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The timing of Norway’s pick of a new attack submarine may have sped up, following a press report that Oslo could make a single source selection early in the new year rather than at the end of 2017 after holding a tender, said one competitor.

“The Norwegian defense minister said … something along the lines of … she hoped for a decision not too late,” DCNS marketing director Eric Chaplet told Defense News Dec. 20. “Does that mean she wants to push for a decision of direct award very early? That is a possibility that should not be ruled out.”

Norwegian Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide said, “We are going to, I hope in the not too distant future, make a final decision on buying submarines,” Reuters reported Dec. 2. A pick could be made early in the new year, depending on whether the two competitors had answered all the questions.

DCNS’s offer faces stiff competition from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, following Oslo’s April down select to the French and German archrivals from six bidders. The French firm seeks to supply its Scorpene submarine in the tender for four diesel-electric boats.

A quick decision might lead to a single source selection in January or February, based on three official presentations and continuous updates, Chaplet said. There may be political factors for an early decision, but if there were, DCNS was unaware of those.

Or Norway will go ahead with a competition with a request for proposal expected by the end of March 2017, he said. That would clarify the core requirement and what is seen as secondary.

A bidder’s response is expected by end of 2017, with a decision likely by mid 2018 and a contract awarded in 2019, he said. The first submarine would be delivered in 2025 or 26. “That is fast,” he said.

Norway updated its ministry of defense website Dec. 7 to say, “The Norwegian government decided in 2014 to investigate options for new submarines.

“This process is near its conclusion, and a recommendation is planned to be presented to the government in 2017.”

The submarines will be fitted with Norwegian technology in some key areas, the ministry said. The procurement aims to boost access to the world market for Norwegian companies which have an ‘impressive track record” for combat management systems, sonars and underwater sensors for submarines, and also supply unmanned underwater vehicles.

“The MoD will conduct a thorough evaluation and assessment before presenting a recommendation to the government in 2017. The government will then decide which solution is best for Norway,” the ministry said.

DCNS delivered formal product briefings in June, late October and earlier this month, intended to allow an overall technical assessment, Chaplet said. The offer was part of a French “package approach” with an industrial cooperation plan and backed by government and operational support from the Direction Générale de l’Armement procurement office and the Navy.

This is a “competitive package,” he said.

Industrial cooperation is a key factor, with DCNS delivering a formal proposal to Oslo in October, just after the Euronaval trade show.

DCNS has made a big effort to foster industrial cooperation with Norwegian firms, looking to work with small and medium companies alongside leaders such as Kongsberg and Nammo, he said. The French company held in September a first “industrial seminar” with some 35 Norwegian companies, backed by the DGA and CIDEF, with the defense trade association led by Hervé Guillou, who is DCNS chairman and chief executive. That meeting helped DCNS to draw up its industrial cooperation plan and fostered a first contact with potential partners.

Kongsberg and other local partners would supply combat management systems, information systems, cyber security and other equipment.

The Norwegian counterpart to DGA attended the meeting for government-to-government contact, while French firms included Thales, Safran and Schneider.

Some 65 Norwegian firms attended a second, thematic industry day held in Oslo Dec. 6, with French and local companies seeking cooperation on a “long-term outlook,” as the DGA might have other programs of interest to Norwegian companies he said.

The submarine tender is the core interest but Norwegian firms could sign deals with other DCNS boats and surface warships.

Chaplet declined to give a value on the industrial cooperation other than to say, “We made a rough estimate of the value. We did well. We have paths that allow us to reach the target set.”

The submarine program can be seen as “fundamental change” for the Norwegian Navy, which seeks to replace its six-Ula class boats with a boat capable of long-range missions in the High North on top of present special operations, intelligence gathering and coastal patrol, he said.

Russian warships leave Murmansk and sail between Iceland and Norway as they take to the high seas. Britain, France and the US have the submarines and surface vessels to patrol that region, which is highly sensitive in view of Moscow’s active military operations.

That submarine replacement is a key element in Norway’s major upgrade of capability, as the Nordic nation acquires the F-35 fighter and P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to become a blue water navy and extend its reach for the sky.

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Popular Mechanics said:

over Utah. The missile is designed to be carried internally by the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, preserving its stealthy profile for high-risk missions.

The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a new long range anti-ship and anti-surface missile. Derived from Norwegian defense contractor Kongsberg's Naval Strike Missile, JSM is capable of being carried in the internal weapons bays of the F-35 fighter. This helps preserve the F-35's carefully designed stealth characteristics for dangerous missions against advanced enemy air defenses. It can also fit on the external launch rails of existing aircraft—in the test over Utah, the JSM was launched from an F-16 fighter.

The test, carried out over the Utah Test and Training Range, involved a safe separation of missile from aircraft, long range flight, and alternating speed and altitude. JSM is a highly maneuverable missile that conducts high-g maneuvers to avoid anti-missile systems such as the

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.

The JSM is a subsonic missile driven by a turbojet engine. It uses an imaging infrared sensor to identify its target, and carries a 276 pound blast fragmentation warhead. JSM isn't just useful against land targets. Over the ocean it can fly low over the wavetops in order to stay off enemy radars as long as possible. The missile is capable of picking out specific targets—such as an aircraft carrier—from a battle group and then targeting specific features, such as the ship's bridge.

Another plus for Joint Strike Missile—designing it to fit inside the F-35 also made it compatible with the Mk.41 vertical launch missile silo built into American and allied warships. This ability to integrate with an existing launcher—and not bolting a new one onto a ship's superstructure—makes it a lot easier to adopt with a minimum of difficulties than some alternatives.

The Joint Strike Missile comes at a time when Russia and China's aggressive use of naval power has the U.S., NATO, and other allied navies are looking to upgrade their anti-ship missile arsenals. The ability of the missile to fit inside the F-35 and Mk. 41 makes it a pretty compelling choice.

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FORBIN said:

Romania, 17/12 the 2nd batch of 3 F-16 delivered they have now 9 on 12 F-16A/B Bl 15 MLU replace Mig-21 Lancer the 3 last end 2017.

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Romanian Air Force receives three additional F-16A / B MLUs

On 16 December 2016, the Romanian Air Force (Forţele Aeriene Române) received three additional F-16A / B MLU Block 15s on the 86th Air Base (Baza 86 Aeriană) in eastern Romania.

These aircraft, which were integrated into Escadrila 53 Vânătoare, were welcomed at a ceremony presided over by Romanian Minister of Defense Mihnea Motoc, who was standing alongside Romanian airmen recently trained on this new plane To modernize this air force.

The arrival of these three additional F-16A / Bs follows the first delivery of the first six F-16A / B MLU Block 15s on the Monte Aresa Base 5 in Monte Real on 28 September 2016. Portugal.

These six fighter-bombers are currently stationed at the Romanian air base in Feteşti, some sixty kilometers from the Black Sea coast, and will eventually replace the aging MIG-21 "Fishbed".
Before being accepted by Romania, the Portuguese ex-F-16A / B block 15 were upgraded to the MLU (Mid-Life Upgrade) standard by the Portuguese company OGMA, which specializes in civil and military aeronautics.

Its employees work on maintenance, refurbishment and modernization on F-16, Tucano and Super Tucano, Embraer in the ISR version, and on the Puma, Super Puma and EH-101 helicopters.

The devices can be equipped with GBU-12 laser guided bombs and AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, as well as AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles for air combat.

These nine aircraft already received, the Romanian Air Force must receive its last three F-16A / B MLU during the beginning of the year 2017.

As a reminder, in 2013, the Romanian Air Force decided to acquire twelve F-16A / B MLUs, formerly in service with the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa).

This contract, concluded in October 2013 for a total amount of approximately € 628 million, provides for the delivery of these refurbished F-16A / B MLUs, associated equipment (spare parts, simulators, etc.) and The training of nine fighter pilots and about eighty mechanics.

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MiG-29 "Fulcrum" for Serbia !

Belgrade, the first part of negotiations on the purchase of MiG-29 combat aircraft was successful, Russia will deliver a lot of "Fulcrum" to Serbia. Note that the delivery will be completed with tanks T-72 and armor BRDM-2 for the army.

This first batch of MiG-29 "Fulcrum" is part of an over-allotment. It consists of a MiG-29A (9.12A) and three MiG-29S (9.13) single-seaters, plus a pair of MiG-29UB (9.51). The country is negotiating a second batch as well as the purchase of more modern MiG-29M as well as DCA Buk-M2 and 2K22 "Tunguska" systems.

Ultimately these aircraft must replace the old fleet of MiG-21 still in service within the Air Force. These aircraft will be stationed at the air base in Batajnica, near Belgrade.

MiG-29 "Fulcrum A (9.12):
The version "9.12" is that given by MiG / MAPO to devices delivered to Russia. Some aircraft are equipped with a reinforced central pylon capable of carrying and releasing nuclear bombs. The "9.12A" version produced between 1988 and 1991 was mainly intended for the Warsaw Pact countries.

MiG-29S Fulcrum (9.13S):
This modernized version of "9.13" has a military load of 4 tons. The aircraft has a radar N019Maintained. In terms of arming the airplane can carry missiles the following missiles: air air R-77, R-27ER and R-27ET.

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