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FREMM “RIZZO” DELIVERED TO THE ITALIAN NAVY

Trieste, April 20, 2017 – The frigate “Rizzo” was delivered today to the Italian Navy at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano (La Spezia). It is the sixth vessel of the FREMM program – Multi Mission European Frigates – commissioned to Fincantieri within the international Italian-French program, coordinated by OCCAR (the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation). Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (51% Fincantieri and 49% Leonardo) is the prime contractor for Italy in the FREMM program, which envisions the building of 10 units, all already ordered.

“Rizzo” is the sixth unit built by Fincantieri including the combat system, the second in multipurpose configuration after the “Carlo Bergamini”, delivered to the Italian Navy in 2012. 144 meters long and with a displacement at full load of approximately 6,700 tons, the FREMM frigates represent technological excellence: designed to reach a maximum speed of 27 knots and to provide accommodation for 200 people (crew and staff), these vessels are able to always guarantee a high degree of flexibility and to operate in a wide range of scenarios and tactical situations.

The FREMM program, representing the Italian and European defence state of the art, stems from the renewal need of the Italian Navy line “Lupo” (already removed) and “Maestrale” (some already removed, other close to the attainment of operational limit) class frigates, both built by Fincantieri in the 1970s.

These units – which will become the backbone of the naval fleet over the next decades –significantly contribute to the development of the tasks assigned to the Italian Navy, being able to operate in various sectors, from specific military purposes to those in favour of the community

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is there also one there depicting the Baltic purchase of the Combat Vehicle 90 (Estonia), the Boxer Vilkas (Lithuania) and the spartan (Latvia).

Bulgaria opts for Swedish Gripen combat jets


Bulgaria has decided to start talks with Sweden to acquire eight new Gripen combat jets made by Saab, Bulgarian interim Deputy Prime Minister Stefan Yanev said Wednesday, as the Balkan country seeks to replace its aging Soviet-designed MiG-29s.

The Balkan country has picked the Swedish offer in preference to an offer from Portugal of secondhand U.S. F-16s equipped with U.S. weaponry and an offer from Italy of secondhand Eurofighter Typhoon fighters.

A deal is estimated to be worth about 1.5 billion levs (U.S. $832 million).

A special commission for the negotiations is expected to be set up within a week, Yanev said. The talks with Sweden will be held by Bulgaria's next government, which is expected to take office next week.

"Sweden's offer is ranked first, followed by Portugal and Italy," Yanev said. "It is normal that talks start with the first-ranked country."

Last year, Bulgaria's parliament approved a plan to acquire eight new or secondhand fighter jets between 2018 and 2020 to improve the country's compliance with NATO standards and replace its MiG-29s.

A final deal would still need parliamentary approval

STRALES system represents a remarkable evolution for the 76/62 naval artilleries which includes three main components: a 76/62 naval gun, DART guided ammunition and a Radio Frequency Guidance System with associated electronic.
The Vulcano technology has been applied to a smaller calibre enhancing the capabilities of 76/62 naval guns in service with 56 Navies in the world, in order to engage targets with higher precision and minimize the risk of collateral damages.

Caio Duilio

Gripen tops shortlist for Bulgarian fighter deal

Bulgaria's government has announced the Saab Gripen C/D as the preferred candidate in the country’s new combat aircraft competition.

Sofia late last year issued a request for proposals for the purchase of eight multirole fighters, to be delivered by 2020. Another eight of the selected type would be contracted in 2022 under current plans.

On 26 April, the government announced that a selection board had reviewed the three submitted offers, received in mid-March. These were for used Tranche 1-standard Eurofighter Typhoons from Italy, modernised Lockheed Martin F-16s from the USA and Portugal, and new-build Gripens. Bulgaria had asked for the deal to be conducted under a government-to-government agreement.

Defence minister Stephan Yanev says Sweden's Gripen proposal has been ranked first, followed by the F-16 bid and finally the Typhoon offer, but provides no further détails.

Sources in Sofia indicate that the Swedish offer was preferred because its approximately €511 million ($558 million) price tag was less than the F-16 bid, which was valued at around €767 million. The Gripen bid also proposed the delivery of first aircraft within 18 months, supported by a deferred payment scheme to relieve the financial burden on Bulgaria’s defence budget.

The bidding companies have yet to comment on the preferred bidder selection.

Bulgaria's procurement procedures now require the defence minister to be granted a mandate to begin negotiations with the preferred bidder and enter into a government-to-government purchase agreement. This will then have to be ratified by the nation's government and parliament.

A new right-wing, nationalist government is due to be established in Bulgaria in early May, and its attitude towards the fighter tender and preferred bidder decision is not yet clear. It could even decide to hold parallel negotiations with the Swedish and US/Portuguese teams.

Sofia's requirement includes air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, ground support equipment, training and logistics support.

The Bulgarian air force has been pursuing its new fighter programme for more than 12 years. The service retired the last of its RAC MiG-21bis fighters in December 2015, leaving its air defence to a fleet of 15 MiG-29s. Fewer than half of these are kept in airworthy condition, however, due to severe problems related to a lack of spare parts and technical services.

Netherlands signs for two more Chinooks

Boeing has been awarded a contract modification to provide the Netherlands with a further two CH-47F Chinook helicopters, in addition to the 12 contracted in 2016.
The modification was announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 28 April, and should see all 14 helicopters delivered to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) by 31 December 2020. While the DoD notification said that the agreement covered both new-build and remanufactured platforms, Boeing told Jane's that all 14 Chinooks will be new-builds.

Although the contract modification was listed at USD541.1 million, Boeing said that only a portion of this relates to the Netherlands (the rest is for Lot 15 US Army platforms). No contract value pertaining to the Netherlands was disclosed, but the previous contract for 12 Dutch CH-47Fs was worth USD308 million. With an approximate unit price of USD25.7 million (excluding support and other ancillary items), this latest modification will be valued at about USD51.3 million.

The RNLAF already fields 11 CH-47D helicopters that it first received in 1995, and six CH-47F helicopters that began arriving in 2012 (the Netherlands was, in fact, the first export customer for this latest variant). The service will field 20 CH-47Fs in total, enabling the service to replace its older CH-47Ds.

The end of the road for the HAF RF-4E and the 348 MTA Squadron !

The 348 MTA will suspend operations after 64 consecutive years!
On May 5th 2017, after 24 years of service at the 348 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (ΜΤΑ) “Μάτια” (Eyes), the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) will retire its RF-4E from service.

The retirement ceremony at Larissa AFB will be open for photographers on May 4th (spotters day) and 5th (public day).

The event will start with a memorial ceremony for the fallen pilots of the squadron, an aircraft exhibition, a photo exhibition, aviation flights, and a demonstration of the F-16 “Zeus” and T-6 “Daedalus” Individual Demo Teams.

Invited to attend the ceremony will be the active and retired personnel that have served at the 348MTA.

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