17 novembre 2020 | International, Aérospatial
by Gareth Jennings
Lithuania signed for four Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk transport and utility helicopters on 13 November, the country's Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced.
The USD213 million procurement, which will be paid off over five years, includes additional equipment, spares, and a training, repair, and logistical support package. The US government is providing USD30 million to support the purchase, and has cleared the sale of a further two helicopters should the Lithuanian Armed Forces request them.
“The decision to pass on to a modern western technology that meets all criteria and requirements was made in order to ensure proper readiness of armed forces to face the challenges of modern armed conflicts, as well as excellent compatibility and interoperability with allies. The new platform will fully substitute for the [Mil] Mi-8Ts currently used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The Soviet-made helicopter fleet is in its thirties, and its airworthiness has come to the deadline, its operation is also difficult: expensive maintenance, prone to failures, risky repair because of complicated provision of spares from Russia,” the MND said.
News of the contract came some four months after the US State Department approved the sale to Lithuania of six Black Hawks for USD380 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notification on 6 July followed an announcement by the MND in late 2019 that the country was to begin negotiations with the US government to acquire the Black Hawks to replace three Soviet-made Mi-8 ‘Hips' and three French-built Aerospatiale AS365 N3+ Dauphins.
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/lithuania-signs-for-black-hawk-helos
16 octobre 2023 | International, Aérospatial
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg met on Monday with his Mexican counterpart to discuss a number of sticking points regarding Mexico's aviation industry.
16 janvier 2019 | International, Aérospatial
M. Eric Trappier, PDG de Dassault Aviation, et Mme Florence Parly, ministre des Armées, ont signé le renouvellement de la convention entre Dassault Aviation et le ministère des Armées pour le soutien aux PME de la Défense. Mérignac, le 14 janvier 2019 – M. Eric Trappier, PDG de Dassault Aviation, et Mme Florence Parly, ministre des Armées, ont signé le renouvellement de la convention entre Dassault Aviation et le ministère des Armées pour le soutien aux PME de la Défense. Cet événement a eu lieu dans le cadre de la visite que Mme Parly a effectuée ce jour à l'usine Dassault Aviation de Mérignac. L'adhésion initiale de Dassault Aviation à cette convention était intervenue en janvier 2014. En renouvelant cette convention, Dassault Aviation confirme la démarche qui a toujours été la sienne de soutenir les centaines de PME qui sont ses partenaires dans les programmes militaires. Le tissu industriel français auquel appartient Dassault Aviation s'est patiemment constitué depuis des décennies, accumulant et partageant des connaissances, des méthodes de travail, des règles de métiers, des outils de conception et production qui sont précieux et doivent être absolument préservés. Ces compétences, résultat de la réalisation de toutes les générations d'avions depuis 1945, sont synonymes de souveraineté technologique : très peu de pays les possèdent. Elles sont également synonymes de croissance : par exemple, plus de 150 PME françaises se sont vu proposées des opportunités de développement liées au contrat Rafale en Inde. « En tant qu'architecte industriel et intégrateur de systèmes complexes, Dassault Aviation se sait investi d'une responsabilité particulière, a déclaré Eric Trappier. Nous sommes fiers de contribuer au développement du formidable écosystème des PME de la Défense. Les dispositions de la convention que nous venons de signer prolongent très utilement les efforts des grands donneurs d'ordres, dans un contexte économique plus exigeant que jamais ». https://www.dassault-aviation.com/fr/groupe/presse/press-kits/dassault-aviation-renouvelle-convention-ministere-armees-soutien-aux-pme/
23 mai 2019 | International, Naval
By: Sebastian Sprenger COLOGNE, Germany – The Belgian defense ministry has awarded a consortium led by France's Naval Group a nearly €2 billion contract to deliver mine-hunting ships and drones to the navies of Belgium and the Netherlands, according to the shipbuilder. The announcement on Wednesday came after the customary review period by the Belgian legislature had passed. The Brussels government announced in March that it planned to select Belgium Naval and Robotics, a joint venture of Naval Group and ECA Group, to produce 12 vessels equipped with around 100 drones for the two countries. Six vessels will go to Belgium, the other six to the Dutch. Finding and disabling sea mines is a key mission for the two neighboring countries. Their navies are configured mainly to defend territorial waters and the nearby English Channel, which allows passage to the North Sea. The offer by Naval Group and ECA Group leans heavily on undersea drones to deal with the treacherous weapons. The ships will be built to launch and recover the ECA Group's “Inspector 125” unmanned boats, which carry various autonomous underwater drones for finding mines and setting them off from a safe distance. The contract is expected to last 10 years, according to a consortium statement. An initial three-year development phase is to be followed by a production stage, putting the first system in the water by 2024. The two companies hope that the high-profile deal will generate additional sales elsewhere in the world. “The Belgian and Dutch navies being a reference in mine warfare within NATO, the choice of our consortium is a major asset for export,” a statement reads. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/05/22/naval-group-led-team-gets-2-billion-mine-hunter-contract-for-belgian-dutch-navies