14 June 22. Aimpoint hones its red dot sights. The Acro P-2 and Duty red dot sights on display at Eurosatory both feature enhanced brightness and a long battery life. Swedish company Aimpoint exhibited its recently launched Acro P-2 and the Duty red dot sights (RDSs) at Eurosatory 2022 in Paris on 13-17 June.
Derived from the Aimpoint Acro P-1, the P-2 pistol sight features an upgraded LED emitter and higher-charge CR2032 battery with capacity for five years (or 50,000 hours) of constant use.
Company representative Oscar Onnemyr noted to Shephard that Aimpoint had designed the rugged P-2 to withstand the shock, vibration, and extreme stresses engendered by pistol fire.
‘The intensity of the red dot has become brighter,’ he said. ‘Even in very sunny conditions, you can still set it to a medium daylight setting.’
The fully enclosed design means the P-2 can be submerged to depths of 35m if needed, and the RDS is completely sealed from environmental forces that might otherwise impair its effectiveness.
As for the Duty RDS, Aimpoint developed it to meet the demands of cash-strapped US law enforcement agencies. ‘They had a tighter budget than the army, so they needed something very light but with the same quality as any red dot sight,’ added Onnemyr.
Duty features enhanced LED brightness and improved battery life (three years constant-on use in the case of Duty).
Asked whether Aimpoint can increase the battery lifespan on Duty, Onnemyr noted that budget trade-offs leave little wiggle room. Its rugged build means it is also resistant to snap temperature changes, as well as submersible to 25m.
Designing a weapon sight on a budget could also prove useful for those militaries unable to afford the latest AR sights that are becoming increasingly popular.
Onnemyr noted that Duty is currently only available for US law enforcement agencies, although the RDS will be released on the global market by the end of Q3 this year. (Source: Shephard)
14 June 22. Optionally crewed Sabrah turret goes on show. Elbit Systems says the optionally crewed variant of its Sabrah turret, as seen at Eurosatory 2022, combines firepower with improved situational awareness, enhanced protection and high manoeuvrability. Elbit Systems displayed an optionally crewed version of its Sabrah turret for light tanks and IFVs for the first time at Eurosatory 2022 in Paris on 13-17 June.
On its stand the Israeli company exhibited the optionally manned turret in 105mm or 120mm calibre, integrated with the ASCOD IFV from General Dynamics European Land Systems.
Sabrah can be operated remotely or with two crew members. Its features include an automatic loader, the COAPS gunner sight, panoramic day and night self-stabilised sights, a fire-control system, the Iron Vision helmet-mounted display for the vehicle commander, the Iron Fist active protection system, and the TORCH-X C2 system.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the crewed Sabrah turret is set to be installed on 18 ASCOD 2 light tanks and ten Pandur II 8×8 armoured vehicles to fulfil a Philippine Army requirement for a mixed fleet of tracked and wheeled light tanks.
Elbit Systems also debuted its COAPS-L lightweight EO payload for ISTAR at Eurosatory. COAPS-L is a miniaturised configuration of COAPS that equips MBTs and other types of armoured fighting vehicle.
The new payload was exhibited on a UGV on the Roboteam stand. (Source: Shephard)
15 June 22. Dual EIMOS now in use with Spanish marines.
The Dual EIMOS self-propelled mortar was created for mobile ‘shoot and scoot’ operations on a Urovesa VAMTAC 4×4 light vehicle, EXPAL says at Eurosatory 2022.
The Dual EIMOS 81mm self-propelled mortar is now in service with the Spanish Naval Infantry, manufacturer EXPAL confirmed on 14 June during Eurosatory 2022 in Paris.
Dual EIMOS was developed by the Spanish company via an R&D programme with SDGPLATIN (the technology and innovation division of the Spanish MoD), in line with Spanish Naval Infantry requirements for a self-propelled mortar that can fire from a semi-submerged position.
As a result, the Dual EIMOS system was created for mobile ‘shoot and scoot’ operations on a Urovesa VAMTAC 4×4 light vehicle, with automatic 360° aiming and firing and without the need for additional stabilisers.
This collaborative effort was concluded in April 2021 and the first batch of Dual EIMOS mortars was duly delivered in December 2021.
The new self-propelled mortar features the same TALOS fire-control and C2 system as the original EIMOS turntable-mounted mortar. (Source: Shephard)
15 June 22. Milrem Robotics exhibits the THeMIS Combat UGV with the Hornet RCWS at Eurosatory. The French remote weapon systems manufacturer Hornet and Europe’s leading developer of robotics and autonomous systems Milrem Robotics exhibit the THeMIS Combat unmanned ground vehicle equipped with the Hornet Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) at Eurosatory 2022. The Hornet RCWS was developed for the new French 4×4 and 6×6 armoured vehicle program “Scorpion”, however, it offers unique features for UGV applications. One of these is a specific cleaning system for the optronics as well as the option to flip down the sensors to protect them from dirt and damage. The second is a protected ammunition feed.
“These are crucial aspects for an unmanned vehicle operated from a distance,” explained Jean Boy, Managing Director of Hornet, adding that the Hornet was developed keeping in mind the French Army’s high standards for firing accuracy. THeMIS Combat UGVs provide direct fire support for manoeuvre forces and act as a force multiplier increasing stand-off distance, force protection and situational awareness.
“Hornet is a new generation remote weapon system which has exceptional features making it especially suitable for unmanned operations. The autonomous THeMIS is a very stable and extremely capable mobility platform that makes this combination a valuable asset for different military operations,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics. “Adding this THeMIS Combat to even small military units, increases their firepower and capabilities tremendously.” The THeMIS Combat is on display at Milrem Robotics’ stand in Hall 6 K 253.
15 June 22. Elbit Systems Showcases its Latest Air-to-Surface Range Extension and Guidance Kit in Eurosatory 2022.
Elbit System will showcase the Range Extension & Smart Tail (REST) kit for air-to-surface warheads during the Eurosatory 2022 (Hall 6, booth D567), as part of its portfolio of precision munitions. Already ordered for several warhead types, REST transforms almost any type of air-to-surface warhead into a high penetration standoff precision munition.
The REST kit is a modular solution that includes a smart tail for navigation and guidance, and upper wings for range extension. The smart tail houses INS/GPS navigation computer and anti-jamming system. The upper wings are an aerodynamic super-structure embracing the warhead with two wings that are unfolded upon release. The REST kit provides all weather pinpoint ‘fire and forget’ capability to ranges of up to 120km and is capable of a steep impact angle for enhanced penetration of hard targets. The REST kit enables weapon system integration onboard Western and Eastern aircraft without avionic changes and is compatible with a range of warheads and fuzes.
Yehuda (Udi) Vered, General Manager of Elbit Systems Land, said: “Accuracy, standoff and penetration capabilities become paramount to air-to-surface operations. The REST kit attracts the attention of Air Forces as many of them increasingly seek solutions that enable to efficiently transform warhead stockpiles into munitions that are more relevant to evolving operational needs.”
The REST kit is part of Elbit Systems’ diverse portfolio of Air-to-Surface munitions including: the Rampage supersonic missile, the Delilah cruise missile, the LIZARD laser guidance kits, the GATR tactical rocket, advanced warheads, seekers, fuzes, navigation and anti-jamming systems.
15 June 22. At Eurosatory in Paris, the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) and Bofors signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) as the first step in establishing an additional artillery battalion in line with the Swedish Total Defense Strategy 2021-2025.
Mikael Frisell, Head of Swedish Defense Materiel Administration FMV and Lena Gillström, Managing Director, BAE Systems Bofors signed the Letter of Intent in Paris in front of the ARCHER vehicle on display at the BAE Systems stand.
“BAE Systems has just completed the delivery of the first 48 ARCHER vehicles for the Swedish Army. This letter of intent lays out the path for additional ARCHERs for Sweden. We look forward to being part of the development of increased artillery capability for the nation,” said Lena Gillström.
14 June 22. Lockheed may repurpose its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile for air defense. Lockheed Martin is evaluating how its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile can be configured for mobile, short-range air defense, according to a top executive.
“It’s a concept we have,” Rita Flahty, the company’s vice president for strategy and business operations within its Missiles and Fire Control sector, told a small group of reporters at Eurosatory, a defense exhibition here, on June 13. “We think it will have applicability to a number of platforms.”
The JAGM weapon is a replacement for the Hellfire missile series and is currently planned for employment on rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft.
The new munition features a dual-mode seeker and guidance system mated to a Hellfire missile.
“There is no reason why it has to be limited,” Flaherty said, “it could be ground-launched capability… an anti-armor capability, a [Manuever-SHORAD] capability.”
The JAGM weapon’s predecessor, the Hellfire Longbow missile, is already on the books for air-defense applications. It is part of a first installment of an M-SHORAD Stryker-based system that the U.S. Army rapidly developed and fielded to Europe, with plans to build and field additional systems for more units in response to an urgent need identified in the theater in 2016.
The service received the requirement to build the system in February 2018. It took just 19 months from the time the service generated the requirement to the delivery of prototypes for testing in the first quarter of fiscal 2020.
According to newly issued product card distributed to reporters at the show here, “JAGM affords a near plug-and-play replacement capability to the Longbow missile, while providing a multiple-target engagement capability, near-simultaneously, during day/night and in adverse weather.”
The Army has yet to approve JAGM for full-rate production, but expects to make that decision in the summer of 2022. The service has tasked Lockheed with producing the missile at a minimum sustainment rate as it waits for that decision, the Army has said.
Having failed to achieve desired lethal effects on a maritime target, the U.S. Army and Marine Corps had to delay JAGM’s fielding. The Marines were able to run successful final tests on Viper, where JAGM previously experienced problems, paving the way for a full-rate production decision.
Lockheed is also continuing to work with the U.S. Air Force on a fixed-wing launch capability, Flaherty said.
And the company is investing its own development dollars on extending the range of JAGM out to 16 kilometers, roughly doubling its current range, without changing the outer mold line of the munition or its weight in any significant way, according to Flaherty.
“We’re making this investment to bring this forward now, because we really think there’s demand there,” she said.
The Army has also recently issued a request for information to replace Stinger missiles with a new next-generation capability, and JAGM could “be a great capability to offer in that evaluation,” Flaherty said.
Stinger missiles are rapidly being expended through U.S. contributions to Ukraine’s defense against the ongoing Russian invasion, and the U.S. is currently evaluating how quickly it can replenish its stockpile.
Stingers can be fired from vehicles or shoulder-launched. The JAGM weapon would be too heavy to serve as a shoulder-launched capability, but “if you were going to do a vehicle-mounted Stryker or some other vehicle-mounted version of it, there’s really no reason why not,” Flaherty said. (Source: Defense News)
14 June 22. MBDA rebrands Akeron missile line to clear up confusion.
European consortium MBDA has introduced a new line of fifth-generation tactical combat missiles, now dubbed Akeron, at the Eurosatory trade show near Paris this week.
The consortium — made up of French company Airbus, U.K. firm BAE Systems and Italian business Leonardo — renamed its combat-proven MMP medium-range missile and its in-development MHT long-range missile to Akeron MP and Akeron LP, respectively.
These multipurpose munitions were primarily designed as anti-tank weapons, but they can also accurately target infrastructure and personnel, business executive Frederic Michaud told reporters during a Tuesday morning briefing.
The Akeron line is intended to help militaries respond to the wide range of threats they can face on a battlefield, he added. They weapons will feature high-resolution multiband imagers, multi-effect warheads, data links, and “multi-mode guidance algorithms based on [artificial intelligence] techniques,” according to MBDA.
Operators will be able to employ multiple modes of engagement, including fire and forget, human in the loop, locking the target before firing, and locking on after firing — the latter of which facilitates firing beyond the line of sight.
Michaud said a key characteristic of the Akeron family is “collaborative engagement on the battlefield,” achieved by gathering information from drones and other unmanned systems as well as forward observers, and delivering the data to the missile system for more rapid, accurate targeting.
Choosing the names MMP and MHT, which are acronyms for the French “missile moyen portee” and “missile haut de trame,” respectively, previously led to confusion in the Anglosaxon community, he acknowledged. “We decided to take advantage of the launching of extending the family for rebranding our portfolio.”
The missile formerly known as MMP has been in service with the French Army for the past five years, and it deployed to several theaters of operation, Michaud noted. Belgium and Sweden have also selected it for their forces. The weapon has been fired more than 200 times. (Source: Defense News)
13 June 22. IWI expands its range of striker-fired pistol solutions, with the launch of the Masada Slim – a highly accurate 13 round compact handgun. The new weapon provides flexibility to operators, enhancing mission success.
Eurosatory, Paris, June 13-17, Hall 6, Stand F701
IWI – Israel Weapon Industries – a member of the SK Group (founded by Mr. Samy Katsav) and is a global leader in the production of combat-proven small arms for governments government, armies, military, and law enforcement agencies around the world globe. has launched the Masada Slim, an operationally proven, high capacity 9 mm compact striker-fired handgun designed to be easily concealed for any covert mission.
With a slim line frame, made out of high-strength, impact-resistant fiberglass-reinforced polymers, the Masada slim is designed around a high capacity 13 round magazine and together with an extended base plate it enhances the slim fire power to 17 rounds cartridge that can accommodate 13 bullets, with a cartridge adaptor that can be added to accommodate a total of 17 bullets, giving users additional stopping power. Its enhanced ergonomic design facilitates a natural and instinctive grip angle. Premium high-grade sights are provided as standard out of the box, ensuring enhanced accuracy. Front slide serrations ensure easy and smooth slide manipulations.
The Masada slim is optic ready compatible with many after-market sights. Its serialized, high-grade steel firing control mechanism can be easily removed, for easy maintenance and configuration.
The Masada slim has A straight trigger, with an average pull of 5.5 to 7 lb. the short clean, crisp break with a positive short reset insurers excellent accuracy. A built-in trigger safety ensures that the handgun will not fire unless the trigger is pressed. A High tang grip design ensures superb recoil control and fast follow up shots on target. For enhanced safety the Masada slim can’t be disassembled while the magazine is inserted and there is no need to press the trigger for disassembly.
As with all IWI firearms, the Masada Slim has been subjected to rigorous testing in extremely harsh environmental conditions.
“We developed the Masada Slim in direct response to the changing needs of our customers around the world for maximum flexibility and adaptability for any mission,” says Ronen Hamudot, Exe. VP Marketing and Sales at SK Group and IWI. “Despite its compact size, we have maintained all the proven benefits of other IWI pistols, including a unique safety mechanism, with the goal of achieving maximum user safety. The Masada slim is already in use by various forces around the world.”
ABOUT the Masada family of striker-fired pistols
IWI’s Masada 9mm polymer-framed striker-fired pistol was developed to provide an advanced solution to for the modern battlefield requirements. The Masada features a low-bore axis design for reduced felt recoil, fully-ambidextrous controls, and enhanced ergonomics that provide a natural and instinctive grip angle. Three interchangeable wrap-around back-straps, coupled with a deep beavertail, enable the Masada pistol to fit a wide variety of hand sizes.
Masada features a polygonal rifled, cold hammer forged barrel with 1:10 RH twist rate and 17 round magazines.
ABOUT IWI
Located in the center of Israel, IWI – Israel Weapon Industries – has been a world-leading producer of small arms for over 85 years. IWI is a member of the SK Group, which comprises companies that develop and manufacture a wide array of defense products for governmental entities, military units, police, and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
IWI’s best-known products include the TAVOR and the new TAVOR-7 in 7.62X51mm, X95 (Micro TAVOR) and GALIL-ACE rifles, the new multi-caliber ARAD in 5.56X45mm and 300 BLK and ten new CARMEL rifles, the new S.A. ACE Sniper rifle, the DAN.338 bolt action sniper rifle, the NEGEV light machine gun 5.56 & 7.62mm, the legendary UZI in its latest evolution – UZI PRO – JERICHO pistols, the new MASADA striker-fired pistols and the latest riot control solution – the GAL VPS – versatile protective suit.
The company’s firearms are developed in close collaboration with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The weapons are the product of ongoing interaction, field tests and modifications based on combat requirements and experience.
All IWI weapon systems comply with the most stringent military standards (MIL-STD) and ISO 9001 standards.
For more information on IWI, please visit: https://iwi.net
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/israel-weapon-industries
ABOUT THE SK GROUP
The SK Group, founded by Mr Samy Katsav, is a privately-held technology and innovation holding company, specializing in global frontline defense, law enforcement solutions, marine infrastructure, and property development solutions. The SK Group provides small arms systems, electro-optic and laser solutions, imaging systems, naval solutions and more. Drawing on Israel’s innovation and field-proven solutions, The SK Group offers a powerful track record of technology, experience, and excellence.