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June 9, 2024 | International, Aerospace

German Ministry of Interior orders up to 44 H225 helicopters for its Federal Police

The H225 will replace the H155 and AS332 helicopters that have been in service with the German Federal Police for more than 20 years

https://www.epicos.com/article/840173/german-ministry-interior-orders-44-h225-helicopters-its-federal-police

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 12, 2020

    February 13, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 12, 2020

    AIR FORCE Canadian Commercial Corp., Ottawa, Canada, has been awarded a $225,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for F-138 engine and component depot repair. This contract provides the Air Force with the depot repair support required for the F-138 engine and components. Work will be performed at Richmond, British Columbia, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 11, 2030. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of below $1,118,975 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8124-20-D-0004). The Victor Group, San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $10,564,430 modification (P00016) to previously-awarded contract FA8052-18-C-0010 for Healthcare Aseptic Management Services to exercise Option Year One for medical aseptic housekeeping, waste management and linen management. Work will be performed at Dover Air Force Base (AFB), Delaware; Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts; Andrews AFB, Maryland; Bolling AFB, Washington, District of Columbia; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Langley AFB, Virginia; Scott AFB, Illinois; Whiteman AFB, Missouri; Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina; Minot AFB, North Dakota; and Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, and is expected to be completed Feb. 13 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,564,430 will be obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative value of this contract including Option One is $24,234,322. The 773rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. Main Building Maintenance Inc., San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $10,400,074 modification (P00015) to contract FA8052-18-C-0006 for Healthcare Aseptic Management Services to exercise Option Year One for medical aseptic housekeeping, waste management and linen management. Work will be performed at the Air Force Academy, Colorado; Buckley Air Force Base (AFB), Colorado; Peterson AFB, Colorado; Schriever AFB, Colorado; Beale AFB, California; Eielson AFB, Alaska; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; Fairchild AFB, Alaska; Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota; FE Warren AFB, Wyoming; Hill AFB, Utah; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; McConnell AFB, Kansas; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Nellis AFB, Nevada; and Offutt AFB, Nebraska, and is expected to be completed on Feb. 13, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,400,074 will be obligated at time of award. The total cumulative value for this contract, not including Option One, is $9,677,258. The 773rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. Titan Facility Services LLC, Gilbert, Arizona, has been awarded a $10,012,679 modification (P00019) to contract FA8052-18-C-0009 for Healthcare Aseptic Management Services to exercise Option Year One for medical aseptic housekeeping, waste management and linen management. Work will be performed at Little Rock Air Force Base (AFB), Arkansas; Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; Keesler AFB, Mississippi; Eglin AFB, Florida; Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida; MacDill AFB, Florida; Tyndall AFB, Florida; Patrick AFB, Florida; Charleston AFB, South Carolina; Shaw AFB, South Carolina; Moody AFB, Georgia; Robins AFB, Georgia; Columbus AFB, Mississippi; Altus AFB, Oklahoma; Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; and Vance AFB, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed Feb. 13, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,012,679 will be obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative value of this contract including Option One is $19,858,371. The 773rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. TFOM HHS Group JV, Austin, Texas, has been awarded a $9,843,221 modification (P00010) to contract FA8052-19-C-A002 for Healthcare Aseptic Management Services to exercise Option Year One for medical aseptic housekeeping, waste management and linen management. Work will be performed at Cannon Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico; Holloman AFB, New Mexico; Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona; Luke AFB, Arizona; Dyess AFB, Texas; Goodfellow AFB, Texas; Lackland AFB, Texas; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Randolph AFB, Texas; Sheppard AFB, Texas; Los Angeles AFB, California; Edwards AFB, California; and Vandenberg AFB, California, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 13, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds for $9,843,221 will be obligated at time of award. The total cumulative value of this contract, including Option One is $18,784,172. The 773rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity. NAVY Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Syracuse, New York, is awarded a $40,000,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-only modification to a previously-awarded delivery order N00024-19-F-6201 under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00024-19-D-6200) for the design, prototyping and qualification testing for electronic warfare systems equipment. This effort will award the design of Navy equipment. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York, and is expected to be completed by February 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding for $8,207,000 will be obligated at time of award and not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $35,874,452 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously-awarded contract (N00024-18-C-5432) for over-the-horizon weapon systems. Under this contract, Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, will manufacture and deliver over-the-horizon weapon systems that consist of encanistered missiles (EM) loaded into launching mechanisms (LM) and a single fire control suite (FCS). This contract consists of firm-fixed-price EMs (tactical, telemetered and inert operational); FCSs; LMs; mission support equipment; training equipment and courses; cost-plus-fixed-fee engineering services; and cost-only travel and other direct costs. Work will be performed in Kongsberg, Norway (75%); Tucson, Arizona (15%); Schrobenhausen, Germany (4%); Raufoss, Norway (3%); McKinney, Texas (2%); and Louisville, Kentucky (1%), and is expected to be completed by February 2022. Fiscal 2020 weapon procurement (Navy) for $34,369,290 (95.8%); and other procurement (Navy) for $1,505,162 (4.2%), will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Childs Engineering Corp.,* Bellingham, Massachusetts, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $15,000,000 for underwater and above-water inspection, material condition assessment, engineering and design services in support of sustainment, restoration and modernization and military construction projects at Department of Defense waterfront and ocean facilities at various locations. The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer services to include, but not limited to: field investigations; underwater inspections; engineering analysis of waterfront and ocean facility structural, mechanical and electrical systems and component conditions in comparison to design requirements, previous inspection reports and/or existing drawings of the facilities; review of construction plans and specifications of engineering features and related work associated with waterfront and ocean facility construction and repair; engineering calculations for structural analysis with or without previous design calculations; failure analysis and forensic engineering; waterfront and ocean facility engineering feasibility studies; design of facility repairs; preparation of design/build requests for proposals and invitation for bid contract plans and specifications; environmental studies in support of permit applications to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies; preparation of required permit documentation; design of underwater instrument and cable arrays, associated power and data cable installation and termination, including fiber optic elements; design of underwater instrument support structures and assemblies; design of termination junction boxes and support structures; design of underwater cable installation using horizontal direction drilling technology, including the establishment of directional drilling monitoring and response criteria to minimize environmental effects of directional drilling; documentation of findings and report preparation; cost estimation for waterfront and ocean facility rehabilitation; construction and installation schedules, development of maintenance action plans, underwater geotechnical and above water surveying. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities predominantly in the U.S. but also worldwide to include Florida (15%); Connecticut (10%); Georgia (10%); Massachusetts (10%); Maine (10%); New Hampshire (10%); New Jersey (10%); Pennsylvania (10%); Rhode Island (10%); Illinois (2%); Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands (1%); South Carolina (1%); and Tennessee (1%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M, N funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and Federal Business Opportunities website with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-20-D-2207). Marine Solutions Inc.,* Nicholasville, Kentucky, is awarded as a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $15,000,000 for underwater and above water inspection, material condition assessment, engineering and design services in support of sustainment, restoration and modernization and military construction projects at Department of Defense waterfront and ocean facilities at various locations. The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer services to include, but not limited to: field investigations, underwater inspections; engineering analysis of waterfront and ocean facility structural, mechanical and electrical systems and component conditions in comparison to design requirements, previous inspection reports and/or existing drawings of the facilities; review of construction plans and specifications of engineering features and related work associated with waterfront and ocean facility construction and repair; engineering calculations for structural analysis with or without previous design calculations; failure analysis and forensic engineering; waterfront and ocean facility engineering feasibility studies; design of facility repairs; preparation of design/build requests for proposals and invitation for bid contract plans and specifications; environmental studies in support of permit applications to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies; preparation of required permit documentation; design of underwater instrument and cable arrays, associated power and data cable installation and termination, including fiber optic elements; design of underwater instrument support structures and assemblies; design of termination junction boxes and support structures; design of underwater cable installation using horizontal direction drilling technology, including the establishment of directional drilling monitoring and response criteria to minimize environmental effects of directional drilling; documentation of findings and report preparation; cost estimation for waterfront and ocean facility rehabilitation; construction and installation schedules, development of maintenance action plans, underwater geotechnical and above water surveying. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities in Mid-Atlantic region including Maryland (40%); Virginia (40%); and Washington, District of Columbia (20%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M, N funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and Federal Business Opportunities website with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-20-D-2208). Lloyd Collins JV, Houston, Texas, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $15,000,000 for underwater and above water inspection, material condition assessment, engineering and design services in support of sustainment, restoration and modernization and military construction projects at Department of Defense waterfront and ocean facilities at various locations. The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer services to include, but not limited to: field investigations, underwater inspections; engineering analysis of waterfront and ocean facility structural, mechanical and electrical systems and component conditions in comparison to design requirements, previous inspection reports and/or existing drawings of the facilities; review of construction plans and specifications of engineering features and related work associated with waterfront and ocean facility construction and repair; engineering calculations for structural analysis with or without previous design calculations; failure analysis and forensic engineering; waterfront and ocean facility engineering feasibility studies; design of facility repairs; preparation of design/build requests for proposals and invitation for bid contract plans and specifications; environmental studies in support of permit applications to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies; preparation of required permit documentation; design of underwater instrument and cable arrays, associated power and data cable installation and termination, including fiber optic elements; design of underwater instrument support structures and assemblies; design of termination junction boxes and support structures; design of underwater cable installation using horizontal direction drilling technology, including the establishment of directional drilling monitoring and response criteria to minimize environmental effects of directional drilling; documentation of findings and report preparation; cost estimation for waterfront and ocean facility rehabilitation; construction and installation schedules, development of maintenance action plans, underwater geotechnical and above water surveying. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities in various states to include Florida (28%); California (25%); Hawaii (25%); Texas (15%); Louisiana (5%); and Mississippi (2%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M, N funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and Federal Business Opportunities website with six proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-20-D-2209). Appledore Marine Engineering LLC,* Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $15,000,000 for underwater and above water inspection, material condition assessment, engineering and design services in support of sustainment, restoration and modernization and military construction projects at Department of Defense waterfront and ocean facilities at various locations. The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer services to include, but not limited to: field investigations, underwater inspections; engineering analysis of waterfront and ocean facility structural, mechanical and electrical systems and component conditions in comparison to design requirements, previous inspection reports and/or existing drawings of the facilities; review of construction plans and specifications of engineering features and related work associated with waterfront and ocean facility construction and repair; engineering calculations for structural analysis with or without previous design calculations; failure analysis and forensic engineering; waterfront and ocean facility engineering feasibility studies; design of facility repairs; preparation of design/build request for proposals and invitation for bid contract plans and specifications; environmental studies in support of permit applications to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies; preparation of required permit documentation; design of underwater instrument and cable arrays, associated power and data cable installation and termination, including fiber optic elements; design of underwater instrument support structures and assemblies; design of termination junction boxes and support structures; design of underwater cable installation using horizontal direction drilling technology, including the establishment of directional drilling monitoring and response criteria to minimize environmental effects of directional drilling; documentation of findings and report preparation; cost estimation for waterfront and ocean facility rehabilitation; and construction and installation schedules, development of maintenance action plans, underwater geotechnical and above water surveying. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the Northwest states and all Pacific U.S. territories including Washington state (80%); Alaska and American Pacific territories (18%); and Oregon (2%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M, N funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and Federal Business Opportunities website with seven proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-20-D-2210). Jacobs Government Services Co., Irvine, California, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $15,000,000 for underwater and above water inspection, material condition assessment, engineering and design services in support of sustainment, restoration and modernization and military construction projects at Department of Defense waterfront and ocean facilities at various locations outside of the continental U.S. The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer services to include, but not limited to: field investigations, underwater inspections; engineering analysis of waterfront and ocean facility structural, mechanical and electrical systems and component conditions in comparison to design requirements, previous inspection reports and/or existing drawings of the facilities; review of construction plans and specifications of engineering features and related work associated with waterfront and ocean facility construction and repair; engineering calculations for structural analysis with or without previous design calculations; failure analysis and forensic engineering; waterfront and ocean facility engineering feasibility studies; design of facility repairs; preparation of design/build requests for proposals and invitation for bid contract plans and specifications; environmental studies in support of permit applications to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies; preparation of required permit documentation; design of underwater instrument and cable arrays, associated power and data cable installation and termination, including fiber optic elements; design of underwater instrument support structures and assemblies; design of termination junction boxes and support structures; design of underwater cable installation using horizontal direction drilling technology, including the establishment of directional drilling monitoring and response criteria to minimize environmental effects of directional drilling; documentation of findings and report preparation; cost estimation for waterfront and ocean facility rehabilitation; construction and installation schedules, development of maintenance action plans, underwater geotechnical and above water surveying. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities worldwide. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) contract funds in the amount of $10,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M, N funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and Federal Business Opportunities website with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-20-D-2211). Client Solution Architects LLC, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $7,560,402 modification to a previously-awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee task order issued by the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command. This modification increases the value of the basic contract by $7,560,402; the contract's new total value is $26,964,672. This modification provides for the exercise of a cost-plus-fixed-fee option for an additional year of acquisition management, program management and integrated logistics support services for the Undersea Communications and Integration Program Office. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N); research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); and other procurement (Navy) funds for $1,530,328 will be obligated at the time of award. O&M, N funds for $374,000 will expire at the end of the fiscal year. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by February 2021. The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N00039-17-F-3001). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Carter Industries,* Olive Hill, Kentucky, has been awarded a maximum $30,294,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for men's and women's sage-green flyer coveralls. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is an 18-month base contract with two one-year option periods. Location of performance is Kentucky, with an Aug. 11, 2021, performance completion date. Using customer is Air Force and Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-20-D-1238). ARMY Bencor Global Inc., Frisco, Texas, was awarded a $24,500,000 modification (P00031) to contract W911WN-14-C-0002 for work related to East Branch Dam Cutoff Wall. Work will be performed in Wilcox, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 7, 2020. Fiscal 2020 funds in the amount of $24,500,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Crosby Dredging LLC, Galliano, Louisiana, was awarded a $12,492,900 firm-fixed-price contract to dredge and remove approximately 1.3 million cubic yards of shoal material from the Turning and Anchorage Basin in the Sabine Neches Waterway. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Port Arthur, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 11, 2020. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-20-C-0004). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2082835/source/GovDelivery/

  • La Défense, une des clefs de la relance ?

    May 26, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    La Défense, une des clefs de la relance ?

    Les présidents du Gifas et du BDLI appellent à une accélération de l'engagement de la France et de l'Allemagne sur les programmes de défense pour contre-balancer les effets de la crise sur la filière aéronautique civile. Une supply chain duale Face à une filière aéronautique civile confrontée à la première crise systémique de sa jeune histoire, Eric Trappier et Dirk Hoke, respectivement président du Gifas et président du BDLI, appellent « d'une même voix et d'une façon urgente à un plan de relance européen ambitieux en faveur de l'aéronautique civile pour préserver l'avenir ». Et cela passe notamment par « un soutien fort au niveau européen aux domaines de la défense et de l'espace, au moment où les enjeux budgétaires et de souveraineté sont cruciaux ». En clair, une accélération et un engagement plus fort des gouvernements français et allemands dans les programmes de défense mais aussi spatiaux peuvent venir « contre-balancer utilement la baisse d'activité de la filière aéronautique civile et dont les conséquences sur la chaîne des fournisseurs mettent en danger un certain nombre d'ETI et PME», souligne Eric Trappier qui est aussi président de Dassault Aviation. « D'autant que nombre de ces entreprises ont une activité duale. Elles sont présentes à la fois dans le civil et le militaire », poursuit-il. Accélérer sur le SCAF « Ces ETI et PME sont également vitales par le caractère unique de leurs savoir-faire. Si elles ne survivent pas à la crise, nous souffrirons tous », surenchérit Dirk Hoke qui ajoute : « il faut donc accélérer sur le volet défense pour également préserver nos capacités qui sont cruciales pour réaliser l'autonomie stratégique et la souveraineté de l'Europe ». Une claire allusion au programme SCAF qui ne s'appuie pour l'instant que sur une enveloppe de 150 M€ pour une durée de dix-huit mois. Ce contrat-cadre appelé Phase 1A doit déboucher sur des financements plus substantiels avec 4 Md€ prévus d'ici à 2025. Raison de plus pour débloquer de nouveaux fonds et plus vite dans le contexte actuel. Financer la R&T sur l'avion durable Pour les présidents du Gifas et du BDLI, le deuxième volet de ce plan relance européen européen ambitieux en faveur de l'aéronautique civile est le soutien aux efforts conjoints « de la profession en faveur de l'innovation et d'une aviation responsable, intégrant les enjeux liés à l'environnement ». Pour Dirk Hoke, qui est aussi président d'Airbus Defence and Space, l'abandon du projet E-Fan X, un démonstrateur dédié aux essais de propulsion électrique, ne signifie nullement que le constructeur européen a renoncé à ses travaux de recherche sur la décarbonisation de l'aviation. Si Airbus a suspendu le programme E-Fan X, le constructeur, en collaboration avec Siemens et le DLR, l'équivalent de l'Onera en Allemagne, a également réalisé des travaux sur la propulsion à hydrogène sur un démonstrateur baptisé HY4 qui a d'ailleurs réalisé un premier vol dès 2016. Au décollage, une batterie lithium-ion fournit l'électricité, mais en vol, une pile à combustible puise de l'hydrogène dans un réservoir maintenu à basse température pour produire un courant électrique par réaction avec l'oxygène de l'air, puis rejette de la vapeur d'eau. De son côté, Dassault Aviation a identifié plusieurs applications possibles avec des piles pouvant alimenter des fonctions de base « telles que les charges de cabines avions, les sources d'énergie pour les équipements, les galleys ou cuisines », voire même « des fonctions intégrées comme l'alimentation de secours ou le remplacement de l'unité auxiliaire de puissance ». Plus dans notre prochain numéro 2689 du 22 mai. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/la-dfense-une-des-clefs-de-la-relance-23110

  • Japan Accelerates Its Defense Buildup

    January 14, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Japan Accelerates Its Defense Buildup

    by Milton Ezrati Tokyo will begin to alter the security equation in the Western Pacific in the not-too-distant future. Long pacifist, Japan has decided to accelerate its military spending and effectively begin to gear up. It should hardly come as a surprise. Though Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has long sought to shift Japan from pacifism to what he calls a “normal country,” North Korea's missiles and China's aggressiveness in the Pacific would have left Tokyo little choice anyway. Spending has stepped up dramatically, as has planning. The nature of the buildup responds to other pressures from its great ally, the United States, which wants Japan to buy more U.S. equipment, as well as from the demographic and technological imperatives facing that nation. Even now, some seventy-two years after Douglas MacArthur directed the writing of the then defeated Japan's constitution, the document still limits the country's room to maneuver. Spending cannot exceed 1.0 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Though clever accounting allows wiggle room, this rule nonetheless imposes a severe constraint especially next to China and the United States, each of which spend more than 3.0 percent of their much larger GDPs on defense. Because the constitution stresses defense exclusively, it naturally questions any preparation to project power, not the least the Ministry of Defense's (MoD) intention to construct two aircraft carriers and possibly base Japanese ground forces outside the country. The constitution also forbids Japan entering any mutual defense pact. Despite Japan's long-term alliance with the United States, it cannot go to America's aid if, for instance, a U.S. base in Asia was attacked. Prime Minister Abe has strived to change the constitution and has won concessions, but it remains a constraint. The MoD budget requests for 2019 nonetheless make clear the new military emphasis. According to documents published in September, the MoD is asking for ¥5.3 trillion ($48 billion) in overall defense outlays, which is 7.2 percent above the 2018 budgeted amount. A jump like that would be noteworthy in any country, but especially so in Japan, where heretofore defense spending grows by fractions of a percent per year. Five-year plans would sustain this heightened level of spending. Still more interesting is the proposed allocation of these funds. Here, each point reflects the various pressures on Japan. North Korea's presence is probably most evident. The budget document emphasizes on “deterrence,” which no doubt lies behind the decision to upgrade the electronic warfare capability of Japan's existing F-15 fighter jets and purchase six F-35A fighters from Lockheed Martin. New plans call for purchases of 147 of these new fighters over the next few years, well above the original plan to buy forty-two of them. U.S. pressure is also clearly evident in this decision, as it will preclude purchase of the domestically developed F-2 fighter. In the words of one Japanese security analyst, Masahiro Matsumura, Japan's “defense industry is being sacrificed for the political goal of maintaining good Japan-U.S. relations.” Less controversial but also clearly aimed at the North Korean threat, the budget calls for Japan to upgrade its airborne early warning capability and spend nearly ¥300 billion ($2.7 billion) to deploy two land-based Aegis missile defense systems (“Aegis Ashore”) and other U.S. manufactured missile interceptors. Measures to counter China, at sea mostly, make a longer list. Of course, the F-15 upgrades and the new F-35s constitute something of an answer to China. More pointed are MoD plans to procure RQ-40 Global Hawk long distance drones, fund research to develop a long-distance undersea unmanned surveillance device, and otherwise enhance naval heft by procuring more anti-air missile and anti-torpedo ammunition as well as more standoff missiles. Plans also call for the construction of a new submarine, aimed, in the words of MoD budget documents, at “detections, etc.” (The etcetera no doubt refers to offensive capabilities that might raise constitutional questions.) Japan also has plans to construct two new multipurpose, compact destroyers that can also sweep mines. They will bring the fleet escort force to a total of fifty-four vessels—a considerable upgrade from the past. More controversial from a constitutional standpoint are other efforts that would: 1) enable the military to project power and 2) obligate Japan to its allies. The MoD seeks to procure a tanker to support the navy at sea, a clear statement that Japanese naval power has gone beyond coastal defense. The ministry also seeks two new C-2 transport aircraft and six more UH-X helicopters specifically aimed at rapid deployments. Also, it seeks a training budget to ready Japanese ground forces for more distant deployments. The ministry also seeks to refit an existing helicopter carrier over the next few years to carry some of the new F-35 fighters and then build a second carrier. In some interpretations, this clearly violates the self-defense strictures in Japan's constitution, though the prime minister and the MoD have couched the requests in defensive terms. In what also might constitute a further violation of the constitution, the ministry has asked for concessions to allow greater integration of Japanese command, control, and planning with allies, the United States, obviously, but also India, Australia, and ASEAN, in other words those nations trying to check Chinese expansion. Beyond these obvious countermeasures to North Korea and China, the MoD has also emphasized the need for modernization. It has set aside funds to establish what in the United States might describe as a cyber-defense command and to investigate the military use of artificial intelligence (AI). In a similar vein, the ministry has dedicated development funds to eventually install protections for Japan's satellites, including an optical telescope with which to identify objects flying nearby. It has further dedicated a not insignificant ¥2.7 billion ($24 million) to work with the United States on what it calls “deep space international awareness.” Not only do these efforts capture further needs, but the budget document emphasizes that the military will help Japan cope with its long-prevailing low birth rate and the resulting shortfall in people who meet the military's age requirements. One other aspect of this effort is the ministry's remarkably un-Japanese push to put more women into uniform. Even if not every yen makes it to its designated place, it is apparent that Japan will begin to alter the security equation in the Western Pacific in the not-too-distant future. If Abe manages to alter the constitution as planned, then the change will no doubt occur at an accelerated pace. It will alter Washington's calculations. Beijing surely will also take note. Milton Ezrati is a contributing editor at the National Interest , an affiliate of the Center for the Study of Human Capital at the University at Buffalo (SUNY), and chief economist for Vested, the New York based communications firm. His latest book is Thirty Tomorrows: The Next Three Decades of Globalization, Demographics, and How We Will Live . https://nationalinterest.org/feature/japan-accelerates-its-defense-buildup-41277

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