Defence`s Feeds

Geographic Information to Support decision Making in Operations (GISMO) is a cooperative project between the European Defence Agency and the European Satellite Centre and  involves the European Military Staff, the Multinational Geospatial Support Group and Member States. The main output from the project is a geospatial information management capability called GeohuB.   GeohuB was first demonstrated in 2016 and has now been successfully implemented at the Operational Headquarter (OHQ) in Rome in support of the EUNAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA.

The availability of Geospatial Information (GI) is a key requirement to ensure effective planning, conduct of operations and support to decision-making. The GISMO project, initiated jointly by EDA and EU SATCEN, is addressing this requirement.  The GeohuB tool was initially deployed in a standalone capacity in the EUNAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA Operational Headquarters in Rome. Early in 2017 the tool was successfully installed into the Operation Sophia Classified Mission Network.  

In February 2017 a Training and Operational Field Trial (OFT) was conducted within the OHQ with the objective of assessing the maturity and the operational value of the GeohuB tool and associated GI management capability.  The availability to all staff of geographic-based information was easily accessible through web services in the Classified Mission Network.  Such GI access enables improved shared situational awareness and to inform the decision making process within the OHQ.

The intuitive and user friendly access to the GI provided by the GISMO GeohuB facilitated the access to shared information by both expert and non-expert GI users in the OHQ. CJ2 and JOC products were produced using the GeohuB during the OFT, with higher value for the CJ Staff.   Looking to the future, based on this successful OFT and associated training, the project will now transition the GeohuB to a Fielded Initial Operating Capability with the long term objective being to provide a Full Geographic Information System Capability within EU-led Missions and Operations.

More information:

• Communications and Information Systems (Project Page)
• Operations Support (Project Page)

• European Defence Agency supports CSDP operations

The US Navy has conducted a successful structural test firing of the surface-to-surface missile module (SSMM) aboard the Freedom-class littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Detroit (LCS 7) off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia.

Fincantieri has launched the new Federico Martinengo frégate européen multi-mission (FREMM) frigate for the Italian Navy at its Riva Trigoso shipyard in Genoa, Italy.

The US Marine Corps (USMC) has declared initial operational capability (IOC) certification for Hexagon US Federal's intergraph computer-aided dispatch (I/CAD) system, as part of the consolidated emergency response system (CERS) programme.

Marte MK2/N is a ship-launched variant of the Marte Mk2 family of anti-ship weapon systems developed by European missile manufacturer, MBDA.

Czech CZ Scorpion EVO 3 Submachine Gun

Americas

• The US Army is planning to issue contracts this year for the development of next-generation laser-guided mortar systems. This new precision high explosive guided mortar (HEGM) will replace the current systems in place, and will eliminate the need to typically fire several rounds to adjust fire for accurate strikes and incorporate threat counter-measures and enhanced mobility. Speaking on the new system, Lt. Col. Anthony Gibbs, of Product Manager Guided Precision Munitions and Mortar Systems at Picatinny Arsenal said the new capability will allow troops to be “able to quickly come in, establish, fire and with one round you’re able to get effects.” Companies that receive contracts will then create and deliver potential HEGM solutions for the US government to test, and a full and open competition will be conducted in 2018 to select the final solution.

• Rheinmetall has been contracted by the USAF to supply several ten thousand round lots of their new 25mm x 137 Frangible Armour Piercing (FAP) round for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Valued at $6.5 million, the contract will see the company manufacture the rounds in four lots at Rheinmetall Switzerland and delivery will commence in December, 2017. Rheinmetall is marketing the ammunition as only not just for air-to-air superiority fights, but capable of destroying Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) at extreme slant ranges as well.

Middle East & North Africa

• Boeing received a contract-modification of $46 million to perform interim contractor support for Saudi Arabia’s recently purchased F-15s. The above support refers to an agreement wherein a service will defer an investment due to a lack of technological capabilities, such as equipment spares or technical data. Boeing is expected to complete this service for Saudi Arabia by the end of March. The contract is comprised entirely of foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia and supports the recent commissioning of F-15SA fighters by the kingdom.

Europe

• The Germany defense ministry has delayed the signing of contracts with MBDA for the multi-billion Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). The deal will instead move into the spring of 2018 as Berlin reaffirms its commitment to the project while maintaining that there was still work to do on the MBDA proposal, as well as on how the overall project would be managed. In the meantime, the ministry plans to spend several hundred million euros to modernise the software and hardware of the German military’s existing Patriot system, the system MEADS will eventually replace.

• Germany did confirm plans to purchase the high-altitude MQ-4C Triton surveillance UAV from Northrop Grumman as a replacement to 2013’s abandoned Euro Hawk program. While the defense ministry failed to mention how many MQ-4Cs it was intending to buy, the Euro Hawk requirement had initially called for five systems to be delivered with $1.26 billion earmarked for the procurement. However the deal was scrapped when it became known that gaining aviation approval would cost in the hundreds of millions of euros. Ministry sources said the aviation approval for Triton would be less costly because it was baked in from the start of the program.

• Leonardo and Polish Armaments Group have signed a cooperation agreement on helicopter production for the Polish armed forces. The deal will facilitate further industrial collaboration on production, servicing and maintenance for various military rotorcraft. Leonardo is currently offering the AW139, AW101 and W-3PL models to Warsaw as part of several helicopter requirements by the defense ministry and if selected, PGZ will assist with producing components and other supporting systems in Poland.

Asia Pacific

• The US is to step up deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system and could have it operational by April as North Korean missile testing continues to provoke all of its neighbors. Pyongyang’s latest provocation on Monday saw Kim Jong-un supervise the launch of four ballistic missiles by an army unit that is positioned to strike US bases in Japan, stepping up threats against Washington as US troops conduct joint military exercises with South Korea. Speaking after the launches, North Korea’s state-run KCNA said “In the hearts of artillerymen … there was burning desire to mercilessly retaliate against the warmongers going ahead with their joint war exercises.”

• Iran successfully tested its S-300 air defense system at a recent military exercise, according to Iran’s IRNA news agency. Conducted in Iran’s Central Desert, the system was operated from the back of trucks and targeted various flying objects including missiles. Russia delivered the S-300 system to Iran in 2016, nearly 10 years after the initial contract had been signed. Iran signed the $800 million contract to buy the S-300 missile system in 2007, but Russia suspended their delivery three years later because of strong objections from the United States and Israel.

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