Archive: News & technical articles

Nach Abschluss der Abnahmeprozedur hat das BAAINBw am 11. April das 45. Transportflugzeug A400M übernommen. Der Überführungsflug ist für Ende April geplant, schreibt das BAAINBw in einer dünnen Meldung auf der Nachrichtenplattform X. Damit fehlen noch acht Maschinen, bis alle 53 bestellten Flugzeuge geliefert sind. Das Zieldatum für die Lieferung der letzten Maschinen ist 2026, […]

This week the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Romania began a fifth air policing mission since 2014 on a rotational basis as part of protecting NATO's eastern flank. Six British Eurofighter “Typhoon” of the IX. Bomber squadron and around 200 soldiers from the 140th “Expeditionary Air Wing” – all from RAF Station Lossiemouth in northeast Scotland – take part in the […]

The state governments of Berlin and Brandenburg have reached a framework agreement with the trade fair organizers to hold the International Aviation Exhibition (ILA) until 2030. As Messe Berlin has announced, the framework agreement was signed by Berlin Senator Franziska Giffey, Brandenburg Minister Jörg Steinbach, the CEO of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH, Aletta von Massenbach, […]

Long announced, on April 5th the Norwegian government presented a plan for the armed forces in the period 2025-2036. Oslo plans to double its military budget in the next 12 years. Expenditures will be increased by 600 billion Norwegian crowns (approx. 51.65 billion euros) and amount to the equivalent of 139 billion in the period 2035-2036 [...]

On November 5th in the United States, the “ticket” of the president and his vice president will be elected at the federal level by the Electoral College as well as the members of the House of Representatives and one third of the Senate. In NATO Europe and even in EU Europe, concerns about a possible election victory for right-wing populist Donald Trump are growing as election day approaches. Taking […]

The federal government has commissioned Rheinmetall to deliver 20 more Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. Delivery of this new lot is scheduled for later this year. To date, Rheinmetall has already handed over a three-digit number of Marder infantry fighting vehicles to the Ukrainian armed forces through direct deliveries and ring exchange programs, the Düsseldorf-based company said. In the now commissioned marten version […]

With Operation Aspides, the EU wants to protect merchant ships from attacks by Yemeni Houthi militiamen. According to High Representative Josep Borrell, 68 ships have been protected and eleven attacks repelled in the Red Sea since February 23. In the specially called press conference on April 8th, he was satisfied with the result that the EU [...]

No European state provides as much military aid to Ukraine as the Federal Republic of Germany. Most recently, at the meeting of the European Socialists in Bucharest on April 6, Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised Germany's role as the second largest supporter after the USA and estimated the extent of German support at 28 billion euros. Already at the Munich [...]

The first German soldiers from the Lithuanian Brigade (Panzerbrigade 45) arrived in Vilnius at midday on April 8th. ES&T had the opportunity to accompany them. The approximately 20-strong advance command, led by Colonel André Hastenrath, is intended to prepare the arrival of the development staff of the German armored brigade, which will be permanently stationed in Lithuania in the future. A novelty in the Federal German […]

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), together with State Secretary Nils Hilmer and the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, General Carsten Breuer, presented the plans for restructuring the armed forces to the public at a press conference in the Bendlerblock today. The aim of the reform is to ensure military capability, leadership ability and the possibility of introducing compulsory military service. Two become one The operational management structure of […]

More than 300 of the 435 Patria 6×6 wheeled armored vehicles ordered are to be equipped with Kongsberg Protector RS4 remote-controlled weapon stations. Patria and Kongsberg have concluded a corresponding supply agreement, as the companies announced in press releases. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2025 and continue until the 2030s. Kongsberg gives the contract value at around 1.2 billion [...]

Following approval by the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag, the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has concluded a contract with Raytheon for the delivery of four Patriot air defense systems. Conversion kits for the Patriot radars are also being purchased. A total of almost 1.4 billion euros will be made available for this. Deliveries are expected to take place by 2029. After […]

On March 20, the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag approved the procurement of 123 heavy infantry weapons carriers and a contract for their logistical support. A total of 2.7 billion euros will be made available for this purpose from the Bundeswehr's special funds. Since both contracts run until 2030, financing from the core budget of Section 14 is planned from 2028. The procurement […]

After approval by the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag, the Bundeswehr can conclude a framework agreement for up to 191,000 speaking sets with hearing protection (SMG). In an initial order, 30,000 speaking sets including connecting cables are to be ordered for delivery this year. In order to meet the minimum purchase quantity, a second order is required for the delivery of an additional 30,000 SMG for […]

The Army Command (KdoH) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE have signed a cooperation agreement as the basis for their intensified collaboration. According to a statement from the FKIE, the signatories, the army inspector, Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, and institute director Prof. Dr. Peter Martini jointly pursue the goal of continuously developing new potential and technologies for the land forces [...]

As the Ministry of Defense in London reported this week, “one of Britain’s most advanced warships” – the guided-missile destroyer HMS “Diamond” (D34) – is heading to the Red Sea “to protect global shipping from Houthi attacks.” The The destroyer designed for air defense is the third ship of the “Daring” class (Type 45), which was commissioned in 2011 […]

The war in Ukraine was a determining element at the technology group Rheinmetall's annual press conference on March 14th. This war was the trigger for the 100 billion euro special fund, which represents the boom in demand for defense goods and the increased acceptance of the defense industry. Behind this is also the awareness of deficits in equipment and ammunition. The […]

The naval exercise “Maritime Safety Belt 2024” is currently taking place in the Gulf of Oman; up to twenty Chinese, Russian and Iranian naval units are expected to take part. The exercise began on March 11th in Chabahar, Iran, where it will end on March 15th. The Russian Pacific Fleet introduces its flagship, the Slava-class cruiser “Varyag” and the […]

The Swedish peace research institute SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) has presented its latest figures on the international arms trade: According to this, the states in Europe increased their imports of large weapons systems in the five-year period 2019-2023 compared to the previous half decade 2014-2018 with an increase of 94 percent almost doubled. This happened above all under the impression of the Russian […]

The German government has decided to actively participate in the airlift for Gaza, which was launched by Jordan. This step is in response to the urgent plight of the population in Gaza, who are suffering from acute shortages of essential goods such as food and medicine. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced today that the Air Force has commissioned […]

Manuela Schwesig, the Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, visited the Dutch naval shipyard Damen Naval in Vlissingen on March 11, 2024 as part of a delegation trip from the German Federal Council. She found out about the maritime industry in the Netherlands and German-Dutch cooperation in the field of shipbuilding and armaments technology. She paid particular attention to the F 126 frigate project. […]