Serbian Pantsir-S1

The six ADS systems Pantsir-S1 has start service in the 3rd missile division of the 250th Air Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Serbia.

Missiles 57E6-E

Franco-German agreement on the new MGCS main battle tank signed

The Federal Ministry of Defense announced the signing of two agreements on the future heavy land combat system between Germany and France at noon.

Franco-German KNDS Group at EUROSATORY-2018 unveiled this Leopard 2/Leclerc hybrid MBT

“The Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project, to be implemented under German leadership, is to replace the German Leopard 2 main battle tanks and the French Leclerc main battle tanks from the mid-2030s. With the project, Germany and France are sending an important signal for European cooperation in defense policy, ”said the Ministry of Defense in today's communication. “Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and her French counterpart Florence Parly have signed a framework agreement that sets out the project organization and management structures. Due to the corona situation, the ministers could not meet to sign together.”

The Leopard 2 and Leclerc main battle tanks, which were introduced in the German and French armed forces, were designed in the 1980s and have experienced extensive increases in combat value since then. Since these main battle tanks are to be replaced by 2035, Germany and France launched the joint MGCS project in 2012. The project is divided into five major phases: analysis of operational needs, concept study, development and technological capability verification, integration and system demonstration, and ultimately the production of the system. The first two phases have already been successfully completed. However, a binationally coordinated prioritization of individual requirements (high level requirements) has so far been lacking.

“Both countries should benefit equally from the cooperation, which is why the contracts to be concluded are based on 50 percent financing between Germany and France. In addition, both nations should be granted sufficient intellectual property rights for the future intended use of the work results, ”the Ministry of Defense writes about the content of the agreement. “The ministers therefore also signed an Implementing Arrangement 1, which forms the basis for the commissioning of a system architecture definition study. The budget committee of the German Bundestag has only recently cleared the way for the commissioning of this two-year study. Here, too, Germany and France share the costs. The system architecture is a prerequisite for the development of a technology demonstrator with which the German and French requirements for the MGCS can be checked. ”

Abrams, Challenger-2 and Leopard-2 weight in different configuration

Abrams, Challenger-2 and Leopard-2 weight in different configuration

Source:

• Title : Abrams and Heavy Equipment Transporter Bridge Crossing Capability Analysis
• Tank Bridge Crossing Capability Analysis

THE TOP 15 MILITARY SPENDERS IN 2019

The top 15 military spenders according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The TOP Military spenders in the world in 2019 were the same as those in 2018, but there were some significant changes in the rankings among the highest spenders (see table 1). Together, the top 15 countries spent $1553 billion in 2019, accounting for 81 per cent of global military expenditure.

Table 1. The 15 countries with the highest military expenditure in 2019

All but three countries in the top 15 had higher military expenditure in 2019 than in 2010. The exceptions were the United States (–15 per cent), the United Kingdom (–15 per cent) and Italy (–11 per cent). China’s increase (85 per cent) was by far the largest among the top 15.

Among the top 15 military spenders in 2019, Japan had the lowest military burden: it devoted only 0.9 per cent of its GDP to military expenditure. Saudi Arabia had the highest, 8.0 per cent. Among the top 15, the military burdens of Israel (5.3 per cent), Russia (3.9 per cent), the USA (3.4 per cent), South Korea (2.7 per cent) and India (2.4 per cent) were also higher than the global military burden.

With military expenditure of $732 billion, the USA remained by far the largest spender in the world in 2019, accounting for 38 per cent of global military spending. The USA spent almost as much on its military in 2019 as the next 10 highest spenders combined (see figure).

The share of world military expenditure of the 15 countries with the highest spending in 2019

US military expenditure was 5.3 per cent higher in 2019 than in 2018 (see table 1). This is the second year of growth in US military pending following seven years of continuous decline—between 2010 and 2017 spending fell by 22 per cent. The growth in the USA’s military spending between 2017 and 2019 can be attributed to an increase in personnel costs from the recruitment of 16 000 additional military personnel and the ongoing modernization of its conventional and nuclear weapon inventories. However, despite the recent increases, US military expenditure in 2019 remained 15 per cent lower than its peak in 2010 when the USA’s military burden was 4.9 per cent of GDP.

China, the world’s second-largest military spender, is estimated to have allocated $261 billion to the military in 2019—equivalent to 14 per cent of global military expenditure. Its military spending in 2019 was 5.1 per cent higher than in 2018 and 85 per cent higher than in 2010. China’s military expenditure has increased continuously since 1994 (for 25 consecutive years). The growth in its military spending has closely matched the country’s economic growth. Between 2010 and 2019, China’s military burden remained almost unchanged, at 1.9 per cent of its GDP.

The 6.8 per cent rise in India’s military spending in 2019 in combination with the significant fall in Saudi Arabia’s spending (–16 per cent) over the same period meant that India ranked third in 2019 for the first time. Saudi Arabia’s decrease and the increase in Russia’s spending (4.5 per cent) meant that Russia moved up one place in the rankings, from fifth to fourth, while Saudi Arabia fell from third to fifth.

At $50.1 billion, France’s military spending in 2019 was the sixth highest in the world and the highest among states in Western Europe.

Germany had the highest annual increase (10 per cent) in military spending among the top 15 spenders in 2019 and moved up two places in the rankings, from ninth to seventh.

Six of the 15 highest spenders are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): the USA, France, Germany, the UK, Italy and Canada. Together, these six accounted for 48 per cent ($929 billion) of global military expenditure. Total spending by all 29 NATO members was $1035 billion in 2019.

Global military expenditure sees largest annual increase in a decade

Global military expenditure sees largest annual increase in a decade—says SIPRI—reaching $1917 billion in 2019

(Stockholm, 27 April 2020) Total global military expenditure rose to $1917 billion in 2019, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The total for 2019 represents an increase of 3.6 per cent from 2018 and the largest annual growth in spending since 2010. The five largest spenders in 2019, which accounted for 62 per cent of expenditure, were the United States, China, India, Russia and Saudi Arabia. This is the first time that two Asian states have featured among the top three military spenders.

Global military spending in 2019 represented 2.2 per cent of the global gross domestic product (GDP), which equates to approximately $249 per person. ‘Global military expenditure was 7.2 per cent higher in 2019 than it was in 2010, showing a trend that military spending growth has accelerated in recent years,’ says Dr Nan Tian, SIPRI Researcher. ‘This is the highest level of spending since the 2008 global financial crisis and probably represents a peak in expenditure.’

United States drives global growth in military spending

Military spending by the United States grew by 5.3 per cent to a total of $732 billion in 2019 and accounted for 38 per cent of global military spending. The increase in US spending in 2019 alone was equivalent to the entirety of Germany’s military expenditure for that year. ‘The recent growth in US military spending is largely based on a perceived return to competition between the great powers,’ says Pieter D. Wezeman, Senior Researcher at SIPRI.

China and India top Asian military spending

In 2019 China and India were, respectively, the second- and third-largest military spenders in the world. China’s military expenditure reached $261 billion in 2019, a 5.1 per cent increase compared with 2018, while India’s grew by 6.8 per cent to $71.1 billion. ‘India’s tensions and rivalry with both Pakistan and China are among the major drivers for its increased military spending,’ says Siemon T. Wezeman, SIPRI Senior Researcher.

In addition to China and India, Japan ($47.6 billion) and South Korea ($43.9 billion) were the largest military spenders in Asia and Oceania. Military expenditure in the region has risen every year since at least 1989.

Germany leads military expenditure increases in Europe

Germany’s military spending rose by 10 per cent in 2019, to $49.3 billion. This was the largest increase in spending among the top 15 military spenders in 2019. ‘The growth in German military spending can partly be explained by the perception of an increased threat from Russia, shared by many North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states,’ says Diego Lopes da Silva, Researcher at SIPRI. ‘At the same time, however, military spending by France and the United Kingdom remained relatively stable.’ 

There were sharp increases in military expenditure among NATO member states in Central Europe: for example, Bulgaria’s increased by 127 per cent—mainly due to payments for new combat aircraft—and Romania’s rose by 17 per cent. Total military spending by all 29 NATO member states was $1035 billion in 2019.

In 2019 Russia was the fourth-largest spender in the world and increased its military expenditure by 4.5 per cent to $65.1 billion. ‘At 3.9 per cent of its GDP, Russia’s military spending burden was among the highest in Europe in 2019,’ says Alexandra Kuimova, Researcher at SIPRI.

Volatile military spending in African states in conflict

Armed conflict is one of the main drivers for the volatile nature of military spending in sub-Saharan Africa. For example, in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, where there are several ongoing armed conflicts, military spending in 2019 increased in Burkina Faso (22 per cent), Cameroon (1.4 per cent) and Mali (3.6 per cent) but fell in Chad (–5.1 per cent), Niger (–20 per cent) and Nigeria (–8.2 per cent). Among Central African countries that were involved in armed conflict, military spending in 2019 rose overall. The Central African Republic (8.7 per cent), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (16 per cent) and Uganda (52 per cent) all increased military spending in 2019.

Volatile military spending in African states in conflict

• South America: Military expenditure in South America was relatively unchanged in 2019, at $52.8 billion. Brazil accounted for 51 per cent of total military expenditure in the subregion.

• Africa: The combined military expenditure of states in Africa grew by 1.5 per cent to an estimated $41.2 billion in 2019—the region’s first spending increase for five years.

• South East Asia: Military spending in South East Asia increased by 4.2 per cent in 2019 to reach $40.5 billion.

• The average military spending burden was 1.4 per cent of GDP for countries in the Americas, 1.6 per cent for Africa, 1.7 per cent for Asia and Oceania and for Europe and 4.5 per cent for the Middle East (in countries for which data is available).

Paratroopers jump at 10,000 meters over Russian Arctic base

Nobody has jumped from such heights so far north. "First time in world history," said Russian Deputy Minister of Defense, Lt. Gen. Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, about the special exercise at the Franz Josef Land.

The paratroopers, who jumped from an Il-76 aircraft, tested new equipment developed for extreme Arctic conditions, like oxygen masks, navigation, parachute systems, and white camouflage uniforms.

“Today, for the first time in world history, we conducted a group landing of personnel with special parachute systems in Arctic conditions from a height of 10,000 meters using oxygen equipment followed by combat training missions,” said Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Yanus-Bek Yevkurov.

He added: “Nobody has done such a thing before us.”

In comparison, most skydiving jumps by civilians happen from an altitude of around 3,000 to 4,000 meters (10,000 to 13,500 feet).

The soldiers’ gear was dropped with larger parachutes from the same aircraft.

The jump took place over Aleksandra Land, the westernmost island on the archipelago of Franz Josef Land. Here, at 80 degrees north, Russia’s Arctic forces have built its northernmost military complex with a new 2,500-meter-long runway, huge building infrastructure.

The Nagurskoye base is equipped with the latest gear for Arctic military warfare. That includes snowmobiles, personnel trucks, helicopters, radar systems, and anti-aircraft missile systems, like the S-300 aimed at strengthening control over Arctic air space.

As previously reported by the Barents Observer, Chief of Russian Chief of the General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov, has confirmed that the new Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile can be deployed to Arctic airports like the one at Aleksandra Land.

With the new runway, bombers like the MiG-31K can use the airport. So can large transport planes. The airport is built about 3 kilometers west of the runway Russia abandoned after the end of the Cold War.

After landing on the snow, the paratroopers began the main stage of the tactical and special exercise. Several tens of them conducted reconnaissance and search operations aimed at destroying the conditional enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group, a press release from the Ministry of Defense in Moscow reads. 

Searching for the enemy, the soldiers used a UAV.

The exercise continued for three days along the northern shores of Aleksandra Land, around Cape Nimrod, close the eastern edge of the largest glacier on the island. In the end, the soldiers advanced to the collection point and went back to the Nagurskoye base.

Vilkha-M hit a target of 110 km with a deviation of 15 m (VIDEO)

During the next tests of the Ukrainian 300mm R624M "Vilkha-M" missile with a maximum range of more than 100 km, showed the video of the hitting missile at a target.

The tests were held on April 25 at the Alibay State Testing Area in Odesa Oblast in preparation for the state tests. The missile hit a target at a range of approximately 110 km with a deviation of 15 meters.

Vilkha-M is a project of creation of high-precision 300 mm jet ammunition with a maximum range of more than 100 km, which are produced by the enterprises of the defense-industrial complex of Ukraine in a closed cycle. The Vilkha-M is a modification of the Vilkha MLRS, which is already in service with the Ukrainian army. If for ordinary Vilkha firing range is 70 km, for Vilkha-M – 120 km.

Since 2015, three variants of missiles have been developed under the theme "Vilkha": "Vilkha-R" - an old extended-life 9M55 missile for a MLRS 9K58 "Smerch", R624 "Vilkha" - a missile in the 9M55 case with a new solid propellant engine, correction system based on GPS and inertial navigation system, additional gas-dynamic engines and R624M "Vilkha-M" - a completely new rocket - new hull, engine similar to the "Vilkha" adjustment system and gas-dynamic engines.

In connection with the entry of the Vilkha system in service to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 107th Reactive Artillery Regiment in 2019 was reorganized into a brigade.

Via Ukrmilitary.com