Strategic acquisition in Romania: Rheinmetall acquires majority stake in military vehicle maker Automecanica Mediaș SRL

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  June 20, 2019 | International, Naval

  Navy Mulling How to Make Surface Fleet Flexible, Lethal

  By: Otto Kreisher WASHINGTON, D.C. — A panel of senior Navy civilian officials said the planning efforts for the future combat fleet was focused on making the fleet more flexible, interoperable and lethal. There also is an emphasis on open architecture to make it easier, quicker and cheaper to upgrade combat systems, they said. Those priorities would reduce the cost of sustaining the fleet going forward, the officials said at the American Society of Naval Engineers' annual Technology, Systems & Ship symposium on June 19. Michael Stewart, deputy director for integrated warfare systems, said his job was to look at the available capabilities across all the different surface platforms to make the fleet more capable and lethal. He also would ensure that all requirements going forward were clearly tied to the National Defense Strategy, since “we can't afford to fund everything.” John Hootman, the deputy director for surface warfare, said he was looking at the architecture for the future surface combatants in the 2030-2040 timeframe, when the Ticonderoga-class cruisers and some of the early Arleigh Burke destroyers would be retiring. But, he said, “we can't know what we'll need until we know how we'll fight.” In response to a question, Hootman praised the creation of the Surface Development Squadron, which will help in that effort to determine how the future fleet would fight. Hootman also emphasized the need to look at capabilities across the fleet, not at specific platforms, to promote commonality across the fleet, including a common combat system that could equip the whole range of surface combatants and even the amphibious ships. But that focus on common systems also could apply to the hull, mechanical and electrical elements of future ships. “The push for commonality is key.” Another official extended that quest to communications systems, arguing that every different circuit in the fleet reduces capacity, flexibility and the ability to integrate operations in the strike group. Steven Dries, filling in for Rear Adm. Steven Pardoe, director of integrated warfare, noted that the capabilities that ships would need in the future will change, which makes it all the more important to field systems that can be modernized with software changes, rather than having to tear out hardware. Hootman stressed the same thing as a way to more efficiently modernize ships and gain commonality. He also cited the savings in training sailors to operate and maintain systems that are common across platforms. https://news.usni.org/2019/06/19/navy-mulling-how-to-make-surface-fleet-flexible-lethal

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  May 20, 2022 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  La Commission européenne propose une exonération de TVA sur les investissements groupés dans le domaine de la Défense

  DÉFENSE La Commission européenne propose une exonération de TVA sur les investissements groupés dans le domaine de la Défense En 2021, les Etats européens consacraient 220 Md€ à leur Défense et promettent encore d'en augmenter les investissements. La Commission a remis en garde mercredi 18 mai contre des investissements sans coordination européenne, qui pourraient aboutir à un immense gaspillage. Quand tous les Etats respecteront la règle de l'OTAN des 2% du PIB investis dans la Défense, 67 Md€ supplémentaires seront investis chaque année par les Etats européens. Josep Borrell, le haut représentant aux affaires étrangères et à la sécurité, a souligné hier « Si les 27 augmentaient de façon homothétique leurs dépenses sur une base nationale, on aboutirait à un énorme gaspillage d'argent, sans aucun gain de sécurité, puisqu'on aurait toujours une structure militaire déformée comme aujourd'hui ». Le gaspillage serait d'autant plus grand que les membres de l'Union achètent à plus de 60% leur matériel militaire à l'étranger. « Le plus important, c'est comment investir », a déclaré la présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen. La Commission propose une task force et un premier fonds d'urgence de 500 M€ pour inciter les Etats membres à de l'acquisition conjointe. Et cet automne, pour inciter les Etats membres à coordonner leurs investissements, elle proposera aux chefs d'Etat « une exonération totale de TVA pour les achats groupés de matériel militaire européen » a annoncé Ursula von der Leyen. Ces propositions avaient été demandées par les chefs d'Etat européens lors du sommet de Versailles de mars. Elles seront discutées fin mai, lors du Conseil européen. Le Figaro et Les Echos du 19 mai

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  December 7, 2018 | International, Naval, C4ISR

  The US Military Is Genetically Engineering New Life Forms To Detect Enemy Subs

  BY PATRICK TUCKER The Pentagon is also looking at living camouflage, self-healing paint, and a variety of other applications of engineered organisms, but the basic science remains a challenge. How do you detect submarines in an expanse as large as the ocean? The U.S. military hopes that common marine microorganisms might be genetically engineered into living tripwires to signal the passage of enemy subs, underwater vessels, or even divers. It's one of many potential military applications for so-called engineered organisms, a field that promises living camouflage that reacts to its surroundings to better avoid detection, new drugs and medicines to help deployed forces survive in harsh conditions, and more. But the research is in its very early stages, military officials said. The Naval Research Laboratory, or NRL, is supporting the research. Here's how it would work: You take an abundant sea organism, like Marinobacter, and change its genetic makeup to react to certain substances left by enemy vessels, divers, or equipment. These could be metals, fuel exhaust, human DNA, or some molecule that's not found naturally in the ocean but is associated with, say, diesel-powered submarines. The reaction could take the form of electron loss, which could be detectable to friendly sub drones. Full article: https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2018/12/us-military-genetically-engineering-new-life-forms-detect-enemy-subs/153200/