December 4, 2017 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
The first meeting of the EU-Canada joint ministerial committee took place in Brussels on 4 December 2017. The committee adopted a joint statement:
"We are completely likeminded partners and since the signing of recent agreements our relations moved to an even deeper and stronger partnership. We are both committed and we are both supporting first of all multilateralism and rules-based international order. The importance of this could not be underestimated in these days. So our partnership is strong and beneficial not only for our citizens but also for serving a certain idea of multilateralism and of the world."
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
"From Canada's perspective, we value very much our partnership with the European Union and today more than ever we value what the European Union stands for in the world. It stands for democracy, it stands for a strong voice in support of human rights, the European Union is a strong voice in favour of the international rules-based order. We appreciate that, we support you and we are very grateful. We look forward to working as allies in all of these issues in the days and months to come."
Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada
The committee agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the EU and Canada. The cooperation has entered a new era with the provisional application of the strategic partnership agreement (SPA) since 1 April 2017 and of the comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) since 21 September 2017.
The committee discussed in particular how to step up security and defence cooperation in areas such as crisis management and security, cyber security and responding to hybrid threats.
The EU and Canada also committed to working together on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The Committee agreed that the EU and Canada will co-chair a Women Foreign Ministers meeting in 2018.
The committee also reviewed how to strengthen EU-Canada cooperation in third countries in regions such as Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa.
A number of key issues on the international agenda were also discussed, including the situation in eastern Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Myanmar/Burma.
The EU and Canada discussed global issues, including climate change, human rights and democracy, as well as migration and counter-terrorism.
In the margins of the meeting, the EU and Canada signed an agreement allowing for the exchange of classified information between them. This agreement enables greater cooperation, including in the framework of common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions and operations.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-ministerial-meetings/2017/12/04/
July 18, 2023 | International, Aerospace
The Norwegian MOD will procure an additional 1,000 Black Hornet UAS, as well as spare parts, maintenance, and training for Ukrainian operators and instructors
February 8, 2021 | International, Aerospace
Yannick Genty-Boudry Alors que le Pentagone n'a eu de cesse d'expliquer que les avions de 4e génération étaient dépassés, il semble que ceux-ci n'ont pas dit leur dernier mot. A l'instar du F-15EX qui a effectué son premier vol le 2 février 2021, le F-16 dans sa nouvelle version Block 70/72, attire de nouveau l'œil des aviateurs américains. LE F-35 DANS L'IMPASSE Plus de 47 ans après son premier vol (2 février 1974) le F-16, qui équipe plus de 29 forces aériennes dans le monde et a été produit à plus de 4588 appareils, pourrait connaitre une nouvelle carrière au sein de l'US Air Force. Et ce plus de 16 ans après la livraison du dernier appareil. En effet, son remplaçant programmé, le F-35 accumule les échecs et les retards, avec 871 défaillances selon les auditeurs du Pentagone. Une situation qui provoque l'explosion des coûts d'exploitation, au point que l'US Air Force envisagerait de réduire sa commande à 1050 appareils au lieu des 1765 prévus. EN ATTENDANT LE NGAD Aussi pour ne pas pénaliser son ordre de bataille, les Américains sont en quête de solutions palliatives au F-35. A savoir des aéronefs fiables, aux coûts maitrisés et à l'architecture ouverte en attendant l'arrivée à partir de 2040-50 de l'avion de 6e génération, le NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance), qui vient d'effectuer ses premiers essais. C'est la même logique qui a présidé au programme F-15EX dans le domaine de la supériorité aérienne, pour suppléer au faible nombre de F-22 en service. SOLUTION SUR ETAGERE Et il s'avère que Lockheed et ses équipementiers General Dynamics et Northrop poussent progressivement le Pentagone vers l'acquisition d'une nouvelle version F-16 Block 70/72, destinée à l'origine aux marchés exports (neuf et modernisation), au moment où le budget 2021 prévoit une enveloppe de 56,9 G$ pour l'acquisition d'avions de combat. D'ailleurs les marchés anticipent d'ores et déjà la hausse du titre des industriels concernés. Produit depuis novembre 2019 à Greenville, et après plusieurs succès commerciaux (Taiwan, Bahrein ...), le F-16 Block 70/72 intègre plusieurs technologies directement empruntées aux appareils de cinquième génération. Comme le radar AESA APG-83 SABR (dérivé de l'APG-77 du F-22, et de l'APG-81 du F-35) qui équipe également les B1-B modernisés, et les F/A-18C des Marines basés à Miramar. Mais il dispose également de nouvelles aérostructures à la furtivité accrue (réservoirs conformes), d'un nouveau système de guerre électronique apte au combat collaboratif, et d'une avionique offrant des fonctionnalités de fusion de données (radar, pod de désignation) pour l'attaque au sol, avec le Center Pedestal Display (CPD). Cette version qui permettrait donc d'intégrer des capacités de 5e génération sur des appareils de 4e génération, à l'image du prochain standard F4 du Rafale de Dassault, intéresse de plus en plus l'état-major américain, en quête d'un aéronef omni rôle capable de soutenir efficacement et à bas couts les forces américaines alors que Russes et surtout Chinois se sont engagés dans une stratégie d'attaque par saturation et de systèmes de contre furtivité, pour déborder les F-22 et les F-35. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/vers-une-commande-massive-de-f-16-block-70-72-par-le-pentagone-lockheed-perd-et-gagne-24173
February 4, 2019 | International, Naval
By: David B. Larter WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy has signed a $14.9 billion contract with shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls for two Ford-class aircraft carriers, the Navy announced Thursday evening. By buying two carriers simultaneously, the Navy expects to save $4 billion, according to a Navy release. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer hailed the deal as a team effort and said the contract will create stability for the skilled workforce and create savings as a result. “Focusing on optimizing construction activities and material procurement, the team was able to achieve significant savings as compared to individual procurement contracts," Spencer said in the release. “One contract for construction of the two ships will enable the shipbuilder flexibility to best employ its skilled workforce to design once and build twice for unprecedented labor reductions while providing stability and opportunities for further efficiencies within the nuclear industrial base.” The carriers were previously reported to cost about $24 billion, and the the Navy projected it would save about $4 billion by contracting for two Ford-class carriers. A release from the office Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee Seapower subcommittee congratulated the Navy for closing the deal. “This dual buy means even larger savings than projected for taxpayers and the certainty that our industrial base needs to retain and hire the employees who create the highest quality products for our sailors," Wittman said. "For Virginia it means thousands of reliable jobs and community development for the next decade and beyond. As one of the largest Navy shipbuilding contracts ever, I am proud to have led this effort and look forward to its success.” https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2019/01/31/us-navy-has-inked-a-contract-for-two-carriers-congressman-says/