Defence`s Feeds

We visited the base of the last two JASDF Phantom units ahead of the type retirement. With the decommissioning of the 302 Hikotai on March 25, 2019 (Fiscal Year 2018) only two squadrons of the [...]

Yugoslav M79 Osa Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher

The Turkish Air Force shot down two Syrian Su-24 Fencers today. A Turkish Anka-S drone drone was also downed. On Mar. 1, 2020, two Syrian Arab Air Force Su-24 jets and a Turkish Anka-S drone [...]

Russian A-135 Anti-Ballistic Missile System

USAF Capt. Kristin Wolf, Named as New Air Force During Heritage Flight Conference. U.S. Air Force Captain Kristin “Beo” Wolfe has been named the new F-35A Demo Team Pilot for the 2020 and 2021 air [...]

Serbian Aleksandar Truck-Mounted Howitzer

U.S. Air Force C-5 departs from a wet runway after “almost biblical rainfall”. This video was filmed on Feb. 28, 2020, literally a few hours ago, at Prestwick airport, 32 miles from the city centre [...]

Rock solid images of Dutch F-16s taken at more than 300 knots with a Gyro-stabilized System Pro gimbal. The video below was filmed by Swedish aerial specialist, Peter Degerfeldt at Blue Sky Aerial, from a [...]

World’s Largest, Fastest Bomber Updated with Glass Cockpit, Engines and Avionics Upgrade. The latest version of the massive Tu-160 “White Swan” supersonic bomber (NATO reporting name “Blackjack”) flew for the first time from Kazan, Russia [...]

The C-101 jet #5 of the Patrulla Águila has crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off Murcia. A Casa C-101 Aviojet belonging to the Patrulla Águila (Spanish for “Eagle Patrol”), the Spanish Air Force’s display team, [...]

A new phase in EDA’s testing and evaluation project of biological detection, identification and monitoring (DIM) equipment was launched on 26 February at a kick-off meeting at the Agency. Dubbed ‘T&E Bio DIM Phase 2’ (2020-2023) the project aims to deliver improved testing and evaluation capabilities to ensure the performance of biological DIM systems at the development and procurement stage. It follows up to the project’s first phase which prepared the ground and set the framework for further action in this domain.   

Five EDA Member States (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands) as well as Norway (which has signed an Administrative Agreement with the Agency) are participating in T&E Bio DIM Phase 2.

Detection, identification and monitoring of biological material are critical to enhancing situational awareness in a timely manner, supporting decisions, and enabling military commanders to take the most appropriate decisions in a recognized chemical and biological environment. Despite the importance of biological DIM, Europe still lacks coordination and harmonisation of the technical requirements for Member States’ test and evaluation (T&E) equipment. This makes it difficult to compare and exchange T&E results both within and between European countries as well as NATO members. It also causes duplication of effort and reduces the cost-effectiveness of both national and international military and civilian T&E efforts, e.g. by limiting the burden-sharing and cost-reduction potential that could have been realised. 

In Phase 1 of the project, a general framework (in the form of a set of commonly defined requirements and criteria) was developed for T&E of biological DIM equipment. Based on this framework, Phase 2 is set to deliver improved testing and evaluation capabilities.
 

T&E Bio DIM Phase2 kick-off meeting at EDA on 26 February 2020
 

European Bio Defence Laboratory Network 

Moreover, another related EDA project is under preparation, the European Bio Defence Laboratory Network (EBLN Phase II), which will aim to strengthen EU preparedness by establishing a fully characterised collection of biological agents and a closely collaborating laboratory network at EU level in order to rapidly identify biothreat agents. Participating Member States in EBLN II are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden.

The two projects are part of EDA’s long term research efforts to enhance Member States’ bio defence capabilities and thereby, improve Europe’s overall ability to respond to emerging biological threats.

 

Top U.S. Demo Teams Gather at NAF El Centro, California to Share Best Practices. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels jet demonstration teams are meeting this week to compare notes [...]

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Italian Air Force Takes Delivery Of Its First F-35B Lightning II STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing)-model of the Joint Strike Fighter. The Italian Air Force received its first F-35B Lightning II on Saturday Feb. [...]