26 Jun 25. NGC Expands Medium Caliber Ammunition Co-Production with Lithuania. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing their intention to expand co-production of medium-caliber ammunition.
- The MOU marks another milestone in advancing technology and manufacturing expertise with Lithuanian industry, which is key to replenishing stockpiles and enhancing munitions supply chains.
- The project covered by the MOU will include collaboration with Nammo Defense Systems and will further support local Lithuanian defense manufacturing while accelerating delivery and capability to both Lithuania and NATO allies.
- Northrop Grumman is a leading producer and innovator in ammunition, offering a complete family of medium caliber tactical and training ammunition. These rounds provide the highest levels of accuracy and versatility to defeat numerous threat types.
Dovile Šakaliene, defence minister, Lithuania: “This MOU is essential for the development of the national division by 2030 and for strengthening the capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. It will enhance national strategic autonomy in defense and deepen partnerships with NATO allies the United States and Norway. The planned production of ammunition is of critical importance to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, our allies and Ukraine.”
Rimantas Šadžius, finance minister, Lithuania: “The investment and expertise of our allies in the USA and Norway in the implementation of this ammunition production project with Giraites Ginkluotes Gamykla (Giraite Armaments Plant) will significantly contribute to strengthening of the national defense industry and security not only in Lithuania, but also in the entire region, including Ukraine. The development of the defense industry and investment in production must come without delay.”
Loreta Maskalioviene, vice minister of defence, Lithuania: “By strengthening our national defense industry, we are investing in both technological capabilities and Lithuania’s resilience to crises. This will allow us to better equip our armed forces and help Lithuania become an important link in international supply chains. It is a long-term investment in national and regional security that will yield results today and in the future.”
Steve O’Bryan, corporate vice president and global business development officer, Northrop Grumman: “This is another example of Northrop Grumman’s commitment to international defense partnerships that advance NATO capabilities. This collaboration both expedites delivery of a critical defense need and delivers sustained industrial benefits to the United States and Lithuania.”
Morten Brandtzæg, CEO, Nammo: “Nammo is delighted to be part of this initiative. Together with Lithuania and Northrop Grumman, we will work to strengthen and expand the industrial base and supply allied defense.”
For decades, Northrop Grumman’s innovations in ammunition have led to cutting-edge defenses. The company is a technology leader in the design, test and production of a complete family of medium caliber ammunition, delivering accurate and lethal in anti-armor, anti-material, ground suppression, air defense and shipboard-defense applications. This ammunition can be fired from land-, air- and sea-based platforms worldwide. (Source: ASD Network)
26 Jun 25. Chemring’s 2025 interim results announcement, published on 3 June, provided an update on the joint feasibility study between the Norwegian Government and Chemring Nobel, Chemring’s Norwegian subsidiary. This study, which commenced in October 2024, was initiated to assess the feasibility of an additional new production facility to significantly increase the production of military explosives, which are crucial to multiple NATO missile and munitions systems. The first phase of this co-funded feasibility study investigated the geographic location, infrastructure requirements and environmental considerations of building a new production facility. Chemring is pleased to announce that the Norwegian Government has confirmed that the study will now progress to its second phase. This concept selection phase will determine the size of the facility, along with the commercial arrangements, and is expected to be finalised next year.
Michael Ord, Chief Executive of Chemring, commented: “We are delighted that the Norwegian Government has confirmed that this important study will continue to the next phase. This decision is a further indicator of the critical need to rapidly increase capacity across the European defence industrial base. This decision is further evidence of Chemring delivering its strategy of delivering growth through a combination of organic investment and bolt-on acquisitions in high-priority defence and national security markets.”
24 Jun 25. SWEBAL invests €3m for new ammunition facility. The new facility will be capable of producing more than 4,000t of TNT annually. TNT is an explosive compound used in military munitions including artillery shells. The facility is expected to operate at full scale by late 2027, producing more than 4,000 tonnes (t) of TNT annually. It will employ 50 people to maintain continuous production. The project is supported by Sweden’s former army chief Major General Karl Engelbrektson, e-commerce pioneer Pär Svärdson, and Thomas von Koch, a founding member and past CEO of private equity firm EQT. The strategic investment will be utilised on securing necessary permits and approvals before construction begins at the end of this year. In March, SWEBAL has submitted the required documentation to the Swedish Court of Environment for approval. The funding will also contribute to refining the design and engineering of the facility while preparing the groundwork for initial construction activities slated for this year.
SWEBAL co-founder and CEO Joakim Sjöblom said: “This investment provides invaluable experience and knowledge. It further validates the need to act quickly and invest capital to strengthen European production capacity. The investment will help us speed up further towards the final approvals, allowing us to have the shovel in the ground as soon as possible. All enabling our mission to strengthen Europe’s defence resilience and ensure long-term security by addressing critical gaps in ammunition production.”
SWEBAL’s new manufacturing facility is set to increase Europe’s local supply of essential components for explosive munitions by 75%. Currently, Russia is capable of producing artillery shells at an annual rate equivalent to 50,000t of TNT, while the remaining European nations have only 6,000t of locally produced TNT available each year.
Karl Engelbrektson siad: “Producing TNT in multiple locations, and in geographic proximity to ammunition manufacturers, would reduce vulnerability and increase the ability to scale production when needed. Therefore, more producers are needed to ensure a secure supply in times of peace, crisis and war. To achieve this, collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential to share risk in an agile way and to respond swiftly when required.” (Source: army-technology.com)
24 Jun 25. Cuashub.com said today that ARES introduces counter-UAS ammunitions for ADF consideration. ARES has announced a new line of anti-drone ammunition called “Rooster” as part of its pitch to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Having successfully completed field testing this week, ARES’ Rooster is designed to enhance frontline defence against drone threats, and as such, it is already drawing interest from the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Rooster ammunition is engineered to transform standard in-service 7.62mm and .50 calibre machine guns into effective anti-drone weapons. ARES also indicated the potential development of a 5.56mm variant, broadening its applicability across a wider range of small arms platforms. It represents a “world first ballistics breakthrough”, according to ARES CEO Jason Murray. The Rooster “can turn any in-service small arms rifle into a Counter UAS weapon”, he continued. It delivers a shotgun-like effect on drone targets while maintaining the precision of a single projectile, offering a unique blend of accuracy and area impact.
Head of Ballistics, Tom Tolley, also commented, referring to the Rooster as “an Australian innovation that could really save lives on the battlefield”
One of the key features of the Rooster ammunition is that it requires no additional weapons or modifications, allowing it to seamlessly integrate with existing ADF small arms. This makes it an affordable and scalable solution, ideal for widespread deployment across various units. By enhancing the defensive capabilities of soldiers without adding extra burden, it significantly improves protection for personnel on the ground. Furthermore, the ammunition has been specifically engineered to minimise fallout risk, making it particularly effective and safe for use in urban or densely populated environments. This innovation aligns closely with Australia’s broader defence strategy, which prioritises the rapid deployment of sovereign, layered counter-drone capabilities to address the evolving threat landscape. Central to this strategy are initiatives such as Mission Syracuse, launched under the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), which seeks to accelerate the development and integration of homegrown technologies capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralising uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) across diverse operational environments. Similarly, the LAND 156 programme is focused on delivering a comprehensive, scalable counter-sUAS solution for the Australian Army, incorporating a mix of sensors, effectors, and command-and-control systems. By offering a kinetic solution that is both cost-effective and compatible with existing small arms, ARES’s Rooster ammunition complements these initiatives, enhancing the ADF’s ability to respond to drone threats with agility, precision, and minimal logistical burden. https://cuashub.com/en/content/ares-introduces-counter-uas-ammunitions-for-adf-consideration/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
24 Jun 25. Tiberius Aerospace partners with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology Secretariat. Tiberius Aerospace is a modern defence technology company built to empower the UK, US and their global allies with next generation weapon systems and AI powered solutions. Tiberius recently launched, Sceptre (TRBM 155HG), its revolutionary new liquid fuelled, 155mm Ramjet extended-range precision-guided artillery munition and also outlined its company ethos and mission to help disrupt defence procurement at the Future Artillery conference in London. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology serves as a vital forum within the UK Parliament, uniting Members of Parliament, industry leaders and stakeholders to explore and address vital developments in defence technology. Its main objectives are to promote understanding and engagement with the UK’s defence technology sector, facilitate collaboration between Parliament and defence industry to support innovation and research, assess the impact of technological advancements on national security and address policy challenges to ensure the sector enhances the UK’s defence capabilities. Therefore, Tiberius and its founders (Chad Steelberg and Andy Bayes) make perfect partners to the Defence Technology APPG Secretariat (who organise and support the APPG) due to their wealth of experience and significant success across multiple technology sectors now being applied to defence. Having emerged from stealth mode at Future Artillery, Tiberius Aerospace was founded in 2022, in response to a new era of conflict where speed, adaptability, cost-effective capability and supply chain assurance are essential to national security. With its founders’ DNA rooted in Silicon Valley, Tiberius’ team of engineers, strategists and entrepreneurs are applying best practices, innovative design and engineering expertise from multiple commercial sectors to rapidly deliver high-impact, compliant, modular and open architecture weapon systems.
Andy Baynes, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Tiberius Aerospace said: “Our mission is to deliver next-generation weapon systems of outstanding capability with precision, scale and efficiency empowering the UK, the US and their allies with unmatched agility, precision and rock-solid resilience. Therefore, we are extremely pleased to partner with the Defence Technology APPG to help them understand the art of the possible, gain insight to the incredible benefits to national security through harnessing modern technology and hopefully help shape a future defence procurement model that rapidly and efficiently combats emerging threats and better supports our collective protection.”
James Clark Strategic Advisor to APPG said, “The Defence Technology APPG Secretariat are very pleased to have Tiberius Aerospace as a new partner. We are constantly seeking new and innovative companies to partner with us so that the UK Parliament has the best possible insight into the key developments that are taking place in Defence industry that impact on our national security. The ethos and mission that the founders of Tiberius espouse is very compelling and we look forward to their contribution.”
23 Jun 25. 25,000 40mm Ammunition Rounds Ordered from KNDS France.
- The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has awarded KNDS France a contract for the supply of 40mm telescoped ammunition;
- Starting in 2026, these rounds will equip JAGUAR reconnaissance armored vehicles and RAPIDFire turrets in all their variants.
Already in service within the French Army, the 40mm telescoped ammunition reaches a new milestone with this major procurement. The French Procurement Agency order of 25,000 rounds will allow users to further integrate and master this breakthrough technology. The first annual deliveries will include 18,000 training rounds, increasing to up to 30,000 in the following years. An initial batch of 8,000 combat rounds completes this order. The contract establishes dual sourcing for key components to boost joint production capacity between KNDS France and BAE Systems in the United Kingdom. This dual sourcing is made possible by the qualification of new French suppliers (notably in Haute-Savoie, Hautes-Pyrénées, Cher, and Manche), enabling a significant increase in production capability. The 40mm telescoped technology is now operational and deployed on both land and naval systems, such as:
- The JAGUAR reconnaissance and combat armored vehicle, ordered by the French and Belgian armies;
- The RAPIDFire turret in service on the Jacques Chevallier replenishment vessel (BRF), and soon to be integrated onto other ships of the French Navy;
- The land-based version of RAPIDFire, showcased for the first time this year at the Paris Air Show. (Source: ASD Network)