12 Feb 26. UK seeking containerised armouries for overseas bases.
The UK Ministry of Defence is seeking containerised armouries, ammunition storage facilities, and workshops.
- The containerised units will be situated within existing UK military locations located overseas
- The UK operates a string of overseas bases across Europe, the South Atlantic, the Middle East, and into the Indo-Pacific
- Such armoured units would be useful for locations that may not have established infrastructure
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking the provision of armoured containers for use at overseas sites operated by the British military, to be operated as armouries, ammunition stores, and workshops. Contracted via Unite Procurement UK and published on the UK Government tender site in late-January, the UK MoD listed a requirement for a 20ft containerised armoury, a 10ft containerised ammunition store, and a 10ft containerised workshop. According to the contract tender the deadline for submissions is 13 February, with the deal valued at between £250,000 to £500,000 ($340,000 to $680,000). Delivery of the containerised weapons depot units is due for completion by February 2028. All containers should be JSP 440, AASTP-1 (Edition C), DSA OME Part 2 and NSPA compliant as appropriate, the tender stated. The containerised units will be stationed to UK personnel overseas and installed in a static capacity within existing UK-managed infrastructure in replacement of older system that are no longer considered suitable. Such armoured containers are used by militaries around the world, offering secure storage in remote or unprepared locations. The addition of armour plates and polymer coatings provide a degree of physical resistance to kinetic threats, with other measures such as security doors and in-built security systems also commonly fitted.
Where are the UK’s overseas bases?
The UK operates a range of overseas bases and military/mixed use sites, from the Norwegian Arctic in the High North to the RAF base at Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands. Military sites in warmer climes include the Sovereign Base Areas of Dhekelia and Akrotiri on Cyprus, Gibraltar naval base, the Duqm training area in Oman, and British Defence Singapore Support Unit. The UK also maintains a naval support facility at Mina Salman in Bahrain, although a recent draw down of naval vessels in the region leaves its fate in the balance. It is unknown where the containerised units will be deployed. (Source: army-technology.com)
10 Feb 26. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) has designed and developed the Drone Killer Cartridge (DKC), a new and cost-effective family of ammunition for the warfighter that increases probability of hit and kill against drone threats while inherently reducing collateral damage. Col. Andrew Konicki, Program Manager of Ground Based Air Defense, Program Executive Officer Land Systems, said the Marine Corps plans to broadly leverage DKC for its enhanced capabilities and implement at the operator-level. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) has designed and developed the Drone Killer Cartridge (DKC), a new and cost-effective family of ammunition for the warfighter that increases probability of hit and kill against drone threats while inherently reducing collateral damage.
“The Drone Killer Cartridge represents a pivotal shift in countering the pervasive threat of enemy drones,” said Col. Konicki. “This type of ammunition provides an immediate and significant improvement to our kinetic kill capabilities by using standard-issued weapons that are already in the hands of Marines.”
DKC allows a Marine to take down unmanned aerial system (UAS) threats as they arise.
“The collaborative work between NSWC Crane and the Marine Corps has positive impacts across the ecosystem of Homeland Defense as well as self-protection for our forward deployed troops in harm’s way,” said Col. Konicki. “With DKC, we are adding capability well beyond conventional options, while also bending the cost curve for neutralizing drone threats, particularly to the individual Marine. Crucially, its design reduces the risk of collateral damage, making it a dominant and urgently needed solution that will fundamentally change the fight for every Marine.”
Unmanned systems are reshaping tactics and challenging established operations creating life-threatening scenarios for warfighters globally. To counter this rapidly evolving and critical threat, the Department is aiming to improve overall defense capabilities.
Brian Hoffman, Man-Portable Weapons Chief Engineer at NSWC Crane and primary inventor for DKC, said the technology offers immense capability to the warfighter.
“We’re enabling extended range, shotgun-style effects through automatic rifles and machine guns with nothing more than an ammunition change,” said Hoffman. “By design, DKC provides broader terminal coverage on and around the intended target, which increases effectiveness against stationary and moving drones by helping offset imperfect aim. There’s a good reason why bird hunters use shotguns. We’ve applied a similar philosophy to killing drones while amplifying overall performance. DKC sub-projectiles exit the barrel at velocities typical of centerfire rifle ammunition. Those velocities, and associated energies, far exceed shotgun capabilities and serve to extend effective range while offering more devastating effects on target.”
Hoffman said the DKC results are “unmistakable,” as the clustered shotgun-style effects help overcome point-of-aim error that is common to users with limited or no experience in engaging UAS. DKC is also helpful for warfighters attempting to engage drone targets of unknown distance and speed: for both inexperienced and experienced operators alike.
“During a recent demonstration at Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh, Indiana, shooters using DKC achieved a 92% kill rate against drone targets,” said Hoffman. “At a prior demonstration at Camp Grafton in Devils Lake, North Dakota, the team invited several first-time shooters of DKC to the firing line. On their first-ever attempts, they successfully killed drones using DKC with standard-issue weapons and basic optics only. That was extremely compelling for both the shooters and observers and reinforced the need to accelerate timeline to initial fielding.”
DKC technology provides improved defense capability at an affordable price in terms of low unit cost and cost-per-kill. As a result, DKC is positioned for broad use through rapid and seamless integration, allowing for end-user operational versatility in a variety of mission scenarios, including last line of defense.
All DKC products are NSWC Crane-designed and U.S. Government-owned intellectual property (IP) with U.S. nonprovisional utility patent applications and Patent Cooperative Treaty applications on file. The DKC family includes both Pelletized and Segmented product options. There is functional overlap between the two, but each type maintains unique priority rankings when it comes to effective range, target area coverage, suppressor compatibility, and cost. Segmented DKC includes a one-piece projectile that mechanically self-separates into discrete, spin-stabilized sub-projectiles prior to muzzle exit. Pelletized DKC includes a projectile assembly containing a stack of high-density, spherical buckshot-sized pellets that are mechanically disbursed at muzzle exit. The projectiles of both DKC types are inert and easily produced. The other components needed for cartridge assembly are identical to those used in current production of other Department of War fielded ammunition types. To view some footage of drone kills using DKC, high-speed video of the sub-projectiles as they exit the barrel, and additional introductory content, please visit the DKC product video. The Drone Killer Cartridge technology is available for licensing to commercial ammunition and defense manufacturing partners. Initially designed for military applications, there also are applications for home defense, personal protection, and hunting. To learn more about the IP and licensing opportunity, please visit TechLink. (Source: PR Newswire)
10 Feb 26. Poland’s Niewiadow signs framework deal with Northrop Grumman on 155 mm ammo production. Polish arms group Niewiadow-PGM said on Tuesday it had signed a framework deal with U.S. defence supplier Northrop Grumman on producing artillery ammunition in Poland. The deal, also signed by Niewiadow units Elaboracja Niewiadow and Zaklady Sprzetu Precyzyjnego Niewiadow, sets out rules for cooperation on preparation, production, certification and introduction to market of 155-millimetre artillery ammunition, in particular for the European market, Niewiadow said. The financial terms and production details were not disclosed. The 155 mm shell is widely used by Ukraine in its war with Russia, but has been in short supply.
“The first area of cooperation is the joint production of a 155 mm artillery shell, which is currently at an advanced stage of preparation for the certification process,” Niewiadow said in a press release.
“(The deal) creates a basis for both the development of production in Poland and joint market initiatives in the area of offering ready-made solutions,” Adam Januszko, Niewiadow’s chief executive was quoted as saying in the statement. (Source: Reuters)