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24 Jul 25. Otokar reveals Romanian Cobra II configuration, 25 mm turret variant. Turkish armoured vehicle maker Otokar displayed its Cobra II 4×4 tactical armoured vehicle in the configuration for the Romanian Land Forces at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025, held in Istanbul from 22 to 27 July 2025. With a machine gun mounted in an open turret above a four-door crew compartment, this is the first public display of the vehicle, 1059 of which were signed for by the Romanian Ministry of National Defence (MApN) on 27 November 2024 in a contract worth RON4.26bn (USD900m) at the time. Otokar is producing the first 278 vehicles at its facility in Sakarya, Türkiye, with the rest to be manufactured in Mediaş, Romania, in partnership with Romanian firm Automecanica.Also displayed for the first time was a Cobra II with a 25 mm Mizrak turret. The same 25 mm Mizrak turret had previously been displayed on Otokar’s Arma 6×6 wheeled armoured fighting vehicle (AFV). An Otokar representative told Janes that the past two years of AFV development on platforms including the Arma 6×6 and the Tulpar tracked AFV were mostly focused on diversifying fire power. For example, the Tulpar has previously been shown with either a 30 mm Mizrak or Samson turret, or with a 120 mm Leonardo Hitfact Mk II turret. Kazakhstan, Estonia, and Rwanda have all bought Cobra and Arma vehicles in recent years. (Source: Janes)
24 Jul 25. Vietnam displays XCB-01 infantry fighting vehicle. Vietnam displayed its new XCB-01 tracked infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) at the country’s National Day parade rehearsal on 17 July, indicating the platform’s deployment with the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
State-owned People’s Army Newspaper (PAN) reported on 18 July that the Vietnam People’s Armed Forces is planning to showcase various military systems – including the XCB-01 IFV – during the National Day parade, which will be conducted on 2 September. Other systems include missiles, armoured vehicles, radars, unmanned systems, and anti-aircraft artillery.
Another system showcased during the parade rehearsal was the locally manufactured Viettel VCS-01 Truong Son coastal defence missile system. The system was also unveiled at the Vietnam International Defence Expo (VIDEX) 2024 event and has been operational with the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) since April 2024. The weapon is operated by the VPN’s Brigade 679 of 1st Regional Command.
Vietnam unveiled the XCB-01 IFV, built by Factory Z189 under the country’s General Department of Defence Industry, at VIDEX 2024, which was held in December in Hanoi. The vehicle is fitted with a 73 mm smoothbore gun with a semi-automatic reloading system, a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, a B72 anti-tank missile launcher, and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun.
The VCS-01 features eight VSM-01A Song Hong missiles mounted on a VLV-01 launcher vehicle. The missile VSM-01A features a locally manufactured Ku-band seeker and has a range of 80 km. (Source: Janes)
22 Jul 25. Romania, Poland take different tacks on buying new combat vehicles. As numerous Eastern European allies pursue acquisitions of infantry fighting vehicles, Romania and Poland are advancing plans to boost their tracked vehicle fleets, yet with different strategies towards foreign suppliers and technology transfers. In Romania, the country’s government decided on July 10 to launch its much-awaited program to replace outdated Soviet-times MLI-84 tracked infantry fighting vehicles with new gear. Bucharest aims to purchase some 246 vehicles along with simulators and a logistics package over an eight-year period after a deal is signed, earmarking close to €2.55 bn ($2.96 bn) for this acquisition. In the program’s potential second stage, a further 52 vehicles could be ordered.
Local observers say Romanian Ministry of National Defence is to select between Germany’s Rheinmetall with the Lynx, the CV90 made by BAE Systems Hägglunds in Sweden, South Korea’s Hanwha with the AS21 Redback, and General Dynamics European Land Systems with its Ascod, among others. A committee consisting of Defence Ministry officials and representatives of state-owned defense company Romtehnica is to pick the winner.
The Romanian authorities expect that, after an initial batch of 26 vehicles is made by the selected supplier, the country’s state-dominated defense industry will take over manufacturing activities and produce the remaining 220 IFVs.
“The essential security interest for the Romanian state is to protect the supply chain through a technology transfer of the assembly, integration, testing and maintenance capabilities for the aforementioned technology and products to Romania,” the Ministry of National Defence said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the Romanian ministry told Defense News that, when contracting for major acquisitions, one of the institution’s priorities is to maximize the involvement of the country’s defense sector.
“The Ministry of National Defence is interested in increasing the contribution of the national defense industry to the procurement process of the Romanian Armed Forces and in ensuring, at local level, the lifetime maintenance of weapon systems and major equipment,” the spokesperson said.
Alexandru Georgescu, a security and defense analyst based in Bucharest, told Defense News that the past years have brought investments in the country’s defense industry by foreign groups, including Rheinmetall and Hanwha, which has whetted the appetites of Romanian officials for domestic production of the IFVs.
“But it all depends on how the bidding process will go, and anything other than a government-to-government acquisition could create delays as competitors are likely to contest the winner,” he said.
Poland eyes heavy IFVs
Last March, Poland’s Ministry of National Defence signed a contract worth PLN 6.57 bn ($1.8 bn) to buy 111 Borsuk (Badger) tracked infantry fighting vehicles from Polish state-run defense group PGZ, and potentially almost 1,300 more Borsuks and accompanying vehicles in the coming years.
The Borsuk is set to replace the Soviet-designed BWP-1 vehicle as the Polish Army’s flagship tracked IFV. The 111 ordered vehicles are to be delivered to the nation’s land forces in the years 2025 to 2029.
On top of the amphibious Borsuk, which weighs around 28 tons in its basic variant, the ministry is advancing plans to order up to 700 heavier IFVs with improved ballistic and anti-mine protection.
Poland’s Defence Ministry has declared that, in cooperation with other European allies, it wants to spur the creation of consortia that will jointly buy weapons. Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the Borsuk could be one of the products that Poland could buy together with other countries, as a number of Eastern European allies are currently planning to purchase new IFVs.
At the same time, most of the companies that are actively marketing their tracked vehicles in Romania are also advancing similar campaigns in Poland, as PGZ is evaluating the available platforms produced by foreign groups for a potential purchase of a license, local observers say.
An official decision whether PGZ is to develop a heavy IFV on its own or buy a license from abroad has yet to be made. (Source: Defense News)
23 Jul 25. Schiebel Camcopter S-100 Demos Cross-domain Logistics Capabilities During EDA’s Inaugural OPEX Campaign.
Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) successfully participated in the European Defence Agency’s (EDA) first-ever Operational Experimentation (OPEX) campaign, showcasing its autonomous cross-domain logistics capabilities in a complex, simulated operational environment. Held over five weeks at the Italian Army’s Multifunctional Experimentation Centre (CEPOLISPE) and UTTAT (Ufficio Tecnico Territoriale Armamenti Terrestri di Nettuno), the campaign brought together six leading European defence companies to showcase the performance of Unmanned Air and Ground Systems (UAS and UGS) executing autonomous logistics missions across both the aerial and terrestrial domains. The event marked a significant step in fostering innovation and interoperability within the European defence landscape.
Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER® S-100 conducted multiple daily logistics missions using an underslung cargo net, successfully transporting suspended cargo of more than 50 kg under challenging battlefield conditions. The UAS consistently demonstrated its robustness, reliability, and mission effectiveness – even when exposed to degraded communications, adverse weather, and contested operational environments.
“We are proud to have contributed to this important initiative led by the European Defence Agency,” said Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group. “The S-100’s proven operational track record, combined with its autonomous logistics capability, underscores its value as a force multiplier in multi-domain operations.” (Source: ASD Network)
21 Jul 25. Israeli military to acquire “hundreds” of Humvee tactical 4x4s. The exact number to be purchased was not disclosed, with the IDF having earlier received 2,500 units in the 2010s. The Israeli military will acquire hundreds of High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV/Humvee) in a multi-m-dollar deal with the US, with “the first dozens of vehicles” expected to be delivered by the end of the year, according to Israel’s Ministry of Defense.
Announced on 20 July, the $150m deal includes spare parts support, with the HMMWV expected to serve a range of battlefield missions, including troop transport, casualty evacuation, logistical resupply, fire support, communications, maintenance, training, and special operations.
The procured vehicle configuration includes capabilities specific to the embarkation of over ten Israeli Defense Force (IDF) personnel, evacuation of multiple casualties, and fire support.
Israel’s military operations in the Gaza strip are likely to be contributing to the reasoning behind such acquisitions, through both combat and non-combat attrition.
According to analysis by GlobalData, the IDF received 2,500 HMMWVs between 2013-2014, delivered by the US original equipment manufacturer AM General.
The acquisition points to be continued battlefield use case of smaller tactical, lightly armoured vehicles that are deliverable at scale and relatively cost effective.
In the early 2010s Israel also received around 500 Sufa 3/Storm 3 multipurpose tactical vehicles, similar in scale and capability to the HMMWV, from Automotive Industries Ltd (AIL).
The country’s spending in the military land vehicle market is forecast to rise from $230m in 2023 to $434m in 2033. The US provides bns of dollars a year to Israel via the Foreign Military Financing regime.
GlobalData forecasts in 2023 revealed that the country’s spending in the military land vehicle market would rise from $230m at the time to $434m by 2033.
Since then, Israel has embarked in a controversial ground campaign in Gaza following the October 2022 terrorist attack, amid claims of tens of thousands of civilians have died as a result in the years since.
On 21 July, 26 individual countries and transnational government organisations, including the UK, Canada, France, and the EU, issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s war in Gaza. (Source: army-technology.com)
23 Jul 25. Asia-Pacific militaries ramp up development of combat UGVs. Countries in the Asia-Pacific are accelerating the development of combat unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) with the aim to minimise troop exposure to hostile activity and to enhance operations in remote locations. Aligned with regional countries’ advancing military modernisation targets, these UGVs are also being integrated with new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous navigation to enhance operational efficiency.
The expanding multirole features of UGVs enable their deployment across challenging Asia-Pacific terrains and weather conditions to fulfil functions including combat, reconnaissance, surveillance, patrol, and mine clearance. The expansion of capabilities has also prompted an increase in the size of UGVs. Modern UGVs, integrated with increased payloads, can also function as an ambulance and to transport troops. UGVs in the Asia-Pacific are also being integrated with armoured vehicles to support manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operations. Singapore’s ST Engineering, for instance, has integrated its manned Terrex s5 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) with MUM-T capabilities, enabling the vehicle to operate in co-ordination with various linked unmanned ground and aerial vehicles. Some regional countries have also introduced programmes to convert tanks and armoured vehicles into fully automated unmanned systems. These programmes are largely developmental. For example, BAE Systems Australia (BAES) has converted Australian Army M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) into optionally crewed platforms. Previously, UGVs consisted mainly of small robots meant for mine clearance, unexploded ordnance (UXO) removal, and improvised explosive device (IED) detect-and-defeat. However, the size of UGVs being developed and operated in the Asia-Pacific is becoming more varied, from small robots to platforms as large as manned armoured vehicles. (Source: Janes)
22 Jul 25. Update: Belgium’s first Griffon armoured vehicle rolled out. Belgium’s first Griffon 6×6 Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle (VBMR) heavy multirole armoured vehicle was rolled out at local company Mol in Staden, West Flanders, on 15 July. Belgian Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade Theo Francken said at a press conference at Mol that the first vehicles would be delivered to their units by the end of 2025, replacing Dingo armoured vehicles. After pre-assembly in France, Mol installs equipment, finishes the vehicles, tests them, and applies a final coat of paint. Mol is assembling 380 Griffons from 2025 to 2031. Mol managing director Lieven Neuville told Janes on 19 July that three units have been finished and delivered so far. He said Mol’s annual Griffon production rate is around 100 units with its current infrastructure, which can be increased if needed.
At the roll-out, Francken said, “The Griffon will provide our army and medical service with mobility and speed, as well as protection on the battlefield. The vehicle will be equipped with smoke discharger systems and various weapon systems. One of the great advantages of the Griffon is the versatility of the basic model: first the infantry vehicles are being assembled, followed by ambulance, command, and mortar versions.” (Source: Janes)
21 Jul 25. NP Aerospace launches their proven through-life support services package into the Civilian Armoured Vehicles market. NP Aerospace, the global vehicle integrator and armour manufacturer, has launched their proven through-life support services package into the Civilian Armoured Vehicles (CAVs) market. NP Aerospace currently supports over 18,000 vehicles across 30+ armoured, tactical, logistic and utility fleet types for a range of customers, globally, including the UK PMETS and CVSSP contracts. The know-how, practices and procedures developed to deliver this support are now being specifically shaped and offered into the global CAV marketplace, where it is estimated that there are over 100,000 vehicles in service across military, government, NGO and private security applications. Support in this sector, to date, has been ad-hoc and decentralised. This fresh initiative will offer a one-stop-shop for fleet managers, no matter what vehicle types they may be operating.
In 2024, following the acquisition of certain assets of Jankel Armouring Limited, NP Aerospace inherited an established business stream in the specialist area of CAVs that includes both product (armoured vehicle designs, such as the Toyota Land Cruiser LC300) and support services, delivered to a range of globally deployed in-service CAV fleets – around 100+ vehicles across 8 customers. In the last 12 months, a number of former Jankel supply and support CAV contracts have been novated to NP Aerospace and the continued support to global customers has been a key requirement of that transition process. Now, 12 months on, NP Aerospace is launching the CAV support capability offering more widely, to ensure that the very best support services can be delivered to current customers but also to expand that proven service offering across the global fleets. Potential new CAV support clients range from ministries of defence to NGO’s, and individual vehicle fleets are widely spread in terms of deployed geography. NP Aerospace recognises the resultant challenges and has developed a robust service offering that can be trusted to deliver and includes the additional and significant capabilities and expertise developed through NP’s legacy activity in this operationally critical vehicle support services arena.
Specifically, NP’s CAV support services package is vehicle type agnostic and includes: handover and commissioning; operator and maintainer training; deployed support (Field Service Representation – FSR); spare parts; service and maintenance; post design services; refurbishment and mid-life improvements; and secure disposal/destruction. NP Aerospace has recently increased the team size of this department by 50%, attracting some key talent to specific roles, to enable the successful delivery of this service offering – reassuring their specialist CAV customers.
James Kempston, CEO of NP Aerospace, commented: “This is an exciting milestone as we expand our proven through-life support services into the civilian armoured vehicle (CAV) market. Drawing on our experience supporting over 18,000 military and security platforms worldwide, we are applying our expertise and trusted capabilities to civilian fleets, regardless of their operating environment. Importantly, this support isn’t limited to vehicles we manufacture – it can be delivered for any vehicle type, operated by any fleet manager, anywhere in the world.” He added: “At the same time, our LC300 armoured Toyota platform not only meets key requirements for compliance, protection, and safety – it’s also engineered with a strong focus on reliability and maintainability. By combining competitive pricing with extended service life through robust support, the LC300 delivers outstanding full-life value.”
18 Jul 25. This morning, at the Cecchignola Military Compound, in the presence of the Italian Army and Iveco – Oto Melara Consortium (CIO) leaders, the delivery ceremony of the first upgraded Ariete main battle tank known as ‘C2’ was held. The system is the first of the 90 vehicles that will receive a technological update to meet the current operational needs of the Armed Forces. The programme, which also includes the acquisition of ten-year logistical support for all vehicles, is in line with the renewal process of the tracked vehicles started by the Italian Army in recent years. The Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, Lieutenant General Carmine Masiello, in his speech stated: “Today’s ceremony represents a crucial stage in a continuous and significant evolution: the delivery of the Ariete C2 tank, a symbol of innovation and collaboration between the Army and the defence industry. It is not just a technical milestone, but it represents the confirmation of a shared commitment to grow and face the complex challenges of the future together. We are experiencing a phase of maximum synergy and effective dialogue. The key to this relationship is truth and transparency: only through open, aware, and responsible interaction can we tackle difficulties and find quick and effective solutions. Deterrence is a prerequisite for security and the Armed Forces are an irreplaceable bulwark to protect our freedom and our values. I thank all those who have contributed to this project to enhance the armoured capabilities of the Army, with a view to making it an increasingly credible tool ready to serve the Nation. Let us continue to work side by side, because our success is the result of a collective commitment”.
CIO President, Claudio Catalano, emphasised: “The Ariete modernisation programme has allowed the Italian defence industry to rebuild a strategic expertise in the tracked vehicle sector. The investments initiated in recent years and still ongoing are leading to a steady increase in the industrial capacity associated with the Ariete programme, enabling not only a much-needed technological leap but also a significant extension of the platform operational life.”
The Ariete upgrade includes several improvements related to mobility, lethality and Command and Control systems. As for the vehicular part, the engine displacement was increased, an electronically controlled common rail injection system was adopted and the supercharged system was updated. Engine power increased by 20%, reaching 1500 HP, and the significant increase in torque at low rpm allowed for class-leading vehicle performance in the typical pivot, launch and re-start manoeuvres. The increased weight of the vehicle and the increased engine power and torque also required significant upgrade on the gearbox and final drive. The braking system was replaced with a more advanced and effective one which also addressed obsolescence issues related to an overseas supply chain.
The Ariete C1 tracks were also replaced with a model specifically developed to ensure greater mobility thanks to a larger footprint and to a significant reduction in crew vibration compared to other platforms on the market. Greater interoperability, precision and safety are guaranteed by the new turret. The turret now integrates state-of-the-art systems that make it equivalent to the latest-generation tanks. The hydraulic servos have been replaced with more reliable and high-performance electric drive systems and the fire control system has been completely replaced with a digital fire control system, capitalised on the experience gained on the Centauro II, which integrates stabilised digital optronics equipped with latest-generation TV and IR cameras. The interoperability of the Ariete C2 tank has been ensured through the introduction of the new C2D N EVO Command and Control system and the four-channel SDR (Software Defined Radio) and satellite communication vectors that interface with modern digital intercom systems. The tank Commander and Gunner’s stations have been redesigned to ensure maximum ergonomics and are based on human-machine interfaces equipped with multifunctional screens. The pilot’s station has been significantly updated thanks to the introduction of a new digital panel that also integrates the navigation interface, interconnected with the Command and Control system.
In the Ariete C2, crew safety is entrusted to a new fire-fighting and anti-explosion system. The Ariete modernisation programme has allowed the Italian defence industry to rebuild strategic expertise in the tracked vehicle sector and will enable the Italian Army to deploy the required armoured capability within the required timeframe and to ensure the adequate continuity between the systems currently in service and those that will be the subject of specific acquisitions in the future.
Previous and ongoing industrial investments are leading to a steady increase in industrial capacity related to the Ariete programme which will be crucial for Italy to achieve the necessary level of deterrence envisioned by our country and our allies over the next three to five years. (Source: joint-forces.com)
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