AIR POWER IN EASTERN EUROPE: PROGRAMMES AND REQUIREMENTS MAP

ENHANCING AIR POWER ON NATO’S EASTERN FLANK

Eastern European countries are currently revamping their air capabilities in light of Russian pressure on NATO’s Eastern and Northern flank. As they are moving away from Soviet-era platforms, the focus is on procuring NATOcompatible capabilities to increase interoperability in the region.

Ahead of this year’s Air Power Eastern Europe, taking place on 10-12 December in Salzburg, Austria, Please notice the below compiled map outlining ongoing programmes and key requirement of countries from the region, most of them attending the conference in December.

Further key relationships with Air Forces, MoDs and R&D leaders across the region and positioning the Governments solutions to meet their modernisation priorities.

Preparing for the future through live and synthetic training solutions and improve the prompt responses to the threat of peer adversaries and hybrid warfare tactics.

Engaging with senior decision-makers from the Austrian Air Force and Ministry of Defence to create new business opportunities and secure programme partnerships worldwide

Establishing cyber resilience for key onboard systems and C2 infrastructure, and learn how to operate effectively in a dense ECM complex, dynamic and unpredictible environment.

There are currently a number of high profile procurement programmes, whereby nations are actively modernizing that include:

• DENMARK In response to Russia’s increasing presence in the Arctic, Denmark is seeking to protect Greenland and has acquired in June 2016 27 F-35 fighter aircraft to replace the Air Force’s fleet of 30 F-16s. Scheduled to be delivered between 2021 and 2026, they will enable Denmark to shape a fifth-generationenabled force to integrate with other fleets on NATO’s Northern Flank.
• FINLAND has advanced its US$ 13.1 billion HX-FP multirole fighter replacement programme to the next stage, as five aircraft manufacturers have submitted their tender to the Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command office: Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin’s F-35, France’s Dassault Rafale, the British-made Eurofighter and the Swedish Saab Gripen, including both the single-seat Gripen E and dual-set Gripen F. The new aircraft are set to replace the Air Force’s fleet of F/A-18C/D Hornet jets between 2025 and 2029.
• SWEDEN – Sweden’s defence committee published in May a white paper proposing an increase defence spending of 1.5% of GDP by 2025, resulting in a budget allocation of US$ 8.7 billion per year. The equipment priorities for the 2021-2025 period proposed in the white paper include:

• Maintaining six fighter squadrons through 2025 and the Air Force’s current Saab Gripen C/D fleet acting as “the core of the fighter aircraft system.” During this period, Gripen E will also be put on the frontline, with IOC for air-to-air duties scheduled for 2023 – the first aircraft will be delivered later this year;

• The replacement of the JAS 39C Gripen towards the end of the 2030s and the acquisition of air-launched cruise missiles and additional air-to-air missiles to strengthen air defence capabilities;

• The acquisition of new ground- and air-based sensors is scheduled after 2025, along with the Air Force’s current fleet of two Saab 340-based AEW and control system aircraft;

• The replacement of Lockheed Martin C-130Hs towards the end of the 2020s;

• The modernisation of the Air Force’s fixed-wing training capability through the acquisition of a new trainer or through the re-tasking of its current Gripen Ds; AT AIR POWER EASTERN EUROPE Colonel Malin Persson, Commander, Air Transport Wing, Swedish Air Force will share insight into providing strategic flexibility through effective air mobil

• CZECH REPUBLIC is currently undergoing a modernisation of its Armed Forces to replace Soviet-era platforms by ones which are compatible with NATO and Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has vowed to nearly double the nation’s defence budget by 2024 to reach NATO’s 2% of GDP threshold. A few procurement plans are in the books for the nation, including:

• The acquisition of an undisclosed number of tactical combat drones to undergo ISR and close air support missions in 2021;

• The procurement of two CASA C-295W transport aircraft and the upgrade of the C-295M fleet to meet the Single European Sky ATM Research requirement;

• The upgrade of the Air Force’s JAS 39 Gripen fighters to extend their attack capabilities to engage ground targets with precision-guided munitions and IFF system to Mode 5 by 2020. The next phase of this modernisation will include integrating new types of air-to-air and airto-surface missiles, including GPS guided munitions; AT AIR POWER EASTERN EUROPE Colonel Jan Susekar, Director, Future Development Office, Czech MoD will discuss cyber resilience of key onboard systems and C2 infrastructure.

• AUSTRIA – Austria’s 15 Eurofighters aircraft could stop being operated by the Air Force from 2020, as the continued use of the planes for 30 years is estimated to cost up to EUR 5 billion, mainly for maintenance purposes. The Austrian government is currently largely split over whether these jets should be maintained by the Eurofighter consortium or replaced altogether; information about Swedish and American jets have been given to the government. The Defence Ministry has announced they would not make a new deal until they receive compensation payment from the consortium; former Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozilstarted in 2016 a legal battle on fraud and wilful deception basis in connection with a US$ 2 billion Eurofighter order that took place in 2003. AT AIR POWER EASTERN EUROPE This year’s Air Power Eastern Europe is held with the official support of the Austrian Air Force. Major General Wolfgang Wagner, Commander, Austrian Air Force will deliver an opening address to the delegation.
• BULGARIA It was announced on 12th August that the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence transferred US$ 1.2 billion to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency earlier in the month for the acquisition of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 combat aircraft. The deal signed in July by Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov, includes the fighters and related equipment, maintenance and services. The new aircraft will replace the ageing MiG-29 jets of the Air Force; they are expected to be delivered from mid-2023 through to 2024. AT AIR POWER EASTERN EUROPE The Bulgarian Air Force will discuss rethinking regional policy to ensure stability and security.
• POLAND – Polish Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak unveiled the Technical Modernisation Plan in March that will last until 2026 and will cost approximatively US$ 48.9 billion. Acting as a roadmap, it includes the following acquisition plans:

• The HARPIA programme which involves the procurement of 32 multi-role fifth-generation aircraft to operate in an anti-access and network-centric environment. They will replace the Air Force’s Soviet-legacy combat aircraft, including the MiG-29 Fulcrums and Sukhoi Su-22 Fitters;

• The NAREW programme, which involves the acquisition of anti-aircraft short-range rocket sets for combating a wide range of threats including UAVs and missiles;

• The CYBER.MIL programme, to seek the acquisition of national tools and software to carry out effective operations in cyberspace;

• The WISŁA programme, to acquire anti-aircraft and anti medium-range missile systems to form the national air defence system;

• The GRYF programme to buy tactical medium-range UAVs;

• The WAŻKA programme to procure micro-class aircraft to operate in urbanised areas, which will feature optoelectronic head to allow observation day and night;

• The FLAME programme to acquire an aircraft for air reconnaissance purposes; The US has approved the US$6.5 billion potential sale of 32 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Poland, as part of the country’s ongoing goal and efforts to modernise its military capabilities and enhance interoperability with its NATO allies. This sale represents a big share of Poland’s expected defence spending in 2019, valued at US$11.9 billion. AT AIR POWER EASTERN EUROPE Major General Dariusz Malinowski, Commander, Air Operations Centre, Polish Operational Command will speak on operating and coordinating air power in a dense ECM environment. Colonel Wojciech Pikula, Commander, 4th Air Training Wing, Polish Air Force will discuss delivering a training model for contested battlespaces.

• LATVIA is currently seeking a medium-range GBADS to enhance its existing short-range Raytheon FIM-92 Stinger manportable air defence system and Saab RBS-70 very short-range air defence system. This comes under a wider modernisation effort of the nation’s Armed Forces. AT AIR POWER EASTERN EUROPE Lieutenant Colonel Viesturs Masulis, Chief of Staff, Latvian Air Force will speak on enhancing joint deployments for Eastern European operations. (Dumitru Sorin).