Expected armament of the Lebanese Navy FS 56

Janes has given more details about the expected armament of the expected 3 FS 56 vessels that the LAF ordered as part of the French 3Billion USD deal.

According to the article, the vessel configuration is expected to include "an Oto Melara 76 mm gun mounted forward, up to eight Exocet anti-ship missiles, and Mistral short-range air-defence missiles fired from two Simbad RC launchers aft". The vessel can also accommodate a 40 mm Bofor gun at the back, but according to Janes, this remains an option.

The article also details that the the vessel "could be equipped with an enclosed-mast system that reduces its radar cross section". 

Reliable French arms deal details emerge: advances in air defense and navy

According to Janes, the Lebanes-French arms deal funded by Saudi Arabia will include:

1. Vehicle-mounted Mistral air-defense system
2. 20mm anti-aircraft guns (Tarasque Type 53 T2?)
3. Surplus VBC-90
4. CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzers
5. Eurocopter AS-532 Cougar helicopters
6. Combattante FS56: Fast Attack Long Range Craft armed with the Simbad air-defence systems and 20 mm Narwhal guns

The VBC-90 seem to be a direct replacement for the aging Pangard AML-90 which the LAF still operates.
The other equipment can be considered a leap in the capabilities of the LAF especially in terms of air defense and navy capabilities.

Still no clear answer about the other air capabilities that the LAF is seeking such as combat helicopters.

LAF: Army expecting combat helicopters and reconnaissance airplanes

In a rare public statement, the LAF announced to its troops that the army is expecting combat helicopters, heavy artillery, missiles, reconnaissance airplanes and other weapons, and that the army has been continuously receiving aids from friend countries.

The announcement comes as part of an orientation bulletin addressed to the troops which comes in the light of few defect cases toward the terrorist groups ISIS and Nusra Front. 

Full bulletin is here.

UK intends to expand its ‘train and equip’ programme for the LAF's Border Regiments

During his visit to Lebanon, UK's Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nicholas Houghton, asserted his country's intention to support the Border Regiments of the Lebanese Armed Forces with Land Rover Defenders, personal protective equipment, protected border observation posts, and radio equipment (ref).

More details are given by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr Tobias Ellwood, who explains that the aid consists of (ref):

• 800 sets of Personal Protective Equipment, including body armour, helmets, gloves, belts, first aid kits, camouflage clothing and protective glasses: £793,600
• 14 Land Rover Defenders and additional equipment to enable them to operate in difficult terrain: £408,244
• 5 Protected Border Observation Posts and 6 Mobile Observation Platforms, with observation aids and ballistic protection for fixed 3LBR positions: £1,395,000
• Radio equipment to allow the command elements of 3LBR to link back to LAF HQ in Beirut: £1,000,000

Previously, UK had delivered 12 Protected Border Observation Posts along a number of Land Reover Defenders, protective equipment and communication, to support the establishement of the 1st and second Border Regiments. The new expected equipment are intended for the newly established 3rd Border Regiment.

One of the Mobile Observation Platform (Source: thinkdefence.co.uk)

A two-edged sword: long deliveries VS immediate need

The LAF has been trying to expedite arms deals and deliveries due to the risk of  an eruption of another battle with ISIS and Nusra Front. Deals such as the 3 US Billion French-Saudi-Lebanese arming agreement and the Russian 500 US million have been struck by long delivery terms for some important equipment, which have either  led to opting for a (older) lesser capability alternative (already available in stock) or totally not including that type of equipment in the list (i.e. Tanks in the French deal).

To ensure acquiring decent equipment with money readily available in the hands (which is not always the case), the LAF can opt to acquire the more advanced, longer delivery terms, equipment, and as part of the same contract lease equipment available in stock until actual deliveries are made. This approach has been done by several countries and it would ensure that the "valuable" fund has been used for a good value.

Germany is blocking VAB Mark III deal for Lebanese Army

According to La Tribune, Germany is blocking a Lebanese-French deal for VAB Mark III (Ref). It appears that the vehicle has parts that are been manufactured in Germany.

Germany has already blocked a Lebanese-Belgian arms deal to provide Lebanon with 43 second hand Leopard 1A5 tanks (ref) which could have come very effective in the recent clashes against ISIS and Nusra front compared to the T-55 and M48.

If true, these actions will really show that Gemany isn't in fact worrying about the threat of ISIS and alike groups on Lebanon and isn't really actively supporting the Lebanese Army, who is being supported by multiple countries from different axises.

Lebanese Airforce to acquire 18 more Huey II Helicopters

The Lebanese Air Force will soon receive 18 more Huey II Helicopters as detailed in a FMS news release by Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The LAF had already received 6 Huey II Helicopters back in December 2012 (Ref) based on a different FMS.

Lebanon operates a fleet of 23 UH-1H (Huey I) and these recent acquisitions can mean that the LAF is trying to replace this aging fleet.

Lebanese Army receives 100 Hellfire missiles

The USA has expedited arms and ammunition shipments to the LAF in the wake of August 2014 Battle of Ersal with ISIS and Nusra Front (More Info).

By the end of that month, the USA had already delivered 480 AT-4 missiles, 1500 M16-A4, and 60 mortars (Ref). The USA promised to deliver more arms and ammunition in the following weeks without the need to issue press statements upon each delivery.

Among these following deliveries, the USA delivered 100 Hellfire missiles, as confirmed by Aram Nerguizian (Ref). Aram also detailed later that the shipment included the Thermobaric variant (AGM-114N) of the missile (Ref).

The LAF has successfully used the missile since the eruption of the battle using the Cessna AC-208B.