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Military/Intelligence Bulletin 01/2019 – Despite Brexit….Anglo-French bilateral defence …..

Despite Brexit….Anglo-French bilateral defence and security remains important to both nations, as well as NATO and Europe.

So what does the Anglo-French bilateral defence and security co-operation consist of?

Systematic joint operations – Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), set to be fully operational in 2020.

Ad Hoc Military Operations – Improved interoperability leading to joint counter insurgency operations. Operation Barkhane for example,  ongoing anti-insurgent operation in Africa’s Sahel region. There is a already a 3,000 strong French force in situ.

Naval Co-operation – From 2019 onwards, we can expect to see increasing cooperation in regard to carrier deployments and mutual support and joint command during coalition naval operations.

Nuclear – Continued Co-operation between the UKs Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Commission (CEA).

Intelligence Sharing – Bilateral Intelligence sharing; for example the counter-terrorism casework between MI5 and DGSI

Strategic Oversight – The UK-France Defence Ministerial Council, created in January 2018, a forum created to maintain communication.

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France’s Marine Nationale aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R 91). US Ospreys have landed aboard the French vessel.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Maj. Joshua Smith

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Members of the French army’s elite mountain infantry are training with soldiers from their sister battalion in Scotland during Exercise Joint Warrior 2019.  Members of the Chasseurs Alpins units are taking part in live firing exercises with the Second Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Credit BFBS

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French soldiers getting to grips with the SA-80 rifle – standard issue weaponry for the British military.

Credit BFBS

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The French Ministry of the Armed Forces have given their assurances that Brexit will have no direct effect on the bilateral defence relationship.  France wishes for this special relationship to be strengthened.

France and the UK are considered to be two of the three biggest NATO powers and play a key role in the UN. The UK and France are the only two European permanent members of the UN Security Council, who both have a desire to maintain their global power status. Both countries continue to co-operate on nuclear weapons technology.

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Nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard arrives back at HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, Scotland following a patrol.

By CPOA(Phot) Tam McDonald – Defence Imagery

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The French Triomphant-class submarine –Téméraire

Credit – CC BY-SA 2.0 fr

 

British and French Marines on Exercise together.

Naval co-operation between the two countries continues in the Indian Ocean, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Caribbean. In 2019, will be functional, involving our aircraft carriers. British and French officers will resume joint command of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150), a multinational coalition conducting counter-terrorism operations in the Indian Ocean.

Paris and London made an importance announcement in January 2018, when the two countries announced a series of measures. The most significant being the formation of a UK-France Defence Ministerial Council, its purpose to provide strategic oversight and direction to the bilateral defence relationship. This ensures a permanent regular forum maintaining a strong defence co-operation, despite Brexit.

Post copyrighted to Harvey Black

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Military/Intelligence Bulletin 05/2018 – Challenger 2 MBT LEP.

The Challenger 2 MBT LEP selection draws closer.

The 24-month Assessment Phase (AP), to determine which of the two bidders for the Challenger 2 MBT Life Extension Programme will be completed by the end of 2018.

There are currently two competitors, a BAE Systems-led team that includes General Dynamics Land Systems UK, and Rheinmetall, a German company.

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Challenger 2 MBT – Bovington Tank Museum

Photo – Harvey Black

The plan is to upgrade 227 Challenger 2 MBT’s operated by the UK’s three Armoured Infantry Brigades.

The two companies have each been supplied with two Challenger 2’s to use for the assessment. One is a fully functioning MBT, while the second one is to be used as a demonstrator for new subsystems. These will include stabilised sighting systems for commander and gunner, associated control handles, gun control equipment, elements of the fire-control systems and crew displays.

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Challenger 2 MBT – Bovington Tank Museum

Photo – Harvey Black

 BAE is considering utilisation of turret elements developed for the Ajax reconnaissance vehicle.

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Ajax Reconnaissance vehicle

Photo by: Richard Watt/MOD, OGL

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Challenger 2 – Bovington TankFest

Photo – Harvey Black

On the other hand, Rheinmetall will leverage it’s development experience with the Leopard 2 MBT turrets and other vehicles.

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Leopard 2A4

Photo – Harvey Black

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Megatron

Photo – Harvey Black

The Invitation to tender for a demonstration by both companies for the Demonstration, Manufacture and In Service, is  expected to be released around August 2018. A response is expected by December 2018, with a potential contact awarded in mid-2019.

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Megatron – Bovington Tankfest

Photo – Harvey Black

Each of the the British Army’s three Armoured Infantry Brigades are assigned a Challenger 2 regiment of 56 MBTs. Two for the headquarters. The first squadron with the new upgraded Challenger 2’s, is expected to be operational during 2022-2023.

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Megatron – Bovington Tankfest

Photo – Harvey Black

The earlier attempt at an upgrade, the Challenger 2 Capability Sustainment Programme (CSP) has been dropped in favour of of the LEP.

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Megatron – Bovington Tankfest

Photo – Harvey Black

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Post and photos copyrighted to Harvey Black

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Military/Intelligence Bulletin 04/2018 – Russia’s new maritime doctrine.

Russia’s renewal of its major surface ships continues with the building of a number of new classes. But Russia faces a challenge with the procurement of these new surface combatants.

The construction programme for Russia’s new surface fleet indicates that President Putin is planning a regeneration if his navy with fewer but more capable ships.

Russian surface ships have been more prominent in recent years, shadowing NATO naval operations in greater numbers. The return to the World stage, has resulted in a small number of ageing platforms conducting a large number of operations stretching their capabilities to the limit. The use of the Admiral Kuznetsov, and the technical issues surrounding it, a sea-going tug having to shadow the aircraft carrier, demonstrates the difficult journey they’re on.

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Russian Frigate – Admiral Gorshkov – One in service, one new (Admiral Kasatonov) 2018, three under construction, eleven planned.

By Walle83

The purpose of Russia’s navy, according to Russia’s maritime doctrine, is to establish and maintain conditions for the safe conduct of Russian maritime activities, to provide a naval presence (flying the flag), combatting piracy; and supporting International military, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations, the surface ship being a core force element.

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Admiral Gorshkov – (1 x 130mm gun, 2 x 30 CIWS, 16-cell VLS Kalibr-NK cruise missiles, P-800 Oniks ant-ship missiles, 91RTET anti-submarine missiles and 2 x quadruple 330mm torpedo launchers).

BMPT Strazh. Photo: wikipedia.org

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Russian Frigate – Admiral Grigorovich – (1 x 100mm gun, 2 x 30 CIWS, 8-cell VLS Oniks anti-ship missiles or NK cruise missiles, 3 x 12-cell VLS for air defence missiles, 2 x twin 533mm torpedo tubes and 1 xRBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher). Two in service (Admiral Makarov the 2nd one), four under construction.

By Mil.ru, CC BY 4.0

In November 2016, during combat operations in Syria, Admiral Grigorovich fired the Novator 3M-14T Kalibr SLCM.  Syria possibly being used as a testing ground for new Russian technology.

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The Sea Launched Strategic and Tactical Land-Attack Cruise Missile being fired.

 Russia’s Kalibr cruise missile is a land-attack cruise missile carried by Russia surface vessels. It is believed to have a range of between 1,500-2,500 km. A salvo of Kalibr missiles was launched from the Caspian Sea during late 2015, the target being ISIS forces inside Syria.

Russia’s new navy is centred on five primary ship programmes. The Steregushchiy I/II-class frigate, Derzkiy-class frigate, Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate, Admiral Gorshokov-class frigate and the Buyan-M corvette/patrol vessel. A future destroyer programme is believed to be under way. The Lider-Class heavy destroyer (12 ships), to replace the Udaloy,  Sovremenny destroyers and the Slava-class cruiser.

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Stoikiy – Steregushchiy I/II-class frigate. Five in service with 12 planned. (3K-96 Redut surface-to-air missile (vertical launch) system and a surface-to surface cruise missile system). Five in service, five building, two Mod Steregushchiy building.

Photo- Alex ‘Florstein’ Fedorov

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Model of a Derzkiy-class frigate. One building, nine planned.

By Artem Tkachenko

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Buyan-M corvette/patrol vessel

By Mil.ru, CC BY 4.0

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Russia’s surface ship development now appears to be in line with the western trend of building fewer, but larger and more complex surface platforms. But they are finding this new approach costly and technically challenging.

Russia also appears to have a strategic focus on the artic region. Russian ships Admiral Essen and Admiral Gorshkov, have both conducted sea trials in the High North. Submarine-launched versions of Kalibr have also been tested in the region.

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Post copyrighted to Harvey Black

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Military/Intelligence Bulletin 03/2018 – Ukraine unveils new support vehicle.

The vehicle is designed to provide armoured forces with close-range support and heavy firepower against infantry units with hand-held anti-tank weapons.

It is well known that tanks are not the best of weapons for engaging infantry in built up areas, the likelihood of hand-held anti-tank weapons an ever present threat.

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BMPT Strazh (Sentinel)

BMPT Strazh. Photo: wikipedia.org

Ukraine’s Zhytomyr Armoured Plant unveiled its new fire support vehicle at the Arms and Security Exhibition in Kiev. The vehicle is due to enter trials with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence early 2018, with an expectation of orders following soon after.

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Source: IHS Markit/Samuel Cranny-Evans

The Strazh on display at the Arms and Security Exhibition in Kiev.

The vehicle is heavily covered in Explosive Reactive Armour, ERA, to protect it from Main Battle Tanks. The design is as a consequence of the experience gained by the Ukrainian defence forces operating in the Donbass region where a number of T-64s were lost in urban combat.

The Strazh is mounted with the Doublet remotely operated weapon station. its main armament is a pair of 30mm ZTM-2 automatic cannons mounted side-by-side, with two KT 7.62mm machine guns in-between them. In addition, on top of the turret is a 30mm KBA-117 automatic grenade-launcher, along with two pods of Bar’er-212 anti-tank guided missiles. The ZTM-2 cannons, Ukrainian version of the 2A42, are capable of defeating lightly armoured targets such as a BTR-70 at 1,500m.

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The Strazh is based on a T-64 Main Battle Tank and resembles UralVagonZavod’s BMPT armoured fighting vehicle shown above. Designed and manufactured by the Russian company, the BMPT is based on the chassis of a T-72 and is armed with four 9M120 Ataka missile launchers and two 2A42 30mm auto cannons.

Picture By Nucl0id  CC BY-SA 3.0

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Post copyrighted to Harvey Black