French artillery in Iraq/Syria : "CAESAr in the Levant: fear is in the enemy's camp"

Imagine a dark night, you are in your entrenched camp on the outskirts of a city, the enemy who wants to see you dead will soon start encirclement but it is still more than 50km. Nothing to report for now, after your turn, you fall asleep quietly.

Boom! Boom! Boom! A terrible hiss, followed by a shock that propels you a few meters, here is your alarm clock! In front of you, a mortar position, whole a few minutes ago has just disappeared and with it, three of your comrades. And that will last two hours, your fortifications that were to help you contain the next assault are almost all in dust.

The shooting stopped, you can put the wounded in the shelter before taking your post among those who still stand. Long minutes pass, nothing, the stress goes down, you are ready to fight.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Now you are dead. Soon, when the artillery kills itself for good, the enemy will take care of your comrades who will not be able to hide anymore. From dawn, this strategic battle was lost.

It is about the hell lived by the men of the Islamic State a few months ago when the artillerymen of Task Force Wagram launched a historic night raid under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Frédéric Jordan. Artillery officer stationed at 40 ° RA since July 2016 and freshly returned from Iraq, Jordan has done us the honor to present his RETEX to the press.

French soldiers are almost always surprising. When we wait for a man who has operated in the Iraqi desert, harassing and terrorizing Daesh, we can not help but imagine a Rambo. Yet, we find ourselves facing a man who looks like us, no bigger, no more threatening. He looks like us, with the difference that he has a mind of steel through which he can lead his men to the end of their mission, and that is exactly what commands respect.

Jordan and his gunners fired exactly 1448 shells at Daesh positions between October 2017 and February 2018. During the 91 fire missions carried out, the CAESAr were tested, and they satisfied. Hardiness, reliability, cadence, reach, without loss of precision (according to the information given during the RETEX, the precision of the shots was almost perfect, only 10% of the situations would have required a correction of the shot), the CAESAr would have even impressed ! The Americans who ensured the extended protection of the CAESAr units praised the professionalism of the French artillerymen, in the words of Lieutenant-Colonel (besides the efficiency of the gun, it is the whole artillery chain which made its proofs: transmission of data, calculation of firing elements, etc.), and all those who were able to observe the firing by drone were impressed by the effects of the French system. The Task Force (6 CAESAr and 150 men in total) even received many visits from Iraqi officers who already had the experience of French armament since they were partially equipped during the difficult Iran-Iraq war. Note in any case that impress the ally across the Atlantic is rare but, we must imagine eighteen shots automatically fired in the space of a few minutes, when American gunners are leaving six shells that are more, reloaded by hand.

In addition to a maximum range of 38km (over the duration of the mandate of Jordan, many shots reached the 34km but most of the time the CAESAr were located between 15 and 25km from their targets), which surpasses the American capabilities in the field of shooting. The US Paladin, though effective, rarely exceeds 24km range, and thus gives CAESAr this strategic importance, it is its ability to adapt that has satisfied the Iraqi theater. In this sand desert, where the weather changes from very hot during the day to very cold at night, where storms and stormy showers transform the landscape, the CAESAr systems have never let up.

The mission of the Task Force under Jordan's command was to support the Iraqi security forces in their broad movement of resumption of territories to the Islamic State. Essential to the maneuvers of the forces, the CAESAr made it possible to complete the artillery of the coalition (classic or multiple rocket launcher), that of the Iraqi forces, as well as the bombardments of the aviation. During the first two months of the mandate, the forces were engaged in a kinetic maneuver to retake the Euphrates Valley. Here, the CAESAr has been able to demonstrate its effectiveness: support units, harassment, neutralization of mortars, removal of positions etc. Above all, do not believe that the job of artillery is to reduce the enemy into small pieces! Of the 91 firing missions, although 45 were explosive fire missions, 41 were illuminating fire missions which, in addition to having an illuminating effect, as their name indicates, had a significant impact on the mentality of Iraqi troops in contact with the enemy: we are right behind you.

translated from forcesoperations.com/caesar-au-levant-la-peur-est-dans-le-camp-de-lennemi/

When the forces of the Islamic State were pushed away from the first liberated cities, they logically opted for the mode of operation where they are the most dangerous: the counterinsurgency. Here too, according to Jordan, CAESAr has adapted. For the Lieutenant-Colonel, if the CAESAr can stop a column of tanks, its effects are peculiar to counter-insurgency for two reasons. First, in an environment that lends itself to concealment, the CAESAr is used to flush out the enemy: the gun is ready to fire in record time (the speed of engagement is an undeniable added value in the international coalition according to Jourdan), a reconnaissance drone is launched, the men carry out the targeting, wait for the authorization, then send out the shells while remaining a few tens of kilometers away from potential enemy suicide attacks. If it is necessary to move urgently, the men return to the cabin of the truck and withdraw without disorder. Secondly, CAESAr would be a " conventional deterrent " because of its " brutality" . More than mere tools to flush out, the rapid fire of 155mm explosive shells remind the enemy what he might have to do if he ever tried dangerous action. A few guns would then be enough to turn him around or to "dissuade" him out of his positions.

At the end of RETEX, when a French journalist asked Jordan if the French gunners had a " hunting board", he replied in the negative " We know who shot, what target, what, and what moment, but no, we do not hold a hunting table, they are what they are, men of Daesh, they remain our enemies and we respect our enemies. In any case, the artillery is back, and the CAESAr remain in Iraq.
 
France: The C-160 Gabriel , the SIGINT plane deployed in Iraq/Syria to fight ISIS

A rare, official image of a secretive French C-160G Gabriel intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft supporting the ongoing U.S.-led campaign against ISIS has emerged online. The plane’s appearance comes as coalition forces on both sides of the Iraqi-Syrian border are in the midst of a new offensive to take the steam out of the terrorist group's recent resurgence.

On May 17, 2018, the official Twitter account of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, the top command in charge of operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, made a post lauding France’s contributions to the air war against the terrorists. The Tweet included a picture of French Rafale multi-role fighter jets and the C-160G.


more : http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...orting-campaign-against-isis-slips-out-online
 
West's knowledge of Novichok came from sample secured in 1990s: report

The West’s knowledge of the secret Russian nerve agent that Britain says was used to poison an ex-spy and his daughter came from a sample obtained by Germany in the 1990s, German media reported on Wednesday.
In a joint report, German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, the weekly Die Zeit and broadcasters NDR and WDR said Germany’s BND spy agency had secured the sample of the Novichok nerve agent from a Russian scientist.
The sample was analyzed in Sweden and the chemical formula was given to the German government and military, the report cited sources as saying. Western countries used the information to help develop countermeasures.
The story could help shed light on how Britain was able to analyze the poison it says was used to attack former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in England in March.
Britain has blamed Russia for the poisoning. More than 20 Western countries have shown their support for London by expelling Russian diplomats over the affair, the biggest expulsion since the Cold War.
Moscow has denied blame and says London has not been forthcoming about how it investigated the poison.
More here=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...-sample-secured-in-1990s-report-idUSKCN1IH2HC

France, allies call for emergency session of U.N. chemical weapons watchdog

Thirty-three countries called on Friday for an emergency plenary session of the world’s chemical watchdog to propose a new way to attribute blame for attacks with banned munitions, after efforts to impose a new system at the United Nations broke down.
The countries met in Paris as part of the “Impunity Partnership”, which France launched in January, with the objective of preserving evidence of chemical weapons attacks, establishing who is responsible and imposing sanctions.
France wants those nations to support the creation of a new mechanism at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to enable it to assign blame for attacks carried out with banned munitions, French diplomats said.
“We regret that no measure has so far been adopted by key international bodies to hold to account the perpetrators involved in chemical attacks,” said a final communique from 33 nations from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
The move comes in the wake of a suspected poison gas attack by Syrian government forces east of Damascus in April. Syria and its ally Russia denied that any attack had taken place and that they were holding up inspections or had tampered with evidence at the site.
More here=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...f-u-n-chemical-weapons-watchdog-idUSKCN1IJ0ND
 
Sweden:

The defense ministry reactivate the P-18 regiment "Gotlands regemente" that was disbanded in 2005 this day May 21 th 2018. This armored regiment is the only Swedish force in the strategic island of Gotland.
It's the first time since WW 2 that Sweden reactivate a regiment.

The decision was made after the annexation of Crimea. Since all the military installation were sold in 2005, a budget of 780 millions of Kronor is allowed to build barracks, etc....

video of the event
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£850m Sea Ceptor missile system enters service with Royal Navy
A world-class missile system that will protect the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers has officially entered service, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced today.

Sea Ceptor provides a powerful shield against airborne threats, including hostile combat jets, helicopters and other missiles, and has been developed and manufactured through Ministry of Defence contracts worth around £850m.

It will be carried by the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates, and has been successfully demonstrated through a trials and test firing campaign that started last year. Most recently, Plymouth-based HMS Montrose became the third ship to test fire the system.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

"Sea Ceptor will protect our nation against the intensifying threats we face today and in the future, giving our ships a powerful shield against everything from supersonic missiles to enemy fighter jets." ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...4-ukmod02.htm?_m=3n.002a.2300.ph0ao0037n.248w
 
France :

Two former agent of the DGSE and the wife of one of them have been incarcerated for treason. The DGSE counter intelligence section found that the 2 agent has been, according some sources, recruited by the Chinese MSE service and have provided them information related to the working methods and procedures of the french secret service. The DGSI (equivalent of the FBI) was alerted by the DGSE and investigated then arrested the 3 people.

Usually, this kind of "problem" is solved internally with extreme prejudice.
 
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Royal Navy’s Dreadnought submarines facing £2.9b funding gap
The UK defense ministry’s program for the development of a new class of nuclear missile submarines and Trident nuclear program renewal is facing a £2.9b “affordability gap”, a review by spending watchdog National Audit Office (NAO) has found.

This is in addition to the pressure faced by the defense ministry to keep the nuclear enterprise affordable as around a quarter of the department’s equipment expenditure for 2018 to 2028 relates to nuclear programs.

The Royal Navy has operated the continuous at sea nuclear deterrent for the past 49 years. To be able to continue this practice, the UK MoD started construction on the new Dreadnought-class submarines in October 2016. The new class of submarines submarines will gradually replace the four Vanguard-class boats from the early 2030s.

NAO warns that the timeframe for Dreadnought submarine production will be affected by progress with other submarine builds and will influence the support and maintenance requirements for in-service submarines. Astute-class submarines are an average of 27 months behind schedule. “Given the limited space available, the Department also needs to coordinate its estate plans to ensure it has the facilities to maintain its submarines, such as sufficient dock capacity, and also decommission and dismantle 20 boats which have left service,” the report says.

In 2018-19, the department forecasts to spend £5.2 billion across the enterprise, which represents 14% of the department’s overall budget. It includes £1.8 billion on procuring and supporting submarines, £1.4 billion on the missiles and warheads, £790 million on the propulsion systems and £220 million on managing the enterprise.

The department estimates it will spend £50.9 billion on nuclear equipment and support programs between 2018 and 2028. To make the enterprise affordable, the department has had to cut costs, identify efficiencies and re-program work. Without this, the Enterprise could destabilise the Department’s overall equipment plan as around a quarter of its equipment expenditure for 2018 to 2028 relates to nuclear programs.

Looking ahead, the department faces the challenge of needing to bridge a £2.9 billion affordability gap from 2018 to 2028. This assumes the department realises £3 billion of efficiencies over the next 10 years. The Department may need to make further use of contingency funding. It has already received, in agreement with HM Treasury, access to £600 million of Dreadnought specific contingency for 2018-19 to ensure it can deliver within its initial 2015 whole-life cost forecast.

The Department took 18 months to introduce the revised arrangements outlined in SDSR 2015. Both the DNO and SDA are still filling recognised skills gaps, including to some senior finance and commercial positions. During this time, the Department also had to agree critical submarine production contracts. In March 2018 it entered into contracts worth £960 million for the second phase of Dreadnought production and £1.5 billion for the seventh and final Astute-class submarine.
royal-navys-dreadnought-submarines-facing-2-9b-funding-gap-320x180.jpg

https://navaltoday.com/2018/05/23/r...-submarines-facing-2-9b-funding-gap/?uid=5430
 
Sea Venom/ANL missile demonstrates sea skimming skills in Panther helicopter launch
French missile manufacturer MBDA recently carried out a second development firing of its Sea Venom/ANL missile using a French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA – Direction Générale de l’Armement) Panther test helicopter for launch at Ile Du Levant in southeast France.

The firing took place on April 18 and highlighted Sea Venom/ANL’s lock on after launch (LOAL) capabilities, MBDA said.

The test also validated the missile’s aptitude for low-altitude, sea-skimming flight, the effectiveness of the data link between the missile and helicopter and Sea Venom/ANL’s autonomous guidance capability, using images from its infrared seeker.

“Sea Venom is yet another weapon that will help our Royal Navy keep the United Kingdom safe amid intensifying global threats. The lightweight subsonic sea-skimming missile, which will equip our Wildcat helicopters, will add to our Navy’s impressive capabilities while at sea and ensure they remain equipped to face every eventuality,” Guto Bebb, UK Minister for Defence Procurement, said.

“The test firing partnership between France and the United Kingdom is also another fantastic display of the two nations working together to protect global waters.”

“We’re delighted that the second development firing of Sea Venom/ANL was a complete success. We have now tested a range of the missile’s capabilities and it has performed to the very edge of its operational envelope, which is testament to the hard work and skills of our development and production teams in conjunction with DGA,” Frank Bastart, head of the Sea Venom/ANL programme at MBDA said.

Sea Venom/ANL is part of an Anglo-French program linked to the Lancaster House treaty agreed between the UK and France in November 2010.

The missile possesses a ‘fire and forget’ mode along with ‘operator above the loop’ capability to maintain control over the entire missile trajectory.

It has been designed for use from the widest range of platforms; in UK service the missile will be used from the AW159 Wildcat helicopter, while France will operate the missile from its future Light Joint Helicopter (HIL – Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger). The missile is designed to enable the helicopters of both countries’ navies to deal with a range of threats including fast moving patrol boats, corvettes and coastal targets.

MBDA was awarded the production contract for Sea Venom/ANL in March 2014. The joint program is the first to take full advantage of mutual dependency arrangements agreed under the ‘One Complex Weapons’ initiative designed to consolidate the Anglo-French missile industry around MBDA.
sea-venomanl-missile-demonstrates-sea-skimming-skills-in-panther-helicopter-launch-320x205.jpg

https://navaltoday.com/2018/05/31/s...skills-in-panther-helicopter-launch/?uid=5430
 
Arrowhead 140 design for UK Type 31e frigate revealed
A Babcock-led industry team has officially unveiled the Arrowhead 140 concept as their design for the UK defense ministry’s Type 31e general purpose light frigate program.

Babcock, Thales, OMT, BMT, Harland and Wolff and Ferguson Marine are all part of the team bidding for the UK MoD’s £1.25 billion Type 31e program.

As announced on Thirsday, the Arrowhead 140 will have a hull form based on the Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates OMT designed for the Royal Danish Navy.

The decision to base the Arrowhead on the in-service Danish frigates is aimed at lowering program risks, the team said, adding that their Type 31e contender was engineered to minimise through-life costs.

At almost 140m the platform will optimise operational flexibility. This ‘wide beam’ ship is easier to design, easier to build and easier to maintain due to its slightly larger size, Babcock said.

“Arrowhead 140 will provide increased survivability, operability and capability – compared to a standard 120m design. When you consider that this ship can be delivered at no extra cost and that it will support improved radar performance, increase platform stability and facilitate better helicopter operations in bad weather, whilst enhancing crew comfort – we believe it will bring a significant edge to modern naval capability,” Craig Lockhart, Babcock’s managing director, Naval Marine said.

arrowhead-140-design-for-uk-type-31e-frigate-revealed-1.jpg


Arrowhead 140’s distributed build and assembly approach, comprising Babcock Appledore in North Devon, Ferguson Marine on the Clyde, Harland and Wolff in Belfast with integration at Babcock Rosyth, Fife, optimises the partners’ UK facilities, innovation and skills whilst cleverly ensuring capacity for parallel programmes remains. All of which is geared to generate a genuine resurgence in shipbuilding across the UK and when coupled with the virtual design alliance between Babcock, OMT and BMT it supports the intent of the UK National Shipbuilding Strategy.
https://navaltoday.com/2018/05/31/arrowhead-140-design-for-uk-type-31e-frigate-revealed/?uid=5430
 
The Brits a coming!

Operation Catamaran 2018 will see English troops landing in southern Brittany on June 8th. This exercise is part of the French-English expeditionary force Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) training.

French and British amphibious forces are currently gathering at La Pallice. A French projection and command building, Tonnerre, and the frigate Jean-Bart, as well as the minehunters Cephée and Andromède, the HMS Chiddingfold (Royal Navy) are among the 14 vessels engaged in the maneuver called Catamaran 2018 .


On the land forces side, all the units of the 9th Marine Infantry Brigade are deployed: the Le Mans (2nd RIMa) and Vannes (3rd RIMa), the Angers (6th RG), gunners from Rennes (11th RAMa), Angouleme riders, transmitters of Poitiers … The British will hire a light infantry company of the 3rd Royal Marines commando brigade, a reconnaissance and intelligence section of this brigade and two CH-47 Chinook helicopters .

Catamaran 2018 will see the participation of more than 2,000 men and women, including 1,350 in the dismounted force equipped with 181 military vehicles (including 43 wheeled armored), 14 surface ships (the Tonnerre BPC with frigate Jean-Bart ) and 10 aeronautical detachments from the Navy (Atlantic 2 of Lann-Bihoué), Army Light Aviation (six helicopters of the 5th RHC), the Air Force (Alphajet d tactical support) and the Royal Air Force.


The exercise, which is part of the ramping up of the joint French-British joint expeditionary force, the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), “has as its main objective to train the French and British armies to the planning and then the conduct of an amphibious operation in an environment with an air and underwater threat “, explains one to the staff of the navy. The exercise will make progress towards the operationalization of the CJEF, planned for 2020. In 2016, a similar exercise was held in the United Kingdom, called Griffin Strike.


https://yatta.club/2018/06/01/to-storm-french-and-british-land-in-southern-brittany/
 
French air force outlines requirements for H160M helicopters
The French air force has requested 38 Airbus Helicopters H160Ms as its share of the country's tri-service medium-category rotorcraft acquisition.

To be acquired under the hélicoptère interarmées léger programme, Paris has indicated a total requirement of 169 helicopters, with deliveries to begin around 2025.

All of the air force's H160Ms are to be capable of performing air-to-air refuelling, says Lt Col Eric Goffinon, commander of the service's helicopter component, although it will not require refuelling probes for the entire inventory.

The H160M must be able to receive fuel from both Lockheed Martin KC-130s and Airbus Defence & Space A400Ms. "It is a challenge for Airbus," says Goffinon, "but they are working on it."

With the H160Ms to replace the air force's inventory of H125M Fennec and SA330 Puma helicopters, they are to be equipped for a broad range of missions, including search and rescue, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, close air support and air interception.

Those destined for close air support tasks will be equipped with a 20mm cannon and guided rockets.

The air force is also investigating the potential integration of a pilot-controlled 7.62mm gun, to be used for the interception of light aircraft. However, if this cannot be achieved, it will continue to deploy with a sniper on board.

"We want the H160M to be capable of finding and neutralising light aircraft and UAVs," says Goffinon.

He anticipates that the French navy will be the first of the three services to receive the H160M, with the air force and navy following.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/a...e-outlines-requirements-for-h160m-hel-448858/
 
Sweden:
Sweden will close a deal in the next few weeks with U.S. arms maker Raytheon Co (RTN.N) to buy the Patriot air defense missile system as it modernizes its armed forces amid heightened tensions with Russia.

Moscow’s brief war with Georgia in 2008 and its annexation of the Crimea Peninsula six years later has pushed Sweden, not a NATO member but with close ties to the alliance, to rebuild its armed forces after decades of neglect.

“We are now done negotiating with the U.S. about Patriot and will now ask the government’s permission to sign the contract,” said Joakim Lewin, head of the Army Design Office at the Swedish Materiel Administration (FMV), which procures and maintains equipment for the military.

The deal is initially worth around 10 billion crowns ($1.13 billion) and is the biggest military purchase since 2013 when Sweden started to upgrade 60 Saab SAAB.ST Gripen fighters, a deal worth around 47 billion crowns.

Sweden’s current air defense system, which is over a decade old, cannot shoot down enemy ballistic robots.

According to Lewin, the Patriot deal includes four firing units, parts, training and an undisclosed number of missiles.

The contract also includes an option to expand the purchase to up to 300 missiles. If the option is used, the final bill will be around $3 billion, Lewin said.

Delivery is expected to start in 2021.

So far, 15 other countries have purchased the Patriots, including NATO members Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Poland. Neutral Switzerland has said it is considering Patriot among other systems.

The Swedish government has until August 10th to make a final decision on the deal.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...g-as-tariffs-prompt-retaliation-idUSKCN1IX478
 
Dutch-German tank battalion receives first Leopard 2A6MA2
The German Army's Panzerbataillon (Armour Battalion) 414, which includes a Dutch tank company, received its first Leopard 2A6MA2 recently, the Bundeswehr announced on 25 May. The remaining 16 main battle tanks are scheduled to be delivered to the battalion in Lohheide, northern Germany, by the end of June, the Bundeswehr added.

Panzerbataillon 414, which the German and Dutch armies began forming in 2015, comes under the command of the Royal Netherlands Army's 43 Mechanised Brigade, which is in turn part of the German 1st Panzer Division.

Panzerbataillon 414 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Marco Niemeyer described the “hand over - take over” of the Leopard 2A6MA2, which will equip the Dutch tank company, as a major step in the integration of the unit, with the tank's Dutch Essential Land based Information Application & Services (ELIAS) battlefield management system providing technical interoperability with 43 Mechanised Brigade.

Panzerbataillon 414's German Leopard 2s will also be upgraded to the 2A6MA2 standard and equipped with ELIAS so they can operate with 43 Mechanised Brigade, bringing the total number of tanks to be upgraded to 48.
1726041_-_main.jpg

http://www.janes.com/article/80374/dutch-german-tank-battalion-receives-first-leopard-2a6ma2
 
Britain's most advanced jets touch down on home soil
The first of Britain's next-generation fighter jets have arrived home two months ahead of schedule in a major milestone for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.

The first four of Britain's new cutting-edge aircraft arrived into RAF Marham their new home in Norfolk. They touched down at 20.15 after a trans-Atlantic flight from the United States, where Britain has more of the jets and 150 personnel in training.

The F-35s took off from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort earlier today and were flown by British pilots of the newly-reformed 617 Squadron, which was immortalised by the famous Dambusters' raid of World War II.

Welcoming the news, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

"These formidable fighters are a national statement of our intent to protect ourselves and our allies from intensifying threats across the world. With a game-changing ability to collect crucial intelligence, fight wars and tackle terrorism, these are the most advanced jets in British history. The work that's gone into their early arrival shows they have the people to match. Our defence industry and military have always been at the very forefront of ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...6-ukmod01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2310.ph0ao0037n.24ka
 
Quitaly?
Europe’s problems just seem to grow worse. The huge and continuing dislocation caused by Brexit is bad enough, but the news is also disturbing on several other fronts.

The continued weakening of Germany’s (and its chancellor’s) authority in Europe and globally as a result of the introspection and fractiousness of the new Grand Coalition (Groko) government, and concerns about Angela Merkel’s longevity, have left a vacuum where Germany’s leadership used to be. France’s President Emmanuel Macron has stepped into this breach. But he can do little without a solid partner in Germany. In any case, differences between Merkel’s and Macron’s visions for the future of Europe and the eurozone remain.

The challenge posed to the European project by the continued success of populist/nationalist governments in Europe is also growing. Germany and France (which also have to confront their own versions) now face a large group of European countries with governments that disagree quite fundamentally with the way in which Europe has evolved. They want significant changes, mainly to return sovereignty to national governments and—as they would describe it—to push back against the idea of a Europe run from Berlin.

And all of this comes at a time when the post–World War II bedrock of European security, the transatlantic alliance and the US security guarantee, appears to be crumbling. The Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs on products from close US friends and allies in Europe has just underlined how much and how comprehensively things have now changed.

Then there’s the Putin factor, with Russia aiming to weaken Europe by fomenting disagreement, including through support for the populist/nationalist parties that are so significantly reshaping politics in the West.

But life isn’t about to get any better for the European project. The crisis has just deepened with the arrival of Italy’s new Five Star Movement (M5S)–League government and, although not quite as concerning, of a new Spanish government.

The bigger problem is Italy, a founding member of the European Union, and the eurozone’s third-largest and the world’s 12th‑largest economy, so not a small or insignificant country. Although Italy’s economy is slowly recovering, with GDP growth this year forecast at 1.5%, it faces endemic problems. To mention a few: a chaotic political system and a parliament that has generally found it impossible to implement any reform; a massive imbalance between Italy’s poor south and its wealthy north; Europe’s second-highest debt-to-GDP ratio at 132% (in absolute terms, Europe’s largest debt); 32% youth unemployment across the country, but vastly higher in the south; and serious issues with some of Italy’s banks.

Extreme popular frustration at this state of affairs, especially in southern Italy, some clever politicking by the charismatic leaders of M5S (Luigi di Maio) and the League (Matteo Salvini), and huge disappointment with the established parties are behind the success of the two groups in the new government.

M5S, a ‘movement’ (not, it has always claimed, a party) founded by comedian Beppe Grillo to give voice to popular anger, ended up as the largest single party after the elections on 4 March this year, with particularly strong support in the south.

The League was part of a centre-right group of parties that included Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia and did very well in the north and centre of Italy. That’s not surprising since the party emerged from the Northern League, which advocated cutting the north away from what it considered the dead weight of southern Italy and gaining independence. This was evident when the newly appointed (League) minister for regional affairs and autonomy indicated last week that her priority was to grant autonomy to Lombardy (Milan) and the Veneto (Venice).

M5S had said it would never enter government as part of a coalition. The League professed loyalty to its centre-right grouping. Both positions were sacrificed in the interests of attaining government. On the face of it, they’re very strange bedfellows, united largely by their opposition to the established system, their very strong anti‑immigrant stance and their deep scepticism about the euro and the European Union. They have an economic policy based on tax cuts, significant financial support for the poor and big government spending, taking on more debt as necessary.

The new government’s euroscepticism, its equivocal position on the euro, its intention, contrary to eurozone rules, to spend its way to economic recovery and its quite virulent criticism of Germany’s and Brussels’ roles in Europe will all put it completely at odds with the approach taken by Merkel and Macron.

The M5S–League government is led by a complete political novice in Giuseppe Conte. But it’s hard to imagine that his two deputies—di Maio and Salvini—will give him much room for manoeuvre. Italian President Sergio Mattarella refused to accept as economics minister the notoriously anti-European Paolo Savona, who once famously described the euro as a ‘German cage’ and speculated about a ‘plan B’ of withdrawal from the euro. But Savona has been made, in yet another weird twist, minister for European affairs. And, to muddy the waters even further, the new foreign minister, Enzo Milanesi, is pro-European: he worked in Brussels and was minister for European affairs in the recent Monti and Letta governments.

According to Simon French, a business commentator, ‘Quitaly’ is the term being used on London City dealing desks to describe a potential departure by Italy from the European Monetary Union. The new government is suggesting publicly that, although it wants fundamental change, it will remain with the euro and the European Union. But given the disparity of views in Conte’s cabinet and among both M5S and League supporters, that must remain an open question, as must the longevity and fortunes of the M5S–League government.

It is just too hard to predict right now how all of this will work out. One thing is certain: it must be almost the last thing that Chancellor Merkel and President Macron (or Europe more generally) needed given everything else that’s happening. It must have been a very interesting conversation between Merkel and Conte when she rang him on 2 June to congratulate him and invite him to visit Berlin ‘as soon as possible’, no doubt to receive some clear advice.
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/q...0&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Quitaly
 
France:

The French Military has signed a contract for 90,000 Hornady Rapid Racks to be used with the newly adopted Heckler & Kock HK 416 rifles. The Ministry of Defense has asked Hornady to provide a model for the troops with a black handle rather than the standard red.

http://www.recoilweb.com/french-mil...-rapid-rack-devices-137937.html#ixzz5Hj8ndGci

See the video in the link if you don't know what is a Hornady Rapid Racks.
 
UK:
The British Army’s new Ajax armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is currently undergoing field trials, before the first variants are delivered to operational units early in 2019.

The Ajax is part of the multi-billion pound “Future Rapid Effects System” (FRES) program. FRES aims to recapitalise the core of Britain’s armoured vehicle fleet over the next decade or more. Ajax vehicles are developed upon a highly-adaptable and capable Common Base Platform, maximising commonality in mobility, electronic architecture and survivability.

Each Ajax platform variant has extensive capabilities, including acoustic detectors, a laser warning system, a local situational awareness system, an electronic countermeasure system, a route marking system, an advanced electronic architecture and a high-performance power pack. Ajax will be the medium weight core of the British Army’s deployable Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability.

It enables the soldier to be at the point of collection of accurate all-weather commander information within a network-enabled digitised platform. The current trials are the final phase of a series of evaluations to approve the vehicle for land warfare operations before it enters full service with the British Army.
p1738376_main.jpg

The Ajax Athena command-and-control variant, pictured on 11 June during UK field trials. Source: DPL
http://www.janes.com/article/80964/british-army-s-new-ajax-afv-breaks-cover
 
The British Army has launched the game-changing Autonomous Warrior (Land) experiment at the RUSI Land Warfare conference.

Autonomous Warrior, the 2018 Army Warfighting Experiment, will push the boundaries of technology and military capability in the land environment.

And one of the key areas it is set to test is the autonomous last mile resupply. The 'last mile', which represents the extremely dangerous final approach to the combat zone, is crucial to ensuring soldiers have the food, fuel and ammunition to keep them alive.

Autonomous Warrior will test a range of prototype unmanned aerial and ground cargo vehicles which aim to reduce the danger to troops during combat.

The British Army is set to launch the four-week exercise on November 12, with a Battlegroup from 1 Armed Infantry brigade providing the exercising troops and taking responsibility of command and control.

British soldiers will test and evaluate the effectiveness of robotic and autonomous systems (RAS) on the battlefield

These technological advances will play a key role in the Army's Strike capability, ensuring our forces remain unmatched on the global stage.

Defence Minister Mark Lancaster said:

"Our Armed Forces continue to push the limits of innovative warfare to ensure that we stay ahead of any adversaries or threats faced on the battlefield."

"Autonomous Warrior sets an ambitious vision for Army operations in the 21st Century as we integrate drones, unmanned vehicles and personnel into a world-class force for decades to come." ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...0-ukmod01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2321.ph0ao0037n.24ye
 
10K Missing Kids: EU Database Adds Photos for Asylum Seekers
It will be easier for migration and asylum authorities to identify persons entering or staying irregularly in the EU, under new rules informally agreed with EU Council.

Updated rules aiming to reinforce the EURODAC system, designed to store and search data on asylum applicants and irregular migrants, were agreed on Tuesday by Parliament and Council negotiators.

EURODAC makes it easier for EU States to determine responsibility for examining an asylum application by by comparing fingerprint datasets.

Unaccompanied child refugees in Greece have been forced to sell their bodies in order to pay smugglers, a Harvard University report found
The new system would help immigration and asylum authorities to better control irregular immigration to the EU, detect secondary movements (migrants moving from the country in which they first ...MORE WITH VIDEO

https://americansecuritytoday.com/10k-missing-kids-eu-database-adds-photos-asylum-seekers-videos/

 

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