April 3, 2024 | International, Aerospace, Naval
Hensoldt completes takeover of German defense electronics firm ESG
The acquisition gives Hensoldt a foothold in supporting F-35 jets and P-8 anti-submarine planes ordered by Germany.
December 10, 2018 | International, Aerospace
By: Stephen Losey
Nearly two months after Hurricane Michael devastated Tyndall Air Force Base in Northern Florida, the Air Force on Friday said it wants to rebuild the installation — so it can station three squadrons of F-35 fighters there.
But the change in plans, if approved, would mean operational F-22 Raptors from the 95th Fighter Squadron would not return to Tyndall.
The Air Force is asking Congress for supplemental funding to repair Tyndall's damage, the service said in a release. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said the amount of money is still being decided.
A preliminary evaluation showed Tyndall could accommodate up to three F-35 squadrons, the Air Force said. If Congress grants the supplemental repair funds and the F-35 basing is approved, F-35s could be based there beginning in 2023.
The move would mean operational F-22s that were formerly at Tyndall would be permanently moved to squadrons at other bases that are now temporarily housing them: Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. Those F-22 squadrons would grow from 21 to 24 fighters apiece to permanently accommodate the Tyndall aircraft.
“We have recommended that the best path forward to increase readiness and use money wisely is to consolidate the operational F-22s formerly at Tyndall in Alaska, Hawaii and Virginia, and make the decision now to put the next three squadrons of F-35s, beyond those for which we have already made decisions, at Tyndall,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said. “We are talking with congressional leaders about this plan and will need their help with the supplemental funding needed to restore the base."
This decision will allow the Air Force to tailor the new construction at Tyndall to the best fit for F-35s, the Air Force said.
The 325th Fighter Wing, which was comprised of two F-22 squadrons, was located at Tyndall before the Oct. 10 storm. Most Tyndall aircraft evacuated before the storm hit, but 17 Raptors could not be flown and stayed behind, sustaining varying levels of damage that is now being repaired.
Nearly a month after the storm, Wilson said that F-22 training with the 43rd Fighter Squadron would be temporarily moved to nearby Eglin Air Force Base.
The Air Force said it will conduct a formal process to decide what will be the best location for the 43rd and its training mission.
The 95th has 21 F-22s and 36 active-duty airmen, the Air Force said last month, and its associated maintenance units have about 500 airmen.
F-35 basing decisions in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin, which have already been announced, will not be changed.
 
					April 3, 2024 | International, Aerospace, Naval
The acquisition gives Hensoldt a foothold in supporting F-35 jets and P-8 anti-submarine planes ordered by Germany.
 
					September 12, 2018 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR
By: Pierre Tran SATORY ARMY BASE, France — Nations in Europe need to forge a more coordinated forceacross the continent, with each ready to step up to play a leadership role during conflict, said the French joint chief of staff. “The future of the defense of nations on the continent cannot be considered outside the European framework,” Army Gen. François Lecointre told the Summer Defense University, a two-day gathering of senior officers, parliamentarians and industry chiefs. “In the context of doubt over multilateralism, greater fragility of alliances and America's refocus of attention to the Indo-Pacific region, the European continent must confront — increasingly on its own — all kinds of threats: might, terrorism, hybrid, cyber and migration,” he said. That use of the term “might” referred to unspecified nations perceived to pose a threat to Western allies. That calls for a common vision in strategy and capability, with a country ready to take the role of a “leader nation,” he said. The aim is to build a “European strategic autonomy,” he added. The French armed forces minister, Florence Parly, came to the army base, just outside Versailles, west of the capital, and watched a dynamic display staged by the Army. The service fielded a Jaguar combat and reconnaissance vehicle, a VBCI infantry fighting vehicle carrying a squad of troops, a robotic vehicle carrying a wounded soldier, and a Leclerc main battle tank carried by a tank transport. France invites foreign officers and political leaders to the high-level annual gathering, organized by CEIS, a think tank and consultancy. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/09/11/french-joint-chief-calls-for-coordinated-european-force
 
					October 5, 2021 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
DÉFENSE Pour le chef d'état-major des armées, la France doit pouvoir « gagner la guerre avant la guerre » Le général Thierry Burkhard, nouveau chef d'état-major des armées (CEMA), doit présenter, mercredi 6 octobre, sa vision stratégique pour les années à venir devant les députés de la Commission de la défense de l'Assemblée nationale. Après l'avoir fait valider au sommet de l'Etat, il en a dévoilé des éléments à la presse. Il estime que la France doit être capable de « gagner la guerre avant la guerre », en avançant sur des domaines tels que l'influence et la lutte informationnelle (lutte informatique d'influence, ou LII). « Avant, les conflits s'inscrivaient dans un schéma « paix-crise-guerre ». Désormais, c'est plutôt un triptyque « compétition-contestation-affrontement », a détaillé le général. « La compétition est devenue l'état normal, que ce soit dans le champ économique, militaire, culturel ou politique et les conflits dits périphériques appartiennent à cette compétition. On a vécu vingt ans durant lesquels la logique était l'engagement sur le terrain, mais aujourd'hui ce n'est plus l'unique solution », a-t-il insisté. La France doit être en mesure de conduire des guerres « hybrides », comme ses adversaires. « Le terme hybride a une connotation négative, mais c'est ce que nous faisons déjà en combinant des actions de nature différente », explique le général. L'enjeu de l'hybridité est « de freiner voire d'empêcher l'autre de décider en faisant planer sur lui une incertitude », a-t-il résumé. Le Monde et Le Figaro du 5 octobre