Krieg in der Ukraine

[Doppeladler]

Angeblich wird Griechenland alle 32 außer Dienst gestellten F-16 Block 30 Jets an die Ukraine übergeben.

[theoderich]

https://www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/Home/ ... e%20System

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/defence- ... 93184-35aR

The Gravehawk air-defence systems to be supplied to Ukraine – funded and developed by the UK and Denmark – will number 17, with no current plans for more, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) told Janes on 14 February.

Two prototypes were tested in Ukraine in September 2024, to be followed by the delivery of 15 production versions in 2025.

The shipping container-based Gravehawk system is made to fire the Soviet-designed R-73/AA-11 ‘Archer' short-range air-to-air missile, developed by Vympel NPO that entered service in 1984. Ukraine has stocks of the missiles that have been adapted for surface-to-air firing, with the MoD saying the Gravehawk is not currently configured for firing other missiles.

It is transported via a Demountable Rack Offload and Pickup System (DROPS). There are currently no plans for any other vehicle provision by the UK, the MoD said; however, the Gravehawk could theoretically be transported via any standard flat rack.

https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/de ... ays-uk-mod

[theoderich]

France says joint bonds on table to finance European defence

France’s minister for European affairs said joint European bonds should be discussed in the coming days to ramp up defence funding for the bloc as it tackles an “existential moment” over Ukraine and the continent’s wider security.

Benjamin Haddad spoke to Bloomberg TV ahead of a meeting of European leaders convened by President Emmanuel Macron in Paris for urgent talks on Ukraine.

“What happens in Ukraine is of existential importance to the future of Europe, to the future of European security,” said Haddad. “This is a moment also to think about how we can fund stepping up on our security.”

“In the face of this emergency, I think it is time to take historic decisions. And indeed the question of eurobonds, for instance, is one of the mechanisms that we should be talking about,” Haddad said.

Bloomberg reported earlier that European officials are working on a major new package to ramp up defence spending and support Kyiv amid Trump’s push for a quick end to the war in Ukraine.

https://www.luxtimes.lu/europeanunion/f ... 41749.html

• Brussels to exempt defence spending from EU budget constraints (14. Februar 2025)
  

  The European Commission will propose exempting defence from EU limits on government spending, the head of the EU executive, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Friday, amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump for Europe to finance its own defence.

  Von der Leyen said the lifting of restrictions on defence spending would follow the same logic as the removal of borrowing limits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  "I believe we are now in another period of crisis which warrants a similar approach. This is why I can announce that I will propose to activate the escape clause for defence investments," she said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference.
  "This will allow member states to substantially increase their defence expenditure. Of course, we will do this in a controlled and conditional way."

  https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/br ... 025-02-14/
  
  
  

• President Michel calls for 'defence bonds' at EDA Annual Conference 2023 (30. November 2023)
  

  The European Union should consider ‘European defence bonds’ to fund investment in European defence and security as part of a new push for deeper military coordination, the President of the European Council Charles Michel told the European Defence Agency’s annual conference.
  
  Member states should pool what could amount to €600 billion in defence investment over the next 10 years, Michel told the conference, urging for better coordination of how it is to be spent.

  Michel said European defence bonds would be an attractive asset class, including for retail investors. Michel also said the time was ripe to channel more military investment and activities into a combined European effort to defend the EU’s values of liberal democracy.

  https://eda.europa.eu/news-and-events/n ... rence-2023

Und dann liest man so etwas:

https://de.linkedin.com/posts/acs-armou ... 20322-MRMS

Da werden große Reden geschwungen, von der Rüstungsindustrie die Quadratur des Kreises gefordert - und gleichzeitig erstickt man die Unternehmen mit Bürokratie, damit sie ihre Aufträge bloß nicht erfüllen können.

[theoderich]

[theoderich]

Europa müsste 300.000 Soldaten mobilisieren, um sich ohne die USA gegen Russland zu verteidigen

Eine Analyse des Brüsseler Forschungsinstituts Bruegel und des Kiel Instituts für Weltwirtschaft schätzt die Kosten und Anforderungen, wenn sich Europa ohne Unterstützung der USA gegen Russland verteidigen muss. Demnach wären dafür erhebliche Verteidigungsinvestitionen von rund 250 Milliarden Euro jährlich notwendig, um russischer Militärgewalt wirksam entgegentreten zu können.

Die Autoren gehen davon aus, dass Europa rund 50 zusätzliche Brigaden mit insgesamt 300.000 Soldaten aufstellen müsste. Hierfür seien mindestens 1.400 neue Kampfpanzer und 2.000 Schützenpanzer erforderlich, was die derzeitigen Bestände der gesamten deutschen, französischen, italienischen und britischen Landstreitkräfte übersteigt. Darüber hinaus müsste Europa jährlich rund 2.000 Langstreckendrohnen produzieren.

„Auch wenn die Größenordnungen zunächst erheblich sind: Ökonomisch ist das relativ zur Wirtschaftskraft der EU überschaubar, die zusätzlichen Kosten liegen nur bei circa 1,5 Prozent des Bruttoinlandsprodukts der EU. Das ist weit weniger, als etwa zur Krisenbewältigung während der Covid-Pandemie mobilisiert werden musste“, sagt Prof. Guntram Wolff, Mitautor der Analyse und Senior-Fellow am Kiel Institut für Weltwirtschaft.

https://www.ifw-kiel.de/de/publikatione ... rteidigen/

• Wirtschaftspolitischer Beitrag
  Europa ohne die USA verteidigen: eine erste Analyse, was gebraucht wird
  
  Kiel Policy Brief, 183
  
  https://www.ifw-kiel.de/de/publikatione ... ird-33811/

IDEX 2025 – Zala Aero showcases improved Lancet loitering munitions

https://www.edrmagazine.eu/idex-2025-za ... -munitions

ZALA Lancet-E Complex

ZALA (Russia)

Lancet-E Complex is designed for remote aerial reconnaissance operations (search, detection and surveillance of stationary and mobile objects) in day and night conditions with the use of payloads, retransmission of command and telematics as well as video signals and, if necessary, to deliver combat units to remote enemy facilities.


COMPOSITION

1. Short-range unmanned aerial vehicle Z-16-E

2. Payload “video camera”

3. Payload “thermal imager”

4. Ground control station

5. Antenna-feeder device

6. Pneumatic launcher

7. Universal charging station

8. Rechargeable battery

9. Carrier guided munition “Izdeliye 51-E”

10. Carrier guided munition “Izdeliye 52-E

11. Pneumatic launcher 51-E

12. Spare parts kit

https://www.idexuae.ae/exhibit/exhibitor-list/#4026

[theoderich]

Drohnenabwehr – Deutschland liefert Kinetic Defence Vehicle an die Ukraine

https://www.hartpunkt.de/drohnenabwehr- ... e-ukraine/

https://www.hartpunkt.de/enforce-tac-di ... e-vehicle/

With the Kinetic Defence Vehicle, #DiehlDefence as leading systems house in the field of ground-based air defence is expanding its product portfolio.

The platform-independent drone defence system protects light and highly mobile tactical units as well as critical infrastructure. Depending on the intended use, various configurations of the Kinetic #Defence Vehicle are possible in order to adapt the system to the respective existing tactical and logistical infrastructure.

With a surveillance range of up to 360 degrees, the integrated sensor unit detects potential threats in real time with the help of an AI solution from Walaris. Attacks by drones or loitering munitions are detected and identified by active as well as passive threat detection and defended against with high efficiency.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/diehl-de ... 85760-f-Eg

[theoderich]

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bae-syst ... 64608-OIAi

The Government is to donate a substantial portion of Ireland’s ageing air defence systems to protect towns and small cities in Ukraine as Russia’s invasion enters its fourth year.

The transfer of the Giraffe Mark IV radar systems forms part of the Government’s commitment to assist Ukraine with non-lethal military equipment and training.

Official sources said on Sunday the move was intended to show “continued solidarity” with Ukraine at a time when the government of Volodymyr Zelenskiy is coming under pressure from the Trump administration in Washington, which wants to reach a deal with Russia on ending the war.

The Department of Defence said it is continuing to engage with Ukrainian authorities in relation to the provision of non-lethal assistance, by reference to the Ukrainian armed forces’ identified needs.

“In terms of the Giraffe system, we are waiting on arrangements with the Ukrainian armed forces in relation to their acceptance of the systems and the provision of training.”

The transfer of the Giraffe Mark IV radar systems to the Ukrainian armed forces will open up a capability gap in Ireland’s already minimal air defences.

Plans to replace the radars with modern systems are under way but it will likely be several years before they are operational.

Ireland possesses seven of the Giraffe systems. It has not yet been determined if all are to be donated. Sources said at least three are to be handed over.

The Defence Forces are making final preparations to ship the equipment to Ukraine and are awaiting final Government approval, which is expected shortly. A Defence Forces training team will also accompany the systems to instruct Ukrainian troops on their use.

The short-range radar systems, which are operated by the Defence Forces artillery section, were acquired in 2008 in response to a need to protect visiting dignitaries and summit meetings from possible airborne terrorist attacks.

They are linked to ground-to-air missile launchers. However, in line with the Government’s policy of only supplying non-lethal military aid, the associated missile systems are not being donated.

[theoderich]

Ukraine conflict: Russia's attack helicopter forces transition from ‘easy target' to ‘worst nightmare'

Speaking at the IQPC International Military Helicopter (IMH) 2025 conference in London, subject matter expert on attack helicopters at the JAPCC, Lieutenant Colonel Emiliano Pellegrini of the Italian Army, said that Russia has been quick to learn early painful lessons in Ukraine in how not to use attack helicopters and has now successfully adapted the tactics and capabilities of its Kamov Ka-52 ‘Hokum-B', Mil Mi-28 ‘Havoc', and Mil Mi-24/35 ‘Hind' helicopters.

At the outset of the war, Russia employed 75 Ka-52, 55 Mi-28, and 95 Mi-24/35 helicopters, according to the JAPCC's interpretation of open-source data (Lt Col Pellegrini said that the presumption was made that 30% of the fleet inventory would be unavailable at any one time, due to maintenance or the like).

https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/de ... -nightmare

[theoderich]

Trump Pauses Military Aid

President Donald Trump ordered a pause to all military aid to Ukraine, turning up the heat on Volodymyr Zelenskiy just days after an Oval Office blowup with the Ukrainian president left the support of his country’s most important ally in doubt.

The US is pausing all current military aid to Ukraine until Trump determines the country’s leaders demonstrate a good-faith commitment to peace, according to a senior Defense Department official, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... ckout=true

[theoderich]

Press statement by President von der Leyen on the defence package

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/pressco ... ent_25_673

• Letter by President von der Leyen on defence to the European Council ahead of its meeting on Thursday, 6 March 2025
  
  https://ec.europa.eu/commission/pressco ... /ip_25_684

Die "Presse" hat sich mit dem Vorschlag auseinandergesetzt und dabei festgestellt, dass es sich dabei (natürlich) um einen Etikettenschwindel handelt:

• Von der Leyen und ihr 800-Milliarden-Euro-Plan: Kein frisches EU-Geld für Aufrüstung
  
  https://www.doppeladler.com/da/forum/vi ... 756#p49756

Trump administration to pause future deliveries of military aid to Ukraine

President Donald Trump has decided to pause all future deliveries of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine in an extraordinary move aimed at pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into peace talks with Russia, said two U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

“The president has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well,” said a White House official who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive policy deliberations. “We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution.”

Trump has long been skeptical of aid to Ukraine, but his top aides began preparing serious policy options about ending military assistance following last week’s rancorous Oval Office meeting as Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelensky, a second U.S. official said.

The official said the decision could be reversed if Zelensky demonstrates a good-faith effort to participate in peace talks. Ukrainian officials have bristled that the Trump administration did not seek early buy-in on negotiations and were surprised by the decision to exclude them from last month’s meeting between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.

The decision to pause the aid was made at a White House meeting Monday that included Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

The move follows an order last week by Hegseth for U.S. Cyber Command to halt offensive cyber and information operations against Russia as long as negotiations to end the war are ongoing, according to current and former U.S. officials.

Earlier in the day, Trump declined to say whether he would withhold aid, saying conversations were ongoing. But he repeated a refrain from the testy Oval Office meeting, noting that he deserves more gratitude. Zelensky “should be more appreciative because this country has stuck with them through thick and thin,” Trump said.

Trump officials declined to provide a total dollar amount for the military assistance that has been placed on pause. The United States has spent well over $100 billion in military and economic support for Ukraine since the start of the war, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. The vast majority of U.S. military funding to Ukraine has gone to U.S. defense companies to purchase weapons built in U.S. factories.

Europeans have been working to mobilize a military aid package for Ukraine expected to be worth more than $20 billion, with Trump’s support for Ukraine in doubt even before his dustup with Zelensky. Kyiv’s backers on the continent have been seeking to strengthen Ukraine’s leverage as Washington moves toward negotiations to end the war on terms that many see as being favorable to Moscow.

The plan is to supply Ukraine with artillery ammunition, air defenses, drones and other weapon systems by pooling cash or equipment.

Still, European defense stocks don’t match the scale of the Pentagon’s, and the continent’s supplies are running dry after years of dispatching equipment to Ukraine.

With enough political will, European governments could backfill aid to some extent, officials and analysts say. But with some of the continent’s key economies struggling, it may prove difficult to sustain the flow of weapons and cash in the long run if the United States fully pivots away, stretching thin efforts to hike spending on their militaries.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national ... -military/