Category: Magazine

Light at the end of the tunnel

The time for downsizing seems to be over in Operational Flotilla 2. The challenges of the future can be mastered with new ships and modern systems. Operational Flotilla 2 in Wilhelmshaven is the largest operational unit in the German Navy. The frigates assigned to it are the platforms with the broadest spectrum of capabilities, operational areas and components to be organically integrated. The same applies to the associated support platforms. The resulting range of operational requirements has always meant that the material has always required constant further development and regeneration in order to fulfil the respective requirements of modern operations and prevent obsolescence. Conversely, this...

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India signs contracts for Rafale-M, submarines and domestic production

In mid-July - on the French bank holidays - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh signed three decision proposals from the Indian Defence Acquisition Council: firstly, the purchase and equipping of 26 Dassault Rafale-M carrier-capable combat aircraft for the nationally built Vikrant carrier; secondly, the purchase, licensed construction and equipping of three further French Scorpène conventional submarines; and thirdly, the order to manufacture all the innards and integrable systems for these weapons platforms nationally in India. A skilful move, even before there had been any talk of German submarines - at least in India. And yes, about the price, which is based on the market value of similar products from other nations...

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Europe relies on Miricle

With the EU-funded Miricle project, European navies will benefit from high interoperability and new capabilities in the field of mine defence. Naval Group Belgium plays a key role in this. The Mine Risk Clearance for Europe project, Miricle for short, which was continued in the shadow of Russia's unexpected attack on Ukraine, is now even more important as not only the coastal regions of the Black Sea are now littered with sea mines of various kinds, including unanchored floating weapons from the Soviet era. The Miricle project, which addresses the trend away from traditional mine action with mine hunters towards a stand-off mine defence concept, is aimed at the...

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With flash-bang mode

New ideas for equipping maritime special forces were presented at a symposium. This will significantly expand their area of deployment. The annual conference organised by the US Joint Special Operations Command (Socom) was expanded for the first time this year to include additional interest groups. Called SOF Week 2023, the conference took place in Tampa, Florida, in May. More than 15,000 visitors - including many members of friendly armed forces - were counted over the course of the event. In addition to the presentations and panel discussions, the main attractions were the more than 575 exhibitors from the defence industry. The range also included many operational systems and equipment for...

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Handover of the French-Italian fleet supplier JACQUES CHEVALLIER

Toulon was the venue for a team event: OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en Matière d'Armement, European Armaments Agency), DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement, Paris Armaments Office) and the Marine Nationale handed over the first French-Italian naval supply vessel JACQUES CHEVALLIER from one to the other. With a length of 194 metres and a displacement of 31,000 tonnes, the Bâtiment Ravitailleur de Forces is a showcase project: with its electric propulsion, it can reach 10 knots, with exhaust plume 20 knots - and behind the bridge, two Mistral Simbad-RC launchers are installed for the first time on a French unit for short-range defence, each equipped with two anti-aircraft and sea-target FKs. The construction programme...

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