then applying another novel process to and will be able to incorporate ballistics render it shelf stable, if needed." In 2017, the US Army 3-D printed a gre- materials and sensors into the wearer's nade launcher, aptly named RAMBO. clothing. These wearable sensors and de- RAMBO (Rapid Additively Manufactured vices will be able to constantly monitor Ballistics Ordnance) is the culmination of a soldier's vitals and wirelessly transmit six months of collaborative effort by the information back to the base. US Army Research, Development and En- Researchers from India's National Insti- gineering Command (RDECOM), the US tute for Interdisciplinary Science and

Army Manufacturing Technology (Man- Technology announced last year that Photo: David Kamm, NSRDEC Tech) Program and America Makes, the they have developed "a lightweight, national accelerator for additive manu- flexible and water-repellent wearable facturing and 3-D printing, the Army ex- antenna which can be 3-D printed and plained in a statement. embedded into textiles for applications Every component in the M203A1 grenade in military uniforms." launcher, except springs and fasteners, was According to the study, the wearable an- produced using AM techniques and pro- tenna is 3-D printed from a conductive cesses. The barrel and receiver were fab- silver ink and it is flexible and lightweight, Natick food technologists are ricated in aluminium using a direct metal and, because it is silver and not copper, working to incorporate 3-D laser sintering (DMLS) process. it will not oxidise. The bottom electrode printing technology into foods on the polyester fabric the antenna was for the warfighter. embedded into was 3-D printed, as was the E-shaped patch antenna itself. The US Army is currently looking at ultra- “Our goal is to make a wearable antenna sonic agglomeration, which produces com- Photo: WFIRM which can be embedded in the jacket pact, small snack-type items. Combining 3-D worn by soldiers in remote locations,” printing with this process could yield a nutri- said Dr. P. Mohanan of Cochin Univer- ent-dense, shelf-stable product. Army food sity of Science and Technology, who also technologists hope to further develop 3-D worked on the study. “We can connect printing technologies to create nutrient-rich the antenna to different sensors such foods that can be consumed in a warfighter- as temperature, pressure and ECG sen- specific environment, on or near the battle- sors, and the data can be transmitted to field, according to an official statement. a remote server. The antenna can sense and communicate data in a non-intrusive In the Field of Medicine manner. This way we can monitor the health of soldiers," Dr. Mohanan added. Recent technological advances in 3D print- ing have had a profound impact on the Customised Food healthcare sector. Militaries around the world are actively investing in regenerative Fabricating foods such as chocolates, piz- medicine and 3-D bioprinting with the aim Scientists at the Wake Forest In- zas and pasta is another mind-boggling of helping injured servicemen and women. stitute for Regenerative Medicine application of 3-D printing. In 2014, US 3-D bioprinting is one tool that US Army print ear, finger bone and kidney Army researchers announced that they scientists are developing in the field of re- structure scaffolds using a 3-D "are investigating ways to incorporate 3-D generative medicine. It is an early discovery printer. printing technology into producing food technology being used to address extrem- for soldiers." ity injury and skin, genitourinary and facial "The barrel and receiver took about 70 According to the US Army Natick Soldier repair by Armed Forces Institute of Regen- hours to print and required around five Research, Development and Engineering erative Medicine, or AFIRM, investigators. hours of post-process machining. The cost Center's, or NSRDEC's, Lauren Oleksyk, a So how does it work? "In translating this for powdered metals varies but is in the food technologist, the technology could technology to the clinic, scientists will take realm of US$100 a pound. This may sound be applied to the battlefield for meals on healthy cells and, using a device similar to like a lot of time and expensive material demand, or for food manufacturing, where an inkjet printer, load the cartridges with costs, but given that the machine prints un- food could be 3-D printed and perhaps pro- two types of skin cells – fibroblasts and ke- manned and there is no scrap material, the cessed further to become shelf stable. Then, ratinocytes – instead of ink. Fibroblasts make time and cost savings that can be gained these foods could be included in rations. up the deep layer of skin, and keratinocytes through AM are staggering," the state- The advantage is that the nutrient require- compose the top layer," according to a state- ment added. ment can be sent to a 3-D food printer so that ment released by the US Army in 2014.

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After the team completes a scan of the burn and constructs a 3-D map of the in- jury, the computer tells the printer where to start printing and what type of cells to use, depending on the depth of the injury and the layer being reconstructed. The bio- printer deposits each cell precisely where it needs to go, and the cells grow to become new skin.

Engines

The benefits of using additive manufactur- Photo: US Army ing in building engine components vary from The additive-manufactured RAMBO system includes an NSRDEC-de- saving costs to reduced lead times. Several signed standalone kit with printed adjustable buttstock, mounts, major players in the aerospace industry are grips and other modifications. already experimenting and testing 3-D print- ing to develop engine components. In 2017, GE announced that it is develop- personic engine combustor at the NASA In January this year, Finland's first 3-D- ing the world’s largest laser-powered 3-D Langley Research Center. The combustor, printed aircraft engine part installed on the printer that prints parts from metal powder produced through an additive manufactur- F/A-18 HORNET fighter had its successful under a new unit, GE Additive. The printer ing process known as powder bed fusion maiden flight. will be able to make parts that fit inside a (PBF), was subjected to a variety of high- According to Patria, the part was de- cube with 1-metre sides. “The machine will temperature hypersonic flight conditions signed in accordance with the Military 3-D print aviation parts suitable for making over the course of 20 days, including one of Design Organization Approval (MDOA) jet engine structural components and parts the longest-duration propulsion wind tun- and was manufactured using the Inconel for single-aisle aircraft,” said Mohammad nel tests ever recorded for a unit of this kind. 625 superalloy. "For this part, the devel- Ehteshami, vice president and general man- "Analysis confirms the unit met or exceeded opment work has been done over the last ager of GE Additive. "It will also be appli- all of the test requirements. One of the most two years, with the aim of exploring the cable for manufacturers in the automotive, challenging parts of the propulsion system, manufacturing process for 3-D-printable power, and oil and gas industries." a scramjet combustor houses and maintains parts, from drawing board to practical Additive machines fuse together fine lay- stable combustion within an extremely vola- application. Using 3-D printing to make ers of powdered metal with a laser beam tile environment. The tests were, in part, to parts enables a faster process from cus- and print three-dimensional objects directly ensure that the PBF-produced part would be tomer need to finished product, as well from a computer file. With few limits on robust enough to meet mission objectives," as the creation of newer, better struc- the final shape, the method gives engineers Orbital explains on its website. tures. We will continue research on ad- new freedoms and eliminates the need for Complex geometries and assemblies that ditive manufacturing methods, with the factories filled with specialised machines or once required multiple components can be aim of making the new technology more expensive tooling. simplified to a single, more cost-effective as- efficient," says Ville Ahonen, vice presi- And the year before, Orbital ATK announced sembly. However, since the components are dent of Patria's aviation business unit. it had successfully tested a 3-D-printed hy- built one layer at a time, it is now possible to design features and integrated components that could not be easily cast or otherwise machined.

Photo: US Army Drones

Additive manufacturing has had a significant effect on the development of unmanned systems. Among the benefits of 3-D print- ing drones is the freedom to create custom UAVs, upgrade and modify for specific mis- sions, and perform better thanks to the use of new lightweight materials. In December 2017, the US Army unveiled a 3-D-printed, on-demand aerial drone pro- gramme "that would allow for soldiers to enter mission parameters and then get a 3-D-printed aviation asset within 24 hours." Earlier in 2017, the US Army also flight-tested 3-D-printed unmanned aircraft created with a new on-demand system. These parts were made using additive manufacturing, which creates "We've created a process for converting plastic items and other durable components by adding material, layer soldier mission needs into a 3-D-printed on- by layer, using 3-D printers. demand small unmanned aircraft system,

102 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 INDUSTRY & MARKETS  or ODSUAS, as we've been calling it," ex- tled "3-D opportunity for aerospace and develop standard materials and processes plained Eric Spero, team leader and project defence" published in 2014. for titanium powder bed additive manufac- manager. However, this may not always be the case. turing. Soon after that, Boeing announced The programme now plans to work on im- As research and development in the AM its investment in Morf3D, a company spe- proving noise reduction, standoff distance, field continues to mature, the cost of 3-D cialising in lighter and stronger 3-D-printed and agility, as well as increasing the 3-D- printing will decline as materials selection parts for aerospace applications. printed drone's payload capacity. improves in the coming years. Government Despite its limitations, the inherent capa- Meanwhile, BAE Systems and the University agencies and educational institutions from bility of 3-D printing to reduce weight, of Glasgow envisage that small Unmanned around the world are already working to waste and quickly print stopgap solutions Air Vehicles (UAVs) bespoke to specific mili- evolve 3-D printing from a prototype tool aligns perfectly with the needs of the aer- tary operations, could be 'grown' in large- into a production one. ospace and defence industry. scale labs through chemistry, speeding up For instance, in February 2018, Boeing an- With 4-D printing already on the horizon, evolutionary processes and creating be- nounced a five-year research agreement 3-D printing will undoubtedly make its spoke aircraft in weeks, rather than years. with Switzerland-based supplier Oerlikon to mark in the A&D value chain.  Introduced in 2016, a radical new machine called a CHEM- PUTER could enable advanced chemical processes to grow air- craft and some of their complex electronic systems, conceivably from a molecular level upwards. "This unique UK technology could use environmentally sus- tainable materials and support military operations where a mul- titude of small UAVs with a com- bination of technologies serving a specific purpose might be needed quickly. It could also be used to produce multifunctional parts for large manned aircraft," according to a BAE Systems statement.

Limitations and Challenges While there is no doubt of the ad- vantages additive manufacturing offers the A&D industry, the tech- nology still has its limitations. As it stands, 3-D printing technology cannot compete with traditional manufacturing processes. AM is predominantly dependent on a handful of polymers and metal ACCESS THE powders to print parts, and it is limited to the size that can be GLOBAL MARKET manufactured. Conversely, tradi- tionalmass production processes are significantly cheaper and fast- AT THE WORLD er, and they don'thave the same size restrictions. "In 2013, AM thermoplastics LEADING DEFENCE cost about US$200 per kilo- gramme, while those used in & SECURITY EVENT injection molding cost only US$2. Similarly, the stainless steel used in AM costs about US$8 per square centimetre, Air | Land | Naval | Security | Joint which is more than 100 times To enquire and reserve your exhibition space contact: the cost of commercial-grade T: +44 (0)20 7384 7770 E: [email protected] W: www.dsei.co.uk stainless steel used in tradition- al manufacturing methods," Deloitte explains in a study ti- VISIT US ON STAND D 781 HALL 5A

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@DSEI_event  INDUSTRY & MARKETS “Our team has developed a service portfolio that complements classifi- cation services for naval ships.”

Interview with Christian Freiherr von Oldershausen, Vice President Naval Business DNV GL Maritime

commercial ships. Consequently, the focus rules based on functional and probabilistic on safety by using classification knowledge requirements. This will enable more efficient and process not only reduces the risk of life and “fit for purpose” ships and structures. during peacetime operations but also forms Additionally, big data is changing the way the an important and integral part in delivering maritime industry works. Increased analysis a combatant’s capability and its operational capability is key to providing insight and de- availability. cision-making support. Smart management of inspection information helps to assess the ESD: How do you harmonise the objective to integrity of the structure and systems and maintain a secure, reliable and mission-ready move towards condition-based inspections. naval platform in accordance with all relevant We are also working on maritime informa- standards and rules with the demand for tion platforms to facilitate advanced ship and fewest possible bureaucracy as well as best- fleet performance management.

Photo: DNV GL possible efficiency and transparency? von Oldershausen: The application of ESD: What are your current customer navies ESD: Your company has the objective to classification processes provides a very ef- and which projects are you envisioning to make global seafaring safer and to improve ficient solution to demonstrate compliance constitute future business opportunities for the ships' performance, energy efficiency with agreed standards and rules of a naval DNV GL? and environmental sustainability. Civilian op- platform. Of course, this process differs von Oldershausen: We currently see an erators are certainly interested in best pos- from the usually applied procedure of clas- increase of naval procurement activities sible economic performance, thus taking ad- sification for ships in compliance with SOLAS with many navies including our key markets vantage of DNV GL's capabilities. However, requirements as set by IMO but the same Australia, the Netherlands, Germany and what particularities are there with regard to procedures and systematics are applied. As in Norway. The substantive investment pro- naval vessels, the operators of which priori- merchant shipping, DNV GL’s Naval Technical grammes in these but also other markets tise military performance as opposed to eco- Assurance may range from the design stage provide substantial opportunities for DNV nomic efficiency? through the newbuilding phase, include the GL’s Naval Technical Assurance services in von Oldershausen: The well-proven prin- operational use until the end of life of the continuation of already existing activities. ciples and processes of classification are in- warship. To be able to address the specific creasingly seen by navies or their respective wishes of a navy or naval administration and/ ESD: Can you please elaborate on the spe- procurement organisations as robust, mature or the requirements of a project the DNV GL’s cific advisory services DNV GL offers to the and efficient means of technical assurance process of technical assurance can be adapt- naval market complimentary to DNV GL’s and a comprehensive proof of seaworthi- ed and tailored to these needs. By continu- classification process? ness for their more and more complex ships. ing to develop DNV GL’s Naval Rule set we von Oldershausen: Over the past several The objective of applying naval technical as- ensure that it can fit with the NSC and other decades, our team of more than 250 advi- surance through the implementation of a current or future naval regulatory regimes. sory specialist engineers, project managers, holistic classification process is to verify and data analysts and consultants have devel- confirm compliance of the naval vessel with ESD: DNV GL has a strong involvement in oped a service portfolio that complements agreed technical standards and regulations research and development. What are your classification services for naval ships. It covers and thus providing confidence for a safe and priorities in this area? a range of platform design subjects in the ar- reliable performance of a naval platform. von Oldershausen: DNV GL’s maritime eas of Deployability, Survivability and Detect- Even though each Navy has its own way of innovation projects focus on developing ability, in addition to Life-Cycle Management approaching technical assurance there is a insights into future regulations, upcoming services. For example, DNV GL has repeatedly clear tendency that regulatory regimes for technologies, and sustainable solutions. been involved in the condition evaluation of naval ships are moving towards the imple- Some of the key questions we are examining existing naval ships, including the structural mentation of the goal-based Naval Ship are the impact of new technologies, connec- assessment of the hull and in the determina- Code (NSC) or parts of it. Undoubtedly the tivity, the changing energy mix, and climate tion of the used and remaining fatigue life conditions under which a combatant is re- change on shipping and classification. Some of warships. quired to remain safe in addition to the float, key areas include autonomous shipping, new move and fight requirements of a warship fuels and propulsion systems such as batter- The interview was conducted by and its features are beyond those of typical ies and fuel cells. We are also developing Peter Bossdorf.

104 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 INDUSTRY & MARKETS  Franco-German Defence Cooperation

Giulia Tilenni

Paris and Berlin have been working on pushing forward their defence cooperation, partly thanks to the launch of ambitious joint programmes. However, the domestic and European political scenario and the deep Graphic: BMVG differences between Paris and Berlin could put the strengthening of the Franco-German engine at risk.

n recent years, France and Germany have cooperation within the EU, particularly on Irepeatedly called for stronger strategic and defence issues, Paris and Berlin decided military ties in Europe. Following the election to develop bilateral capability-based pro- of President Trump and the growing security grammes to increase their strategic auton- threats facing the EU, European countries omy from Washington. have become aware of the need to achieve The Franco-German annual summit in July some strategic autonomy from Washington 2017 (under the Elysée Treaty) was a de- in order to better align their defence capabil- cisive moment for cooperation between ities with the specificities of the EU in terms Paris and Berlin in the defence field, as the of political agenda and objectives. two countries agreed on their future joint The Future Combat Air System

On 25 April 2018, the two companies in charge of the programme, Dassault Aviation and Airbus, signed the industrial agreement on the Future Combat Air Sys- tem (FCAS), an acronym that refers to the

Photo: Bundeswehr/Jana Neumann comprehensive programme that includes the next-generation joint fighter. As Air- bus was given the lead of the MALE RPAS programme, to be developed with Italy, Spain and Czech Republic, Dassault will be in charge for the Next-Generation Fighter. One day later, the French Defence Minis- ter Parly and her German counterpart von der Leyen signed the cooperation agree- ment that officially kicked off the FCAS programme. According to the High Level Common Re- quirement Document (HLCORD), the next generation fighter is likely to be a multi- Soldiers of the Franco-German Brigade are training at Altmark role (such as the RAFALE) and a flexible Military Training Area for Enhanced Forward Presence deployment, aircraft capable of responding to the full 29 March 2017. spectrum of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, being a relevant asset for future France and Germany decided to lead this programmes, namely the next-generation operational challenges. Key capabilities process and called on other EU members fighter aircraft (known as the Future Com- for future high-intensity battlefields, such to strengthen their defence relations by bat Air System, FCAS), a joint battle tank as combat ability in contested airspaces making more efficient use of unused de- (Euro Main Battle Tank, EMBT) and a joint and survivability, will be ensured by new fence instruments, including PESCO. Aware indirect fire system, as well as a new sea- technical features that are expected to of how difficult it is to continue genuine plane (Maritime Airborne Warfare System, exhibit at least some degree of camou- MAWS). On 22 January 2019, the two flage or low observation capability. It is Author countries decided to make a further step expected that the next fighter aircraft can forward with the signature of the Aachen be used alone or in cooperation with al- Giulia Tilenni is an analyst for inter- Treaty. A sort of update of the Elysée Treaty lied systems (interoperability) and other national affairs based in Paris, France. in place since 1963, the recent deal foresees FCAS systems, as FCAS will take the form a more ambitious defence cooperation. of a system of systems. To meet this re-

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 105  INDUSTRY & MARKETS quirement, the fighter is likely to have The Euro Main Battle Tank to develop a common European maritime real-time data merging capabilities and patrol aircraft, the choice of platform will high connectivity features. To better advance on the next joint main be based on European products. Both In relation to the operational environ- battle tank, KNDS, a company born from companies have gained relevant experi- ment, the French are likely pushing for a the association of the German Krauss- ence with MPA/ASW solutions, namely navalised version of the new fighter, prob- Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and the French ATL-2 for Dassault and C-235 and C-295 ably to minimise duplications during pro- NEXTER Defence Systems, developed MPA for CASA/Airbus. During the last Eu- the Euro Main Battle Tank (EMBT). A first ronaval exhibition, the company present- demonstrator, which marks the first joint ed the concept of an adapted A320neo programme launched since the creation of and hoped that the platform could serve

Photo: Airbus KNDS, was unveiled at Eurosatory 2018. as a basis for the MAWS programme. In particular, the hull, engine and chassis of a LEOPARD 2 A7 have been modified Obstacles to Cooperation to host the automatically loaded LECLERC turret, which is operated by a crew of two France and Germany consider develop- rather than the usual three. According to ing a joint fighter as part of the more information released by the two compa- comprehensive efforts, carried at the na- nies, “the EMBT is composed of proven tional and the EU level, to gain strategic and tested technologies and a short-term independence from foreign countries, response to the operational need of the namely the US, as far as next-generation market for high-intensity battle tanks. fighters are concerned. Thus, the concept […] The EMBT brings together the best of strategic autonomy is at the core of in the battle tank state of the art, with an the whole set of programmes the two exceptional growth potential (roughly 6 countries are willing to jointly develop. t) which allows integrating many evolu- tions”. The Main Ground Combat System Different Ambitions and programme, which is led by Germany, Strategic Thinking is expected to enter the first test phase A landmark agreement to develop by mid-2019 and to allow the tank to be However, a number of obstacles remain, Europe’s next-generation combat operational in 2035. The new land capa- starting from the fact that France and aircraft – sealed in Berlin by bilities will be enhanced by the Common Germany do not share the same idea of Dirk Hoke, Airbus DS CEO, and Indirect Fire System, expected to equip the what strategic autonomy means. Accord- Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault new tank, and consequently to be devel- ing to Paris, strategic autonomy is the Aviation – aims for European tech- oped on the same timescale. ability to launch and maintain autono- nological leadership in the mili- mous military missions to protect French tary aviation sector. The Maritime Airborne interests. As the 2017 French Strategic Warfare System Review recalls, developing stronger and gramme development, as is the case for effective bilateral (Germany) and multi- F-35A (CTOL), B (STOVL), and C (CATO- Many NATO countries are faced with the lateral (European) military capabilities is BAR). Conversely, the HLCORD does not need to replace obsolete fleets of mari- deemed as an important step to reach the mention any nuclear capability, despite time patrol aircraft. Some of them agreed desired level of autonomy. Consequently, the French need to identify which aerial to cooperate in the development of the France has a pragmatic approach to the asset would be in charge of their airborne Multinational Maritime Multi Mission use of the military instrument, and con- nuclear deterrent after 2040, when the Aircraft. Germany and France decided siders effective military capabilities an in- RAFALE will complete the phase-out. Ac- to continue their cooperation in this field dispensable tool to reaffirm and maintain cording to the agreed schedule, first pro- and included the Maritime Airborne War- the country’s credibility at a global level. totypes/demonstrators of the Franco-Ger- fare System (MAWS) in the joint defence Conversely, Berlin praises a stronger stra- man fighter would start trials in 2025, with programmes to be developed over the tegic autonomy for the EU, but without first deliveries of series aircraft expected next few decades. As confirmed in the defining or specifying what this means between 2035 and 2040. However, it is HLCORD signed in April 2018, Paris and or which missions should be undertaken; not possible to assess whether the joint Berlin have the same operational needs official documents do not refer to this fighter will effectively “complement and and the same timetable as they will have issue. This is not surprising, as Germany eventually replace the current generation to replace their ATLANTIC 2 and ORION has taken a cautious defence approach of EUROFIGHTER and RAFALE fighter P3 by 2030. Although France and Ger- in the past. In fact, Berlin prefers the use aircraft by 2035-2040” as expected. On many are still working on the definition of of the military in multilateral frameworks 6 February, Defence ministers Parly and the system architecture, they have already (such as the United Nations), preferably in Van Der Leyen awarded Dassault and Air- agreed that the programme will be based the framework of peace missions. bus a €65 million worth architecture and on a converted civil aircraft, as will the Per these considerations, the joint pro- concept study for the FCAS programme. P-8 POSEIDON produced in the USA. The grammes which the two countries have On the same date, engine manufacturers MAWS will perform reconnaissance tasks supported so far results from industrial Safran and MTU signed the industrial co- and ensure the surveillance and reconnais- or economic considerations rather than operation agreement to power the future sance of large areas in order to improve a common strategic approach, This combat aircraft. situational awareness and contribute to bottom-up approach could, for exam- ASW activities. As the two countries aim ple, have a threefold negative impact

106 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 INDUSTRY & MARKETS  on the development of cooperative pro- highly relevant technical capabilities, a sce- public opinion and some political parties grammes, and in particular on the next- nario that Berlin will hardly accept given do not always support defence initiatives generation fighter. First, the lack of a the crucial role this industry plays for the (Germany) make it difficult to sell well the common strategy could have an impact German economy. idea of spending a lot of money on defence on operational requirements, as the in- If these joint aviation programmes are suc- programmes and not on social policy. ability to define common potential oper- cessful, Dassault and Airbus are likely to In addition, the two companies participat- ational scenarios could lead to deviations have sufficient know-how to restore their ing in the programme appear to be head- from expected capabilities. Secondly, the fact that the two countries do not share the same view in selecting export partners could have a negative impact on export opportunities, although they are crucial for the sustainability of the pro- gramme. Thirdly, negotiations on the re- Photo: Gerhard Heiming quirements could take as long and cause as much delay in the timetable as is often the case with Franco-German or Europe- wide programmes. The Treaty of Aachen is expected to bring policy making improvements in these fields. In order to enhance the impact of their defence cooperation, Paris and Berlin agreed on the progressive conver- gence of their common foreign policy objectives and on the establishment of a common strategic culture between their armed forces. The two countries also decided to develop a joint approach to arms exports, to intensify their coop- erative programmes and to promote the consolidation and competitiveness of the European defence industrial and techno- A first demonstrator of the EMBT at Eurosatory 2018. The hull of a logical base. LEOPARD 2 A7 was modified to host a LECLERC turret.

The Next-Generation Fighter competitiveness in the top segment of the ing and looking in different directions. In international fighter jet market and thus a recent interview, Dirk Hoke, CEO of Air- Franco-German joint programmes could pave the way for the establishment of a bus DS, stressed that the company would provide a great contribution to the relaunch kind of European champion in the fighter not accept a "Franco-French" proposal for of the European aerospace industry, allow- jet sector. the Next-Generation Fighter and remind- ing it to maintain the know-how and com- ed Dassault that the fact of having been petitiveness that have been gained so far. Sources of Uncertainty awarded the lead of the programme does Both Dassault Aviation and Airbus have not mean that France will lead the entire stated that they consider their respective The programme to develop the next-gen- FCAS programme. In fact, the joint fighter expertise sufficiently developed for the eration fighter serves well as an example is part of a wider programme to create a implementation of the ambitious aviation to understand the political, economic and system of systems for which the work share projects that their countries wish to jointly industrial difficulties France and Germany of the participants is still under discussion. advance. In fact, Dassault is the only Euro- have to face to effectively push forward During the Euronaval exhibition, Dassault pean company capable of independently joint defence programmes. unveiled the mock-up of the fighter, which finishing a complete fighter programme The positive impact that developing a 5th- according to Defence Minister Parly will from the design phase to series produc- generation fighter will have on strategic be the most important asset of the next tion. This capability has been largely dem- autonomy and industrial capabilities is un- French aircraft carrier, whose studies are onstrated by the RAFALE programme, doubted. However, the economic and po- about to be officially launched and whose which has also encouraged the ambition to litical situation of the two countries could duration is estimated at 18 months. The maintain this capacity. Working on a new- represent a major obstacle for the develop- early model shows an aircraft with a W- generation fighter would allow Dassault to ment of the programme. shaped wing design and a tricycle-type leverage and expand its know-how to de- In contrast to older aircraft, the develop- landing gear. However, it is impossible to velop state-of-the-art capabilities. ment of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft assess Airbus' role in the development of As regards Airbus' German subsidiary, the requires significant cross-domain efforts this mock-up. core of the country's aerospace industry, by the defence industry, underpinned by work on the next generation of aircraft consistent initial expenditure, in particular Final Remarks will help close the skills gap created by the on research and development, but with end of the Eurofighter programme. With- expected (relatively) lower MRO costs over French strategy documents such as the out a new programme, the entire German its lifetime. Nevertheless, the current eco- LPM and the Revue Stratégique reaffirm aerospace industry could suffer the loss of nomic situation (France) and the fact that that EU cooperation is crucial to achieving

4/2019 · European Security & Defence 107  INDUSTRY & MARKETS

strategic independence from Washington become the only EU-sphere nuclear their armaments above all. Speaking to and stress that France and Germany are the power (and this regardless of the size of Welt am Sonntag at the end of Febru- two European countries that must guide French nuclear capabilities) and the only ary, French Finance minister Le Maire has these joint efforts. In fact, the envisaged EU member to have a permanent seat in also recalled that export opportunities Franco-German cooperation to close cur- the UN Security Council – despite Presi- outside Europe will be crucial to enhance rent air and land competence gaps could dent Macron having declared the possi- the competitiveness and effectiveness of not only provide the two countries with bility of sharing the French seat with oth- Franco-German defence programmes, the desired strategic autonomy, but could er EU members under a rotational basis. thus calling Berlin to review its position. Photo: Airbus

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) concept comprises a system of systems to connect manned and unmanned air platforms, including a next-generation fighter aircraft, Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the existing fleet of aircraft such as the A400M and Eurofighter, future cruise missiles, and combat drones flying in swarms.

also serve as a model/basis for future coop- Conversely, Berlin seems shifting again Moreover, the skirmishes between Das- eration projects between EU countries or towards a more introspective approach sault and Airbus on the projects’ leader- for the extension of these projects to other to its foreign policy, with limited interna- ship adds a further source of complexity. European partners. tional ambitions compared to France. The Despite Paris and Berlin having decided About one year after the agreement on immediate consequence of this scenario that the two companies must work to- these joint defence programmes, the po- is that the two countries are split (again) gether on the SCAF programme, Das- sitions of Paris, Berlin and of the national on their foreign policy priorities, some- sault and Airbus remain competitors on companies involved in the programmes, thing which puts the implementation of the European marketplace, and each especially Dassault and Airbus, look diver- the Treaty of Aachen under question. The considers its own abilities sufficient to gent, still. France has decided to raise its ongoing dispute on arms selling to Saudi take the lead on the different joint pro- defence budget and to further develop its Arabia is indicative of existing substan- grammes to be developed. military capabilities thanks to the launch cial divergences between Paris and Berlin. In summary, it can be said that the success of of new programmes, including the one Following the Khashoggi case and Saudi this cooperation cannot be taken for grant- related to the new aircraft carrier. The Ger- involvement in Yemen civil war, Germany ed, despite the fact that Franco-German co- man Government is showing a more timid decided to suspend arms selling to Saudi operation has progressed considerably over approach to defence, thus continuing to Arabia – a ban which will remain in place the last 18 months. While France is work- promote inclusiveness, such as with PESCO. at least until the end of March. The basic ing hard to improve its military capabilities, In other words, France is working to idea is that human rights’ protection is Berlin has recently adopted a more cautious strengthen its defence capabilities in more important than economic interests. approach, partly because internal differ- order to increase its ability to assert its On the contrary, France, as well as the ences in the definition of defence and the foreign policy and revive its international United Kingdom, have strongly criticised way the military is deployed could jeopardise role, especially in the aftermath of the this decision, which is harming export the development of joint programmes and upcoming Brexit. Indeed, after the UK activities of products mounting German introduce a new phase of uncertainty into leaves the European Union, France will components, Eurofighter Thypoons and European defence cooperation efforts. 

108 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 INDUSTRY & MARKETS  “Europe is at a difficult crossroads”

Interview with General José Conde de Arjona, Spokesperson of FEINDEF and Chief of Institutional Support of the Spanish Ministry of Defence Photo/graphic: FEINDEF General (ret.) José Conde de Arjona

ESD: FEINDEF is taking place for the first fence and security reference and to meet the General Conde: The Spanish Ministry of time this year. What were the main reasons expectations of more than 150 exhibitors Defence is aware of the benefits of common behind organising this exhibition? Can you and almost a hundred official delegations defence and has therefore worked closely explain the concept? from all over the world. with the organisers from the outset, helping General Conde: Europe is at a difficult to win the support of other ministries and crossroads and is committed to strength- ESD: How many exhibitors do you expect, making FEINDEF a national brand exhibition. ening the European pillar for security and and what are the main capability segments defence, which is well supported by Span- addressed with the exhibition? ESD: To what extent will FEINDEF be dif- ish society. In this situation, FEINDEF repre- General Conde: The exhibition area was ferent from previous HOMSEC exhibitions? sents the intention of Spain and its industry initially designed to cover 10,000 square General Conde: HOMSEC should be remem- to become a meeting place for industry, metres and was then expanded to 14,000 bered as the first relevant event of its kind in universities and military and civil adminis- square metres with 150 stands. All capability Spain. FEINDEF was launched as an initiative trations to pave the way for the new Eu- segments are presented. of the Security and Defence sector, with the ropean defence industry based on indus- aim of strengthening the development of new trial consortia, research and innovation and ESD: Who is allowed to visit FEINDEF and European Union defence policies and as an dual technologies. what does it cost? event that will strengthen the Spanish position General Conde: As a professional security and thus garner institutional support. ESD: To what extent do you expect FEINDEF and defence fair, FEINDEF is open to mem- to be internationally oriented, both in terms bers of industry, armed forces and security ESD: Will FEINDEF be held regularly, for ex- of exhibitors and visitors/delegations? Or is it forces, research institutions, science and ample on a biannual basis? the intention to showcase national capabili- related institutions. Access is free for pro- General Conde: FEINDEF is planned on a ties in support of the Spanish armed forces? fessionals after registration on the FEINDEF biennial basis; however, the raised expecta- General Conde: FEINDEF is intended to website. tions open up possibilities to establish it as demonstrate the performance of Spanish Spanish Global Brand and to be developed and international industry, with around 20% ESD: We understand that the exhibition on other domains. The future will tell. to 30% of exhibitors coming from abroad. is supported by the Spanish Ministry of However, the main objective of FEINDEF in Defence. What exactly does this support The interview was conducted by this first edition is to establish itself as a de- consist of? Jürgen Hensel

Published by SEP-27-18

/ SPOTLIGHT 100 MITTLER The Geopolitics of Energy

Joris Verbeurgt, Editor Belgium/EU/NATO for ESD

The existing world energy system was largely shaped by Anglo-American interests, which favoured mar- ket-driven competition over access to energy resources on a demand and supply basis. Global geopolitical shifts in the early 21st century have caused a profound transformation of this market-oriented system to ESD Spotlight which we need to find an answer.

The geopolitics of energy comprises three gy infrastructure and dimensions: an economic dimension, an should enhance ener- ecological dimension, and a security di- gy efficiency in the mi- REPORT mension. litary as well. The economic dimension of the geopolitics Energy security, with of energy is twofold: on the one hand, ener- numerous implicati- gy is indispensable for modern economies ons for Allied security, to produce and transport goods. There is a became a real strate- relatively straightforward relationship -bet gic issue for NATO in Fortnightly Newsletter ween energy and economic development, the aftermath of the based mainly on the degree of energy Russian annexation of self-sufficiency and on the composition of the Crimea in 2014. primary energy supply. On the other hand, For many NATO Al- energy resources are economic commodi- lies energy supply is ties themselves. The rise of the oil industry a challenge. In March is interconnected with the rise of capita- 2014, NATO Secretary European Security & Defence is escorted by the new bi-weekly newsletter ESD Spotlight which is distributed by email. lism and international business, and fossil General Anders Fogh fuels are perceived as the driving forces Rasmussen declared behind technological advancement and that Europe’s depen- economic power. In the twentieth century, dency on oil and gas the oil industry became the world’s biggest imports was increa- business and the first globalised modern sing at a time when industry. The existing world energy system the energy needs of ESD Spotlight is available free of charge. You can order your subscription by sending an informal email message to esd.

was largely shaped by Anglo-American oil rising powers such as EIA) US (Graphic: companies that favoured market-driven China and India were rising as well. Poli- political consultation process with shared competition over access to energy resour- tical instability was haunting many- ener intelligence. Although NATO’s contribution ces on a demand and supply basis, sensiti- gy-producing and transit states, while the to energy security is limited to analysis and ve to price volatility. quest for energy and other resources had consultation, it has become a permanent NATO discovered energy security at the sparked territorial disputes all around the fixture in NATO’s education and training [email protected]. Bucharest Summit in 2008. Although ener- world. Terrorist and cyber attacks against programmes. NATO sees a role for itself in gy security is largely non-military in nature refineries, pipelines and power plants oc- the three following areas: and mostly a national responsibility, NATO curred in many countries, as well as piracy 1. Raising awareness by sharing intelligence understood that the energy developments along critical maritime choke points. on energy developments, by fostering poli- mentioned above will have serious secu- NATO’s energy security agenda is aimed at tical consultations among Allies and - part rity implications. NATO could not turn a creating awareness of global and regional ners and by exchanging information and blind eye to the protection of critical ener- energy developments and supporting the insights with outside experts.

For a free subscription send an email to: [email protected] Alternatively, there is a subscription order form on the magazine’s website at www.euro-sd.com.

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4/2019 · European Security & Defence 109 Firms & Faces

Software-Defined Radios for patrol vessels. The Osborne Naval Shipyard to detect and track both fixed and rotary- Indian Air Force has been home to the Air Warfare Destroyer wing aircraft and drones. Lockheed Mar- (ck) Rafael Advanced Defense Systems con- project for more than a decade; six COL- tin’s SKYKEEPER command and control bat- tracted Astra Rafael Comsys Private Limited LINS class submarines for the Australian tle manager gives commanders situational (ARC) with a US$30M purchase order for Navy have also been built and continuously awareness with real-time early warning of the manufacture, test-before-integration, maintained there. incoming threats. Bundling these elements makes the FALCON weapon system the only AMS and AUTOFLUG to Cooperate integrated short and medium-range missile (ck) At the HAI Heli Expo in Atlanta, the com- defence system available on the market. pany AMS and the manufacturer AUTO- FLUG signed a cooperation agreement for FLIR to Buy Endeavor Robotics the supply of helicopter seats. AMS, which (ck) FLIR Systems has acquired Endeavor Ro- specialises in equipping helicopters for use in botic Holdings, a developer of unmanned emergency medical service (EMS), was com- missioned to retrofit various models. The most recent order is to equip the AW-169 Photo: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems model in an EMS configuration using four Photo: FLIR AUTOFLUG safety seats each. The helicop- and life cycle support management of the ter will be equipped with FLYWEIGHT seats BNET software-defined radio system for the Indian Air Force. ARC is a joint venture between Rafael and India’s Astra Micro- wave Products Ltd., and this order is the first

contract for ARC. Rafael Advanced Defense Photo: Autoflug ground vehicles (UGVs), from Arlington Capi- Systems has several subsidiaries and joint tal Partners for US$382M. Formerly known ventures in India. The "Make in India" initia- as iRobot Defense & Security, Endeavor has tive has led Rafael to invest over US$250M sold more than 7,000 UGVs to customers in dollars in the country. In 2017, Rafael was over 55 countries. Endeavor’s robots utilise contracted to supply the BNET advanced advanced sensing and actuation in providing software-defined radios to the Indian Air explosive ordnance disposal, reconnaissance, Force (IAF). ARC will manufacture and in- inspection, and hazardous materials support tegrate these radio systems onboard IAF for troops, police, and industrial users at aircraft, allowing for the digital exchange stand-off range. Endeavor is one of the larg- of tactical information. The systems will en- est UGV providers to the US Department of able IAF pilots to engage the enemy beyond Defense, and a key supplier for global military visual range without being detected by their from AUTOFLUG which are characterised and law enforcement customers. on-board sensors. by light, robust and slim construction and modern design. The foldable seats and the Air Surveillance Radars for Dutch Naval Group to Cooperate possibility of wall mounting allow flexible and German Customers with ASC and space-saving cabin solutions. (ck) About a year after Raytheon and (ck) In the scope of the contract to develop HENSOLDT concluded a cooperation agree- and build 12 attack class submarines for Lockheed Martin, Diehl and Saab ment, the two companies are on path to the Australian Sovereign Submarine Pro- introduced FALCON provide two European customers inte- gramme, Naval Group has signed a frame- (ck) Lockheed Martin, Diehl Defence and grated air surveillance radars that combine work agreement with shipbuilder ASC, the Saab have recently introduced FALCON, a HENSOLDT’s primary airport surveillance prime contractor of the RAN's current fleet joint short and medium-range air defence radar (ASR-NG) and Raytheon’s Mode S of COLLINS class submarines. The agree- solution for current and emerging threats. monopulse secondary surveillance radar ment sets the terms for the two compa- The FALCON weapon system integrates (CONDOR Mk 3). The Royal Netherlands Air nies to work together to provide supplies Diehl’s 40-kilometre range IRIS-T Infra-Red Force will receive one system that will pro- and services to each other in areas such as Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Con- vide both advanced Air Traffic Control (ATC) personnel development, health and safety trolled SLM interceptor and vertical launch- and wind-farm interference mitigation at De training and services, and supply chain er, and Saab’s 360-degree AESA GIRAFFE Kooy airfield. Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS), services. The attack class submarines will 4A radar through Lockheed Martin’s flex- be built at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in ible SKYKEEPER command and control bat- Adelaide, which is currently undergoing a tle manager. FALCON’s open architecture US$500M upgrade.Naval Group Australia allows the system to easily integrate into

and ASC will establish joint working groups any air operations centre. The Diehl IRIS-T Photo: Hensoldt to manage the framework agreement and SLM is a highly manoeuvrable interceptor identify, develop and recommend other co- fired from a 360-degree vertical launcher operation opportunities. Australia intends with the ability to engage multiple targets to regenerate the Royal Australian Navy simultaneously. Saab’s GIRAFFE 4A AESA with new submarines, frigates and offshore radar offers high discrimination capabilities

110 European Security & Defence · 4/2019 the German air navigation service provider, other milestone in Australia’s Future Subma- will receive three systems to replace ageing rine Programme. The contract was signed by radars as part of the country’s air traffic con- Christopher Pyne MP, Minister for Defence trol modernisation efforts. Both companies and Naval Group representatives at a cer- intend to continue jointly offering ATC solu- emony in Canberra. This phase of work in- Photo: Naval Group tions to customers worldwide. cludes the maturation of the ATTACK class design as it progresses into the next design SDoT Diode to Receive NATO phase known as the definition phase. This cluding ongoing support to Australian Naval and EU SECRET Approval will include the selection of over 100 criti- Infrastructure (ANI) for the design and build (ck) In today’s data driven world, large cal equipment items and main equipment. of the submarine construction yard. The first amounts of data need to be transferred in The Submarine Design Contract also includes phase of the Submarine Design Contract real time, which holds a number of risks. preparations for the build of the ATTACK covers a volume of A$605M and will extend However, isolating critical networks prevents class in the Osborne shipyard in Australia, in- through to 2021. taking advantage of sharing data. This is where data diodes come into the picture; they en- sure one-way data transmis- sion in order to protect critical networks from cyber threats. This makes data diodes ideal for sharing data with highly Photo: INFODAS

ISRAEL DEFENSE & HLS EXPO

classified domains. But up un- til recently, data diodes used fibre optic cables for one-way connectivity which resulted in lower speeds. The SDoT Diode developed by INFODAS has overcome this shortcoming; it enables critical and classified systems to securely exchange data unidirectionally between differently classified domains. Independent tests in coopera- tion with the German Federal Office for Information Secu- rity (BSI) have now confirmed the very high level of security and granted the SDoT Diode THE RIGHT PLACE approval to GERMAN, NATO THE RIGHT TIME and EU SECRET. With a data throughput of up to 9.1 Gbit/s, THE RIGHT PEOPLE it is currently the fastest diode on the market approved for SECRET. RESERVE YOUR BOOTH TODAY!

Naval Group Signs Australian Submarine Design Contract (ck) With the signing of the Contact us now for more details Submarine Design Contract Exhibition & Sponsorship Opportunities: [email protected] VISIT OUR WEBSITE Naval Group has achieved an- General Information: [email protected] JUNE 4-6 Tel. +972 3 691 4564 | Fax. +972 3 691 4567 2019 www.isdefexpo.com TEL- AVIV Firms & Faces

Naval Group to Establish lots and dynamic positioning, ship stabilisa- many innovations and patents as well as spe- Research Centre in Australia tion, unmanned systems technologies, and cialisation in marine systems: Initial successes (ck) As part of the billion-dollar contract to maritime security. and prestigious orders, such as equipping the build 12 ATTACK Class submarines for Aus- German Navy’s MARS carrier in 1880, consol- tralia, Naval Group, in collaboration with Theon Sensors to Open idated the company's reputation as a reliable 14 partners from industry, the university Subsidiary in Germany partner in shipbuilding. In 1914, the second sector, research and development (R&D) in- (ck) In response to strong demand for night stitutes and the gov- vision and thermal imaging systems in Ger- ernment, has com- many and neighbouring countries, Theon mitted itself to creat- Sensors, a manufacturer of electro-optical ing a naval research night vision systems for military and law platform in Australia, enforcement applications and one of the Photo: NOSKE-KAESER Photo: Naval Group to be known as the world's leading night vision and thermal im- OzCean Technocam- aging companies, has opened a subsidiary in pus. Naval Group Germany. Located in Kempen near Düssel- experts involved in dorf, Theon Deutschland GmbH has been the OzCean Techno- founded with the aim of supporting and ex- founder established his locksmith's shop. In campus will conduct panding future business. Just recently, the 1947, Anton Kaeser presented his first air con- non-destructive test- German Special Forces Command (KSK) has ditioning system. After the takeover by Blohm ing, materials stud- placed a major order for night vision goggles + Voss AG, the two companies merged in ies including corrosion and antifouling, with Theon Sensors. 1979 to form NOSKE-KAESER GmbH, a lead- computing and simulations. They will also ing air-conditioning technology company un- be involved in the training and education NOSKE-KAESER Celebrates til this very day. Headquartered in Hamburg, programmes required to support the de- 140 Years Anniversary NOSKE-KAESER still produces tailor-made air- velopment of the Australian naval industry (ck) The traditional Hamburg company conditioning, ventilation, CBRN protection, from vocational to higher education. Naval NOSKE-KAESER Maritime Solutions is 140 refrigeration, fire-fighting and piping systems Group will also use the OzCean Techno- years old. In 1879, engineer Robert Ferdi- on a 7,000-square-metre site that are now campus to transfer, develop, and maintain nand Noske founded his metal workshop in installed on civil and military ships worldwide. R&D related products to benefit multiple Hamburg-Altona for the construction of ven- The company employs 235 people and has sectors, including the maritime sector, oil tilation and heating systems. In the first few additional locations in Australia, India, Malay- and gas, energy, health monitoring, autopi- years, Noske made a name for himself with sia, New Zealand and Turkey.

Preview ESD 5/2019 · May 2019 • Country Focus: Sweden • Polish Technical Modernisation Plan • Czech Armed Forces • Turkish Air Force • Turkish Defence Exports • Belgian Maritime Component • Defence Procurement in Spain • Dutch Submarine Replacement Programme • Artillery Upgrade Programmes • Turret Systems • Transparent Armour • Submarine Combat Systems • RHIBs - Missions, Designs, Equipment • Gunnery Simulation and Training • Battlefield Electronic Warfare

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