Schlagwort: Bundeswehr

Spy drone „Euro Hawk“: German government sells parts to NATO

The Bundeswehr hands over devices and instruments of the mothballed „Euro Hawk“ to NATO. It is still unclear what will happen to the aircraft itself and the ground stations. Canada withdrew its buying interest, now the US government could step in.

The German Ministry of Defence has started selling parts of the „Euro Hawk“. Spare parts, special tools and testing equipment for the maintenance of the drone are now being sold to NATO. State Secretary Thomas Silberhorn reported on a corresponding agreement yesterday during Question Time in the Bundestag. Originally, the German government had planned to sell the entire „Euro Hawk“ system to NATO. „Spy drone „Euro Hawk“: German government sells parts to NATO“ weiterlesen

Rheinmetall shows drone tank combination with kamikaze drone

In Unterlüß, 600 antimilitarists demonstrated against Rheinmetall. At the same time, the company presented a new weapon system. The combination of a flying drone and a land drone should be able to fight enemy targets in swarms in the future. A company boss praises the system as a „surgical strike with minimal collateral damage“.

Rheinmetall intends to expand modern warfare with unmanned land vehicles. The German armaments group has developed a drone tank that is about to go into series production and is to be sold worldwide. The „Mission Master“ is designed for surveillance, troop transport or recovery of wounded behind enemy lines. It can also be armed with 70 mm rocket launchers from the French company Thales to support battles.

As an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), the combat robot can be operated remotely, semi-automatically or fully autonomously with a programmed routine. The system is powered by an electric motor and can operate for up to eight hours. The „Mission Master“ weighs 750 kilograms and can carry up to 600 kilograms, with a low payload the vehicle can allegedly also swim. „Rheinmetall shows drone tank combination with kamikaze drone“ weiterlesen

Rheinmetall builds armed drone tank

More and more states have unmanned land vehicles that can be armed or used for surveillance. Programmed missions are carried out completely autonomous.

The Rheinmetall armaments group has developed a „Multimission Unmanned Ground Vehicle“ (MMUGV) that is about to go into series production. The „Mission Master“ is currently on display at various military trade fairs. Rheinmetall is advertising that the drone tank can be used in combat, for troop supply, surveillance, reconnaissance, for evacuation of wounded soldiers or for fire-fighting. The Mission Master is also intended to transport troops.

The vehicles can be operated either remotely, semi-automatically or completely as robots. The „Mission Master“ covers all three possible options. In fully autonomous operation, the operating soldier only has to program the mission and observe its progress. If necessary, the sequence can be interrupted by the user. „Rheinmetall builds armed drone tank“ weiterlesen

German Armed Forces drones complete 87,000 flight hours

The Bundeswehr currently has more than 630 drones. More are to follow, and next year the giant PEGASUS drone will be ordered. 

The German military drones have already completed more than 87,000 flight hours. This was written by the Federal Ministry of Defence in response to a parlamentarian question. With over 50,000 hours, most missions are flown with six Israeli long-range HERON 1 drones. The much smaller LUNA was in the air for around 18,000 hours. As of 2002, the Bundeswehr had purchased 145 units from the German manufacturer EMT. Like the HERON 1, the LUNA is also used in Afghanistan and Mali. „German Armed Forces drones complete 87,000 flight hours“ weiterlesen

Fight against small drones: Police use military technology

The police and military are increasingly confronted with the unwanted use of commercially available drones. For countermeasures, they must be quickly detected and analyzed. German arms companies have developed various methods to then combat the aircrafts.

Every year, around one million small drones are sold in the USA and Europe alone. This figure was quoted last week by the Deputy Director of the German Federal Armed Forces Aircraft Technical Service (WTD 61) during a technical demonstration at the department’s headquarters in Manching. This refers to multicopters with four or more rotors carrying a camera or other sensors, sometimes also called unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

In Germany, the owner’s data must be affixed to a sticker on the device. In many countries, however, the sale or use of unmanned systems is not regulated, which can also make them a „terrorist tool“ for the military in the field. The German government writes that small UAV’s have „proven to be a versatile technical aid in the planning, execution and evaluation of operations by terrorist organisations“. In the meantime they have been used for „airborne reconnaissance and espionage, to identify potential weak points in the run-up to attacks as well as to direct plunging fire“. „Fight against small drones: Police use military technology“ weiterlesen

Airbus to build the „Eurodrone“

To fly in European airspace, large military drones need a „Detect and Avoid“ system. The „Eurodrone“ could therefore be equipped with „American technology“.

Only „one final production line“ is to be set up for the the „Eurodrone“. This was announced by the German Ministry of Defense on Tuesday. According to the current status, the plant will be located at Airbus. As the „future general contractor“, the ars group is to submit an offer and a detailed program plan by April 2019. Italian, French and Spanish defence companies could then act as suppliers and produce, for example, wings, engines or avionics.

The „Eurodrone“ is a project of the German, French and Italian governments, to which Spain later also joined. The drone can be equipped with both rockets and surveillance technology. The development is to be finally decided before the end of this year. „Airbus to build the „Eurodrone““ weiterlesen

German military drone program in Israel operating as „Red Baron“

German soldiers train on a base near Tel Aviv first with Israeli drones. The delivery of the aircrafts with the German „Iron Cross“ takes place earlier than planned.

For the stationing of its drones in Israel, the Bundeswehr moved into an area on the Israeli air base Tel Nof on Monday. The cooperation runs under the name „Red Baron“, writes the German Air Force on its website. The name was chosen by the Israeli military. It honors the pilot Manfred von Richthofen. Which intention the Israeli air force pursues with the naming is unclear. As a combat pilot, von Richthofen achieved the highest number of air victories in the First World War. It is therefore reasonable that Israel expects the German drones to be armed soon. However, a further resolution of the Bundestag is necessary for this. Parts of the peace movement call on the members of parliament to vote on this in a decision of conscience. „German military drone program in Israel operating as „Red Baron““ weiterlesen

New drones are coming in

Next week the Bundeswehr moves into its drone base in Israel, but their „Heron TP“ will be still unarmed. Six European governments have decided against Israeli drones and instead rely on the „Predator B“.

On Monday, the German government launches its armed drones programme at the Tel Nof air base in Israel. The Bundeswehr moves into a container village on the base in the south of Tel Aviv. This is confirmed by the German Ministry of Defence when it writes that, on the initiative of the Israeli army, the training of German soldiers will begin with a ceremony at the air base. Tel Nof is one of the most important facilities of the Israeli Air Force, where according to reports nuclear weapons are stationed. Attacks on Gaza are also flown from Tel Nof. „New drones are coming in“ weiterlesen