[JLRC]

Ghan to Transport Army to NT Exercise
 
 
(Source: Australian Department of Defence; issued July 12, 2004)
 
 
 Army’s use of the newly completed Adelaide to Darwin rail link demonstrates the strategic value of the railway for the Australian Defence Force, Defence Minister Robert Hill said today.  
 
Adelaide-based 16th Air Defence Regiment is moving more than 200 vehicles, Rapier, RBS-70 surface to air missile systems and some PSTAR Radars on 57 carriages (two trains over two days) to participate in Exercise Pitch Black in the Northern Territory.  
 
The main body of about 300 personnel will travel by air, with a contingent accompanying the unit’s equipment on the train.  
 
“The railway is an important addition to the national transport infrastructure network,” Senator Hill said.  
 
“This use of the rail link provides Defence with another option to move quickly and efficiently. It also means soldiers spend less time away from their families and Defence vehicles spend less time on the roads.”  
 
Exercise Pitch Black is the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest exercise for 2004. It provides participants with high complexity air combat training opportunities.  
 
The Exercise involves aircraft and personnel from the Royal Thai Air Force, the Republic of Singapore Air Force, the French Air Force and some Australian Army Units including 16th Air Defence Regiment, which will be providing ground, based air defense.

[JLRC]

US Microwave Radio Relay Sites to Close in United Kingdom
 
 
(Source: US Department of Defense; issued July 9, 2004)
 
 
 The Department of Defense announced today that it is closing 10 microwave radio relay sites in the United Kingdom. The sites are: Barkway, Botley Hill Farms, Bovington, Caldecott (also known as Chelveston), Christmas Common, Cold Blow, Daventry, Dunkirk, Swingate, and Uxbridge.  
 
This closure is not related to the U.S. Global Posture review, it is simply a cost saving measure. The Defense Information Systems Agency determined that DoD could save $1 million annually by using commercial communications instead of continuing to maintain and upgrade the existing sites.  
 
Operations at these sites ceased in December 2003 and they will be officially closed by the end of December. Since the sites are unmanned, there is no expected impact to military or civilian jobs as a result of the closures.  
 
As with all stationing actions, the United States has coordinated with host nation officials at all levels prior to this public announcement.

[JLRC]

Army to Recruit ‘Downsized’ Airmen
 
 
(Source: US Air Force; issued July 9, 2004)
 
 
 WASHINGTON --- After they “Cross Into the Blue” Army officials said they hope Airmen leaving the Air Force will join the “Army of One.”  
 
A new program, Operation Blue to Green, seeks to recruit into the Army Airmen and Sailors leaving their service because of force reductions. The Army is temporarily increasing its ranks.  
 
Plans call for the Air Force to reduce its numbers by 16,000 by the end of 2005, Air Force officials said.  
 
An Army spokesperson called Operation Blue to Green an opportunity that “will definitely benefit the Department of Defense as well as these individuals.”  
 
Details of the program are still being worked out, but an Army Web site says the program tells potential recruits it “will allow you to continue to serve your country, to maintain the benefits of military service and to expand your horizons by gaining new training and trying new things.”  
 
Candidates for the program are Airmen and Sailors in grades E-5 and below who qualify for an honorable discharge from active duty. Participation in the program, the Web site says, “is dependent upon your service’s willingness to release you from your current active-duty obligation.”  
 
New Soldiers recruited under the program will go through a four-week “warrior transition course” being developed by Army Training and Doctrine Command officials.  
 
“This will further orient them in terms of what it means to be a Soldier in the Army,” the Army spokesperson said.  
 
This new course in basic combat skills will substitute for the nine-week course currently used to train Airmen, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen enlisting in the Army, according to the Web site.  
 
Bonuses will be offered to recruits for selected military occupational specialties, although details were not yet available.  
 
While Army officials finalize details about the program, they are wasting no time getting the word out to potential candidates. An online information form encourages interested candidates to sign up for more information. However, the site notes, “Until formal policies have been approved, Army recruiters cannot accept applications, process paperwork or reserve training seats.”

[Fábio G.]

Defensa

SANTA BÁRBARA NEGOCIA LA VENTA DE TANQUES, OBUSES Y MUNICIONES PARA COLOMBIA.

Santa Bárbara Sistemas ultima la venta de tanques AMX-30 para el Ejército colombiano, además de varias baterías del Obús 155/52 milímetros, que la empresa construye en exclusiva junto con la munición para el obús. Por otro lado, Santa Bárbara continúa negociando la venta de unos 75 obuses al Ejército español.

[JLRC]

Another £3.7 Billion for Britain's Defence  
 
 
(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued July 12, 2004)
 
 
 (EDITOR'S NOTE: Some British newspapers have been reporting, for several weeks, that MoD was preparing substantial manpower cuts because of a government plan to drastically reduce defense spending. This is manifestly not the case.)
 
 Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon today welcomed the announcement of the longest period of sustained real terms growth in planned Defence spending since the early 1980s. He stressed that the extra money will be invested in modernising Defence for the challenges of the 21st Century.  
 
The settlement announced by the Chancellor raises the Defence budget by £3.7 billion between 2004-05 and 2007-08 - a real terms increase of 1.4% a year.  
 
Responding to the settlement, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said:  
 
"I welcome this settlement, which demonstrates the Government's continued commitment to Defence. It is also a vote of confidence in the superb performance of our Armed Forces and those who support them, across the world and at home.  
 
"The threat posed to the UK's interests by international terrorism and failing states presents us with very real and immediate challenges. As well as sustaining our investment in new capability, this settlement enables the continued modernisation of our Armed Forces against a backdrop of evolving threats to our security and advances in technology.  
 
"My priority now is to drive forward the ambitious modernisation plans which this settlement makes possible. I described the vision in the White Paper I published last December. Next week I will announce what it will mean in practice."  
 
 
BACKGROUND DETAILS/  
 
** The 2003 Defence White Paper, "Delivering Security in a Changing World", builds on the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and 2002 Strategic Defence Review: New Chapter, in setting out the strategy for the UK's Armed Forces. The White Paper sets out the policy context within which the future structure and capabilities of our Armed Forces will be determined: http://www.mod.uk/dpa/the_defence_white_paper.htm  
 
** In the three years to 2004, the Government has provided over £4 billion to meet the net additional costs of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and its international obligations.  
 
** Spending Review 2002 represented the largest planned increase in defence spending for twenty years, providing an additional £3.5bn by 2005-06, representing 1.2% average annual real growth.  
 
** Spending Review 2002 included a £578M Modernisation Fund specifically to modernise logistics and business information systems across defence. The Spending Review 2004 settlement increases its funding at an increased rate of £1 billion over three years, with an expanded scope which now includes rationalisation of the defence estate.  
 
** The Ministry of Defence has committed to find over £2.8 billion of efficiency savings by 2007-08, in areas such as more efficient procurement and logistics, and reduced back office and support functions. The settlement includes a specific fund to aid modernisation in key areas of logistics, business information systems and estates rationalisation.  
 
** This settlement supports the further modernisation of the Armed Forces, focused on increasing their flexibility, agility and operational effectiveness when acting independently or alongside our allies. The longstanding arrangements of central funding of the net additional costs of military operations and urgent operational requirements will remain in place.

[JLRC]

Russia Denies Tank Production Deal with Pakistan
 
 
(Source: Press Trust of India; issued July 12, 2004)
 
 
 MOSCOW/ISLAMABAD --- Even as Russia today denied it had entered into a battle tank production deal with Pakistan, Islamabad did not rule out cooperation in the field of defense with Moscow in future.  
 
Russia’s sole arms exporting body “Rosoboronexport” (ROE) State Corporation “unequivocally rejected” an earlier Itar-Tass report about deals between the country’s top tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod and Pakistan on the sidelines of just-ended UralArmsExpo exhibition in Nizhny Tail (Urals region of Russia.) Asked about the denial, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan told reporters that the “transaction” was not discussed during the just-concluded visit of Foreign Minister Khurshid Muhamed Kasuri to Moscow.  
 
“We are self sufficient in manufacture of tanks. We are not discussing this transaction with the government of Russia.” However, Khan added that Pakistan-Russian relations have made major strides in economic and commercial strides and “as we go along, we can co-operate productively in the fields of defense, energy and metallurgy.” Khan also said Kasuri had a successful visit to Moscow.  
 
“He will talk about it later in detail.” In Moscow, a ROE spokesman, who wished anonymity told PTI: “We unequivocally reject the very idea of such sort of contract between Russian defense industries and Pakistan authorities. Actually we have no military-technical cooperation with Pakistan and in this particular area Rosoboronexport strictly adjusts its marketing strategy to clear-cut policy of the Russian leadership.”

[Fábio G.]

E&S to Provide Long-Term Support for UK Attack Helicopter Program

SALT LAKE CITY---July 13, 2004--Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. (E&S®) (NASDAQ: ESCC) has received a multimillion-dollar contract to provide Encore(SM) service and support for the British Army's Attack Helicopter Training Service, the company announced today. Under the terms of the contract with training service provider Aviation Training International Limited (ATIL), E&S will provide support for Harmony®/VistaView® visual systems now in training on four U.K. flight simulators.

This award extends the original one-year contract, which calls for rapid replenishment of spares using E&S' U.K. distribution center, for an additional five years. ATIL chose E&S to provide continuing support based on the company's performance during the initial one-year contract.

"Our contract with the U.K. Ministry of Defence calls for service delivery against agreed key performance indicators (KPIs)," said Victor Faconti, ATIL head of engineering. "The Encore contract has allowed us to minimize spares holding whilst having confidence that we can meet our obligations to our customer."

"ATIL has demonstrated its confidence in E&S by extending this contract for five years," said E&S European Simulation Sales Vice President David Figgins. "They have indicated to us that they are well satisfied with the value they receive from their Encore service, and we look forward to continuing to provide this support, which is unique in the visual simulation industry."

The Attack Helicopter Program is a key element of the British Army's aviation program. The flight simulators, operated by ATIL under a 20-year private finance initiative (PFI), are each required to be operational 3,600 hours per year. These simulators provide initial skills during conversion training and realistically depict aircraft system responses, variable target arrays, and weapons effects.

[Fábio G.]

DN

Itália coloca militares sob vigilância médica

As autoridades militares de Itália anunciaram ontem que vão colocar sob acompanhamento médico os cerca de mil soldados colocados no Iraque - em Nassiriah, sob cujo comando estão as forças portuguesas da GNR - para determinar os riscos da exposição ao urânio empobrecido das munições e bombas usadas pelas forças anglo-americanas no conflito.

A decisão foi anunciada pelo director-geral da saúde militar italiana, o general Michele Buonvito, durante uma audição na Comissão de defesa do Parlamento, em Roma. O acompanhamento começará em Agosto e deverá prolongar-se por dezoito meses. Os resultados da investigação serão anunciados no início de 2006.

A polémica em torno dos perigos da exposição a estas munições recomeçou ontem em Itália, depois de ter sido noticiada a morte de jovem militar de 24 anos na região de Nápoles. Luca Sepe foi vítima da doença de Hodgkin, uma forma de leucemia que lhe foi diagnosticada em 2001, após o seu regresso do Kosovo (onde esteve colocado entre Outubro de 1999 e Janeiro de 2001). No Kosovo foram igualmente utilizadas munições com urânio empobrecido pelas forças da NATO, o que também levantou bastante polémica há alguns anos em diversos países aliados.

Pelo menos um soldado português - o cabo Paulino -, que também foi destacado para o Kosovo, morreu e a família declarou que a sua morte estava relacionada com a exposição ao urânio empobrecido. O Governo fez, então, um rastreio a todos os soldados que estiveram destacados naquele país.

Em Itália foi criada, em 2000, uma comissão científica pelo Ministério da Defesa para avaliar se o urânio empobrecido u tilizado nas munições da NATO durante o conflito no Kosovo esteve, ou não, na origem de leucemias e cancros em soldados italianos. A comissão concluiu que não.

[Fábio G.]

Da página do Exército

Juramento de Bandeira do Último Turno do SEN e a Entrega do Estandarte Nacional ao 2º BIMec
EM 25 DE JUNHO DE 2004, NO CAMPO MILITAR DE SANTA MARGARIDA TEVE LUGAR A CERIMÓNIA DE JURAMENTO DE BANDEIRA DOS SOLDADOS RECRUTAS DO 2º TURNO DE 2004, QUE CONSTITUI A ÚLTIMA INCORPORAÇÃO DE CONSCRITOS DO EXÉRCITO PARA A PRESTAÇÃO DO SERVIÇO EFECTIVO NORMAL. CONTOU AINDA DO PROGRAMA A CERIMÓNIA DE ENTREGA DO ESTANDARTE NACIONAL AO 2º BATALHÃO DE INFANTARIA MECANIZADO QUE TERMINOU A SUA FASE DE APRONTAMENTO E IRÁ RENDER, NO TEATRO DE OPERAÇÕES DA BÓSNIA HERZEGÓVINA, DURANTE O MÊS DE JULHO, O 3º BATALHÃO DE INFANTARIA PÁRA-QUEDISTA, PRESENTEMENTE AÍ DESTACADO.

ESTA CERIMÓNIA FOI PRESIDIDA POR SUA EXCELÊNCIA O GENERAL CEME GENERAL LUIS VALENÇA PINTO.

6/30/2004




Juramento de Bandeira do Último Turno do SEN e a Entrega do Estandarte Nacional ao 2º BIMec

EM 25 DE JUNHO DE 2004, NO CAMPO MILITAR DE SANTA MARGARIDA TEVE LUGAR A CERIMÓNIA DE JURAMENTO DE BANDEIRA DOS SOLDADOS RECRUTAS DO 2º TURNO DE 2004, QUE CONSTITUI A ÚLTIMA INCORPORAÇÃO DE CONSCRITOS DO EXÉRCITO PARA A PRESTAÇÃO DO SERVIÇO EFECTIVO NORMAL. CONTOU AINDA DO PROGRAMA A CERIMÓNIA DE ENTREGA DO ESTANDARTE NACIONAL AO 2º BATALHÃO DE INFANTARIA MECANIZADO QUE TERMINOU A SUA FASE DE APRONTAMENTO E IRÁ RENDER, NO TEATRO DE OPERAÇÕES DA BÓSNIA HERZEGÓVINA, DURANTE O MÊS DE JULHO, O 3º BATALHÃO DE INFANTARIA PÁRA-QUEDISTA, PRESENTEMENTE AÍ DESTACADO.

ESTA CERIMÓNIA FOI PRESIDIDA POR SUA EXCELÊNCIA O GENERAL CEME GENERAL LUIS VALENÇA PINTO.

AS FORÇAS EM PARADA, SOB COMANDO DO CORONEL DE CAVALARIA MARTINS FERREIRA, 2º COMANDANTE DO CAMPO MILITAR DE SANTA MARGARIDA, INTEGRARAM ELEMENTOS DE TODAS AS UNIDADES DO CAMPO MILITAR E DA BRIGADA MECANIZADA INDEPENDENTE E ERAM CONSTITUÍDAS POR UM BATALHÃO A DUAS COMPANHIAS, COM CERCA DE 230 SOLDADOS RECRUTAS, PERTENCENTES AO REGIMENTO DE CAVALARIA Nº 4 E AO GRUPO DE ARTILHARIA DE CAMPANHA; PELO 2º BATALHÃO DE INFANTARIA MECANIZADO A TRÊS COMPANHIAS, COM 285 MILITARES. ESTE BATALHÃO TERMINOU A SUA FASE DE APRONTAMENTO E PARTE EM JULHO PARA O TEATRO DE OPERAÇÕES DA BÓSNIA-HERZEGOVINA; POR UM GRUPO A DOIS ESQUADRÕES COM FORÇAS PERTENCENTES AO REGIMENTO DE CAVALARIA Nº 4, GRUPO DE CARROS DE COMBATE E ESQUADRÃO DE RECONHECIMENTO; PELO 1º BATALHÃO DE INFANTARIA MECANIZADO DA BRIGADA MECANIZADA INDEPENDENTE A DUAS COMPANHIAS; POR UM BATALHÃO A DUAS COMPANHIAS COM FORÇAS DO BATALHÃO DE COMANDO E SERVIÇOS DO CAMPO MILITAR DE SANTA MARGARIDA E DO BATALHÃO DE APOIO DE SERVIÇOS DA BRIGADA MECANIZADA INDEPENDENTE; POR UM GRUPO A DUAS BATERIAS COM FORÇAS DO GRUPO DE ARTILHARIA DE CAMPANHA E DA BATERIA DE ARTILHARIA ANTI AÉREA DA BRIGADA MECANIZADA INDEPENDENTE; POR UMA COMPANHIA A DOIS PELOTÕES COM FORÇAS DA COMPANHIA DE ENGENHARIA E DA COMPANHIA DE TRANSMISSÕES DA BRIGADA MECANIZADA INDEPENDENTE E INTEGRAVA AINDA AS FORÇAS EM PARADA, O BLOCO DE ESTANDARTES DAS UNIDADES DO CAMPO MILITAR DE SANTA MARGARIDA E DA BRIGADA MECANIZADA INDEPENDENTE, A FANFARRA DO CAMPO MILITAR DE SANTA MARGARIDA E A BANDA DA REGIÃO MILITAR NORTE.

REALIZOU-SE A CERIMÓNIA DE HOMENAGEM AOS MORTOS. ESTA CERIMÓNIA REVESTIU-SE DE ESPECIAL SENTIDO E SIGNIFICADO, E COM ELA, PRETENDEU-SE HOMENAGEAR TODOS OS MILITARES DO CAMPO MILITAR DE SANTA MARGARIDA QUE CAÍRAM NO CAMPO DA HONRA, NO CUMPRIMENTO DO DEVER.

PROCEDEU-SE À CERIMÓNIA DE IMPOSIÇÃO DE CONDECORAÇÕES A MILITARES QUE SERVEM OU SERVIRAM EM UNIDADES DO CAMPO MILITAR DE SANTA MARGARIDA E DA BRIGADA MECANIZADA INDEPENDENTE.

SUA EXCELÊNCIA O GENERAL CHEFE DO ESTADO-MAIOR DO EXÉRCITO, GENERAL LUÍS VALENÇA PINTO PROFERIU UMA ALOCUÇÃO ALUSIVA À CERIMÓNIA.

TEVE LUGAR, O JURAMENTO DE BANDEIRA DO CURSO DE FORMAÇÃO DE PRAÇAS DO 2º TURNO DE 2004.

PROCEDEU-SE À ENTREGA DO ESTANDARTE NACIONAL AO COMANDANTE DO 2º BATALHÃO DE INFANTARIA MECANIZADO, QUE IRÁ SER A PRÓXIMA FORÇA NACIONAL DESTACADA DO EXÉRCITO A MARCHAR PARA O TEATRO DE OPERAÇÕES DA BÓSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. O 2ºBIMEC/SFOR II, COMANDADO PELO TENENTE-CORONEL DE INFANTARIA BARROS DUARTE, FOI APRONTADO NA BRIGADA MECANIZADA INDEPENDENTE E INICIOU A SUA PREPARAÇÃO EM 20 DE JANEIRO DE 2004, SENDO CONSTITUÍDO POR UM COMANDO E SECÇÃO DE COMANDO, DUAS COMPANHIAS DE ATIRADORES E UMA COMPANHIA DE APOIO, NUM EFECTIVO TOTAL DE 285 MILITARES. NO TEATRO DE OPERAÇÕES DA BÓSNIA FICARÁ ESTACIONADO NO AQUARTELAMENTO DE CAMPO DOBOJ A CERCA DE 120 KM A NORWEST DE SARAJEVO E CUMPRIRÁ A MISSÃO COMO COMPONENTE DO ELEMENTO DE MANOBRA DE UMA FORÇA MULTINACIONAL DA NATO PARA A OPERAÇÃO DE ESTABILIZAÇÃO DA PAZ NA BÓSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. PARA ALEM DO CONTINGENTE DO 2ºBIMEC A BRIGADA MECANIZADA INDEPENDENTE RECEBEU A MISSÃO DE PREPARAR UM GRUPO DE 8 MILITARES QUE IRÃO GUARNECER NO MESMO PERIODO O QUARTEL-GENERAL DO MULTINATIONAL BATTLE GROUP.

SEGUIU-SE O DESFILE DAS FORÇAS EM PARADA EM SEGUIDA, EM CONTINÊNCIA AO ESTANDARTE NACIONAL.
 

[Fábio G.]

FAM del Mundo

Fabricação de armas austriacas na Malásia

O fabricante austriaco de armas, Steyr Mannlicher, vai começar a produção de armas de assalto e pistolas na Malásia. Desde a Malásia fabricar-se-ão armas para todo o mundo, especialmente centrada na zona de Orinente médio e África. Será a empresa malaia National Aerospace Defence Industries (NADI) que fabricará as armas. A principal arma a ser produzida será o fuzil de assalto Steyr AUGA3 de 5.56mm, do qual se espera que tenha um mercado de 15000 unidades por ano a um custo de 2000$ por arma.  

[JLRC]

Lockheed Conducts Second Test of GMLRS Unitary Rocket
 
 
(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued July 13, 2004)
 
 
 DALLAS --- Lockheed Martin successfully conducted the second flight test of a Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary rocket at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., on June 30.  
 
The Guided Unitary rocket will expand the current target set of GMLRS, giving maneuver commanders a precision capability while greatly limiting collateral damage in restrictive terrain and urban areas.  
 
Test objectives included demonstrating the functionality of the unitary warhead, which was temperature-conditioned “hot” for the test, as well as collecting shock and vibration data. Guidance and control system performance and warhead effectiveness were also tested in the short-range flight. All test objectives were achieved.  
 
“With two successful flights of Guided Unitary now under our belt, we’re moving steadily forward towards our goal of providing our forces with yet another member of the MLRS family of munitions,” said Al Duchesne, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control’s director - MLRS Rocket Programs. “The Guided Unitary rocket will add another dimension of precision attack to the battlefield commander’s arsenal of MLRS rockets and Army Tactical Missile System missiles.”  
 
Lockheed Martin received a $119 million contract to conduct System Development and Demonstration (SDD) for a GMLRS variant with a single warhead in October 2003. The SDD contract includes 86 rockets, 71 of which are flight articles, with the balance supporting test and other activities. The contract also provides test hardware to support 26 flight tests for an initial configuration and 39 flight tests of a follow-on configuration.  
 
The SDD phase of this program was preceded by a successful system demonstration in 2002 of a Quick Reaction Unitary Rocket and a nine-month Component Advanced Development program. The Guided Unitary SDD program will continue through 2007.  
 
The GMLRS Unitary rocket has a Global Positioning System (GPS)-aided inertial guidance package integrated on the MLRS Extended-Range rocket body. Additionally, small canards on the rocket’s nose add basic maneuverability to further enhance the accuracy of the system. The GMLRS Unitary rocket carries a 180-pound unitary warhead that detonates upon impact, giving battlefield commanders the ability to attack targets up to 70 kilometers away with high precision.  
 
Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.  
 
-ends-

[JLRC]

A principal arma a ser produzida será o fuzil de assalto Steyr AUGA3 de 5.56mm, do qual se espera que tenha um mercado de 15000 unidades por ano a um custo de 2000$ por arma.  

Presumo que sejam 2.000 dólares americanos por arma. Será?

Cumptos

[Fábio G.]

Penso que sim.

[Luso]

400 contos por uma AUG???
Alguém vai encher os bolsos...

[fgomes]

Será que vale o preço que custa ?