Latest news with #Leopard2
Euronews
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
NATO countries warn Russia is developing its army for potential attack
NATO exercise simulates invasion from Russia in frontline states As Ukrainian forces deal a shock blow to Russia with a widespread drone attack on several Russian airbases, Nato allies are testing the alliance's strength and readiness for war. Exercise Griffin Lightning has deployed 26,000 multinational troops across frontline NATO states including Poland and the Baltics has been testing NATO capabilities and readiness for a potential invasion by Russia within the coming months or years. In Estonia alone, almost 18,000 national troops lead operation Hedgehog along with twelve other nations and as part of the overall Griffin Lightning structure. "When you hear the sound of the NATO jets around here, it may be loud but to us we say it's the sound of freedom," Lieutenant Colonel Koosa, Estonian Defence Forces told Euronews. "When I went to school, we heard the sound of Soviet aircrafts, there was pictures of Lenin, we were paying with Rubles, with nothing to buy from stores," he recalled. "Now we're in NATO we can make sure nothing like that ever returns," he said. The exercise is taking place amid a much more uncertain geopolitical context, with Germany's Defence chief saying NATO needs to prepare for potential war with Russia within the next few years. General Carsten Breuer has said NATO is facing "a very serious threat" from Russia, as the Kremlin builds up its stock of tanks and "new military structures". Soldiers test themselves and the alliance for integration and interoperability including fast, efficient decision-making in the event of an attack. Operating in forests, woodlands and commandeering former Soviet missile bases as command posts soldiers simulate the numerous circumstances likely to materialise in the event of war with Russia. Armies are split into two sides with each undertaking the role of the attacker or defender. 'We've got a few trenches out there where we'll live and fight out of so if an enemy attacks or comes towards us that's where our main defensive area will be,' Kingsman Lewis Jackson, a young UK soldier told Euronews. His compatriot, Second Lieutenant David Brereton being in Estonia, close to Russia, is important, but that the logistics for his and the other battlegroups is vital for readiness for in real world scenario. 'We're in an MDA – main defensive area – basically we're tasked with defending the ground you can see behind us, basically stopping any movement north of that ground and repelling any attacks,' he says of his setup. In Lithuania, the largest foreign deployment of Germany's aviation brigade since the Cold War is participating in Griffin Lightning. And while drones are emerging as the most dominant weapon technology of the Ukraine war, tanks and even paratroopers have a renewed relevance in Ukraine. German Leopard 2 tanks were delivered to Ukraine in March 2023 after pressure from NATO countries. The tanks are deemed superior for their firepower and heavy armour. In this exercise Leopard 2 and Puma tanks feature alongside Lithuania's infantry fighting vehicles display interoperability on the battlefield in a simulated counter-offensive. Despite political concerns about long-term US commitment to Nato, and European Security overall, US paratroopers participated under US -led exercise Swift Response alongside Griffin Lightning. Captain Zachary Donner said US forces are integrating Ukrainian experiences on the battlefield. "We've been keeping a pulse on the conflict and we've been using it to basically integrate our training, our comms and we've been taking lessons learnt from over in the Ukraine to basically develop what's going there to see what we can combat against," he said. He said US NATO troops in Europe – of which there are currently under 100,000 can be ready in a 'moments notice'. "The capability to rapid move into the locations are always here. The 173rd is postured in Italy and ready to go in a moment's notice. The 82nd in arrear is also always on guard and on watch and ready to deploy within 24 hours," he told Euronews. Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said the exercises are more necessary than ever given the failure by US-led delegations to make any progress on peace talks between the US and Ukraine. She also claimed Russia is moving fast with armed forces reform. "They [Russia] have really transformed their economy to a war time economy. They are as moving very fast with their armed forces reform - to have 1.5 million soldiers by end of year," she told Euronews in Lithuania. The EU is under growing pressure to tax vapes and nicotine pouches, with 15 finance and economy ministers writing last week to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about the issue. The letter was part of a wider push for the Commission to publish the long-awaited Tobacco Taxation Directive (TTD). Citing health concerns, the ministers said the existing legislative framework is outdated. Since the rules were last updated in 2011, new nicotine products have flooded the market. A revision to include new tobacco and nicotine products like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco was introduced as part of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan in 2022. However, the proposal has still not been published, much to the concern of health experts. "We see that because these products are not taxed properly in the EU — some countries are not taxing them or barely imposing taxes — they became very accessible and not just to adults, but to children. And that's the reason why revision of the directive is urgent now," said Lilia Olefir, Director of the Smoke Free Partnership. The latest European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), published at the end of May, reports a rise in overall daily rates of smoking and vaping among 15-year-olds and 16-year-olds from 7.9% in 2019 to 14% in 2024. Studies have found children and adolescents' exposure to nicotine in vaping solutions can lead to long-term negative impacts on brain development, as well as addiction. Momentum for action is growing. In March 2025, a letter from 12 health ministers urged the Commission to re-visit all tobacco-related legislation, including taxation. Last week, 15 finance and economy ministers wrote to von der Leyen, calling on the EU Commission president to "take the necessary steps to update the directive". In response, Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, who is responsible for taxation, expressed hope that the rules would soon be changed. The new directive would substantially raise taxes on cigarettes, roll your own cigarettes and cigars. It would also for the first time introduce minimum excise tax on new products including heated tobacco, e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. "These taxes are fundamental because they result in higher prices, which means that the products are less affordable and less accessible," said Olefir. "Right now, people can buy disposable vape for around eight euros, and nicotine pouches are also quite accessible." Some EU countries have in the meantime taken their own measures to target these products. Belgium, for example, became the first in Europe to ban the sale of disposable vapes in 2025. The country's Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke described cheap vapes as a health threat, which can draw teenagers into smoking and get them hooked on nicotine. Hoekstra told MEPs that he hoped the new tax proposal would be adopted by the summer. However, the proposal requires unanimity, which seems a long way off. The plan has large support in wealthier countries, where excise taxes on tobacco and nicotine products are already relatively high. Because of differences in these rates, they are suffering from rising smuggling and cross-border trade. Meanwhile, countries like Italy, Greece and Romania, which have lower tax levels, are against any changes to the current rules. They have also made significant investments in the tobacco sector. Organisations representing industries that would be affected by the revised directive have also criticised the current proposal. Dustin Dahlmann, the chair of the Independent European Vape Alliance, claimed that introducing taxes would not help protect young people. Instead, he argued that fines should be increased for people selling to minors. "The tax will make the products more attractive for black market dealers and these kinds of people and businesses don't care about protecting the minors," he said. "In the member states where high taxes are in place, it's fuelling the black market. Minors are not better protected here than in other countries," he added.
Saba Yemen
19-05-2025
- Saba Yemen
Russian Experts Identify Weaknesses in German "Leopard 2" Tanks
Moscow - (Saba): Russian media reported that Russian forces regularly destroy Western-made tanks in the special military operation zone, including various German Leopard tanks. The Russian news agency Sputnik reported that specialists from the Russian state-owned Rostec Corporation have observed weaknesses in the German Leopard 2 tanks. Earlier, Rostec experts obtained a Leopard 2A6 tank captured by Russian forces in the special military operation zone to assess its actual military-technical characteristics. Rostec stated: "A study conducted by our experts showed that the Leopard 2 tank suffers from defensive weaknesses related to the thickness and composition of the armor, as well as the internal design of the combat vehicle." The tank's survivability may be limited in modern warfare conditions, for example, when attacked from different angles by drones equipped with modern anti-tank missiles and warheads. It can be concluded that the Leopard-2's protection focuses on traditional anti-tank capabilities, typical of past decades, and does not fully meet today's requirements. Moreover, the Kyiv regime possesses various versions of the older Leopard-1 tanks, which have largely lost their effectiveness. Rostec added: "Today, the Russian T-722B3M, T-80PVM, and T-90M tanks are considered the most adaptable to modern combat operations." We have improved comprehensive protection against drones and anti-tank missiles, from anti-cumulative nets to dynamic elements and other devices. According to the company, there are dozens of known combat incidents where Russian tanks withstood multiple attacks from various angles while maintaining their combat capability. Rostec continues to work on active protection systems for combat vehicles, and domestic equipment is being equipped with various electronic warfare systems. All of these solutions combined will ensure greater safety for Russian armored vehicles and increase their survivability on the battlefield. Whatsapp Telegram Email more of (International)
The Age
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Germany must have a stronger army than Britain, chancellor says
Its soldiers were once forced to take part in a NATO exercise using broomsticks. Olaf Scholz, Merz's predecessor, sought to address this by creating a special fund of €100 billion ($174.4 billion) to restore the might of the German army. Merz has gone further by scrapping Germany's famously strict borrowing limits on the defence sector, with projects that cost more than 1 per cent of GDP now eligible for unlimited funding. His government is also considering a return to conscription, which was abandoned by Germany in 2011, if a new voluntary scheme of military service for young people does not draw enough recruits. Major rearmament of the country would not only require tens of thousands more troops but also increased production of long-range Taurus missiles, Leopard 2 battle tanks and IRIS-T missiles. The German army would also need to rebuild dilapidated barracks and fix the nation's crumbling transport network, which military officials fear is unable to rapidly transport troops and tanks to the east. The Bundeswehr currently consists of about 180,000 regular soldiers, considerably more than Britain's 135,000 regular troops. When taking into account reservist forces, the Bundeswehr claims to have almost a million soldiers at its disposal, a legacy of national service. The French military has about 200,000 active soldiers, plus 41,000 reservists, while the Polish military has more than 200,000 active-duty soldiers and about 40,000 reservists. Germany also has 296 battle tanks, more than the current British stockpile of 213 tanks, of which under 150 are believed to be in a serviceable condition, according to analysis by data website Statista. Poland has 614, the highest number of tanks at the ready, while France has 215. Germany also overtook the UK in military spending in 2024, according to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Loading However, experts still consider the British Army's level of combat experience and quality of training to be superior to Germany's. Unlike Germany, Britain also has its own nuclear weapons programme, Trident, which serves as the ultimate military deterrent and is believed to have about 60 nuclear missiles. The UK's surface fleet has 52 warships, whereas Germany's has between 30 and 40, according to analysis by The Telegraph, London. The UK also possesses nine submarines – more than Germany's six. Germany technically has no nuclear missiles because it has no nuclear program. However, it does host an unknown number of US nuclear missiles at military bases – at least 20 according to some estimates – but has no control over them. More bullish tone As part of efforts to play a bigger role in European security, the German armed forces have taken charge of a new NATO mission to protect the Baltic Sea from Russian saboteurs. The mission, known as Task Force Baltic, has increased surveillance and naval patrols in the area, which deter and seize vessels suspected of attempting to cut undersea cables. Senior officers in the German navy have also adopted a more bullish tone towards Russia in recent months. Loading Speaking to the Telegraph in February, Stephan Haisch, a rear admiral in the German Navy, said it was a 'good sign' that German military activity in the Baltic region was 'bothering' Russia. However, some German leaders fear that, psychologically, the country is not ready for war – and perhaps never will be. Joachim Gauck, who served as German president from 2012 to 2017, suggested last month that Germans were too mentally weak to cope with warfare after decades of peace and prosperity. He told Philipp Sandmann, a German newsletter publisher: 'What concerns me is not just a military weakness but a mental one, that we are not sufficiently prepared – not just technically, but in terms of emotion, morality and politics. We need a new seriousness.' Germany and Britain this week announced a new joint project to develop long-range missiles, building on their recent Trinity House security pact. Berlin will also source British-made military bridges to improve the nation's infrastructure, the two countries' defence ministries announced in a statement.
Sydney Morning Herald
16-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Germany must have a stronger army than Britain, chancellor says
Its soldiers were once forced to take part in a NATO exercise using broomsticks. Olaf Scholz, Merz's predecessor, sought to address this by creating a special fund of €100 billion ($174.4 billion) to restore the might of the German army. Merz has gone further by scrapping Germany's famously strict borrowing limits on the defence sector, with projects that cost more than 1 per cent of GDP now eligible for unlimited funding. His government is also considering a return to conscription, which was abandoned by Germany in 2011, if a new voluntary scheme of military service for young people does not draw enough recruits. Major rearmament of the country would not only require tens of thousands more troops but also increased production of long-range Taurus missiles, Leopard 2 battle tanks and IRIS-T missiles. The German army would also need to rebuild dilapidated barracks and fix the nation's crumbling transport network, which military officials fear is unable to rapidly transport troops and tanks to the east. The Bundeswehr currently consists of about 180,000 regular soldiers, considerably more than Britain's 135,000 regular troops. When taking into account reservist forces, the Bundeswehr claims to have almost a million soldiers at its disposal, a legacy of national service. The French military has about 200,000 active soldiers, plus 41,000 reservists, while the Polish military has more than 200,000 active-duty soldiers and about 40,000 reservists. Germany also has 296 battle tanks, more than the current British stockpile of 213 tanks, of which under 150 are believed to be in a serviceable condition, according to analysis by data website Statista. Poland has 614, the highest number of tanks at the ready, while France has 215. Germany also overtook the UK in military spending in 2024, according to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Loading However, experts still consider the British Army's level of combat experience and quality of training to be superior to Germany's. Unlike Germany, Britain also has its own nuclear weapons programme, Trident, which serves as the ultimate military deterrent and is believed to have about 60 nuclear missiles. The UK's surface fleet has 52 warships, whereas Germany's has between 30 and 40, according to analysis by The Telegraph, London. The UK also possesses nine submarines – more than Germany's six. Germany technically has no nuclear missiles because it has no nuclear program. However, it does host an unknown number of US nuclear missiles at military bases – at least 20 according to some estimates – but has no control over them. More bullish tone As part of efforts to play a bigger role in European security, the German armed forces have taken charge of a new NATO mission to protect the Baltic Sea from Russian saboteurs. The mission, known as Task Force Baltic, has increased surveillance and naval patrols in the area, which deter and seize vessels suspected of attempting to cut undersea cables. Senior officers in the German navy have also adopted a more bullish tone towards Russia in recent months. Loading Speaking to the Telegraph in February, Stephan Haisch, a rear admiral in the German Navy, said it was a 'good sign' that German military activity in the Baltic region was 'bothering' Russia. However, some German leaders fear that, psychologically, the country is not ready for war – and perhaps never will be. Joachim Gauck, who served as German president from 2012 to 2017, suggested last month that Germans were too mentally weak to cope with warfare after decades of peace and prosperity. He told Philipp Sandmann, a German newsletter publisher: 'What concerns me is not just a military weakness but a mental one, that we are not sufficiently prepared – not just technically, but in terms of emotion, morality and politics. We need a new seriousness.' Germany and Britain this week announced a new joint project to develop long-range missiles, building on their recent Trinity House security pact. Berlin will also source British-made military bridges to improve the nation's infrastructure, the two countries' defence ministries announced in a statement.
Reuters
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Renk, Steyr set to step up production as Europe's arms spending fills order books
May 14 (Reuters) - Growing military spending in Europe drove double-digit sales growth for Rheinmetall suppliers Renk ( opens new tab and Steyr Motors ( opens new tab in the first quarter and filled out their order books for coming quarters. Their bloated order pipelines are similar to many defence sector peers that have been reporting solid results while flagging rising backlogs, as European governments scramble to increase defence budgets after decades of under-investment. Renk's and Steyr's piles of orders stand between four and five times their expected revenue this year, according to an LSEG poll of analysts. Renk CEO Alexander Sagel told Reuters that the German gearbox maker can digest the order backlog by changing the shift model at its main plant in Augsburg, rebuilding assembly lines to allow more flexibility and adjusting production at its European factories. "We do not need to build any new plant anywhere in the world, at least for the European market," Sagel said. LBBW analyst Stefan Maichl told Reuters that Renk's order backlog supported its growth ambitions and made planning for the future more secure. Renk, which makes gearboxes for Leopard 2 tanks and transmissions for Bradley fighting vehicles, reported a 14% rise in its quarterly revenue. Its smaller Austrian peer Steyr, which supplies engines to BAE Systems (BAES.L), opens new tab and the U.S. Navy Seals, saw its revenue grow by 26%. "We are in the ramp-up phase in order to work off the high order backlog. At the same time, we are continuing to see dynamic demand," Steyr CEO Julian Cassutti said in an earnings statement. Both companies confirmed their forecasts for the full year. Their Frankfurt-listed shares have more than tripled in value this year, as Western nations buy supplies to help Ukraine fight Russia's invasion and strengthen their own capabilities amid fears of waning protection from the United States. ($1 = 0.8918 euros)
