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02 Jan 25. Estonian anti-drone mini missile to be tested in Ukraine. An Estonian tech startup has developed a miniature missile designed to counter low-flying drones that it plans to test in Ukraine this month, as Russian drone attacks continue to cause havoc across the war-torn country. The Estonia-based company Frankenburg Technologies announced in December that it will conduct the first trial of its Mark 1 anti-aircraft missile in early 2025 in an unspecified location in Ukraine.
The missile is intended to be more affordable than existing counter-drone missiles, and it is designed to use artificial-intelligence software for targeting incoming threats, according to the manufacturer.
The company’s objective is to create missile systems that are “ten times more affordable, a hundred times faster to produce” than current industry outputs, per its website.
Frankenburg Technologies’ chief executive Kusti Salm, who previously served as a top official in the Estonian Ministry of Defense, said in an interview with Janes that the missile will be able to counter drones flying at altitudes of up to 2 kilometers, or 1.2 miles.
Ukrainian defense analysts have noted that the attack profile of Iranian-made Shahed drones has evolved in recent months, where they are now often reported to fly at low heights ranging between two to five kilometers to avoid being struck by ground defenses.
The Estonian company has offices in Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine and will soon open another in the United Kingdom, the British government announced on Dec. 16.
“The rapidly growing company already collaborates closely with the British defense industry, sourcing a significant portion of its subsystems locally, and it will invest €50m ($52m) into the U.K. for research and development into low-cost rocket motors,” the British prime minister’s office said in a statement.
The Ukrainian military has largely relied on a mesh network of electronic-warfare sensors, jammers and small arms to shoot down drones at close ranges. However, these options remain last-defense resorts and are not always effective.
Other companies have offered similar concepts of small and relatively inexpensive drones, including the Lockheed Martin-made miniature hit-to-kill missiles, a small short-range air defense system able to destroy rockets and artillery, as well as MBDA’s small anti-drone missile.
(Source: Defense News)
27 Dec 24. Raytheon and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, with support from the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the Norwegian Armed Forces, successfully completed a flight test of an upgraded variant of the AMRAAM-Extended Range missile from a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). The successful flight test demonstrates the increased capabilities of the upgraded AMRAAM-ER. This latest variant of the AMRAAM-ER is a new configuration that incorporates the AIM-120 C-8 guidance section, along with a more robust 10-inch (254mm) rocket motor from Nammo and a 10-inch control actuator system from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, a brand of Norwegian Propulsion Stack, for which the Norwegian Ministry of Defense has been a collaborative partner.
«Integrating this new technology into the AMRAAM-ER ensures the advanced capabilities of the surface-launched munition for many years to come,» said Paul Ferraro, president of Air & Space Defense Systems at Raytheon. «Agile software upgrades will continue to advance AMRAAM to stay ahead of evolving threats.»
The testing included a test firing, during which the missile flew a preprogramed flight path to verify safe egress from the NASAMS launcher and missile performance. (Source: Google/https://www.aviacionline.com/)
02 Jan 25. Japan, US discuss feasibility of co-producing AIM-120 missiles. Tokyo and Washington are working to launch a study to assess the feasibility of co-producing AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) within Japan.
Discussions on opening a production line for the missiles in Japan have been ongoing since mid-2024, due to an increase in demand for the missiles in both Japan and the United States, Janes has previously reported.
A spokesperson for Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) told Janes on 26 December 2024 that the feasibility study will consider various aspects of production. This includes “necessary cost, preparation time, contents of possible production activity, and challenges” that could arise when production is initiated, according to the spokesperson.
However, ATLA could not specify when the study will start. According to the spokesperson, the Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) is currently “working closely” with the US Department of Defense (DoD) to initiate the study. “In order to initiate the study, it is necessary to obtain support from DoD as well as industry including the RTX Corporation, a US-based AMRAAM manufacturer,” the ATLA spokesperson said.
The “duration of the study has not yet been determined”, the ATLA spokesperson added.
Co-production of the AIM-120 missile was the subject of discussions at the third Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition, and Sustainment (DICAS) Forum, held on 11 December 2024.
(Source: Janes)
30 Dec 24. U.S. Navy declares Full Operational Capability for Strategic Weapons Systems Ashore facility. The United States Navy has reached a significant milestone in its nuclear modernisation programme with the validation of Final Operating Capability (FOC) for the Strategic Weapons Systems Ashore (SWS Ashore) facility. Announced on 26 November, this achievement underscores years of dedicated collaboration between the Navy, industry, and local Florida partners. Located at the Naval Ordnance Test Unit on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, SWS Ashore is a cutting-edge facility designed to test updates and enhancements to the Trident II D5 Strategic Weapon System (SWS) and related support systems. By offering a land-based platform, it allows comprehensive testing prior to fleet deployment, significantly de-risking integration efforts for the upcoming Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs).
“Achieving full operational capability for SWS Ashore is a testament to the hard work and cooperation of multiple teams over more than a decade,” stated Captain Jason Schneider, NOTU Commanding Officer. The facility, which broke ground in November 2012, reflects the Navy’s commitment to advancing strategic deterrence capabilities while managing cost and risk.
Since becoming operational in 2019, SWS Ashore has met its original objectives. These include transferring lessons from the Ohio-class SSBN programme to the Columbia-class, supporting the U.K.’s Dreadnought-class initiatives, and establishing a robust end-to-end testing and training facility. “SWS Ashore is a true success story of proactive planning and risk management,” added Steven Van Dyk, Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) Chief Engineer. The Trident II D5LE SWS, currently deployed on Ohio-class submarines, will also equip the Columbia-class fleet as they join service throughout the 2030s. The facility’s advanced testing capabilities pave the way for the next-generation Trident II D5LE2 system, ensuring seamless integration into future submarines and bolstering the Navy’s top acquisition priorities.
In addition to its impact on U.S. defence readiness, SWS Ashore also supports international partnerships. The facility plays a critical role in U.K. efforts to develop the Dreadnought-class SSBNs, leveraging the shared missile compartment design to align U.S. and U.K. testing and training programmes. “The ability to maintain synchronised schedules between the two programmes reduces costs and enhances efficiency,” explained Van Dyk. Local collaboration has been vital to the success of SWS Ashore. Space Florida, a state public corporation, partnered with the Navy to repurpose an old missile launch site into this state-of-the-art testing hub. “The Space Coast community has been an outstanding partner, creating an environment conducive to innovation and progress,” noted Matt Vilk, SWS Ashore Programme Manager. The facility exemplifies the Navy’s focus on strategic deterrence, which remains a cornerstone of U.S. national security policy. The Trident II D5LE SWS, as part of the nuclear triad, contributes significantly to the nation’s ability to deter threats, accounting for approximately 70 per cent of deployed strategic nuclear deterrent forces. As the Columbia-class submarines prepare to enter service, SWS Ashore will continue to be a linchpin in ensuring the readiness and effectiveness of the Navy’s sea-based strategic deterrent. (Source: Google/https://defence-industry.eu/u-s-navy-declares-full-operational-capability-for-strategic-weapons-systems-ashore-facility/)
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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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