Latest on top (updated
regularly):
(https://twitter.com/martinbroek)
September
30
***
Isn't this
problematic in the light of the illegal occupation of Western Sahara?
Moroccan Royal Air Forces #FRA personnel is currently undergoing
intensive training on US 24 AH-64E #Apache attack helicopters, which
the Kingdom will receive (+ 12 optional).
https://moroccolatestnews.com/intensive-training-for-apache-ah-64e-pilots-and-technicians/
***
Missile
defence back into nuclear arms control talks has security
gains—curbing the current offence–defence arms race, enabling
progress on nuclear disarmament— & would outweigh political
costs.
https://www.sipri.org/commentary/topical-backgrounder/2021/time-factor-missile-defence-nuclear-arms-control-talks
"capping the US strategic interceptors to 200?" as a start?
***
The
Netherlands delivers in millions to the island State. In the first
four months of 2021 submarine parts valued € 3.3 million were
licensed. It is a steady flow year after year since the Sea Dragon
submarines were delivered.
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/binaries/rijksoverheid/documenten/rapporten/2016/10/01/overzicht-uitvoer-militaire-goederen/Cumulatief_ML_uitvoer_rev06092021.csv
***
“Be a
goldfish,” with “a 10-second memory”. That may be good advice
to an athlete needing to put the distracting memory of a failure
behind. It is not an approach that the US government should take
deciding on arms sales and military assistance to Egypt.
https://www.justsecurity.org/78394/dont-be-a-goldfish-human-rights-and-u-s-military-financing-for-egypt/
***
Labour
leader Keir Starmer hoped he would hammer the final nails into the
coffin of support for Jeremy Corbyn and his left-wing policies in
Brighton.
But delegates had other ideas. Labour's Palestine motion means Keir Starmer's war on the left is not over. https://dissidentvoice.org/2021/09/labours-palestine-motion-means-keir-starmers-war-on-the-left-is-not-over/
***
The
bypassing of ASEAN. Former Malaysian deputy MoD Liew Chin Tong
concurred that there is still a role for ASEAN in the current
geopolitical landscape. He would like to see member states to find a
strong common position to hold back the great powers.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/alliance-09282021162640.html
***
Russia is
holding up the appointment of experts to monitor implementation of
sanctions on 4 African countries, South Sudan, Congo, CAR and Mali.
It is saying the panels are not geographically balanced and some
members are not impartial.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/2021/09/30/un-diplomats-say-russia-is-blocking-sanctions-experts-in-africa/
The Reports on the sanctioned countries are extremely important. Just some examples (Google for more):
On Libya (panel selected untill 150822 https://apnews.com/article/europe-middle-east-africa-russia-united-nations-5736d78d22ec648198dfab74600d9132)
US Eric Prince, and Dutch involvement. https://undocs.org/Home/Mobile?FinalSymbol=S%2F2021%2F229&Language=E&DeviceType=Mobile
On Canada and Yemen: https://twitter.com/stevenchase/status/1304136706585751554
***
Arms
exports are not a predominantly an economic activity but first of all
a political enterprise as the previous tweet
https://twitter.com/martinbroek/status/1443479775952134146 in
combination with the MoU between Greek MoD Panayotópoulos, Naval
Group and MBDA on the frigate sale shows.
https://www.naval-technology.com/news/naval-group-mbda-fdi-frigates-mou/
“As
a first-rank frigate, the FDI HN is a compendium of the best
technologies of Naval Group, Thales and MBDA, which will notably
supply the ASTER 30 B1 and Exocet MM40 Block 3C missiles.”
The fight for Greece. How France and Washington try - and sometimes succeed - in countering eacht other arms sales programs. FDI frigates in Greece: behind-the-scenes games from the United States and France. https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/fregates-fdi-en-grece-les-jeux-en-coulisse-des-etats-unis-et-de-la-france-893489.html
***
BBC
Monitoring Asia Pacific 290921 collected Chinese opposition articles.
on Aukus. In one piece it is regarded as as part of a wider network
of China-targeted alliances & activities promoted by Biden, the
Quad, Group of Seven G7 & Indo-Pacific military exercises &
naval visits.
***
France and Greece
have signed a major arms deals but also a landmark military agreement
that provides mutual assistance in the event of one party coming
under attack by a third country, even if the latter belongs to NATO.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/france-and-greece-take-first-step-towards-eu-force-in-nato/
***
The 23rd EU Annual Report on Arms Exports was adopted by the Council yesterday. With over 30.000 licenses issued for a license value of almost € 167 billion the EU remains an important exporter of military equipment and technology. https://eeas.europa.eu/topics/security-defence-crisis-response/104754/23rd-annual-report-arms-exports-launched-today-289-eu-transparent-and-responsible-trader-arms_en
Although I should know better, again surprised by the Swedish arms export policy to Saudi Arabia.
The report in one piece. It is published by the EU in 7 different pieces. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Idhs2GpQPyg-RGllE8DBByW6AGqYcbFl/view?usp=sharing
For those who want the report in one piece I've merged it.
***
Italy plans
to arm its #Reaper #drones, years after it first received permission
from the US to do so. Rome detailed planned spending of €59m on the
project over the next seven years in its 2021 budget, adding that the
total outlay would rise to €168m.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/09/29/italy-funds-arming-its-reaper-drones/
***
Ukraine hopes
to quickly buy 24 Turkish drones, but the former’s adversary &
the latter’s ally could upend the potential sale. Turkey is
Russia’s closest ally in NATO — which Ukraine wants to join —
but Ankara and Moscow have diverging interests over Kyiv.
https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2021/09/29/ukraine-is-set-to-buy-24-turkish-drones-so-why-hasnt-russia-pushed-back/
***
Canada
goes from human-rights defender to gunrunner.
https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/cohen-canada-goes-from-human-rights-defender-to-gunrunner
September
29
***
Iraq is
planning to acquire a dozen JF-17 fighter aircraft from Pakistan and
has reportedly set aside $600 million for the procurement, as local
media reports.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/26-Sep-2021/iraq-plans-to-buy-12-jf-17-thunder-jets-from-pakistan-reports
***
Rwandan
colonel, convicted of “war crimes” & “genocide”, died.
Bagosora's dead points at an open nerve in French arms export policy.
He concluded a arms sale with the backing of French bank, BNP, in
June 1994, months after the start of the massacres.
https://www.humanite.fr/rwanda-mort-de-theoneste-bagosora-une-des-figures-du-genocide-721667
***
Rüstungsexporte
in Bürgerkriegsländer; Waffenlobby muss Niederlage einstecken
Arms exports to civil war countries; Swiss military-industrial lobby suffers defeat.
Blick, 29. September 2021 by @Daniel_Ballmer
***
Two wrongs
don't make a right, but it is good to remember: No one does
self-interested arms deals like the French.
Articles provides some clear examples: helicopter carrier for Russia, marketing nuclear subs to Brazil, exocet missiles to Argentine. https://www.themandarin.com.au/170248-no-one-does-self-interested-arms-deals-like-the-french/
***
Struggle for
super power influence. Algeria is a major destination for Chinese
arms exports and bought between 2010-20 30% of Chinese arms sales to
Africa. While Morocco still buys most from the US, China is expanding
its military-to-military cooperation.
https://asiatimes.com/2021/09/chinas-rise-in-north-africa-wont-abate-any-time-soon/
***
Pressure for
a UN arms embargo on Myanmar does not stop, like here by Human Rights
Watch. But how to get all members of the Security Council backing it,
remains the question for diplomats.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/09/27/what-impunity-looks
***
The Norwegian
Defence Material Agency #NDMA signed an agreement with the
Netherlands Defence Material Organisation #DMO for five Thales Ground
Master 200 multi-mission compact radars (GM200 MM/C) in May 2021.
https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/norway/press_release/thales-and-ritek-expand-their-radar-collaboration
***
Difficult to
find a better example showing how arms sales & acquisitions go at
the cost of security instead of improving it. CASA CN-235 painted in
Madagascar's colors of the island nation, but never delivered. It
couldn't pay for it. € 4 million lost.
https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2021/09/16/mauvais-payeur-madagascar-perd-son-seul-avion-de-transport-militaire_6094928_3212.html
***
3 #NavalGroup
frigates for #Greece. #French PM Macron and Greek PM Mitsotakis
announced September 28, this as a show of a strengthening of
strategic cooperation. Greece wants to oppose Turkey's presence in
the eastern #Mediterranean. #NATO
https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2021/09/28/la-france-vend-trois-fregates-de-defense-a-la-grece-deux-semaines-apres-la-crise-des-sous-marins-avec-l-australie_6096287_3234.html
***
AUKUS
raakt ook Den Helder, schrijft @EricVrijsen in de komende Elsevier.
Hij verwacht o.a. dat het Franse aanbod voor Nederlandse onderzeeërs
wordt en goedkoper, dat de link met Australische
onderzeebootofficieren verminderd.
***
Could
Britain stop Argentina from buying the Chinese/Pak JF-17 warplane?
The UK previously pressured suppliers to cancel deals with Argentina,
or sabotaged them by embargoing critical British components.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/the-americas/2021/09/28/could-britain-stop-argentina-from-buying-the-jf-17-warplane/
***
The
Czech Ministry of Defence has signed a deal to acquire the Spyder
surface-to-air missile systems made by Israel’s Rafael Advanced
Defense Systems. The contract is worth 13.69 billion koruna (US$627
million), the ministry said in a statement.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/09/28/czech-republic-buys-israeli-spyder-air-defense-weapon-for-627-million/
September
28
***
Jury finds
that MD Helicopters broke federal rules through its relationship with
Army procurement officer. A federal jury awarding $36 million in
damages to the government and whistleblowers, an amount that could be
tripled under a federal law. #corruption
https://www.wsj.com/articles/lynn-tilton-backed-army-contractor-hit-with-36-million-verdict-in-fraud-case-11632771635
***
Indonesia,
Turkey strengthen aerospace cooperation with new deal. PT Dirgantara
Indonesia (Persero) (PTDI) and Turkish company Hava Elektronik Sanayi
ve Ticaret A.?. (HAVELSAN) agreed to jointly develop a simulator for
N219 aircraft.
https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/indonesia-turkey-strengthen-aerospace-cooperation-with-new-deal
***
CATO
institute on US arms control Bill. Nowhere is the current imbalance
of power more obvious than in arms sales. Over the past 20 years, the
White House has sold weapons worth more than $888 billion to 167
countries, including countries mired in conflict, countries .../2
whose governments routinely turn weapons on their own people, and
countries in which corruption makes it impossible to know where
American weapons will wind up being used, or by whom.
https://www.cato.org/commentary/new-bill-seeks-patch-flaws-arms-export-control-act
***
New Zealand
independent arms export control review acknowledges that
administering a system of export controls is inherently difficult and
is becoming more so with the changing international situation and the
pace of technological developments.
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/media-and-resources/independent-report-into-export-controls-system-released/
***
Emily
Thornberry, UK shadow international trade secretary, has told a
fringe meeting that Labour would apply the same controls to the
provision of military & police training to foreign governments as
already apply to the exUAEport of arms to foreign regimes.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2021/sep/27/labour-conference-live-keir-starmer-mandelson-leadership-election-rule-change-corbyn
***
Liverpool
mobilises against the AOC Europe arms fair
After two decades of war in Afghanistan, there is no option but to protest a conference for companies complicit in human rights violations
https://www.redpepper.org.uk/liverpool-mobilises-against-the-aoc-europe-arms-fair/
***
Turkse
media uitten hun bezorgdheid erover dat een spionagecel
technologieprojecten heeft gelekt naar Israëlische bedrijven. Eerder
beschuldigde een openbare aanklager 11 personen van het lekken van
defensie-industrieële info naar internationale bedrijven.
https://www.dejongeturken.com/spionagecel-lekt-details-van-turkse-defensieprojecten-naar-israel/
September
27
***
Rohde &
Schwarz was awarded a contract to provide the R&S KORA system for
communications and radar electronic support measures (ESM) for new
German, Damen built, F126 frigates.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/09/rohde-schwarz-to-provide-rs-kora-for-f126-frigates/
September
25
***
Retweet
@JafariPeyman: AUKUS marks the intensification of
great power politics, which some of us prefer to call by its name,
inter-imperialist rivalry. But its military dimension also underlines
the continuity of American foreign policy under different presidents.
https://www.economist.com/international/2021/09/19/the-strategic-reverberations-of-the-aukus-deal-will-be-big-and-lasting
September
26
***
Turkey
reportedly handed over first units of Bayraktar TB2 combat drones to
Morocco last week. The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (Far-Maroc) signed
an agreement with Turkish drone maker Baykar Savunma for 13 Bayraktar
TB2s in April. Contract was worth $70m.https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/morocco-receives-1st-turkish-bayraktar-tb2-delivery-reports
***
The war has
stopped, but the war goes on. When U.S. Central Command authorizes
strikes against groups like ISIS-K or al Qaida in Afghanistan, they
won’t be negotiating with the Taliban about where and when they can
drop bombs.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2021/09/24/us-wont-be-asking-taliban-permission-to-strike-terror-groups-in-afghanistan/
***
India
the 2nd biggest importer of arms after Saudi Arabia beat it in the
arms-buying race, whereas Pakistan is ranked at the 10th position in
this respect, according to a yearbook 2021 of SIPRI.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/894876-india-second-pakistan-10th-biggest-arm-importer-sipri
What about the EU: http://enaat.org/eu-export-browser/overview
September
23
***
The expulsion
of convicted Dutch businessman Guus Kouwenhoven from South Africa is
one step closer, according to the South African newspaper Daily
Maverick, "the convicted war criminal can indeed be sent
packing."
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-09-22-supreme-court-dismisses-dutch-war-criminal-guus-kouwenhovens-appeals-in-attempt-to-avoid-extradition/
***
Has India's
position to buy French nuclear submarine strengthened because of the
AUKUS pact? India's First Post believes it is.
https://www.firstpost.com/india/aukus-has-opened-a-huge-strategic-opportunity-for-india-and-france-is-a-key-player-in-the-equation-9989041.html
***
The UN said
the Congolese army is involved in the trafficking of arms and
ammunition to fuel armed conflicts in the east. UN experts confirmed
the seizure of 83 boxes of ammo and a bag containing various
ammunition for automatic weapons.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/un-concerned-rebels-in-eastern-dem-rep-of-congo-getting-arms-from-army/2372449
***
Wat
'n niveau: 'Liever Hollands welvaren in zee dan een Frans stokbrood
langs de kade,' zegt SGP'er @chris_stoffer Gaat over 'n Zweedse!
gedateerde onderzeeër, die gebouwd zou worden MET Damen. Tegenover
een Franse onderzeeër MET IHC. Beide geen ervaring.
https://www.nd.nl/nieuws/economie/1061741/een-potje-risk-met-onderzeeboten
En
passant maakt hij van Airbus, de Duits-Frans-Spaanse vliegtuigbouwer
een Frans project i.p.v. een Europees. Hij vergeet dat de Britten
liever hun eigen weg gingen. Airbus zetelt overigens in Nederland om
belastingtechnische redenen en heeft een ruimtevaart afdeling in
Leiden.
***
A proud
history: "Nevesbu has been designing submarines since its
founding year in 1935."
http://www.nevesbu.com/en-US/Nevesbu/Markets/Submarines
#Nevesbu started in '35 in the building where also the German U-boot companies AFAT & IvS (in NL to escape '18 treaty clauses) were located. https://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2018/09/onderzeeboten-in-troebel-vaarwater-een.html
***
The
Netherlands Defence Academy #NLDA published a book on Compliance and
Integrity in
Int. Military Trade #CIIMT focussing on economics, export control, ethics, and legal aspects. Attention is given to Saudi Arabia, F-35, Dutch arms control history etc. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-94-6265-471-6.pdf
***
Years of
cooperation with NATO countries and investing hundreds of billions of
lire - at the cost of Turkish citizens - has created a small step
forward for the Turkish military industry. It can now independently
produce a tiny missile engine (KTJ-3200).
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2021/09/21/turkish-firm-kale-delivers-homemade-turbojet-engine-for-missiles/
***
Human rights?
The UAE & UK recently signed a MoU on #AI that would see the
transfer of related knowledge & investment. Also the UAE’s
Tawazun Economic Council signed a memo with the UK MoD to strengthen
cooperation in defense-related R&D.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/2021/09/22/uae-britain-ink-defense-research-and-ai-tech-deals-heres-what-comes-next/
***
#AUKUS is
drawing fresh attention to nascent EU cooperation programs designed
to build bridges to the US & UK. Involved in several so-called
PESCO programs, Paris has veto power when it comes to allowing non-EU
members into this defence collaborations.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/09/22/french-submarine-snub-tests-eu-defense-cooperation-avenues/
***
President
Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to the
Middle East next week in an effort to smooth over relations with
Saudi Arabia. He's also expected to visit Egypt and the UAE.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10018237/National-Security-Advisor-Jake-Sullivan-travel-Saudi-Arabia-smooth-relations.html
***
Chinese
Global Times connects AUKUS pact to growing influence of US military
industry: The desire of arms dealers to get profited is constantly
pushing Washington to keep pursuing war targets, creating tensions in
some hot spots, and gaining profits by ...
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202109/1234813.shtml
***
"A
major blow" against a French policy aiming for "a unified
Europe that can stand as peer to the US or China ... to bring France,
a vehicle for its ambitions, and for all Europe, escape from US
dominance."
The blow also keeps the EU under the US. #AUKUS https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/22/world/europe/france-submarines-biden.html
September
22
***
Krauss-Maffei
Wegmann partnered with Dutch company #Defenture
https://www.defenture.com/) to build new vehicles to replace the
German Army’s 2 decades-old vehicles. They plan to develop a
vehicle based on Defenture’s VECTOR light all-terrain tactical
vehicle.
https://www.kmweg.de/fileadmin/user_upload/fce/PDF/Pressemitteilungen/20210916-Krauss-Maffei_Wegmann_und_DEFENTURE_planen_Kooperation.pdf
***
Progress on
the development of a new cruise missile for the British and French
militaries could become a victim in the row over the nuclear
submarine pact announced by Australia, the US and UK last week.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/09/21/decisions-on-new-british-french-cruise-missile-are-left-hanging-after-submarine-row/
***
Peace
organisations on AUKUS:
Many anti-nuclear reasons to oppose AUKUS. https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2021/09/20/many-anti-nuclear-reasons-to-oppose-aukus/
Why we say No to AUSUK https://newcoldwar.org/kate-hudson-why-we-say-no-to-ausuk/
September
21
***
Systematic
A/S, a software and systems company headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark,
never ceased to supply military software to the UAE, even though
Denmark has put a stop to all military exports to a country suspected
of war crimes in Yemen.
https://danwatch.dk/en/undersoegelse/despite-a-danish-export-ban-denmarks-largest-it-company-is-arming-the-uae-military/
***
Nuclearise
space: Pentagon taps industry for nuclear-powered propulsion for its
satellites.
https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/09/10/pentagon-taps-industry-for-nuclear-powered-propulsion-for-its-satellites/
***
When you'll
fly away (better not) know that Boeing recently clinched a contract
involving the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
(ICBM). The Air Force #Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill Air Force Base,
UT has awarded the agreement.
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/boeing-ba-wins-%241.6b-deal-to-repair-minuteman-iii-icbm-2021-09-20
***
Boris
Johnson’s military alliance in the Pacific is reckless
post-imperial nostalgia, an Oped in the Guardian headlines.
But @POTUS & @ScottMorrisonMP, are also members of the confrontational Cold War pact. Indeed, they are no Europeans. But is Johnson? https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/20/boris-johnson-military-alliance-pacific-reckless-post-imperial-nostalgia-aukus
***
UK Ministry
of Defence advertises lethal pistols as 'crowd control' weapons at
arms fair.
https://inews.co.uk/news/ministry-defence-surplus-pistols-crowd-control-arms-fair-1208365
***
Schrijfster
May-May Meijer vindt dat de Europese Unie terug moet naar haar
vredesideaal. De door @CTWnl geconstateerde uitgave van € 8 miljard
voor onderzoek en ontwikkeling van wapens en militaire technologie
staat hiermee op gespannen voet.
https://www.parool.nl/columns-opinie/opinie-zet-deze-vijf-stappen-op-de-weg-naar-vrede~b9e9bdce/
***
US member of
congress AOC introduces amendment to halt US arms sale to Israel.
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/aoc-introduces-amendment-to-halt-us-arms-sale-to-israel-679763
Amendment: https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/OCASNY_070_xml210915124303632.pdf
***
Le Gican, the
union that organise companies in the French naval industry, assumes
26 entities have created or strengthened their presence in Australia
because of this program, which was to connect Paris and Canberra for
decades.
https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/air-defense/sous-marins-australiens-les-negociations-sur-les-indemnites-demarrent-1347762
***
Maakt Damen
meer kans om Nederlandse onderzeeërs te mogen bouwen nu de Naval
Group, de levering aan Australië misloopt? Defensiespecialisten
betwijfelen het. Behalve Dick Zandee van @Clingedael. Jaime Karremann
van @marineschepen heeft een scherpere visie.
https://www.bndestem.nl/zeeland/internationale-onderzeebootrel-niet-per-se-gunstig-voor-damen-frankrijk-zal-nu-de-druk-op-nederland-opvoeren~ad70716a/
***
Malaysia and
Indonesia laid out worries about a potential nuclear arms race in
Asia, after the AUKUS nuclear subs deal was announced last week.
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3149451/not-defence-alliance-australia-looks-assuage-aseans-concerns
***
Brief,
“Demystifying End-Use Monitoring #EUM in US Arms Exports“,
provides an overview of current EUM policies, dispels commonly held
misconceptions of current EUM practice, and offers recommendations
for how these regulations could be strengthened.
https://civiliansinconflict.org/eum/
September
20
***
The Iranian
nuclear scientist and the A.I.-assisted Israeli remote-control
killing machine. Only one part of the operation did not happen
according to plan, so the Revolutionary Guards’ could assess how
the assassination by Israel in Iran was executed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/18/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-fakhrizadeh-assassination-israel.html
***
If an assault
rifle augmentation system from Israeli Elbit Systems works as
advertised, special operations troops or dismounted infantry could
gain the ability to shoot around corners or fire from the hip “Rambo
style” with no loss of accuracy.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2021/09/17/soldiers-could-shoot-rambo-style-with-elbit-systems-smart-assault-rifle-tech
***
Een
belangrijk argument voor de Nl diesel AIP onderzeeërs was dat ze
moeilijk te detecteren zouden zijn in kustwateren. Sandee denkt
kennelijk dat wapenproductie commercieel van aard is. Wie de andere
betrokken zijn? Zelfs Damen houdt een slag om de arm.
https://fd.nl/bedrijfsleven/1413043/militaire-pact-australie-verbetert-positie-damen-bij-bouw-nederlandse-onderzeeers-lti1ca6cLtQ3
***
The Indian
Air Force is about to spend $31 million to acquire 24 second-hand
Mirage 2000 fighters to bolster its fleet and create a spare parts
pool.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iaf-to-bolster-fighter-fleet-with-24-second-hand-mirages-101631836620386.html
***
The US State
Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign
Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of Continuation of
Maintenance Support Services (MSS) and related equipment for an
estimated cost of $500 million.
https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/saudi-arabia-continuation-maintenance-support-services-mss-0
***
Analysts say
the United Arab Emirates could look into the purchase of Rafale
fighters from France again as the Gulf State aims to diversify its
weapons supply base and reduce its reliance on the United States.
https://thearabweekly.com/uae-eyes-french-alternative-us-abu-dhabi-crown-prince-holds-talks-paris
***
Britain rules
the waves (in the wash of Washington now proliferating nuclear subs),
but waste water isn't treated, empty shelves in supermarkets etc.
That's the kind of security post-Brexit UK provides its citizens and
the world. https://www.standaard.be/cnt/DMF20210917_97362759
***
Threatening
the security of many: 10 Years after the Western supported overthrow
of Ghaddafi the flow of weapons into the region from the Libyan
arsenals is still streaming.
Sudanese authorities confiscate a shipment of weapons smuggled from Libya. https://www.libyaobserver.ly/inbrief/sudanese-authorities-confiscate-shipment-weapons-smuggled-libya
***
What
the US/UK/Aus pact of last week created is a array of criticism
towards a narrow and dangerous power political approach to security.
Arms races and nuclear policy are not in the interest of the
population of Asia, it is argued eg in the Manila Times.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/09/20/opinion/columns/new-arms-and-nuclear-risks-could-spell-end-to-asian-century/1815369
September
17
***
Retwweet
@londoncaat: ‘Nothing to hide
here’: Inside the world’s largest arms fair in the heart of
London
https://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-09-17-nothing-to-hide-here-inside-the-worlds-largest-arms-fair-in-the-heart-of-london/
***
Slovak
parliament okays strengthening of Irini military operation.
https://www.tasr.sk/tasr-clanok/TASR:2021091600000485
***
Head
of Saudi Arabian Military Industries believes the state owned
business could be run by a Saudi female in the future as it seeks to
attract top talent back to the Kingdom. Good news for those in Yemen
& others repressed by KSA? More on #SAMI in article
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1929801/business-economy
Joint
venture deals have already been struck with French company Thales and
Belgium based firm CMI Defence, and memorandums of understanding have
been signed with Russia’s Rosoboronexport, US’s Boeing, and
France’s Naval Group.
***
UK,
US, Australia fight China & France in a single blow. France "has
an important presence in the Indo-Pacific, & is a key partner &
ally," said Joe Biden. Paris considers this kindness to be poor
in view of the turnaround, under probable US pressure.
https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2021/09/16/crise-diplomatique-entre-washington-et-paris-au-sujet-des-sous-marins-australiens_6094856_3210.html
***
Retweet
@tribunemagazine: The nuclear submarine deal
between the UK, the US, and Australia has been sold as an effort to
promote peace and stability – but it’s just the latest
confrontation with China in what is quickly becoming a new Cold War.
https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/09/aukus-is-one-step-closer-to-the-new-cold-war
***
It is an enormous decision made
by Australia to embark on a nuclear submarine program in the context
of nuclear and security policy. Here a thread with some backgrounds.
Retweet with comment @EngageStrategy1: A couple of thoughts on the Australian decision to abandon the Attack-class diesel-electric submarine programme in favor of pursuing a nuclear-powered submarine fleet in co-operation with the USA and UK./1
***
India’s
#HAL signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce for Make-in-India Adour
engine parts to support the latter's international defence customer
base. India’s Jaguar aircraft are powered by 2 Adour engines,
license (by RR/Turbomeca) produced since 1981.
https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/hal-rolls-royce-sign-pact-for-make-in-india-adour-engine-parts-121091400931_1.html
***
US
House Armed Services Committee noted that 20 years of agressieve
“development and production schedules” have resulted “in longer
schedules and much higher costs than planned to realize less than
full warfighting capabilities required by the DoD.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-15/f-35-risks-falling-behind-china-and-russia-defenses-panel-warns
September
16
***
Lockheed
refines bid to modernize the Greek frigate fleet. Here’s what it’s
offering.
The Greek Navy wants to buy 4 new frigates, modernize existing ones and receive an interim capability during the entire process.
Greece will choose by the end of 2021.
***
Canada must
stop arming Saudi Arabia, four former MPs say
'So long as the arms continue to flow, this war is just going to get worse,' says one expert.
https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/canada-must-stop-arming-saudi-arabia-four-former-mps-say
***
President of
ParisTech downplays connection to Chinese military #PLA.
1st by a blunt “If so, so what ?”
2nd he argues all universities in France have had a contract with Thales !
Implicating French universities and thus science are part of the MIC. https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2021/09/15/un-partenariat-passe-entre-paristech-et-une-universite-chinoise-inquiete-les-services-de-securite-francais_6094764_3224.html
***
UK's defense
secretary Wallace said: "It's time that together we take Saudi
and British capacity together, in Saudi with #Saudi skills, for the
next generation, I think that's really very important, absolutely
vital." One of the reasons to state: #StopDSEI
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1929466/business-economy
***
Weer tijd om
wapens te slijten! Kom op 28 nov naar Rotjeknor er is nog ruimte op
de bazaar.
"#NEDS is het grootste zakelijke evenement voor de Nederlandse defensie- en veiligheidssector en hét moment om producenten, gebruikers en uw netwerk te ontmoeten." https://www.nidvexhibition.eu/
***
Although
Germany is not imposing a formal arms embargo against Turkey, an
“informal” one is in place, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar
told columnist Sedat Ergin from pro-government daily
Hürriyet.https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/sedat-ergin/almanyadan-turkiyeye-adi-konmamis-silah-ambargosu-41894252
Rightly so, one may add.
***
Is a new Cold
War emerging?
Boris Johnson, Joe Biden & Scott Morrison “We will leverage expertise from the US and the UK, building on the two countries’ submarine programmes to bring an Australian capability into service at the earliest achievable date.”
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/submarine-pact-with-australia-against-china-qnjv9rskn
Addition:
While the new pact is yet another step to counter China’s, it
will also upend Australia’s largest-ever defense contract, a AUS$90
billion deal to build submarines designed by the French company Naval
Group, the Australia-based ABC News was first to report.
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/congress/2021/09/15/new-pact-with-the-us-and-uk-is-set-to-sink-australias-historic-submarine-buy-from-france/
***
Swiss won’t
vote on arms export ban proposal. The broad alliance of political
parties and non-governmental groups behind the proposal says it is
pleased that parliament has agreed a compromise.
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-won-t-vote-on-arms-export-ban-proposal/46950044
Addition:
After the Council of States, the National Council tightened the
criteria for arms exports on Wednesday. The Federal Council should no
longer make its own decisions.
https://news.in-24.com/news/167299.html
***
UK, Sweden,
Italy and Japan
against France, Germany and Spain.
Japan could be the next partner nation
for the trinational, British-led next-generation fighter program, an
official hinted at the DSEI arms trade show in London.
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dsei/2021/09/15/japan-could-become-partner-nation-on-uk-led-future-fighter-effort-says-program-director/
And
many other Member States with the US (F-16, F/A-18, F-35) against
Germany, France, Brussels, Spain, Sweden and Italy. What a mess,
veiled under a state of the union.
***
How
to make buying European more attractive:
Ursula von der Leyen: One example could be to consider waiving VAT when buying defence equipment developed and produced in Europe.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_21_4701
September
15
***
The
next step in the submarine marketing. Saab is pleased to invite
media, financial analysts and investors to the annual submarine
seminar on September 28. Join our online seminar to learn more about
Saab´s submarine operations. Obviously with Dutch Damen
https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-releases/2021/welcome-to-saabs-submarine-seminar
***
Protest
from personnel inside the DSEI arms fair against 'British
imperialism'.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9989741/Communist-ExCeL-staff-sabotage-London-arms-fair.html
***
3
Ex-Officers in US Intelligence admit hacks for UAE
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/men-charged-us-united-arab-emirates-hacking-scheme-80020627
Marc Baier, Ryan Adams and Daniel Gericke left their intelligence
jobs in the US to work for Project #Raven, an advanced cyber ops
program.
Additional: Backgrounder on this
cyber operation which included targeting human rights activists and
preventing it by law. Lawfare: “Prosecuting Project Raven: A New
Frontier for Export Control Enforcement”
https://www.lawfareblog.com/prosecuting-project-raven-new-frontier-export-control-enforcement
***
During the
last few weeks, the US has removed its most advanced air defense
system, the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense #THAAD system, as well
as Patriot missile batteries from Saudi Arabia. For political
reasoning behind this redeployment more here:
https://apnews.com/article/iran-asia-afghanistan-dubai-middle-east-b6aaf30d689d0a8e45901e51f0457381
***
CDR Hofkamp
defensieattaché in Washington: “En toch is Nederland als
klein land een belangrijke bondgenoot voor de VS, omdat we een grote
investeerder zijn, zoals in het F-35 project. Daarnaast beschikken we
over innovatiekracht, ook binnen het cyberdomein, en over belangrijke
kennisinstituten.”
https://magazines.defensie.nl/allehens/2021/07/09_washington
Het
is enigszins bevreemdend dat tegelijkertijd in Brussel door Ursula
von der Leyen een heel andere werkelijkheid wordt uitgedragen, waar
de EU centraal staat bij vraagstukken van militaire kwesties, zoals
de aanschaf van gevechtsvliegtuigen.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_21_4701
***
Germany
and the Middle East: A tale of morals and markets Germany's foreign
policy is explicitly values-based. But what happens when democracy,
the rule of law and human rights collide with the logic of trade and
business, like in case of arms sales.
https://dw.com/en/germany-and-the-middle-east-a-tale-of-morals-and-markets/a-59120611
For
those in the UK who really believe it is only the UK and US (and
maybe France) who aren't walking the arms control talk, read e.g.
this peace on German arms export policy.
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-and-the-middle-east-a-tale-of-morals-and-markets/a-59120611
***
Arms exports:
there are signs of stricter export practices in Swiss parliament
A majority is emerging in the National Council for this. On Monday, people raised the question of whether the policy would allow the Federal Council a loophole.
https://www.theswitzerlandtimes.com/arms-exports-a-stricter-regime-is-emerging-in-parliament/
***
European
academia, R&D, and industry from six nations start to develop a
new anti-submarine system. Remarkable is that the Netherlands (with
its industry bragging how good they are on submarine tech as part of
a sales pitch) isn't not involved.
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dsei/2021/09/14/thales-led-industry-group-moves-to-boost-europes-undersea-warfare-chops/
Pigs in space:
BAE Systems eyes new space business with acquisition of In-Space https://defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dsei/2021/09/14/bae-systems-eyes-new-space-business-with-acquisition-of-in-space/
***
European-based
companies Milrem Robotics and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace are
teaming up to design and build a new robotic combat vehicle geared to
meet requirements for European militaries and the U.S.
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dsei/2021/09/14/milrem-and-kongsberg-are-building-a-robotic-wingman/
***
How
long will it take before it's communicated target isn't reached.
DoD awarded Lockheed a contract worth up to $6.6billion to sustain the F-35 fighter from fiscal 2021 to 2023, a deal that will reduce the cost of flying the aircraft by about 8 percent. https://www.navytimes.com/air/2021/09/14/lockheed-nabs-f-35-sustainment-contract-worth-up-to-66b/
***
Questions
by @JaspervanDijkSP on meeting Elbit Systems Industry Day,
(https://www.nidv.eu/agenda/elbit-systems-industry-day/) to
investigate the potential collaboration with Dutch arms industry. No
reason to end the meeting when arms export policy is implemented.
https://www.tweedekamer.nl/downloads/document?id=371ad9f3-332a-4054-81b8-e31a0f29a8e7&title=Antwoord%20op%20vragen%20van%20het%20lid%20Jasper%20van%20Dijk%20over%20een%20online%20informatiebijeenkomst%20over%20de%20mogelijke%20samenwerking%20tussen%20Elbit%20en%20Nederlandse%20bedrijven.doc
An
already established military industrial cooperation involves
contracts for military simulation technology for the Dutch armed
forces built by a consortium between Israeli Bagira and Dutch Van
Halteren in Bunschoten.
https://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2020/04/imports-and-exports-both-part-of.html
September
14
***
Soon in
Egypt: ThyssenKrupp developing modifiable unmanned underwater vehicle
#uuv. https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/51206
***
Vandaag 4
tweets over Nederlandse vergunningen voor export van strategische
goederen (dual use & militair), mei-jul 2021:
Egypt M
https://twitter.com/martinbroek/status/1437703704396845061
Jordan DU
https://twitter.com/martinbroek/status/1437710787091501062
Nigeria M
https://twitter.com/martinbroek/status/1437706032306917383
Verenigde Arabische Emiraten M
https://twitter.com/martinbroek/status/1437707705137893376
***
Dutch
government license to export Image intensifier tubes for military use
to Jordan, July 6, 2021, valued € 1,360,350.
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/binaries/rijksoverheid/documenten/rapporten/2016/10/01/overzicht-dual-use-vergunningen/Cumulatief-overzicht-du-vergunningen-2004-juli-2021.csv
***
In the period
May-July 2021 the Dutch government licenses 4 exports to the UAE as
final destination. Three valued € 8.5 million connected to
C3-systems. One for software, value € 0 via Canada. For the
notorious vehicles?
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/binaries/rijksoverheid/documenten/rapporten/2016/10/01/overzicht-uitvoer-militaire-goederen/Cumulatief_ML_uitvoer_rev06092021.csv
Addition: The license for Canada and end-use UAE was for "Software" specially designed for military use and specially designed for modelling or simulating military operational scenarios. Which kind of scenario's isn't reported.
***
Showing the
Dutch-UAE-Nigeria triangle, 2 export licenses in period May-July:
- Canon (UK origin) €1,548,756
- Amphibious landing vessel (Dutch),
operating helicopters and with fitting for 12.7 mm machine guns
€2,635,517.
Both via the UAE to Nigeria.
***
In the period
May-July 3 Dutch export licenses for Egypt:
- Tech for radar- & C3-systems €
1,000,000 (via France)
- Software for frigates € 58,013 (via
Poland)
- Thermal image intensifiers 1,602,564
(via US)
***
Arms go to
human rights violating regimes, poverty stricken countries and zones
of war/conflict, & even than there is surprise weapon
manufacturers MAY not fit new criteria in terms of sustainable
finance at the level of the European Commission.
**
Due
to after sales controls on the whereabouts of exported weapons, an
Arab country has refrained from ordering arms from Germany. This is
according to a previously unpublished confidential report by the
German government dealing with the on-site inspections which began in
2017.
The Airbus Group is
open to an expansion of controls, the industry association for the
security and defense industry against it.
https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article233661100/Waffenexporte-Drohende-Kontrolle-schreckte-arabischen-Kunden-ab.html
***
Milrem
Robotics & MSI-Defense Systems Ltd present armed drone. "Milrem
Robotics is Europe's leading developer of robotics and autonomous
systems and systems integrator with offices in Estonia, Sweden,
Finland and soon the Netherlands."
https://www.suasnews.com/2021/09/milrem-robotics-and-msi-defence-systems-limited-present-unmanned-kinetic-c-uav-capabilities/
***
Just Arrived!
A Brand New EU Dual-Use Regulation
https://www.loyensloeff.com/be/en/news/articles-and-newsflashes/just-arrived-a-brand-new-eu-dual-use-regulation-n23471/
***
Saferworld
report 'European security assistance: the search for stability in the
Sahel'. With e,g, table on arms exports by EU members pp 33-34.
Arms exports by EUMS to G5 Sahel
countries, total value 2013–2019: €416 million.
https://www.saferworld.org.uk/downloads/pubdocs/european-security-assistance-web.pdf
***
We can not
even manage nuclear energy on the globe, but: The US DoD is looking
to industry for nuclear-powered propulsion technology to drive its
spacecraft, freeing them from the low-energy limitations of current
electric & solar-based propulsion systems.
https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/09/10/pentagon-taps-industry-for-nuclear-powered-propulsion-for-its-satellites/
***
Israel
unveiled a new remote-controlled killer robot Monday at a major
weapons fair in the U.K. that human rights advocates are criticizing
as an event to sell "death machines" and tools of abuse.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/09/13/israel-unveils-new-armed-robot-amid-outcry-over-death-machines
Addition:
Israel Aerospace Industries will debut REX MK II, its newest ground
robot set to be fielded to British troops, at DSEI, the London-based
defense exhibition, which begins Tuesday.
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dsei/2021/09/13/iai-debuts-new-hybrid-ground-robot-joining-the-uk-army-inventory/
***
Self-learning futuristic military robot can track targets and fire with machine guns
The ground drone is controlled from an
electronic tablet but can also perform some functions autonomously.
There are fears if it can distinguish civilians from combatants.
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/self-learning-futuristic-military-robot-24986821
***
The
UK government claims to have a ‘robust’ system to regulate arms
exports–but this is an illusion. Britain routinely arms states
abusing human rights & those at war.
Who really holds the government to
account for its arms exports, asks @andrewfeinstein.
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-09-14-britains-robust-arms-export-controls-are-a-fiction/
September
13
***
US Special
Forces #SOCOM wants tiny cruise missiles.
This would give their Ghostrider gunships the ability to strike targets while remaining safely out of range. https://asiatimes.com/2021/09/pint-sized-punisher-socom-wants-tiny-cruise-missiles/
***
The costly
fighter with to many negative stories:
The U.S. Air Force’s top general backs proposed legislation that would cap the number of F-35s the Defense Department can buy unless it meets affordability goals for operating and sustaining the jet. https://www.defensenews.com/smr/defense-news-conference/2021/09/08/top-us-air-force-general-supports-proposed-f-35-cost-constraints/
***
"As the
UK welcomes refugees fleeing Afghanistan, Art the Arms Fair aims to
harness the power of art to tell the story of the arms trade and its
effects on people around the world.”
https://fadmagazine.com/2021/09/09/award-winning-exhibition-against-london-arms-fair-back-for-third-run/
***
How war and
arms sales are exacerbating global poverty
https://www.thedailystar.net/views/opinion/news/how-war-and-arms-sales-are-exacerbating-global-poverty-2172411
***
The new EU
Export Control Regulation entered into force last week and tightens
controls on trade in dual-use items.
https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=2297
***
Emerging
Technologies Developments in Context of Dual-Use Export Controls.
Factsheets:
- DATA ANALYTICS AND ADVANCED COMPUTING
- ADVANCED MATERIALS
- AI – ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE
- ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
- AEROSPACE – HYPERSONIC PROPULSION
TECHNOLOGIES
- QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY
-
SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY
https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2021/september/tradoc_159791.pdf
***
For
years, Jacob #Zuma used Stalingrad tactics to avoid facing
prosecution in the Arms Deal corruption case. His “ill-health” –
while he's reluctant to undergo an examination by a doctor chosen by
the state – is now delaying proceedings in Court. #Thales
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-09-09-jacob-zumas-mystery-medical-condition-takes-centre-stage-in-arms-deal-court-proceedings/
***
Antwoord
op vragen van de leden @JaspervanDijkSP en @MahirAlkaya - beide SP -
over de positie van Nederland als financiële draaischijf in de
wapenindustrie n.a.v. artikel in Groene Amsterdammer.
https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/ah-995918.pdf
https://groene.nl/artikel/definanciele-draaischijf
Staatssecretaris Vijlbrief (Financiën – Fiscaliteit en Belastingdienst) “Daarbij maakt het niet uit welke economische activiteiten deze bedrijven uitoefenen.” Wapens zijn geen product als anderen goederen. Dat wapenbedrijven vrijwel uitsluitend aan overheden leveren en vervolgens de belasting ontwijken, maakt wel uit. Dat is dubbel verwerpelijk.
***
Paper on
cooperation and collaboration between EMSA and FRONTEX to stop
migrants to Europe and the technology needed to close Europe's
border.
https://www.academia.edu/50947643/Cooperation_and_Collaboration_between_EMSA_and_FRONTEX
***
US Airstrikes Killed at Least 22,000 Civilians Since 9/11. UK NGO Airwars (https://airwars.org/news-and-investigations/tens-of-thousands-of-civilians-likely-killed-by-us-in-forever-wars), which analyzed declared US airstrikes since 2001, is more than twice as high at around 48,000.
***
The war has ended, the war goes on: The MQ-9 Reaper is helping the U.S. military demonstrate it can continue air strikes in Afghanistan without forces on the ground. (Reaper components produced at, among others, GKN Fokker in the Netherlands.) https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/how-effective-can-over-horizon-operations-be-afghanistan
September
12
***
Tech giants
like Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft & Twitter made billions
through contracts with the US military and government agencies during
the so-called “war on terror”, according to a report released
ahead of the 20th anniversary of 9/11. https://bigtechsellswar.com/
***
Massive
Attack cancel Liverpool gig to boycott arms fair at venue. A band
member said: arms barons are shop-windowing technologies that
inevitably harm and incarcerate people; often in the hands of states
already acknowledged to be human rights violators.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/10/massive-attack-cancel-liverpool-gig-to-boycott-arms-fair-at-venue
***
Three years
on Nigerian N50b (€102m) floating dry dock idles away The facility,
measuring 125 metres by 35metres, was built by one of the world’s
largest ship building firms, Damen Shipyards, and its partner, NIRDA,
in Amsterdam.
https://guardian.ng/business-services/three-years-on-n50b-floating-dry-dock-idles-away/
***
The
revelation that an army colonel allegedly trafficked arms from the
Tolemaida base is the latest in a series of arms trafficking scandals
involving the Colombian military.
Guns sold to Colombia’s police by Sig Sauer 2009-2011 also ended up elsewhere. https://colombiareports.com/colombia-claims-army-colonel-provided-guerrillas-with-arms-and-explosives/
***
Amerikanen
in hun hemd: coup Guinee gepleegd door commando’s die zij aan het
trainen waren
https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/amerikanen-in-hun-hemd-coup-guinee-gepleegd-door-commando-s-die-zij-aan-het-trainen-waren~b85461eb/
Maar hadden er niets mee te maken.
U.S. Forces Were Training the Guinean Soldiers Who Took Off to Stage a Coup https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/10/world/africa/guinea-coup-americans.html But had nothing to do with it.
Addition: Guinea
coup is the latest in a series of recent military takeovers in a
strategic region for Chinese trade ambitions.
China is a key player in the Guinean
economy, buying most of its bauxite and with a key stake in its iron
ore reserves
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3148473/guinea-coup-adds-growing-knots-chinas-belt-and-road-plans
Addition: Coup puts spotlight on Guinea's huge bauxite reserves https://www.africanews.com/2021/09/09/coup-puts-spotlight-on-guinea-s-huge-bauxite-reserves/
September
9
***
The dangerous
impact of 9/11 on arms control measures
Momentous decisions made during the post-2001 era have failed to control weapons of all types, but now is the time to put right those wrongs. https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/09/dangerous-impact-911-arms-control-measures
For this we,the people,have to force the powers of our time.
***
"Bush and every one of his lieutenants promoted the war with passion—or enabled it because of passivity. Not one senior member of the Bush administration stepped up and argued against the war." https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2021/september/book-reviews
***
The Indian
Ministry of Defense has approved the purchase of 56! C-295MW military
transport planes. Sixteen planes will be delivered by #Airbus from
Seville, and the other 40 will be manufactured by #Tata in India as
part of the "Make in India" policy.
https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/l-inde-s-offre-56-avions-de-transport-c-295mw-airbus-891962.html
Addition:
English: $2.5-billion buy of 56 C-295 military transport planes
cleared. The C-295 has a rear ramp door for quick loading and
unloading and for para dropping of troops and cargo.
https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/2-5-billion-acquisition-of-56-military-transport-planes-cleared-121090900032_1.html
As if poverty stricken India is in need of
billions spend on military planes.
***
#Fokker #Elmo
SASMOS Interconnection Systems, a joint venture between #GKN
Aerospace and Bengaluru/India-based SASMOS HET Tech, has bagged a
contract from Saab to manufacture electrical interconnections systems
(EWIS) for the #Boeing-#Saab T-7A Red Hawk.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/sasmos-gkn-aerospace-jv-wins-long-term-wiring-contract-from-saab-for-boeing-saab-t-7a/articleshow/86036322.cms
***
Canada
for the second year in a row is named as one of the countries helping
fuel the war in Yemen by a panel of experts monitoring the conflict
for the United Nations and investigating possible war crimes among
combatants.
:https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canada-urged-to-stop-fuelling-war-in-yemen-with-saudi-arms-sales-un/
September
8
***
On 15 January
2021, the US Bureau of Industry and Security ('BIS') published a rule
under the Export Administration Regulations ('EAR') with new
restrictions targeting 'military-#intelligence end uses/end users'
(#MIEU)
https://www.steptoe.com/images/content/2/1/v2/215042/Pages-from-THE-CHINA-QUESTION-Steptoe-Johnson-reprint-4.pdf
***
***
Selling
drones, precision weapons or stealth technology? Morocco’s Air
Force could be your next customer.
“Morocco used a UAV for the first time during its April 2021 airstrike in the Polisario Front-controlled desert area (sic!) of the Western Sahara.” https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2021/08/18/here-are-moroccos-top-priorities-for-modernizing-its-air-force/
***
Defense
industry giants Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are investing in
Orbit Fab, a San Francisco-based startup that wants to build gas
stations in space that can refuel satellites and prolong their
lifespan, the companies announced Monday.
https://www.defensenews.com/space/2021/09/07/lockheed-northrop-invest-in-a-startup-that-wants-to-refuel-satellites-in-space/
***
Two Saudi
companies to co-produce Sky Guard drone to enhance military
capabilities
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/08/22/Two-Saudi-companies-to-co-produce-Sky-Guard-drone-to-enhance-defense-capabilities
***
'Our friend's
in Kiev and Myanmar’s Armed Forces: The Ukraine Connection
According to a local advocacy group, the European nation is “aiding and abetting the atrocity crimes of the Myanmar military.”
https://thediplomat.com/2021/09/myanmars-armed-forces-the-ukraine-connection/
***
Amphib
ship/small aircraft carrier for Spanish fleet & to export.
The Turkish Anadolu is nearing completion @ shipyard in
Istanbul & expected in service by 2022. A 2nd Turkish ship of the
class reportedly is planned; more gun rattling in the Mediterranean.
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2021/september/next-generation-air-dominance-needs-new-flight-path
***
"It
has long been said that Rome fell because it could no longer afford
to pay the Centurions to man its borders," writers state in
connection to the ballooning costs of the F-36 in repect to
production, overhaal and flight hours.
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2021/september/next-generation-air-dominance-needs-new-flight-path
***
@uitgeverijMaaS JAWEL de Gutmensch Scheurkalender 2022 ligt in de boekhandel. Deze tweede editie is nog eigenzinniger, scherper, en opgewekt van toon. Met bijdragen van o.a. Adriaan van Dis, Geert Mak, Sheila Sitalsing, Micha Wertheim, Paulien Cornelisse en nog een kleine honderd anderen.
***
March 2022
Saudi arms fair almost fully booked. Those who want to raise sales in
Riyad: Embraer, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, NORINCO and Rolls
Royce. #StopArmingSaudiArabia
http://www.gulfindustryonline.com/stories/source/?url=IND_386730.html
***
Airbus in in
France, is after a contract to upgrade Algeria's Ecureuil aircraft
operated by the army and the gendarmerie, Maghreb Mergent said to
have learned from knowledgeable sources.
https://maghrebemergent.net/aeronautique-airbus-helicopters-frappe-a-nouveau-a-la-porte-de-lalgerie-pour-cette-raison/
***
Linn Htet, a
central deal maker in Myanmar's aeronautic industry was involved, via
Aero Sofi, in a US$38.6 million purchase for the air force of two
Airbus C295 military transport planes from the Jordanian air force in
2020.
https://www.sharenet.co.za/views/views-article.php?views-article=732482
***
The Colombian
Air Force command has officially announced its intention to adopt 24
T-6C "Texan-2" turboprop trainer aircraft of the American
company Textron Aviation. According to
https://www.defensa.com/colombia/fuerza-aerea-colombiana-dotara-24-aviones-entrenamiento-texan-ll
***
Egyptian
security forces have been accused of a campaign of #extrajudicial
killings disguised as shootouts with alleged militants, #HRW said in
a report, adding that the int. community should impose targeted
sanctions and halt arms exports to the country.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-extrajudicial-killing-masked-shootouts-human-rights-watch
***
Peter
Lürssen, director of German shipyard #Lürssen, is about to put
forward a proposal for the establishment of facilities not far from
Suez to enable the production of military & commercial ships
locally, which would anchor his company firmly in #Egypt.
https://www.africaintelligence.com/north-africa_business/2021/09/08/by-courting-sisi-lurssen-shipyard-hopes-to-gain-a-foothold-in-suez,109689819-art
September
7
***
Activists
block weapons and equipment from reaching the world’s largest arms
fair in London
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/activists-block-weapons-and-equipment-from-reaching-the-world-largest-arms-fair-in-london
***
Despite
everything: the show must go on, pounds must roll & security
seems to come from the battle of a gun (not schools, hospitals,
social welfare, water management, & climate policy). #StopDSEI
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dsei/2021/09/07/major-london-arms-fair-proceeds-amid-covid-fears-afghanistan-shock/
***
SIPRI/EUNPDC
Publication:
7 September 2021
Implementing the 2021 Recast of the EU Dual-use Regulation: Challenges and Opportunities
***
The
hospitalization of the former S. African president Zuma's is of
interest to justice in a court case, the so-called Thales affair
after the brothers in arms of Zuma in an alleged corruption scandal
which listed for September 9.
https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20210906-afrique-du-sud-la-remise-en-libert%C3%A9-conditionnelle-de-jacob-zuma-suscite-des-r%C3%A9actions
***
Weren't we
told in the Netherlands the F-16 was an outdated fighter aircraft;
billions must be spend on the F-35? And now two decades later the
Fighting Falcon is still considered to be acquired by the largest
global air force. In the end #Lockheed wins.
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/air-force-association/2021/09/07/new-us-air-force-study-asks-whats-the-right-number-of-f-35s/
***
The
battleship KRI RE Martadinata-331 (built by PT PAL Indonesia in
collaboration with a Dutch Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding #DSNS) is
used for security operations in Eastern Indonesia, which will goes
from the waters of Maluku to instable West-Papua.
***
UK
Stop the Arms Fair launches with protest against weapon sales to
Israel
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/stop-the-arms-fair-launches-with-protest-against-weapon-sales-to-israel
***
IAI
beats Airbus and Thales to Vietnamese spy #satellite deal [pay wall]
https://www.intelligenceonline.com/international-dealmaking/2021/09/07/iai-beats-airbus-and-thales-to-vietnamese-spy-satellite-deal,109689536-eve
September
6
***
It is so easy
to picture the US as a war addicted country, because it is.
During a 2019 speech, former US President Carter said the US is "the most warlike nation in the history of the world," it has only enjoyed 16 years of peace in its 242-year history. http://en.people.cn/n3/2021/0903/c90000-9891960.html
***
The Times of
Israel warns - by words of an undisclosed source - the Israeli
government doesn't want Biden to be to critical towards the regimes
of Al-Sisi #Egypt & bin-Salman #SaudiArabia. The source is glad
Biden's criticism is merely rhetorical so far.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-officials-cautioned-biden-against-heavy-criticism-of-egypt-saudi-arabia/
***
September 1,
the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced a
contract worth about $ 80 million for the supply of weapon systems
for the Shaldag Mk.5-class high-speed patrol boats being built by
Israel Shipyards for the Philippines.
https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2021/0903/111564354/detail.shtml
***
The #Damen
built Landing Ship Tank #LST for the Nigerian Navy (NN) would enhance
the transportation of troops, military hardware, and vehicles in the
conduct of maritime security operations launched from sea.
https://www.opinionnigeria.com/cns-gambo-and-modern-maritime-security-by-abu-ahmad-and-ahmadu-dansardauna/
***
The US
National Security Agency #NSA awarded Hewlett Packard #HP a $2
billion contract for high-performance computing capabilities the
agency needs to meet its artificial intelligence and data analytics
requirements, the company announced Wednesday.
https://www.c4isrnet.com/artificial-intelligence/2021/09/01/nsa-awards-2-billion-high-performance-computing-contract/
***
The
Pentagon is not ruling out possible collaboration with the Taliban as
it looks to target the Islamic State-Khorasan group within
Afghanistan for “over-the-horizon” counterterrorism strikes with
no U.S. forces in the country.
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/dod-taliban-collaboration-possible-strikes-targeting-isis-k
September
5
***
It's like the
failure in Afghanistan was not because of the wrong policy, but
because the military expenditure wasn't sufficient. It seems military
US & EU lobbyists use Afghanistan to get more of the tax payers
money.
https://www.militarytimes.com/congress/2021/09/02/defense-spending-increase-afghanistan-withdrawal-dominate-debate-over-defense-policy-measure/
Addition:
When all would've developed as desired it would've been an
argument to strengthen the military. Now it went the other way around
this is also argumented.
Afghanistan crisis is a 'massive defeat' for NATO but an opportunity for EU, says Timothy Garton Ash. https://www.euronews.com/2021/09/06/afghanistan-crisis-is-a-massive-defeat-for-nato-but-an-opportunity-for-eu-says-timothy-gar
***
Indian Army
to buy more than 100 explosive-laden drones from the Bengaluru firm
Alpha Design in a joint venture with Israeli firm Elbit Security
Systems.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/85883391.cms
***
Afghanistan’s
Corruption Was Made in America
How Self-Dealing Elites Failed in Both Countries
***
The estimated
value of Australian defence export permits in fiscal year 2020-21
reached about AUD2.7 billion (USD2 billion), according to recently
published official statistics.
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/australian-defence-exports-dip-in-202021
***
US defends
strike that Afghan family says killed innocents. Analysts warned that
the risk of civilian casualties during drone strikes will only grow,
now that the US no longer has on-the-ground intelligence AND (my
addition) continue its war.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2021/09/02/us-defends-strike-that-afghan-family-says-killed-innocents/
***
An
Italy-based defense firm that has supplied small drones to the
country’s special forces was quietly and illegally purchased.
Police said they discovered the real owners of Alpi Aviaton were “two
important government-owned companies in China.”
https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2021/09/03/italian-police-raid-drone-maker-over-alleged-chinese-takeover/
***
Transfers
of major arms to Afghanistan between 2001 and 2020 by Siemon Wezeman
and @Alex_Kuimova, SIPRI.
https://sipri.org/commentary/topical-backgrounder/2021/transfers-major-arms-afghanistan-between-2001-and-2020
September 2
***
Answer given
by Mr Breton on behalf of the European Commission (1.9.2021) about
the defence research project OCEAN2020
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2021-003073-ASW_EN.pdf
on a question about alleged drone swarms in the Mediterranean and the
Baltic by MEP Özlem Demirel (Die Linke).
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2021-003073_EN.html
***
Die Linke
wanted a German halt on arms exports to the Middle East and
especially Pakistan, because of its support to the Taliban. The
request was rejected by all other parties in a committee meeting on
Wednesday. https://www.bundestag.de/presse/hib/856352-856352
***
"ongoing
crackdown on local human rights groups casts serious doubt that
#Kazakhstan’s leadership is genuinely interested in reforms or
improving its rights record," HRW reported in January.
This country will be client at European
#Airbus for A400M plane?
https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/air-defense/airbus-decroche-un-premier-client-a-lexport-pour-la400m-1342499
Addition:
In English: The Republic of Kazakhstan orders two Airbus A400Ms
https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2021/09/the-republic-of-kazakhstan-orders-two-airbus-a400ms.html
***
As it
continues with fleet expansion, the Nigerian Navy earlier this year
received two patrol vessels from Damen and is acquiring two more
offshore patrol vessels as well as fast patrol craft from China.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/nigerian-navy-received-two-damen-patrol-vessels-multiple-additional-vessels-on-order/
Addition: Wrote back in May: Dutch naval and maritime protection of Shell in Nigeria https://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2021/05/dutch-naval-and-maritime-protection-of.html
***
"Offended,
irritated and worried" workers of Damen Shipyards Mangalia wharf
in Romania PROTEST on Thursday, September 2, between 16:30 and 18:00
in front of the HOUSE OF CULTURE in Mangalia against the steadily
decreasing work force.
https://amosnews.ro/jigniti-iritati-si-ingrijorati-protestam/
Learn the Impact of
ITAR, EAR & OFAC Controls on Non-US Companies, Affiliates,
Transactions
EXPORT COMPLIANCE TRAINING SEMINAR
SERIES
11-12, 13-14 October
@ Hilton Amsterdam Hotel
Apollolaan 138, Amsterdam, Netherlands
https://www.learnexportcompliance.com/event/amsterdam-2021/
Ohhhh cost: both seminars: $3,250!
***
Wij hadden
Prins Bernard sr. (gisteren werd weer een hoofdstukje aan zijn CV
toegevoegd) en hebben zijn kwalijke opvolger.
In Denemarken hebben ze een prins die open en bloot meegaat op een trip om wapens te verkopen: Brigadier General Prince Joachim. https://www.danskindustri.dk/arrangementer/soeg/arrangementer/internationalt/forsvarsdelegation-paris-2021/
***
If they bomb
by accident innocent civilians
(https://guardian.ng/news/nigerian-air-force-denies-bombing-innocent-civilians/),
you know where they are trained.
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2021/08/31/nigerian-air-force-super-tucanos-ready-to-fight-against-isis-with-us-air-force-training/
#Nigeria #Moody #US
***
Enough isn't
enough. US House Armed Services Committee has endorsed a Republican
plan - backed by Democrats - to add $24 bn more than President Biden
requested for defence. This will increase R&D spnding by $5.2bn
and for weapons procurement $9.8bn.
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/budget/2021/09/01/house-panel-approves-25-billion-defense-boost/
***
"While
the Moscow-Riyadh partnership is developing slowly, there seems to be
little optimism about its possible success as there are no
fundamental factors that can push it to the next level making Russia
just one among many of Saudi Arabia's key partners"
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/russia-saudi-arabia-egypt-military-cooperation-increasing
September
1
***
€ 8.6
billion agreement. France, Germany and Spain have finalized an
agreement to finance the future European air combat system, with the
SCAF or FCAS program expected to replace current fighter jets around
2040.
https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/air-defense/paris-berlin-et-madrid-prevoient-86-milliards-deuros-pour-le-futur-avion-de-combat-europeen-1342107
Addition:
"It's almost a tradition in Europe" (French frustration):
the main European states launch competing new generation fighter jet
programs. Here FCAS and the Tempest, even managing to get Italy and
Sweden on board.
https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/air-defense/leurope-part-desunie-dans-la-course-aux-avions-de-combat-de-sixieme-generation-1342152
But US Boeing and Lockheed do the same.
***
"The FRC
design is based on a Dutch patrol boat design, the Damen Stan Patrol
Boat 4708."
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/21040977/r44972-13.pdf
The FRC is build by Bollinger Shipyard since 2011. The ships are
armed with
1 × 25 mm autocannon
4 × M2 machine guns
Party based in Bahrain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel-class_cutter
Addition: US Coast Guard modernises fleet, expands presence in Indo-Pacific to counter ‘bad actors in the region’ https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3148209/us-coast-guard-modernises-fleet-expands-presence-indo-pacific
***
US
trained Khashoggi's killers. A review of all military training
programs is necessary, argue William D. Hartung and Elias Yousif.
Recent revelations have exposed the United States' role in providing military and paramilitary training to at least some of the alleged hitmen behind two of the most high-profile assassinations of the past decade -- the murder of Saudi journalist and political dissident Jamal Khashoggi, and the recent killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/30/opinions/khashoggi-moise-killers-us-military-trained-hartung-yousif/index.html
