Mil News Eastern & Southern Europe Military news

[BravoZulu]

Poland:
The Polish government has officially signed an offset agreement with the US industry that will pave the way for the purchase of the Patriotintegrated air and missile defense (IAMD) system under the Wisla program.
The Wisla program is part of the Tarcza Polskior (Shield of Poland), aiming at to give the country an advanced air defense system to match. Missile proliferation in the Middle East, American fecklessness, and a rearming Russia have all led Poland to the conclusion that they can no longer depend on old Soviet-era air defense equipment.
They need their own advanced national air defense system, which can benefit from allied contributions without being dependent on them. The purchase of the Patriot system was initialised in March 2017 when Poland signed a deal worth up to $7.6 billion with Raytheon.
Warsaw sees the deal as central to a thorough modernisation of its armed forces by 2023. The MIM-104 PATRIOT anti-air missile system offers an advanced backbone for medium-range air defense, and short-range ballistic missile defense, to America and its allies.
A Patriot firing battery includes several components: an antenna mast group, radar, electric power station, launchers, ECC command center, and maintenance center. They are carried on a mix of heavy and medium trucks.
https://defenseindustrydaily.us5.li...25751766a1111efa05&id=fb06913bd6&e=7f8166cc3c

 

[Conhoon]

Poland:
Leonardo and the Armament Inspectorate of the Ministry of National Defense signed a contract for the supply of four additional advanced training aircraft M-346 Master. A contract worth over EUR 115 million includes a support package. Deliveries of aircraft will be completed by 2020. The Polish side has the option of purchasing 4 more Masters to use.
Currently, the Air Force is in stock 8 M-346. The first flight of the M-346, included in the equipment of the 4th Aviation School Wing, was made on February 16 this year. at the airport of the 41st Air Force Base in Dęblin, Cpt. pil. Mirosław Kopeć

 

[berkut76]

In order to increase the combat capability of theUkrainian Ground Forcesof the Armed Forces of Ukraine scientific-production enterprise “TEMP-3000” has improved the ballistic helmet “Kaska-1M”.

On March 2, fifteen ballistic helmets were transferred to the Ukrainian Ground Forces for experimental wear.

“Kaska-1M” provides protection against fragmentation, handgun bullets 9mm, blast wave impacts, blunt impacts and falling from a certain distance. Outer shell has matte paint coating and durable waterproof polyurethane coating. Helmet cover that provides reliable masking is made of the fabric of our own production as well.

Ballistic helmet is made of non-flammable para-aramid material of own production. Ballistic Helmet has 4-point Attachment System that ensures reliable fixation of the helmet on the user’s head under the influence of static and dynamic load. Additionally, the helmet is equipped with revolutionary closure and adjustment solution – Boa® System. Rail Connectors, Adaptors and Shrouds for NVGs and other components are placed on the surface of the helmet.

Rail Connectors, Adaptors and Shrouds for NVGs and other components are placed on the surface of the helmet.

A list of questions regarding the operational characteristics of the ballistic helmets was given together with the samples for experimental wear in order to receive the suggestions and comments for improvement of the product from the soldiers.

_________________________________________
Level of Protection: 1A (State Standards of Ukraine DSTU 4103 – 2002)
Weight: 1340 g
Tested for ballistic performance from -40°С to +50°С

https://en.ukrmilitary.com/2018/03/...c-helmet-for-the-ukrainian-ground-forces.html

 

[berkut76]

Link to Ukrainian Defense Review magazine (published in English)

https://issuu.com/ukrainian_defense_review

 

[BravoZulu]

Croatia:
Croatian Defense Council has approved the offer made by Israel to sell its F-16 to modernize the Croatian air force. The decision now has to be approved by the Croatian government and the manufacturer of the jets, the U.S.

The 12 planes should replace the aging Soviet-produced MIG-21 of the Croatian air force for a total cost of $420 million. Only four of the 12 MIG-21 were operational, according to local media. Israel was looking for a solution to get rid of the aging F-16 which were retired and at risk of degrading.

Some experts say that the delivered planes will be upgraded by Israel Aerospace Industries with their latest technologies. As the planes can be fitted with Israeli missiles such as the Rafael Python, it might be that Israel will also sell ammunition to Croatia, a member of NATO since 2009.

Croatia's Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic declared on national radio: “It’s a historical decision [...] a project which will ensure Croatia’s safety and sovereignty”. The first F-16 should arrive in Croatia before 2020 and all of them will be delivered by 2022.

Other countries were in the competition started by Croatia last year, among them Greece, South Korea, Sweden and the U.S., Reuters reports.

Other countries in the region have also sought to replace its aging MiG aircraft.

https://www.aerotime.aero/en/military/21065-croatia-to-acquire-israeli-f-16-jets

 

[Bombardier]

Poland:
The Polish government has officially signed an offset agreement with the US industry that will pave the way for the purchase of the Patriotintegrated air and missile defense (IAMD) system under the Wisla program.
The Wisla program is part of the Tarcza Polskior (Shield of Poland), aiming at to give the country an advanced air defense system to match. Missile proliferation in the Middle East, American fecklessness, and a rearming Russia have all led Poland to the conclusion that they can no longer depend on old Soviet-era air defense equipment.
They need their own advanced national air defense system, which can benefit from allied contributions without being dependent on them. The purchase of the Patriot system was initialised in March 2017 when Poland signed a deal worth up to $7.6 billion with Raytheon.
Warsaw sees the deal as central to a thorough modernisation of its armed forces by 2023. The MIM-104 PATRIOT anti-air missile system offers an advanced backbone for medium-range air defense, and short-range ballistic missile defense, to America and its allies.
A Patriot firing battery includes several components: an antenna mast group, radar, electric power station, launchers, ECC command center, and maintenance center. They are carried on a mix of heavy and medium trucks.
https://defenseindustrydaily.us5.li...25751766a1111efa05&id=fb06913bd6&e=7f8166cc3c

Just been trawling the net and found that mods on Themess had to close down a thread with this content citing ' So much dick waving and one-handed typing'

Having read the thread it seems he was right although quite how they manage to turn a piece of military news into a pissin contest is beyond me ?

 

[AAR Galileo]

Everybody hardware is always better than the others at least on paper and on sale pamphlets until people start using it because system tests are always scenario super scripted unlike real life.
Good to Poland if they have the money to get the Patriot, just hope they will never have to use it.

 

[BravoZulu]

Poland:
Poland has acquired the Insitu RQ-21A Blackjack small tactical unmanned aircraft system (STUAS).

A USD11.4 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) contract for one system was awarded to the Boeing subsidiary by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 30 March.

The system comprises an undisclosed number of air vehicles, a ground control station, as well as launch and recovery equipment. Systems engineering and programme management is also included. Jane’s previously reported that Poland’s Blackjack is to be equipped with the GPS/Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM).

As noted by the DoD, Poland will take delivery in July.

The RQ-21A Blackjack is the military variant of the Integrator, which is essentially a larger and more capable version of the ScanEagle. It is 2.2 m in length with a wingspan of 4.8 m and can cruise for 24 hours at 55 kt up to a service ceiling of 15,000 ft.

Currently in its Block 2 configuration, the STUAS is equipped in its baseline configuration with an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera coupled with mid- and long-range infrared imagers, an infrared marker, and a laser rangefinder.

http://www.janes.com/article/78969/poland-acquires-blackjack-uas?from_rss=1

 

[BravoZulu]

Slovakia:

Slovakia has been preemptively cleared to proceed with the potential sale of F-16 Block 70/72 fighters following clearance by the US State Department.

According to a DSCA statement, the $2.9 billion package will also include 30 AIM-120C7 air-to-air missiles, 100 AIM-9X air-to-air missiles, 150 guidance kits for Joint Direct Attack Munition bombs, 400 MK-82 or BLU-111 500-pound bomb bodies and 400 fuzes.

While Slovakia has yet to decide on an aircraft that will go towards replacing its Soviet-era fleet of MiG-29s, the eventual winner will give Bratislava a fourth generation fighter capability that is interoperable with the United States and NATO.

 

[AAR Galileo]

Poland :

German firm TKMS made a PowerPoint presentation of the future sale of German U-212 submarine to Poland. The problem it list french cruise missile MdCN (Missile De Croisière Naval – Naval Cruise Missile) as part of the deal except the French government will never sell CM Poland if they choose the U-212 (CM are considered as "sovereign" equipment ). The only exception maybe if Poland select the Scorpene subs but it will never happen (France had still the Caracal deal in memory).

 

[AAR Galileo]

Greece :

The Greek air force has intercepted a Turkish military drone that violated Greece’s national airspace in the southeastern Aegean, Kathimerini has learned.
The Turkish Anka unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV ANKA) twice entered Greek airspace above the Dodecanese island of Rhodes, at an altitude of 19,000-20,000 feet on Thursday.
The drone was intercepted by Greek F-16 fighter jets that took off from Kasteli air base on Crete.
On Thursday, Greek and Turkish fighter jets engaged in two dogfights over the Aegean, after the Turkish jets violated Greek airspace 16 times in the northeast, central and southeastern Aegean.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/227472/...s/greece-intercepts-turkish-drone-over-rhodes

 

[AAR Galileo]

Greece : Confessions of a Turkish spy

Martin was arrested for taking pictures of military facilities on a border-island, and imprisoned on charges of espionage against the Greek state. He had been recruited by agents of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) at the beginning of this decade who had built up a “network of retirees,” a spy team comprising older people from Northern Europe who had chosen to settle in the Aegean for its warmer climate.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/224859/article/ekathimerini/community/confessions-of-a-spy

 

[AAR Galileo]

Greece : They push hard to get 2 FREMM

Greece will this summer lease two state-of-the-art French warships, the defense ministry said Friday, as Athens seeks to bolster its defenses in the Aegean Sea amid growing tensions with Turkey.

Confirming a report by the daily Kathimerini, Greece’s deputy defense minister, Fotis Kouvelis, told Skai radio that France “has made two frigates available to us in a leasing agreement.”

The deal was finalized in a telephone call between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and French President Emmanuel Macron, Kouvelis said.

According to the daily Kathimerini, Greece will lease two French FREMM-type frigates for a period of five years, with the vessels expected to be inducted into the Greek Navy by August.

https://thedefensepost.com/2018/04/21/greece-lease-french-fremm-frigates-turkey-aegean/

The French defense minister deny the leasing of 2 Air Defense FREMM to Greece. The french Navy didn't have any to spare. And how could the Greek can manage to man those ship in 4 months? A friend of mine spend 1 years aboard the Moroccan FREMM just to teach the basic of the Com and Computer system to the new crew.

 

[BravoZulu]

Serbia:

Serbia has received four additional MiG-29 fighter aircraft from Belarus bringing to 14 the fleet now available to Belgrade.

Previous deliveries included six from Russia last October and the transferred aircraft will now undergo a three-stage period of modernization with between 180 million to 230 million euro earmarked for the purpose.

According to the Russian news agency TASS,Russia’s assistance in addition to the MiGs will include 30 T-72 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 combat patrol vehicles.

Also in discussion are surface-to-air gun and missile systems. Belarus had previously announced its plans to hand over to Serbia in 2018 eight MiG-29 fighter jets and two Buk missile systems on condition that Belgrade pays for their repairs.

 

[BravoZulu]

Greece:

Greek media reports that the country’s Governmental Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense decided on Monday, April 23, to weaponize its fleet of C-27J Spartan aircraft.

While Athens operates eight vanilla versions of the Leonardo-manufactured transporter, other specialized variants in use by various militaries have been developed for maritime patrol, search and rescue, C3 ISR (command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), fire support and electronic warfare and ground-attack missions.

No details were given on what the Syriza-led government plans to arm its own Spartans with. Despite news of the armament sub-program, the government did not make any final decisions on its F-16 modernization program—for which $1.1 billion has been earmarked—or on the planned lease of two FREMM frigates from France this summer.

 

[Wallensi]

Greece

The State Department(USA) has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Greece for an upgrade of F-16 aircraft to an F-16 Block V configuration. The estimated cost is $2.404 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on October 16, 2017.

The Government of Greece has requested a possible purchase of an upgrade of its existing F-16 fleet to an F-16 Block V configuration which includes up to one hundred twenty-five (125) APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radars (includes two (2) spares); one hundred twenty-three (123) Modular Mission Computers (MMCs); one hundred twenty-three (123) LINK-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS-JTRS) with TACAN and EHSI; one hundred twenty-three (123) LN260 Embedded Global Navigation Systems (EGI)/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS); and one hundred twenty-three (123) Improved Programmable Display Generators (iPDGs). Also included in the proposed sale are up to one hundred twenty-three (123) APX-126 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Combined Interrogator Transponders (CIT); one (1) Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS); one (1) F-16V Simulator; upgrade to two (2) existing simulators; one (1) Avionics Level Test Station; Secure Communications, cryptographic equipment and navigation equipment; upgrade and integration of the Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suite (ASPIS) I to ASPIS II on twenty-six (26) F-16s; Ground Support System, systems integration and test; spares and repair parts, support and test equipment; personnel training and training equipment; publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, logistical, and technical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program cost is $2.404 billion

More here=http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sale...rade-f-16-aircraft-f-16-block-v-configuration

 

[AAR Galileo]

Greece:

USAF has deployed Reaper drones at the Greek AFB of Larissa.

http://www.tovima.gr/en/article/?aid=954930

https://www.defensenews.com/air/201...time-and-that-might-not-sit-well-with-turkey/

The USA seem to disengage from Turkey.

 

[AAR Galileo]

Poland: Air Force Reapers are now flying ISR missions from Poland

The U.S. Air Force’s MQ-9 Reaper drone quietly started flights from Miroslawiec Air Base, Poland, in May, but the service isn’t saying exactly why.


In response to a query, U.S. Air Forces in Europe would only say that the Reapers will be unarmed and only used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.


“Our priority for this mission is to maintain ready and postured forces on land, in the air, and at sea,” Auburn Davis, a civilian U.S. Air Forces in Europe official, told Air Force Times.


When asked why Poland was chosen, Davis said it had to do with its “strategic location in Eastern Europe.”




“U.S. Air Forces in Europe conducts a range of operations on the continent that support our NATO allies and uphold the rule of international law,” she said. “Due to its strategic location in Eastern Europe, Poland is an ideal location to host [remotely piloted aircraft]. We consider Poland a pillar of stability in the region, and its support on this mission and others is critical to achieving our joint security objectives.”


https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/...pers-are-now-flying-isr-missions-from-poland/

 

[rtomedic]

Macedonia, Greece Sign 'Brave, Historic' Agreement On Name Change
The foreign ministers of Macedonia and Greece have signed a historic agreement on a modified name for the former Yugoslav republic, a major step in ending a 27-year dispute.

The agreement, signed on June 17 at Lake Prespa along the border separating the countries, paves the way for Macedonia to seek membership in the European Union and NATO.

Nationalists in both countries had bitterly opposed the proposed change, which calls for Macedonia to be renamed the Republic of North Macedonia. Parliaments in both countries must still ratify the deal.

The two countries' prime ministers -- Zoran Zaev of Macedonia and his Greek counterpart, Alexis Tsipras -- attended the signing ceremony in the Greek fishing village of Psarades, along with United Nations and European officials.
"Our peoples want peace...We will be partners and allies," Zaev said.

Tsipras, who survived a no-confidence vote by Greek opponents of the deal, described the agreement as a "brave, historic, and necessary step for our peoples."

We are here to heal the wounds of time, to open a path for peace, fraternization, and growth for our countries, the Balkans, and Europe," he added.

The deal still needs to be approved by Macedonia's parliament and confirmed in a Macedonian referendum in September, after which Greek ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/mili...7-rferl02.htm?_m=3n.002a.2318.ph0ao0037n.24uo

 

[AAR Galileo]

Poland:

Poland has run into problems with its first batch of Piorun Man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS).
It has now been revealed that one missile exploded in controlled-testing in September last year.
Subsequent investigations found that the rocket motor was produced without quality controls.

Poland had placed an order of $220 million with Mesko for 1,300 missiles and 420 missile launchers.

http://www.rp.pl/Sluzby-mundurowe/180709494-Niebezpieczne-wady-w-nowych-rakietach-dla-wojska.html