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30 Apr 26. “The selection of the British Army’s service rifle requires balancing competing technical characteristics, each of which influences battlefield performance in distinct ways…The deduction is that British close combat forces need a rifle that can deliver suppression at ranges out to 400 m and be reliably lethal within 150 m.”
This is according to Project Grayburn: The UK’s Future Small Arms Requirements, a new RUSI research report by Major Laurence Thomson and Jack Watling which sets out the critical considerations which must inform the selection of a replacement for the L85A3 rifle currently in British military service, and the first wholesale in-service rifle replacement effort in over four decades.
As the most totemic item in a soldier’s kit, the selection of a new service rifle represents far more than a routine procurement exercise and will shape how British troops fight for a generation. By drawing on analysis of recent combat operations in the Middle East and Ukraine, the report says that most small arms engagements are likely to remain within a few hundred meters. It adds that future operating environments will mostly involve fighting from and into closed fighting positions, and from vehicles, and in complex terrain – placing a premium on a compact, reliable and ergonomic weapon. It notes that while artillery and drones now account for most casualties, rifles remain critical for suppressing enemies and securing ground.
The report says that increasing rifle calibre to defeat body armour would impose significant logistical and training burdens but notes NATO Allies are already making divergent calibre choices. It says the UK should therefore select the calibre and rifle that best suits its own operational requirements rather that prioritising interoperability with Allies. It says whatever the choice of rifle, the British military must develop and maintain the sovereign ability to manufacture the weapon and its ammunition.
Key Findings
- Most small arms engagements will remain within 400m. Analysis of recent conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza reveal consistently short engagement ranges. The report says: “A higher proportion of small arms kills have been at ranges between 40m and 150m.”
- The future operating environment favours compact weapons suited to closed fighting positions. Troops will increasingly fight from vehicles and through restricted terrain, making size and handling critical. “Entering and exiting, or fighting from vehicles, makes compact weapons a decided advantage.”
- Mechanical accuracy cannot compensate for the limitations of users under field conditions. The report says the rifle’s accuracy is likely to depend primarily on the skill of the user and in choosing a new rifle the military must decide whether “to seek to penetrate improved body armour by increasing the kinetic performance of their rifles, to improve accuracy sufficiently to circumvent armour reliably, or to fire more rounds to improve the statistical probability of bypassing armour.”
- NATO interoperability is fragmenting. Allied nations are making divergent equipment choices, eroding standardisation. “The UK should not seek to chase others in pursuit of standardisation because NATO is becoming increasingly fragmented… The UK has historically had its small arms adversely affected by trying to align with Allies.”
Key Recommendations
- Optimise for suppression to 400m and be reliably lethal at 150m. The report says: “The deduction is that British close combat forces need a rifle that can deliver suppression at ranges out to 400m and be reliably lethal within 150m.”
- Select a rifle calibre based on operational needs. The UK’s historical experience demonstrates the cost of prioritising alignment over suitability. The report says: “the UK should select the calibre and rifle that best suits its operational requirements rather than a less suitable weapon that only aligns with some Allies. The UK should set the requirements for its needs and establish production accordingly…rather than a less suitable weapon that only aligns with some Allies.”
- Ensure sovereign capacity to manufacture the rifle and its ammunition. Wartime production cannot depend on foreign supply chains. The report says: “If the UK goes to war, the scaling of the force means that there should be sovereign industrial capacity to manufacture the rifle and its ammunition.”
- Clearly communicate to personnel the reasons for the choice. Troop confidence depends on understanding why choices were made. The study notes “reliability and maintainability under field conditions will be a key feature of the weapon if confidence is to be imparted to troops” and quotes Dr Matthew Ford noting that: “The rifle is more than a weapon. It becomes the tangible symbol of the bond between the state and its soldier.”
Conclusion
This report says that no single rifle will simultaneously maximise all desired attributes – every design choice involves trade-offs. Evidence from Ukraine, Gaza and Lebanon consistently points to small arms engagements within 400m, and a growing need for compactness and ergonomic reliability. It says the temptation to adopt rifle requirements derived from special forces usage, or from Allied decisions that do not reflect UK operational realities, must be resisted.
The report calls for clarity in the selection process and urges the MoD not to allow budgetary pressures to force a last-minute, cost-driven decision. The paper says British troops deserve a weapon chosen through rigorous analysis and backed by sovereign manufacturing capacity – and that getting this right is not merely a matter of procurement – but a matter of trust between the state and those it asks to fight on its behalf.
Notes to Editors
Major Laurence Thomson was the Chief of the General Staff’s Visiting Fellow at RUSI, focused on Land Power lethality and British Army modernisation, and is a serving officer in The Parachute Regiment. Jack Watling is Senior Research Fellow for Applied Military Sciences at RUSI and author of multiple works on future conflict and technology. Research was conducted between January 2024 and early 2026 and draws on direct observation of combat in the Middle East and Ukraine, engagement data from the IDF, and the Ukrainian General Staff, exercises in the US, Finland and the UK, interviews with British and US Army officials, and a comprehensive literature and doctrine review.
30 Apr 26. The Australian government has announced a major step towards defence self-reliance, committing an initial $126.9 million to establish domestic solid rocket motor manufacturing, a critical component underpinning modern guided weapons.
The initiative will see Northrop Grumman Australia selected as the preferred industry partner, working with Defence to stand up production capability at the government-owned Mulwala Munitions Facility. Recent upgrades to the site are expected to accelerate the timeline for bringing the capability online.
Solid rocket motors are essential for propulsion across a wide range of missile systems and are currently in high global demand, with supply chains under pressure amid rising geopolitical tensions and rearmament across major powers.
Under the plan, Australia will initially focus on producing rocket motors for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, a key precision strike capability used by the Australian Army and many allied forces. Production at Mulwala is scheduled to begin by 2030.
A larger, purpose-built Rocket Motor Manufacturing Complex is also planned, with full-rate production of multiple motor types expected from 2033. This facility is intended to provide scalable output to meet both domestic requirements and potential export demand.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the investment would ensure the Australian Defence Force has reliable access to critical capabilities: “This investment will ensure the Australian Defence Force has reliable, resilient access to the capabilities needed to defend Australia and our immediate region.”
The program will also draw on local innovation, with Defence working alongside Australian companies, including DefendTex, Black Sky Industries and Anduril Australia to explore emerging manufacturing techniques. Further opportunities are expected to open up to additional Australian firms as the industrial base matures.
The announcement builds on recent progress by the Defence Science and Technology Group which successfully conducted a static test firing of the Australian-designed DRACO solid rocket motor at Woomera Range Complex in February. The test marked a significant milestone in developing sovereign expertise in energetics and missile propulsion.
(Source: Defence Connect)
24 Apr 26. Israel MOD Delivers IAI’s BARAK MX to Slovak Armed Forces
Under the 560 million euro agreement signed in 2024, the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), through its Defense Export Directorate (SIBAT), together with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), announced today the delivery of the BARAK MX air-defense system to the Slovak Air Force.
This delivery, which was completed ahead of schedule and includes training and operational readiness, marks a significant enhancement in Slovakia’s ability to defend its airspace against the full spectrum of modern aerial threats, from UAVs and fighter aircraft to cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, while further reinforcing NATO’s collective security architecture. It reflects growing global demand for advanced, reliable, and rapidly deployable solutions, and includes meaningful collaboration with the Slovak industry, driving local production, technology transfer, and economic growth.
The BARAK MX is a multi-layered air-defense system engineered for land, naval, and mobile deployment. Its three advanced interceptors, with ranges of 35 km, 70 km, and 150 km, feature advanced warheads, enabling precise, simultaneous interception of multiple threats in complex operational environments. At the core of the system is an advanced integration of multi-mission radars (MMRs) that provides detection, classification, and tracking capabilities.
Israel Defense Minister, Israel Katz: “The delivery of this system is a further demonstration of the strength of Israel’s defense industry and our ability to provide our allies with advanced solutions to a wide range of threats. The recent war has proven beyond any doubt the effectiveness of Israeli systems on the battlefield – driving a significant surge in global demand for our defense solutions.
This system will meaningfully strengthen Slovakia’s defense capabilities – and we are already seeing growing interest from additional countries, with further significant agreements expected to be signed in the near future. This agreement is not only a defense achievement – it is also an engine for industrial cooperation, knowledge transfer, and the cultivation of local production capabilities, deepening the bonds between our nations and reinforcing Israel’s standing as a key partner on the international stage.”
IMOD Director General, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram: “The delivery of the BARAK MX to Slovakia is a testament to the depth of the strategic relationship between our two countries. Israeli defense exports are a central tool for the IDF’s force build-up, policy shaping, and strengthening our economy and industry. The integration of these capabilities in Europe, in full alignment with NATO standards, underscores the operational superiority of Israel’s defense industry and will support us in advancing further agreements.”
Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Robert Kaliňák: “The first battery of the BARAK MX system has already been deployed at an undisclosed location. The system is currently being brought into operation, with full operational readiness expected in the coming weeks. This process also includes the ongoing training of Slovak soldiers and the arrival of foreign experts. Additional components of this system are arriving and will continue to arrive throughout the year.”
IAI CEO and President, Boaz Levy: “When the Slovak Ministry of Defense decided to choose the BARAK MX integrated air-defense system, it was an expression of confidence in the system’s advanced technological superiority. Since the agreement was signed, close cooperation with our Slovak partners has enabled rapid adaptation to operational requirements, resulting in delivery and training completion on schedule. After completing a long series of theoretical and practical training sessions for the soldiers of the Slovak Armed Forces who will operate the system, I am confident that the Slovak Army will soon be deploying the BARAK MX to ensure protection of the country’s skies from a variety of threats.”
Director of SIBAT, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Yair Kulas: “This delivery underscores the strength of Israel’s defense export capabilities and our commitment to supporting allied nations. The cooperation with Slovakia demonstrates how advanced Israeli technologies, combined with close partnership and industrial collaboration, can deliver operational excellence in accelerated timelines while contributing to regional and alliance-wide security. We are confident this cooperation will continue to evolve.”
30 Apr 26. DSA 2026: Artillery duel awaits resolution in Malaysia. The Malaysian Army currently has a tender out for two regiments’ worth of 105mm towed howitzers to replace ageing OTO Melara Mod 56 guns. Several contenders showed their respective solutions at DSA 2026, held in Kuala Lumpur from 20-23 April.
KNDS of France could be considered the incumbent, since it – when still known as Nexter – supplied 18 LG1 Mk III 105mm artillery pieces to Malaysia via a 2018 contract. These were duly allocated to the 1st Regiment, Royal Artillery (Para).
KNDS is competing for this latest requirement too, which constitutes 36 artillery pieces. At its booth at DSA, the company exhibited one of the 1,650kg LG1 howitzers supplied to Malaysia.
KNDS has partnered again with Malaysian firm Advanced Defence Systems (ADS) for this tender. The two signed a memorandum of understanding at DSA 2026 covering cooperation regarding the LG1 and CAESAR. The MoU aims to increase the competency of ADS in assembling, integrating and testing the LG1 gun.
Asked whether having the LG1 already in service gives an advantage, Amaury de Poncins, Director of Global Export Business Development at KNDS, told Asian Military Review: “For sure in terms of compatibility, in particular with the existing [Thales] fire control system called AS4000, which is already deployed in the first regiment and currently installed on all systems such as the G5 from Denel.”
KNDS/Nexter supplied 18 LG1 Mk III 105mm towed howitzers to the Malaysian Army via a 2018 contract, and it is hoping for repeat success. (Gordon Arthur)
De Poncins also highlighted how KNDS has developed local capabilities related to maintenance and servicing through ADS. “It will only facilitate the partnership and the serviceability of the system in the future,” he shared.
Another strong contender is MKE of Turkey, which brought a Boran 105mm artillery piece to DSA 2026. This 1,775kg weapon system entered Turkish service in 2021, and it has also been delivered to Bangladesh and North Macedonia.
Regarding Malaysia’s requirement, Tolga Çelic, Deputy General Manager at MKE, told AMR, “We’re in that tender, and we’re shortlisted with Boran. We’d like to deliver Boran to Malaysia, and we’re ready to have strategic cooperation with Malaysia as well.” This includes maintenance and even extends to local assembly.
The Boran conducted a live-fire demonstration alongside other competitors in Malaysia in May 2025, where it fired twelve rounds in just 46 seconds. The air-transportable Boran can be ready to fire within one minute. MKE is also promoting the Boran to the Philippines.
Also of relevance to Malaysia, Hyundai WIA from South Korea displayed a scale model of its KH178 105mm towed gun at the same DSA exhibition.
Although a company representative declined to discuss Hyundai WIA’s interest in the Malaysian tender, it is notable that the company showcased an actual example of its mobile 105mm light self-propelled howitzer (SPH).
This is the 105mm self-propelled howitzer from Hyundai WIA, which comprises a KH178 mounted on a Kia KLTV 4×4 vehicle. (Gordon Arthur)
This 7-tonne weapon comprises a digitised KH178 105mm howitzer mounted on a Kia Motors KLTV K351 4×4 tactical vehicle. Such a solution offers superior mobility to a towed howitzer, and it can be transported under-slung from a Chinook helicopter.
This Malaysian tender for 36 105mm towed howitzers was issued in late 2025, and the selection of a winner is awaited.
Staying with artillery, Malaysia also issued a tender for a truck-mounted 155mm SPH and this closed in late 2025. Six systems were tested, and media reports indicate that KNDS’s CAESAR 6×6 and the Konstrukta Defence Eva M2 from Slovakia are the two most likely options.
The CASEAR has attracted 14 customers to date. Nearby, the Indonesian Army possesses three battalions of CAESARs, plus Thailand is also an operator of the French SPH.
Despite expectations, no SPH contract was announced at DSA 2026.
(Source: ADJ)
24 Apr 26. Department of War Showcases Progress on Golden Dome for America, the Nation’s Next-Generation Homeland Defense.
Senior leaders from the Department of War, U.S. government, and defense industry gathered at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, April 23, to provide an update about Golden Dome for America (GDA), the nation’s initiative to build a next-generation missile defense shield to protect the Homeland.
Speakers included Undersecretary of War for Research and Engineering and the Department of War’s Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael; Director of Golden Dome for America Gen. Mike Guetlein; and Deputy Director of Operations at North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Maj. Gen. Mark Piper.
The event, set against a backdrop of current missile defense capabilities, underscored the urgent need to modernize the nation’s defenses against a new generation of advanced threats, as directed by President Trump.
“Golden Dome is the decisive response to a new era of threats,” said Gen. Mike Guetlein, Director of Golden Dome for America. “We are moving with purpose and urgency to forge a shield that is layered, integrated, and automated. The progress on display today is tangible proof that this is not a future concept, but a reality we must build now.”
GDA is a layered defense architecture designed to protect the United States from complex ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, as well as advanced aerial threats. It enhances national security by integrating a persistent space-based sensor network for global tracking, a portfolio of advanced interceptors providing defense-in-depth, and an integrated command and control system to manage threats at machine speed.
The program’s momentum was a central theme, with officials confirming GDA is ahead of schedule and on budget. Key achievements highlighted include the completion of the initial architecture blueprint, the establishment of a Command-and-Control Consortium, and the awarding of active contracts for critical system components.
Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, spoke to the program’s innovative foundation.
“It is this Department’s mandate to definitively secure our homeland,” said Under Secretary Michael. “We are embracing an open architecture that harnesses the full power of American innovation—from artificial intelligence to the commercial space industry—to build the impenetrable shield that this nation deserves.”
During remarks, the operational imperative for capabilities was validated by Piper.
“From a NORAD and NORTHCOM perspective, the requirement is clear,” said Maj. Gen. Piper. “To defend North America and win tomorrow’s fight, we must maintain our warfighting advantages and operate beyond stovepiped systems operating at human speed. Golden Dome is forging the integrated, automated battle management network needed to see every threat, make decisions in milliseconds, and keep America safe.”
The choice of Hampton Roads for the event underscored the region’s role in the national endeavor. The area hosts testing for the Army Long-Range Persistent Surveillance (ALPS), a key terrestrial sensor whose data directly informs the development of the broader GDA architecture.
Department officials explained GDA is a fiscally responsible, vital investment in national security. The program’s modular, open-systems approach is designed to control costs and provide sustained, predictable demand signals to the U.S. industrial base, ensuring the nation can outpace emerging threats for decades to come. (Source: U.S. DoD)
27 Apr 26. What we know about the US military’s new joint laser weapon system.
The cruise missile-killing high-energy laser weapon the U.S. Defense Department envisions as part of its “Golden Dome for America” domestic missile defense shield is beginning to take shape.
The new Joint Laser Weapon System — a collaboration between the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy that Laser Wars first reported about in June 2025 — will initially consist of a containerized 150-kilowatt system with the potential to scale to at least 300kw to defeat incoming cruise missile threats, according to the Navy’s fiscal 2027 budget request.
The system will also include a Joint Beam Control System “capable of supporting” a 300-500kw laser weapon, the documents say.
The JLWS effort will leverage research and development lessons from the Navy’s 60kw High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system, which is currently installed on the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Preble, and the Army’s 300 kw Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) system, the first prototype of which the service plans on taking delivery of later this year.
The Navy will also “conduct upgrades” to its High Energy Laser Counter Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Project (HELCAP) test bed “as appropriate” in support of future JLWS testing.
While last year’s Army budget request detailed $51 million in mandatory funding for JLWS through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation bill under its Expanded Mission Area Missile program element, this year’s request does not contain any R&D funding for fiscal 2027. Instead, the proposal details plans for $337.8 million in spending starting in fiscal 2028 and running through fiscal 2031.
Based on the budget documents, it looks as though the service plans on closing out its IFPC-HEL activities first before kicking off its part of the JLWS effort.
The Navy, however, isn’t waiting around.
The service requested $94.825 million under its Directed Energy and Electric Weapon Systems program element in fiscal 2027 — up from just $14.5 million in fiscal 2026, as Laser Wars previously reported.
That amount includes $79.84 million under its Surface Navy Laser Weapon System effort to jumpstart JLWS R&D, sustain the service’s lone HELIOS system for future testing activities and upgrade the HELCAP test bed, which is also receiving a separate $14.978 injection, according to the service’s budget request.
The service plans on investing an additional $243.3 million into JLWS R&D under that program element through fiscal 2031.
Together, the Army and Navy requests total a vision of $675.93 million in R&D spending for the JLWS through fiscal 2031. The Navy plans on awarding $31.7 million in contracts for JBCS development as soon as the fourth quarter of 2026 and the $30 million in contracts for the procurement and testing of containerized JLWS by March 2027, according to budget documents.
It seems likely that Lockheed Martin will receive those contract. Not only is the defense prime the technical lead on both the HELIOS and IFPC-HEL efforts that will inform the JLWS, but it’s also already developing a containerized version of the former, a company executive revealed in August 2025.
While the Pentagon’s fiscal 2027 budget request also contains $452 million in R&D spending for the “development, integration, and assessment” of directed energy weapons in support of Golden Dome, the exact relationship with the Army and Navy’s JLWS efforts is unclear.
According to Pentagon officials, the president’s key priorities include the Golden Dome, drones, AI, data infrastructure and the defense industrial base.
The Navy budget documents state that the $79.84 million allocated under SNLWS also includes funds to “begin development of a consolidated implementation plan” for all Golden Dome-related directed energy projects, “leveraging synergy and common weapon architectures between these efforts where possible” in coordination with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
The dream of a laser weapon capable of shooting down cruise missiles is nearly as old as the laser itself. (Source: Defense News)
22 Apr 26. Braker Breakthrough: Drone-Delivered Bunker-Busting Warhead Passes Test
In a significant leap forward for battlefield technology, Army infantry drone operators successfully tested a new warhead designed for delivery by an unmanned aerial system.
The live-fire demonstration of the bunker rupture and kinetic explosive round, which took place at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, March 26, comes only weeks after the initial design and rapid prototyping of the system, and showcases the Army’s accelerated approach to innovation in the face of evolving threats.
The Army continuously transforms by using the latest technologies to gain a warfighting advantage, ensuring the force is lethal, modern and ready. The development of this air-delivered munition directly supports that mission, as well as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s readiness and transformation priorities.
The Braker project, led by a team from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center and Project Manager Close Combat Systems, aimed to create a lightweight, powerful and lethal warhead that could be deployed from a small, agile drone.
“Our Picatinny team went from concept to live-fire in two weeks,” said Army Col. Vinson Morris, project manager of Project Manager Close Combat Systems. “Braker proves our ability to rapidly develop and safely deliver devastating effects from small, unmanned aircraft systems. We are now creating the architecture with Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit and the small, universal payload interface for industry to scale this critical warfighter advantage.”
The Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit is a safe and effective method for integrating lethal payloads with UAS platforms, designed and developed by engineers at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center.
The rapid development-to-testing timeline of Braker was made possible by the Army’s emphasis on additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing.
In early March, engineers from the Armaments Center began designing, explosive pressing, housing manufacturing and integrating the warhead to be used on a low-cost and expendable one-way attack drone.
Shortly thereafter, transfer and compatibility tests were conducted at Picatinny Arsenal, and approximately a dozen warheads were assembled, one of which was tested on a makeshift test range bunker.
After proving worthiness and validating effectiveness, the prototype warheads departed Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, for Redstone Arsenal, where a live demonstration was conducted for Army leaders.
The successful detonation of a target deployed by a device attached to a drone demonstrates a new and potent capability for the modern warfighter. It also illustrates how quickly engineers can design, fabricate and integrate hardware to meet urgent and compelling needs.
“Rapid demonstrations of overwhelming lethality, such as Braker, are attributed to years of continued technology investments and the organic core technical competencies and facilities resident at the Armaments Center,” said Anthony Sebasto, executive director of the Munitions Engineering and Technology Center.
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(Source: U.S. DoD)
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