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09 Jan 25. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is developing the Modified Ballistic Re-Entry Vehicle-11 (MBRV-11) supporting the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Integrated Master Test Plan (IMTP) to test the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI). Through close partnership with MDA, Northrop Grumman significantly expedited the development timeline for MBRV-11, moving from contract award through Critical Design Review (CDR) in less than 16 months.
* Northrop Grumman and MDA completed CDR in October and conducted a combined System Requirements Review (SRR) and Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the first time to accelerate development.
* To meet the aggressive development schedule, Northrop Grumman procured all hardware needed to produce the target vehicles and began qualification testing prior to CDR and began system-level avionics testing immediately after.
Robin Heard, director, targets, Northrop Grumman: “Through executing with speed and building for the future, MBRV-11 is a paradigm shift in the way we partner with MDA to develop new programs. Our deep mission experience enabled us to compress the development timeline by combining the SRR and PDR, begin qualification testing ahead of CDR and quickly transition into production to meet the customer’s need for an early operational capability.”
Northrop Grumman’s MBRV-11 is a new front-end that consists of a baseline vehicle design, with four optional enhancement kits that represent varying capabilities to provide mission flexibility. MBRV-11 will be integrated onto Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) targets to emulate sophisticated missile threats the NGI is designed to defeat. The contract includes five vehicles to support five missile defense test demonstrations, with first flight test scheduled in 2027. Northrop Grumman’s flight-proven hardware and software designs, common system architectures and heritage avionics support the aggressive development and production schedule. MDA recently awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to upgrade its IRBM and ICBM target vehicles and integrate with MBRV-11, making the company the end-to-end provider for the targets, including payload and boost vehicle. The program supports MDA’s IMTP that includes ground test, flight test and warfighter training and combatant command exercise events.
Northrop Grumman is a leading provider of threat-representative target vehicles used in the test and verification of the nation’s missile defense systems. By combining an industry-leading portfolio of advanced avionics, adaptable vehicle enhancement kits and advanced payloads with technology expertise in solid rocket motors, Northrop Grumman rapidly configures target vehicles to replicate sophisticated adversary threats. The company has provided IRBM and ICBM target vehicles since 2011, delivering 25 vehicles and supporting 10 successful missile defense demonstrations.
07 Jan 25. Lithuania integrate small UAS with Switchblade combat drones. The order brings the value of the nation’s military acquisitions from the US to $1.3bn in total. Lithuania has acquired a batch of small uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) from the US defence supplier, AeroVironment, and intends to buy many more. The Army plans to integrate these support drones with larger Switchblade 600 loitering munitions purchased by the same company in 2022, and these were said to arrive sometime in 2024. The government is the fist country to purchase the kamikaze drone after the US. The system has high precision optics, up to a 40-minute flight time, and an anti-armour warhead. This strategic drone combination will see the smaller vertical-lift units provide fire control and adjustment tasks while the larger combat drones operate as one-way-attack systems effective against heavily armoured vehicles, including tanks. According to a statement from the Ministry of National Defence, these small UAS units are scheduled to arrive towards the end of 2025 and they will be “supplemented further in the future.”
In the same breath, the government confirmed two other contracts related to the acquisition of manpack radios for troops operating Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and Boxer ‘Vilkas’ fighting vehicles. Currently the largest spender on US military supplies in the Baltic region, Lithuania’s deal – worth approximately $7.8m (€7.49m) and signed in mid-December 2024 – brings the total value of the country’s US military acquisitions to $1.3bn.
Their bilateral trade with the US makes up approximately 20% of Lithuania’s overall military procurement according to the Ministry. (Source: army-technology.com)
07 Jan 25. European Consortium Launches the SAAT Project to Redefine Small Arms Ammunition Standards. FN Herstal is proud to announce the official launch of the Small Arms Ammunition Technologies (SAAT) project. This four-year initiative, coordinated by FN Herstal and conducted by a European consortium made of defence companies, research organisations, and Ministries of Defence from nine countries, aims to establish a common standard for small arms ammunition in Europe in order to enhance interoperability and strengthen European strategic autonomy and sovereignty in defence.
During the kick-off meeting held at FN Herstal’s headquarters in mid-December, representatives from the nine participating countries – i.e. Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland – established the project’s governance and laid the groundwork for collaboration.
Key Objectives of the SAAT Project:
* Defining the requirements for small arms ammunition effectiveness against current and future threats
* Defining the state of the art of small arms ammunition technologies regarding projectile, propellant, cartridge case and interaction with the weapon
* Developing an optimised prototype of a small arms projectile
* Contributing to the optimisation of ammunition component technologies
With a budget of €8.3m, the SAAT project brings together 18 European partners – large manufacturers, SMEs, research institutes, and national defence bodies – all of whom bringing leading expertise in their respective fields. Industry participants are Beretta (Italy), CZUB (Czech Republic), Eurenco (Belgium and Sweden), Fiocchi Munizioni (Italy), FN Herstal (Belgium, acting as project coordinator), Mesko (Poland), Nammo (Norway and Sweden), Nobel Sport (France) and Swiss P Defence (Switzerland). As far as research organisations are concerned, the consortium includes Armasuisse (Switzerland), DGA Techniques Terrestres (France), FFI (Norway), FOI (Sweden), RMA (Royal Military Academy of Belgium), TNO (The Netherlands) and WAT (Military University of Technology, Poland).
This diverse partnership underscores the commitment of European nations to fostering innovation and collaboration within the military small arms and ammunition sector.
“This kick-off meeting is the first step in an ambitious journey to develop innovative ammunition solutions for Europe’s defence forces,” said Jonas Granberg, Project Officer Ammunition Technology at European Defence Agency (EDA). “By bringing together expertise from across Europe, SAAT will deliver practical, effective, and forward-looking solutions that address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.” (Source: ASD Network)
07 Jan 25. Kalashnikov Announces First Flight of KUB-10E Attack Drone. The Kalashnikov Concern has released a video featuring the first flight of the KUB-10E, a new guided munition (GM) model in the KUB family.
It is designed to target enemy light vehicles and armored personnel carriers, command posts, air and missile defense facilities, communications surveillance and jamming sites, logistics infrastructure, combat and logistics units, field storage depots for ammunition, fuel, and lubricants, drone launch sites, and unsheltered aircraft (helicopters) at airfields. The system can be used at any time of day, in various weather conditions, including wind gusts up to 15 meters per second. It operates effectively in temperatures ranging from -30 to +40 degrees Celsius at the ground level. The new guided munition boasts a significantly longer range and greater power compared to the previous models in the line-up. The GM guidance method is based on pre-specified coordinates and data from the global navigation satellite system (GNSS). The drone is catapult-launched. It has a cruise flight speed of 100 km/h. Its flight altitude ranges from 100 to 2,500 meters. The KUB GM has proved to be extremely effective in the SMO zone, and the feedback from the servicemen has been positive. This year, Kalashnikov Concern has almost tripled its production volume. The KUB range includes several versions of guided munitions. (Source: UAS VISION/Kalashnikov)
07 Jan 25. The next step for the artillery plant in Lithuania: Rheinmetall, EPSO-G Invest and Girait’s ginkluot’s gamykla officially sign partnership agreement.
The project of the German-Lithuanian artillery plant in Baisogala continues to move forward. On 20 December 2024, representatives of the German defence technology company Rheinmetall, the Lithuanian energy transmission and exchange group EPSO-G, the EPSO-G company EPSO-G Invest and the Lithuanian company Giraits ginkluots gamykla signed a partnership agreement. This regulates the acquisition of shares in the company Rheinmetall Defence Lietuva, which will build the artillery shell manufacturing plant for 155-mm artillery shells.
The agreement stipulates that Rheinmetall will hold 51 percent of the shares in Rheinmetall Defence Lietuva. 48 percent will be owned by EPSO-G Invest and 1 percent by Giraits ginkluots gamykla.
“At the end of November, we signed a contract for the lease of a land plot for the future factory in the Radviliškis district and the purchase of 155 mm ammunition. With the signed agreement with our Lithuanian partners, we have completed another very important stage and will now plan the construction of the new factory and prepare it for operation together,” says Armin Papperger, Chairman of the Rheinmetall executive board.
“Lithuania’s energy independence and security are inseparable from each other and these are the main strategic directions of the EPSO-G group. In this project, we will use our accumulated experience in implementing strategic infrastructural energy and security projects,” says Tomas Varneckas, CEO of EPSO-G Invest.
According to Violeta Kaštien, interim manager of the Giraits ginkluots gamykla, the involvement of the Girait Armaments Factory in this project is a significant step, opening up new opportunities for cooperation with one of the world’s leaders in the defense sector. “This partnership project not only strengthens our competencies and role in the Lithuanian defense industry, but also contributes to ensuring the country’s security interests. From an economic point of view, this is a targeted development step, strengthening the potential of the Lithuanian defense industry and promoting its further development,” says V. Kaštien?.
The plant near Baisogala is expected to start operations in two years period and, once completed, will be capable of producing tens of thousands of 155 mm calibre artillery shells annually. According to the preliminary calculations total investments into the facility may reach around €260m. The plant is expected to create at least 150 new direct jobs in the region.
06 Jan 25. Philippines outlines Typhon intention. The Philippines has outlined an intention to procure Lockheed Martin’s Mid-Range Capability (MRC) weapon system, also known as the Typhon Weapon System, from the US government. Citing Philippine Army Chief Lieutenant General Roy Galido, the state-owned Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported in late December that the Philippine Army is looking to procure the system to defend its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
According to Lt Gen Galido, the Typhon is required to defend the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), which was launched by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in early 2024 to support the exploration of resources within the EEZ.
He also indicated that negotiations between the United States and the Philippines about the procurement are under way.
“There are negotiations,” he said in comments reported by PNA. “Because we see [the Typhon’s] feasibility and adaptability, the [Philippine] Army was tasked to come up with plans to contribute to the CADC, and one of our inputs is to be able to defend the land through this type of platform.”
Lt Gen Galido added that Philippine Army troops are being trained by US forces to use the Typhon system since April 2024.
Typhon was previously deployed by the US Army’s 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (1MDTF) in the Philippines as a part of Exercise ‘Salaknib 24′ in April 2024 from Northern Luzon. Janes reported at the time that the deployment was temporary and that Typhon would only be operated at ‘Salaknib 24′ and Exercise ‘Balikatan 24′, which concluded in May 2024.
(Source: Janes)
06 Jan 25. German army gets nod to buy Israeli PULS rocket launchers. The German army has received parliamentary approval to buy an initial batch of Elbit-made PULS rocket artillery systems, a decision that could see Berlin look to European munitions suppliers in the future. The move, announced just before the Christmas holidays as part of a larger raft of funding approvals for Germany’s armed forces, means the Bundeswehr can spend roughly €65 m, or $68 m USD, on five systems. The PULS pick, offered by Elbit in conjunction with German-French contractor KNDS, puts an end, for now, to a highly contested race for Germany’s next-generation, multiple-rocket launcher system. Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall had pitched a competing offer, named GMARS, that came with the lineup of Lockheed’s munitions offerings, including the ubiquitous Guided MLRS rockets, baked into it. In the end, the Lockheed-Rheinmetall offer wasn’t far enough along, a German Ministry of Defense spokesman told Defense News.
“A usable prototype was not available,” the spokesman said.
The decision in favor of PULS is meant to deepen cooperation between German artillery forces and those of the neighboring Netherlands, which has previously purchased the Israeli product and whose contract provides a piggybacking option for Germany’s impending buy.
“The Dutch army is deeply integrated into German army structures, and the use of a common weapon system will enable further cooperation,” the spokesman wrote in response to a reporter’s questions.
The PULS, which is short for Precise and Universal Launching System, allows for the deployment of a national fire-control system, thereby enabling user nations to pick their own munition types for integration, the spokesman added.
Whether that includes GMLRS rockets, donated by the United States to Ukraine and resident in the stocks of many NATO nations, remains an open question.
Military decision makers in Berlin are banking on a promise from Elbit that the weapons, in the Unitary variant, can be shot with the PULS fire-control software. But Washington’s political approval is also needed.
“Germany is in close coordination with the United States” to that end, the spokesman in Berlin said.
Last summer, Lockheed executive Howard Bromberg, vice president of strategy and business development for land forces, categorically denied that possibility.
“Our MLRS Family of Munitions cannot be integrated into the PULS system — if Germany was to opt for PULS they could not gain access to our missiles,” he told Defense News on the sidelines of the Eurosatory defense trade show in Paris.
The same would apply to the U.S. Army’s newer Precision Strike Missile, which boasts a range of 500 kilometers and more, according to the company.
It’s unclear how prominent the assured access to Lockheed rockets is in Germany’s long-term defense planning, as German and European manufacturers have adjusted to a surge in demand for munitions of all ranges and propulsion types, guided and unguided.
In September, Elbit and Germany’s Diehl Defence signed a cooperation agreement tailored to PULS users in Europe and Germany in particular. In addition, pan-European missile maker MBDA is jockeying for position in the emerging market of longer-range weapons, deemed a critical element of Europe’s deterrence posture vis-à-vis Russia. (Source: Defense News)
03 Jan 25. India issues RFI for C-UAV ammunition. The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a request for information (RFI) to support its procurement of 23mm counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) ammunition for the Indian Army. The RFI, issued on 1 January, said the procured ammunition is intended to be fired from the ZU-23-2 semi-mobile anti-aircraft cannon system and the ZSU-23-4 ‘Schilka’ self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) in service with the army’s Corps of Army Air Defence.
The RFI is intended for Indian manufacturers, with at least 50% of the munitions’ components to be sourced locally. RFI submissions are expected by mid-February, but the RFI does not provide information on the number of rounds that will be procured.
According to the RFI, the procured ammunition should feature a timed fuze that is pre-programmable to detonate the projectiles at variable ranges including 1 km and 2.5 km. It added that the ammunition needs to conform to the “breech block, chamber, and barrel” of the ZU-23-2 and Schilka systems. The ammunition is required to be operable at temperatures ranging from -25°C to 45°C. The ZU-23-2 and ZSU-23-4 are Soviet-era weapons systems that use 23×152 B cartridges. According to the RFI, India possesses the high-explosive incendiary tracer (HEI-T) and armour-piercing incendiary tracer (API-T) variations of the 23×152 B cartridge. Both variations are capable of an effective range of 2,500 m horizontally and 1,500 m vertically, according to Janes Weapons: Ammunition. The variations weigh 190 g and have a maximum velocity of 970 m/s. (Source: Janes)
30 Dec 24. The Republic of Serbia has been significantly improved by equipping with the new FK-3 anti-aircraft missile system. By equipping the Air Force and Air Defence with the new FK-3 anti-aircraft missile system, the airspace control and protection system of the Republic of Serbia has been significantly improved. This missile shield of the Serbian skies, with its high manoeuvrability, consists of vehicles with a command centre, missile launchers and radars, and logistics vehicles.
In the 250th Missile Brigade for the Anti-Aircraft Defence Division armed with the FK-3 system, training is conducted daily, with monitoring and evaluation of the work of the services, which ensures a high level of combat readiness of the unit for the anti-aircraft defence of important facilities, forces of the Serbian Armed Forces, regions and directions in the territory from reconnaissance and airspace operations.
The commander of the missile battery, Captain First Class Stefan Mani?, emphasised that the FK-3 represents a milestone for the anti-aircraft defence system. “The system has exceptional measures to combat interference and combat missiles designed to destroy targeting radars. The FK-3 anti-aircraft missile system is distinguished by exceptional manoeuvring and spatial capabilities and as such is dominant among newer generation missile systems. It is equipped with sophisticated technologies. In addition to excellent manoeuvring and spatial capabilities, the system is distinguished by exceptional fire capabilities, as it can simultaneously engage six targets with twelve missiles,” said Captain Mani.
He emphasised that it is a great honour to be the commander of a missile battery for anti-aircraft operations and to work on the most powerful air defence missile system that our country has. He also added that training on the missile system was carried out in the People’s Republic of China and that the training process was complex. “Despite the challenges, all members of the unit were highly motivated and mastered all forms of training in order to independently implement the maintenance and use of the missile system,” added Captain Mani?.
The FK-3 anti-aircraft missile system can target various types of aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and air-to-ground missiles flying at speeds of up to 1,000 m/s, at altitudes of up to 27 km and distances of up to 100 km. It is intended for the defence of political-administrative and economic facilities, units of the Serbian Armed Forces, regions and directions in the territory from reconnaissance and actions from the airspace. It is engaged in tasks of control and protection of the sovereignty of the airspace of Serbia. (Source: joint-forces.com)
03 Jan 25. US Army chooses BAE Systems for prototype base defense artillery cannon. The Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon will be focused on defense against unmanned and missile threats.
The US Army has chosen BAE Systems to prototype a new artillery cannon, envisioned to defend bases against a variety of threats including unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles and other advanced air threats.
The system has been dubbed the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon (MDAC) and Hypervelocity Projectile (HVP) prototype. The service announced the selection in a public Dec. 20 notice, which was sole-sourced to BAE, meaning the Pentagon did not hold a competition amongst private industry to determine its vendor.
The Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office “has a requirement to develop and deliver a full Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS) Battery no later than Q4FY27 followed by an operational demonstration in FY28,” according to the notice. “A full MDACS battery consists of eight Multi-Domain Artillery Cannons, four Multi-Function Precision Radars, two Multi-Domain Battle Managers, and separately, no less than 144 Hypervelocity Projectiles.”
The announcement did not include details about the amount of funding the contract would include, but Breaking Defense previously reported the Army was planning to spend $67m in fiscal 2025 to kick off its efforts before investing more heavily in future years. (The government is currently operating under a continuing resolution, with funding stuck at FY24 levels through at least March.)
“Throughout the developmental effort, soldier touchpoints will gather feedback for Army requirements generation and prototype maturation,” the service wrote in its budget justification documents. “MDACS will use the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) and conduct a series of flight tests culminating in a battery-level operational assessment in FY 2028.”
An assessment is expected in 2028 to determine the technology can be fielded, according to the service, which is increasingly prioritizing base defense as it preps for a potential conflict in the Pacific. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
03 Jan 25. Denel upgrading Umkhonto missile. Denel is upgrading its Umkhonto surface-to-air missile (SAM) from the current Infra-Red (IR) Block II version to a more powerful weapon with better intercept capabilities. This will be good news for Denel’s customers, including the South African Navy (SAN), the Finnish Navy and the Algerian Navy, all of whom currently use the Umkhonto. Also, the SA Army is interested in the ground-based version to compliment its current Ground Based Air Defence System (GBADS).
Denel Project/Programme Manager Willem Maré explained to defenceWeb the system has a ground-based version, fired from Denel’s Ground Based Launcher or potentially in a missile silo. The original design was for the SA Navy’s Valour Class frigates as an advanced air defence system.
Upgrades will include extended range: a new rocket motor would extend range to 25 to 30 kilometres. Additionally, the IR seeker would be replaced by a radar seeker. The IR seeker can be affected by bad weather, which is especially relevant to the Finnish Navy, as infrared cannot see through clouds, but radar can. These upgrades will surely make the Umkhonto air defence missile more attractive to international clients, Denel believes.
Derived with assistance from the cancelled South African High Velocity missile programme, the Umkhonto surface-to-air missile was originally developed with a 12 km range but this was increased to 15 km and Denel has demonstrated it can reach out to 20 km, with a ceiling of 8 000 metres. It reaches speeds of around Mach 2.5. In 2013 Denel Dynamics for the first time fired the weapon from land – the system was originally developed for naval applications.
Once deployed, the 135 kg missile has a reaction time of 2.5 seconds and half-second intervals between missile launches. Umkhonto uses inertial navigation and mid-course guidance from the launch ship or from a land based radar and then switches to its dual-band thermal imaging seeker for a lock on after launch capability. The missile manoeuvres through tail-mounted control fins and thrust vectoring vanes in the motor nozzle.
The Umkhonto uses a proximity fuse to detonate its fragmentation warhead of 23 kilograms (the biggest warhead of its class). This warhead contains 4 800 titanium blocks. This gives the missile 95 plus percent kill probability, according to Maré. “It was tested at 10 metres; the penetration of one or two of the titanium blocks was through 11 mm of steel plate.”
Although it is primarily an anti-missile and anti-aircraft system, the pre-fragmented warhead makes it effective against surface targets like ships as well.
The vertically launched Umkhonto missile is installed aboard the SA Navy’s four Valour class frigates and is also in service with the Finnish navy aboard its Hamina fast attack craft and Hameenmaaa class minelayers and the Algerian Navy’s Meko A200 class frigates. It was due to be integrated into the South African Army’s Ground Based Air Defence System. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
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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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