HIGHLIGHT
Making a difference to capability development Heads of State and Government endorsed four capability programmes on air-to-air refuelling, cyber defence, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems and governmental satellite communications in December 2013. Just recently, Ministers of Defence gave the Agency the green light to work on three new capability projects: a deployable laboratory countering biological threats, anti-tank weapons and medical evacuation. All projects are designed to fill concrete European capability shortfalls
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t the last EDA Steering Board, Defence Ministers were briefed on the good progress of the four main capability programmes. Each programme comprises several work strands including technology development, training, regulation or interoperability. “The complexity of the four programmes is their strength. Capability development has to take many factors into account. For each programme we define together with the Member States what the concrete requirements are. Needless to
say that these can change in the course of a programme”, explains Jorge Domecq, EDA Chief Executive. Addressing shortfalls The mandate to work on air-to-air refuelling is a result of past operations in Mali, Libya and Kosovo where a critical European capability shortfall was exposed. The Agency works on solutions in the short-, mid- and long-term. Regarding the latter, the aim is to increase the strategic tanker capability in Europe by 2020. The procurement process for this capability this
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“In each of our capability programmes you will find elements of classic capability development, armament cooperation as well as research & technology. Additionally we ensure synergies with wider EU policies and entertain close cooperation with our stakeholders. This holistic approach is the true strength of the Agency” Peter Round, Director Capability, Armament & Technology, EDA 36
capability is advancing quickly. Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Poland are looking to award the contract in the first half of 2016, with the aim of reaching an Interim Operating Capability by mid-2020. At the same time, the four countries are interested in the participation of additional Member States, in order to achieve synergies with the in-service support on similar fleets in Europe and in training. Work is also ongoing regarding the optimisation of existing and future air-to-air refuelling capabilities. Compatibility assessments are currently being conducted on Italian KC767s, and will also soon take place on other tankers such as the A330 MRTT and KC46 to deliver in-flight refuelling clearances to all European receivers. Heads of State and Government also tasked the Agency to support Member States in elaborating a proposal for a secured satellite communication capability package, coined governmental satellite communications. Under the lead of Spain, this is carried out as direct support to Member States, and in close coordination with both the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (EC), demonstrating that civil-military synergies are not only an opportunity, but also a reality. Cooperation between the EDA, ESA and the EC is progressing well, with user requirements quickly translated into technical options in a synchronised, transparent manner. Additionally, the Steering Board has just tasked the Agency to better define the governance aspects and proposed mechanisms, which will need to be part of any potential future programme. Success in governmental satellite communications will not only reinforce Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and national capabilities, it will also reinforce www.eda.europa.eu