In a recent press release, the Austrian Armed Forces looks back on the past year: According to this, in 2023 the red-white-red armed forces carried out domestic missions alone in guarding critical infrastructure and in security police assistance deployment 336,700 man-days, the air force completed more than 14,000 flight hours and important infrastructural changes were made.
“The National Defense Financing Act provides the basis for a longer-term financing perspective for the Austrian Armed Forces beyond the federal financial framework. This enabled us to make significant progress in the implementation and introduction of necessary measures in the ‘Austrian Armed Forces Development Plan 2032+’ in many military task areas last year,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. Domestic missions
As part of the security police mission “Migration” and the guarding of critical infrastructure in Vienna, the Austrian Armed Forces provided 336,700 (2022: 370,640) man-days, apprehended around 22,350 (60,000) foreigners seeking help and around 70 smugglers (100). The following should be emphasized extension of the guarding of critical infrastructure in Viennawith currently around 150 people, until the end of February for the time being. https://militaeraktuell.at/rollout-der-ersten-f-35a-von-lockheed-fuer-belgien/ Deployments abroad
There are currently almost 900 soldiers on 15 missions abroad. deployed abroadincluding 31 women. The largest contingents are in Kosovo (KFOR 304), Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR 301) and Lebanon (UNIFIL 226). A special feature was the deployment of crisis support teams to the Middle East, mainly members of the Fighter Command, to support the evacuation operation of Austrian citizens. Air Force
More than 14,000 flight hours were flown by the air force. Two airspace security operations (World Economic Forum in Davos and the visit of the Israeli President) were the highlights of the flying missions. A helicopter element with S-70 Black Hawk and AB 212 as well as a Pilatus Porter PC-6 are deployed abroad (EUFOR/ALTHEA). the fifth (of 36) AW169 Lion has now landed in Austria.
Infrastructure
As part of the Villach regional planning process, the decision was made to merge the troops stationed in Villach, Pioneer Battalion 1 from the Rohr and Hensel barracks and Command Support Battalion 1 from the Lutschounig barracks, into a new large barracks. Around 370 million euros will be invested in the construction of Austria’s most modern barracks. In addition to this major project, a large number of other construction measures have been implemented or initiated. These range from the greening of the façade of the Vienna Stift barracks to the expansion of the campus at the Theresian Military Academythe construction of the new barracks in Mistelbachto the construction of the new position house in the Van Swieten barracks. In addition, the sustainability of 100 properties (“black-out provision”) was further advanced. Planned completion at the end of 2025. Demining service
The demining service recovered and defused a total of 50,858 kilograms of war material in 1,042 operations last year. Of this, around 100 kilograms were recovered from Austria’s lakes as part of three diving missions. At a construction site near Enzersdorf-Fischa alone, 16 USSR unexploded bombs from the Second World War were found in September. Second World War were recovered and disposed of.
https://militaeraktuell.at/dann-sind-wir-in-europa-ganz-vorne-dabei/ Cyber Defence
Aufgrund der aktuellen politischen Spannungen in und um Europa ist eine erhöhte Gefährdungslage, auch im Cyberraum, gegeben. Im Sekundentakt werden mehrere sicherheitsrelevante Ereignisse erkannt und größtenteils automatisiert abgewehrt. Weiters wurden etwa 30.000 neue Schwachstellen entdeckt. Das Gebot der Stunde war und ist daher, den Experten des Bundesheeres modernste Technologie zur Verfügung zu stellen, um den Bedrohungen im Cyberraum wirksam entgegentreten zu können. Personal
Die Beschaffung hochmoderner neuer Waffensysteme, Stichwort „Sky Shield” oder Hubschrauber sowie eine leistungsgerechte Bezahlung, verbunden mit dem Stand des 21. Jahrhunderts angepassten Sozialleistungen, sollen für junge Menschen Anreiz sein, den Soldatenberuf zu wählen. Mit der „Mission Vorwärts” wurde im vergangenen Jahr mit einer intensiven Personalwerbung begonnen.
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