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28 Mar 25. ATAGS procurement to strengthen India’s firepower capabilities, says GlobalData. Following the news that India has signed a contract for the procurement of 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS); Harsh Deshmukh, Aerospace & Defense Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view: “The procurement of 307 ATAGS and 327 towing vehicles signed with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems for Rs. 6,900 crore ($820m) will significantly expand India’s fleet of indirect firepower delivery platforms. Capable of delivering precise long-range strikes at a rate of 5 rounds per minute, these indigenous 155mm howitzers will substantially enhance the Indian Army’s firepower, while bolstering the country’s autonomy in defense manufacturing. The towing vehicles, which are part of the current procurement program, will enable swift deployment of the ATAGS units.
“The escalating tensions along India’s northern borders, particularly with China which deployed advanced artillery like the PCL-181 in the high-altitude regions, highlight the need for India to strengthen its land-based firepower. China’s rapid military modernization, particularly its emphasis on mobile and long-range artillery systems, has heightened the urgency for India to address threats of potential conflicts in regions such as Ladakh, which has already witnessed deadly skirmishes in the past. Similarly, along the Pakistan border, where sporadic fire exchanges between the two sides are not uncommon, ATAGS offers a decisive edge. Its long-range capability ensures deeper strikes into enemy territory, enhancing the Indian Army’s operational reach.
“According to GlobalData’s “Artillery Systems Market Size and Trend Analysis Including Segments, Programs, Competitive Landscape and Forecast to 2034,” India is expected to invest over $5.3 billion on procuring various types of towed artillery systems over the next ten years, reflecting its focus on enhancing its land-based combat capabilities through indigenous procurement.
“The ATAGS will be complementing the in-service airlift capable M777s and the self-propelled K9 Vajras. This mix of artillery deployment enhances the Indian Army’s flexibility in a dynamic mission environment along the borders. With ATAGS already exported to Armenia, India will also continue to look to for export opportunities for this potent platform in international markets in order to keep the production cost down through economies of scale.” (Source: GlobalData)
28 Mar 25. Contract for first Australian missile factory. This initiative marks a significant step forward in implementing the Australian government’s commitment to strengthening sovereign missile manufacturing, as announced on 22 August 2024. Chief of Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance, Air Marshal Leon Phillips OAM, highlighted the significance of the new facility, stating, “This world-class factory is an Australian-first and, based on current schedules, will be the first outside of Norway to manufacture and maintain both the Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile.” The advanced facility, to be constructed within the Newcastle Airport precinct, will be responsible for manufacturing and servicing the Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile for the Australian Defence Force and international partners. The project is a result of Australia’s strong defence ties with the Norwegian government, Kongsberg Defence Australia, and its parent company, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. Missile production at the factory is expected to commence in 2027. Once operational, the Newcastle facility will be the first outside of Norway to both manufacture and maintain these cutting-edge missile systems, enhancing Australia’s sovereign capability in long-range strike weaponry. This investment aligns with the Australian Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Plan, which is underpinned by a commitment of $16 to $21 billion over the next decade through the Defence Integrated Investment Program. The plan supports the rapid establishment of domestic missile manufacturing and the accelerated acquisition of advanced strike capabilities. Defence remains focused on strengthening Australia’s national security by fast-tracking domestic missile production, reinforcing supply chain resilience and ensuring the ADF is equipped with next-generation guided weapons technology. (Source: Defence Connect)
27 Mar 25. Europe to make key decisions on future HYDEF interceptor missile program to counter hypersonic threats. As reported by the OCCAR on March 17, 2025, the Hypersonic Defence Interceptor (HYDEF) program will continue in 2025 to develop a European missile system intended to intercept threats, including hypersonic weapons, within the Earth’s atmosphere. Activities for the year, according to OCCAR, will include ongoing technical studies to refine the system’s design and test critical technologies under consideration for the future interceptor. Key milestones scheduled for 2025 include the Concept Selection Milestone, aimed at determining which system design should proceed, and a Mid-Term Review to evaluate progress in advancing the most essential components. These steps follow previous phases in which user needs were identified, threat scenarios studied, and technical alternatives evaluated. The HYDEF program is managed by the Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement (OCCAR, or Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation), acting as Granting Authority for the European Commission and as Contracting Authority for the Participating States. Its objective is to initiate the development of both naval- and ground-based effectors capable of intercepting threats within the atmosphere. The program is structured around two main phases: a Pre-feasibility Phase and a Feasibility Phase. In parallel with the Feasibility Phase, the consortium is pursuing early maturation of critical technologies and designs. The program aims to mitigate technological risks and demonstrate a cost-effective European endo-atmospheric interceptor with advanced maneuverability and the ability to neutralize maneuvering hypersonic threats. To support this goal, HYDEF integrates advanced propulsion systems, aerodynamic configurations, cutting-edge sensors, guidance technologies, and actuator systems to deliver high agility and effective interception capabilities. On 24 April 2024, the Mission Concept Milestone was completed. At this stage, the consortium finalized requirements consolidation, proposed initial concept ideas and system options, and delivered preliminary performance assessments to end users. The first version of the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) was approved. Subsequently, the Pre-feasibility Phase concluded with the Mission Definition Review on 28 August 2024. This review involved analyzing user and mission needs, mapping out threat scenarios, and identifying relevant weapon and sensor systems. A high-level system model was produced, and the proposed architecture was evaluated against defined requirements and available resources. Throughout the Pre-feasibility Phase, workshops were held during both key milestones to gather feedback from end users and incorporate operational insights into the system design. At the end of October 2024, the Early Maturation Kick-Off Meeting validated the planned activities for technology development. This included aligning them with the initial proposal, assessing the current Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) of key components, and determining what resources would be needed to advance those TRLs. The HYDEF program is funded with a total of €110m. Of this, €100m is provided by the European Defence Fund, while €10 million comes from the participating states—Belgium, Germany, Norway, Poland, and Spain—including €2.7m in self-funded industry contributions under the Low-Performing Countries (LPC) mechanism. The current phase of the program spans from 2023 to 2026. Participating states are actively involved in the program’s execution, and the European Commission attends as an observer. The HYDEF consortium is composed of 14 companies from seven European countries. The program is coordinated by the Spanish company Sistemas de Misiles de España (SMS), which signed the contract with OCCAR on 31 October 2023. The technical lead is assumed by the German company Diehl Defence, responsible for developing the complete system and the interceptor missile. Other key contributors include SONACA from Belgium, NAMMO from Norway, LKE from the Czech Republic, ILOT and ITWL from Poland, and companies such as EM&E, GMV, Instalaza, INTA, Navantia, Sener, and Beyond Gravity from Spain and Sweden. The HYDEF interceptor is being designed to engage and neutralize both hypersonic cruise missiles (HCM) and maneuvering hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV), using a network of sensors—some potentially space-based—and integration with existing NATO guidance systems for ballistic missile defense (BMD). The concept includes building upon and evolving current systems, such as IRIS-T, to extend their engagement altitude up to 50 kilometers in the HYDEF variant—effectively doubling current capability. HYDEF is also aligned with the PESCO initiative “Timely Warning and Interception with Space-based TheatER surveillance” (TWISTER). Despite its selection, the HYDEF program has encountered institutional competition. The European missile manufacturer MBDA filed a legal complaint against the award decision, prompting the European Commission to initiate a parallel project, AIRDEF-EATMI, led by MBDA France, with German partners including MBDA Deutschland GmbH, OHB System AG, and the German Aerospace Center. (Source: Google/armyrecognition.com)
27 Mar 25. French, German, Korean, Turkish firms eye ammunition JV with Poland, minister says. Firms from Germany, South Korea, Turkey and France are bidding to create an ammunition manufacturing joint venture with Poland, to be signed off in 3-4 months, that could also lead to strategic intergovernmental cooperation, Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk told Reuters. Poland is leading a European rush to rearm since U.S. President Donald Trump made clear that Washington’s readiness to guarantee Europe’s security was waning and began courting Russia, which is waging war on Poland’s eastern neighbour Ukraine. Warsaw has earmarked $750m for the state-owned Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) to boost its output. Tomczyk said that Poland aims to own the technology and licences for the ammunition that the JV produces, which would include 155mm artillery rounds. Half a dozen firms have submitted bids, and Tomczyk said he expected the ministry to narrow them down to three to negotiate with. Demand for 155 mm artillery shells has soared since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and European stocks have dwindled as allies have supplied shells to Kyiv. (Source: Google/Reuters)
26 Mar 25. US Navy and MDA complete hypersonic threat test. USS Pinckney spearheaded the test by using the SBT Increment 3 capability within Lockheed’s Aegis Combat System. Specialist 3rd Class Sean Lynch/ Lockheed Martin Corporation. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA), in collaboration with the US Navy, has completed Flight Test Other-40 (FTX-40), also known as Stellar Banshee. The exercise was carried out off the coast of the Pacific Missile Range Facility, located in Kauai, Hawaii. The test was executed from USS Pinckney (DDG 91) using the Sea Based Terminal (SBT) Increment 3 capability within Lockheed Martin’s Aegis Combat System. This system is designed to detect, track, and simulate engagement with an advanced manoeuvring hypersonic target. Previously, USS Pinckney had undertaken a freedom of navigation operation in the Caribbean Sea in 2020. The latest tracking drill involved the firing of a simulated standard missile (SM)-6 at a target, which was an air-launched medium range ballistic missile (MRBM) equipped with a hypersonic target vehicle (HTV)-1 front end. The target is designed to facilitate the testing and defeat of various hypersonic threats.
MDA director Heath Collins said: “Our ability to defeat manoeuvring, hypersonic missiles is critical if we are to defend our homeland and our forces against an increasingly dangerous threat. The Aegis Weapon System will play a vital role in the next-generation integrated air and missile defence system, and today’s test demonstrated key achievements as we continue to partner with the Navy in advancing our Nation’s counter-hypersonic capabilities.”
Additionally, FTX-40 offered an opportunity to collect data for the hypersonic and ballistic tracking space sensor demonstration satellite. Supported by the MDA, the US Navy, Lockheed Martin, and other industry partners, FTX-40 tested a real-world hypersonic scenario. Stellar Banshee marked the inaugural use of the most recent Aegis software in a virtualised configuration for a ballistic missile defence flight test mission. FTX-40 also acted as a risk mitigation flight for the new MDA-developed test target and provided data collection for the Aegis baseline against a hypersonic representative target. This exercise lays the groundwork for a live intercept of the MRBM HTV-1 target using the enhanced SM-6, a test known as Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-43 (FTM-43), Lockheed notes. The latest exercise comes after the success of FTM-32, an SBT Increment 3 flight test experiment conducted in 2024. It showcased the capability of an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to detect, track, engage, and intercept an MRBM target in the terminal phase of flight with an SM-6. (Source: naval-technology.com)
27 Mar 25. Australia pours billions into missile procurement amidst global shortages.
* Summary
* Companies
* Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged A$74bn for missile acquisition last year
* Country builds partnerships with Lockheed Martin, Kongsberg and Raytheon
* Lockheed Martin says in talks over hypersonic weapons
The Ukraine war and increased European defence spending are likely to slow Australia’s plans to develop its own missile components’ capability as it pushes ahead with a multibillion-dollar effort to acquire long-range strike missiles. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged A$74 billion ($46.68bn) last year for missile acquisition including A$21bn to establish a Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise in Australia, as his Labor government reshaped the country’s defence strategy to respond to China’s military build-up. Hedging against global supply issues, Australia signed a flurry of orders with U.S. and European defence companies, including Lockheed Martin, Kongsberg and Raytheon. Lockheed Martin vice president for missile and flight control Tim Cahill said that the U.S. company was in discussions with Australia on “long term and short term solutions” for hypersonic missiles, which Australia wants to defend its northern borders.
“Long range strike and hypersonics – long range fast strike and very survivable strike – is clearly a priority,” Cahill said in an interview at this week’s Avalon Air Show. (Source: Reuters)
26 Mar 25. IT²EC 2025: Nato group to simulate virtual hypersonic threats. A ‘Common Simulation Environment’ will validate the right aerostructures and components in such a complex capability. Eight Nato members ave started to model and simulate hypersonic threats and countermeasures. Nato’s Modelling and Simulation Group (MSG), which comes under the auspices of the alliance’s Science and Technology Organisation (STO), created a new ‘activity’ to that end in November 2024.
The concept driving this new activity is to develop what was described as a “common synthetic environment” to validate (even operate) offensive and defensive architectures for hypersonics.
“The physics are very complex,” observed Wim Huiskamp, a scientific adviser for MSG, in a briefing during IT²EC 2025 in Oslo on 25 March.
“You cannot always conduct real experiments. It’s quite expensive and difficult to organise. We use simulation to get an understanding [of] what hypersonic threats really involve, what the physical aspects are… the different stresses on the vehicle.”
According to GlobalData’s ‘Aerospace and Defence Predictions’ (2024), hypersonic weapon systems require specially designed aerostructures, engines and subcomponents made of ultra-high temperature (UHT) materials such as silicon nitride and thermoplastics to ensure structural integrity at ‘hypersonic’ speeds (above Mach 5, which is nearly 4,000 miles per hour, or 6,437 km/h).
“We use simulation to get an understanding [of] what hypersonic threats really involve, what the physical aspects are… the different stresses on the vehicle.” Wim Huiskamp, Nato science adviser
Led by the Netherlands, this newfound modelling effort includes Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. The group of nations will convene meetings in Cologne, Germany in May 2025.
Typically, each nation participant will send two or three scientists; although there are “quite a few from Germany” he added without offering a fixed number.
Modelling hypersonic threats
The group will initially formulate high-level concept table-top games with an aim towards more detailed ‘Monte-Carlo runs’ – all to inform eventual field experiments. Such efforts to model hypersonics would be informed by many factors, including data accrued from use cases in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Huiskamp told Naval Technology. Russia flaunts its progress in hypersonic missiles, specifically the Kinzhal (ballistic) and Zircon (cruise) missiles, which have been used against Ukraine’s armed forces. However, there are practical limitations with these weapons as they lack manoeuvrability in flight despite the Kremlin’s claims that the missiles can reach up to Mach 10. In actual fact, the fully capable hypersonics segment is still in a nascent space, limited to the research and development phase.
“That’s part of the of the challenge,” Huiskamp added, “I believe, for that reason, this activity can go up to Nato secret [level of classification] this is typically classified information.”
Simulating threats and modelling outcomes in the virtual environment creates a safe space to preempt the effects of the future potential of hypersonics.
In the real world, the US is leading country in the hypersonics segment.. Two days ago (on 24 March), the US Missile Defense Agency and the US Navy jointly executed Flight Test Other-40 (FTX-40), or Stellar Banshee, off the coast of Hawaii. USS Pinckney, a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, demonstrated the ability to detect, track and perform a simulated engagement of a manoeuvring hypersonic target using the SBT Inc. 3 capability embedded in the latest Aegis software. In recent years, the US Navy has touted the notion that the hypersonic interceptor, the Conventional Prompt Strike missile system will be integrated on the new generation Zumwalt-class destroyers (DDG 1000s). In Europe, MBDA – the continent’s foremost complex weapon systems supplier – is best positioned to deliver systems as part of the European trend towards strategic autonomy, according to the group’s chief executive in a speech in Paris last week. Likewise, MBDA’s UK entity is able to leverage its proprietary Digital Battlespace Facility, which reached full operational capability in 2023, as the company can de-risk the hypersonic and conventional systems alike. (Source: naval-technology.com)
26 Mar 25. Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, fired a new version of the company’s combat-proven Coyote® family of products from a helicopter during a recent test at Nine Mile Training Center, giving military forces a new capability to detect, identify, locate and defeat threats on the battlefield. The new variant, Coyote LE SR, is part of a line of unmanned aerial systems called launched effects, which are fired from the air, ground, or sea and can perform a variety of missions. Previous variants have been used with significant success in combat as a counter-drone system; Coyote has successfully intercepted hundreds of drones. This new variant can perform reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition; electronic warfare; precision strike; and communications.
“Building on Coyote’s combat-proven capabilities, this new variant will provide a significant battlefield advantage,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “The Coyote LE SR is a low-cost, flexible system that equips troops with a new tool to outpace constantly evolving threats.”
Coyote LE SR uses collaborative autonomy allowing it to connect with other nearby sensors and systems to adjust its tactics and more efficiently and effectively achieve mission objectives based on real-time battlefield insights. This test marked the first Coyote launch from a helicopter and is one of many demonstrations of Coyote’s capabilities, expanding upon previous successful tests. Additional tests of Coyote LE SR will be held throughout 2025. Click here to learn more about the Coyote family of products. (Source: PR Newswire)
26 Mar 25. Four destroyers set to get DragonFire laser weapons – Navy debating which ones. Four Royal Navy warships are set to be kitted out with laser weaponry thanks to £2.2bn of defence funding, the Armed Forces Minister has announced. In an interview with BFBS Forces News, Luke Pollard said while he could not confirm which ships would be getting DragonFire, the plan is in place to have them using the weapon by 2027.
“Directed energy weapons are one of those novel and advanced technologies that we want to see on more of our ships,” he said.
“Previously, we inherited an unfunded plan for a single destroyer to get the DragonFire system, and we’re now announcing today a fully funded plan to put them on four of our destroyers.
“The work on which destroyers precisely is being worked through by the Navy at the moment, but this is a massive boost for the defensive posture of our Royal Navy fleet.”
Laser-directed energy weapons like DragonFire use an intense light beam to cut through their target and can strike at the speed of light. BFBS Forces News previously visited Porton Down military lab in Salisbury to see what remained of a drone after facing DragonFire. It had been left badly scorched and melted as a result of DragonFire, with clear cracks visible in its shell. Other items that faced the fury of DragonFire were shown by Dstl at Porton Down, with a mortar bomb facing a similar fate to the drone. It was not just DragonFire Mr Pollard announced, with the Armed Forces Minister also outlining plans to invest in the MOD estate, including housing.
“For far too long, our military families have been living in poor, substandard accommodation,” he said.
“It’s something that the Defence Secretary and myself feel is completely unacceptable.
“That’s why we’re using part of the additional funding that the Chancellor is announcing today to make sure that we’re starting work on upgrading the homes that we’ve now brought back.
“Thirty-six thousand homes brought back into public sector control from that botched privatisation, to make sure we can invest in decent homes for all those who serve.”
What will this look like though? Well Mr Pollard said the MOD wants there to be “concrete improvements for those people who serve”.
“That’s why the extra money that we’re announcing today will be directed towards not just the site surveys, the initial preparation work, but the work to improve service families,” he said.
“We’re prioritising damp and mould because we know that is such a problem across our estate.
“We want that work to begin as soon as the funding is available. This money will kick in in a matter of weeks and so we know that work will begin very shortly.”
Mr Pollard also outlined that the MOD is attempting to be more efficient while increasing spending on all these areas, with Defence Secretary John Healey leading defence reform.
“If you look only at defence procurement, we know it takes too long and is too expensive to order the kits and equipment our forces need,” he said.
“That’s why we’re making huge improvements with a new national armaments director and an accelerated procurement that will come out when the Defence Industrial Strategy is published shortly.”
But he said the Government wants the savings to be “pushed to the frontline”, in both resources to fight with and facilities to live within.
“That’s the change that we’re delivering,” he added. (Source: forces.net)
Commenting on the use of DragonFire in the Royal Navy, Dr David Blagden, from the University of Exeter’s Strategy and Security Institute, said:
“The particular value of directed-energy weapons like this is that each ’round’ they fire costs a tiny fraction of what it costs to fire a surface-to-air missile or even an anti-air gun – and you can keep firing them as long as you have power available, rather than running out of missiles once your silo’s empty. They will also obviously be less vulnerable to anti-missile countermeasures, although they will have limitations of their own (e.g. lasers rely on direct line-of-sight, can be impeded by things like smoke or vapour, might be countered by incoming weapons’ own heat shielding, and will need to be aimed quickly and accurately enough by a sufficiently advanced targeting radar).
“Of course, the Royal Navy will continue to need its most advanced air defence missiles for the foreseeable future – and indeed, will need to further modernise them, as well as growing its stockpiles – to counter ongoing advances in adversaries’ weaponry (such as their anti-ship ballistic missiles and most advanced strike aircraft).
“But DragonFire can be a valuable complement to such air defence missiles and guns, unencumbered by the same scarcity constraints, particularly for defending against things like drone swarms (where each incoming munition is not especially fast or capable by itself, but where adversaries may try to swamp traditional air defence missiles and guns with the sheer number of attack drones).”
26 Mar 14. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) has debuted an advanced large solid rocket motor to power the company’s air-launched, Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) target vehicle. The new L3Harris solid rocket motor, named eSR-19, was part of a recent Missile Defense Agency (MDA) test that powered the target’s first and second stages. The test, designated as Flight Test Other-40 or Stellar Banshee, demonstrated detection and tracking of an advanced hypersonic target by the USS Pinckney. The exercise included firing a simulated upgraded Standard Missile 6 at the target, an air-launched MRBM with a Hypersonic Target Vehicle 1 front end. The eSR-19 is an upgraded version of the SR-19, which powers the second stage of the nation’s Minuteman III strategic missiles. The new advanced large solid rocket motor features a lighter filament-wound composite case and other improvements to provide enhanced performance. The successful mission marks L3Harris’ 39th launch in support of the U.S. missile defense program. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
26 Mar 25. Roketsan conducts live-firing test of Levent air-defence missile. The Turkish Navy corvette TCG Beykoz returned to the Black Sea in March 2025 for a naval air-defence test firing one month after another such test. The previous test involved the Göksur air-defence missile developed by Aselsan. This time, the corvette was equipped with Roketsan’s Levent missile and its launcher. The live firing was announced in a video shared by Roketsan on the social media platform X on 24 March. The Levent close-in air-defence system (CIADS) launches the Levent missile, with an effective engagement range of up to 11 km. The missile measures 3.2 m in length, with a diameter of 128 mm, and a total weight of 75 kg. It uses a passive radio frequency (RF) guidance system withan infrared imaging (IIR) seeker designed to improve accuracy. The warhead consists of a 10 kg fragmentation payload equipped with a proximity sensor. According to Roketsan, the missile system can counter airborne threats, including aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and low radar cross-section guided missiles operating at both low and high altitudes with subsonic or supersonic speeds. For autonomous operations, the Levent launcher has an integrated radar and electro-optical (EO) sensors that function independently of the launcher to provide greater autonomy. The test launcher had a capacity for 11 missiles. (Source: Janes)
25 Mar 25. LM’s PSM Goes the Distance in Extended-Range Test. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and the U.S. Army successfully completed a significant Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) flight test, achieving another milestone in the development of this critical 21st Century Security® solution. The test, conducted at Vandenberg Space Force Base, underscores the missile’s potential to enhance air dominance and provide the warfighter with a decisive advantage in the battlespace.
“We successfully conducted a second test at Vandenberg Space Force Base to meet the extended range requirement, and PrSM exceeded expectations,” said Carolyn Orzechowski, vice president of Precision Fires Launchers and Missiles at Lockheed Martin. “PrSM offers game-changing capability, and we are dedicated to rigorously testing the system to ensure it meets the utmost standards of performance and reliability, providing our warfighters with a superior advantage on the battlefield.”
The demonstration follows another successful flight test conducted in February. PrSM is designed to provide the warfighter with a long-range precision strike capability, able to neutralize targets at distances greater than 400 km. Its open systems architecture design, modularity, and compatibility with HIMARS and M270 launchers make it an essential component of the U.S. Army’s modernization efforts. As a leader in the development of advanced missile systems, Lockheed Martin is dedicated to delivering innovative, lethal solutions that support the warfighter. The successful completion of this flight test demonstrates the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in missile technology, ensuring that the U.S. Army remains ahead of the curve in the pursuit of peace through strength. (Source: ASD Network)
24 Mar 25. Australian Defence Force rolls out new F9 sidearm to Brisbane troops. The Australian Defence Force has begun rolling out its newest sidearm with the F9 pistol beginning deployment with an initial unit in Brisbane. The F9, commercially known as the 9mm SIG P320 X-Carry pro, was reportedly signed over to 7th Brigade at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, from representatives of NIOA Group earlier this year. Soldiers have also undertaken test-firing of the pistol at the weapons training facility at Gallipoli Barracks as well as assembly and disassembly training.
“The Australian Defence Force has selected the F9 pistol as its newest sidearm, offering personnel a reliable and efficient option for self-defence and combat situations. Its lightweight design and high-capacity magazine make it a top choice for military use,” Defence said in a statement.
“The 7th Brigade, located at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane, has been selected as the initial unit to receive the F9 pistol.
“Project LAND 300 introduces a suite of new Australian Defence Force close combat weapons systems into service from the end of 2024 to the middle of 2027, including pistols, sniper rifles, a fighting knife and a compact personal defence rifle.
“The rollout of the F9 pistol is set to continue throughout 2025.”
The F9 (with attached reflex sights, white light illuminator) replaces the ADF’s current Browning Mk3 pistol. (Source: Defence Connect)
25 Mar 25. The USS Pinckney (DDG 91) successfully completed Flight Test Other 40 (FTX-40), also known as Stellar Banshee, using Lockheed Martin’s Aegis Combat System to detect, track and perform an engagement against a live advanced hypersonic Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) target using a simulated SM-6 Block IAU. FTX-40, backed by the Missile Defense Agency, United States Navy, Lockheed Martin, and industry partners, tested a real-world hypersonic scenario, showcasing several capabilities. Stellar Banshee introduced a new target and simulated missile, marking the successful use of the latest Aegis software in a virtualized configuration for a Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Flight Test mission. The successful test also highlights the Aegis Combat System’s capacity to adapt to the constantly evolving defense environment. With both sea-based and land-based configurations, Aegis demonstrates the flexibility and scalability of the system, making it a key pillar of missile defense. Lockheed Martin is driving innovation, integration and support for ongoing flight tests with the Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy, and industry partners, shaping the future of Aegis technology. The FTX-40 simulated engagement previews future Aegis live fire intercept missions and is the third test for the Capability Package 24 / Ballistic Missile Defense 5.1.5 system, including the Sea-Based Terminal Increment 3. Last year, industry and government teams successfully executed FTX-23, otherwise known as Stellar Sisyphus, demonstrating a two-part developmental test of sensor-tracking and communications-link capabilities. The teams successfully intercepted a MRBM target using the SM-6 Dual II Software Upgrade interceptor missile in FTM-32.
25 Mar 25. Brazilian marines establish coastal defence missile capability. The Brazilian Navy’s Marine Corps is establishing an Anti-ship Missile Battery within the Marine Artillery Battalion (Batalhão de Artilharia de Fuzileiros Navais: BtlArtFuzNav), creating a coastal defence missile capability, General Commander of the Marine Corps Fleet Admiral Carlos Chagas Vianna Braga said on 13 March. Two Avibras (AV) LMU (Lançadora Múltipla Universal) 6×6 launch vehicles were already converted to launch the Brazilian-made MANSUP (Míssil Antinavio Nacional de Superfície) surface-to-surface anti-ship missile. A third AV-LMU vehicle would be converted to fire the naval weapon for the Marine Corps’ Fleet Marine Force, Adm Carlos Chagas said during a lecture at the Naval Club in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The modification of the AV-LMU to a missile-capable vehicle principally includes replacing the unguided rocket racks on the AV-PLM (Plataforma Lançadora Múltipla) launch platform with two dedicated missile launch tubes. The Anti-ship Missile Battery will gradually be equipped with three AV-LMUs of the Avibras Astros II Mk 6 self-propelled armoured multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) of the Multiple Rockets Launching Battery. The two launchers were recently transported to Fortaleza, Ceará, to take part in Operation ‘Jeanne d’Arc 2025′, an amphibious warfare exercise together with the French Navy and French Army between 16 March and 2 April, according to the Brazilian Navy. The Astros II Mk 6 battery was commissioned for the Multiple Rockets Launching Battery between March 2014 and June 2016. It consisted of six 6×6 AV-LMUs, three 6×6 AV-RMD (Remuniciadora) ammunition resupply vehicles, one AV-PCC (Posto de Comando e Controle) 4×4 command-and-control post vehicle, one AV-MET (Meteorológico) 4×4 weather station vehicle, and one AV-OFVE (Oficina Veicular e Eletrônica) 6×6 maintenance and repair vehicle. (Source: Janes)
25 Mar 25. Boeing’s [NYSE: BA] production of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) seekers reached an all-time high in 2024, resulting in more than 500 deliveries. In early 2025, the company also set new monthly and 12-month rolling average production records. The seeker component enables the most advanced interceptors used by the Patriot air defense system to identify, track and defeat threats ranging from hostile aircraft to advanced ballistic and cruise missiles. Boeing plans to further expand seeker production in 2025, with additional growth planned in the years ahead in support of increasing defense and security needs globally. The company also expects to complete construction of its new 35,000-square-foot (3,300-square-meter) factory expansion this spring, which will unlock additional future production capacity once fully operational.
“We know that service members and civilians are increasingly depending on us to deliver this critical component for the world’s best air defense system,” said Jim Bryan, director of Integrated Air & Missile Defense. “This capability exemplifies our air and missile defense expertise, which we can leverage to address major challenges, such as America’s next-generation homeland defense shield and more.”
Over the past several years, Boeing has made investments and improvements as part of its strategic plan to ramp up PAC-3 seeker production, including:
* Expanding and modernizing facilities with cutting-edge equipment and technology from automated inspection to robotic soldering equipment.
* Improving manufacturing processes and production controls for greater first-time quality.
* Strengthening and diversifying supplier relationships for a more agile, affordable, resilient and scalable supply chain.
Boeing produces PAC-3 seekers for the U.S. Army and international partner nations as a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin. Seventeen countries around the world now use PAC-3 interceptors, including most recently Ukraine.
24 Mar 25. Rafael, IMDO complete interception tests of Israel Iron Dome. The latest tests were designed to simulate a range of new threats that the system may encounter during conflict. The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) in collaboration with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, has successfully completed a series of interception tests for the Iron Dome defence system. Under the guidance of the Directorate of Defence Research & Development (DDR&D) within the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD), the IMDO spearheads the development of this array. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems serves as the primary contractor for the Iron Dome, working in partnership with ELTA Systems, a division of Israel Aerospace Industries, and mPrest Defense. The latest tests were designed to simulate a range of new threats that the system may encounter during conflict. The recent test series focused on a variety of scenarios, including the interception of rockets, cruise missiles, and uncrewed aerial vehicles. The tests aimed to evaluate and enhance the Iron Dome’s capabilities as part of Israel’s multi-layered defence strategy.
Rafael CEO Yoav Tourgeman said: “Even after more than a decade of operational service, the Iron Dome defence system continues to demonstrate its immense contribution to Israel’s security and the protection of its citizens. Rafael is proud to conclude that this successful and advanced test campaign was the largest and most significant ever conducted with the Iron Dome defence system. The tests incorporated new capabilities across a wide range of scenarios, all of which the system successfully handled. These new capabilities will further enhance our ability to address future threats. The system, which became operational in 2011, offers dual functionality, combining Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) and Counter Rockets, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) capabilities.
Iron Dome is a 24/7 operational system that can withstand various weather conditions such as low clouds, rain, dust storms, or fog. Its family of defence solutions, including the C-DOME naval version and the mobile I-DOME, offers air defence for land, manoeuvring forces, maritime operations, and civilian areas.
IMDO director Moshe Patel: “Throughout this war, we’ve seen that the Iron Dome Air and Missile defence system remains a critical asset even when facing intense barrages and adapting to the dynamic requirements of ground operations. The Israel Missile Defense Organization is continuously enhancing the Iron Dome’s capabilities—on both land and sea—even while operating under fire in wartime conditions. This latest round of testing has allowed us to validate several new capabilities informed directly by battlefield insights successfully. This campaign further reinforce our confidence in the system’s ability to safeguard Israel and its people.”
The system is a component of Israel’s national Air and Missile Defense Array, which also features the Arrow and David’s Sling weapon systems. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
24 Mar 14. Oshkosh Defense LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] business, is exhibiting at the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) Global Force Symposium in Huntsville, AL, from March 25 – 27, 2025. In Booth #903, Oshkosh will showcase the advanced autonomous technology of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires (ROGUE-Fires). Demonstrating its payload-agnostic design, ROGUE-Fires will be displayed for the first time with the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Family of Munitions (MFOM). ROGUE-Fires is engineered to support a range of mission-critical payloads, including long-range precision fires, autonomous resupply, and logistics operations. Based on the Oshkosh JLTV, the ROGUE-Fires’ powertrain can be adapted to hybrid-electric, enabling silent drive and silent watch, enhanced fuel economy and increased exportable power to further support mission success.
“At AUSA Global Force, we are excited to showcase ROGUE-Fires with MFOM highlighting its potential to deliver cutting-edge, technologically advanced, surface-to-surface fires,” said Pat Williams, chief programs officer at Oshkosh Defense. “Oshkosh is committed to designing scalable solutions that support the U.S. Army’s transformation to the Army of 2030, where human-machine integration in multi-domain operations will be critical to mission success.”
Oshkosh’s growing portfolio of autonomy-ready tactical vehicles, including the ROGUE-Fires, FMTV A2 launcher, and the Palletized Load System (PLS) A2, integrate advanced drive-by-wire vehicle architectures to support incremental modernization. These platforms enhance Warfighter safety while contributing to mission effectiveness in dynamic operational environments.
“As the battlefield continues to evolve, we are leveraging the mature and proven Oshkosh families of vehicles to design payload-agnostic autonomous platforms that deliver unmatched flexibility, enabling forces to outpace emerging threats and maintain operational dominance,” Williams concluded.
Oshkosh Defense leadership will be available to discuss the company’s entire portfolio of vehicles, mobility systems, and next-generation technologies at AUSA GFS 2025 in booth #903. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
24 Mar 25. Finland procures 155 mm artillery and 7.62 mm small-arms ammunition. Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) to order 155 mm artillery and 7.62 mm small-arms ammunition from Nammo Lapua. The Finnish Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on its website on 20 March that the FDF is procuring 155 mm artillery rounds worth EUR79 m (USD85.5 m) from Nammo Lapua for K 83-97 and K 98 towed howitzers, as well as for K9 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs).
Häkkänen said, “We are once again placing a large order for materiel with domestic industry. The adequacy of artillery ammunition is one of the cornerstones of the army’s performance, and this decision will secure it. It is very important for Finland’s military security of supply that domestic production capacity for key defence equipment is maintained and strengthened.”
The Finnish MoD said on its website on 14 March that the small-arms ammunition order from Nammo Lapua would be for 7.62 RK 62 and 7.62 KIV weapons worth EUR180 m, with deliveries planned for 2025–28. Nammo Lapua has a strategic partnership with the FDF covering a wide range of ammunition and explosives products and related products and services. (Source: Janes)
24 Mar 25. Türkiye tests SOM-J cruise missile. Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir released the first footage of a stand-off missile (SOM-J) being test-fired on 21 March. The short video showed an F-16 from the Turkish Air Force’s Eskisehir-based 401 Test Squadron taking off with the SOM-J cruise missile under its starboard wing, then releasing it. The missile was then shown hitting close to a target cross on shipping containers stacked on a floating barge. There was no explosion, presumably because the test missile did not have a live warhead. A caption on the video said this was the first SOM-J firing test against a “surface target”, leaving open the possibility that it has already been tested against a land target. The Tübitak Defense Industries Research and Development Institute, the missile’s developer, suggested earlier tests had been carried out when it reposted Kac?r’s video. “SOM-J proved its superior performance once again by receiving full marks in the areas of communication and control via datalink, maximum range, hit accuracy, and engagement capabilities,” it said. Photographs released in 2021 showed an F-16 carrying a SOM-J, but no test firings were confirmed. This missile was labelled ‘KTM-2′, which Turkish sources reported to stand for Kabul Test Mühimmat (acceptance test munition). In contrast, the one seen in Kacir’s video was labelled as ‘ATM’ and had numerous calibration markings to track its movement. (Source: Janes)
21 Mar 25. Europe should “work together” on lasers, MBDA chief urges. Britain, France, Germany and Italy are each pursuing their own separate military directed energy weapon capabilities at present. In a speech in Paris earlier this week, Eric Béranger, the chief executive of MBDA, a leading missile maker, proposed that European nations “work together” on the development of laser weapon systems. Britain, France, Germany and Italy are each pursuing their own military directed energy weapon capabilities. Béranger entertained the possibility of eventual government-level cohesion: “I am convinced that at some point in time those nations will decide to cooperate. But today is not the case.” Strategists are finding opportunities that the nascent technology can address in the modern battlespace: laser systems are principally used to counter uncrewed air systems (C-UAS) and drone-swarming tactics. Likewise, firing laser systems costs far less than the endless consumption of conventional munitions, the supply of which Ukraine’s armed forces are struggling to maintain against invading Russian forces in a costly war of attrition. The British DragonFire system, which the previous Conservative government pledged to integrate on Royal Navy warships by 2027, costs £10 ($12.93) per shot.
“At the moment we are on 50-100kw,” a laser weapons expert at MBDA Germany told this reporter in late 2023. But this “could eventually surpass the level of megawatts, whereas now we are on kilowatts.”
MBDA to lead the way in lasers
“MBDA is trying to be the channel [among] each of these nations so that when they decide to cooperate, we stand a chance to make it easier and made in a more clever way,” Béranger said.
Currently, the pan-European defence group has a finger in every pie, from DragonFire in the UK alongside QinetiQ and Leonardo; a German demonstrator it developed with Rheinmetall; acquiring a stake in CILAS, the manufacturer of France’s HELMA-P solution; as well as delivering Italy’s Fire Unit Directed Energy Weapon. The group is positioned well to direct the industrial cooperation behind any collective effort in the future. During his speech, the MBDA chief recalled that cooperation “is in our DNA,” as MBDA was formed from of an Anglo-French effort to develop the Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missile.
“The advantage is that those teams didn’t need to learn again how to create a cooperation for the following cooperations – cooperation is not easy.”
Right now, MBDA is the only European supplier that can feasibly deliver sovereign systems at a time when US security guarantees are waning. In fact, Béranger intimated that “every time our customers want us to be desensitised [from the American supply chain], we can do that.” (Source: naval-technology.com)
21 Mar 25. Shell Shock Technologies, LLC. (SST), a leading innovator in the ammunition industry, released a pioneering analysis, Weight Reduction of Lighter Weight Ammunition & Its Impact on Troops and Aircraft / Vehicles, highlighting the life-saving benefits of its innovative lightweight ammunition. The study, based on over 885,000 simulations, confirms that a 30 percent reduction in ammunition weight significantly enhances soldier survivability, mobility, and endurance. A key finding reveals that for a 13-member Marine Rifle Squad engaging an enemy in a defensive position, rushing across 100 meters of rough desert terrain, a 15 lbs. weight reduction for troops can cut squad casualties from 8.9 to 3.5 per engagement. With ammunition accounting for 8 lbs. per troop, a 30 percent reduction (2.4 lbs. per troop) contributes to 16 percent of the total weight savings—potentially saving one troop per engagement. Beyond reducing casualties, SST’s lightweight ammunition improves combat efficiency by allowing soldiers to carry more rounds without increasing their load, boosting mobility and agility in the battlefield. This improved efficiency allows for faster deployment and reduced physical strain. Lighter loads also lessen fatigue, enabling troops to operate at peak performance for longer durations in high-stress environments. Shell Shock Technologies remains committed to developing cutting-edge solutions that enhance operational efficiency and soldier safety.
19 Mar 25. The first MAST-F (AKERON LP) boosted missile firing from a Tiger Test Bed Helicopter has been successfully performed at the French DGA Trial Centre at Cazaux (DGA/Essais en Vol). This prototype missile was equipped with a booster and a telemetry system to collect a large amount of data. This trial was carried out especially in order to assess the behaviour of the missile and to confirm the safe missile separation phase in presence of helicopter perturbations. Few weeks after the first long range firing, this new successful firing is a great achievement for the MAST-F Programme managed by OCCAR for our Member State France. Thanks to the great cooperation and close involvement of all key stakeholders (MBDA and its subcontractors, DGA test centres and OCCAR), this success is a significant step forward for the development of this new battlefield system. (Source: forces.net)
21 Mar 25. PGZ teams with Remontowa Shipbuilding to export Kormoran II MCMVs. The Polish Armaments Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa: PGZ) and its subsidiaries PGZ Naval Shipyard and the Research and Development Centre of Marine Technology (OBR CTM) have signed a letter of intent (LoI) with Remontowa Shipbuilding for the potential future export of Kormoran II mine-countermeasures vessels (MCMVs). The co-operation agreement was signed during the christening and launch ceremony of the Polish Navy’s fifth Kormoran II (Project 258)-class MCMV, Rybitwa (605), at Remontowa Shipbuilding’s facilities in Gdansk on 19 March, PGZ confirmed the same day. Rybitwa is the fifth in a series of six Kormoran II MCMVs on order for the Polish Navy under contracts awarded to a consortium comprising Remontowa Shipbuilding (acting as the prime contractor), PGZ Naval Shipyard, OBR CTM, and the CTO Ship Design and Research Centre. They are intended to replace the navy’s 1960s-era Project 206FM mine-warfare vessels ORP Czajka, ORP Flaming, and ORP Mewa, which were decommissioned between 2019 and 2021. The first three vessels, ORP Kormoran (601), ORP Albatros (602), and ORP Mewa (603), were delivered and commissioned into service between 2017 and 2023, and are based with the 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla’s 13th Minesweeper Squadron in Gdynia. (Source: Janes)
21 Mar 25. NAVAIR contracts Lockheed Martin to integrate AGM-158C LRASM onto USAF F-16s. US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) intends to award Lockheed Martin a contract to integrate its AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) onto F-16s, according to a 17 March notification. Testing is set to begin later in 2025, NAVAIR told Janes on 20 March, focusing on integrating the AGM-158C-1. The C-1 version entered service in 2018, and subsequent versions – AGM-158C-3 and LRASM-XR – have added range and seeker capabilities. Lockheed Martin manufactures both the aircraft and the missile; although the US Navy does not operate F-16s, NAVAIR manages the LRASM programme on behalf of all US Department of Defense branches. US Air Force (USAF) F-16s can already employ the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), which preceded LRASM into service and incorporates the same 4.26 m-long low-observable missile body, Williams International F107 turbofan engine, and 453.6 kg penetration warhead, with the addition of a datalink and specialised maritime seeker. The F-16 is the latest in a series of aircraft to be integrated with LRASM. The missile is operationally employed by the navy’s F/A-18E/F and USAF’s B-1B. Integration testing is ongoing aboard the P-8A, F-35B, and F-35C (integration with the F-35A is planned); a similar notice of NAVAIR’s intent to integrate LRASM onto the F-15E and F-15EX was released in January. (Source: Janes)
21 Mar 25. South Korea issues tender for Patriot launcher upgrade. South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has issued a tender to support its planned upgrade of the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (RoKAF’s) Lockheed Martin Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC) missile launcher. Released on 18 March, the tender is intended to identify foreign companies to undertake the upgrades, and it has a budget of KRW305.8bn (USD209m). According to the tender, a request for proposals (RFP) will be distributed to potential bidders present in an explanatory session to be held on 26 March. The bidder offering “the lowest cost while satisfying the requirements” will be selected, DAPA said. According to DAPA, the programme will “regenerate and improve the performance of Patriot launchers operated by the RoKAF”. However, DAPA did not elaborate on the details of upgrades to be undertaken as part of this programme. DAPA approved a plan in 2021 to upgrade the PAC-2 missile launchers in operation with the RoKAF to enable the deployment of PAC-3 missiles. PAC-3 launchers hold 16 missiles compared with PAC-2’s four, and are transportable by C-130 Hercules aircraft. Janes World Air Forces lists MIM-104C PAC-2 Guidance Enhanced Missile Tactical (GEM-T) and MIM-104F PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI) as variants of the Patriot air-defence systems operated by the RoKAF. According to Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence , the Patriot system is a family of semi-mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems developed by Raytheon in the United States. It is a ground-based air-defence system utilising a missile interceptor to defeat airborne threats in the short-range air defence through medium-range air defence range brackets. (Source: Janes)
21 Mar 25. Europe should “work together” on lasers, MBDA chief urges
Britain, France, Germany and Italy are each pursuing their own separate military directed energy weapon capabilities at present. In a speech in Paris earlier this week, Eric Béranger, the chief executive of MBDA, a leading missile maker, proposed that European nations “work together” on the development of laser weapon systems. Britain, France, Germany and Italy are each pursuing their own military directed energy weapon capabilities. éranger entertained the possibility of eventual government-level cohesion: “I am convinced that at some point in time those nations will decide to cooperate. But today is not the case.”
Strategists are finding opportunities that the nascent technology can address in the modern battlespace: laser systems are principally used to counter uncrewed air systems (C-UAS) and drone-swarming tactics.
Likewise, firing laser systems costs far less than the endless consumption of conventional munitions, the supply of which Ukraine’s armed forces are struggling to maintain against invading Russian forces in a costly war of attrition. The British DragonFire system, which the previous Conservative government pledged to integrate on Royal Navy warships by 2027, costs £10 ($12.93) per shot.
“At the moment we are on 50-100kw,” a laser weapons expert at MBDA Germany told this reporter in late 2023. But this “could eventually surpass the level of megawatts, whereas now we are on kilowatts.”
MBDA to lead the way in lasers
“MBDA is trying to be the channel [among] each of these nations so that when they decide to cooperate, we stand a chance to make it easier and made in a more clever way,” Béranger said. (Source: army-technology.com)
21 Mar 25. US Army picks Anduril to develop solid motor. The U.S. Army has chosen Anduril Rocket Motor Systems to develop a new 4.75-inch solid rocket motor for long-range precision rocket artillery, the company announced today. Anduril Industries moved into the solid rocket motor business when it acquired Adranos in 2023, which allowed it to start supplying solid rocket motors to companies that make hypersonic weapons, missiles and other propulsion systems. While the rocket motor industry has grown — and now includes L3Harris’ Aerojet Rocketdyne, Northrop Grumman and Nammo — there is still a shortage of solid-rocket motors to outfit all of the missiles. The U.S. has ramped up its missile production to resupply its own stockpiles after providing weapons to Ukraine and to ensure it has enough to handle future contingencies that may demand the firepower.
“Ongoing global conflicts have only underscored the urgency of increasing industry capacity,” retired Army Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood, Anduril Industries’ senior vice president, wrote in a company blog post. “SRMs are essential components of munitions and hypersonic weapons, making it critical to scale production and replenish this depleted resource.”
Earlier this week, Army Futures Command Commander Gen. James Rainey said the service’s exquisite and precise weapon systems are necessary to penetrate deep into enemy territory and go up against enemy air defenses, but there is also a need for “boxes of rockets, cheap rockets, that we can fire in the hundreds.”
When it comes to air defense or offensive long-range fires, “we are seeing companies that are coming in at price points, the ability to scale. It’s very promising and present,” Rainey said at the McAleese and Associates’ defense conference in Arlington, Virginia.
“Anduril’s solution will increase magazine capacity while maintaining the range, effectiveness, and lethality required on today’s battlefield,” Thurgood said in his post.
The 4.75-inch size “potentially” allows for up to 30 guided rockets to be configured in a single High Mobility Artillery Rocket System pod, Thurgood said, “drastically improving the loadout within existing launcher constraints.”
Anduril “is one of the first companies developing rocket motors in this form factor to meet the Army’s need for increased volume and affordability,” he added.
The company will build and test rocket motors using both traditional aluminized propellant and its “advanced ALITEC fuel,” according to Thurgood. ALITEC improves munition range in a smaller package while using less power, he noted.
“We anticipate that ALITEC-powered SRMs will achieve ranges comparable to significantly larger rocket motors, providing long-range strike capability in a smaller and more efficient design,” Thurgood writes.
Additionally, the company is using its recent $14.3m Defense Production Act award to improve manufacturing methods, including “applying single-piece-flow manufacturing, powered by bladeless high-speed mixer.”
The company is also investing $74 m internally to produce large amounts of SRMs at a lower cost, Thurgood said. (Source: Defense News)
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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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