20 August 2020
by Rory McKittrick
The 2nd Kommandokräfte (Commando Forces) Company of Germany’s Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) special forces command was disbanded on 1 August owing to increasing far-right sentiments among its personnel. In May 2020, the arrest of a sergeant major in the Germany Army (Bundeswehr) attached to the KSK underlined the risk of extremist employees serving in Germany’s military and its security and intelligence services. As of June 2020, the Bundeswehr had recorded approximately 600 cases of personnel harbouring links to far-right extremism and other banned groups such as the Reichsbürger (Citizens of the Reich), a movement whose adherents do not recognise the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
In 2018, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz: BfV) reported that 24,100 German citizens were suspected of far-right extremism in Germany, with approximately 12,700 of these suspects assessed to have the potential to conduct political violence. These numbers increased to 32,080 suspected far-right extremists in 2019, including 13,000 cases with potential for political violence.
19 April 2024
by Gareth Jennings
A Dutch Chinook (foreground) arrived at Holzdorf Air Base in mid-April to help the Luftwaffe prepare for the arrival of its own Chinooks into the station from 2027. In the background is a Luftwaffe CH-53G currently based at the location. (Bundeswehr)
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is helping the Luftwaffe prepare for its upcoming Chinook heavy-lift helicopter capability, dispatching one of its own helicopters to the type's future operating station in mid-April.
The Bundeswehr said on 18 April that an RNLAF CH-47F Block 1 Chinook landed for the first time at Holzdorf Air Base (also known as Schönewalde), south of Berlin, to help the Luftwaffe prepare for the arrival of the first of its CH-47F Block II Chinook Standard Range (SR) air-to-air refuelling (AAR)-capable heavy-lift helicopters from 2027 to 2032.
“With the future stationing of the CH-47, Holzdorf Air Base will become a hub for helicopter transport. The [Luftwaffe] is gaining initial experience with the Chinook transport helicopter with its Dutch allies – in flight operations, refuelling, and training,” the Bundeswehr said.
16 April 2024
by Michael Fabey
The V-Bat UAV, shown here during testing, is becoming the UAV of choice for US forces. (US Navy)
Military planners and operators are beginning to consider unmanned surface and aerial vehicles in a more operational light given recent successes in experiments and in the battlespace, according to defence analysts.
One case in point is the Long-Range Unmanned Surface Vessel (LRUSV) the US Marine Corps (USMC) plans to use as a semi-autonomous vessel for extended travel and transporting loitering munitions that accurately track and destroy targets on sea or land and serve as an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform, according to Bryan Clark, senior fellow and director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at Hudson Institute.
“Marines are looking at that for unmanned logistics,” Clark told Janes on 31 March in an interview in advance of the Navy League Sea-Air-Space global maritime exposition held from 8 to 10 April in National Harbor, Maryland.
“They want to move materiel between the islands for the MLRs [Marine Littoral Regiments],” Clark said.
15 April 2024
by Gareth Jennings
A mock-up of the Eurofighter EK displayed at the ILA 2022 airshow in Berlin. The proposed escort jammer pod is seen in the foreground. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
Hensoldt is considering how to proceed with its plans to offer a new airborne electronic attack (AEA) capability to Germany, following its recent acquisition of Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH (ESG).
A company representative told Janes on 12 April that having previously proposed a joint solution with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for Step 2 of the Eurofighter Elektronischer Kampf (EK) electronic combat, Hensoldt is considering its position as it waits on the Luftwaffe's requirements and in light of its procurement of ESG on 2 April.
“We consider Eurofighter EK Step 2 as an important capability enhancement, which is still on the [Luftwaffe's] agenda. However, requirements and details of implementation are still under consideration [by the customer]. Therefore, we are monitoring closely the developments before drawing conclusions with regard to our further positioning,” the representative said.
The 2nd Kommandokräfte (Commando Forces) Company of Germany’s Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) special f...
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