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Militarization of space: Germany's industry calls for more commitment to military space travel

Amely Mizzi 14. February 2025 08:31

The militarization of space is advancing, while Germany and Europe have so far played only a minor role in this international arms race. Against the backdrop of growing global tensions and geopolitical rivalries, the German aerospace industry is calling for increased investment in military space technologies in order to secure national sovereignty and Europe's position in the international arena. Increased participation in the military sector of space is not only necessary to remain technologically competitive, but also to protect one's own interests in an increasingly contested geopolitical environment. Europe's lagging behind in space The German and European space industries are increasingly faced with the challenge that other nations, especially the USA, are investing heavily in the military sector of space. While the USA carried out more than half of the world's 220 rocket launches for military and civilian purposes last year, Europe was at the bottom of the list with just four rocket launches. China, Russia and India are also pursuing ambitious programs that will enable them to quickly catch up in the field of military and civil space technologies. Against this background, German industry is warning that neglecting military space policy could lead to a serious competitive disadvantage. Marie-Christine von Hahn, CEO of the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI), stressed the urgency of this development. "If politicians miss this, our sovereignty and our position in the world will be at stake," Hahn explained at the Munich Security Conference. In her view, Germany and Europe are dependent on a "competitive infrastructure in space" in order not to fall behind. Particularly in the area of

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Netherlands rely on the modern training system PC-7 MKX for military flight training

Amely Mizzi 10. February 2025 06:32

The Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force) has signed a contract with Pilatus Aircraft for the supply of eight PC-7 MKX aircraft and the associated ground-based training systems. This state-of-the-art training system will take the basic military training of Dutch military pilots to a new level from the first half of 2027. It offers a cost-effective solution for flight training and at the same time sets a new standard in the field of air force training. The PC-7 MKX is an innovative training aircraft that offers aspiring military pilots practical and cost-effective training. Pilatus was awarded the contract to supply the new training systems as part of a public tender by the Dutch procurement authority “Material & IT Command” (COMMIT). In addition to the aircraft, the package also includes four simulators and a range of advanced ground-based training aids, including virtual reality components. These help to increase the engagement and immersion of both student pilots and instructors. The PC-7 MKX is characterized by its innovative use of simulation technologies that enable early integration of advanced training methods. For example, mission planning and debriefing tools and an advanced training management system are used to provide trainee pilots with operational insight and detailed performance analysis. This is intended to help sharpen situational awareness and increase learning efficiency, so that training is faster and more effective. The close partnership between Pilatus and the Koninklijke Luchtmacht The Dutch Air Force and Pilatus have a long-standing partnership. This began in 1988 with the delivery of PC-7 training aircraft and is now continued with the new PC-7 MKX. The

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Germany: Federal government uses Bundeswehr air force for 1.822 official flights

Jan Gruber 6. February 2025 11:24

Since Chancellor Olaf Scholz took office in December 2021, the federal government has used the Bundeswehr's aircraft and helicopters for official purposes a total of 1.822 times. This figure emerges from a response from the Ministry of Defense to a request from Bundestag member Sevim Dagdelen (Die Linke) and highlights how intensively the Bundeswehr's air readiness has been used by the ministries in recent years. While the Chancellery requested the aircraft most frequently, use by other ministries was also not insignificant. The leader in official flights is the Chancellery, which carried out a total of 2021 flights between the swearing-in of the federal government in December 2024 and the end of 611. This figure shows the high frequency of trips that are necessary as part of the official business of the Chancellor and other members of the government. The Chancellor himself, in particular, regularly uses the Bundeswehr's aircraft for his trips abroad. As a rule, one of the three Airbus A350s provided for the Chancellor's international flights is used. These aircraft not only offer space for the Chancellor's extensive entourage, but are also equipped with the necessary technology to ensure secure communication at the highest level. The range of the Airbus A350 is 18.000 kilometers, which enables flights to distant destinations without a stopover. Other ministries in air traffic After the Chancellery, the Foreign Office follows with 363 flights, the Ministry of Defense with 168 and the Ministry of the Interior with 155 flights. The figures make it clear that the air readiness is an important factor not only for the Chancellor, but also for other ministries and their representatives.

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Bulgaria's decision for the F-16 Viper: A significant step for the air force

Jan Gruber 6. February 2025 11:15

On February 3, 2025, the first F-16 Viper built by Lockheed Martin was delivered to the Bulgarian Air Force in Greenville, South Carolina. This move marks an important milestone in the modernization of the Bulgarian Air Force, which plans to replace its existing fleet of 12 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29s with the modern Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70s. The deal is not only a sign of Bulgaria's growing military ambitions, but also of the strengthened strategic relations between Bulgaria and the United States. The purchase of the F-16 Viper is described by Bulgaria as "a determined effort" to improve the capabilities of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. As Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev stressed in a statement in January 2023, this is "a huge project that reflects a determined effort to strengthen our country's defense capability." The replacement of the older MiG-29s with the F-16 Block 70 represents a fundamental change in Bulgaria's military aviation. The F-16 Block 70: A top-of-the-range multirole fighter aircraft The F-16 Fighting Falcon, also known as the Viper, is one of the world's most recognizable and versatile combat aircraft. Since its launch, it has won more than 30 air forces around the world as customers, including the US military, which uses the F-16 as an aggressor aircraft. The Block 70 model, which Bulgaria is now integrating into its air force, represents the latest evolution of the F-16 series and offers a range of advanced technologies that significantly expand the aircraft's capabilities. The Block 70 model is specifically designed for long-term use and offers a number of improvements over previous versions, particularly in the area of

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Conference in Vienna: 25 Years of Security Policy Integration of the Balkans

Jan Gruber 3. February 2025 04:01

From January 28 to 30, 2025, the Partnership for Peace Consortium conference entitled "25 Years: Integration of the Balkans" took place in Vienna. The aim of the event was to analyze security policy developments in the region since 1999 and to assess the benefits of the "Defense and Security Education" project for stability and cooperation. The event was organized by the General Directorate for Defense Policy and the National Defense Academy, which are members of the consortium. The conference was attended by 120 national and international representatives from academia, the military, diplomacy and international organizations. The first day of the conference honored the 25th anniversary of the consortium, while the second day dealt with the influence of past conflicts on the Balkans and strategic future issues. The last day included a panel discussion on security policy measures in the region and a lecture on the resilience of the Balkans. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner emphasized Austria's role as a reliable partner of the consortium. She emphasized that the joint training of civilian and military actors promotes cooperation between nations and contributes to strengthening security and trust. The consortium, which was founded in 1999 on the occasion of NATO's 50th anniversary, now comprises more than 800 organizations from 60 countries and serves as an international network for security policy research and training.

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Austrian Army secures airspace during World Economic Forum in Davos

Amely Mizzi 27 January 2025 04:09

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, which took place from January 20 to 24, 2025, the Austrian Air Force increased security in Austrian airspace. At the request of Switzerland, Austria set up a restricted flight zone over parts of Vorarlberg and Tyrol. During the operation, in which more than 1.000 soldiers and 20 aircraft were involved, there were two incidents involving unauthorized small aircraft from Switzerland. These were intercepted by Austrian PC7 interceptors and diverted back to Switzerland. The airspace security operation, codenamed "DAEDALUS25", included patrol flights, identification flights in the event of airspace violations, and transport flights. A total of 274 civil flight permits were issued by the Airspace Surveillance Center. Of these, 107 were intended for authorized aircraft, such as helicopters from the Ministry of the Interior and the ÖAMTC. The state treaty on "cross-border airspace surveillance" between Austria and Switzerland, which has been in force since 2020, played a special role. This enables seamless cooperation in tracking civil aircraft without compromising national sovereignty. According to Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner, the operation demonstrated the need for close cooperation in airspace security and the importance of future systems as part of the "ÖBH 2032+" development plan.

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Bundeswehr uses Patriot systems to protect a Polish airport

Stephen Steiner 24 January 2025 11:45

In southeastern Poland, two German Army Patriot systems will protect the airport near Rzeszow for the next six months. This airport is of strategic importance because it acts as a central logistical hub for Western military aid to Ukraine. Around 200 soldiers will operate the state-of-the-art air defense systems, which primarily secure the airspace over NATO territory and at the same time ensure the logistical supply of Ukraine, as Defense Minister Boris Pistorius explained. The airport near Rzeszow is only about 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and had previously been protected by US soldiers and their Patriot systems. This transfer of protection responsibility to the German Army underlines the close military cooperation between Germany and Poland within the framework of NATO and EU alliance loyalty. Defense Minister Pistorius praised Poland's role as an "incredible political and military ally" of Ukraine, which had proven itself during the conflict with Russia. Previously, German Patriot squadrons were deployed in eastern Poland from January to November 2023 to monitor the airspace. From summer 2025, Germany plans to additionally deploy an alert squadron of Eurofighter fighter jets to Poland to secure the airspace over Romania. These missions demonstrate the Bundeswehr's commitment to the joint defense of NATO territory.

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Germany, Austria and Switzerland deepen cooperation between air forces

Jan Gruber 21 January 2025 05:38

On January 17, 2025, the air force chiefs of Germany, Switzerland and Austria signed a cooperation agreement aimed at closer cooperation between the air forces of the three neighboring countries. In their meeting, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz (Germany), Major Peter Merz (Switzerland) and Major General Gerfried Promberger (Austria) laid the foundation for more comprehensive cooperation, which focuses in particular on the further development of ground-based air defense, the shared use of resources and the strengthening of interoperability. The signed agreement provides for closer integration of the air forces in several key areas. These include: An important part of the agreement is the annual holding of a so-called Air Chiefs' Meeting in the DA-CH format, at which the progress of the cooperation is evaluated and further steps are determined. Importance of the cooperation The deepening of cooperation between Germany, Austria and Switzerland is expressly welcomed by politicians. Austria's Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner emphasised the relevance of the agreement and described it as an important step towards providing the best possible protection for the population. Close cooperation between the European neighbours is essential, particularly in light of the current security policy challenges. Switzerland, which traditionally takes a neutral stance in international conflicts, also sees added value in the cooperation. Major Merz emphasised that Switzerland can further strengthen its capabilities and at the same time benefit from the experience of its partners. Lieutenant General Gerhartz from Germany emphasised the importance of close coordination within Europe in order to be prepared for possible threats. Joint exercises and exchange programmes A central component of the cooperation are joint exercises and training programmes that enable the countries involved to learn from each other.

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Successful aerial refueling by Airbus A400M

Amely Mizzi 20 January 2025 08:39

In a landmark development, Airbus has announced that an A400M Atlas, the European aircraft manufacturer's heavy-lift aircraft, has successfully refuelled a V-22 Osprey, a tilt-rotor aircraft of the US Navy, during a flight test by the German Air Force. This successful refuelling represents not only a significant advance in the further development of the A400M as a tanker aircraft, but also an important step towards improved interoperability between NATO partners, which is essential for joint military operations. The German Air Force originally developed the A400M Atlas with the aim of creating a flexible and capable transport aircraft that could not only transport heavy loads over long distances, but also be used as a tanker aircraft for military helicopters and other aircraft. With the successful aerial refuelling of a US helicopter, this capability has now been taken to the next level and a new milestone in the aircraft's operational capability has been reached. A complex challenge: in-flight helicopter refueling The ability to refuel helicopters in flight is one of the A400M's outstanding features. This capability is particularly crucial for France and Germany, which rely on military helicopters for operations in foreign conflict zones. Unlike aircraft that fly long distances and therefore carry fuel on board, helicopters for longer missions often require an additional fuel supply, which must be provided by in-flight refueling. Traditionally, this task was carried out by the United States Air Force (USAF), but the further development of in-flight refueling systems in European military aircraft, in particular the A400M, now offers NATO partners more independence and flexibility. In-flight refueling of helicopters is a challenge due to the different

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Airbus Helicopters delivers new H225M helicopters to the French Aerospace Force

Amely Mizzi 17 January 2025 10:45

Airbus Helicopters has delivered two new H225M helicopters to the French General Directorate of Armaments (DGA). This delivery marks an important step in the modernization and harmonization of the French Aerospace Forces' helicopter fleet. The new machines, which are intended to replace the Pumas, will be used primarily in the French overseas territories such as French Guiana, Djibouti and New Caledonia. The H225M, also known as the "Caracal", is used in a wide range of operational missions, including search and rescue missions and supply missions. The delivery of these helicopters follows an order for a total of eight machines in 2021 to meet the French Armed Forces' ongoing need for powerful and modern rotorcraft. Symbolic delivery for the French Armed Forces The handover of the two helicopters to the French Aerospace Forces is of particular importance as France was the first operator of the H225M. These helicopters have been an indispensable tool for various military and civil tasks since they first entered service in 2006. The H225M has proven its performance particularly in search and rescue missions, disaster management and medical evacuations. Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, stressed that France was the first operator to take advantage of the helicopter's benefits on several occasions and that confidence in the model has not been lost even after almost two decades. The French Aerospace Force will benefit from the numerous innovations that have been incorporated into the French armed forces since the H225M was first introduced. The H225M helicopters are characterized by their reliability and versatility. They are particularly robust and able to operate in extreme conditions.

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