Internationale ontwikkelingen Special Forces

Gestart door Harald, 28/09/2020 | 11:52 uur

Harald

French Special Forces to receive 8 additional NH90-FS helicopters

According to a report by Laurent Lagneau in Opex360, the French Ministry of Defense has formally placed an order for eight more NH-90 helicopters designed for special forces use. This procurement aligns with the Special Operations Command's (COS) objectives and will facilitate the relocation of Caracal helicopters from the 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4e RHFS) to the 1/67 Pyrénées Squadron of the French Air and Space Force.



In 2016, the COS identified the need for 24 NH-90 Caïman TTH helicopters to enhance the capabilities and capacity of its units while retiring the existing maneuvering aircraft within the 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4RHFS) of the Army's Light Aviation (ALAT).

However, during the formulation of the Military Programming Law (LPM) for the period 2019-2025, the decision was made to acquire only 10 NH-90 "Special Forces" (NH-90 FS) helicopters. The announcement of this order was made by then-Minister of Defense Florence Parly in October 2020, with a plan to deliver six units to the 4e RHFS before 2025. The LPM for 2024-2030 has now revised this target upwards, specifying a fleet of 18 NH-90 FS helicopters in the attached report.

In November 2023, an additional budget of 2.1 billion euros was allocated to the Defense Ministry. Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu explained that this funding would enable the anticipation of certain priority orders during wartime, thanks to cost-saving measures. One of these priority orders includes the acquisition of an extra 8 NH-90 FS helicopters.

The General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) has officially communicated the contract for these eight additional helicopters to the NHIndustries consortium, which consists of Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo, and Fokker. As reported by the French weekly La Tribune, this order was anticipated and was placed before the end of 2023.

The NH90 is a highly versatile helicopter designed to perform various missions, including tactical transport for up to 20 individuals, heli-transport with a cargo hold capacity of 2.5 tons or 4 tons on a sling, emergency extraction (IMEX), parachute drops, commando deployments, cargo parachute drops, heliport missions, search and rescue operations, and medical evacuations with the ability to carry up to 12 stretchers. It can also function as a heliportable command post.

Key specifications of the NH90 include a maximum weight of 10.6 tons, a top speed of up to 320 km/h, and adaptable cargo capacities, allowing for the transport of 14 to 20 passengers, one off-road vehicle plus three personnel, or 2.5 tons of equipment in the cargo hold, or 4 tons on a sling. It features advanced mission management and navigation systems, self-protection systems, and a Topowl helmet with integrated triple-sensor visionics and pilot thermal imaging (FLIR).

The NH90 is renowned for its versatility and can be employed in combat, search and rescue, and tactical transport missions. It incorporates modular systems with digital technology, making it adaptable for various roles. The cabin includes a loading ramp for easy transport of personnel and equipment. Equipped with state-of-the-art avionics and sensors, it is suitable for day and night operations in all weather conditions. The helicopter is designed for single-pilot operation, features a self-diagnostic system for fault detection, and boasts an integrated maintenance system.

The NH90-FS is equipped with a Euroflir 410 NG optronic ball and the Eurofl'eye system, which includes a multispectral panoramic 3D pilot assistance sensor associated with the TopOwl binocular helmet. It has also been modified to support fast rope operations and personnel transport via side doors.

The NH90 is in service with 14 different nations and is available in two primary versions: the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH), specialized in anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. It plays a significant role in the development of an integrated European defense system.

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2024-defense-news-aviation/january/9492-french-special-forces-to-receive-8-additional-nh90-fs-helicopters.html

Harald

Boeing to supply six remanufactured MH-47G Block II Chinooks to US Army Special Operations Aviation Command


The U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) has awarded Boeing a contract to produce six remanufactured MH-47G Block II aircraft as a part of the Army's modernization efforts. With the deal valued at $271M, Boeing has 42 MH-47G helos under contract with USASOAC.

"The Chinook has been a key player in the special operations domain for many years. USASOAC and international allies have used the unique capabilities of the Chinook to complete the most daring missions around the globe," said Heather McBryan, vice president and program manager, cargo programs. "With the modernized MH-47G, USASOAC soldiers are well-suited to meet today's challenging environment."

As special operations requirements have become increasingly complex, the heavy-lift helicopter has adapted to meet those changing needs. The MH-47G Block II program not only supports the warfighters' needs today but enables the Chinook to be battle-relevant well into the future.

"With the new and improved MH-47G Block II aircraft, USASOAC is not only receiving the most capable Chinook helicopter, they are also provided the flexibility to add additional upgrades as their needs evolve over time," McBryan added.

The Boeing MH-47G Block II Chinook represents a significant advancement in the Chinook helicopter series, building upon the legacy of its predecessors with enhanced capabilities and technological innovations. This model, specifically tailored for special operations, is a testament to the ongoing evolution in rotary-wing aircraft, particularly in the realm of military applications.

At the heart of the MH-47G Block II's design is a focus on increased lift capability, a critical factor for special operations missions that often require the transportation of heavy equipment or large numbers of personnel. This is achieved through the integration of more powerful engines, the Honeywell T55-GA-714A, which provide a substantial boost in horsepower compared to earlier models. These engines not only offer greater lift but also contribute to improved fuel efficiency and longer range, crucial for extended missions in remote or hostile environments.

Another key feature of the MH-47G Block II is its advanced airframe. The helicopter incorporates a redesigned fuselage with an integrated monolithic floor structure, enhancing its overall strength and durability. This robust construction is vital for withstanding the rigors of high-intensity operations, where the aircraft may be subject to harsh conditions and heavy wear.

The rotor system of the MH-47G Block II also sees significant upgrades. The use of advanced composite materials in the rotor blades results in a lighter, more aerodynamically efficient design, which translates to improved performance and maneuverability.

Avionics and electronics systems in the MH-47G Block II are state-of-the-art, providing enhanced situational awareness and communication capabilities. The cockpit is equipped with digital displays and an advanced flight control system, which together offer pilots greater control and information. Enhanced navigation systems, including GPS and other satellite-based tools, ensure precise positioning even in GPS-denied environments.

The aircraft's defensive capabilities are equally impressive. The MH-47G Block II is equipped with a suite of countermeasures to protect against a range of threats, from small arms fire to advanced surface-to-air missiles. This includes systems for electronic warfare, flare and chaff dispensers, and radar warning receivers, all of which contribute to the aircraft's survivability in hostile airspace.

The MH-47G Block II's versatility is enhanced through its multi-role capacity. The aircraft can be rapidly reconfigured for various mission types, ranging from troop transport and supply delivery to medical evacuation and search and rescue. This adaptability is crucial for special operations forces, which often operate in dynamic and unpredictable scenarios.

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2023-news-aviation-aerospace/december/9443-boeing-to-supply-six-remanufactured-mh-47g-block-ii-chinooks-to-us-army-special-operations-aviation-command.html

Harald

Night Stalker MH-60 Executes Sneak Mock Assault On Navy Ship In Awesome Video

The high-performance flying seen in the video shows how Night Stalkers can be on top of a ship and landing operators in seconds.

VIDEO :
https://twitter.com/i/status/1721883772424253496

Pilots of the U.S. Army's elite 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment (SOAR), also known as the 'Night Stalkers,' are well known for their flying expertise in challenging circumstances. Now, video has emerged showcasing how their skills, as well as their MH-60M Black Hawks, can be leveraged to sneak up on ships in order to conduct rapid insertion of special operators onto their decks.

The footage in question was captured via a hand-held device from the vantage point of an observer aboard the San Antonio class amphibious transport dock USS New York. Details on where and when the video was captured remain unclear. As The War Zone has noted in the past, the 160th SOAR has a well established history of conducting maritime training exercises, and operations, with U.S. Navy assets and units.

Flying very low and fast above the water, we see one of the 160th's Black Hawks passing New York's starboard side in the footage before executing a remarkable pop-up braking maneuver before coming to a rock steady hover over the moving warship's bow. The black helicopter hovers there, simulating the insertion of troops via fast rope and/or raking the bridge with machine gun fire, before flying off.


In order to get an expert take on what we are seeing, we reached out to Chris "Ox" Harmer, a TWZ contributor and Sea Hawk pilot with thousands of hours in the type, including experience with real-world operations just like this.

"This looks like a great day for some shipboard familiarization flying," he said. "You can tell by the lack of whitecaps on the water that there is very little wind, no more than eight knots at most, probably less."

"The aircraft is flying pretty low - clearly no more than 50' AGL (above ground level) - that helps minimize detection."

"As the MH-60 approaches from stern to bow, flying on the starboard side, the pilot needs to bleed off excess airspeed to get into a hover. You can tell this pilot is an experienced stick - three maneuvers blend seamlessly into one."

"First, forward speed is reduced by pitching the nose up while simultaneously dropping power; this bleeds the kinetic energy off the airframe. It's a modified version of what we commonly refer to as a 'quick stop.' The nose up quick stop maneuver is used just to bleed off airspeed. It's the most efficient, quick way to do it. You can tell by the gradual, progressive nose up maneuver that the pilot timed the control inputs correctly. As airspeed bleeds off, the pilot then tilts left wing down, with a bit of left rudder pressure to turn the Blackhawk 90 degrees to the left."

"Having bled off airspeed to match the forward movement of the ship, the helicopter then goes a bit nose down to move into the correct hovering position over the centerline of the ship, followed by an immediate nose up maneuver to stop relative motion."

"The final maneuver, which is very difficult to see, is a slight right wing down input to match the ships movement through the water. The pilot makes it looks smooth, easy, controlled, and professional. Well done!"

Of course, performing highly-skilled flying maneuvers, often at speed and at night/amid adverse weather conditions and at night, remains very much the bread and butter of 160th SOAR pilots.

The regiment is well known for its frequent and elaborate training exercises, often involving fast-rope insertions from hovering helicopter. 160th SOAR regularly conducts so-called realistic urban training (RUT), for example, in order to best simulate the dense urban sprawl they would encounter should they be deployed to densely populated areas. As The War Zone has noted in the past, realistic urban training is critical for 160th aircrews and the special operators they cart around to sharpen their skills; simulating future battles in 'megacities.'

However, being able to insert rapidly and extract quickly in other environments, such as at sea, is also a part of the unit's remit. Doing so sneakily — providing target vessels with as little warning time as possible that an infiltration and/or extraction may be imminent, brings distinct advantages. This would be useful for a huge range of scenarios, from counter-piracy operations to maritime hostage rescue situations to interdiction of illicit cargo, where lives depend on how covertly and speedily maneuvers are conducted. It should be noted that a 160th SOAR MH-60M recently seen sporting blue camouflage could well be designed to provide greater cover during sensitive maritime operations like these. It also serves as a reflection on a growing importance on maritime operations, and the focus on training for them, as the possibility of a war in the Pacific looms larger.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/night-stalker-mh-60-executes-sneak-mock-assault-on-navy-ship-in-awesome-video

Harald

Ook de Carrier Seal van JDF is best interessant, ook voor de NL MARSOF

https://www.jfd-spec-ops.com/carrierseal


Harald

Citaat van: Harald op 24/10/2023 | 14:03 uurhttps://euro-sd.com/2023/10/articles/34039/by-stealth-to-the-shore/

By stealth to the shore

With the coastal subsurface domain remaining an area that Western special forces can exploit, a number of companies are providing platforms to facilitate such operations. Peter Felstead looks at recent developments in this sphere.

While the close-in surveillance of hostile shores can increasingly be achieved by unmanned platforms, when it comes to covertly putting personnel ashore for special operations, the subsurface domain remains an area that can be exploited by novel technology. While sustaining personnel under the water's surface clearly has its challenges, the lack of any visual or noise signature being discernible from the shore – at least until special forces operators have actually landed – provides obvious advantages.

Reflecting this, a number of developments in swimmer delivery vehicles (SDVs) have breached the surface in recent years, which seek to deliver a tactical edge to Western maritime special forces.

.../...

( voor het gehele artikel zie bovenstaande link )

DSEI 2023: JFD Displays 'Productionised' Shadow Seal SDV  (doorontwikkeling van het Nederlandse Ortega Submersibles )

UK underwater systems specialist JDF presented a 'productionised' version of its Shadow Seal swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV) at the DSEI 2023 defence exhibition, held in London from 12-15 September.

The latest Shadow Seal features a number of upgrades, the most notable of which is a bank of eight 10 kW batteries for a total power output of 80 kW compared to the 16 kW power of its predecessor. This gives it a surface range of 80 n miles at 4.5 kts or a subsurface range of 25 n miles at 3.5 kts.



Another enhancement featuring on the 'productionised' Shadow Seal is the incorporation of 360° controllable rear thrusters, negating the need for bow thrusters on the older version. Using these the vessel can be bottomed out on the seabed, with Alistair Wilson, strategy and sales director for JFD, telling ESD that the Shadow Seal can sit in conditions of Sea State 5 without being tumbled. The latest Shadow Seal also has an improved navigation system.

The Shadow Seal, which JFD terms a tactical diving vehicle (TDV), is a four-person vessel that entered the JFD portfolio through its acquisition of Dutch company Ortega Submersibles in August 2019. The vessel, which is 8 m long and 1.88 m wide, carries up to two personnel in each of two compartments and can be piloted from either of these stations. It can thus deliver three operators or alternatively be bottomed out and shut down in shallow water to allow four divers to be deployed.

The vessel is 2.18 high, or 4.12 m when its mast is fully extended, and weighs 2.5 tonnes.

Wilson told ESD that, following its appearance at DSEI, the Shadow Seal would very soon begin water trials in the Clyde out of the company's facility at Inchinnan near Glasgow.

https://euro-sd.com/2023/09/news/33920/dsei-2023-jfd-displays-productionised-shadow-seal-sdv/

https://www.jfd-spec-ops.com/shadowseal


Harald

https://euro-sd.com/2023/10/articles/34039/by-stealth-to-the-shore/

By stealth to the shore

With the coastal subsurface domain remaining an area that Western special forces can exploit, a number of companies are providing platforms to facilitate such operations. Peter Felstead looks at recent developments in this sphere.

While the close-in surveillance of hostile shores can increasingly be achieved by unmanned platforms, when it comes to covertly putting personnel ashore for special operations, the subsurface domain remains an area that can be exploited by novel technology. While sustaining personnel under the water's surface clearly has its challenges, the lack of any visual or noise signature being discernible from the shore – at least until special forces operators have actually landed – provides obvious advantages.

Reflecting this, a number of developments in swimmer delivery vehicles (SDVs) have breached the surface in recent years, which seek to deliver a tactical edge to Western maritime special forces.

.../...

( voor het gehele artikel zie bovenstaande link )

Lynxian

Dat is een verbazingwekkend effectief stukje camouflage!


Harald

AFSOC receives final AC-130J

Air Force Special Operations Command received its 31st and final AC-130J Ghostrider, completing the command?s transition from the legacy AC-130W, AC-130U and AC-130H fleets.

Following a commemoration ceremony at the Lockheed Martin Gunship Modification Facility in Crestview Nov. 2, the final AC-130J was delivered to the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.



During the AC-130J Ghostrider dedication and delivery ceremony, Lt. Col. Joe Allen, Gunship Program manager and narrator for the event, briefly discussed the history of nose art and how it became a common way of depicting the name of an airplane. He also explained how pilots would stencil names or call signs on their aircraft, providing a sense of connection and further a feeling of pride for themselves and the crew that kept the airplane flying.

?Aircraft #31 is no different [than previous World War II aircraft] and is being named in honor of Mr. Stan ?Sluggo? Siefke who was instrumental in the developments of the precision strike package prior to cutting first metal on the MC-130W,? said Allen. ?Sluggo?s impacts on Whiskey and Ghostrider have been nothing short of outstanding and we are honored to have him in attendance today.?

Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, AFSOC commander, represented the command at the ceremony and spoke about his experience with acquiring and receiving the AC-130J.
Slife recalled that it had been only a few years back when then Col. Slife, working at the Pentagon for the Office of Secretary of Defense, began the messaging and formative language that initiated the program that he?s seeing come full circle.

?In the fall of 2009, the secretary of defense decided to recapitalize [the AC-130] with C-130Js to build the platforms we see behind us today,? Slife said.

He also spoke about seeing the first J model go into combat in the summer of 2019 while serving as the AFSOC commander.

?The airplane and its predecessors have exceeded all our expectations and kept more Americans alive than any other airplane on the battlefield,? Slife said.

?The future is going to be different than what we have experienced for the last 20 years, but one thing I?m certain of is this airplane will be relevant to whatever the future operating environment brings, so thank you all for delivering such a magnificent capability to today?s warfighters,? he said.

Capt. Katie Tiedemann, 73rd Special Operations Squadron weapons systems officer, shared operational vignettes of the AC-130J during the event. She specifically shared her own experience deployed in Afghanistan when she supported Operation Allies Refuge.

?Over two weeks, my own crew, and two others, continued to employ our aircraft for countless hours, reopening the [Kabul] airport and evacuating 123,000 refugees,? Tiedemann said. ?Much of the rest of the story you have seen and heard, but our two crews who flew during the evacuation will be recognized this fall with the MacKay trophy for accomplishing the most meritorious flight of the year.?

Following Capt. Tiedemann?s presentation, William Innes, deputy director for acquisition, United States Special Operations Command, spoke about USSOCOM?s part in navigating the acquisitions process to get the weapons systems from industry to the warfighter.

?When we can see firsthand that it [the acquisition process] works, it delivers the best weapons system the nation can get, it is truly inspirational,? he said.

Vic Torla, Lockheed Martin vice president of Special Operations Forces Global Logistics Support Services, expressed his gratitude for the partnership between Lockheed Martin and the Air Force.

?A great example of a government and industry partnership to stand up this facility,? Torla said. ?A ten-year journey to deliver what is now 30 combat capable aircraft to Special Operations Command.?

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Slife, along with the aircrew, stepped onto the new AC-130J and took off for Cannon AFB, where the final AC-130J will become part of the 27th Special Operations Wing.



He concluded with his gratitude for all who contributed to making the AC-130J the success it is today.

?For the whole team today, for the team that maintained the airplane, that built the airplane, that acquired the airplane, that fly the airplane, that tested the airplane, thank you for what you?ve done.?

The AC-130J is a transport aircraft modified for special forces operations and has been used to support AFSOC in missions around the world. It is a fifth-generation gunship that can provide close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3209455/afsoc-receives-final-ac-130j/

Nikehercules

Citaat van: Harald op 10/10/2022 | 11:38 uur
Rookgordijng voor helicopters  :hrmph:   maar hoe zit het dan met je eigen zicht ? sensoren, camera's e.d.  gelijk aan een "brownout" ?

Nee, bij een brownout zie je niets, zelfs de grond niet en dat is problematisch.

Harald

Rookgordijng voor helicopters  :hrmph:   maar hoe zit het dan met je eigen zicht ? sensoren, camera's e.d.  gelijk aan een "brownout" ?

CitaatWeltweit erstmalige #Erprobung von Nebelschutzpatronen mit einem #Hubschrauber: unsere #WTD61 konnte das System #ROSY am #H145M LUH SOF adaptieren und erfolgreich testen. Insbesondere Spezialkräfte könnten davon profitieren.
@bundeswehrInfo

https://twitter.com/BaainBw/status/1578294305168363520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1578294305168363520%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=




German Air Force H145M Helicopter Completes Trial of Helicopter-launched Smoke Screen

The German Armed Forces Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft (WTD 61) demonstrated the capability to adapt and test the Rapid Obscuring System (ROSY) on the Airbus H145M light utility helicopter (LUH) employed by the German special operations forces (SOF). The German defense procurement agency (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr; BAAINBw) claims to be the world's first trial of a smoke screen deployed from a helicopter. BAAINBW says that special forces could particularly benefit from this development. Airbus was developing a smoke screen for the helicopter that would be deployed during the insertion of troops in the hover.

ROSY is the brand new smoke screen system of Rheinmetall Defence for protection of vehicles against all line-of-sight weapons, such as small arms, RPGs and Laser guided weapons. Unlike the conventional smoke protection systems in use around the world today, Rosy® is able to generate dynamic smoke screens as well as spontaneous, large-area and multispectral interruption of the line of sight (LOS). Rosy thus provides sustained protection for moving and stationary objects. Moreover, its multimission capability represents a sure defence against stream and wave attacks. Due to its integrated IR jamming and decoying capabilities, Rosy effectively counters conventional weapons, weapons with optical devices and laser distance measurement.

..../...

https://militaryleak.com/2022/10/10/german-air-force-h145m-helicopter-completes-trial-of-helicopter-launched-smoke-screen/

Harald

AFSOC AC-130J gunship to fire laser weapon in flight test in 2023

Air Force Special Operations Command will test an airborne laser in flight on an AC-130J gunship in 2023, a year later than planned.

A flying demonstration of Lockheed Martin's Airborne High Energy Laser, which will be integrated on an AC-130J Ghostrider, will start in summer 2023 and run through fall, AFSOC spokeswoman Lt. Col. Becky Heyse said response to questions from Breaking Defense.

"Results of the testing will determine future operational usage," she said. "At this time there is no concept of operation/employment developed for the [high energy laser]."

Lockheed delivered the 60-watt laser to AFSOC in October 2021 after completing factory acceptance testing of the system. At that point, flight demonstrations were slated to occur in 2022.

...../.....

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/09/afsoc-ac-130j-gunship-to-fire-laser-weapon-in-flight-test-in-2023/

bergd


Huzaar1

Voor Nederland ook noet verkeerd. En ik zie direct voordelen. Ergens landen op de oceaan. Bootjes met sf uitzetten. En weer oppikken.
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion" US secmindef - Jed Babbin"

Harald

U.S. Air Force Trains With Japan's US-2 Flying Boat As It Looks Forward To Its Own Amphibious Plane  ( De Amerikanen zijn serieus bezig met een Amph. vliegtuig voor SF )

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44424/u-s-air-force-trains-with-japans-us-2-flying-boat-as-it-looks-forward-to-its-own-amphibious-plane



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI8_X8K5icI


Harald

ShinMaywa And USSOCOM Comment On The US-2 Seaplane

Naval News reached out to ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd. in Japan to inquire on if the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) might be interested in their US-2 seaplane. A representative from ShinMaywa's Sales and Marketing Department replied. Naval News also reached out to USSOCOM for additional C-130J MAC status and comment.


Members of the Royal Australian Air Force, U.S. Air Force and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force stand in front of a JMSDF ShinMaywa US-2 during Cope North 22 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 10, 2022. The U.S. military always seeks to expand engagements and strengthen relationships with regional allies and partner nations in the Indo-Pacific through activities such as subject matter expert exchanges, host nation visits, and joint exercises and operations such as Cope North.

U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Comments
With growing interest in USSOCOM potentially acquiring an amphibious C-130J floatplane, or an actual seaplane, the top in-service seaplane contender with a "ship hull belly" remains the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces' (JMSDF) ShinMaywa US-2, a four-engine propeller seaplane with the primary role of Search and Rescue (SAR), contingency operations, and Humanitarian Disaster Relief. The US-2s that have been built currently serve with the JMSDF.

USSOCOM believes that it can add on pontoons to its existing fleet of MC-130Js to essentially turn them into floatplanes, a concept confirmed at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference 2022 (SOFIC 2022).

"In terms of amphibious MC-130 demonstration, USSOCOM is actually going through some market research, currently, to see if we can identify any potential amphibious capacities to meet some of the SOF Requirements that are existing.  And currently AFSOC is also doing an experimental demonstration where they are planning on putting some float assemblies on a C-130 platform.  They use digital engineering as a major factor of reducing some of that risk and making some of those changes, and they have gone through some hydrotesting and some aero testing on a subscale factor."

Rich Rodriguez, USSOCOM's Tech Director in Emerging Technologies, on the status of the C-130 MAC at SOFIC 2022

There are advantages and disadvantages of this MC-130J floatplane concept. The main advantage is that adding pontoons would use SOCOM's existing stable of MC-130Js, if the mechanical engineering can be achieved as an add-on float kit. Hypothetically, any C-130J can then be converted into a floatplane if the pontoon kit allows conversion without any major structural modifications. The amphibious MC-130J (or MAC) would appear very similar to the rendering below.


SOFIC 2022 confirmed that this AFSOC concept of a MC-130 resting on pontoon floats is their experimental goal for an amphibious MC-130J

The main disadvantage of this MC-130J MAC floatplane concept is that the fuselage might rest so high up (that is if the pontoons cannot ballast down) so that the rear cargo ramp and side doors are positioned at such a height disadvantage to render waterborne operations difficult to achieve since the floatplane does not have a crane to raise and lower small boats from the ocean's surface.  (The ShinMaywa US-2 can lower and raise small rubber boats by hand through its side doors since its belly rests on the ocean's surface).  Indeed, AFSOC renderings even show ladders and steps from the MC-130J's fuselage leading to the pontoons and the water's surface. If the MAC is able to ballast down to the ocean's surface, that might submerge the FLIR ball under the fuselage nose, jeopardizing its sensitive electronics and optics.  Additionally, landing this MC-130J floatplane may prove difficult if the cockpit rests so high up.

Lockheed Martin has designed a seaplane with a boat (or whale belly) hull that can be seen here, but there has been no indication that the Lockheed Martin design progressed beyond a red and white scale model. Naval News reached out to Lockheed Martin for comment on the amphibious MC-130J concept and status and Lockheed deferred all questions to USSOCOM.

Naval News thus reached out to USSOCOM at the end of August 2022 for a MAC status update and Lt. Cassandra Thompson, USSOCOM Public Affairs, replied that the status remains unchanged, citing that the MAC is currently not an official Program of Record within the Defense Department (as of August 2022), and thus there is no new MAC news to share. A check of the U.S. government's contracting office website confirms that the C-130J MAC isn't an entry and thus not an official Program of Record.

Naval News also asked USSOCOM on their interest in the ShinMaywa US-2 and received a reply.

"The US-2 visit was a part of USSOCOM continuing to collaborate with AFSOC [U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command] conducting market research activities to analyze amphibious emergent technologies to develop a viable acquisition strategy."

Lt. Cassandra Thompson, USSOCOM Public Affairs

Photos on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) confirm that U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) personnel did indeed tour the ShinMaywa US-2 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on February 10, 2022 although USSOCOM offered no additional comments or details to Naval News on their interest or how the US-2 might factor into their acquisition plans due to the sensitive nature of special operations.

Therefore, besides subscale modeling, the actual status of the USSOCOM amphibious MC-130J floatplane remains unknown and unclear and if any would eventually be manufactured for the conventional U.S. maritime forces (U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard). The USSOCOM MAC should not be confused with the DARPA "Liberty Lifter."


Aircrew from Fleet Air Wing 31, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, discuss capabilities of the ShinMaywa US-2 with Maj. Gen. Eric Hill, Air Force Special Operations Command Deputy commander and Col. Shane Vesely, 353rd Special Operations Wing commander, Nov 9, 2021. [Author's Note: The "Glass cockpit" instrument panel reflects the modern and sophisticated controls of the US-2 even if the seaplane appears somewhat vintage on the outside.


ShinMaywa Industries Comments

ShinMaywa's Aircraft Division's Sales & Marketing Department replied to Naval News' inquiry at the end of August 2022 regarding possible production of the US-2 for the United States military. ShinMaywa admitted that the US-2 is being developed for the JMSDF, but they cannot answer questions regarding the US-2's sensor outfit, production time, and the price per plane, citing customer preferences.

Naval News: Can weapons be mounted to the outside of the US-2?

ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd: "It is difficult to mount weapons on the outside."

Naval News: Did the United States military ever ask ShinMaywa for any demonstration on the US-2?

ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd: "AFSOC boarded a US-2 in Japan, which is uploaded on the AFSOC website."

Naval News: Is it possible to produce the US-2 for U.S. military service and if so, what modifications would this entail?

ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd: "It is possible to manufacture US-2 for AFSOC. ShinMaywa is willing to do so. We are promoting it in cooperation with U.S. companies. Maintenance manuals, etc. and equipment need to be made to AFSOC specifications."

Naval News: How much does a US-2 cost and how long does it take to build one?

ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd: "It is difficult to answer this question as US-2 prices vary widely depending on AFSOC requirements. We also cannot answer the lead time."

Naval News: How "maintenance intensive" is the US-2 and what is its life expectancy? How long before an overhaul and servicing?

ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd: "Short periodic maintenance intervals as we perform takeoffs and      landings at sea. The service life cannot be answered either."

Naval News: What benefits would the US-2 provide over other seaplanes?

ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd: "The most important feature of the US-2 is its ability to take off and land over very short distances on the water. Compared to other sea planes, it is by far the shortest. ShinMaywa is confident that the US-2 will meet the requirements of the U.S. military better than the C-130J MAC." ShinMaywa states the US-2 is the only amphibian that can land on rough seas with a wave height of 3 meters.

Naval News: How many US-2s have been built?

ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd: "We are manufacturing US-2, unit No. 9."

Naval News: Can the US-2 taxi on and off land and into and out of the water?

ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd: "US-2 can take off on land."

Naval News: Are the instruments' night-vision goggle compatible and does the US-2 have night vision capability?

ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd: "US-2 does not have night vision capability."

Naval News: Can the US-2 be refueled in mid-air? Can it be refueled at sea?

ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd: "No in-air refueling capability. There is the ability to refuel from a ship at sea." The US-2 can fly at 298 MPH or 480 KMH with a range of 2,920 miles or 4,700 kilometers. Water takeoff distance is 280 meters (918 feet) and water landing distance is 330 meters (1,082 feet).



Author's Comments

For speculative discussion purposes, an American AFSOC US-2 offers USSOCOM both benefits and issues. With a current low production number (only nine ShinMaywa US-2s have been built so far), the U.S. Armed Forces might see the US-2 as a specialized seaplane if actually purchased for U.S. special operations and maritime forces. The US-2 comes unarmed, and without a rear cargo ramp to potentially drop pallets of bundled precision-guided munitions, arming the US-2 seems remote. However, the U.S. Marine Corps' KC-130J Harvest HAWK has a precision-guided munitions launcher called the Derringer Door. A rack accommodates up to 10 munitions. Such a Derringer Door might be added to the American US-2 for stand-off armament within the US-2's pressurized cabin. Interior swingarm machine gun mounts by the side doors could also be an option and the swingarm mounts get folded away to clear the doorways.


The U.S. Marine Corps' KC-130J Harvest HAWK is modified with a pressurized standoff, precision-guided munitions launcher called the Derringer door and a rack for 10 munitions

A three minute video on the ShinMaywa website shows a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) being hoisted into the US-2's side door via a rope looped around a knob above the door. The crew pulls the rope and hustles the RHIB to enter the door sideways. The RHIB is deployed by pushing it out the side door. For humans and SAR missions, this might be acceptable method of handling the RHIB because humans are able to use their own muscle power to embark and disembark from the US-2 to and from the RHIB quite rapidly, but for loading and unloading heavy cargo and armament, tying the RHIB by a single rope might prove difficult in heavy seas compared to launching the already-loaded RHIB from the MC-130J MAC's interior via stern ramp, if at all possible from a MC-130J floatplane.

If adopted into service, the ShinMaywa US-2 seaplane might be a huge help and asset for Visual Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), high speedboat pursuits, and drug, pirate, and smuggling interdictions for the U.S. Coast Guard.


An orange RHIB by the US-2's side door. Note the orange knob above the door and crew to allow a rope to be tied to raise and lower the RHIB like a pulley


A ShinMaywa US-2 resting on the water's surface. Note the rope tied to the orange knob above the door to act as a pulley mechanism for the diver

Another question might be how reliable the US-2, if made for U.S. service, will be with all the added U.S. government furnished equipment (GFE) installed compared to an US-2 with all-Japanese manufactured equipment modified to the English language. Since USSOCOM (and the U.S. military) often add on lots of extra GFE equipment (jammers, sensors, countermeasures, night vision, datalinks, and secure communications), how complex would an AFSOC US-2 actually be if its multirole purpose goes beyond Humanitarian Relief, contingencies, and SAR?

"Short periodic maintenance intervals" might turn into long maintenance downtime that would render American US-2s docked at the pier more often than deployed over and on the open water if AFSOC requires a combat-equipped US-2 with all the fancy "high maintenance" U.S. GFE gadgetry as almost standard to any U.S. aircraft. ShinMaywa stated that they're confident that working with AFSOC would satisfy the American's special forces' requirements.

Nonetheless, American US-2s can be the logistic carriers, seaplane tenders and SAR seaplanes for downed pilots that the U.S. Navy so desperately needs. American US-2s can also service, refuel, rearm, and monitor its growing fleet of unmanned surface and sub-surface vessels. To span the "tyranny of distance" that are the world's oceans, the ShinMaywa US-2 might indeed be a possible solution to U.S. special operations and maritime forces.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/09/shinmaywa-and-ussocom-comment-on-the-us-2-seaplane/


Harald

Death Adder strikes hard in Australia

A small Australian-built tactical vehicle has been selected for army special forces.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has awarded an $A8.47 million ($6.17 million) contract to a domestic firm for 40 small tactical off-road vehicles.

Bale Defence, based in Port Macquarie, will manufacture the new-generation Death Adder rough-terrain vehicles (RTV).

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said, 'The rough-terrain vehicle provides an important tactical, light, all-terrain land capability used by the ADF on operations and exercises both in Australia and overseas.'

An RfT for this RTV 2 programme had been issued on 9 July 2019, listing the need for 40 vehicles with an option for up to 30 more. Submissions closed on ...

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/death-adder-strikes-hard-in-australia/




Sparkplug

A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Harald

Citaat van: Nikehercules op 05/07/2021 | 16:31 uur
Alleen het springen door een brandende hoepel ontbreekt nog.
Hahahahahaha....  ;D ;) lol

Nikehercules

Alleen het springen door een brandende hoepel ontbreekt nog.

Harald

French Special Forces demonstrate know-how at SOFINS 2021 defense exhibition

From June 29 to July 1, 2021, the 5th edition of SOFINS took place at the Souge camp in Gironde, near Bordeaux. This event marks a year of meetings and intense work by the members of the Cercle de l'Arbalète. Unique in Europe, this biannual event is the meeting place of the high technology industry with Special Forces and Special Units. For three days, small, medium and large companies came together under the aegis of the Cercle de l'Arbalète to offer unique solutions tailored to the needs of special operations.

The military camp located at Souge, near Bordeaux, has been transformed into a place for meetings and technical demonstrations: dynamic tests of equipment in conditions have enabled innovative manufacturers to demonstrate the added value of their equipment for the operator of 'today and tomorrow.

Lt. Gen. Eric Vidaud, commanding of the COS (Commandement des Opérations Spéciales, Special Operations Command), said: "Power relations oppose and will oppose even more tomorrow, actors who cultivate permanent innovation. The protean threats emerging from the hybrid competition and gray-area clashes already pose the greatest challenges in innovation. The spirit of innovation must govern the adaptation of COS. It constantly involves imagining, designing, testing, and possibly leaving it to others, in particular civilian SMEs and mid-sized companies, what the Special Forces have developed and sometimes invented. This civilian-military partnership is an essential key to the success of our operations. The COS relies on the Cercle de l'Arbalète to capture as quickly as possible and best encourage dual or civilian innovation in order to participate in finding the best response to the Special Forces operational needs of today and tomorrow. "

On July 1, the Special Forces carried out an impressive demonstration of their know-how and their various aerial and ground equipment, in a scenario of capture and exfiltration of a terrorist leader. Various units, an Airbus A400M, light, attack and transport helicopters, a Twin Otter, Polaris quads, a Land Rover 110, all adapted to the specific use of special forces, and other means have been implemented. in a dynamism revealing the capacities of action of the French armed forces. Watch it on the Defense Web TV channel of Army Recognition broadcasted on Youtube.

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/july/7414-french-special-forces-demonstrate-know-how-at-sofins-2021-defense-exhibition.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg1SYsx3ek4

Sparkplug

Citaat van: Huzaar1 op 09/06/2021 | 12:48 uur
Ik denk dat het niet lang duurt voordat LMB ook zoiets wil.  :angel:

Misschien op hun toekomstige MB en eventueel als alternatief voor de .50 M3M op de CH-47F.
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Huzaar1

Mooie blikopener  8)

Ik denk dat het niet lang duurt voordat LMB ook zoiets wil.  :angel:
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion" US secmindef - Jed Babbin"

Parera

Citaat van: Harald op 09/06/2021 | 12:03 uur


Minigun after all, Dillon Aero M134D

https://twitter.com/toujoursentete/status/1402547248798519304

Top toevoeging op de voertuigen van onze KCT  :big-smile:

Iets wat de NL SOF al jaren miste wat mij betreft! En weet je waar dit ook prachtig op gaat staan?


Harald



Minigun after all, Dillon Aero M134D

https://twitter.com/toujoursentete/status/1402547248798519304

Top toevoeging op de voertuigen van onze KCT  :big-smile:

Harald

A400M helicopter refuelling certification campaign   
( wat de Fransen al konden met de KC-130J, kunnen ze nu ook met de A400M ... flinke uitbreiding voor hun SF optreden )



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OWmtMlZEAs

Huzaar1

Citaat van: Stoonbrace op 04/03/2021 | 15:53 uur
Nee, die zijn niet voor ons. I checked.

Loitering ammo, dat is wat jullie boys willen. Past prima in een mortier, en bij jullie optreden.
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion" US secmindef - Jed Babbin"

Stoonbrace

Citaat van: Huzaar1 op 23/02/2021 | 13:40 uur
We hebben al eerder tekeningen gezien maar ik denk niet dat Belgie wordt bedoelt.

Nee, die zijn niet voor ons. I checked.

Harald

Citaat van: DiepFries op 04/03/2021 | 14:47 uur
Een ietwat ge-upgrade Can Am Maverick X3, dat zetten ze er nooit ff bij of wat ze precies veranderd hebben..   :hrmph:

Idd,  :omg:
Je kunt ze bijna krijgen als bouwpakket.

https://can-am.brp.com/off-road/us/en/customize-your-own/app.html?platform=SSV_SSP_MAX&package=4X4_DS_STD&unitid=0007UMC00

Niet te vergelijken met een ontwikkelingsproces zoals bij de Vector van Defenture voor NL Defensie

DiepFries

Een ietwat ge-upgrade Can Am Maverick X3, dat zetten ze er nooit ff bij of wat ze precies veranderd hebben..   :hrmph:


Harald

#14
Nieuwe "buggy's voor de Italiaanse SOF eenheden

https://resource-industries.com/en/products/special-and-armored-vehicles/ltv-4.html

AS LTV4

LIGHT TACTICAL ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE
 
The Light Tactical All Terrain Vehicle Program was developed together with the Italian Ministry of Defence.



Resource Industries displays LTV4 light tactical vehicle for special forces
The Light Tactical All Terrain Vehicle Program was developed together with the Italian Ministry of Defense. The LTV4's design focused only on end users' list of specifications and, hence, perfectly matches their operational needs.

Like all the other vehicles of this category, the LTV4 is easy to drive and to use even on very rugged terrain, its high power/weight ratio and very low center of gravity making it almost a racing vehicle able to reach 130 km/h. Its maintenance is both simple and easy. Its 40-liter tank provides a 300km autnomy enabling the vehicle to perform some missions typically assigned to special forces. The 500kg payload is sufficient for most of the missions to perform with such a vehicle. Solidity and reliability are other assets of the LVT4.

The 1,075 kg net weight (1,185 kg in ordrer of march, 1 ;580 kg GW) make the LVT4 easily air transportable by CH-47 Chinook or C-27J. The LVT4 is versatile: various armament and payload combinations are possible.

https://armyrecognition.com/idex_2021_news_official_online_show_daily_media_partner/resource_industries_displays_ltv4_light_tactical_vehicle_for_special_forces.html


Huzaar1

Past ook totaal niet in optreden van Belgen. Meer iets voor Fransen, doen net wat gekker in sjique D'afrieque.

De Belegen zien dan meer in loitering munition, just as we do.
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion" US secmindef - Jed Babbin"

Ace1

Citaat van: Parera op 14/10/2020 | 10:22 uur
100% zeker dat dit een ''onbekende'' klant is? ;D



Het ontwerp dat ze laten zien met 4 raketten (LAND-LGR4) is een kleine variant voor op 4x4's maar de grote versie zoals hierboven te zien is op de Jankel LTTV (LAND-LGR23) beschikt over 23 raketten en laat dit voertuig nu toevallig in aanbouw zijn voor de Belgische SOF eenheden.

1+1?

https://www.arnolddefense.com/product/mlhs/

Nee de Belgen hebben zelf een 70mm raketten fabrikant.

https://fz.be/news.php?n=44

https://fz.be/images/video/rocket-system-70mm.mp4

Huzaar1

Citaat van: Parera op 14/10/2020 | 10:22 uur
100% zeker dat dit een ''onbekende'' klant is? ;D



Het ontwerp dat ze laten zien met 4 raketten (LAND-LGR4) is een kleine variant voor op 4x4's maar de grote versie zoals hierboven te zien is op de Jankel LTTV (LAND-LGR23) beschikt over 23 raketten en laat dit voertuig nu toevallig in aanbouw zijn voor de Belgische SOF eenheden.

1+1?

https://www.arnolddefense.com/product/mlhs/
We hebben al eerder tekeningen gezien maar ik denk niet dat Belgie wordt bedoelt.
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion" US secmindef - Jed Babbin"

Harald

Supacat looks towards electric Light Role Vehicle

The electric Light Role Vehicle will provide silent and stealth mobility in addition to sustainability benefits. Supacat has already developed the chassis and is working on the electric driveline for LRV.



UK company Supacat is working to build an electric version of its Light Role Vehicle (LRV), to deliver enhanced stealth capabilities as well as sustainability benefits.

During an online demonstration on 18 February, Toby Cox, deputy head of support at Supacat, explained that R&D of the electric LRV will capitalise on the knowledge and experience the company gained with the Electric All Terrain Mobility Platform (eATMP).

'For the next-generation, LRV will have the additional capabilities of hybridisation as an option to suit our customers,' Cox claimed.

He added that this effort aligns with the MoD Science and Technology Strategy 2020 and the need to strengthen capacities to overcome emerging new threats.

Steve Austen, engineering director at Supacat, pointed out that the work on the electric driveline for LRV is under way and the chassis has already been developed.

He stressed that these enhancements are 'very much dependent on the kind of duty cycle and the requirements for electrification, whether it is around exportable power, whether it is stealthy operation'.

The LRV is suitable for SF, border patrol, reconnaissance and strike operations. It has a modular design that provides a range of configuration options from the factory and the flexibility to re-role the base vehicle throughout its lifetime.

The platform can be equipped with Hutchinson bead-lock run-flat tyres, a self-recovery winch, RWS, weapon mounts and smoke grenade launchers.

Other features include ballistic armour and crew seats, right- or left-hand drive and IR cameras (forward- and rear-facing).

The LRV also be converted from a 4x4 to a 6x6 vehicle by adding a third axle module. 'This offers the users the flexibility to reduce the overall size of their fleet and swiftly reconfigure the vehicle to suit different operational demands,' Cox noted.

He added that the LRV was developed to fill a gap in military light ground tactical support vehicles and to enable a low whole-life cost.

In addition to enhancing its LRV, Supacat has also been embedding improvements to its High Mobility Transporter (HMT) over the last 15 years, with gains in armour protection and load carrying capabilities as well as in mobility.

This HMT is in service with Estonia, the UK and the US according to Shephard Defence Insight. The UK has 440 units in its inventory and operates the platform since 2004.

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/premium-supacat-looks-towards-electric-light-role/

Harald

Citaat van: Enforcer op 30/10/2020 | 13:57 uur
Is het handig dat deze zo hoog op de poten staan? Ik  kan mij voorstellen dat je omkantelt als de sneeuw wat gaat schuiven.

Ik denk dat het zwaartepunt wel vrij laag ligt bij zo'n quad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2hrFfn7jl8

Enforcer

Is het handig dat deze zo hoog op de poten staan? Ik  kan mij voorstellen dat je omkantelt als de sneeuw wat gaat schuiven.

Harald

French 7th Mountain Battalion receives first Polaris quads on tracks   ( interessant voor SOF eenheden in artic gebieden, maar ook voor onze Mariniers )





The 7th Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins (which could be appromitaly translated into « Battalion of Alpine Hunters ») of the 27th French Mountain Infantry Brigade received a first dozen four-seater Polaris Ranger 1000 XP and twin-seater Sportsman Touring 1000 XP quads mounted on removable tracks.

The new Polaris quads - four-seater Ranger XP 1000 (SSV, Side by Side Vehicle) and two-seater Sportsman Touring 1000 XP - mounted on removable tracks have arrived at the 7th Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins.

These first copies foreshadow the constitution of a brigade-wide pool from which each regiment or battalion can draw following its needs. The rapid interchangeability between wheels and tracks will make it possible to respond with maximum flexibility to the requirements of the field encountered during missions in France or in external deployment, whether in Guyana or the Sahel (Operation Barkhane), for example.

The Sportsman (two-seater) comes with various storage kits and boxes for transporting skis, weapons and other equipment weighing up to 110 kg which can also be installed in place of the rear seat. This is complemented by an 88 hp Prostar engine and a trailer socket, giving it a hitch potential of 170 kg on the road and 680 kg off the road. Quads on removable tracks complete the skidoos / snowmobiles already provided in French mountain units.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_october_2020_global_security_army_industry/french_7th_mountain_battalion_receives_first_polaris_quads_on_tracks.html

Parera

Citaat van: Sparkplug op 14/10/2020 | 10:15 uur
Ja, er is een onbekende Europese klant.

100% zeker dat dit een ''onbekende'' klant is? ;D



Het ontwerp dat ze laten zien met 4 raketten (LAND-LGR4) is een kleine variant voor op 4x4's maar de grote versie zoals hierboven te zien is op de Jankel LTTV (LAND-LGR23) beschikt over 23 raketten en laat dit voertuig nu toevallig in aanbouw zijn voor de Belgische SOF eenheden.

1+1?

https://www.arnolddefense.com/product/mlhs/

Sparkplug

#5
Citaat van: Harald op 14/10/2020 | 10:12 uur
Die 70mm-ers zijn laser guided ? . Dus doel moet door grondtroepen verder in het veld aangestraald worden ? is dat het idee ?

Dus een Europees land als eerste klant ?

De 2,75 inch raket kan zowel ongeleid als geleid (APKWS) worden gebruikt. De Amerikaanse Hydra en de Canadese CRV7 zijn van toepassing.

Ja, er is een onbekende Europese klant.

Edit. Product link.

https://www.arnolddefense.com/product/fletcher/

https://www.arnolddefense.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/LAND-LGR.pdf
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Harald

Die 70mm-ers zijn laser guided ? . Dus doel moet door grondtroepen verder in het veld aangestraald worden ? is dat het idee ?

Dus een Europees land als eerste klant ?

Sparkplug

Arnold Defense selling land-based 70 mm rocket launchers to Special Forces

02 OCTOBER 2020

by Andrew White

US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and an undisclosed special mission unit in Europe are set to become the first customers capable of firing 70 mm rockets from tactical ground vehicles, industry sources told Janes .

Arnold Defense is in the process of finalising a pair of contracts with both organisations for delivery of an undisclosed number of Fletcher land-based 70 mm rocket launchers.

Officials from the US-based company told Janes both customers would be receiving the Fletcher Laser Guided Weapon System, which will be integrated on board undisclosed special operations vehicles.

Arnold Defense declined to say which vehicles would be equipped with the launcher, although company president Doug Wallace said the Fletcher could be integrated on a variety of ground vehicles including the Polaris MRZR and DAGOR, Navistar SOTV, Nimr Ajban LRSOV, Oshkosh S-ATV, Supacat LRV400 and HMT600, and Jankel LTTV.

"The timings, numbers, configurations, and concepts of use are different for each customer but Arnold and their integration partners will be delivering a combination of single (4-round) vehicle-mounted Fletcher systems and a new and unique twin-mounted (8-round) Fletcher variant," a company statement said.

Already a Janes subscriber? Read the full article via the Client Login


A rendering of Arnold Defense's Fletcher 70 mm rocket launcher for tactical ground vehicles. (Arnold Defense)

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/arnold-defense-selling-land-based-70-mm-rocket-launchers-to-special-forces
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Harald

10 NH90 Special Forces Helicopters (voor Frankrijk)

Ten NH90 helicopters for Army Special Forces

Parly also revealed to the committee that the Ministry of the Armed Forces had ordered ten additional NH90 helicopters intended the modernize the helicopter fleet of the Army special forces.

"On September 29, the Ministry awarded an order to NH Industries for ten NH90 helicopters to equip the 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (RHFS)," Parly told MPs. This order had long been anticipated but its award was delayed.

NH Industries is a consortium of Airbus Helicopters, Italy's Leonardo and the Dutch Fokker. This order will also benefit equipment manufacturers Thales and Safran, as well as their subcontractors, some of whom have been hard hit by the Covid-19 crisis in the aeronautics sector, the minister said.

First five NH90s to be delivered in 2025

The first five helicopters of this new order will be delivered in 2025 and the other five the following year, according to the Ministry of the Armed Forces.

The NH90, dubbed Caiman by the French Navy, can transport up to 20 commandos or 2.5 tonnes of equipment. It can also be used for fire support, parachuting or casualty evacuation missions. It is intended to gradually replace the Puma and Cougar helicopters of the French Army.

https://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/213700/france-to-order-12-more-rafale-fighters%2C-10-nh90-special-forces-helicopters.html

Harald

French Air Force Establishes Separate Special Forces Brigade

Creation of the Special Air Forces Brigade

On September 1, the French Air and Space Force began transforming its organization with the establishment of the Special Air Forces Brigade (Brigade des Forces Spéciales Air, BFSA). This reorganization is part of the ramp-up of the Special Forces Air (FSA) and the Air Protection Force (FPA) as directed by the AIRFUSCO25 plan.

Comprising 4,200 personnel, the BFSA brings together under its command the two flight units - the 3/61 "Poitou" Transport Squadron (ET) and the 1/67 "Pyrenees" Helicopter Squadron, together with the Commando units which were previously part of the Air Security and Intervention Forces Brigade (BAFSI), including two special forces units: Commandos Parachutistes de l'Air (CPA) 10 and 30.

The role of this new brigade is to optimize the combat readiness of the Special Forces Air and of the air force units contributing to special operations, as well as air protection units, with the aim of increasing their effectiveness in both special and conventional operations.

Special operations, in-depth penetration, combat Search And Rescue, air support, but also anti-drone warfare and protection of air bases: the brigade will make its resources and know-how available to the various operational commands, including Special Operations Command (COS).

A driving force in the field of Air Surface Integration, the BFSA will continue to work with the other components of the Air and Space Force, by coordinating its action with all the conventional units working for the benefit of special operations, while maintaining a key role in combatant training.

In summary, the BFSA brings together:
** FSA air units:
-- ET 3/61 "Poitou";
-- EH 1/67 "Pyrenees".

** the Air Commando Force (FCA), set up as a squadron stationed in Orléans and composed of:
-- CPA No. 10;
-- CPA No. 30;
-- Air Force Jump Center (Centre air de saut en vol, CASV);
-- a detachment of the Air Force Combatant Operational Readiness Center (CPOCAA).

** the FPA, made up of:
-- CPA No. 20;
-- Protection Squadrons (EP).
-- specialized training centers:
-- the CPOCAA;
-- the Survival and Rescue Training Center (CFSS);
-- the CFA detachment, part of the general directorate of military training at the Ecole de l'Air.

https://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/213499/french-air-force-establishes-separate-special-forces-brigade.html