How video game Fortnite will power next-gen Javelin anti-tank training

On the same subject

• 

  April 11, 2023 | International, Aerospace

  Comment les drones collaboratifs vont-ils bouleverser le marché des avions de combat ?

  Depuis son arrivé sur le marché international des avions de combat il y a une quinzaine d’années, le F-35 Lighting II de Lockheed-Martin s’est largement taillé la part du lion lors des compétitions internationales, avec des commandes fermes émanant de pas moins de 14 forces aériennes en dehors des Etats-Unis. Et la dynamique ne semble pas vouloir se tarir, avec de nombreux autres pays, donc 5 pays européens (Allemagne, Espagne, Grèce, Republique Tchèque et Roumanie) ayant annoncé leur intention de s’en équiper à court ou moyen terme. Dans de nombreux cas, l’appareil américain s’est imposé au terme d’une compétition l’opposant à d’autres chasseurs américains et européens, notamment le Rafale français, le Gripen suédois, le Typhoon européen ou encore le Super Hornet de Boeing. Lors de chacune d’elles, le Lighting II fut déclaré vainqueur, notamment du fait de sa conception plus récente, mais également de sa furtivité, sachant également que le poids politique et militaire des Etats-Unis jouèrent à plein dans de nombreux cas.

• 

  February 6, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

  Germany’s plan to boost defense spending hits a snag

  By: Sebastian Sprenger COLOGNE, Germany — Germany may be unable to deliver on its pledge to increase the defense budget due to smaller-than-expected economic growth, according to a new Finance Ministry analysis. The projections peg the military budget to be several billion euros short of the trajectory to meet the government's goal of reaching 1.5 percent of gross domestic product by 2024. Analysts even see the current spending curve unable to sustain 1.35 percent in the years ahead. NATO members in 2014 agreed to boost their defense spending to 2 percent of GDP within 10 years. Germany's defense budget is roughly €43 billion (U.S. $49 billion) for 2019, or about 1.2 percent of GDP. That is a boost of €4 billion over the previous year. Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Monday said Germany remains committed to hitting the self-declared 1.5 percent target in 2024. She portrayed the Finance Ministry's analysis as a mere first step toward a budget proposal negotiated by Cabinet secretaries. The government is expected to unveil such a plan in late March. The Trump administration has often criticized Germany for underspending on defense, arguing Berlin rides on American coattails when it comes to security. News that the country's spending target is at risk is sure to embolden the narrative in Washington that Europe is somehow taking advantage of the United States. It could weaken the negotiating position of German government delegates at two high-profile events in mid-February: a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, and the Munich Security Conference. The Finance Ministry's economic outlook estimates that agencies will have to reconcile new spending priorities within their previously established budget targets. That means no fresh money would become available for the government's push on artificial intelligence, for example, according to the document. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/02/05/germanys-plan-to-boost-defense-spending-hits-a-snag/

• 

  February 12, 2021 | International, Naval

  Spain’s Navantia joins industry team for European Patrol Corvette

  By: Sebastian Sprenger COLOGNE, Germany — Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has sealed its participation in the upcoming development of the European Control Corvette, a signature naval program that is part of the European Union's defense efforts. Company executives signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect with the Naviris consortium, the companies announced Feb. 11. Naviris is a 50-50 joint venture between France's Naval Group and Italy's Fincantieri. The notional European Patrol Corvette is meant to be a coast guard-type ship able to perform missions of fighting pirates and smugglers as well as border control and show-of-force trips in Europe's waters. At 100 meters and 3,000 tons, it will replace “several classes of ships, from patrol vessels to light frigates” in participating countries come 2027, the companies said. The program has been advancing through the EU's so-called Permanent Structured Cooperation framework, or PESCO, whose goal is to create joint capabilities across the continent. Companies participating in PESCO projects have a shot at subsidies flowing from the multibillion-dollar European Defence Fund. Italy has the lead on the patrol corvette project. The governments of France, Spain and Greece have already signed up, and Portugal is reportedly considering doing the same. All participating navies are expected to submit their design requirements this year, according to the Naviris announcement. The idea is to find “commonality of solutions and modularity for adaptions to national requirements,” the company said. “The ambition of the project ... is to include other European partners to integrate technological bricks, which correspond to innovation streams matching with national EPC requirements and European Commission strategy and guidelines.” The European Defence Agency announced earlier this year that it would lend project management and related support to the program. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/02/11/spains-navantia-joins-industry-team-for-european-patrol-corvette