Germany to Deploy Eurofighter Detachment to Singapore and Australia

26 Juli 2022

Eurofighters of German Air Force (photo : Bundeswehr)

On August 15, the German Air Force will deploy to the Indo-Pacific region with a group of several aircraft, thus demonstrating its operational readiness: six Eurofighters, four A400M and three A330 MRTTMulti role tanker transport (Multi Role Tanker Transport) are tasked with reaching Singapore in just 24 hours. For this occasion, a single Typhoon (31+11) received a new stunning special paint scheme.

With the subsequent deployment to Australia and participation in two international exercises there, the Air Force is testing its interoperability with Allies inside and outside NATO in the Indo-Pacific. During the Pitch Black air combat exercise, the Eurofighters will practice air attacks and defence in larger formations with their international partners. The Eurofighters will be deployed in the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. In the multinational naval combat exercise Kakadu, the partners also protect ships from the air. Around 250 Air Force soldiers are involved. 

Before moving back to Germany, the participating units practice together with the Singapore Air Force and visit allies in Japan and South Korea. The two short visits by German sub-fleets to Japan and South Korea also serve to deepen relations with the value partners there. The first step towards more German military presence in the Indo-Pacific region was the deployment of the frigate "Bayern". From August 2021 to February 2022, the German Navy ship was in the sea area between the Horn of Africa, Australia and Japan. 

With Rapid Pacific and participation in the two exercises, the Bundeswehr is now demonstrating once again with the Air Force its ability to form an alliance in the Indo-Pacific and its operational readiness: Because the Air Force cooperates with value partners worldwide and at the same time is active in the increased air policing of the Baltic States in the defence of the country and the alliance.

Flight route of Eurofighter Typhoon (image : Bundeswehr)

Six Eurofighters from Tactical Air Force Wing 74 in Neuburg an der Donau, four A400Ms from Air Transport Wing 62 in Wunstorf and three A330 MRTTsMulti role tanker transport of the multinational air transport association Multi Role Tanker Transport Unit in Eindhoven are relocating from Germany to the Indo-Pacific for the first time. The self-imposed goal: arrival within 24 hours.

From Germany, the route goes via Italy, Greece, Israel and Jordan to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. There the pilots change. The second part of the transfer is via the Gulf of Oman, India, the Bay of Bengal to Singapore. The aircraft will then be transferred to Darwin, where the Air Force will take part in two international exercises in the weeks that follow.

Statement by the Minister of Defence Christine Lambrecht:

"With the first deployment of the Air Force from Eurofighters, A400M and tankers to the Indo-Pacific region starting in August, we are showing that we also think security beyond Europe."

(EurAirshows)

Germany Proposes European Aircraft Carrier

12 Maret 2019

French next aircraft carrier (image : UKDJ)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has endorsed the idea of a joint European aircraft carrier.

The idea was suggested by her party’s leader, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the politician that succeeded Merkel last year as leader of the governing Christian Democratic Union in Germany, made the proposal in a weekend response to the French President’s proposals for European reform.

Germany and France are already working together on a future European combat aircraft.

“The next step could be to start on the symbolic project of building a common European aircraft carrier” to underline what the EU calls its global security role.

Merkel said Monday, according to Reuters, that “it’s right and good that we have such equipment on the European side, and I’m happy to work on it”.

It is currently unclear if this is a proposal for a jointly operated vessel or a common class, the latter however appears the least likely due to the cost.

In October 2018, the French Ministry of Defence launched an 18-month study for €40 million for the eventual future replacement of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle beyond 2030.

A decision for the new carrier is scheduled to take place beyond 2025, and the future carrier is to remain in service until beyond 2080 and one of the proposals is pictured above.

(UKDJ)

A New "Eye" for The Leopard

24 Januari 2013

The "Attica" thermal imaging device from Cassidian Optronics significantly enhances the fighting capabilities of tanks as well as crew safety. (photos : Cassidian Optronics)

Cassidian Optronics GmbH, previously known as Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH, will supply the new "Attica" thermal imaging unit for the commander's periscope in the Bundeswehr's Leopard 2 battle tanks. After extensive trials, the German procurement authority BAAINBw (Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support) has awarded this Cassidian subsidiary an order to deliver the "Attica" to a value of almost 7 million euros. The third generation of thermal imaging equipment from Cassidian Optronics thus becomes the standard for the commander's Peri R17 periscope, which is also supplied by Cassidian Optronics.

The use of the Attica thermal imaging device significantly enhances the tank commander's ability to acquire targets, thus improving the safety of the crew. With the Peri R17, the commander is able to supply the gunner with marked targets by day and night, to then be able to acquire other targets without delay. The acquisition of targets can thus be separated from their engagement, which enables quicker reactions.

The Attica system meets the complex requirements presented by today's mission scenarios. This equipment, which has already been selected for the Puma armoured infantry fighting vehicle, is thus developing into a unit which is used across the Bundeswehr, especially in the tank force and mechanised infantry, as well as in the artillery. This results in logistical benefits and a reduction in operating costs when using thermal imaging equipment from the same family of products.

As a consequence of this German decision, other states in the "LEOBEN" association of Leopard user states are also planning procurement of the Peri R17. This will further standardise the level of configuration for the LEOBEN states.

Employing about 800 staff at the German locations of Oberkochen and Wetzlar, and at Irene in South Africa, Cassidian Optronics GmbH develops and manufactures optical and optronic products which are used in military ground, sea and air systems as well as in border and security technologies, but also in non-military high-tech systems and in the aerospace sector. Cassidian Optronics combines the optical and optronic precision technology from Carl Zeiss Optronics with Cassidian's know-how as a global market leader in defence and security technology.

(Cassidian)

ATLAS ELEKTRONIK Sets New Range Record for Torpedoes

19 Mei 2012

SeaHake® mod4 ER: modernized DM 2 A4 with range of more than 140 km (photo : Atlas Elektronik)

Bremen – ATLAS ELEKTRONIK has increased the reach of its torpedoes substantially, setting a new range record for torpedoes. At a test-firing in March 2012, the heavyweight torpedo SeaHake® mod4 ER (Extended Range) achieved a range of over 140 kilometres. SeaHake® mod 4 is the latest advancement of the DM 2 A4 heavyweight torpedo, which is in service with the German Navy as well as the navies of Turkey, Pakistan and Spain. By fully exploiting the system’s unique propulsion and battery technology, it became possible to surpass the maximum ranges usual for modern heavyweight torpedoes in the global market by considerably more than 50%.

“With this record, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK has set a new benchmark in torpedo technology. Until now, such ranges were hardly even conceivable. We are very proud to have made such a significant advance in torpedo technology, thus giving our customers new possibilities for sea defence,” said Kai Pelzer, Executive Director Naval Weapons at ATLAS ELEKTRONIK.

The new version of the SeaHake® mod4 is also fitted with innovative navigation and communications technology, enabling extremely precise navigation and control of the torpedo over the entire distance. The SeaHake® mod4 ER can be deployed from seagoing platforms as well as from special land-based platforms.

The sea trials took place in cooperation with the German Armed Forces Technical Centre for Ships and Naval Weapons in the Eckernförde Bay.

(Atlas Elektronik)

Indonesia Ajukan Kerja Sama Industri Militer dengan Jerman

02 Desember 2011

Tank Leopard 2 produksi Jerman (photo : Militaryphotos)

JAKARTA, (PRLM).- Pemerintah Indonesia mengajukan permohonan kerja sama industri militer dengan Republik Jerman dalam jangka panjang. Kerja sama yang akan dibangun tersebut meliputi produksi bersama antara perusahaan Indonesia dengan Jerman. Presiden RI Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) mengatakan itu dalam Pernyataan Pers Bersama Presiden Jerman, Christian Wulff di Istana Merdeka, Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara, Jakarta Pusat, Kamis (1/12).

Presiden berharap agar Pemerintah Jerman bersedia meningkatkan kerja sama militer yang telah berlangsung selama ini tidak hanya penyediaan alat pertahanan, melainkan juga produksi bersama industri pertahanan. “Contohnya PT Dirgantara Indonesia sekarang ada kerja sama dengan Airbus Military. Saya usul kerja sama strategis dan dalam long term (jangka panjang), tidak hanya procurement, tapi juga joint production,” ucapnya.

Berdasarkan informasi yang dihimpun dari Atase Pertahanan Kedutaan Besar Indonesia di Jerman, Indonesia pernah membeli kapal selam dan vessels dari Jerman. Kerja sama latihan bersama yang telah dirintis sejak tahun 1972 sempat terhenti ketika tahun 1998 Indonesia diwarnai isu pelanggaran hak asasi manusia oleh militer. Namun, seiring reformasi militer yang terus berlangsung, Indonesia berharap kerjasama militer dengan Jerman kembali ditingkatkan.

Medio September lalu, Kementerian Pertahanan juga telah melakukan pembicaraan dengan produsen senjata Jerman, yaitu Rheinmetall di Berlin. Rombongan yang saat itu dipimpin oleh Wamenhan Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin itu mengobservasi produk meriam 155 mm serta menjajaki pembelian dan produksi bersama main battle tank TNI Angkatan Darat. Saat itu, Rheinmetall berkomitmen membantu modernisasi peralatan militer dan perlengkapan sumber daya manusia. Pada tahun 2012-2014 mendatang, TNI akan mendapat prioritas kredit dari kedua perusahaan tersebut.

Selain bidang militer, Presiden mengajukan empat bidang lain untuk ditingkatkan kerja samanya. Keempat bidang tersebut, yaitu investasi dan perdagangan, teknologi, pendidikan, riset dan inovasi. Dasar permohonan itu adalah karena Jerman sebagai negara yang sangat kuat di bidang teknologi sementara Indonesia sangat kaya dengan sumber daya alam dan kelas menengah yang sedang tumbuh. “Dari Indonesia mengusulkan beberapa agenda strategis yang bisa dilakukan karena Jerman negara kuat, dengan ekonomi terbesar di Eropa dan teknologi yang tinggi. Sedangkan Indonesia adalah ekonomi terbesar di ASEAN, punya resource yang besar dan peran internasional yang makin mengemuka. Dengan potensi kekuatan ini, kita bisa meningkatkan kerjasama strategis,” ucapnya.

Pada kesempatan itu, Wulff menyambut baik permohonan kerjasama dari Indonesia. Wulff yang datang untuk pertama kalinya ke Indonesia itu sangat mengapresiasi kebangkitan kembali Indonesia di Kawasan Asia. “Maka kami sangat tertarik untuk meningkatkan hubungan antara kedua negara. Saya ucapkan terima kasih atas kerjasama dengan Indonesia selama 60 tahun menjalin kerjasama tanpa konflik. Kita menghadapi perayaan 60 tahun hubungan diplomatik yang baik dan dalam keluarga PBB, Indonesia terkenal sebagai negara yang berhasil ekonominya dan kaya sumber daya alam,” ujarnya.

Wulff juga mengaku sangat terkesan dengan Indonesia yang memiliki motto Bhineka Tunggal Ika sehingga memungkinkan penduduknya yang mayoritas beragama Islam namun memiliki tingkat toleransi tinggi sehingga orang hidup damai dan bebas memilih agamanya masing-masing. “Indonesia bisa jadi teladan untuk demokrasi di negara yang mayoritas Islam seperti negara di Afrika Utara dan Arab. Mereka harus memandang Indonesia untuk melihat bagaimana negara mayoritas Islam, berdemokrasi dengan pertumbuhan ekonomi, iklim transparansi,” katanya.

Untuk menindaklanjuti kerjasama antara kedua negara, Wulff menugaskan Kanselir Jerman Angela Markel untuk berkunjung ke Indonesia tahun depan. Rencananya, Markel akan didampingi pebisnis dan pengusaha Jerman. Saat ini, volume perdagangan antara Indonesia-Jerman mencapai 6 miliar USD, meningkat 22 persen dari tahun sebelumnya. Sementara, nilai investasi Jerman di Indonesia mencapai 300 juta USD dan akan ditargetkan akan ditingkatkan dua kali lipat pada tahun mendatang menyusul kedatangan Markel tersebut. (A-156/A-147)

(Pikiran Rakyat)

Germany Heads Anti-Air Missile Initiative

21 August 2009

IDAS is chiefly intended to defend the submarine from attack by ASW helicopters, but the missile can also strike unarmoured surface and coastal targets as a cheaper alternative to torpedoes or land-attack missiles. (image : Diehl)

In June 2009, delegates at the Undersea Defence Technology [UDT] Europe conference in Cannes learned that the German Navy had allocated funding to take the IDAS (Interactive Defence and Attack System for Submarines) submerged-launched precision weapon into production.

Developed by the ARGE IDAS consortium - comprising ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems' Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) division, Diehl BGT Defence and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) - IDAS is intended to provide a precision attack capability against surface and onshore targets and a 'last ditch' self-defence capability against anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters.

Supported by Germany's Federal Office for Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB), the navy is planning to retrofit IDAS into its Type 212A submarines. Four of the HDW-built boats were commissioned between 2005 and 2007, and two more are expected to enter service in 2013.

German U-Boat U-33 fired the IDAS missile the first time and successfully downed the target drone at a height of 1500 meters. IDAS is equipped with a searchhead camera that enables the soldiers to lead it into the target from the U-boat, making the missile hard to disrupt and very accurate. (photo : Marine)

Diehl BGT Defence's product manager, Klaus-Eberhard Moeller, told the UDT audience: "In 2011 we will conclude [IDAS] proposal and contracting activities with the BWB, with a four-year full development programme beginning in 2012. Production will start in 2016."

The ASW helicopter is probably the submariner's deadliest foe. Operating from a land base or surface ship, an aircraft can reach a target area rapidly, conduct a persistent search for submarines using its active dipping sonar, and prosecute a torpedo attack with no fear of retaliation from the submerged boat.

The possibility of developing a submarine-launched missile to counter this threat has been under discussion internationally since the 1980s.

(Jane’s)

See also :

IDAS Notches Up First Submarine Firing
12 Juni 2008

Artist's impression of IDAS launch from a submarine. (Image: Diehl)

An Interactive Defence and Attack system for Submarines (IDAS) missile has been successfully launched from the German Navy's Type 212A submarine U 33.

The IDAS missile is about the same size as the ubiquitous AIM-9L Sidewinder from Raytheon (built under license by Diehl BGT Defence) and Diehl's IRIS-T missile (aft). Seen here on display at ILA 2008 in Berlin. (Photo: Joris Janssen Lok )

The submarine firing follows underwater test launches from facilities on the Baltic and North Sea run by the WTD 71 Technical Centre for Ships and Naval Weapons in the second half of 2006.

Engineers at TKMS-owned Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) slide an IDAS test round into the launch container, which in turn fits inside a standard torpedo tube. (Photo: HDW)

The test firing took place in the Baltic on 29 May 2008 and provided evidence that the underwater launch sequence, so far tested only from shallow basins, can be replicated from a submerged submarine. However, another important objective was validating the performance of the fibre-optic datalink.

The IDAS missile breaking the surface, seen from the U33's periscope (top) and from a nearby support ship. (Photo: PIZ Marine via ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems)

The link provides a bi-directional data stream and allows the operator to view the seeker image from an existing multifunction console in the submarine's combat information centre and observe the mission or record it for verification and analysis purposes.

However, the system also provides the operator with the ability to manually override the controls and steer the missile onto the target, or abort the mission.

Speaking to Jane's, representatives at Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) and Diehl Defence BGT confirmed that the link worked as expected, although images taken from the missile's seeker head were not yet available at the time of going to press.

(Jane’s)