Page 24 - ADT MAY-JUNE 2022 Online Magazine

hull-cleaning robot on the Charles de Gaulle Aircraft Carrier, which first all-digital multifunction radar with an active
has an adapted hull profile. antenna and fixed panels.
According to ECOsubsea´s CEO, Tor Ostervold “it has been great
to collaborate with the French Navy and Naval Group on increasing The FDI HN is equipped with a unique integrated
the Naval fleet’s preparedness, while decreasing dramatically the mast that brings together all the airborne sen- [ REPORT ]
air and sea’s environmental impact. It is encouraging to see that sors, enabling permanent 360° surveillance. As
the French Navy is not only protecting its nation and allies, but also the first frigate on the market to be natively pro-
showing leadership in protecting the environment.” Naval Group tected against the cyber threat, the FDI HN is
technical experts in charge of this first cleaning operation in Toulon, equipped with two data centers hosting almost
Eudes Peronneaud and Philippe Ventos, says that” this successful all of the ship's applications.
experimental action opens an effective way to deal with coatings
exposed to hot waters during long periods of navigation between
dry-dock and regain vessel speed and consumption performances”. Germany Gets More Funds
In June 2021, the German parliamentary
Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine has significant defence committee green-lighted a substan-
implications for European defence, which is leading to increased tial naval modernization and expansion plan.
military spending by member states. As a direct result to the Russian The plan includes purchase of two new tankers
invasion of Ukraine, Member States have already announced (Type 707) to replace overdue supply ships cur-
increases in their defence budgets close to an additional €200 bil- rently in service (Type 704), three new SIGINT
lion in the coming years. Whilst these increases are essential, they boats (Fleet Service Boats) of the class 424 to
come after years of substantial cuts and severe underinvestment. replace existing flotilla of Type 423.
From 1999 to 2021, EU combined defence spending increased by
20 per cent against 66 per cent for the US, 292 per cent for Russia Germany remains linked to a longer-term
and 592 per cent for China. Without a coordinated approach, the pan-European MPA solution via the Maritime
increase in spending risks leading to further fragmentation and Airborne Warfare System (MAWS) develop-
undo progress made until now. ment program, set to be undertaken jointly by
France and Germany post-2025, with an eye
Greece and FDI HN Programme on achieving a new maritime patrol capability
In March this year, in accordance with the defence agreement by 2030 and entry into service around 2035.
signed last October between Greece and France, the Hellenic
authorities have signed two contracts with Naval Group for the
supply of three Defence and Intervention Frigates (FDI HN), plus EU’s Joint Effort
one optional, as well as their in-service support. Two FDI HN A short-term EU instrument to reinforce
(Hellenic Navy) will be delivered in 2025 and the third one in 2026. defence industrial capabilities through joint
procurement will be proposed for fast-track
The FDI HN will quickly and sustainably enhance the capabilities adoption, to support Member States to fill the
of the Hellenic Navy's surface fleet as they will be delivered in a most urgent and critical gaps in a collabora-
very short timeframe, starting in 2025 for the first two units and tive way, based on the work of the Task Force.
in 2026 for the third one. The FDI HN features high level capabil- The Commission has committed €500m of EU
ities in all warfare domains: anti-ship, anti-air, antisubmarine and budget over two years to incentivize member
special forces projection. Its air and surface defences are ensured states to address these needs in a collabora-
by the most modern sensors, including the Thales Sea Fire, the tive way.
This short-term instrument will pave the way
to an EU framework for defence joint pro-
curement. To this end, in the third quarter of
2022, the Commission will propose a European
Defence Investment Programme (EDIP) regula-
tion. It will establish the conditions for Member
States to form European Defence Capability
Consortia (EDCC). Within an EDCC, Member
States will jointly procure, for the use of par-
ticipating Member States, defence capabilities
that are developed in a collaborative way within
the EU and will benefit from a VAT exemption.
Additionally, associated EU financing may be
provided for projects of high EU interest. The
support to joint procurement complements
and completes the efforts made until now on
defence R&D through the EDF.

24 | May/June 2022 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT