European Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter sandyj
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Germany has decided to return around 100 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs) to frontline service, the country's Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed.
Speaking to IHS Jane's , a spokesperson of the German MoD stated that the country "has decided to raise the maximum number of Leopard 2 MBTs from 225 to 328." The decision is understood to have been made on concerns over the Ukraine crisis and Russian intentions in eastern Europe.
Since the end of the Cold War, Germany has massively cut down on its Leopard 2 inventories, mothballing around 90% of its once over 2,000-strong Leopard 2 MBT fleet. The majority of these have since been modernised and sold on to export customers, but
Germany will now buy 103 of the remaining MBTs back from industry.
The cost of purchasing them is estimated by the MoD to be around EUR22 million (USD23.5 million). Once they have been bought back, the Bundeswehr is planning to upgrade the MBTs "step by step beginning in 2017", the spokesperson stated. However, the costing and timeline for the upgrade process has yet to be worked out.
The Bundeswehr no longer operates the 2A4 variant of the Leopard 2, instead using the later 2A6 standard as its principal variant in service. In December 2014, Germany received the first of 20 Leopard 2A7s on order from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). The MoD has yet to decide the specifics of the upgrade that the old 2A4s will undergo prior to their entry into service, and whether they will be upgraded to the 2A6 standard, the newer 2A7 standard, or a new/alternate standard
Speaking to IHS Jane's , a spokesperson of the German MoD stated that the country "has decided to raise the maximum number of Leopard 2 MBTs from 225 to 328." The decision is understood to have been made on concerns over the Ukraine crisis and Russian intentions in eastern Europe.
Since the end of the Cold War, Germany has massively cut down on its Leopard 2 inventories, mothballing around 90% of its once over 2,000-strong Leopard 2 MBT fleet. The majority of these have since been modernised and sold on to export customers, but
Germany will now buy 103 of the remaining MBTs back from industry.
The cost of purchasing them is estimated by the MoD to be around EUR22 million (USD23.5 million). Once they have been bought back, the Bundeswehr is planning to upgrade the MBTs "step by step beginning in 2017", the spokesperson stated. However, the costing and timeline for the upgrade process has yet to be worked out.
The Bundeswehr no longer operates the 2A4 variant of the Leopard 2, instead using the later 2A6 standard as its principal variant in service. In December 2014, Germany received the first of 20 Leopard 2A7s on order from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). The MoD has yet to decide the specifics of the upgrade that the old 2A4s will undergo prior to their entry into service, and whether they will be upgraded to the 2A6 standard, the newer 2A7 standard, or a new/alternate standard
Interestingly enough there is initial reports of a few voices stating that for now that's just a show to demonstrate resolve. But that in practice this would be rather useless, as the Leo2 would no longer be able to defeat latest T-80, T-90 and Armata series tanks anyway with it's current Wolfram ammo, the suggested solution being DU rounds.
This was last discussed and "settled" in the mid '80s, when the appearance of the T-80 raised concerns that then current Leo2s would be unable to defeat it. The implementation of DU ammo was politicly unattainable back then, since it included the word "Uranium".
Other options, like a 140mm gun were way to expensive since it required redesigning the turret, or the technology was still far away (rail-gun, electro-thermal chemical systems).
So the solution was a longer gun (L55) and optimizing the Wolfram sabbots.
So maybe there's a new try for another push here. I'll be interested to see what (if anything) comes out of this.
This was last discussed and "settled" in the mid '80s, when the appearance of the T-80 raised concerns that then current Leo2s would be unable to defeat it. The implementation of DU ammo was politicly unattainable back then, since it included the word "Uranium".
Other options, like a 140mm gun were way to expensive since it required redesigning the turret, or the technology was still far away (rail-gun, electro-thermal chemical systems).
So the solution was a longer gun (L55) and optimizing the Wolfram sabbots.
So maybe there's a new try for another push here. I'll be interested to see what (if anything) comes out of this.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Bernard
Junior Member
I didn't know to put this in NATO or here or both
Report: France to Keep Russian Mistrals In Planned $1.20 Billion Deal
By:
April 27, 2015 1:51 PM
Russian Mistral Vladivostok under construction on April 22, 2014. U.S. Naval Institute Combat Fleets of the World Photo
France is set to pay Russia $1.20 billion to settle the lingering dispute over two amphibious warships in a deal that went sour over the ongoing conflict in the Ukraine, according to French and Russian media reports.
The deal — yet to be official — would have France keep the two 21,000 ton amphibs and retain the right to sell the ships to a country of their choosing, reported .
“Legally, this decision has not yet been formalized, but it is known that the Russian and French sides agreed within one month to determine the exact condition of cancellation of the contract for the supply of RF class ships Mistral, read a translation via the .
Russia has already paid $811 million as part of the $1.5 billion 2011 deal for the Mistrals — modified to operate in Arctic conditions and accommodate Russia’s heavier helicopters — and will reportedly not seek additional penalties or legal action.
France will use proceeds from a planned $2 billion sale of Airbus EC 725 Caracal helicopters to Poland to fund the deal, reported the French paper.
France and Russia have a month to negotiate particulars before the agreement is settled.
The planned delivery schedule of the ships was halted following an announcement from French President François Hollande citing Russian involvement in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as the reason.
The move from France is unexpected. European military defense experts had expected France to eventually deliver the ships to Russia once the situation in Eastern Ukraine had stabilized.
As for new buyers of the Mistrals, there are a few obvious candidates. NATO has expressed some interest in purchasing the ships to ferry its emerging rapid reaction force. The ships could also revive the Canadian Navy’s joint support ship concept that would create multi-purpose fleet oilers.
Report: France to Keep Russian Mistrals In Planned $1.20 Billion Deal
By:
April 27, 2015 1:51 PM
Russian Mistral Vladivostok under construction on April 22, 2014. U.S. Naval Institute Combat Fleets of the World Photo
France is set to pay Russia $1.20 billion to settle the lingering dispute over two amphibious warships in a deal that went sour over the ongoing conflict in the Ukraine, according to French and Russian media reports.
The deal — yet to be official — would have France keep the two 21,000 ton amphibs and retain the right to sell the ships to a country of their choosing, reported .
“Legally, this decision has not yet been formalized, but it is known that the Russian and French sides agreed within one month to determine the exact condition of cancellation of the contract for the supply of RF class ships Mistral, read a translation via the .
Russia has already paid $811 million as part of the $1.5 billion 2011 deal for the Mistrals — modified to operate in Arctic conditions and accommodate Russia’s heavier helicopters — and will reportedly not seek additional penalties or legal action.
France will use proceeds from a planned $2 billion sale of Airbus EC 725 Caracal helicopters to Poland to fund the deal, reported the French paper.
France and Russia have a month to negotiate particulars before the agreement is settled.
The planned delivery schedule of the ships was halted following an announcement from French President François Hollande citing Russian involvement in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as the reason.
The move from France is unexpected. European military defense experts had expected France to eventually deliver the ships to Russia once the situation in Eastern Ukraine had stabilized.
As for new buyers of the Mistrals, there are a few obvious candidates. NATO has expressed some interest in purchasing the ships to ferry its emerging rapid reaction force. The ships could also revive the Canadian Navy’s joint support ship concept that would create multi-purpose fleet oilers.
Wow. so there will be no Vladivostok class LHD for the Russians.
Will France keep one or both of them?
Probably not for their Navy. They will sell them and it will get very interesting to see who tenders offers to France once this is concluded.
Swedish vehicle manufacturer Hägglunds (BAE) has developed a new, active dampening system for the CV90. It´s kind of similar to dampening systems used on F1-cars.
The new system allows the CV90 to reach speeds up to 70 km/h in terrain. This a 40% improvement compared to the passive system used before.
The new system improves the accuracy when firing weapons, and the comfort level for crew and passengers. It may aslo reduce the wear-and-tear of the vehicle.
o u t u b e.com/watch?v=eKpOpQXgALg
(remove the blanks in "youtube")
The new system allows the CV90 to reach speeds up to 70 km/h in terrain. This a 40% improvement compared to the passive system used before.
The new system improves the accuracy when firing weapons, and the comfort level for crew and passengers. It may aslo reduce the wear-and-tear of the vehicle.
o u t u b e.com/watch?v=eKpOpQXgALg
(remove the blanks in "youtube")
Bernard
Junior Member
Though it has very little coastline, Germany has still managed to construct and maintain a fleet of nearly 100 naval vessels.
Although not the largest or most powerful fleet in Europe, the German navy plays an important role in supporting NATO missions and preserving maritime security and trade. Most recently, Germany 11 ships to the UK-led Exercise Joint Warrior 15-1 off the coast of Scotland.
The following graphic from shows every vessel currently serving in the German navy as of April 2015:
Unlike some of the other maritime powers around the world, the German navy does not have an aircraft carrier. This is due to Germany's largely defensive military posture. Aircraft carriers are only useful for nations intending to project military power far beyond its borders; something that modern-day Germany is largely uninterested in doing.
Instead, the German navy relies on a combination of four different guided-missile-class frigates, five attack submarines, and a number of fast attack ships for offensive and defensive maneuvers.
The most unique ship in the Germany navy is the , a 2,000-ton, diesel-powered sail ship. The Gorch Fock is used as a training vessel. Since 1958, more than 14,000 cadets have trained on the ship.
Read more:
Although not the largest or most powerful fleet in Europe, the German navy plays an important role in supporting NATO missions and preserving maritime security and trade. Most recently, Germany 11 ships to the UK-led Exercise Joint Warrior 15-1 off the coast of Scotland.
The following graphic from shows every vessel currently serving in the German navy as of April 2015:
Unlike some of the other maritime powers around the world, the German navy does not have an aircraft carrier. This is due to Germany's largely defensive military posture. Aircraft carriers are only useful for nations intending to project military power far beyond its borders; something that modern-day Germany is largely uninterested in doing.
Instead, the German navy relies on a combination of four different guided-missile-class frigates, five attack submarines, and a number of fast attack ships for offensive and defensive maneuvers.
The most unique ship in the Germany navy is the , a 2,000-ton, diesel-powered sail ship. The Gorch Fock is used as a training vessel. Since 1958, more than 14,000 cadets have trained on the ship.
Read more:
