Sponsored by Galvion
www.galvion.com
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11 Jun 25. Galvion, a leading manufacturer in the design and manufacture of innovative head systems, power and data management solutions, and integrated soldier systems, announces the successful award of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) contract for their Galvion Hellbender™ Federal Edition (FE) helmet (previously identified as the Hellbender R7/TE). This 5-year, $10m indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract represents a significant milestone in delivering Galvion’s advanced head systems to authorized buyers, which include Department of Justice agency components, including but not limited to FBI, DEA, and US Marshals. Galvion’s Hellbender platform has been developed and refined over multiple years, with feedback from some of the world’s most demanding teams and is currently fielded across various international programs. The proprietary geometry of the Galvion Hellbender system maximizes comfort, fit and stability with a unique helmet profile and features the best-in-class APEX™ liner system. Advanced platform options include modular upgrades such as maxillofacial protection, integration of Galvion’s E.D.G™ power and data management system, as well as a suite of accessories, including helmet covers, strobes, task lights, and NVG mounts. The winning Hellbender FE ballistic helmet model is wholly molded, assembled and built in Newport, Vermont, USA and meets the stringent requirements of the DEA and FBI Ballistic Testing Helmet Protocol 2024. Prioritizing backface deformation performance; the helmet offers protection against pistol caliber threats, environmental hazards and meets enhanced backface deformation limits. Featuring Galvion’s Universal Bonded Anchor System (UBAS), which was developed as part of the United States Marine Corps IHS program to eliminate bolt penetrations for seamless coverage and ballistic integrity. The helmet platform is available in hi-cut as well as a unique mid/full cut, features single-sized components and provides unmatched flexibility for integrating equipment. Configurable to meet rapidly evolving threat and operational needs, the Hellbender system has been specifically designed to support upgradeability, maintenance and refurbishment paths.
Todd Stirtzinger, CEO at Galvion, said: “Our team worked tirelessly to develop a solution to meet the FBI’s high ballistic performance protocols, and we are excited to see this work come to fruition with the award of this contract. Our head systems are renowned for delivering a unique combination of customized performance, thoughtful design and unparalleled comfort, and we are proud to be able to offer the FBI and wider agency network this latest Hellbender system. We have close to 100,000 of the Hellbender geometry in service around the world, and we are continually incorporating end-user feedback into the platform design to ensure that it can support the ever-evolving needs of our users.” He added: “This new Hellbender system makes a great addition to our rapidly expanding suite of solutions for the law enforcement user community. Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone for our team, and we look forward to offering our integrated system and customized solutions approach to the broader federal and law enforcement user communities.”
12 Jun 25. The Defence Secretary has officially opened a landmark £25m BAE Systems artillery factory that is the first to restore critical gun barrel manufacturing capability in the UK. The new 94,000 sq. ft facility, which will become operational by the end of the year, will house a state-of-the-art factory specialising in artillery expertise that will make Sheffield the home of UK howitzer production. The facility will also create 200 new high skilled jobs and support more than 60 businesses across the UK supply chain.
John Healey MP, Defence Secretary, said: “This new factory is a big boost for South Yorkshire and a significant step forward in strengthening our British defence industrial base. This is a vote of confidence in our world-leading defence sector and good, skilled British jobs, underpinned by this government’s Plan for Change. “I welcome BAE Systems’ long-term commitment to this new site, which demonstrates how defence can be an engine for growth, bringing investment and opportunities to communities across the UK, including right here in South Yorkshire.”
John Borton, Managing Director, BAE Systems’ Weapons Systems UK business, said: “Our significant investment adds to Sheffield’s rich manufacturing history and reputation as an industrial powerhouse and will develop a highly skilled workforce in the local area, while also forming an important part of the UK’s critical defence infrastructure. “It’s fantastic to be able to welcome the Defence Secretary, as well as local partners and suppliers from across the city to get a first look at our progress and hear about the commitments we’re making in Sheffield, as part of delivering sovereign artillery capabilities.”
Once operational later this year the site will initially deliver the Company’s M777 lightweight towed howitzer manufacturing capability, with capacity to expand production lines. The site will then evolve to develop and produce a range of world-class combat systems, leading the charge for the UK Government’s ambitions to revitalise and sustain vital UK artillery capacity. The Company welcomed guests from across Sheffield who enjoyed a tour of the site. As work to prepare the facility for production continues, visitors also had the chance to meet with apprentices who will be among the first to work on the new production lines. BAE Systems’ Weapons Systems UK business is the country’s only design house for artillery where it also develops, manufactures and supports artillery systems and naval guns. This includes the M777 lightweight artillery, the only combat-proven lightweight howitzer in the world. Earlier this year, the UK Ministry of Defence awarded BAE Systems a contract to deliver 150 British designed artillery barrels to Ukraine, working with Sheffield Forgemasters to deliver on the government’s commitment to supporting the country. The Company has also been providing in-country maintenance and repair for 105mm Light Guns since last year and is working with local partners to extend support across additional artillery capabilities, which helps to ensure that critical equipment can be returned to the frontline more quickly. The Sheffield site is the latest infrastructure investment that BAE Systems is making across its UK facilities. The Company is nearing completion of a £300 m transformation of its shipbuilding facilities in Glasgow and a £200 m expansion of its munitions facilities to meet increased demand. It is also investing £220m in a new advanced technology factory in Rochester.
12 Jun 25. Elbit Systems Ltd, a global leader in advanced self-protection and electronic warfare (EW) technologies, will showcase its new and cutting-edge PAWS-2 High Resolution (HR) Missile Warning System (MWS) at the Paris Air Show. Designed to enhance the survivability and operational effectiveness of modern fighter aircraft, the HR sensor will be presented for the first time at the company’s booth, located in Hall 3, Stand B16, within a dedicated EW room featuring some of Elbit’s most advanced electronic warfare solutions. The PAWS-2 (HR) is a field-proven infrared passive airborne warning system capable of detecting a wide range of threats, including surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), air-to-air missiles, and MANPADS—regardless of seeker type. It provides advanced protection for fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters operating in complex and high-threat environments. At the core of the system is a new-generation cooled Mid-Wave IR (MWIR) Common-MWS sensor with over 5 megapixels resolution. This enables long-range detection, precise launch point geolocation, and early warning for timely countermeasure deployment. The system’s advanced image processing enables extremely low false alarm rates (FARs), even in cluttered environments.
Key Highlights:
- Extended Detection Range: High-resolution sensors enable earlier threat detection and faster response.
- Low False Alarm Rate: Advanced algorithms improve threat discrimination and reduce operational disruptions.
- Enhanced Threat Separation: High angular accuracy supports better classification and countermeasure timing.
- Expanded Launch Detection: Detects missile launches in the vicinity, distinguishing between direct threats and non-targeted launches.
The system operates at an exceptionally high sampling rate, providing Hostile Fire Indication – detection of small arms bursts, RPGs, and ATGMs – for helicopters.
11 Jun 25. GAO: US Army long-range fires require iterative development. The service has neglected leading practices in iterative development for its future long-range fires in an age of peer conflict. The US Army face technical delays in fielding new long-range weapons, because the service has neglected leading practices in ‘iterative product development’, according to a recent assessment from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) on 5 June 2025. Since 2018, the Army have sought to modernise artillery, rocket, and missile systems to counter adversaries in conventional, direct combat with peer adversaries as the service move away from the irregular, counter-insurgency methods adapted in the last 20-years. New concepts have emerged such as the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA), Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), Mid-Range Capability (MRC), and Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon. Each of these weapons fill capability gaps: longer range, endless firepower, faster mobility, and increased survivability that extend beyond the limited and regional conflicts that defined US involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Iterative versus linear development for long-range weapons
The iterative process involves a continuous cycle, through which companies rapidly develop and deploy products. Notably, the GAO found that the Army did not maintain a sound business case by reevaluating the technical feasibility of ERCA development, which contributed to the termination of the programme.
Instead, the Army is now seeking a self-propelled howitzer to meet this requirement.
Digital engineering
A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical system, it helps detect, prevent, predict, and optimise the physical environment using artificial intelligence (AI), analytics, visualisation, and simulation tools. This contrasts with modelling which is a static visualisation of a model that needs to be updated manually. GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, expects the global digital twins market will reach $154.3bn by 2030. The Army used some elements of an iterative approach when it came to the MRC development, including establishing a sound business case with flexible requirements. However, for greater success, the GAO found that other tools, such as a digital twin, could aid future development and production. Programme officials told the GAO that the contractor, Lockheed Martin, completed digital models for some of the newer components on the MRC system, and maintained a system integration lab comprised of hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop configurations. The contractor also used a pluggable interface known as a “missile in a box” that represented the characteristics of the Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk cruise missiles for testing purposes. The programme expects to assess the feasibility of implementing a digital twin and digital thread by the end of fiscal year 2025. (Source: army-technology.com)
11 Jun 25. AEI Systems and CANIK ARMS to Showcase Cutting-Edge Defence Innovation at Close Combat Symposium 2025. AEI Systems, a cornerstone of UK defence manufacturing for over 50 years, and CANIK ARMS, renowned for precision firearms, are proud to sponsor and exhibit at the Close Combat Symposium 2025, taking place from 1–3 July at the Defence Academy of the UK in Shrivenham. At this prestigious gathering of UK MOD delegates and global defence experts, AEI and CANIK will unveil several advanced systems, headlined by the VENOM 30 x 113 mm gun — a new-generation weapon developed and produced in the UK. Integrated into the UNIROBOTICS TRAKON 30 Remote Weapons Station and mounted on the versatile NMS UK Dragon 4×4 Protected Mobility Vehicle, the VENOM 30 exemplifies British defence innovation, modular integration, and combat readiness.
Also on display will be:
- The CANIK M2F HMG, featuring a high rate of fire and already fielded in Ukraine;
- The CANIK M2 HMG QCB, equipped with a blast suppressor for operational efficiency;
- A versatile line-up of CANIK 9mm handguns, trusted worldwide by security forces.
A highlight of the symposium will be the live firing day on 2 July at the COTEC range, where MOD delegates will get the opportunity to have hands-on experience with our vehicle-mounted and ground-mounted systems, along with our range of sidearms. The event’s highlight: a live firing demonstration of the VENOM 30, delivering real-world proof of its precision and power.
The global SYS Group, including CANIK ARMS, UNIROBOTICS, and CANIK USA, remains committed to investing in the UK defence industry through its UK subsidiary AEI Systems advancing the future of defence through tested reliability and transformative innovation.
Experience the evolution of battlefield capability — see it in action at the Close Combat Symposium.
11 Jun 25. Denmark picks French, German and Norwegian air defence suppliers. Denmark will acquire short-range air defence systems from MBDA France, Germany’s Diehl Defence and Kongsberg Gruppen (KOG.OL) of Norway, the Nordic country’s defence ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in February ordered the military to go on a buying spree to beef up the country’s defences in preparation for potential future Russian aggression in Europe. Denmark will spend over six bn Danish crowns ($919 m) on the artillery acquisition, with the first deliveries expected in 2026, the defence ministry said. Denmark received 10 offers, including from suppliers in Turkey, Israel and Italy, and decided in the end to buy systems from French and German suppliers and to lease one from Norway’s Kongsberg, it added. ($1 = 6.5304 Danish crowns)(Source: Reuters)
10 Jun 25. FN® – a world leader in fixed-wing and rotary platform weapon integrations – has developed a new lightweight variant of its widely-fielded .50 cal crew-served weapon system, which will debut at this year’s Paris Air Show. Leveraging advanced composite materials, the new lightweight variant will result in a 40% weight reduction compared to previous examples while maintaining the same high-grade performance and quality that FN solutions are known for. The new lightweight variant – which will be on display at FN Stand G51, Hall 2B at Paris Air Show from 16-22 June 2025 – is now ready for serial production and several projects are underway, either with OEMs or with end users directly. With payload being a crucial consideration for aviation platforms, particularly rotary-wing aircraft, this weight reduction will have significant operational benefits allowing operators to carry more passengers, fuel, ammunition or supplies. This innovation is focused specifically on the FN® MEDIUM DOOR PINTLE TURNING (FN® MDP TURNING) System, which mounts the combat-proven .50 cal FN® M3M. The FN® MDP TURNING System allows the crew-served weapon system to be easily retracted or removed when not in use, making it a highly versatile capability. The Turning System is mounted using a connection plate, typically from a machined block of aluminium. This is then fitted to the helicopter floor using existing strong points that help distribute the mechanical forces that occur when the weapon is being operated. FN has driven the development of a new composite plate that replaces the aluminium example and
09 Jun 25. USAF tests 500 lb Quicksink anti-ship munition. The US Air Force’s (USAF’s) Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) drop tested a 500 lb (226.7 kg) version of the Quicksink munition in the Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) Gulf Test Range, according to a 4 June statement. Quicksink equips bombs with a dedicated anti-ship seeker and steering fins, much as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) programme does for land attack targets. The munition was dropped from a Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit; it is unclear when the test occurred or whether a target was struck. AFRL had not responded to Janes questions at the time of publication. “Quicksink offers an affordable, game-changing solution to rapidly and efficiently sink maritime targets,” said Colonel Dan Lehoski, commander of Eglin AFB’s 53rd Wing, which was involved with the testing. The first Quicksink variant was a 2,000 lb bomb, dropped in 2021 from a Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle. The first launch from a B-2 occurred in 2024 at Exercise ‘Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC)’, when a Quicksink munition sank the former USS Tarawa, an amphibious assault ship. Quicksink was developed by AFRL as a Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) programme in conjunction with the US Navy (USN). Initially guided by GPS to fixed co-ordinates, the BAE Systems-developed multimode seeker then takes over to detect targets and guide the weapon to impact. (Source: Janes)
08 Jun 25. The Australian government has taken the next important step towards increasing the Australian Defence Force’s long-range strike capabilities and supporting domestic defence industry, with the establishment of a new cooperative program with the United States for the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). Australia and the United States have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for PrSM production, sustainment and follow-on development. The MoU provides the ADF access to PrSM munitions and establishes PrSM as a cooperative program between Australia and the United States. This opens the door for Australian industry participation in the PrSM supply chain, including for locally manufactured components and sub-components. The MoU also provides options for future domestic manufacturing and maintenance of PrSM in Australia, with negotiations on options expected to commence later this year.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth welcomed the signing of the MoU during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri‑La Dialogue, building on the outcomes of the 2024 Australia United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).
PrSM is a next generation surface-to-surface missile that can deliver potential effects at longer ranges, providing enhanced lethality to Defence’s integrated and focused joint force. The missile can be fired from High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HiMARS) launch vehicles. The first of these vehicles arrived in Australia in March 2025, giving the Australian Army a world‑leading strike capability. Defence is contributing approximately $310m over 10 years to become a full cooperative partner in the PrSM program. Defence will also invest around $150m over the next five years to acquire the initial quantities of the capability required to establish the first Long Range Fires Regiment.
Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles said: “Australia’s capability and technology cooperation with the United States is a critical part of our alliance. The Albanese Government’s investment in the Precision Strike Missile will expand and accelerate land-based long-range strike capabilities. This will enable deterrence against potential threats and ensure the Australian Defence Force is equipped to meet our strategic circumstances and keep Australians safe.”
Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy said: “This demonstrates our commitment to deliver on priorities outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy, to accelerate acquisition of long-range land and maritime strike capabilities and adopt a Strategy of Denial. Through this cooperative program, the Australian Army will contribute to and acquire the latest technology required to counter current and future threats. This is another example of the Albanese Government working with the United States to increase opportunities for Australian industry in global supply chains.” (Source: Google/ADPR)
06 Jun 25. RTX and NGC Conduct Successful Rocket Motor Tests for US Army’s Next-Gen Short-Range Interceptor. Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) announced four successful tests of flight-ready Highly Loaded Grain (HLG) solid rocket motors for the U.S. Army’s Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI). HLG is a solid propellant technology for rocket motors that provides longer burn time and more energy output than conventional solid rocket motors, which extends the range of Raytheon’s NGSRI offering compared to other missiles. The Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor is the U.S. Army’s new short-range missile that flies faster and performs better against aerial threats than existing interceptors. The missile can be fired from a tripod, vehicle or shoulder launcher. In the latest round of testing, the team completed three static firings in different environments, followed by a successful ballistic flight demonstration. Over the coming months, additional flight tests are planned.
“These tests demonstrate our ability to rapidly develop this transformational air defense capability, which can defeat a variety of airborne threats at far greater ranges than legacy systems,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “Alongside Northrop Grumman, Raytheon is delivering cutting-edge technology to protect our warfighters.”
Raytheon is leveraging collaborative research at the Northrop Grumman Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in West Virginia to rapidly develop the new extended-range motor design, transitioning from proof of concept to first flight in a record time of less than six months.
“Northrop Grumman continues to push the boundaries on next-generation propulsion technology, and we’re excited to work with Raytheon to bring this advanced solution for warfighters at record pace,” said Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager, Weapon Systems, Northrop Grumman. “Developed and demonstrated in five months, this innovative HLG motor provides increased speed, range, effectiveness and mission flexibility in a very small package.”
Raytheon’s NGSRI design leverages more than 60 years of air defense experience to provide the world’s most advanced shoulder-launched air defense missile for U.S. Army and Marine Corps. The company’s use of modular system design and automated manufacturing has enabled faster development and production. (Source: ASD Network)
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About Galvion:
Galvion designs, develops, and delivers mission critical head, face, and torso protective solutions as well as intelligent power and data management systems for the world’s most demanding military and tactical teams. Founded in 2002 as Revision Military, a foundational belief in calculated investment and capability expansion led to a strategic refocus, resulting in the divestiture of the protective eyewear business, along with the Revision name, in 2019. Rebranded as Galvion, the company’s products and technology continue to evolve beyond purely passive protection, focusing instead on active systems that enhance performance and survivability, with an eye to the ever-changing demands of the modern battlefield. Through advanced design, keen end-user insight and intelligent integration, Galvion engineers uniquely customized solutions that go beyond what was once thought possible.
Privately owned with ISO 9001:2015 certified facilities in Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the US, Montreal in Canada and Bristol in the UK, Galvion’s team of 400+ employees work proactively to solve the problems left unsolved by others.
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