Des nouvelles de la British Army

[Invité Rob]

Je n'ai pas su aussi que le Starstreak est sur le Stormer.

Le Stormer comme un missile platform peut avoir 8 Starstreaks (24 "warheads") sur le Stormer et encore une fois 9 en le vehicule.  =)

Le chart d'organisation est interessant aussi.

[Philippe Top-Force]

Félicitations au webmaster du site de la BA et à son équipe.  8)

Le NLOS de côté.

Et le Jackal, combien il y en a en ce moment en dotation ?

[Invité Rob]

1) Je ne pense pas que nous remplacons les AS90s en les prochaines annees, on a decide de moderniser environ cent.

2) On a commande 200+ Jackals en moment.

3) Je clairement veut le M777 pour le 16 AAB, mais on a modernise les L118s et ils vont rester en service en les prochaines annees.

Sur le AS90, apres la modification ils peuvent tirer jusqu'a 80 kilometres avec "guided" munitions.

L118 - environ 140 en service

[Will]

une triste nouvelle: un helicoptere d'entrainement de l'army s'est crasher au Devon, les deux a bord sont morts. Il est probable que ceci est un "squirrel" mais on est pas encore certain (des gens diesnt un Lynx).

----

Par rapport a LIMAWS®, suite a l'annule le MoD veut plus de M270 "modernise" au standard B1. Au meme moment, Brown va se debarasse de nos munitions M85 pour faire plaisir au ONG  :P

UK MoD cancels LIMAWS® programme

Christopher F Foss Jane's Land Consultant

Bovington

Key Points

The LIMAWS® programme for the UK's Royal Artillery has been cancelled

The UK will now upgrade an additional M270 tracked MLRS

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed to Jane's that it has cancelled the Lockheed Martin UK INSYS Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System (Rocket) (LIMAWS®) programme, earmarked for deployment with the Royal Artillery.

In 2007 the company responded to an invitation to tender for the development and manufacture phase of LIMAWS® issued by the Future Artillery Weapons Systems Integrated Product Team (IPT) of the then Defence Procurement Agency.

Under an earlier assessment phase contract, the company built a prototype LIMAWS® system that undertook a series of mobility, air portability, wading and firing trials with unguided training rockets, which were successfully completed in 2006.

It was originally expected that a total of 24 production LIMAWS® systems would be supplied for use by the Royal Artillery in early-entry missions with the current M270 227 mm (12-round) Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) being used by the British Army's heavy brigades.

Under a separate programme, the Royal Artillery has already taken delivery of its first batch of M270 systems upgraded to the M270B1 standard, with the first of these deployed to Afghanistan in 2007. The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) was ordered under a separate USD55 million contract placed with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

The M270B1 is fitted with an upgraded powerpack and the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Future Fire Control System, but not the Electric Drive Launcher System that equips the US Army's upgraded M270A1 launchers.

To counterbalance the LIMAWS® cancellation, the MoD has decided to upgrade an additional 12 M270s to the M270B1 standard, giving the Royal Artillery a total of 36 M270B1s capable of firing the precision-strike GMLRS.

According to Lockheed Martin UK INSYS, there will be no negative impact in terms of jobs. Staff are being redeployed to other areas including the major Land Environment Air Picture Provision programme, for which a GBP100 million (USD198 million) production contract was recently placed by the UK MoD.

The recently formed Artillery Systems IPT is now working with Lockheed Martin INSYS UK to close out the LIMAWS® programme as quickly as possible.

In a statement it added: "[The] LIMAWS® assessment phase has been very successful and the IPT look forward to maintaining a strong relationship with Lockheed Martin."

If fielded, the LIMAWS® system would have provided early-entry forces with a precision-strike capability, which they currently lack. A key feature of the system is that it could be deployed by C-130 aircraft and carried slung under a CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

The British Army also had a requirement for a LIMAWS (Gun) (LIMAWS(G)), with trials of two 155 mm contenders carried out in 2005. This programme has also been cancelled by the MoD.

In addition to the MLRS, the Royal Artillery also deploys two conventional tube artillery systems: the BAE Systems Land Systems 105 mm Light Gun; and the 155 mm/39-calibre AS90 self-propelled artillery system.

It was expected that part of this capability would have been replaced by the LIMAWS(G) but a number of options are being studied under the Future Indirect Fire System, which could be a new weapon system or even an upgrade of the existing two systems. As with all UK programmes, funding will be a critical issue.

Lockheed Martin UK INSYS has also converted four M270 MLRS platforms into the repair and recovery vehicle configuration for use by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; final deliveries of these took place in 2006.

COMMENT

While the number of upgraded M270B1 systems will be increased if fielded, LIMAWS® would have proved to be very useful in areas such as Afghanistan where road-bound platforms have proved to be highly vulnerable to attack from roadside bombs and ambush.

While the UK MoD has funded elements of LIMAWS, industry has also made significant investments and, in the case of BAE Systems Land Systems, built a complete system to meet the LIMAWS(G) requirement

[Extramusicaman]

Ca veut dire que la British Army n'a elle aussi plus de sous munition?

[Will]

Ca veut dire que la British Army n'a elle aussi plus de sous munition?

On dirait bien. les MLRS vont tire que des munnitions guides....

EDIT1: le traite a Dublin interdit les "cluster munnitions" actuelles, mais permet le developpement de nouveaux "plus sures". A suivre?

EDIT2: une autre nouvelle est que le MoD veut ajoute du protection anti mines aux vikings, sans doute en ajjoutant du armure sur le chassis.

[Will]

Les sous munitions, suite:

(source: Defence News, blog du MoD, 30/05/2008)

http://www.blogs.mod.uk/defence_news/

Cluster Munitions and military capability

A comment piece in the Telegraph argues that UK plans to discontinue using cluster munitions are driven by political correctness and will adversely affect military capability.  The MOD has worked closely with the FCO, who led the negotiations in Dublin, to come to this week’s agreement. We will of course comply fully with our national and international obligations. Cluster munitions have provided the Military with a strategic capability to fulfil its responsible and legitimate defence needs whilst minimising a post-conflict humanitarian risk. However, the Military accepts the case for making them unlawful in order to help prevent states, who may not use the weapons in the same strict lawful manner as the UK, from causing unacceptable harm to civilians. We have a new system coming on-stream in 2012 (the Ballistic Sensor Fused Munition or BSFM) which will fulfil the anti-armour capability previously performed by the M85 cluster munition.  We will also ensure that suitable alternatives to the M73 direct-fire armament will deliver the military effect required.

Ouf, le "politically correct" n'a pas encore tout emporte  :P

[Invité Rob]

Des chooses interessant du nouveau magazin de DE&S "desider" (remplace DE&S Newsletter et Preview):

1) 93 Warriors etaient modernise en trois mois pour 60 millions de livres. Les Warriors ont maintentant, avec WRAP 2 un plus meilleur blinde. On a donne ces vehicules aussi "electronic countermeasures" et autres chooses.

It’s a Wrap! Warrior upgr

THE ARMY’S Warrior armoured vehicle is boasting new protection as it patrols the streets of southern

Iraq.The upgraded vehicle has helped increase the confidence of crews as they battle the twin threat of rocket propelled

grenades and improvised explosive devices. Wrap 2 replaced the steel bar armour which surrounded the vehicle with new

compound materials in an upgrade costing £60 million for the 90-plus vehicles on Operation Telic. A further part of the upgrade saw

the vehicles get extra kit, including air conditioning, mine blast protection and electronic countermeasures in a series of urgent operational requirements completed in the stunningly short time of three months.

“We had to move extremely quickly, and we did,” said a spokesman for DE&S’ Medium Armoured Systems team. “We had to protect Warrior and we had to save lives.” A number of incidents involving mines on Operation Telic have seen personnel

emerge with only minor injuries. The upgrade is having its desired effect. Original flat panels on Warrior were found wanting against rocket propelled grenades, so bar armour was installed which prevented grenades exploding on

contact with the vehicle. But improvised explosive devices, set low and near the vehicle, could get under the armour and potentially cause serious damage. A steel plate across the bottom of the vehicle was an effective, if temporary,

solution. “Wrap 2 is a different concept,” said the spokesman. “We have gone for a radical new compound around the vehicle, which helps protect against all forms of grenade.” The compound is said to be six times more effective than other protection.

Bar armour has been retained at the front and back of the Warrior, and around the turret. “The vehicle is slightly heavier and

slightly less manoeuvrable but it’s worth it. It gives greater protection and is much more effective,” the spokesman added. “And we can change the armour according to the threat. It gives the commander on the ground more choice in what he wants to do to meet the threat. It’s a lot simpler to fit, and a lot easier to maintain.” The fitting of the new upgrades, – the project called Woodstock included well over 600 UORs on the Operation Telic Warrior fleet – was a logistical nightmare, but completed with huge co-operation between all parties. Work on the vehicles began in Kuwait last November as the first of 93 vehicles

arrived. A mixed military and civilian team of Defence Support Group fitters and soldiers from MND(SE), 7 an 20 Armoured Brigades

worked round the clock, with back-up involvement from Defence Supply Chain Operations and Movements and the Defence Logistics Operations Centre.

Leading the way for the DE&S IPT was Warrior equipment manager Major Jim McClung and technical support warrant officer Colin Lyons, while the Land Forces project manager was Major Nick Mackenzie who deployed for the duration of the project to the Kuwait Support Facility in Camp Buehring. Huge amounts of kit and personnel were transported by strategic air transport (747s and Antonovs) to Kuwait international airport for work to take place. From there the kit was moved by road to Camp Buehring where it was worked on by the Woodstock team. Inservice date was met last December with full operating capability in February this year. “The feedback we are getting is extremely positive and I am confident we have saved lives,” said the spokesman. “The confidence the vehicle now gives the troops on the ground has increased fivefold. As soldiers we feel good because we have managed to improve force protection in theatre.”

2) Le Challenger 2 a maintenant encore une fois meilleur blinde.

3) Le SA80 a maintenat 21 ans. Le OSD est environ 2020. On a environ 200000 A2s et encore une fois 17000 vont etre modernise au

    A2 standard pour les Cadets. L'avis des soldats britanniques est que le nouveau standard est excellent.

4) Le premier Jackal (de 200+) est arrivee en l'Afghanistan et le premier Watchkeeper UAV a son premier vol a Israel. 54 systemes

    vont produire au Royaume-Uni et opere par 32 Royal Artillery Regiment.

Link.

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/8F4E1958-BAB2-4E59-BB71-76D61C28BD1D/0/desider_01_may2008.pdf

[Dadou]

Salut

The British Army will soon deploy new heavy recovery vehicles and trailers based on the 32 ton truck produced by MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd. The new vehicles will be capable of retrieving the heaviest vehicles on operations. Such heavy vehicles were required to support the Mastiff heavy protected wheeled vehicle, the medium protected combat vehicle and other wheeled vehicles deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years. 288 Recovery Vehicles will be delivered with 69 Recovery trailers to equip troops on operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan where required.

Powered by a 440Hp, 10.5litre, 6 cylinder turbo diesel engines, the new recovery vehicles will be a powerful replacement for the existing Foden fleet. They are fully compliant with the latest emissions legislation (Euro 4) without the need for fuel additives, and can also operate, without preparation, on aviation fuel. The vehicle has an 8x8 wheel drive and self levelling suspension to negotiate rough terrain. The vehicle can be fitted with appliqué armor packs to protect the crew from ballistic and blast threat. It also comes ready for a BOWMAN radio installation. The recovery mission equipment includes cranes and winches, designed by ECA based in Gerrads cross, London. It is manufactured and bolted to the main chassis by Atlas Terex, based in Motherwell, Scotland. The new recovery vehicle is capable of lifting 15 tons at a distance of 2.3 meters, and can tow a 44 ton vehicle.

The procurement of the heavy recovery vehicles and trailers is part of a £1.3Bn Support Vehicle (SV) procurement program designed to modernize the Army's logistical backbone with 7,285 new trucks and utility vehicles. Under this program all military branches will receive a common cargo and recovery platform that will increase the military materiel lift/distribution and recovery capability. The program is procuring a fleet of vehicles consisting of 42 variants but effectively based around the Light, Medium and Heavy Cargo Vehicles (6, 9 and 15 ton respectively), the 7,000 litre Unit Support Tanker, the Recovery Vehicle and the Recovery trailer. These vehicles will replace the in-service 4, 8 and 14 ton cargo vehicles and the 3 in-service recovery vehicle types.

[Will]

Un AS90 de D Battery, 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery "repond" a des mortiers de insurges a Tallil en mars. D Battery a deployer du COB a l aeroport de Basra pour aller plus au nord donner une aide aux allies americains, australiens et roumains contre les attaques frequentes de rocquettes et mortiers. Un radar "mamba" est la pour guider directement la "return fire" de la batterie.

11 Joint CRAM Battery, 16th Regiment Royal Artillery est revenue d'Iraq et parade a Oakham. Ils ont pendant 6 mois ete responsable de proteger la COB de Basra de tirs ennemis avec le systeme CRAM, base sur le phallanx.

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsnhyTiTqk4

[Invité Rob]

Cougar begins its transformation into the Ridgback

Cougar begins its transformation into the Ridgback

An Equipment and Logistics news article

13 Jun 08

British troops in the urban environments of Afghanistan and Iraq are set to benefit from greater protection as the first "Cougar" vehicles begin their transformation into "Ridgbacks".

Graphic Impression of the Ridgback

Graphic Impression of the Ridgback

[Picture: via MOD]

The MOD has ordered 157 Cougar 4x4s from Force Protection Incorporated in America, as an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR).

Having arrived in the UK, the Cougar base vehicles will morph into the Ridgback - being upgraded with integrated additional protection, weapons, communications systems and specialist electronic counter-measures equipment - and then join their big brother, the Mastiff, on operations.

Ridgback and Mastiff protected vehicles, along with the Viking, Bulldog, Warrior, Vector, and Snatch (all currently being used on operations) are variously suited to different threats, terrains and tempos of operation. Together, they give UK commanders the ability to choose the best vehicles for each situation.

The total number of new protected vehicles MOD is delivering to support operations in Afghanistan and Iraq now stands at almost 600.

Defence Secretary, Des Browne said:

"I am determined to do all that I can to get more armoured vehicles out to our forces on operations – to give Commanders a choice about what vehicles they use. The Mastiffs have saved lives out in theatre and we have ordered the Ridgback because it is a smaller version of the Mastiff – offering our forces first-rate protection with more manoeuvrability."

Cougar and Mastiff

A 4x4 Cougar (right) sits next to its big brother, the 6x6 Mastiff

[Picture: MOD]

Baroness Taylor, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support said:

"Mastiff has been a huge success, well liked by troops on patrol, offering high levels of protection against mines and roadside bombs and it has saved our soldiers lives on many occasions. As a smaller version of the Cougar 6x6 vehicle which underpins Mastiff, the Cougar 4x4 was the natural choice to become the Ridgback protected vehicle.

"Ridgback will give our troops a further boost continuing the significant improvements we have made to the protection of our forces in Afghanistan and Iraq."

The Ridgback will offer high protection, similar to the Mastiff, but in a smaller vehicle. It will provide greater protected accessibility in urban environments, whilst Mastiff will continue to operate in the urban fringe and rural environments.

Link.

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/CougarBeginsItsTransformationIntoTheRidgback.htm

[Will]

Je me demande si le slat armour dessus est le nouveau LORD de BAE...il est en alluminium et est 50% moins lourde.

[Invité Rob]

Je n'ai pas ecoute de LORD. Tu as plus des informations svp?

[Will]

Je n'ai pas ecoute de LORD. Tu as plus des informations svp?

voici

http://www.defense-update.com/newscast/0707/news/170707_LORD_armor.htm

EDIT: et voici

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/baes-lrod-cage-armor-03473/

c est LROD le nom, j ai recopie le premier article mais ils ont fait une erreur

[Will]

Afghanistan

* Il est attendu que Des Browne va annonce cet apres midi le renfort de 230 hommes au Helmand. Ceci vont surtout etre (on pense) des ingenieurs, experts en logistiques et entraineurs pour aider le (re)developpement de l infrastructure et l entrainement de l'armee et police afghan. Le "focus" est passe du combat au developpement pour les commandants la bas.

*un Battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel David Richmond (commanding officer of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), 41 ans, est devenu le plus "senior" personnel a etre blesse au combat en Afghanistan. Il a recu une balle dans sa jambe en menant ses soldats contre des taliban dans la zone de Musa Qala. Le Lieutenant Colonel est un veteran d'Irlande et Iraq et a servi 22 ans dans l armee, il va etre ramener au UK pour les soins.

*Le nombre de collis que recoivent les soldats de la maison ont double depuis que ce service est devenu gratuit en 2007.

* Des Browne sur la situation des helicopteres en Iraq/ Afghanistan (20/05/2008)

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2008-05-20a.15WS.3

pour etre rationnel, l'Iraq a les Pumas et Merlins et l'Afghanistan a les Chinooks et Sea King ammeliores.

EDIT: declaration de Des Browne qui confirme le renfort

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/DefenceSecretaryAnnouncesAfghanTroopIncrease.htm

[Invité grinch]

C'est des protection active les "bidules" a 6 coups ?

il s'agit du systeme Mangooste de Saab, protection active

This October live-fire tests of the LEDS system installed in a Mowag Piranha will be undertaken against a range of threat types. The Swiss manufacturer has chosen LEDS as its preferred active protection system after an exhaustive evaluation of 27 competing solutions. Last month the Piranha V was provisionally chosen for the first phase of the British Army’s FRES competition, and LEDS is being offered. The system has already been procured by the Dutch army for its BAE Hägglunds CV90 tracked IFVs, and again is the preferred fit for this widely used family of vehicles. LEDS is shortlisted for the French AMX-10RC upgrade, and is also being considered for the US Army/Marine Corps.

[g4lly]

il s'agit du systeme Mangooste de Saab, protection active

Merci de la précision, c'est plus sexy que le shark meme si ca fait un peut star war :)

[Philippe Top-Force]

an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR). Si la France pouvait s'en inspirer de ce système de fonctionnement d'acquisition pour ses futures dotations en OPEX et régiment.  8)

[Invité Rob]

Supacat presente un nouveau variant du Jackal. Le MoD a commande 130 et va commander en plus 72. Trois autres pays ont commande le Jackal, dont l'Australie.

Supacat stretches out

Tuesday, 17 June, 2008

Supacat stretches out

Being shown at Eurosatory for the first time is the latest Supacat HMT 4x4 Extenda (E) cross-country vehicle.

This is reconfigurable from the standard 4x4 version to the enhanced capability 6x6 model in a matter of hours using standard tools.

The baseline 4x4 version has a payload of 3 tonnes and five people, but with the addition of a bolt on rear module and axle, it becomes a 6x6 vehicle with a 4.5-tonne payload. This is a further development of the Jackal that is already in quantity production for the British Army as the replacement for the Weapon Mount Installation Kit (WMIK) Land Rover vehicles, which have seen extensive operational use in Afghanistan and Iraq. An initial order for 130 Supacat Jackal Mobility WMIK was placed last year with Supacat being the design authority and production being undertaken by Babcock Marine Engineering at Devonport.

The vehicle is now in service in Afghanistan with more than 50 units delivered. An additional Jackal order is expected to be placed in the future by the UK MoD for a further 72 units.

Three unspecified customers have also ordered the vehicle with one of these understood to be Australia as a replacement for some of its Land Rover (6x6) vehicles. They are normally armed with various combinations of .50 (12.7mm) M2 HB and 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns and 40mm Automatic Grenade launchers. They have also been fitted with enhanced blast protection systems.

Equipment options include medium and heavy weapons fits, sensor and defensive aids suites and various navigation and comms systems. According to Nick Ames, managing director of Supacat Ltd, “ The British MoD has shown confidence in the HMT series by purchasing significant numbers of the Jackal. The HMT 4x4 E is the latest generation and we are confident that it will meet with the same degree of success.”

Jankel a presente leur nouveu Hunter ISV, un vehicule tres low cost qui a gagne la premiere commande. Le design et prototyping et fait en le Royaume-Uni, la production est fait en le Jordanie.

Hunter ISV enters production

Christopher F Foss

Wednesday, 18 June, 2008

Hunter ISV enters production

The new Jankel Armouring Hunter (4x4) internal security vehicle (IS V) is being shown in public for the first time at Eurosatory (Stand N080).

Hunter is entering production for an undisclosed export customer in the Jankel production facility in Jordan, which is called the Jordan Light Vehicle Manufacturing Plant. This is a joint venture with King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau. Hunter is being targeted at potential African and Middle East customers that have a requirement for a low-cost and reliable vehicle.

Hunter has a crew of two (commander and driver) and can carry six dismounts, who are seated on individual seats and can rapidly leave the vehicle via twin doors at the rear. Six firing ports/observation windows are provided and there is a two-part roof hatch.

Hunter is marketed with a 4.2-litre six-cylinder diesel or a 4.5-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, both coupled to a manual transmission. The 180-litre fuel tank gives an operating range of about 900km with a maximum road speed of 120km/h. All-welded steel armour body provides protection against attack from 7.62 x 51mm ball attack, but higher levels of protection are available.

The vehicle is based on a Toyota 79 Land Cruiser (4x4) cross-country chassis. This chassis is also used as the basis for the Jankel Armouring Fox (Al Thalab) Long Range Patrol Vehicle. The early Mk 1 Fox has been sold to numerous countries in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Production of the Mk 2 is underway in Jordan, with Brunei being first customer, having ordered six Mk 2 Fox units for delivery this year.

[Invité Rob]

JCB presente son HMEE, des centaines sont commandes par le Royaume-Uni, les USA et deux autres pays.

Le HMEE roule aussi vite qu’il creuse

Le High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE) de JCB (Royaume-Uni) est le premier tracto-pelle spécifiquement conçu pour un emploi militaire. Il allie un blindage sur mesure à une très grande mobilité tactique.

Capable de rouler à 90 km/h, il n’exige donc pas de véhicule transporteur et peut suivre les colonnes blindées de façon autonome, allégeant ainsi la facture logistique. Le HMEE a été commandé pour l’instant à plusieurs centaines d’exemplaires par les Etats-Unis, le Royaume- Uni et deux autres pays. Les premières livraisons sont attendues en septembre. (Stand G080)

[Will]

supplement DVD08 de Desider (tout en bas) avec une vue des choses qui vont etre la dans ce salon et une carte pour visiteurs.

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/MicroSite/DES/OurPublications/desider/

On apprend que le remplacement des TUL (Land Rovers) s appelle le Operational Utility Vehicle System et doit rentre en service en 2012.

[Alskandre]

LeFigaro.fr, 26/06/08,

"Le Royaume-Uni doit choisir entre l'Afghanistan et l'Irak"

"Le chef des armées a averti mercredi qu'il n'avait pas les moyens de mener deux guerres de front. Une façon de dire que la Grande-Bretagne doit quitter l'Irak si elle veut rester en Afghanistan.

«Nous sommes sur la corde raide,» a commenté sir Jock Stirrup, le chef des forces armées britanniques, à propos des deux opérations militaires menées simultanément par le Royaume-Uni en Irak et en Afghanistan. Ces propos ne vont pas plaire au gouvernement de Gordon Brown, dont les ministres ne cessent d'assurer que le pays a les moyens d'être présent sur les deux fronts. «Nous ne sommes pas suffisamment structurés et équipés pour tenir sur une longue durée, a précisé sir Jock Stirrup. Tant que nous ne laisserons pas tomber une opération, nous serons tendus.»

Il y a quelques mois, le plus haut gradé de l'armée de terre, sir Richard Dannatt, avait lui aussi regretté le manque de moyens pour mener deux conflits de front. Les militaires ne le formulent pas explicitement mais leur message est clair, d'après le colonel Christopher Langton, analyste à l'Institut international d'études stratégiques (IISS) de Londres. «C'est un appel adressé aux hommes politiques, qui affichent des ambitions importantes sur deux fronts, mais ne donnent aux armées les moyens qu'ils promettent», dit ce spécialiste de l'Afghanistan.

L'avertissement du plus haut gradé britannique a pris une résonance particulière au moment où le ministère de la Défense annonçait, mercredi, le décès de deux soldats dans le sud de l'Afghanistan. En deux semaines, le Royaume-Uni a perdu pas moins de dix militaires, ce qui en fait la période la plus meurtrière depuis le début de l'intervention, en 2001.

Bombes artisanales

Les images de cercueils recouverts de drapeaux britanniques provoquent des interrogations dans la population sur le bien-fondé des sacrifices consentis. D'autant plus que les jeunes Britanniques ne meurent pas héroïquement au combat, mais sont victimes de bombes artisanales placées sur le bord des routes. Leurs Land Rover ne sont pas assez blindées. «Ça donne l'image que l'armée britannique ne peut prendre soin de ses soldats», regrette le colonel Langton.

Pourtant, l'intervention britannique en Afghanistan n'a jamais été remise en question, contrairement à la guerre en Irak, qui a provoqué d'immenses manifestations dans le pays. Londres maintient 7 800 hommes en Afghanistan et quelque 4 000 autres en Irak. Depuis quelques mois, la tendance est plutôt de concentrer les efforts sur la lutte contre les talibans. Lors de la visite du président George W. Bush à Londres, il y a dix jours, le ministre de la Défense, Des Browne, avait annoncé l'envoi de renforts en Afghanistan. Des renforts modestes, de seulement 230 soldats, qui montraient bien que le Royaume-Uni n'avait que peu de marge de manœuvre. D'après la BBC, Gordon Brown devrait préciser ses plans de retrait d'Irak avant la fin de l'année. Une information non démentie par le gouvernement."

[Will]

Stretch and support for UK Forces

Various print media report a discussion between journalists and the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, on supporting the forces and stretch. 

The Armed Forces are stretched but Senior Military Officers advise that the situation is manageable. We remain confident that they are capable of meeting current levels of commitment, although we recognise that these levels cannot be sustained indefinitely. This is a point that Chiefs and ministers are absolutely agreed on.

For example, in December 2007 the Defence Secretary was quoted on the front page of the Sunday Telegraph saying: "The advice to me was that if we maintained this level of operational tempo in the long term, then the Army's skills would start to degrade. We are not at that stage yet. We need to get back to training properly before the damage that could be done, is done."

Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan obviously place a demand on the Armed Forces, but they are meeting that demand with professionalism and determination. Recent deployments to Kosovo and Cyprus are evidence of our ability to respond to arising situations. We keep our operational commitments and manning levels under constant review.

There are shortages in certain trades and disciplines. These are being addressed through retention incentives, increased recruiting and by rebalancing the Army under Future Army Structures (FAS) to improve effectiveness.

Je pense que il est bientot temps de finir avec l'Iraq vu que les iraquiens ont montre qu'ils savent gerer Basra eux memes. Il est clair que ca libera beaucoups de materiels et d'hommes et enlevera une pression sur l armee. Avec les regles de deploiments de 6 mois de un regiment et ensuite ils ont 18-24 mois de recuperations ca n est pas possible de continuer infiniment.

Il reste une marge de mannoeuvre de 12 bataillons (si je me rapelle) je crois pour le moment. Je note que on ne parle pas des deploiments au Kosovo recemment de 600 hommes en renfort de OTAN ou de Chypres, et que ce n est pas 230 hommes en renfort, mais 630 ingenieurs/pilotes qui vont remplace 400 soldats sur place d autres roles.Juste pour relativise...

[Invité Rob]

14 nouveaux BAE Systems Viking BvS10s et 72 nouveaux Jackals de Supacat/Babcock Marine.  =)

New armoured vehicles for troops

Ridgback armoured vehicle

The Ridgback should give troops more protection from mines and bombs

A new fleet of 86 armoured patrol vehicles will be bought for troops in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.

These include 14 Vikings - which are tracked, amphibious vehicles - and 72 armoured Jackal trucks.

The MoD also unveiled the new Ridgback urban patrol truck, 157 of which are already on order for about £150m.

The Minister for Defence Equipment and Support said they would help troops cope with "ever-changing threats".

Baroness Taylor said: "There is no such thing as absolute protection, but we have got to provide the best range of equipment.

"I am always looking for the newest technology to address the ever-changing threats, and offer the greatest protection, mobility and firepower while giving our commanders the choice of vehicles they need to carry out the tasks they face."

The government has been criticised for failing to provide the military with enough resources.

But Baroness Taylor said getting the right equipment was her "priority".

Roadside bombs

The Ridgbacks are being fitted with extra protection, weapons and communications systems, and once modified, they will be taken to Afghanistan for pre-deployment training.

It is hoped they will give troops better protection from roadside bombs and landmines.

Four British soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in Helmand Province last week as they travelled in a lightly-armoured Snatch Land Rover.

Sir Kevin O'Donoghue, Chief of Defence Material and head of the MoD's Defence Equipment and Support branch, said: "The variety of vehicles available to UK forces on operations gives commanders the ability to choose the best-suited vehicle for the terrain, the threat and the agility required for operations."

The Ridgback was unveiled at the MoD's DVD event at Millbrook, Bedford.

Formerly known as Defence Vehicle Dynamics, it is an annual showcase event to show off new equipment and provision for frontline troops.

The MoD said the total number of new protected vehicles being delivered to support operations in Afghanistan and Iraq now stands at almost 600.

Source:

www.bbc.co.uk

[Philippe Top-Force]

Vos Jackal ne sont-ils pas en dotation au Danemark ?