Home Archive: News & technical articles

Archive: News & technical articles


European Sky Shield Initiative – Challenges of international cooperation and the silence surrounding current progress

Die European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) schreitet voran, aber ihr Weg zur vollständigen Integration ist nicht ohne Hindernisse. Wie steht es um den gegenwärtigen Stand der internationalen Kooperation im Rahmen der ESSI? Warum erhält diese wichtige Initiative möglicherweise nicht die Aufmerksamkeit, die sie verdient? Der Angriff Russlands auf die Ukraine hat Europa erschüttert und die […]

Precision Strike Missile – New long-range tactical rocket artillery from the US Army

Die mobile Raketenartillerie Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) der U.S. Army wird Ziele in mehr als 500 Kilometer Entfernung bekämpfen können. Die ersten einsatzfähigen Flugkörper wurden im Dezember 2023 an das Militär ausgeliefert. PrSM gilt als nächste Generation der weitreichenden Raketenartillerie. Die neue Waffe löst die 1991 eingeführte ATACMS-Raketen (Army Tactical Missile System) ab und soll […]

German Air Force hands over VJTF responsibility to Spain

Wie die deutsche Luftwaffe Anfang Februar berichtet, endete für sie im Vormonat die jährlich rotierende Bereitschaft im Rahmen der Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) als exponierter Teil der NATO Response Forc (NRF). Übernommen hatte die deutsche Luftwaffe die VJTF-Verantwortung als Air Component Standby im Januar 2023 von den französischen Luftstreitkräften. Diese Task Force […]



The Kerch Bridge – An Achilles heel of Russian logistics

Two years ago, Russia attacked Ukraine in violation of international law. With the counteroffensive that began in June 2023, Ukraine has not yet been able to achieve its goal of interrupting the land bridge to Crimea in the south, cutting the Russian supply lines and dividing the Russian forces in the Ukraine theater of war with an advance to the Sea of ​​Azov. […]

The Air Force's perspective on the air war of the future

One thing is certain: As in all other domains, the future operational environment in air and space will become increasingly complex. Today we can only imagine what operational challenges we will be confronted with in 2030. But we shouldn't wait, we have to act now. Improved financial resources for the armed forces are coming […]

Tactical air-to-ground weapons

Numerous classes of conventionally armed air-to-ground munitions (English: Air-to-Ground Munitions or AGM) are in use. Many are currently being modernized by retrofitting them with new technology. New, even more powerful tactical AGMs are being developed. Precision missiles While cruise missiles use a jet engine, conventionally powered precision missiles are usually equipped with a solid fuel propulsion. These missiles (internationally referred to as Precision Guided Missile or PGM) are […]



Arms exports – an instrument of German foreign and security policy

Rüstungsexporte sind immer noch ein insbesondere in der deutschen Öffentlichkeit unbeliebtes und vielfach emotional belastetes Thema. Allerdings haben die verschiedenen Kriegs- und Krisenszenarien seit dem russischen Angriff auf die Ukraine im Februar 2022 in Teilen der Politik zu einem Umdenken geführt. Zuletzt konnte dies bei der Entscheidung der Bundesregierung beobachtet werden, die Ausfuhr von Eurofightern […]

“We are responsible for all of the Bundeswehr’s flying weapon systems”

Interview with the head of the Bundeswehr Aviation Office, Major General Dr. Jan Kuebart The Bundeswehr Aviation Office summarizes the technical responsibility for safety in military flight operations in Germany. In addition to the approval of all types of aircraft, it is also responsible, among other things, for issuing licenses to flying, technical and aeromedical personnel. ES&T: […]

The Swedish conscription model – an option for the Bundeswehr?

In the German debate about the reintroduction of compulsory military service or the creation of compulsory military service, Sweden is repeatedly referred to, not least by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. ES&T spoke to Swedish defense attaché Captain Jonas Hård af Segerstad about conscription in his country. What can it do, what cannot and which [...]



Operation plan Germany – A plan that connects!

Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022, which violates international law, has lastingly shaken the European peace order and, as a consequence, has put Germany's ability to defend itself and form alliances to the test. NATO responded that same year, adopting a new strategic concept and, as a result, realigning its defense plans. From now on, the alliance will focus again […]

Looking to America

Hypersonic weapon delayed: The targeted date for the Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon to enter service by the end of the 2023 calendar year will probably not be met, said Douglas Bush, US Army Secretary of State for Acquisition and Technology, on November 8th. The original date (September 30, 2023) was missed because the planned flight tests of the weapon system were repeatedly postponed. At least […]

E-7A Wedgetail – Successor to the NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft

Am 15. November 2023 gab die NATO die Entscheidung bekannt, die aktuelle E-3A AWACS-Flotte durch E-7A AEW&C Maschinen abzulösen. Laut dieser Meldung wurde die Beschaffung im Verlauf der ersten Monatshälfte durch ein Alliiertenkonsortium gebilligt. Der neue Flugzeugtyp soll ab 2031 den luftgestützten Frühwarn- und Einsatzleitauftrag des Bündnisses übernehmen. Das E-7A Airborne Early Warning and Control […]



Tactical air-to-ground weapons

Numerous classes of conventionally armed air-to-ground munitions (English: Air-to-Ground Munitions or AGM) are in use. Many are currently being modernized by retrofitting them with new technology. New, even more powerful tactical AGMs are being developed. In the first part of this article in this issue we report on aerial bombs and aircraft-launched cruise missiles, followed by precision missiles and air-launched effectors in the February issue. Aerial bombs […]

Asked - from Director BAAINBw Elmar Günther, Permanent Representative, Head of the Air Department and Group Leader L1

Interview with Elmar Günther, Director BAAINBw and Permanent Representative Head of the Air Department and Group Leader L1 ES&T: What is the status of the two large FMS projects F-35 and Heavy Transport Helicopter? Günther: With the decision on the direction of procurement of the F-35A as part of a successor solution for the Tornado in March 2022 and the drawing of the letter of offer and [...]

The air department (L) in the BAAINBw

The development, procurement and use of the Bundeswehr's flying weapon systems is managed in the Air Department of the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and Use (BAAINBw). The department is divided into ten groups and three staffs and, with almost 1,100 posts, is the largest department of the BAAINBw. The project groups implement all projects according to the procedure […]



Hyperschallbedrohungen – Deutschland forscht an radargestützter Bekämpfung

In den letzten Jahren gab es zahlreiche Berichte über neue Hyperschallwaffen. Die Wirkfähigkeit dieser Systeme lässt sich zwar nur schwer unabhängig überprüfen, die Diversität der Quellen deutet aber auf eine insgesamt fortschreitende Entwicklung in diesem Bereich hin. Um diese Waffen bekämpfen zu können, sind neben neuen Abwehrflugkörpern auch Verbesserungen bei der Radaraufklärung und -verfolgung erforderlich. […]

NATO's nuclear deterrence deficit

At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Russian Federation threatened to use its nuclear weapons, thereby providing a shield against NATO's direct intervention - and in doing so immediately exposed the limits of NATO's nuclear deterrence. NATO's capability profile does not match that of the Russian Federation, particularly in the area of ​​tactical nuclear weapons. […]

Marine VTOL aircraft of the future: A status report

Die US Navy hat mit der Suche nach Ersatz für ihre bemannten und unbemannten Senkrechtstarter für Marineschiffe begonnen. Das Programm „Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike)“ oder FVL (MS) zielt auf die Entwicklung und Beschaffung einer „Systemfamilie“ (Family of Systems, FoS) ab, die bemannte und unbemannte Luftfahrzeuge umfasst, um die derzeit an Bord von Kampfschiffen der […]



South Korea – security and values ​​partner of the West

In October of this year, two South Korean warships on their world tour - coming from Halifax, Canada - visited the Hanseatic city of Hamburg for two days. These were the helicopter training ship ROKS “Hansando” (ATH-81) and the task force supplier ROKS “Hwacheon” (AOE-59). In addition to the opportunity to view the ships from the Far East, another highlight of this visit was [...]

One year of Bundeswehr special assets

The Bundeswehr special fund was established by law in July 2022. In an initial economic plan, a total of 38 projects were listed in five dimensions, covering a financial volume of 100 billion euros. In December 2022, a new economic plan - heavily revised after criticism - was published for the first time in connection with the law on the determination [...]

Soviet-era weapons in the Ukrainian war

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has already led to a change in NATO's defense concept and a reassessment of the principles of modern warfare. This reassessment takes into account the special situation of Ukraine, which is faced with an opponent that is significantly superior in manpower and equipment. NATO’s military strategy has […]




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