Defense`s Feeds

Nathalie Guichard joins the European Defence Agency (EDA) as Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Director. Ms Guichard is a Brigadier General and was previously the managing director of L’Atelier Industriel de l’Aéronautique de Clermont-Ferrand (AIA CF), a French state-owned military aircraft maintenance facility . 

“I am delighted and honoured to be joining the European Defence Agency at this critical time. Innovation is indispensable for our armed forces, and it is at the European level that we can coordinate our efforts with the civilian sector to give us the technological superiority we need,” Ms Guichard said upon taking up her duties. 

Ms Guichard is a military engineer who graduated from France's L'École polytechnique and the Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE-Supaéro). She also holds a master’s degree in public management. 

With her engineering background, Ms Guichard brings a wealth of experience to EDA. She started her career in 1990 as a project manager for flying test bench modification. Two years later, she became head of the equipment maintenance department. After transferring to the aeronautical programs office of Délégation générale pour l’armement (DGA), France’s procurement agency, in 1998, Ms Guichard then became the Rafale manufacturing and support manager at the French Ministry of Defence.  

In 2001, Ms Guichard left the ministry and became the information technology adviser of Auvergne regional prefect, to develop mobile phone and wide bandwidth networks, among other projects. She also liaised with the European Regional Development Fund. She joined Clermont Ferrand community of cities to develop start-ups as well as technology transfer from university research centres to local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In 2016, she returned to the military sphere, first as deputy managing director and then chief operating officer of AIA CF, before becoming managing director in 2020. 

As Research, Technology and Innovation Director, Ms Guichard leads EDA’s directorate that fosters and supports defence research in the European Union. Most notably, her directorate runs the Hub for EU Defence Innovation, known as HEDI, which stimulates and facilitates cooperation on defence innovation among Member States while also working with the European Commission and ensuring coherence with NATO innovation initiatives. HEDI’s activities contribute to EU priorities for capability development and defence research, as well as on skills, technologies, and manufacturing capabilities.

The Consultation Forum for Sustainable Energy in the Defence and Security Sector (CF SEDSS), has marked the end of its third phase, running from 2019 to 2024, playing its part in the European Union’s Green Deal to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

With initiatives to improve energy efficiency in the military, as well as pilot projects to optimise energy use in buildings and efforts to electrify transport within defence facilities, Phase III generated over 30 project ideas and 15 research studies. Initiatives also included integrating hydrogen fuel technology in military vehicles and  promote military behavioural change among military personnel.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) organised the CF SEDSS III Dissemination Conference on 25 April 2024 under the auspices of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and hosted by the Ministry of Defence of Belgium.

The CF SEDSS is a Commission-funded initiative managed by the EDA. It is Europe’s largest defence energy community, reinforcing the defence sector's involvement in the energy transition. It will now move to Phase IV, running until 2028. The forum focuses on four interrelated areas: energy efficiency and buildings performance; renewable energy sources; protection of defence-related critical energy infrastructure; and policy, research and technology, and funding for defence energy-related projects.

“It is more crucial than ever to fully embrace a spirit of sustainability in our defence policies. Climate change also highlights the need to diversify our energy sources,” Belgium’s Minister of Defence Ludivine Dedonder told the conference. “The Member States of the European Union, through the Green Deal, have committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Defence can play a crucial role by integrating the fight against climate change into its operations and by developing skills to meet the new environmental challenges.”

EDA Deputy Chief Executive André Denk said that the next phase of the Consultation Forum would be crucial. “The EU’s goal to become climate neutral by 2050 cannot be achieved without the engagement of the defence sector – defence may be responsible for up to 5.5% of the world’s total CO2 emissions. More energy sustainability in defence means also less costs, less reliance on fossil fuels, and increased resilience.” 

Paloma Aba Garrote, Director, European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), said that: “Europe’s defence and security sector is crucial to achieving the EU Green Deal targets of energy efficiency, renewables deployment and decarbonisation of the economy.”

In total, seven plenary conferences were organised during Phase III, including two onsite exhibitions, as well as workshops and ad-hoc meetings. EDA organised the first CF SEDSS table-top exercise to assess and mitigate vulnerabilities in critical energy infrastructure related to defence in the face of hybrid threats.

These efforts have collectively supported EU goals in energy and climate, highlighted by the development of the Symbiosis project, which will identify and address barriers for offshore renewable energy developments in areas used or reserved for present and future military activities and purposes.

The Forum's contributions are acknowledged in high-level EU documents such as the Progress Report of the EU Climate Change and Defence Roadmap, the Action Plan on Military Mobility and the EU Joint Communication on Climate Change.

To read more about the CF SEDSS  

• Greening Defence with Innovation: 2nd Energy Technology Solutions Conference & Exhibition (europa.eu)  

• EDA green defence forum reaches highest level of participation (europa.eu)  

• Defence and energy communities step up efforts on sustainable energy and publish new ground-breaking climate change study (europa.eu)  

• Climate change and EU defence: released new report analysing the links between climate, energy and defence (europa.eu)  

• EDA-led energy forum meets to reduce defence carbon footprint (europa.eu)  

• Fifth Consultation Forum meets in Prague to promote sustainable energy in defence (europa.eu)  

 

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High intensity, state-to-state war in Ukraine is forcing the European Union to reenergise its defence industrial base on a large scale to defend Western democratic values. At the same time, the EU is preparing for future challenges, developing the most innovative, high-end capabilities. The EU and the European Defence Agency (EDA) are accelerating efforts in support of Ukraine and for the defence of Europe.   

 

In the Agency’s annual report for 2023, we provide an overview of EDA’s milestones reached and achievements over the year. Our highlights include: 

• Denmark joining as EDA’s 27th member 

• Deepening ties with the United  States Department of Defense through an Administrative Arrangement 

• Agreeing the 2023 Capability Development Priorities across the five military domains 

• Stepping up in 2023 with EDA’s two-year fast-track procedure for the joint procurement of 155mm artillery rounds, with a project arrangement signed by all EU Member States and Norway 

• Transferring EDA’s long-running helicopter programme to a new centre in Portugal 

• Achieving Initial Operational Capability for the multinational fleet of Airbus A330 tanker and transport aircraft, a project established by EDA  

Overall, in 2023, the Agency managed around 94 cooperative ad-hoc projects and programmes in capability development, training, and joint procurement, as well as Research and Technology (R&T) and innovation, with a total estimated value in the range of €664 million. 

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the European Defence Agency. Over two decades, we have helped our armed forces to cooperate and invest better together. We continue to anticipate tomorrow's defence needs. The EDA’s added value for EU defence is sharply increasing. 

Download the full 2023 Annual Report here

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Americas FlightSafety International Defense Corp. won a $7.9 million modification for the exercise of the KC-46 Aircrew Training System. The contract modification will provide an additional weapon system trainer, additional learning management workstations, systems engineering and program management, as well as new refresher training scenarios. Work will be performed at Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and is […]

Americas The US Navy’s transition to the CMV-22B Osprey for its long-range and medium-lift aerial logistics missions took a significant step forward on April 5, with the arrival of the first tiltrotor aircraft assigned to the East Coast at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 40, nicknamed “Mighty Bison,” received the first […]

The European Defence Agency (EDA) and the SESAR Deployment Manager (SDM) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to renew their strategic partnership. The MoU will further enhance the efficiency and collaboration between civil and military stakeholders in the European airspace, ensuring the necessary interoperability between civil and military actors. Today’s signing confirms the shared commitment of both organisations to coordinate efforts where civil and military interests converge. The MoU was signed by EDA’s Chief Executive, Jiří Šedivý, and SDM’s Executive Director, Mariagrazia La Piscopia, at Belgian Air Force Airbase Melsbroek.

Enhancing civil-military collaboration in European airspace

The EDA-SDM MoU sets the framework to further enhance and streamline the joint work between military and civil stakeholders, enhancing their efficiency and collaboration in the European airspace. Addressing concerns and constraints of the military in the journey to modernise air traffic management (ATM) systems, stands as a key priority in the agreement. Supporting military understanding of common projects' regulations and supporting their access to the existing financial instruments for timely implementation is also of utmost importance.

The MoU allows SDM to coordinate with the military through EDA and calls for using the Agency as the Military facilitator for SESAR deployment, fostering efficient coordination at European level. Furthermore, encouraging complementarity among different EU financing programmes is emphasised to optimise resources and expertise while mitigating duplication. The MoU underscores the shared commitment of EDA and SDM to coordinate efforts where civil and military interests converge.

EDA’s Chief Executive, Jiří Šedivý, said; “this year marks the 10th anniversary since the first cooperation between SDM and EDA. During this time, European armed forces have greatly benefitted from our joint work, also via EU funds that several national air forces have received. Civil-military collaboration is at the heart of the Memorandum of Understanding. The military have specific needs, requirements and constrains in their procurement cycles and within the current security and geopolitical context. In that respect, the MoU reflects the unique challenges, environment and airspace use required for European armed forces.”

SDM’s Executive Director, Mariagrazia La Piscopia, said, “Cooperation between civil and military entities is essential to continue building a more integrated, sustainable and efficient airspace in Europe. This will facilitate the growth of the civil aviation industry while also ensuring that European military operations can be accommodated optimally, taking into consideration their needs. The support of EDA is crucial to ensure the engagement of all relevant military authorities. After ten years of successful joint work, I am pleased to renew our partnership today and look forward to continuing our work on air traffic management modernisation as one cohesive team”.

Unique setting, unique partnership

The signing ceremony took place in the Belgian Air Force Airbase Melsbroek, which shares all civil airport infrastructures of the Brussels International Airport, representing European excellence and collaboration in the defence domain in pursuit of shared objectives. The signing ceremony was made possible by cooperation with the Belgian 15th Transport Wing and the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union.

 

About European Defence Agency

EDA supports all EU Member States in improving their defence capabilities through European cooperation. Acting as an enabler and facilitator for Ministries of Defence willing to engage in collaborative capability projects, the Agency has become the hub for European defence cooperation with expertise and networks spanning the whole spectrum of defence capabilities.

Member States use EDA as an intergovernmental expert platform where their collaborative projects are supported, facilitated, and implemented.

More information at: eda.europa.eu  

About SESAR Deployment Manager

The Single European Sky’s ATM Research project, “SESAR”, is one of the most ambitious modernisation projects launched by the European Union, contributing to the implementation of the Digital Single European Sky. SESAR’s goal is to define, develop and deploy the technological solutions needed to increase the performance and digitalisation of Europe’s ATM system in the most cost-, flight-efficient and environmentally friendly conditions. 

The SESAR Deployment Manager is responsible for the Management Level of the SESAR deployment governance, in particular for the coordination of the implementation of the EU’s Common Projects, based on SESAR Solutions to be deployed in a synchronised and timely manner across Europe according to the SESAR Deployment Programme. 

Today, almost 10 years after the beginning of this deployment phase in 2014, the modernisation of the European ATM systems and infrastructure is an operational reality, with already 293 projects in operation and 55 ongoing (March 2024). More importantly, it is delivering its expected performance benefits to the aviation community, its stakeholders and in turn to European passengers, citizens, economy and environment benefitting the #EUGreenDeal. 

For more information visit our website at www.sesardeploymentmanager.eu

Press contacts:

• EDA – Lionel Sola: +32 476 88 34 68 Lionel.Sola@eda.europa.eu
• SDM - Cliff Van Craen: +32 478 81 81 71 communication@sesardeploymentmanager.eu

  

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