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The Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair, announced that Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to NATO’s Canada-led Battle Group in Latvia will soon have two new defensive capabilities that are being acquired on an urgent basis. This new equipment will strengthen the defence capacity of the Battle Group as a whole, further adding to the deterrence capabilities of soldiers from all contributing nations. First, Canada is investing $227.5 million in an Air Defence capability for Canadian Armed Forces members in Latvia. Canada has finalized contracts with Saab Canada Inc. to procure the RBS 70 NG short-range Air Defence System, which will provide tactical air defence protection to Canadian troops in Latvia. This capability will enable Canadian troops to defend themselves against fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters within its range, close air support aircraft, class 1 small Uncrewed Aerial Systems, and larger Uncrewed Aerial Systems. This is the first time since 2012 that the Canadian Armed Forces will have an Air Defence capability – and the first systems are expected to be delivered later this year. Second, Canada is investing $46 million to acquire new counter-drone equipment. This will provide Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members deployed on Operation REASSURANCE with improved protection against hostile Class 1 UAS (small drones) by enabling their detection, identification, tracking, and defeat – ensuring freedom of action for land operations. Initial operational capability for this new equipment is expected later this year. The project will deliver counter-UAS systems, command and control hardware and software, sensors, non-kinetic effectors, and in service support and training. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/d5NhAYFR

https://lnkd.in/g6dEztT3 The Philippines is close to acquiring an unannounced number of multirole supersonic fighters from Sweden as part of the military’s modernization program, the Department of National Defense (DND) said in a statement over the weekend. The DND issued the statement after a series of meetings in January to finalize the deal, which has been in the pipeline since Manila and Stockholm signed an equipment acquisition agreement at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last June. Sweden has been offering the Saab Jas-39 Gripen, a light single-engine multirole fighter which is already in use by the Swedish, Hungarian, South African and Brazilian air forces. The original deal supposedly involved the acquisition of 12 new Gripen fighters for P61.2 billion ($1.11 billion), but the DND did not specify whether the shopping list and its costs remained the same. Philippine Air Force officials also looked at Saab 340 airborne early warning and control aircraft during a visit to Saab facitilies last year, but that deal is not yet on the table. According to the DND, the implementing arrangement for the purchase of the equipment “is expected to be concluded and signed as one of the major outputs” during the inaugural Philippines-Sweden Joint Committee Meeting in Sweden in March. “Sweden intends to participate in the implementation of projects under Horizon 3 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, specifically in the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force,” the DND said. President Marcos already approved an updated acquisition plan for the Re-Horizon 3, the last stage in the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which is expected to cost about P2 trillion. A list of equipment under the updated acquisition plan was not readily available but multirole fighters, radars, frigates, missile systems and rescue helicopters were included in the original Horizon 3. Mr. Marcos has vowed the government’s continued support of the AFP modernization program, which he said suffered delays due to the pandemic. He said the government needed to “catch up” with the schedule of the modernization program, particularly on acquiring equipment needed as the country’s military shifts its focus more toward “external defense.

Maintain 32 Block 20 F-22s vs about 3 new F-35s in the budget? I’ll take the older F-22s with the longer lethal range and larger weapons load. Everything is a make/buy decision, with a capability/capacity/cost comparison across the board. With the CSAF’s unwillingness to commit to NGAD in one respect yet the AF’s complete commitment to new aircraft by divestitures like this, saying that they have to make hard choices based on budget constraints doesn’t work for me. The AF has a mandate to field a sufficiently capable and large force, and shying away from that mandate with the excuse that it doesn’t get enough funds is unacceptable. #airpower #capacity #usaf #pom

On December 7, the United States delivered two new Boeing AH-64E Version 6 Apache Guardian attack helicopters to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht). The aircraft were transported by a US Air Force C-17 to Woensdrecht Air Base Logistics Center-Woensdrecht (LCW) for initial inspection and inventory. The Netherlands has a total of 28 Apaches on order. These two and follow-on aircraft will be assembled and tested at Woensdrecht, before being flown to their future operating station of Gilze-Rijen Air Base. Final delivery of the upgraded aircraft is scheduled to take place in 2025. The RNAF aircraft were remanufactured from the Netherlands current AH-64D fleet. Although the AH-64Es use parts from the original AH-64D, all the systems are reset, and they are considered new aircraft. The remanufactured aircraft are upgraded to the most modern configuration including more powerful engines, an upgraded gearbox and new composite rotor blades. The latest communications, navigation, sensors, data correlation and pilot cognitive decision aiding system provide significant war fighting advantages over the D model and multiplies combat effectiveness. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dsfAqTFa #Netherlands #RNAF #airforce #attack #helicopter #Boeing #AH64E #Apache #Guardian #US #defence #military #industry #technology #aerospace

Netherlands Announces More F-35 Fighters, NH90 Helicopters in New $2.7B Defense Plan The size of each of the three F-35 squadrons will swell and enhance readiness and ‘airstrike power.’ The Netherlands has announced plans to acquire additional F-35A Lightning II among other systems, including UAVs, NH90 helicopters, [...] The post Netherlands Announces More F-35 Fighters, NH90 Helicopters in New $2.7B Defense Plan appeared first on The Aviationist. #Aviation

Russia says its tanks, attack drones helping assault groups move forward in Donetsk area Taking advantage of the terrain, crews of modernized T-80 tanks move to firing positions, destroy Ukrainian troops in their entrenchments and suppress their fire points, allowing assault teams to advance deep into the enemy's defenses MOSCOW, April 1/ T-80 tanks and attack drones of the 1st Army Corps have helped the advance of assault groups from the battlegroup South in the Donetsk area, the Russian Defense Ministry said. "Crews of T-80 tanks and operators of combat drones of the 1st Army Corps have helped the advance of assault groups from the battlegroup South in the Donetsk area of the special military operation," the ministry said in a statement. According to the ministry, tank crews and unmanned aerial vehicle operators of the 1st Army Corps every day perform missions to provide firepower support to assault units from the battlegroup South and destroy enemy infantry in strongpoints, as well as help the operation of armored vehicles that use trawls to clear the way for assault groups. Taking advantage of the terrain, crews of modernized T-80 tanks move to firing positions, destroy Ukrainian troops in their entrenchments and suppress their fire points, allowing assault teams to advance deep into the enemy's defenses. #business #finance #financialservices

Some of the F-16 fighter jets transferred to #Ukraine by #Western partners will be placed at foreign air bases so that they do not become a target for Russian troops. The chief of aviation of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhii Holubtsov told about this in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "There is a number that will go to Ukraine. There are a certain number of aircraft that will be stored at secure air bases outside of Ukraine so that they are not targeted here. And this will be our reserve in case of need for replacement of faulty aircraft during routine maintenance. That is, so that we can always have a certain number of aircraft in the operational inventory, which will correspond to the number of pilots we will have. There will be more pilots — there will be more planes in Ukraine," the commander said. He added that Ukraine has a certain number of airfields prepared for F-16, but their protection will be a real challenge. For such protection, there should be at least two batteries of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, two batteries of NASAMS air defense systems, to work on aerodynamic targets, on drones, and also to cover the Patriot itself. Also part of the cover of airfields will be Gepard type anti-aircraft gun installations and passive protection — fences, technical means of movement, so that no sabotage group can penetrate. All of the above is the minimum protection that is required. Holubtsov also reminded that four countries — #Belgium, #Denmark, #Norway and the #Netherlands — have already agreed to transfer their F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Speaking about the number of transferred aircraft, he clarified that it is about 30-40 aircraft, but in the future this number may increase, since "almost all countries that have F-16s are gradually rearming with F-35s." In addition, Holubtsov noted that all F-16s entering service with the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces are modernized. "I can say that all the planes that will be provided have undergone some modernization, there is an improved sight for detecting air targets. Along with the planes, a special container will be provided, which allows you to find and direct missiles and bombs at ground targets. Also, this modernization mainly related to the conversion of the aircraft for the use of high-precision weapons. In ʼWikipediaʼ you can read, it goes by the abbreviation MLU, it is these planes that will be provided to Ukraine. Of course, we expect that the use of high-precision weapons will allow us to hit the targets that are needed for victory, to advance our ground troops to the state border and liberate our territories," said #Holubtsov. https://lnkd.in/gy99uX3D

What form must you fill out to declare Jihad on a magazine? First, "Simple Flying" magazine lists the vaunted RC-135/RIVET JOINT as an "Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft." That alone would require an entire case of whiskey to atone for at Offutt, Waddington, Mildenhall or Kadena. Then, the author puts the vaunted RC-135 BELOW the E-3 and the A-Freakin'-50. I know the Air Force must have a form for Jihad Declaration. Can anyone help? Methinks they should change the name of that magazine to "Simpleton Flying." #ALONEANDUNARMED

The U.S. Air Force Security Forces Center is set to roll out new small unmanned aircraft systems technologies before the end of this year. Deployable warfighting technologies AFSFC is fielding in 2024 include the quad copter-Teal 2 sUAS and Red Air Cell training system. ➡ The Teal 2 sUAS compliments the larger Puma UAS system and gives security forces Defenders a lightweight, easy-to-operate vertical take-off and landing system they can carry and launch quickly to provide local area overwatch and situational awareness. The Teal 2 can travel about 5 kilometers from the operator, giving greater visibility on patrol in both daylight and low-light conditions. ➡The Red Air Cell provides Counter-sUAS system operators realistic training against threat UAS. #defense #USAF #sUAS

"Shot and forgot." Innovation in the field of air defense technology: what the new VSHORAD MANPADS can do. 🇬🇧🇪🇺 The MBDA company presented its innovation in the field of air defense technologies. 🚀 The VSHORAD portable anti-aircraft missile complex is a short-range weapon with a "fire-and-forget" supersonic interceptor missile equipped with a homing head and image processing capability. The missile has a range of up to 5 km , is designed for round-the-clock operation, is capable of hitting a wide range of air threats, including fighter jets, helicopters and drones. 🔫 Portability makes this complex particularly suitable for ground forces, giving them a significant tactical advantage, in particular, when it is installed on military vehicles.