Belgium Reveals Wish List For New Fighter

Belgian defense officials have detailed their wish list for their future fighter aircraft,while preparing to present their case to the country’s next government. But despite shortlisting five Western fighters last summer, there are indications that the country may be drawing closer toward selection of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
aviationweek

Belgium Seeks More Information For F-16 Replacement

The Belgian government has started a survey process to pave the way for a program to replace the country’s F-16 fighter fleet.
The Air Combat Capability Successor Program Preparation Survey document, published on Jan. 8, follows on from a survey last June sent to the government agencies requesting information from the five perceived successors: Lockheed Martin’s F-35, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault’s Rafale and the Saab Gripen.
Over 25 pages, the new document outlines what Belgium wants to get out of its new fighter, assessing the operational capabilities, technical and logistical aspects as well as the costs and risks. With that information, the Belgian defense ministry will then be able to ask the government for approval to start the F-16 successor program.
Belgium believes its F-16s will reach the end of their operational lives in the mid- to late 2020s. So it wants to embark on a program that will start to deliver aircraft by the end of 2022, with full operational capability achieved by 2029.
The document places considerable emphasis on the need for a partner or partnership for the program to succeed, pointing to the success the country has had with its F-16 purchase along with other European NATO members.
Belgium wants to continue its track record of successful support of NATO and international operations with its future fighter fleet. Even now, Belgium has aircraft deployed in Jordan to support the U.S. led-coalition against Islamic State fighters in Iraq. Belgium wants to be able to deploy as many as 10 fighters for a sustained period of undetermined duration, or "execute a one-time participation in a multinational operation with a maximum engagement of 30 aircraft.
aviationweek

Belgium Receives Last NH90 Troop Transport Helicopter

The last of four NH90 troop transport helicopters ordered by Belgium, was handed over in Marignane, France, Nov. 13.
The other three have clocked up 450 flying hours since the first one entered service Oct. 2, 2013. Belgian pilots are among the most intensive users of the NH90, wiht an average availability of 67%.
The last two of four NATO Frigate Helicopters ordered by Belgium will be delivered at the end of November and the first half of 2015, respectively, replacing navy Sea Kings in the search and rescue role.
aviationweek

Belgian F-16 launches first strike in Iraq

A Belgian F-16 has carried out Belgium's first bombing raid in the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq.
Belgium has contributed six F-16 bombers to the United States-led air campaign against Islamic State militants, backing up Iraqi and Kurdish troops on the ground.
Two of the Belgian jets were flying their first reconnaissance missions over Iraqi territory on Sunday when they were called to action.
After the positive identification of a terrorist element attacking Iraqi security forces, one of the war planes was asked to launch an air strike.
The Belgian aircraft intervened with a GPS-guided bomb, resulting in the immediate neutralisation of the enemy threat.
smh.com.au

Spain offers India advanced ship building technology

Spain is offering to build ships and submarines for the Indian Navy in India with transfer of technology.
The Indian Navy, which is expanding with the acquisition of large ships like aircraft carriers, would need supply ships like the Cantabria, which is on a year-long voyage to display its technology and utility.
The double-hulled 19,500-ton Cantabria, designated a combat supply ship (CSC), is a well-designed and capable vessel with place for two large or three medium helicopters, 24×7 sensors and self-defence guns, 8,000 cubic meters of ship fuel, 2,000 cubic metres of jet fuel, 200 tons of fresh water and a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km). It can simultaneously refuel three ships.
The Spanish submarines, designated S-80, are using an innovative AIP system to charge fuel cells, similar to those in the US space shuttle programme.
Cantabria’s commanding officer, pointed out that his ship had left La Grana naval port on January 3 for 11 months’ deployment with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and will return home on December 21, spending 200 days of the period in the water. That itself demonstrates the capability of the ship.
The US Navy, which has the world’s largest ships in its aircraft carriers, generally deploys vessels for about six months at a time, Nieto observed, pointing out that Cantabria could comfortably sustain a mission of about one year.
Cantabria is totally computerized, and the captain can manage all its operations with one laptop from anywhere on the vessel by hooking onto its two main computers on the bridge. Every single door or cranes can be operated in real time.
Senior officers of the Indian Navy and industry were invited to witness the technology aboard the Cantabria.
Navantia has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which is already working with the Indian Navy in heavy engineering and has built parts of the indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant and fast attack craft (FAC). Navantia and L&T are working jointly on building four LPDs like INS Jalashwa for amphibious military operations and disaster relief for the Indian Navy.
freepressjournal

First A400M flies into retirement

Airbus Military has reduced the size of its "Grizzly" development fleet of A400M tactical transports to three, after retiring its first-flight example and placing another aircraft into storage.
First flown on 11 December 2009, MSN1 was the first of five test aircraft to be flown in support of the eight-nation A400M programme. The aircraft performed its final flight from Toulouse, France on 4 November
The aircraft will be preserved and put on public view, with Airbus's heritage department to decide on its final display location next year.
In addition to Grizzly 1's removal from use, aircraft MSN3 has also now been placed into long-term storage. It is not intended to fly again, but could be returned to flight-test duties if required.
Airbus Military's remaining three development aircraft will be used to support the ongoing introduction of additional capabilities for the A400M. Two of the type have been delivered to the French air force, with Turkey due to receive its first example before year-end. Further customers for the type are Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain and the UK, with a total order book for 174 aircraft.
flightglobal

El buque de aprovisionamiento de combate ‘Cantabria’ hace escala en la isla de Diego García

El buque de aprovisionamiento de combate (BAC) ‘Cantabria’ ha partido de la isla de Diego García (Territorio Británico del Océano Índico), segunda y última escala de la navegación que llevará al buque español a aguas australianas, donde estará desplegado en cooperación con la Marina Australiana hasta final de año.
Desde que partiera de su base el pasado 3 de enero, el buque ha hecho 25 días de mar con una parada logística en el puerto de Souda (Creta).
Durante su navegación por el Mediterráneo, el ‘Cantabria’ ha contribuido a la Operación ‘Active Endeavour’ de vigilancia en aguas internacionales del Mediterráneo. Una vez efectuado el cruce del canal de Suez, y durante el tránsito por el Golfo de Adén, ha colaborado con distintas unidades de la Operación ‘Atalanta’ de lucha contra la piratería, suministrando combustible y víveres.
El despliegue del ‘Cantabria’ permitirá a la Armada operar en un escenario de marcado interés estratégico, mejorar el adiestramiento del buque y su dotación a unos niveles muy superiores a los que permite el actual escenario de restricciones presupuestarias, y poner a prueba los mecanismos de apoyo a despliegues de larga duración.
Para esta misión, el Comandante del buque, capitán de fragata José Luis Nieto Fernández, cuenta con una dotación de 146 hombres y mujeres. Además, durante el tránsito a Sidney han embarcado doce miembros de la Marina Australiana, que se han integrado plenamente con la dotación del buque español.
armada.mde.es