European Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

New in catalog: G38 alias HK416A5
Oberndorf / Koblenz (ww) The assault rifle HK416A5 made ​​by Heckler & Koch now runs under the German procurement official designation G38. The Bundeswehr cataloger recently took the version with 11 "pipe (279 mm) under the short name G38c in their overviews on. Background: A federal agency has already obtained this version of the weapon.

G38c with 11-inch pipe (279mm). Photo: HK
The G38 belongs to the beginning of this millennium developed Oberdorfer 416/417 Rifle family, which links the internationally widespread AR design with the highly reliable short-stroke gas piston system of the G36. Other planned variants from HK are a G38K 14.5 "pipe (386 mm) and a G38 with 5.16" pipe (420 mm).
Two other family members also carry analog abbreviations. So the größerkalibrige sister HK417 means the catalog of the German Armed Forces "G27". The semi-automatic sniper rifle variant MR308 running under "G28". G27 and G28 are already in the armed forces use. In addition, a sniper rifle version of the HK416 in the race was to the now canceled tender for a "G26" called "support weapon, short range for KSK / field hunter". International serves the HK416 including as the standard rifle of the Norwegian armed forces and as Infantry Automatic Rifle IAR M27 US Marine Corps. Moreover, it is the world in different variations in military special forces and police authorities in use. More about G38 and what is still so does everything in the field of small arms in the army, is in the revised and expanded new edition of my book -handed weapons and anti-tank weapons of the Bundeswehr - history, tactics, technique . It appears currently scheduled in October this year in the publishing ES Mittler & Sohn.

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DoD, Georgian MoD Discuss Blackhawk Helicopter Sale
Sep. 7, 2014 - 11:11AM | By MARCUS WEISGERBER |
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World News
Europe
TBILISI, GEORGIA — The Pentagon held talks with top Georgian military officials Sunday about moving forward with Tbilisi’s desire to purchase Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopters.

While the Defense Department has not approved the sale, US defense officials discussed pricing, availability and the process of acquiring this type of high-end US military equipment.

“We are constantly focused on how we can do more and will do more,” Hagel said during a Sunday morning press briefing after meeting with Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania.

Hagel called the potential sale of military equipment to Georgia a “very significant part of growing and expanding its partnership.”

More than two-dozen nations fly the Blackhawk and more than 2,300 are operational around the world, according to Sikorsky. The company assembles the S-70i versions of the helicopter in Poland.

Last week, NATO leaders approved a series of measures to advance Georgia’s standing in its bid to become a member of the alliance.

“Georgia wants to further improve its ability to work and operate with NATO forces,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said at the alliance summit in Wales on Friday.

The measures include defense capacity building, training, exercises, strengthened liaison and enhanced interoperability opportunities.

“Georgia’s new status as an enhanced NATO partner will help it advance in its preparations toward NATO membership,” Hagel said.

Among the measures approved was the stand up of a NATO training facility in Georgia.

After his meeting in Tbilisi, Hagel and Alasania visited US Marines at the Krtsanisi Training Area where they train Georgian soldiers preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. Georgia is the largest non-NATO troop contributor to operations in Afghanistan.

Hagel is the first US defense secretary to visit Georgia since Donald Rumsfeld visited the country in 2003. ■

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Scratch said:

Another testing milestone for the A400M, a tanker test campaign was succesful.

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So far, 2 aircraft have been delivered to France and one to Turkey I think, the UK and Germany also exspect their first aircraft later this year. A much need addition to the transport capacity of these countries, in some places greatly expanding capabilities.
Having a tanker capability is also a great option to suplement the A-330 MRTTs.

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FMS: Poland Requests Sale of 40 AGM-158A JASSM Standoff Missiles

WASHINGTON, Sep 19, 2014 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Poland for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and F-16 Operational Flight Plan upgrades, associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $500 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on September 17, 2014.

The Government of Poland has requested a possible sale of 40 AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM), 2 AGM-158A JASSM Live with Test Instrumentation Kit (TIK) and Flight Termination Systems (FTS), 2 AGM-158A JASSM Inert with TIK and FTS, and 2 Flight Certification Test Vehicles. Also included: Operational Flight Plan upgrade to M6.5 tape for the Polish F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft to include JASSM integration, missile containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $500 million.

The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and the national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally. Poland continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in Central Europe.

The proposed sale will improve Poland’s capability to meet current and future threats of enemy air and ground weapons systems. Poland will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. These weapon and capability upgrades will allow Poland to strengthen its air-to-ground strike capabilities and increase its contribution to future NATO operations.

The proposed sale of the weapons, equipment, and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin in Ft. Worth, Texas. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Poland.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

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Kongsberg will next year begin flight testing its new Joint Strike Missile (JSM) aboard a Lockheed Martin F-16 as it aims to complete the development of the munition by 2017.

The company is developing the long-range JSM, which can attack targets on land and at sea, to equip the fleet of 52 conventional take-off and landing F-35As that will be operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

Fit checks have been performed on the Joint Strike Fighter, on the external hard points on all three variants and in the internal weapons bay on the A- and C-models.

Harald Ånnestad, president of Kongsberg Defence Systems, speaking at an Olso media briefing, said that the missile had been developed in parallel with the design of the weapons bay on the stealthy type.

It uses “every cubic inch” of space available, he says. “It is not possible to make a better weapon that fits inside the bomb bay and maintains the stealth characteristics of the F-35.”

Initial operational capability is expected in 2021, in line with the release of the Block 4 software load on the JSF, says Ånnestad, and further “integration and risk-reduction work” is ongoing in conjunction with Lockheed.

The company has received “quite large interest” from other countries potentially interested in acquiring the weapon, he adds, both F-35 customers and those operating other types.

Fit checks have also been conducted on the Boeing F-15 and F-18, but Kongsberg has previously said no integration work will be carried out without a confirmed customer.

In July this year, Olso’s Defence Logistics Organisation awarded Kongsberg a NKr1.1 billion ($177 million) Phase III contract to complete the development and integration of the JSM onto the F-35.

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