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#21
KLu / Re: MLU AH-64's
Last post by Sparkplug - Vandaag om 11:38Eerste vernieuwde Apache-helikopters gevechtsgereed
Nieuwsbericht | 18-04-2024 | 16:59
De gemoderniseerde Apache Echo gevechtshelikopters zijn vanaf vandaag gevechtsklaar. Op vliegbasis Gilze-Rijen staan de eerste vier toestellen paraat voor taken in binnen- en buitenland. De helikopters zijn weer berekend op de huidige tijd en tot 2050 inzetbaar. Dat maakte staatssecretaris Christophe van der Maat bekend bij de ceremoniële presentatie.
"Met de Apache Echo betreden we een nieuw tijdperk in de luchtmacht", zei staatssecretaris Christophe van der Maat. "De eigenschappen van deze gevechtshelikopter zijn uitermate geschikt voor het veranderende karakter van onze dagelijkse operaties."
Defensie zet de Apaches bijvoorbeeld in om tijdens missies grondtroepen en transporthelikopters te beschermen, verkenningsvluchten uit te voeren en gebieden te bewaken.
Meer toestellen
De Apaches zijn de eerste van 20 vernieuwde exemplaren die terugkeren naar het 301 squadron op vliegbasis Gilze-Rijen.
Nog eens 6 stuks heeft Defensie op dit moment al in gebruik voor trainingen in het Texaanse Cavazos (voormalig Fort Hood) in de Verenigde Staten. In 2025 komen hier twee toestellen bij.
Wendbaarder
De AH-64E, oftewel de Apache Echo, is de gemoderniseerde variant van de Apache Delta (AH-64D). Defensie beschikt er sinds 1997 over. Na twintig jaar intensief gebruik was een modernisering noodzakelijk.
Door een grote upgrade in de Verenigde Staten beschikken de toestellen nu onder meer over nieuwe radarsystemen, sensoren en radio- en navigatiesystemen. Andere snufjes zijn moderne composieten rotorbladen en een verhoogd motorvermogen.
Die vernieuwingen zorgen ervoor dat de Apaches beter zijn uitgerust voor hun taken. De helikopters zijn nu wendbaarder in de lucht. Ook kunnen ze beter communiceren met grondtroepen en andere luchteenheden.
https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2024/04/18/eerste-vernieuwde-apache-helikopters-gevechtsgereed
De eerste vier nieuwe Apaches hebben de registraties: Q-37, Q-38, Q-39 en Q-40.
https://helispot.nl/hs/page/detail.asp?oid=F1F4G2F1&sub=logboek
Nieuwsbericht | 18-04-2024 | 16:59
De gemoderniseerde Apache Echo gevechtshelikopters zijn vanaf vandaag gevechtsklaar. Op vliegbasis Gilze-Rijen staan de eerste vier toestellen paraat voor taken in binnen- en buitenland. De helikopters zijn weer berekend op de huidige tijd en tot 2050 inzetbaar. Dat maakte staatssecretaris Christophe van der Maat bekend bij de ceremoniële presentatie.
"Met de Apache Echo betreden we een nieuw tijdperk in de luchtmacht", zei staatssecretaris Christophe van der Maat. "De eigenschappen van deze gevechtshelikopter zijn uitermate geschikt voor het veranderende karakter van onze dagelijkse operaties."
Defensie zet de Apaches bijvoorbeeld in om tijdens missies grondtroepen en transporthelikopters te beschermen, verkenningsvluchten uit te voeren en gebieden te bewaken.
Meer toestellen
De Apaches zijn de eerste van 20 vernieuwde exemplaren die terugkeren naar het 301 squadron op vliegbasis Gilze-Rijen.
Nog eens 6 stuks heeft Defensie op dit moment al in gebruik voor trainingen in het Texaanse Cavazos (voormalig Fort Hood) in de Verenigde Staten. In 2025 komen hier twee toestellen bij.
Wendbaarder
De AH-64E, oftewel de Apache Echo, is de gemoderniseerde variant van de Apache Delta (AH-64D). Defensie beschikt er sinds 1997 over. Na twintig jaar intensief gebruik was een modernisering noodzakelijk.
Door een grote upgrade in de Verenigde Staten beschikken de toestellen nu onder meer over nieuwe radarsystemen, sensoren en radio- en navigatiesystemen. Andere snufjes zijn moderne composieten rotorbladen en een verhoogd motorvermogen.
Die vernieuwingen zorgen ervoor dat de Apaches beter zijn uitgerust voor hun taken. De helikopters zijn nu wendbaarder in de lucht. Ook kunnen ze beter communiceren met grondtroepen en andere luchteenheden.
https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2024/04/18/eerste-vernieuwde-apache-helikopters-gevechtsgereed
De eerste vier nieuwe Apaches hebben de registraties: Q-37, Q-38, Q-39 en Q-40.
https://helispot.nl/hs/page/detail.asp?oid=F1F4G2F1&sub=logboek
#22
Midden Oosten / Re: Spanning(en) rond Iran
Last post by Harald - Vandaag om 10:35Israel Strikes Back (Updated)
The Israel Defense Forces have launched a reprisal operation against Iran five days after Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel.
Details are very thin and fleeting at the moment, but it seems clear that Israel has launched its counterstrike against Iranian interests in response to the large-scale attack directly on Israeli territory that occurred over the weekend.
The news began developing around 3:00 AM local time in Israel that explosions occurred in Iraq and in towns in Iran where well-known nuclear program-related facilities are located. There was also talk on social media of jets being heard flying very low in Eastern Syria and Iranian-related targets struck in Iraq, as well.
https://www.twz.com/news-features/israel-strikes-back
The Israel Defense Forces have launched a reprisal operation against Iran five days after Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel.
Details are very thin and fleeting at the moment, but it seems clear that Israel has launched its counterstrike against Iranian interests in response to the large-scale attack directly on Israeli territory that occurred over the weekend.
The news began developing around 3:00 AM local time in Israel that explosions occurred in Iraq and in towns in Iran where well-known nuclear program-related facilities are located. There was also talk on social media of jets being heard flying very low in Eastern Syria and Iranian-related targets struck in Iraq, as well.
https://www.twz.com/news-features/israel-strikes-back
#23
KM / Re: Opvolging M fregatten
Last post by Harald - Vandaag om 10:26Kongsberg to equip Damen's new ASW Frigates for Netherlands & Belgium ( Noorse Schroeven )
According to a PR published by Kongsberg Maritime on April 18, 2024, the firm has been awarded a contract to provide advanced propeller systems for Damen Naval's forthcoming series of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates. This marks the second instance within the last 18 months where the two companies have joined forces.
Under the terms of the contract, Kongsberg Maritime will deliver four shipsets of its sophisticated controllable pitch propeller systems along with essential components like shaft lines, blades, hubcaps, and hubs. These frigates, destined for the navies of the Netherlands and Belgium, aim to succeed the currently serving Karel Doorman-class multi-purpose frigates by 2028.
The forthcoming vessels will be tasked with a variety of operational duties, primarily focusing on anti-submarine warfare. To achieve this, the frigates will feature a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system designed to operate with minimal noise, enhancing their stealth capabilities in sub-surface operations.
Björn ten Eicken, Vice President – Naval at Kongsberg Maritime, emphasized the customized nature of the propulsion systems, designed to meet stringent operational demands, especially in reducing noise signatures critical for ASW tasks.
https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2024/april/14259-kongsberg-to-equip-damen-s-new-asw-frigates-for-netherlands-belgium.html
https://www.kongsberg.com/maritime/about-us/news-and-media/news-archive/2024/propeller-systems-damen-naval-anti-submarine-frigates/
According to a PR published by Kongsberg Maritime on April 18, 2024, the firm has been awarded a contract to provide advanced propeller systems for Damen Naval's forthcoming series of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates. This marks the second instance within the last 18 months where the two companies have joined forces.
Under the terms of the contract, Kongsberg Maritime will deliver four shipsets of its sophisticated controllable pitch propeller systems along with essential components like shaft lines, blades, hubcaps, and hubs. These frigates, destined for the navies of the Netherlands and Belgium, aim to succeed the currently serving Karel Doorman-class multi-purpose frigates by 2028.
The forthcoming vessels will be tasked with a variety of operational duties, primarily focusing on anti-submarine warfare. To achieve this, the frigates will feature a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system designed to operate with minimal noise, enhancing their stealth capabilities in sub-surface operations.
Björn ten Eicken, Vice President – Naval at Kongsberg Maritime, emphasized the customized nature of the propulsion systems, designed to meet stringent operational demands, especially in reducing noise signatures critical for ASW tasks.
https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2024/april/14259-kongsberg-to-equip-damen-s-new-asw-frigates-for-netherlands-belgium.html
https://www.kongsberg.com/maritime/about-us/news-and-media/news-archive/2024/propeller-systems-damen-naval-anti-submarine-frigates/
#24
KL / Re: Groene baretten verhuizen ...
Last post by Sparkplug - Vandaag om 09:52Citaat van: Kornet43 op 18/04/2024 | 20:08 uurZe kunnen beter verhuizen naar Woensdrecht, special forces horen op een vliegbasis.
Waarom een vliegbasis en waarom specifiek vlb. Woensdrecht?
#25
Europa / Re: Rusland's Expansie
Last post by Huzaar1 - Vandaag om 09:36De Oekrainers hebben, bevestigd, voor het eerst een TU-22 bommenwerper uit de lucht geschoten. Een TU-22M3 (backfire) om precies te zijn. 
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/s/coP4IB6kkn
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/s/bqjAqWm8mQ
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/s/coP4IB6kkn
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/s/bqjAqWm8mQ
#26
Defensie Nieuws & Media (Internationaal) / Re: T-X programma ... the new ...
Last post by Harald - Vandaag om 09:30Textron, Leonardo bank on M-346 global experience in looming race for Navy trainer
"The strength we think we bring is that [the Navy is] going to go from contract to actually starting to turn out students much quicker than any other competitors," a Textron executive told Breaking Defense.
Executives from Textron and Leonardo are hopeful that the real-world experience of the Italian firm's M-346 aircraft will help them land the right to supply the US Navy with its next-gen trainer, executives told Breaking Defense in a recent interview.
The two announced in September that they would go after the upcoming training program, which would likely put them up against Boeing's T-7A and the Lockheed Martin-KAI T-50.
In its effort to replace the aging T-45 trainers, the Navy put out a Request for Information last August for what's officially dubbed the "Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS)." It indicated a minimum buy of 145 aircraft and a contract award in 2026. That means a Request for Proposal could drop by the end of this year or early 2025, which would see the contest officially kick off.
A big part of the Textron-Leonardo team's pitch is that the M346 isn't just a jet, but is tied into a whole training enterprise that is already in use on a global scale, including international F-35 pilot training. Italy, Poland, Singapore, Israel, Greece and Qatar are all M-346 operators — and all but Qatar are either current or planned operators of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
"It's not just the airplane, it's a pull-up simulation system. It's developed courseware. It's a way of teaching that's already been validated for countries that are flying the F-35 today," Thomas Webster, Textron Aviation Defense's vice president of global sales and strategy, told Breaking Defense during last week's Sea Air Space symposium. "The strength we think we bring is that they're going to go from contract to actually starting to turn out students much quicker than any other competitors."
In particular, Webster and a set of executives from Leonardo emphasized the benefits of the International Flight Training School, a joint project between the Italian military and Leonardo, located in Decimomannu, Italy. Training at that facility is based around the M346, and a number of current or future F-35 operators — including Japan, Germany, Singapore, Austria, Canada, and the United Kingdom — have announced plans to take part in the school.
While cautioning that the final RFP from the Navy isn't out yet, Webster said there should only be "minor tweaks" needed to turn the M346 into what the companies are pitching as the "M346-N."
For instance, the M346 is capable of doing Field Carrier Landing Practice — basically, touch-and-go operations on land that are supposed to simulate landing on a carrier — now. But the recent Navy RFI said the jet needs to be able to perform 35,000 such exercises over the life of the plane, which may require tightening up of the plane's landing gear.
Then there's updating software to match the Navy's most recent version of its Precision Landing Mode system for carrier landings. However, until final requirements are written, it remains to be seen exactly what the industry team would need to do.
The US Air Force in 2017 selected the Boeing-Saab T-7A as its next-gen training aircraft over, among others, the M346. In theory, it would make sense for the two American services to have a common trainer, given they both operate variants of the F-35 and having one training fleet would bring overall costs down.
Webster dismissed the idea that Boeing's Air Force win puts his team behind the ball in the Navy competition, in part due to the issues Boeing has had with getting the T-7A underway. "If the Navy reads the newspaper, the media, I'm not unduly concerned," he said with a laugh, before arguing that if the Navy joined up with T-7A it would be years down the line before its jets can start delivering. (In a recent Breaking Defense report, a Boeing spokesperson acknowledged some "challenges" with T-7A deliveries, but said progress was being made.)
David Kindley, Leonardo US's director for trainers, airlifters and special mission campaigns, added that the Navy would see benefits by having a singular, dedicated industry partner.
"One of our respectful arguments back to the Navy is, you tried running second place to the Air Force before with F-35, how'd that work out for you? You're number one with us," Kindley said. "You are the biggest thing in our in our portfolio. You call our president, you get the president."
In November, a US Air Force official revealed that the service was considering a way to turn the T-7A into an attack variant. While the M346 has a history of being configured as a light-attack platform, the executives said the question of whether the trainer could also fill that mission has not come up in discussion with Navy officials.
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/textron-leonardo-bank-on-m-346-global-experience-in-looming-race-for-navy-trainer/
"The strength we think we bring is that [the Navy is] going to go from contract to actually starting to turn out students much quicker than any other competitors," a Textron executive told Breaking Defense.
Executives from Textron and Leonardo are hopeful that the real-world experience of the Italian firm's M-346 aircraft will help them land the right to supply the US Navy with its next-gen trainer, executives told Breaking Defense in a recent interview.
The two announced in September that they would go after the upcoming training program, which would likely put them up against Boeing's T-7A and the Lockheed Martin-KAI T-50.
In its effort to replace the aging T-45 trainers, the Navy put out a Request for Information last August for what's officially dubbed the "Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS)." It indicated a minimum buy of 145 aircraft and a contract award in 2026. That means a Request for Proposal could drop by the end of this year or early 2025, which would see the contest officially kick off.
A big part of the Textron-Leonardo team's pitch is that the M346 isn't just a jet, but is tied into a whole training enterprise that is already in use on a global scale, including international F-35 pilot training. Italy, Poland, Singapore, Israel, Greece and Qatar are all M-346 operators — and all but Qatar are either current or planned operators of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
"It's not just the airplane, it's a pull-up simulation system. It's developed courseware. It's a way of teaching that's already been validated for countries that are flying the F-35 today," Thomas Webster, Textron Aviation Defense's vice president of global sales and strategy, told Breaking Defense during last week's Sea Air Space symposium. "The strength we think we bring is that they're going to go from contract to actually starting to turn out students much quicker than any other competitors."
In particular, Webster and a set of executives from Leonardo emphasized the benefits of the International Flight Training School, a joint project between the Italian military and Leonardo, located in Decimomannu, Italy. Training at that facility is based around the M346, and a number of current or future F-35 operators — including Japan, Germany, Singapore, Austria, Canada, and the United Kingdom — have announced plans to take part in the school.
While cautioning that the final RFP from the Navy isn't out yet, Webster said there should only be "minor tweaks" needed to turn the M346 into what the companies are pitching as the "M346-N."
For instance, the M346 is capable of doing Field Carrier Landing Practice — basically, touch-and-go operations on land that are supposed to simulate landing on a carrier — now. But the recent Navy RFI said the jet needs to be able to perform 35,000 such exercises over the life of the plane, which may require tightening up of the plane's landing gear.
Then there's updating software to match the Navy's most recent version of its Precision Landing Mode system for carrier landings. However, until final requirements are written, it remains to be seen exactly what the industry team would need to do.
The US Air Force in 2017 selected the Boeing-Saab T-7A as its next-gen training aircraft over, among others, the M346. In theory, it would make sense for the two American services to have a common trainer, given they both operate variants of the F-35 and having one training fleet would bring overall costs down.
Webster dismissed the idea that Boeing's Air Force win puts his team behind the ball in the Navy competition, in part due to the issues Boeing has had with getting the T-7A underway. "If the Navy reads the newspaper, the media, I'm not unduly concerned," he said with a laugh, before arguing that if the Navy joined up with T-7A it would be years down the line before its jets can start delivering. (In a recent Breaking Defense report, a Boeing spokesperson acknowledged some "challenges" with T-7A deliveries, but said progress was being made.)
David Kindley, Leonardo US's director for trainers, airlifters and special mission campaigns, added that the Navy would see benefits by having a singular, dedicated industry partner.
"One of our respectful arguments back to the Navy is, you tried running second place to the Air Force before with F-35, how'd that work out for you? You're number one with us," Kindley said. "You are the biggest thing in our in our portfolio. You call our president, you get the president."
In November, a US Air Force official revealed that the service was considering a way to turn the T-7A into an attack variant. While the M346 has a history of being configured as a light-attack platform, the executives said the question of whether the trainer could also fill that mission has not come up in discussion with Navy officials.
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/textron-leonardo-bank-on-m-346-global-experience-in-looming-race-for-navy-trainer/
#27
Nieuwe ontwikkelingen op Defensiegebied / Re: Amphibious Ready Group (AR...
Last post by Harald - Vandaag om 09:26Multi-ship amphib buy could net $900M in savings, say Navy, Marine Corps officials (DE Wens ; extra LHD's !! )
Lawmakers gave the Navy authorities to ink a multi-ship amphib deal years ago, but the service has not utilized that power yet.
Navy and Marine Corps officials told House lawmakers that a prospective multi-ship buy of three San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks and one America-class amphibious assault ship could net the service around $900 million in savings.
That number came out of a House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee hearing held yesterday with Navy acquisition executive Nickolas Guertin and Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, the Marines' senior requirements officer.
In response to a question from Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., Heckl said the approximate savings for buying the four amphibs — all of which are in the Navy's long-range shipbuilding plan — in a multi-ship deal would be approximately $914 million.
.../...
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/multi-ship-amphib-buy-could-net-900m-in-savings-say-navy-marine-corps-officials/
Lawmakers gave the Navy authorities to ink a multi-ship amphib deal years ago, but the service has not utilized that power yet.
Navy and Marine Corps officials told House lawmakers that a prospective multi-ship buy of three San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks and one America-class amphibious assault ship could net the service around $900 million in savings.
That number came out of a House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee hearing held yesterday with Navy acquisition executive Nickolas Guertin and Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, the Marines' senior requirements officer.
In response to a question from Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., Heckl said the approximate savings for buying the four amphibs — all of which are in the Navy's long-range shipbuilding plan — in a multi-ship deal would be approximately $914 million.
.../...
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/multi-ship-amphib-buy-could-net-900m-in-savings-say-navy-marine-corps-officials/
#28
Nieuwe ontwikkelingen op Defensiegebied / Re: internationale ontwikkelin...
Last post by Harald - Vandaag om 09:21Norway's air defense priorities: Volume first, then long-range capabilities
"We need to increase spending in simple systems that we need a huge volume of that can, basically, counter very low-tech drones that could pose a threat," Norway's top officer told Breaking Defense, "so we don't end up using the most sophisticated missile systems against something that is very cheap to buy."
Earlier this month, Norway's government announced plans for a dramatic increase in defense spending over the next 12 years, with a long list of weapon acquisitions it plans to make.
Among the key priorities outlined was an increase in air defense capabilities at all levels. But even as Oslo looks into its options for a new long-range, high-end missile defense system, the "most important [thing] is to buy more of what we already have," Gen. Eirik Kristoffersen, Norway's chief of defense, told Breaking Defense during a recent visit to Washington.
"So, from handheld, counter-UAV air defense systems, up to, I would say, medium-range NASAMS" are the first priority, Kristoffersen said. "We have already invested, and we need to invest more in that. We know it's working, it's tested and it's proven its effectiveness in Ukraine."
Oslo has donated a number of NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems), co-developed by US firm Raytheon and Norwegian firm Kongsberg, to Ukraine for its defensive effort against Russia. The lessons learned from seeing the system in the field, along with the kind of counter-drone efforts Ukrainians have had to employ, are directly filtering into Norway's approach to building out its air defenses, Kristoffersen said.
One of the big lessons from that conflict: volume matters, especially at the lower level.
"We need to increase spending in simple systems that we need a huge volume of that can, basically, counter very low-tech drones that could pose a threat, so we don't end up using the most sophisticated missile systems against something that is very cheap to buy, and basically, you will not have enough volume," he said. "So I'm looking for better counter-UAS systems on the tactical level, to deal with drones on the tactical level."
He added that he's open to any solution the market can provide: "Everything that could take down drones. ... If there's a cheap low-tech drone, the response has to be as cheap and low tech as possible. And then you need to find out how should this balance out through the force."
While that represents the near-term air defense priority, Kristoffersen was open that the long-range air defense option is going to take longer to sort out. While not wanting to put a direct timeline on it, he emphasized that he and his team need to really dig in to make sure they are buying the right system, given how fast both missile and counter-missile technology is developing.
"I don't have a clear answer today what sort of system we should buy. I think we need to not waste any time, but we need to find out, what do you want to invest in?" he said. "Is it Patriot systems, something else? These are very costly, requires a lot of people to man. So that's a that's a big decision.
"I hope we can make that announcement as soon as possible. But I need to look more deeply into it. There are so many systems out now," he added. "So we need to compare all systems, and then the other technology development, also in industry. So we'll see."
More broadly, Kristoffersen said, a major focus of the new funding plan will be on making sure Norway has enough volume overall — of both manpower and materiel — to handle a future crisis. That includes expanding the army from one brigade to three and planning to increase the weapons stockpiled throughout the country.
"We need to think bigger and act faster, and we need to move into more volume," he said.
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/norways-air-defense-priorities-volume-first-then-long-range-capabilities/
"We need to increase spending in simple systems that we need a huge volume of that can, basically, counter very low-tech drones that could pose a threat," Norway's top officer told Breaking Defense, "so we don't end up using the most sophisticated missile systems against something that is very cheap to buy."
Earlier this month, Norway's government announced plans for a dramatic increase in defense spending over the next 12 years, with a long list of weapon acquisitions it plans to make.
Among the key priorities outlined was an increase in air defense capabilities at all levels. But even as Oslo looks into its options for a new long-range, high-end missile defense system, the "most important [thing] is to buy more of what we already have," Gen. Eirik Kristoffersen, Norway's chief of defense, told Breaking Defense during a recent visit to Washington.
"So, from handheld, counter-UAV air defense systems, up to, I would say, medium-range NASAMS" are the first priority, Kristoffersen said. "We have already invested, and we need to invest more in that. We know it's working, it's tested and it's proven its effectiveness in Ukraine."
Oslo has donated a number of NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems), co-developed by US firm Raytheon and Norwegian firm Kongsberg, to Ukraine for its defensive effort against Russia. The lessons learned from seeing the system in the field, along with the kind of counter-drone efforts Ukrainians have had to employ, are directly filtering into Norway's approach to building out its air defenses, Kristoffersen said.
One of the big lessons from that conflict: volume matters, especially at the lower level.
"We need to increase spending in simple systems that we need a huge volume of that can, basically, counter very low-tech drones that could pose a threat, so we don't end up using the most sophisticated missile systems against something that is very cheap to buy, and basically, you will not have enough volume," he said. "So I'm looking for better counter-UAS systems on the tactical level, to deal with drones on the tactical level."
He added that he's open to any solution the market can provide: "Everything that could take down drones. ... If there's a cheap low-tech drone, the response has to be as cheap and low tech as possible. And then you need to find out how should this balance out through the force."
While that represents the near-term air defense priority, Kristoffersen was open that the long-range air defense option is going to take longer to sort out. While not wanting to put a direct timeline on it, he emphasized that he and his team need to really dig in to make sure they are buying the right system, given how fast both missile and counter-missile technology is developing.
"I don't have a clear answer today what sort of system we should buy. I think we need to not waste any time, but we need to find out, what do you want to invest in?" he said. "Is it Patriot systems, something else? These are very costly, requires a lot of people to man. So that's a that's a big decision.
"I hope we can make that announcement as soon as possible. But I need to look more deeply into it. There are so many systems out now," he added. "So we need to compare all systems, and then the other technology development, also in industry. So we'll see."
More broadly, Kristoffersen said, a major focus of the new funding plan will be on making sure Norway has enough volume overall — of both manpower and materiel — to handle a future crisis. That includes expanding the army from one brigade to three and planning to increase the weapons stockpiled throughout the country.
"We need to think bigger and act faster, and we need to move into more volume," he said.
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/norways-air-defense-priorities-volume-first-then-long-range-capabilities/
#30
Midden Oosten / Re: Spanning(en) rond Iran
Last post by Benji87 - Vandaag om 07:31Israel heeft teruggeslagen met een aanval op een basis in ishafan waar mogelijk nucleaire activiteiten plaatsvinden. Berichtgeving hierover is nogal vaag. Hopelijk is er in de loop van de dag wat meer duidelijkheid hierover.
Edit ter aanvulling:
- Iran claimt de vernietiging van minstens 3 drones
- Ishafan huisvest een verrijking fabriek voor uranium
Edit ter aanvulling:
- Iran claimt de vernietiging van minstens 3 drones
- Ishafan huisvest een verrijking fabriek voor uranium