18 Jun 25. Ammo talk. As the debate rages between choosing the .556 round vs the better penetrating .665 round, source suggest that current .665 system being trialled re having reliability problems together with a heavy barrel wear issue of only 12000 rounds. The current thinking is now based around availability vs performance; the more rounds you can pout down the battlefield the better protected your troops. In another development, the MoD is believed to be looking at a .338 machine gun to replace some of the .50 cal duties.
19 Jun 25. Nammo, Nordic nations reach agreement for ammunition. The agreement covers delivery, manufacture, and maintenance, with initial focus on 155mm artillery and small arms calibres. Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway have entered into a strategic partnership agreement (SPA) with Norwegian defence company Nammo, to strengthen ammunition supply and defence readiness. The move is a response to the changing security landscape within Europe, and emphasises the importance of secure ammunition supply chains. The SPA covers the provision, manufacture, and maintenance of ammunition. The initial phase of the partnership will concentrate on the production of 155mm artillery rounds and various small arms ammunition calibres. Through this SPA, the Nordic nations aim to establish critical ammunition reserves for their military forces, guaranteeing supply security during volatile periods and promote the growth of the defence industry within each nation involved. In addition, the collaboration will strengthen existing ties under the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) framework. The NORDEFCO, comprising Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, aims to bolster the defence capabilities of its member nations. It seeks to identify and leverage synergies among the participants and to enable effective joint solutions. The Norwegian Ministry of Defence said the accord paves the way for collaborative advancements in several key areas. These include the collective acquisition of ammunition, a potential tripling of production capacity during peacetime, the establishment of cross-border shared stockpiles, and streamlined coordination for ongoing assistance to Ukraine. The signing parties said: “We are very pleased that this agreement establishes a framework with Nammo as a strong and committed partner in ammunition production. Nammo’s extensive experience and expertise will ensure the delivery of quality products to our forces.” The partnership is also expected to bolster Nordic defence cooperation in various areas such as research and development, launching new product lines, and shared use of ammunition resources. Norway Defence Minister Tore Sandvik said: “Security in Norway and the Nordic region are closely connected. The Nordics are now taking more responsibility for our own security through large-scale strengthening of our defences. At the same time, we must become more efficient through deeper integration of forces and materiel. I’m pleased to see that we are making progress every day.” In May 2025, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) granted a contract valued at approximately $185.8m to Nammo for the provision of small-calibre ammunition. (Source: army-technology.com)
19 Jun 25. Dutch Navy to arm future submarines with European JSM-SL missiles. The missile is anticipated to be “ready in time to integrate” in 2032. Netherlands State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman has informed the nation’s House of Representatives that the Royal Netherlands Navy will equip its future submarines with a European-manufactured cruise missile. The navy will use a submarine-launched variant of the Joint Strike Missile (JSM-SL), which is currently under development in a collaborative effort led by Spain, involving several European nations. Tuinman said that the JSM-SL will be designed to fulfil all operational requirements and is expected to present an opportunity for Dutch research institutions and industries to contribute. The integration of this weapon system is anticipated to take place in 2032.
Tuinman also stated that it has been decided not to upgrade the existing Walrus-class submarines with this capability due to their limited remaining service life and the time required for procurement and system integration. The Netherlands will receive Tomahawk missiles for use on the navy’s air defence and command frigates by 2028, he said. These missiles are being acquired from Raytheon and are compatible with the launching systems aboard the frigates. The Tomahawk boasts a range exceeding 1,000km. The missile is expected to enhance the Royal Netherlands Navy’s operational capabilities, enabling precision strikes against strategic targets such as command centres and enemy installations. A significant milestone was achieved in March 2025 when the air defence and command frigate Zr.Ms. De Ruyter successfully launched a Tomahawk missile off the coast of Norfolk. This test, conducted in collaboration with the US Navy and the Ministry of Defence, marked the first instance of a Dutch naval ship firing this type of missile and aimed to gather crucial data for future operations. In February 2025, the Royal Netherlands Navy christened its new Combat Support Ship (CSS), the future HNLMS Den Helder. The ship was officially named by Princess of Orange Catharina-Amalia at Damen Naval’s shipyard in Vlissingen. In a related development, Royal IHC and Naval Group recently entered into a contract for the provision of essential components for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s upcoming Orka-class submarines. As the primary contractor for the Dutch Ministry of Defence, Naval Group is tasked with constructing four Orka-class submarines. These vessels are slated to become operational in the next decade and will undertake various missions such as deterrence, intelligence collection, and special operations, serving both national and international security objectives. (Source: naval-technology.com)
18 Jun 25. MATARIS: The First French Range of Loitering Munitions.
- KNDS France, in partnership with DELAIR and EOS TECHNOLOGIE, is offering a complete range of Loitering Munitions systems (LMS) comprising four solutions designed to meet various short and medium range operational requirements;
- Developed in record time, one LMS from the range is already in service in Ukraine, while another is about to enter service within the French Armed Forces;
- Based on platforms to be delivered to all three branches of the French military starting June 2025, the medium-range LMS will undergo upgrades by the end of 2025.
In France and Ukraine: An Operational Munition Already in Service
The MATARIS range includes four types of remotely operated munitions (short and medium range), each equipped with a warhead specifically developed by KNDS:
- MT-10: rotary-wing with a 10 km range
- MX-10 DAMOCLES: quadcopter-wing with a 10 km range
- MV-25 OSKAR: fixed-wing with a 25 km range
- MV-100 VELOCE 330: fixed-wing with a 100 km range
The entire range was developed in record time to urgently fill a capability gap in the French military arsenal, in close cooperation with drone specialists DELAIR and EOS TECHNOLOGIE. MX-10 DAMOCLES is entering in service in the French Army. Developed, qualified (in terms of safety), and produced in 12 months in response to the LMS Short-range program of the French MoD, the MX-10 DAMOCLES will enter in service in July 2025. Its quadcopter wing is manufactured by DELAIR, a leading French and European military drone company. The fragmentation-incendiary warhead is produced by KNDS Ammo France. The MX-10 can neutralize infantry groups, unarmored vehicles, and even light armored vehicles. With this development, KNDS and DELAIR are poised to begin mass production of short-range LMS, becoming France’s primary supplier of short-range remotely operated munitions. MV-25 OSKAR: Operational in Ukraine. Only two years passed between the start of development and operational deployment in Ukraine. Selected under the COLIBRI project launched by the French Defense Innovation Agency (AID) in 2022, the MV-25 OSKAR was test-flown with a live warhead in June 2024. Excellent feedback from the Ukrainian armed forces and the French Army’s adoption of the MX-10 DAMOCLES establish KNDS and DELAIR as major players in this new MTO segment.
Medium-Range MTOs: KNDS and EOS TECHNOLOGIE Join Forces
To target medium and long-range threats, KNDS partnered with EOS TECHNOLOGIE, a recognized drone manufacturer. The VELOCE 330 platform from EOS offers a 100 km range, speeds over 400 km/h (thanks to a turbine), and an aerodynamic efficiency of 30. KNDS Ammo France developed a 2.5 kg anti-armor warhead, based on the BONUS shell technology. This MTO is capable of neutralizing high-value armored targets. An operational detonation test is scheduled before the end of 2025.
A Versatile and Secure French Solution
Easy to use, highly secure (thanks to KNDS’s electronic arming safety device), and capable of engaging a wide variety of targets, MATARIS represents the latest advancement in remotely operated munitions from KNDS. Drawing on its deep expertise in munitions, KNDS has delivered this innovative range in record time, becoming, alongside DELAIR and EOS TECHNOLOGIE, the first French group to offer such a comprehensive solution. (Source: ASD Network)
17 Jun 25. Thales and Boreal team up to produce long-range loitering munitions. Thales has reached an agreement with Boreal, a subsidiary of the the multidisciplinary aerospace and defence Group MISTRAL, specialising in UAV technologies and known in particular for its high-performance long-range Boreal Aerial Vehicle.
- The cooperation will further strengthen France’s defence industrial and technological base through the development of a comprehensive range of sovereign French long-range loitering munitions offering a unique combination of performance, availability and dependability.
- Based on mature platform and payload technologies, this innovative solution will be available from 2026.
This long-range loitering munition (MTO-LP1) will meet the operational requirements of France and other NATO forces. With range capabilities of several hundred kilometres, which technically could be extended even further, the system is designed for easy deployment by two operators in less than 30 minutes. Up to 10 munitions could be launched simultaneously for coordinated operations. This versatile solution can be easily adapted for any use case. The payload offers a high level of safety and security and is platform-agnostic, which reduces transport, storage and other logistical requirements, particularly in the theatre of operations. The munition is optimised for target engagements at long range. The incremental development roadmap for the MTO-LP includes an initial operational capability in 2026 with annual production of 1,000 warheads, followed by advanced developments in 2027 to incorporate counter-vulnerability functions, enhanced mission profiles and a varied range of effectors for long-range military strikes. Initial flight tests are scheduled for the summer of 2025. The cooperation between Thales and Boreal will strengthen France’s defence industrial and technological base by supporting the ramp-up of industrial operations by Boreal, a medium-sized enterprise, and will offer additional partnership opportunities in Belgium.
“Thales is excited about this collaboration with Boreal, a pioneer in drone technology whose UAVs are widely recognised for their long endurance capabilities. By combining the agility of Boreal with our industrial capacity, we plan to develop a high-performance solution that meets real operational needs and will be available from 2026,” said Eric Normant, Vice President, Vehicles and Tactical Systems, Thales.
1 MTO-LP: Munition Télé-Opérée – Longue Portée
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.
The Group invests more than €4 bn per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.
Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 bn.
About Boreal
Boreal SAS, a leading specialist in long-range Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), designs and operates robust, field-proven Unmanned Aerial Systems carrying payloads tailored to specific operational requirements. These systems are in service in many different sectors, in particular for surveillance, reconnaissance and military support missions.
Boreal’s expertise is part of a broader ecosystem including sister companies M3 Systems France and M3 Systems Belgium, which are recognised for their know-how in positioning solutions for critical environments. This unique ecosystem underpins the potential for technological innovation of the family-owned MISTRAL Group, a multi-disciplinary player in the aerospace and defence sector.