DefenceTalkThe German government wants to buy unmanned drones from the United States, or Israel, but the opposition does not see a necessity for these aircraft, which can be used as bomb-toting weapons, or for reconnaissance. Minister of Defense Thomas de Maizière, of Germany’s Christian Democratic Party (CDU), is quite clear about why the German Armed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/drones-for-the-german-military-stir-controversy-47674/

DefenceTalkGerman arms manufacturer Kraus-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has just closed a billion dollar deal with Qatar that was five years in the making. On Thursday (18.04.2013), the Munich-based company announced that it signed a contract to deliver 62 Leopard 2 tanks and 24 self-propelled howitzers to the emirate. The price for the arms: roughly 1.9 billion […]https://www.defencetalk.com/german-firm-arms-qatar-with-tanks-47555/

DefenceTalkBERGEN, Germany: One-up, two-up, echelon left, echelon right and bounding-over-watch. These are fighting formations that the 48th Battalion, Singapore Armored Regiment (48 SAR) has executed with Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) at Exercise Panzer Strike in Germany. Held on the undulating plains of Bergen-NATO training area – whose live-firing ranges provide three times the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/singapore-armor-trains-in-germany-47562/

DefenceTalkFive JAS-39 Gripen aircraft and six pilots have successfully completed 80 refueling contacts with German Airbus 310 MRTT tanker in training within ATARES Program. “The training has increased number of Czech pilots who are able to refuel in the air and advanced capabilities of our flight and, at the same time, advanced combat skills of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/gripens-train-air-to-air-refuelling-from-german-tanker-47487/

DefenceTalkGermany is in talks with Israel to buy weaponized drones for its military that are seen as more technologically advanced than US ones, the weekly Der Spiegel reported. The news magazine’s Monday edition said the German defence ministry had already held two meetings with Israeli military officials, in November 2012 and February 2013, on the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-looking-to-buy-weaponised-drones-from-israel-47468/

DefenceTalkThe German Sachsen-class frigate Hamburg (F220) is the first German ship to fully integrate and deploy with an American carrier strike group, and April 3 marks her second week of operating in the North Arabian Sea with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE). The Hamburg will stay a part of the strike group until […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-german-ship-deploys-with-us-carrier-strike-group-47359/

DefenceTalkRheinmetall formally transferred its new IdZ-ES future soldier system to the German Bundeswehr on 7 March 2013. Short for “Infanterist der Zukunft – Erweitertes System” or “Future Soldier – Expanded System”, IdZ-ES is also known as the “Gladius”. The handover ceremony coincided with the 10th Armoured Division’s traditional “International Division Skiing Championship” at Ruhpolding in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/rheinmetall-delivers-gladius-soldier-system-47133/

DefenceTalkCassidian handed over the 100th Eurofighter to the German Air Force today, at the Military Air Systems Centre in Manching. The anniversary aircraft with the identifier 31×00 took off in the afternoon on its delivery flight to Boelke Fighter Bomber Wing 31 in Noervenich. Speaking to invited delegates who included politicians, representatives of the public […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cassidian-delivers-100th-eurofighter-to-the-german-air-force-47011/

DefenceTalkOutstanding levels of tactical, operational and strategic mobility, compelling combat effectiveness and maximum survivability are key requirements imposed on modern military vehicles today – whether they are designed primarily for combat, command and control, mission-specific roles or transport. In contemporary conflicts, where the threat is often asymmetric yet deadly, protecting troops deployed in harm’s way […]https://www.defencetalk.com/rheinmetall-exhibits-ampv-at-idex-46848/