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11 Sept 24. Lockheed Martin Australia and Thales Australia announced the signing of a teaming agreement to manufacture solid rocket motors and other components for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS).
The solid rocket motors will be produced for the Australian market in support of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise, which was established based on advice from the Defence Strategic Review in May 2023.
The pair will now begin assessing future collaboration on designing, developing, and eventually producing a range of subcomponents of the rocket system.
“Lockheed Martin is already a world leader in missile systems and subsystems, and partnerships with experienced, world-class companies like Thales advance our ability to enable the achievement of the Australian government’s objectives under the GWEO Enterprise,” Warren McDonald, chief executive Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, said in a statement.
Jeff Connolly, chief executive officer of Thales Australia, said the teaming agreement is “AUKUS in action”.
“Close collaboration with industry leaders like Lockheed Martin is essential for Australia to domestically manufacture weapon subsections and components, which was identified as a priority in the 2024 Defence Industry Development Strategy,” Connolly said. “Thales’ partnership with Lockheed Martin is an important step in developing options for Commonwealth consideration toward an accelerated sovereign GMLRS capability for the Australian Defence Force.”
This 2024 teaming agreement is based on a similar agreement between Lockheed Martin Australia and Thales Australia in 2021, which was focused on the production and development of Lockheed Martin’s Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile – Surface Launch variant. (Source: Defence Connect)
12 Sep 24. Australia Set to Become Home to Hypersonic Flight Testing After Southern Launch and Hypersonix Sign MoU. Leading South Australian spaceport provider Southern Launch and Queensland hypersonic vehicle and scramjet technology manufacturer Hypersonix Launch Systems are helping to cement South Australia’s position as the next global aerospace hub after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a turnkey hypersonic test bed service.
Hypersonix is an aerospace engineering, design and manufacturing company specialising in hypersonic vehicle technology and scramjet engines. Under the MoU, Hypersonix and Southern Launch will work together to develop a mission to launch and return Hypersonix’s test bed vehicles at either of Southern Launch’s spaceports.
Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp says, ‘South Australia has some geographical advantages that make it the perfect place to test hypersonic vehicles. We are excited to work with the Hypersonix team to help test their groundbreaking technology from our facilities.’
Hypersonic aircraft fly at more than five times the speed of sound and require plenty of space to test and evaluate the technology. To reach hypersonic speeds Hypersonix’s aircraft will be launched on a rocket before separating and igniting its own scramjet engines to reach speeds up to Mach 12.
Hypersonix CEO Matt Hill says, ‘The intensity of hypersonic testing is set to rise rapidly and there are a huge number of both emerging technology companies and large aerospace companies that need hypersonic flight heritage for their products. Our hypersonic test bed will make this affordable for these companies to flight qualify their technology.’
The two companies will begin collaborating on a concept of operations for a future commercial launch and return of a Hypersonix test bed vehicle. Hypersonix’s long term ambition is to bring affordable aircraft-like operations to access to space, flying to the edge of space for spacecraft deployment and returning to land like a plane. Hypersonic engines will also power a future generation of passenger aircraft with the potential of reducing the flight time from Sydney to London to just 2 hours.
Lloyd says, ‘The Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex and Koonibba Test Range are designed to be flexible to host a variety of missions. We are proud that we can work with the Hypersonix team to help with the advancement of hypersonic vehicle technology and add another chapter to our nation’s aerospace capabilities right here in South Australia.’
Work on a joint mission will begin immediately with a hope to launch in late 2025. (Source: ASD Network)
11 Sept 24. US Air Force Integrates AMRAAM Missiles Onto CCA Drones. The U.S. Air Force, in collaboration with Raytheon, is integrating the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) onto its first series of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones. These unmanned systems are part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, which envisions these drones flying alongside fifth- and sixth-generation manned aircraft.
Raytheon has confirmed its involvement in this effort, working with the Air Force and two competing vendors, General Atomics and Anduril, who are currently in the development phase for the production of CCA Increment 1. Jon Norman, Raytheon’s vice president for air and space defense systems, discussed the missile integration during a meeting with reporters, following initial reports published by Air and Space Forces Magazine in July.
“We are collaborating with the Air Force on their CCA program to integrate the AMRAAM onto the Increment 1 drones. CCA Increment 2 is still in the early requirements phase,” said Norman. The CCA drones are set to be developed in phases, allowing for progressive improvements in their design and capabilities. The Air Force plans for these drones to carry various payloads for missions ranging from intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to offensive strikes. According to Norman, the AMRAAM has been designated as the “reference weapon” for these drones.
“The AMRAAM allows manned aircraft, such as the F-35 Lightning II or F-22 Raptor, to extend their combat capabilities. These drones can act as force multipliers, strategically positioned to use the AMRAAMs under the control of the manned aircraft,” he explained.
In April, General Atomics and Anduril were awarded contracts to design detailed prototypes and conduct flight tests for the first series of CCA drones. Once the design is finalized, these companies, along with other interested vendors, will be able to compete for the final production contract, expected to be awarded in 2026.
The Air Force plans to present full-scale models of the prototypes from General Atomics and Anduril during the Air, Space, and Cyber conference in September, according to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.
Raytheon has focused on improving the range, navigation, and anti-jamming capabilities of the AMRAAM as part of this integration. Although the company has not specified which variant of the missile will be used on the CCAs, the most recent variant, the AIM-120D, has an estimated range of approximately 160 kilometers.
In preparation for a new series of tests under the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program, Raytheon is working to demonstrate the extended range of the missile. While no changes were made to the missile’s propulsion system, adjustments were made to its flight path to conserve kinetic energy during long-range engagements, thus increasing its effectiveness upon impact.
“This allows us to regain parity, and even surpass, many global threats. It also makes the AMRAAM more resilient against future threats,” concluded Norman. (Source: Google/https://armyrecognition.com/)
12 Sept 24. U.S. Army demonstrated the capabilities of Patria NEMO 120 mm Turreted Mortar System at the Maneuver Warfighter Conference in Fort Moore, Georgia, USA. The cooperation between the U.S. Army and Patria reached a major milestone at the Maneuver Warfighter Conference in Fort Moore, Georgia, on 10 September, 2024 when a crew of soldiers demonstrated various successful fire missions, using U.S. mortar ammunition with the Patria NEMO 120 mm Turreted Mortar System, integrated onto a U.S. made Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) and Fire Direction System (FCD).
The U.S. Army strives to provide Armoured and Stryker Brigade Combat Teams with rapid, precise indirect and direct fire capability where the operating crew is well protected, and their physical burden, impulse noise effects and blast overpressure are significantly reduced. Since 2020, Patria has conducted a turreted mortar feasibility study including Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) with the U.S. Army for Patria NEMO, the world’s foremost Turreted Mortar System.
”We are extremely pleased to witness the results of our successful cooperation already so far with the U.S. Army and our industry partners. Given the global interest in Patria NEMO’s unique capabilities, we are excited to continue the discussions with the US regarding the next steps and eventually getting Patria NEMO to the U.S. warfighters, increasing their survivability, lethality and manoeuvrability,“ says Janne Räkköläinen, Senior Vice President, Market Area World of Patria.
Patria NEMO is a remote-controlled 120 mm mortar system capable of both direct and indirect fire missions – also on the move. Patria NEMO can execute multiple rounds simultaneous impact (MRSI) fire missions with up to 6 rounds hitting the target at the same time. In addition to being highly protected, the system is light, compact and easily installed on light, tracked chassis, wheeled armoured vehicles or navy vessels.
Integrated on AMPV, Patria NEMO will be showcased at AUSA (hall DE, stand 6041) in Washington D.C. on 14-16 October, 2024.
12 Sept 24. ISTEC delivers 65 weapons mounts for the British Army’s MLRS A2. ISTEC Services Limited, the British company with 35 years of operationally proven experience in the design, manufacture and supply of complex weapon integration solutions for military platforms, has recently completed delivery of 65 weapons mounts for the new MLRS A2 for the British Army. The contract was placed via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).
ISTEC has a long history of delivering weapon integration solutions for crew served weapons such as GPMG, HMG and MMG across Land, Sea and Air domains. They also have an operationally proven pedigree of supplying Universal Gun Mounts (UGMs) for key vehicles such as WMIK, Mastiff, Viking and Jackal use for Land operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Following successful trials last year, ISTEC won the competitive tender in late 2023 and recently competed delivery of all 65 sets of its double swing arm Medium Machine Gun (MMG) solution for the new MLRS A2 being procured by UK MoD. The MMG solution is crucial for enhancing the vehicles defensive capabilities and overall battlefield resilience, increasing the crew’s ability to protect themselves in a hostile environment and having been procured by NSPA is also available for other NATO countries to purchase.
ISTEC weapons integration solutions are designed with years of experience to ensure they are easy to use, extremely robust and provide the best possible arcs of fire and range of operation depending on the mounting location and vehicle configuration. Users also benefit from ISTECs end to end support approach, where mounts are designed to minimise the maintenance regime, standardised parts are used where possible to reduce the logistic burden and the integration solution is fully backed by ISTECs dynamic customer support.
Adrian Webster, Operations Manager at ISTEC said, “We are extremely pleased to have won this important project to help upgrade the UK’s MLRS platform and ensure it is fitted with the best possible crew served weapons mount. We have years of experience in delivering this type of capability and we also have other work in support of the MLRS programme that we will announce soon.”
12 Sep 24. Anduril Unveils Barracuda-M Family of Cruise Missiles. Today, Anduril is unveiling the Barracuda family of air-breathing, software-defined expendable Autonomous Air Vehicles (AAVs) that are optimized for affordable, hyper-scale production.
The Barracuda family of AAVs consists of Barracuda-100, Barracuda-250, and Barracuda-500. Each increment offers increasing size, range and payload capacity, but all Barracudas are compatible with a host of payloads and employment mechanisms, support a variety of different missions, and provide warfighters with an adaptable and upgradeable capability to counter evolving threats. Barracuda-M is the munition configuration of Barracuda that delivers a more affordable, producible, available, and adaptable cruise missile capability than existing options available to warfighters today.
The United States and our allies and partners do not have enough missiles to credibly deter conflict with a near-peer adversary. Our existing arsenals of precision-guided munitions would be exhausted in a matter of days in a high-end fight. The problem extends beyond inventory alone, however: existing cruise missiles are defined by limited production capacity, nonexistent on-call surge capacity, and minimal upgradeability when technology and mission needs inevitably change. That is because existing missile designs are highly complex, require thousands of unique tools to produce, demand highly-specialized labor and materials, and are built on the backs of tenuous, brittle, and defense-specific supply chains. We need an order of magnitude more weapons, and we need them to be more producible, intelligent, upgradeable, and flexible.
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The Barracuda family of AAVs is designed to rebuild America’s arsenal of air-breathing precision-guided munitions and air vehicles. Barracuda features advanced autonomous behaviors and other software-defined capabilities, and it is available in configurations offering 500+ nautical miles of range, 100+ pounds of payload capacity, 5 Gs of maneuverability, and more than 120 minutes of loitering time. The vehicle’s fast speeds, high maneuverability, and extended ranges are made possible by Barracuda’s turbojets, air-breathing engines that take in air to combust their fuel. The result is a highly intelligent, low-cost weapon system that is capable of direct, stand-in, or stand-off strike missions in line with existing requirements but rapidly adaptable to future mission needs due to its high degree of modularity and upgradeability.
Barracuda-100M, Barracuda-250M, and Barracuda-500M are the most producible cruise missiles on the market today. A single Barracuda takes 50 percent less time to produce, requires 95 percent fewer tools, and 50 percent fewer parts than competing solutions on the market today. As a result, the Barracuda family of AAVs is 30 percent cheaper on average than other solutions, enabling affordable mass and cost-effective, large-scale employment.
Designed for agile and affordable hyper-scale production
Barracuda is purpose-built to bring mass to the fight. Designed from the ground-up for hyper-scale manufacturing, Barracuda production rates are designed to keep pace with the threat and can be doubled on-call to meet short-term surges in demand.
Barracuda is designed to be simple to manufacture, both in terms of tooling and talent. Designed for rapid assembly at low cost, the Barracuda family of AAVs only requires ten or less tools to assemble, ensuring that both new and existing production lines can be rapidly spun up to produce AAVs at hyper-scale. The simplicity of Barracuda’s design and manufacturing process has an additional benefit: Barracuda can be produced by the broad commercial automotive and consumer electronics workforce, rather than relying exclusively on the much smaller, over-stretched, highly-specialized, defense-specific manufacturing labor pool required to produce existing solutions.
Every Barracuda variant is made up of a handful of common subsystems to ensure that the missiles can be rapidly optimized based on changing mission needs. New subsystems can be rapidly swapped into live production lines when threats evolve and new technologies emerge, providing warfighters with the agility required to adapt at mission speed. And unlike existing solutions that leverage brittle, defense-specific supply chains, Barracuda’s subsystems are made up of commercially derived and widely-available components that provide supply chain resiliency, redundancy, and surge capacity.
Software-defined performance
While the simplicity of Barracuda’s hardware design is what enables hyper-scale production, software is what differentiates Barracuda’s performance. Powered and controlled by Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy software, Barracuda is capable of novel autonomous and collaborative behaviors, unlocking new concepts of employment that increase survivability and effectiveness against large target sets in contested environments. And, as a software-defined, hardware-enabled platform, Barracuda’s performance and behaviors can be rapidly and continuously updated to meet evolving mission requirements at the speed of relevance, unlike existing exquisite cruise missiles that require months or years to update.
Purpose-built for flexible employment
The Barracuda family of AAVs brings unparalleled flexibility to the fight. Barracuda variants can be employed from a variety of different air, ground or maritime platforms to support a range of mission sets. Compatible with internal weapons bays of fifth-generation aircraft, external rails of fourth-generation fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, MFOM launchers and Common Launch Tubes (CLTs), surface vessels, palletized employment from airlift aircraft, and more, Barracuda provides theater commanders with flexible employment options.
The Barracuda family of AAVs can be configured with a range of payloads to support a wide variety of missions.
Rebuilding the Arsenal
Barracuda is the latest example of how Anduril is leading the charge to deliver affordable mass and rebuild America’s arsenal of democracy. Barracuda is designed from the ground-up for producibility, flexibility, modularity, upgradeability, and affordability, delivering the capability and mass required to deter or prevail in a high-end fight.
Anduril is deeply committed to rebuilding the arsenal of democracy by combining modern software with cutting edge hardware development and hyper-scale manufacturing expertise. From autonomous fighter jets to air-breathing cruise missiles, Anduril is driving a paradigm shift in air dominance and strike that is squarely focused on affordable mass and mission autonomy. (Source: ASD Network)
11 Sept 24. Turkey advances plan for a national air-defense shield. Turkey has finalized key plans for its Çelik Kubbe – Steel Dome – air defense system, a project designed to enhance the nation’s airspace security with advanced, multilayered defense capabilities. The decision came during the second meeting of the Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSIK), chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last month. The Steel Dome aims to integrate a wide range of air defense assets, creating a real-time operational picture and enabling centralized control with the help of artificial intelligence. The Steel Dome is a domestic initiative developed by Aselsan in collaboration with Roketsan and Turkish government research institute TÜBİTAK SAGE. It brings together existing and future sensors, communication networks, and weapons under one system for comprehensive airspace protection.
The project’s goal is to establish a unified defense network capable of defending Turkey against emerging aerial threats like drones and missiles.
According to Sıtkı Egeli, an associate professor at İzmir University of Economics, the Steel Dome is not entirely new but rather an effort to integrate various air and missile defense systems developed over the past decade.
“The real key to successful air defense is not just having the right weapons, but integrating all these components under a single command and control system,” he said.
As envisioned, short-range systems like the Korkut self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and Sungur missiles will form the dome’s inner layer. Medium-range Hisar A+ and Hisar O (RF) missiles will engage threats in the middle layer, while the outermost layer will rely on the long-range SİPER missile, which is expected to exceed a range of 100 kilometers. Roketsan is developing an advanced version of SİPER that will extend the range to 150 kilometers.
Turkey is incorporating Aselsan-made radars and communication systems, including the HERİKKS air defense command and control system and the RADNET radar network at the hub of the behemoth program. The components are designed to create a real-time air picture for decision-makers.
Non-kinetic interceptors like the Gökberk laser weapon and the Alka direct-energy weapon also are slated for eventual incorporation into the Steel Dome, but those technologies still need development.
According to Egeli, Turkey had planned to use the ACCS (Air Command Control System) architecture, developed in the 2000s for joint use by all NATO members, as the brains of the new program. But unresolved issues over the alliance software led Turkey to develop a national solution as a supplement instead, he said.
Egeli added said that the Russian S-400 air defense system, purchased by Turkey in 2017, will not be part of the Steel Dome architecture, as the S-400 does not align with Turkey’s long-term air defense strategy. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
11 Sept 24. Leafield Cases will exhibit at DVD Stand C4-514. 18th – 19th September, 2024 UTAC Millbrook, Bedfordshire.
10 Sep 24. North Korea reveals 12-axle TEL. This render shows the 11-axle TEL carrying the Hwaseong-16 ICBM. North Korea has now displayed a new 12-axle TEL possibly for its new Hwaseong-18 ICBM. (Nathan J Hunt)
North Korea’s state news agency has shown an image of what appears to be a new 12-axle transporter erector launcher (TEL) vehicle. The vehicle is presumably for a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
The TEL was shown by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on 8 September in a report about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s visit to the country’s National Defense Industry Enterprise.
An accompanying KCNA report made no reference to the TEL but referred to “newly developed and produced military equipment”. KCNA also reported that Kim highlighted a requirement to the National Defense Industry Enterprise to increase “the level of scientific modernisation of military production”.
The image of the TEL shows Kim standing next to the vehicle with a group of defence industry officials. The National Defense Industry Enterprise operates under the Second Economic Committee and reports to the State Affairs Commission (SAC), which is chaired by Kim.
North Korea is not known to operate a 12-axle TEL. Its largest known TEL is the 11-axle vehicle from which it test-launched in 2022 and 2023 the Hwaseong-16 and Hwaseong-17 ICBMs. The Hwaseong-15 ICBM – tested in 2017, 2022, and 2023 – was launched from a nine-axle TEL.
Commenting on the new TEL, Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder said in a press briefing on 9 September, “It’s not unusual for North Korea to use media reports and imagery to try to telegraph, you know, to the world.” (Source: Janes)
10 Sep 24. Hermeus Celebrates Groundbreaking for Hypersonic Engine and Flight Test Facility in Jacksonville, Florida.
The new facility advances U.S. capability to more effectively test and field various hypersonic technologies
Hermeus has selected Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida for its hypersonic engine test facility. Named HEAT (High Enthalpy Air-Breathing Test Facility), this facility will be Hermeus’ largest and most technologically advanced test site to date and become a national asset for hypersonic testing. The site will also be the initial base for Hermeus’ high-Mach flight test capabilities starting in 2026, expanding cadence and affordability of the nation’s flight test infrastructure.
Hermeus announced their plans for the new facility at a groundbreaking ceremony at the Cecil Airport site. Hermeus executives and employees were joined by U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL- 04), U.S. Congressman John Rutherford (FL-05), State Sen. Clay Yarborough (R-Jacksonville), Mayor Donna Deegan, Florida Department of Commerce officials, JAXUSA officials, and other community leaders.
The HEAT facility will provide continuous high flow rate, high enthalpy and low-pressure conditions required for high-supersonic and low-hypersonic flight modeling. This capability will make the facility an important asset to more effectively test and field various hypersonic technologies – not only for Hermeus but also for the Department of Defense and its commercial partners.
Hermeus will test a variety of engines and propulsion subsystems at HEAT – from the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine to Hermeus’ proprietary hypersonic Chimera engine. The facility will be built in phases with initial sea-level static engine tests starting before the end of 2024. Future phases of the facility will introduce continuous high-Mach vitiated air flow to simulate more flight-like high-Mach testing conditions on the ground.
“The United States is lacking in the capability to rapidly and economically test air-breathing hypersonic engines,” said AJ Piplica, Hermeus Co-Founder and CEO. “The few test facilities available have years-long waitlists and are prohibitively expensive. The commercially operated testing services that we will offer at our HEAT facility are more economical and responsive to dynamic test requirements and are better suited to match the ever-changing needs of the warfighter.”
Additionally, Cecil Airport will serve as the initial base for Hermeus’ commercial high-Mach flight test service. Hermeus’ autonomous Quarterhorse aircraft will depart from Cecil, ferry into the Eastern Range to conduct flight test operations, then return and land at Cecil. Services are expected to begin in 2026, quickly scaling capacity to a weekly test cadence to meet the demand signal of multiple government and commercial customers.
Hermeus expects to invest $135m in the project and create more than 100 jobs over the course of the decade.
As a former Naval Air Station, Cecil Airport has significant test infrastructure already in place, including multiple test cells and an aircraft hush house which Hermeus will inherit and build upon. Additionally, its location in Jacksonville, FL offers a strong aerospace workforce, access to airspace for hypersonic flight test, and proximity to Hermeus’ headquarters in Atlanta, GA.
“Northeast Florida is a major center for aerospace and defense manufacturing, and our legacy will continue on with Hermeus, as they launch a new era in advanced aviation manufacturing to deliver cutting-edge capabilities to our warfighters,” said Congressman Aaron Bean. “I’m proud Jacksonville will be the home of Hermeus and look forward to celebrating their pioneering advancements in hypersonic aviation that will be made right here in Duval County.”
“I am excited to welcome Hermeus to Jacksonville,” said U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford. “The Hermeus HEAT facility will create at least one hundred new highly skilled jobs, further growing the aerospace and defense technology sector right here in Northeast Florida. It is companies like Hermeus who produce the innovation needed to defend against the evolving threats facing our nation today and in the future. I am proud to recognize this huge win for Northeast Florida, and I look forward to seeing the successes Hermeus achieves right here in our community.”
“This is a huge win for our region and a testament to the common-sense regulatory and low-tax policies that we have worked to implement in Florida,” said Sen. Clay Yarborough.
“We are excited that Hermeus is joining Jacksonville’s growing aerospace industry,” said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. “They are putting our city at the center of the hypersonic jet development that will forever transform air travel. As a proud military town, we also welcome the work they will perform for the Department of Defense. Jacksonville is fast becoming an innovation hub thanks to companies like Hermeus.” (Source: ASD Network)
09 Sept 24. UK marks naval big gun return after HMS Glasgow gets its Mk 45. The Mk 45 main gun system has been installed onto HMS Glasgow, the first of a class of eight Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates being built for the UK Royal Navy.
e US Navy is one of ten services that use the Mk 45 127mm main gun, with the UK set to be its newest operators. Credit: US Navy
The UK has fitted its first Mk 45 Mod 4A weapon system onto the first-in-class Type 26 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigate HMS Glasgow, ending a 45-year-long wait to return to the naval big gun scene after the retirement of the Tiger-class cruisers in the late 1970s.
With the installation of the Mk 45 62-calibre, five inch/127mm gun, the Royal Navy will introduce an entirely new weapon into service as it transitions from the Mark 8 Mod 1, 55-calibre, 4.5 inch/113mm system fitted to the Type 23 frigates and Type 45 air defence destroyers.
Construction of all eight Type 26 frigates is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s, with the first, HMS Glasgow, entering service by the end of 2028. Credit: UK MoD/Crown copyright
The decision to opt for the larger Mk 45 main gun over the Mk 8 is primarily down to increased commonality with the US Navy and reduction of through life support and ammunition costs in not having to maintain a single-navy-only capability.
In February 2023, BAE Systems received a $219m contract to equip the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates with five Mk 45 Maritime Indirect Fire Systems (MIFS). The system combines the 5-inch, 62-calibre Mk 45 Mod 4A naval gun system with a fully automated Ammunition Handling System (AHS).
MIFS and AHS: in focus
According to BAE Systems, upgrades of the Mk 45 Mod 4 include a 62-calibre barrel, strengthened gun and mount subsystems, advanced control system enhancement, and a reduced signature, low maintenance gun shield.
The Mk 45 Mod 4 provides a naval surface fire support (NSFS) range of more than 20 nautical miles (36km) with the US Navy’s new 5-inch cargo projectile and an improved propelling charge.
Starting with DDG 81, the Mk 45 Mod 4 was forward-fitted to US Navy DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Other Mod 4 applications include installations for the navies of South Korea, Japan, and Denmark.
BAE Systems will also supply Mark 45 Mod 4 main guns to the Royal Australian Navy’s future Hunter-class frigates, which are based on the UK’s Type 26 design.
Existing Mk 45 Mod 0-2 mounts can be upgraded to the Mod 4 configuration, which is planned for Ticonderoga-class cruisers as part of the US Navy’s Cruiser Modernization Program.
Across all variants of the Mk 45 from Mod 0-4, more than 240 units have been delivered and used by the US Navy and other navies worldwide, BAE Systems states.
The Mk45 is the second new main gun system due to enter service in the coming years, with the BAE Systems 57mm weapon due to be fitted to the upcoming Type 31 general-purpose frigates.
Farewell to the Kryten
The legacy 4.5-inch Mk 8, commonly known in service as the ‘Kryten’ after a facelift in 2005 with the introduction of the angular turret replacing the traditional smooth dome of the older variant, will remain in service until the last of the Type 45 destroyers departs, and is likely to persist for another generation.
First entering UK Royal Navy service in 1972, the 4.5-inch has seen extensive use throughout its service life, providing gunfire support during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and Libya in 2008.
According to the Royal Navy, the 4.5-inch main gun has a rate of fire of about 25 rounds per minute and a range of 12nm (22km) or up to 27.5km with the newer High Explosive Extended Range round.
The first Mk8 entered Royal Navy service in 1973 on the then new destroyer HMS Bristol.
The last time the Royal Navy wielded a main naval gun larger than 4.5 inch was with the Tiger-class cruisers manufactured after World War II, which left service in 1979. (Source: naval-technology.com)
06 Sept 24. US Army aiming for one more hypersonic weapon test by year’s end. The U.S. Army is aiming for one more major test of its Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon by the end of 2024 in order to decide whether to field it to the first unit next year, Doug Bush, the service’s acquisition chief, said Thursday.
The Common Hypersonic Glide Body, which is the all-up round developed jointly with the U.S. Navy, conducted a key successful test earlier this year. The Navy will integrate the round into a ship-launched capability, while the Army will integrate it into a ground launcher.
The Army has worked with Leidos’ Dynetics for years to build the industrial base for the Common Hypersonic Glide Body that will be used by both the ground service and the Navy, as the domestic private sector has never built a hypersonic weapon.
On the heels of the Navy test, “what we’ve got to do is make sure we have a full end-to-end test as close to an operational test that is successful,” Bush told reporters in a Pentagon briefing.
The Army needs to have confidence “it’s safe and effective to actually put in a unit that might have to go to war,” he said. “We haven’t had that test event yet where it’s fully succeeded, but we’re going to have, hopefully have, it this year.”
If the service is able to pull off a successful test, then it will be on track to field it to the first unit as an initial operational capability, according to Bush.
The Army completed its delivery of the first hypersonic weapon capability — minus the all-up rounds — to the 1st Multidomain Task Force 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade unit at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, two days ahead of its end-of-fiscal 2021 fielding deadline.
Hypersonic weapons are capable of flying faster than Mach 5 — or more than 3,836 miles per hour — and can maneuver between varying altitudes, making them difficult to detect. The C-HGB is made up of the weapon’s warhead, guidance system, cabling and thermal protection shield.
The U.S. is in a race to field the capability and develop systems to defend against hypersonic missiles. China and Russia are actively developing and testing hypersonic weapons.
In August, Lt. Gen. Robert Rasch, Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office director, told Defense News in an exclusive interview at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, that the Army is “really close” to fielding the capability. But he cautioned that more testing remains before any decision is made on the future of its ground-launched hypersonic missile.
The Navy’s flight test of the industry-manufactured missile — which took place at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii in May — was highly anticipated as part of the joint development program following a series of failed or aborted tests of the Common Hypersonic Glide Body.
The Army and Navy last year had to abort flight tests in March, October and November due to challenges at the range related not to the round but the process of firing up the missile for launch.
Missile development programs typically take about 10 years, Rasch stressed, and while the plan to field hypersonic missiles to a first unit has been delayed by over a year, the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon program is only at the five-year mark.
“We’ve got to make sure this capability works. If the decision is made to implement this, it’s for real, serious reasons, strategic-level reasons, and we need it to work every time,” Rasch said.
(Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
05 Sept 24. Robotics Engineering System Makes Quantum Leap in Defense Manufacturing. Egyptian company, Robotics Engineering System, has revolutionized the Egyptian defense industry with the launch of a comprehensive suite of intelligent systems at the Egypt International Aerospace Exhibition (EIAS2024).
This suite includes high-precision glide bombs, the GWD-6, with a range of up to 50 km, and cruise missiles, the 122 GPK and 155 LR GPK, with varying ranges. These munitions are equipped with the latest multi-guidance systems, including GPS, electro-optical, and inertial guidance.
In an exclusive interview with Defense Arabia, Abdullah Ibrahim, the head of the technical team at Robotics Engineering System, stated that the company has adopted a new slogan, “Made in Egypt,” and is set to unveil more domestically-produced defense products.
Ibrahim revealed that production of the Taba and Taba2 drones has reached high numbers, noting that the aircraft displayed at the booth was number 54.
These new systems, developed entirely locally, represent a remarkable engineering achievement that reflects Egypt’s growing technical capabilities in the field of smart weapons. Glide bombs, for example, offer high targeting flexibility, while cruise missiles are known for their precision and ability to strike both stationary and moving targets.
These systems add to the achievements of Robotics Engineering System, which has previously developed and manufactured a variety of drones, including the “June 30,” “October 6,” and “Ahmose.”
- June 30: This UAV, on display at the exhibition, bears a strong resemblance to the Baykar Akinci. It has served the Egyptian Air Force for approximately 4-5 years, accumulating 2500 flight hours during this period. According to its specifications, the “June 30” performs reconnaissance and intelligence surveillance missions, using an interchangeable FLIR EO/IR/LRF turret or synthetic aperture radar.
- Ahmose: Designed and developed in 2019, the “Ahmose” will be equipped with reconnaissance and intelligence equipment. With a takeoff weight of 1200 kg, it can use an interchangeable FLIR EO/IR/LRF turret or SAR with an 18-meter wingspan, a 145 hp single gasoline engine, and can reach a maximum speed of 250 km/h.
- October 6: The “October 6” is a UAV still under development, featuring 16 hardpoints. Its first flight is expected in 2025. According to Abdullah Ibrahim, this is a new design and essentially an update of the “June 30,” with a takeoff weight of 2300 kg. (Source: Defense Arabia)
30 Jul 24. MFP is purely ‘an intention to procure’ as confirmed by the FoI placed by BATTLESPACE. This explains the reluctance by RBSL and KMDS to answer questions regarding the German announcement by Rishi Sunak and wy BATTLESPACE didn’t report on the event until this carification
I would like to request the following information regarding a specific contract awarded by the Ministry of Defence:
- Contract Title: British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) requirement • Awarded Contractors: ARTEC consortium, Krauss-Meffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) Information requested:
- Copies of the contracts awarded for the development and procurement of the Mobile Fires Platform, including but not limited to agreements with ARTEC consortium, Krauss-Meffei Wegmann, Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), and any other contractors involved in the project.
- A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the UK and German governments regarding the programme
- Details on the scope of work, timelines, and deliverables outlined in these contracts.
- Detailed project plans, including the expected timelines for the development, testing, and deployment of the Mobile Fires Platform.
- Any documents outlining the project management approach, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies.
- Total estimated and actual expenditure on the Mobile Fires Platform to date, including a breakdown of costs.
- Funding sources for the project and any future financial commitments.
- Specific details on the collaboration agreement with Germany regarding the RCH 155 artillery system, including the roles and responsibilities of each country.
- Documentation on joint assessment and qualification plans, as well as any bilateral agreements influencing the project.
- Information on the expected economic impact of the Mobile Fires Platform on the UK, including job creation, industrial benefits, and export potential.
- Details on the involvement of UK-based suppliers and the extent of UK industrial content in the project. We are handling your request in accordance with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000. A search of Ministry of Defence (MOD) records has been conducted, and I can confirm that Defence Equipment & Support some information in scope of your request is held. However, we believe that the following qualified exemptions may apply to some of the information held: Section 24 (Security), Section 26 (Defence), Section 27 (International Relations), Section 43 (Commercial Interests). As such it is necessary for us to decide whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the relevant exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosure. The Freedom of Information Act requires us to respond to requests promptly, and in any case no later than 20 working days after receiving your request. However, when a qualified exemption applies to the information and the public interest test has to be conducted, the Act allows the time for response to be longer than 20 working days. A full response must be provided within such time as is reasonable in all circumstances of the case and, in relation to your request, we estimate that it will take an additional 20 working days to take a final decision on where the balance of public interest lies. We therefore plan to let you have a response by 9 September 2024. If it appears that it will take longer than this to reach a conclusion, we will let you know. Under Section 16 (Advice and Assistance) of the FOI Act, please note that no contracts have been awarded to date.
BATTLESPACE Comment: Given that no contract has been awarded this leaves the door open for Hanwa in particular to re-enter the MFP programme either by an unsolicited bid by Hanwha ULK or government-to-government discussions between RoK and the UK to secure the tripling of firepower and the accompanying ammunition production by 2030 as stated by incoming CGS Roly Walker at the recent RUSI Land Warfare Conference. As to the RCH155 Boxer-based howitzer, which, from a personal point of view, ahs always looked top heavy with an lightly armoured turret, more work clearly needs to be done to bring the TRL level to the required point. The launch by KNDS of their wheeled solution based on the GD 10×10 chassis points ot the fact that the Boxer 8×8 chassis may not be robust enough to enable growth potential of an RCH155 with an ERCAS cannon and unarmoured turret. At present the RCH 155 is not on the OCCAR list for the UK programme. The argument that as the turret is unmanned it can be lightly armoured doesn’t stack, as the gun and ammunition need protection. So. no contract has been awarded and yet Germany has apparently ordered 80 RCH. If the system is sufficiently mature – TRL 8 or 9 – for Germany to place the order what is the subject of the collaboration? If there are no contracts placed, to date, under the protocol with Germany, an important question is how will the collaboration work and who will place the contracts? Surely that is a matter where public interest is greater than any commercial concerns. Other sources suggest that the forthcoming defence review will address all new and future contracts and report in the New Year at the earliest.
04 Aug 24. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed its commitment to continue developing the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm Wheeled Artillery Systems (RCH 155) in partnership with Germany. This announcement came in response to a parliamentary question posed by Andrew Rosindell, Conservative MP for Romford. Rosindell asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the policy to develop the RCH 155 with Germany would be maintained.
Maria Eagle, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, responded affirmatively, underscoring the importance of the collaboration.
“Working with Germany through this landmark defence agreement to collaborate on the Boxer based Remote Controlled Howitzer 155mm Wheeled Artillery Systems (RCH 155), the Defence Secretary will build on existing cooperation, and develop this important programme to strengthen our respective artillery capabilities and promote shared national and European security objectives,” stated Eagle.
The RCH 155, also known as the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155 mm, represents an advancement in artillery technology. Developed and manufactured by the German defence company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), the RCH 155 was designed based on the successes of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 and the Donar artillery system. Utilising the Boxer chassis.
Specifications and Features
- Type: Self-propelled artillery
- Designer: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann
- Unit Cost: Approximately €12 m for initial orders
- Mass: Under 39 tonnes
- Dimensions: Length of 10.4 metres, width of 2.99 metres, and height of 3.60 metres
- Crew: Two (commander and driver)
- Armament: Main armament consists of a 155 mm calibre L/52 gun from Rheinmetall, capable of a firing range up to 54 km with enhanced projectiles. Secondary armaments include an optional remote-controlled weapon station.
The RCH 155 is not only powerful but also highly automated, designed to function with minimal human intervention.
Its automation allows for operations like firing on the move—a first for most howitzers—significantly increasing its operational effectiveness by minimising the time stationary, thus reducing vulnerability to enemy fire.
Operational Capabilities
- Engine Power: Equipped with an MTU 8V199 TE21 diesel engine, delivering up to 816 horsepower.
- Mobility: Can reach speeds up to 103 km/h on roads, with an operational range of 700 km.
- Ammunition Capacity: Carries 30 fused rounds and 144 modular propellants, with a maximum rate of fire of 9 rounds per minute.
- Protection: Crew protection against heavy machine gun fire, artillery fragments, mines, and equipped with NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protection.
Interestingly, the builders say it is designed for future adaptations to be operated remotely, reducing the need for crew exposure in hazardous conditions.
At the UK Defence Journal, we aim to deliver accurate and timely news on defence matters. We rely on the support of readers like you to maintain our independence and high-quality journalism. Please consider making a one-off donation to help us continue our work. Click here to donate. Thank you for your support! (Source: UKDJ)
29 Aug 24. UK defence sector re-establishes 120mm mortar barrel manufacture. Babcock has tasked Andover-based Perfect Bore Manufacturing with the manufacture of 120mm mortar barrels that could provide a mobile fires solution to the British Army. Babcock has provided more information on the development of a UK mortar capability for possible use by the British Army, stating that Perfect Bore Manufacturing had been tasked with the manufacture of 120mm barrels.
The move will re-establish barrel manufacturing in the UK, Babcock stated, as it proceeds with its vehicle agnostic 120mm Ground-based Deployable Mortar System (GDAMS), which is being developed for UK use in partnership with Singapore’s ST Engineering.
“Our long-standing experience with the British Army and integration expertise will ensure that we offer the optimum solution that the army needs to strengthen UK defence,” Babcock stated in a mid-August social media post.
Planned onshoring of manufacture now a reality
In April 2024 Babcock and ST Engineering signed a collaboration agreement to offer land domain technologies, with an initial focus on mortar systems, indicating a potential future offering to the British Army in the form of a light vehicle-mounted mobile fires capability.
Announcing the agreement on 5 March, officials from Babcock and ST Engineering stated the companies would pursue defence opportunities “in markets of joint interest” that will see the combination of Babcock’s “close working relationship with the British Armed Forces” with ST Engineering’s “world-leading land systems products”.
ST Engineering offers two main land mortar capabilities: the Ground Deployed Advanced Mortar System (GDAMS), and the 120mm Super Rapid Advanced Mortar System (SRAMS). At the time, the development of a 120mm mortar offering for any UK requirement was understood to include onshoring ambitions.
The mid-August social media post from Babcock indicates that the company is pursuing the GDAMS system for the UK military market. (Source: army-technology.com)
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