EU's operational headquarters looks set, finally, to declare FOC by end of 2021
14 July 2021
by Brooks Tigner
Delayed twice during almost a year, the EU's declaration of a full operational capability (FOC) for the first expansion phase of its small headquarters in Brussels, the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), is now expected by the end of 2021, according to its head officer. However, the MPCC must find solutions for its staffing and technical issues before that can occur, he said.
Vice Adm Bléjean suggested that a member state provide its national CIS system for the duration of an EU mission, which works well for Operation ‘Atalanta'. (EUNAVFOR)
“The MPCC is not entirely ready to achieve FOC but I hope to have that ready by the end of this year,” MPCC director general Vice Admiral Hervé Bléjean told a 13 July hearing of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defence.
That benchmark is imperative before the EU's 27 nations will even consider the MPCC's second phase: its shift to a fully-fledged autonomous military command for the EU capable of handling any operation.
“All the member states are urging us to reach FOC for phase 1,” he told the hearing. “They are unwilling to discuss the MPCC's future evolution until that happens.”
Initial flight trials demonstrate Excalibur FTA ‘fit for purpose‘, says Leonardo
25 April 2024
by Gareth Jennings
Seen after being delivered to 2Excel's facility in Lasham, Hampshire, in 2023, the 757 airframe that is to be converted into the Excalibur FTA made its first flight from MoD Boscombe Down. (Leonardo)
Initial flight trials of the 757 airframe that is to be converted to the Excalibur Flight Test Aircraft (FTA) project to de-risk the Tempest future fighter have shown it to be “fit for purpose”, an official from Leonardo told Janes .
Speaking at a UK industry showcase event for the future combat air power, including the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) of which the Tempest demonstrator is a part, Dave Morris, head of campaigns Future Combat Air – GCAP at Leonardo, said the first round of flight trials out of Ministry of Defence (MoD) Boscombe Down in southern England had gone well and that there should be no issues ahead of fitting aircraft with its Tempest mission equipment.
Brazilian Army seeks 12 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters
25 April 2024
by Victor Barreira
A Brazilian Air Force UH-60L Black Hawk. The Brazilian Army is set to replace its HM-2 Black Hawk fleet with newer examples. (Leandro Maldonado)
The Brazilian Army is to acquire 12 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters to replace its eight HM-3 Cougar and four HM-2 Black Hawk helicopters, said Army Commander General Tomás Miguel Miné Ribeiro Paiva during a 17 April presentation to the Brazilian Committee on Foreign Relations and National Defense.
Gen Tomás noted that the fleet is to be purchased through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme and entails purchasing surplus helicopters, which will be refurbished before transfer to the Brazilian Army Aviation Command (CAvEx).
The acquisition is being carried out as part of the Army Strategic Program Army Aviation (Prg EE Av Ex). The phasing out of the Cougar and Black Hawk helicopters was approved in December 2023.
The HM-3 is fielded by the 2nd Army Aviation Battalion and the 3rd Army Aviation Battalion, and the HM-2 is deployed by the 4th Army Aviation Battalion.
UAE inaugurates GlobalEye early warning aircraft
25 April 2024
by Jeremy Binnie
The UAE's fourth Saab GlobalEye was delivered on 18 April. (Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates)
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on 24 April that a reception ceremony for an early warning aircraft had been held at Al-Dhafra Air Base.
It cited Major General Ibrahim Nasser al-Alawi, the commander of the Air Force and Air Defence (AFAD), as saying the aircraft was a “qualitative addition” that will help protect the country's strategic interests.
The MoD released a video showing a Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft without AFAD markings being escorted by F-16 and Mirage 2000-9 fighters before landing at Al-Dhafra, as well as personnel with 8th Aviation Wing badges working at a ground station.
Saab confirmed on the following day that it delivered the fourth of five GlobalEyes ordered by the UAE on 18 April.
Delayed twice during almost a year, the EU's declaration of a full operational capability (FOC) for ...
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