Category: Armed Forces

Innovation driver for naval warfare

This year's Baltops manoeuvre took place in the Baltic Sea in June. This was the first time that the German Navy led a naval unit with multinational participation as a Commander Task Force. After two intensive weeks, the 53rd edition of the Baltic Operations manoeuvre, Baltops for short, came to an end on 20 June. This is the most important and largest multinational maritime military exercise in the Baltic Sea region. This year's exercise was a prime example of the close military and security co-operation between Germany and its NATO allies. Under the leadership of the US Naval Forces Europe-Africa and the 6th Fleet of the US Navy, 20 nations demonstrated together with the new NATO members...

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Long live the king!

The striking Sea King has been flying for the German Navy since 1974. Over the past five decades, the helicopter has proven its flexibility and reliability - especially when rescuing people at sea. Hurricane-like storms with wind speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour swept in from the Atlantic through the English Channel and piled up waves up to 20 metres high. On the rocky south coast of Cornwall, a house-high surf broke with deafening thunder and roar. The paths and roads in the south-west of the island were largely deserted. All airfields in the south of England had been closed. Even the...

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Regulatory zeal

Over the past few years, the mountain of regulations in the Bundeswehr has continued to swell. It is the soldiers on board the ships and boats who suffer. A submarine driver needs a certain training course in order to maintain his professional usability. On arrival, it is discovered that one of the required company medical certificates is no longer valid. The soldier nevertheless agrees to take part voluntarily, despite the supposed risks involved. However, the person responsible for the course does not want to make himself vulnerable and refers to the applicable regulations. In the end, the soldier loses his fitness to serve because he misses a briefing lasting just a few minutes. Examples like this make it clear that access...

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Highly automated

In view of the possibility of war again following the Russian attack in Ukraine, the concept of the frigate 125 seemed outdated to many. However, this modern class of ship recently proved its worth in the Mediterranean. On 20 October 2023, almost four years after it was commissioned, the frigate Baden-Württemberg set sail for its first deployment. However, a year and a half after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and in the midst of an emerging phase of geopolitical and military upheaval, the ship's concept was considered outdated in some quarters. The events of 22 February 2022 and the resulting geopolitical shifts pointed to the end of international crisis management...

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Landing without light

US Navy pilots regularly have to renew their qualification to land on an aircraft carrier. Visit to one of the largest warships in the world. On the morning of 13 December 2022, the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN leaves Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego and moves into the Pacific off the Mexican coast near Baja California. It is unusually empty on board. Normally, the aircraft carrier is packed with 65 to 70 jets. But for the following week, it is going on a special voyage. The so-called Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualification is on the agenda. 20 aviators, as the pilots...

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