German Armed Forces

[ArmChairCivvy]

600 German troops sent to the three countries S of Libya (whereto, exactly, have not seen an announcement).
- to relieve a bn's worth of the French troops deployed (is it still called Serval, or changed names by now, as the Op is also wider than just within one country?)

[arfah]

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[~UNiOnJaCk~]

UK and Irish troops in Mali were part of an EU training team, IIRC?

Correct i believe. There used to be some pictures on the old Op Serval thread back on MP.net as far as i can remember.

[The Armchair Soldier]

German Armed Forces Will Lease Israeli Drones

GÖTTINGEN — The German armed forces plan to lease advanced Israeli UAVs, Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday.

In a statement, she pointed out that the inspector general of the Bundeswehr has decided to rent the drone Heron TP, manufactured by the Israeli company IAI, to protect German soldiers in deployments overseas. The German Army already uses the smaller predecessor drone Heron 1 for years in Afghanistan with good results.

Read More: http://www.defensenews.com/story/defens ... /78723784/

[Wrekin762]

German Armed Forces Will Lease Israeli Drones
...
Read More: http://www.defensenews.com/story/defens ... /78723784/

Most interesting part for us:

According to media reports, it is currently being discussed to arm the Heron TP with the air-to-ground missile Brimstone from European manufacturer MBDA, which was confirmed by well-informed sources. Britain has used the weapon already in Libya and Iraq. The German Air Force checks apparently procurement of this missile for its Typhoon Eurofighters. However, IAI should have a say in the selection, as the Israelis would have to disclose their interface for the integration of weapons. Brimstone is manufactured by MBDA UK.

Genuinely surprised to find out that the Germans are actually so interested in Brimstone. Obviously, similarity in our respective air platforms means it would make sense, but still got the impression that the Germans would be the last country in the world that might actually step up to buy this kind of weapon.

[arfah]

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[The Armchair Soldier]

Defence Secretary Welcomes Deeper Security Relationship with Germany

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon discussed the strengthening of Britain’s security ties with Germany when he met counterpart Ursula Von der Leyen in Berlin today, where the Ministers confirmed their shared vision for a closer and stronger partnership.

Germany is a key ally for the UK – a fact that was formally recognised in November’s Strategic Defence and Security Review when Germany was elevated to a ‘tier one’ defence relationship, alongside the US and France.

Mr Fallon and Dr Von der Leyen discussed how the countries’ Armed Forces can develop their collaboration on operations, missions and training. This will be in evidence as Britain becomes a lead nation for the Transatlantic Capability Enhancement and Training (TACET) initiative, working alongside Germany and the US to deliver a robust military presence in Eastern Europe. Both countries will also work together to ensure NATO remains strong and united; tackle terrorist threats; build capacity outside of Europe; and enhance the interoperability between their Armed Forces.

Read More: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defe ... th-germany

[arfah]

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[arfah]

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[ArmChairCivvy]

Germany is back in business (was it half a year ago that Poland was worried about German tanks; and they are significantly upgrading the ones coming to them... to the tune of $4m per piece):

"According to press reports on Tuesday, relying on government sources, the German MoD is preparing a steep increase in investment in weapons and material over the coming years. The plan is to spend bln €130 billion (US $140.6 billion) until 2030 on equipment and research and development."
- to compare with our 10-yr EP that would be close to $100 bn over the same period
- half of our figure is for maintenance and upgrades

[arfah]

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[Little J]

Anyone heard anything new about the g36 slagging match? Last info I could find was a monty python style "no it doesn't", "yes it does"...

[ArmChairCivvy]

And more importantly, which gun do they deem to be a worthy successor?

[arfah]

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[The Armchair Soldier]

A new article on Germany's Tornado successor. Most of it is behind a paywall, though.
http://aviationweek.com/defense/germany ... eplacement

From reading the opening, it sounds more like their own FCAS more than anything else. Even FCAS was mooted as being optionally manned (or just manned) in the early beginning.

[arfah]

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[GastonGlocker]

http://www.janes.com/article/54118/germ ... vice-rifle

HK417 (G27P) has been procured as a stopgap measure while a procurement process takes place

More on the 417:

[GastonGlocker]

For a German to see a piece of equipment go unserviceable through lack of maintenance must be like torture.

[RetroSicotte]

https://translate.google.co.uk/translat ... t=&act=url

New "Emden" could be huge ship
Commander Clemens Baumscheiper presented the project at the club for good final end before - an imposing water vehicle, an "all-rounder".

The old "Emden" contrast measured only 130 meters. Even otherwise, the gray ship, called the Bundeswehr as "all-rounder", an imposing water vehicle: The width amounts to approximately 20 meters, when the frigate there were five meters less. A "FMD 180" displaced expected 8500-9000 tons of water (old frigate: 3600).

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I wonder if this is the program the Type 26 was considered for. Not that I expect any exports for it now, if we can't show confidence in it, like hell will others.

[muttbutt]

Rheinmetall is apparently working on a new 130mm tank gun for the upcoming MGCS ie the Leo III

[ArmChairCivvy]

The awkwardness of the Armata turret has been put down for making a provision for a 140mm gun (Centauro was tested in Russia with 3 different guns, one of them 140mm; I wonder how that went!)

Therefore a bigger gun in the works by Rheimetall is not surprising (and would explain the piddly order volume for the A7 so far). And 130mm is the likely upper limit if a unitary round is to be used (140mm would halve the number of rounds carried, not to mention what the handling of them - without an external autoloader - would mean to the dimensions of the turret).
http://survincity.com/2013/09/promising ... -tank-gun/
- shame about the awful auto-translation

[muttbutt]

Some more images have popped up.

[xav]

Rheinmetall and Bundeswehr Conduct Successful Test of HEL Laser Weapon at Sea

Rheinmetall and the German Bundewehr have successfully tested a high-energy laser effector installed on a German warship operating on the high seas. To carry out the test, Rheinmetall mounted a 10-kilowatt high-energy laser (HEL) effector on a MLG 27 light naval gun.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=3589

[ArmChairCivvy]

Interesting as in 2011/12 they were still trialling the mix with the laser in its own turret, and the gun in its (own, identical, as in the originally designed turret).

[xav]

Third of TKMS built F125 class Frigate “Sachsen-Anhalt” Christened for the German Navy

The third of a total of four 125 class frigates for the German Navy was christened “Sachsen-Anhalt” today at the Hamburg site of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Following the christening of the first two frigates “Baden-Württemberg” in December 2013 and “Nordrhein-Westfalen” in April 2015 this is a further important milestone in the shipbuilding program for this frigate class. Dr. Gabriele Haseloff, wife of the premier of the state of Saxony-Anhalt after which the frigate has been named, performed the christening ceremony in the presence of high-level representatives from government, the German Navy and the companies involved.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=3657