Defensiebegrotingen en -problematiek, niet NL

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Ministers approve £350 million contract for Trident replacement

The replacement of Trident will come a step closer this week as ministers start work on new submarines to carry Britain's nuclear weapons.
By James Kirkup, in Chicago

10:00PM BST 20 May 2012

The Ministry of Defence will announce this week that it has placed £350 million of contracts for the design of new nuclear-armed submarines.

British defence firms will be asked to begin work on the nuclear-propulsion systems for a new generation of submarines.

The move comes despite Liberal Democrat attempts to shift the Coalition away from buying a like-for-like replacement for the Trident system of long-range missiles based on submarines.

The contracts are the first to be announced since Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, told MPs that he had balanced the Defence budget, allowing new equipment orders to be placed.

The Trident system involves inter-continental missiles based on Vanguard-class submarines, which are now nearing the end of their working lives.

The first of the four Vanguards in service had been due to be retired in 2022. But ministers announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2010 that the boats' lives will be extended.

On the current timetable, new British nuclear-armed subs are not due in service until 2028.

That means the final decision about ordering new boats does not have to be taken until 2016, after the next general election. That has raised doubts about whether the programme will go ahead.

A referendum on Scottish independence expected in 2014 could also complicate nuclear policy. The Vanguards are currently based in Scotland, but the Scottish National Party has said that an independent Scotland would not be home to nuclear weapons.

Ministers have not yet said how many new nuclear subs will be ordered. The current fleet of four allows the UK to ensure that one nuclear boat is always at sea, a policy known as continuous at-sea deterrence.

Despite Lib Dem doubts, David Cameron has insisted that the UK will uphold CASD when the successor to Trident is ordered.

Nick Harvey, a Liberal Democrat Defence minister, has been considering alternatives to a direct replacement for the Trident system.

One option being pushed by Lib Dem backbenchers would be smaller and less powerful nuclear missiles, which could be fired from the Navy's existing Astute-class attack submarines.

But the decision to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on designing new nuclear-armed submarines weighs heavily against that option.

Among the companies expected to win design contracts this week are BAe Systems and Rolls Royce. The MoD estimates that the contracts will sustain or create as many as 1,900 jobs in the UK.

Britain is going ahead with Trident renewal – likely to cost at least £20 billion – despite making deep cuts in the defence budget.

Mr Cameron yesterday told a Nato summit in Chicago that Britain's SDSR process shows that alliance members can increase their military firepower despite pressure on their defence budgets.

The summit discussed plans for "smart defence", where smaller Nato members will pool their capabilities to make the most of their military resources.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9278387/Ministers-approve-350-million-contract-for-Trident-replacement.html

[Lynxian]

Wat dan, bijna 320.000 man personeel? 

[dudge]

Many NATO countries, one pays most the bills
As the United States has struggled to recover from recession, the issue of who pays for what in NATO operations has becoming an increasing point of contention.

Nu is het wel zo dat de VS behoorlijk veel uitgeeft, teveel misschien wel, en Europa te weinig, en daarmee ontstaat een enorm gat.

Nu de budgetten aan alle kanten verder onder druk staat is het inderdaad wel logisch dat de vraag gesteld wordt wie voor wat gaat betalen. Misschien moet ook de NAVO wel toe naar een ander systeem, waarbij een land dat bijdraagt een bepaalde vergoeding daarvoor krijgt. Zoals bij de VN vredesmissies.

[IPA NG]

Budget van ongeveer 34 miljard $, Italië is 38 miljard $.

Ik zou niet gaan voor 320000 man personeel en ook niet voor zo'n enorm bedrag, maar een gulden middenweg zou ik wel prima vinden.

[Marc66]

Wat dan, bijna 320.000 man personeel? 

[IPA NG]

Als we per hoofd van de bevolking net zoveel uit zouden geven als de VS dan hadden we nu een krijgsmacht gehad van het niveau Italië.

[Lynxian]

Many NATO countries, one pays most the bills

As the United States has struggled to recover from recession, the issue of who pays for what in NATO operations has becoming an increasing point of contention.



AP
20 May 2012 1448 GMT

Hopelijk gooit Obama er de zweep over heen. Het zal misschien geen 2% van het BNP worden, maar als er al een tiende procent bijkomt dan is dat al mooi meegenomen.

[Lex]

Many NATO countries, one pays most the bills

As the United States has struggled to recover from recession, the issue of who pays for what in NATO operations has becoming an increasing point of contention.



AP
20 May 2012 1448 GMT

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

House of Representatives supports two-per-year submarine production rate

By Jennifer McDermott

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a defense spending bill today that authorizes funding for a second Virginia-class submarine in 2014.

In its version of the bill that authorizes appropriations for fiscal 2013, the House included $4.9 billion in funding for the Virginia-class submarine program — $3.2 billion to build two submarines in 2013 and $1.7 billion, or $778 million above the president's budget request, to purchase parts with long lead times for two boats in both 2014 and 2015.

The president's proposed budget calls for building one Virginia-class submarine in 2014 instead of two and two submarines in 2018 instead of one to save money now.

The bill also gives the Navy the contracting authority for a five-year block of up to 10 new submarines instead of capping the total at nine.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, who worked to restore the funding for the second submarine, said the steady, two-per-year production rate is "good for EB" and "has massive economic benefits that will ripple up and down the supply chain, across Connecticut."

"Continuing a steady submarine production rate today will ensure that the Navy has the submarine force structure it needs, and that EB will still continue to produce the savings and efficiency that have made the Virginia class submarine program an example for all Pentagon programs," Courtney said.

The bill fully authorizes the budget request of $100 million in 2013 for research and development on a module with missile tubes that could boost firepower on Virginia-class submarines.

http://www.theday.com/article/20120518/NWS09/120519549/1047

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Boeing delivered the United Kingdom's eighth C-17 Globemaster III to the Royal Air Force 

LONG BEACH, Calif., May 18, 2012 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered the United Kingdom's eighth C-17 Globemaster III to the Royal Air Force (RAF) today during a ceremony at the company's final assembly facility in Long Beach.

"I'm honored and delighted to deliver the Royal Air Force's newest C-17 to join the fleet at Number 99 Squadron, where our seven C-17s are in constant demand flying missions in support of Defence and other government agencies' requirements," said RAF Wing Cmdr. David Manning, Officer Commanding 99 Squadron. "It's a great feeling to know that we have the capability to deliver crucial supplies to the front lines with little notice, or to transport injured troops home with a better chance of survival because of the capability and flexibility of the C-17. This newest C-17 will be a welcome addition to the Air Force fleet."

The RAF C-17s are operated by 99 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton. The first RAF C-17s entered service in 2001 and have surpassed 74,000 flight hours -- 15 percent above the projected rate. The UK Ministry of Defence, citing ongoing demand, ordered additional airlifters for delivery in 2008 and 2010 and contracted for its eighth C-17 in March.

"RAF C-17s are ever-present when there's a need for humanitarian relief or peacekeeping around the world," said Bob Ciesla, Boeing Airlift vice president and C-17 program manager. "We're proud to support the Royal Air Force in providing for the mobility needs of their great nation, and we are grateful for the partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence and U.S. Air Force that made this delivery possible in such a short time."

"The RAF fleet's airlift capacity, increased by this latest delivery, is backed by a comprehensive sustainment services program," said Boeing Defence UK Managing Director Mike Kurth. "As part of the worldwide C-17 'virtual fleet,' RAF C-17s are supported through the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program (GISP), a Performance-Based Logistics agreement. The support provided to the RAF under the GISP arrangement results in an excellent mission-capable rate at one of the lowest costs per flying hour."

Boeing has delivered 242 C-17s worldwide, including 216 to the U.S. Air Force active duty, Guard and Reserve units. A total of 26 C-17s have been delivered to Australia, Canada, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations. India has 10 C-17s on order for delivery in 2013 and 2014.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 61,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2258

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

NOP!!;D...laten die zich maar gaan orienteren op de A400M

Een Europese C17 dan?  

[Elzenga]

Goede zaak! Nu nog twee voor de Klu..

NOP!!;D...laten die zich maar gaan orienteren op de A400M

[Hyperion]

vr 18 mei 2012, 21:14
De defensiebegroting voor 2013 goedgkeurd van ruim 642 miljard dollar (circa 504 miljoen euro).

Hyper de pyper inflatie :lol:

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

vr 18 mei 2012, 21:14

Huis VS stemt in met defensiebegroting

WASHINGTON -  Het door Republikeinen geleide Amerikaanse Huis van Afgevaardigden heeft vrijdag de defensiebegroting voor 2013 goedgekeurd van ruim 642 miljard dollar (circa 504 miljoen euro). Het Huis negeert hiermee een dreigement van president Barack Obama die eerder zei zijn veto te zullen uitspreken als het budget hoger uitvalt dan hij wil uitgeven.

De afgevaardigden willen ruim 4 miljard meer aan defensie uitgeven dan de regering. De door de Democraten geleide Senaat moet de begroting nog goedkeuren. Waarnemers menen dat de kwestie tot een botsing zal leiden tussen het Huis van Afgevaardigden en de regering-Obama. Het ministerie van Defensie wilde de komende jaren juist bezuinigen op defensie.

Het Huis van Afgevaardigden keurde ook het defensiebudget goed van ruim 88 miljard dollar voor de oorlog in Afghanistan en andere operaties elders in de wereld.

http://www.telegraaf.nl/buitenland/12163249/__Huis_VS_voor_defensiebegroting__.html

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

En dat twee maanden na het ondertekenen van het contract

Goede zaak! Nu nog twee voor de Klu..