03 Mar 23. Graduates of Philippines’ Brahmos SBASM programme emerge. A batch of 21 operators for the Philippine Marine Corps’ future Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile (SBASM) has completed initial training on operations and maintenance of the weapon system, the service announced on its social media channel.
The Philippine Navy personnel were awarded their interim missile badges and pins by the Indian Navy’s Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar following training that was conducted from 23 January to 11 February, the service said.
“The induction of the BrahMos missile into the Philippine Marine Corps will strengthen your maritime capability and will also contribute to our collective maritime security within the region,” Admiral Kumar was quoted as saying.
Initial delivery of the BrahMos missile system to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is expected in 2023, the Indian Embassy in Manila confirmed on the sidelines of India’s 75th Independence Day celebration in August 2022.
The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) signed a contract worth US$375 million for the acquisition of the Indo-Russian BrahMos medium-range supersonic cruise missiles in January 2022.
The deal calls for three missile batteries, each of which comprises mobile launchers – equipped with three missiles each – and associated datalinks and tracking systems.
Depending on the variant, the BrahMos cruise missile can be launched from a ship, aircraft, submarine, or land-based launcher and has a top speed of around Mach 2.8. It can carry warheads weighing up to 300 kg. Based on imagery released by the Marine Corps, it appears that a modified, twin-missile mobile launcher design has been adopted instead of the standard triple-missile configuration used by the Indian armed forces.
The SBASM battalion, activated in April 2022, will be operating the anti-ship missile systems. The Marine Corps have also activated a new unit known as the Shore-Based Air Defense System (SBADS) battalion. According to the AFP news agency, the SBADS will protect SBASM assets from aerial threats during anti-ship missile launch operations.
Both the SBASM and the SBADS are sub-formations of the Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense Regiment, which was also recently stood up in August 2020.
The Philippine Army is also lining up to acquire two BrahMos batteries for coastal defence missions under the third horizon of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernisation Program (RAFPMP), which runs from 2023-2027. (Source: AMR)
02 Mar 23. A Bridge to Fall: modernising the Army’s bridge demolition capability.
Do you have new ideas or solutions for how the Army can safely demolish bridges?
- The Defence and Security Accelerator has launched a new Innovation Focus Area: A Bridge to Fall
- This Innovation Focus Area is looking for ways to modernise how the Army approaches bridge demolition
- Up to £400k is available in funding for this Innovation Focus Area
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is launching a new Innovation Focus Area (IFA) called A Bridge to Fall. This IFA, run on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), is searching for innovative ways of modernising the British Army’s bridge demolition capability, which could reduce the time to prepare the demolition or minimise the exposure of military personnel to potential hazards.
The importance of bridges
Bridges are key to the large scale manoeuvre and supply of troops and, in particular, armour. A defending force has a strong incentive to deny an adversary the use of bridges, meanwhile an attacker has an equally strong motivation to preserve key bridges and disrupt attempts at sabotage.
Preventing an adversary from using a bridge is an important but dangerous mission. The most efficient method of doing this is through bridge demolition via the select placement of charges on the bridge structure. However, preparing a structure for demolition this way is resource intensive, both in terms of the number of personnel used and the time required.
What is required?
This IFA, A Bridge to Fall, seeks ideas which can speed up the preparation of the demolition, minimise human participation in the bridge demolition process and reduce the demands on any remaining personnel.
There are three challenge areas in this IFA. Proposals should address one or more of the following challenge areas:
1) How to identify and diagnose structural weaknesses of bridges
2) How to optimise the placement and effect of explosive charges on the bridge
3) Designing an unmanned device to place the charge(s) in the appropriate point(s)
For this IFA, the assumption should be made that the target bridge is of ferrocement construction (i.e. steel reinforced concrete).
Learn more about the challenge areas in the full IFA document.
Key dates and funding
This IFA will be valid for at least Cycles 1 and 2 of the Open Call for Innovation in FY23/24 and up to £400k of funding is available.
Find out more and submit a proposal to the A Bridge to Fall IFA: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-and-security-accelerator-dasa-open-call-for-innovation/ifa040-a-bridge-to-fall
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
01 Mar 23. The Marines, Iron Dome, open architecture effectors and AIR 6502. With the ever growing complexity of the air and missile threat environment, combined with the tactical and strategic challenges of the Indo-Pacific, the US Marines’ recent tick of approval for Israel’s Iron Dome capability presents an interesting avenue for Australia’s own AIR 6502 solution.
Successfully completed in late-2022, the United States Marine Corps has responded to the rapidly evolving threat environment for their expeditionary forces operating across the Indo-Pacific, approving the next stage of development for a medium-range, mobile air defence capability based on the Rafael-designed and built Iron Dome capability.
The series of tests were conducted by the Marines at the White Sands facility in New Mexico as part of the development program to test a new prototype system for medium-range intercept capability (MRIC) leveraging the open architecture infrastructure across Rafael’s suite of advanced missile interceptors with significant benefits for Australia’s own AIR 6502 program.
The proposed US Marine MRIC capability will play a similar role to the proposed medium-range ground-based air defence (MRGBAD) identified by the Australian Defence Force as part of the AIR 6502 Phase 1 program. This program will serve as a key component to the ADF’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) Program — the MRGBAD system will see Defence’s existing Air Defence System enhanced by providing a ground-based middle-layer area air defence capability, designed to deter, deny and/or defeat air and missile threats.
Rafael’s plan, working with Raytheon via the Patriot Missile System, more broadly will incorporate the next-generation capability delivered by the company’s long-range SkyCeptor effector, combined with the technical experience developed by the US Marines to deliver a truly medium-range integrated air and missile defence capability.
Don Kelley, project manager in the Air Defense Department (GBAD) of the Marine Corps’ Land Directorate (PEO Land Systems), said at the end of the test, “The three tests that took place this year proved that the performance of the MRIC system with Iron Dome interceptors is good and provides a dedicated launcher solution for the Marines.”
The successful testing of the capability by the US Marines will combine the vehicle-mounted Iron Dome launcher, paired with Rafael’s SkyHunter (Tamir) interceptors alongside the Common Aviation Command-and-Control System (CAC2S) and a mini battle management control (BMC) system for the Tamir missile, along with the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR).
During this final test conducted by the US Marines, it is stated by Barbara Hamby, a spokesperson for the USMC Program Executive Officer (PEO) Land Systems, that the Iron Dome capability as it was integrated into the US Marines launchers, “demonstrated and proved” that the weapon system “exceeds” the threshold requirements identified by the Marines as fundamental to the success of the platform.
Brigadier General (Ret’d) Shachar Shohat, vice-president air defence, Rafael, explained to Defence Connect the role the SkyCeptor interceptor could play as a “plug and play” system agnostic effector for future integration with any Australian Patriot Missile system acquisition, saying, “The SkyCeptor effector enjoy a high degree of commonality with the existing air defence effectors in the US, Israel and other Western inventories, and incorporates a next-generation capability that futureproofs the effector against current and future threats, including hypersonic weapons, which are growing in proliferation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
“Leveraging the existing supply chains, technology, experience in the United States and Israel, combined with the economies of scale enjoyed by Rafael’s manufacturing capability, we can ensure that the Australian Defence Force has a leading edge, medium range air defence capability, that is proven and in the process of being fielded by the United States Marines within approximately 24 months from contract signature,” Shohat added.
The AIR 6502 system will be designed to operate either independently or while integrated with the Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS) and other elements of the ADF’s IAMD capability to counter a range of current and emerging air and missile threats — with an estimated investment of between AU$4.9 and $7.3 bn, Defence intends to deliver the initial components of MRGBAD system in the late 2020s with the intention to build on the capability over the coming decades. (Source: Defence Connect)
01 Mar 23. BAE Australia designing new guided munition for UCAVs, helos. BAE Systems Australia has announced that it is designing and developing a new air-launched guided munition called the Razer. The company said in the announcement on 28 February that the Razer is being conceived as a “low-cost air-launched precision-guided munition that is designed to transform a 40–50 kg standard non-guided munition into a precision air-launched weapon at low cost”. According to BAE Systems Australia, the Razer system consists of a wing/body kit and tail unit. The kit also comprises a powered Global Positioning System/inertial navigation system (GPS/INS). The company said that the Razer is being designed to be carried by unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) and combat helicopters. The low-cost precision-guided munition (LCPGM) is being designed for operation in air and maritime environments, the company said in a statement. The announcement of the Razer was made following the unveiling of the company’s Strix unmanned aircraft system (UAS) during Avalon 2023 in Australia. The air show is being held from 28 February to 5 March. (Source: Janes)
28 Feb 23. Aerojet Rocketdyne achieves ACM delivery milestone for Patriot missile. Since 2004, the company has been delivering ACMs for the defence system programme. Aerojet Rocketdyne has achieved a milestone with the delivery of the 830,000th attitude control motor (ACM) for the Patriot missile system. The record achievement was possible due to investments made by the company that enabled it to expand its ACM production by 40%.
In addition to moving from two to three production lines for ACMs, the company made investments in expanding manufacturing space, new advanced equipment, building upgrades, automating processes for production, and more.
The ACM is used for the different variants of the Patriot system, as well as for the Patriot advanced capability-3 (PAC-3) missile segment enhancement (MSE).
Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and president Eileen Drake said: “We take great pride in our role powering the PAC-3 MSE air defence missile system, and this milestone comes at a uniquely important time as the demand for key defence systems continues to increase.
“Our investments to expand production for this critical system will ensure we are able to meet continued demand for our reliable propulsion.”
According to the company, the majority of ACMs have been produced by Aerojet Rocketdyne at its Solid Rocket Motor Center of Excellence in Camden, Arkansas, US.
It has been supporting the defence system by supplying ACMs since 2004.
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, a PAC-3 MSE missile requires 180 egg-sized ACMs. The motors help to control the missile’s course to hit the target.
Aerojet Rocketdyne also supports the PAC-3 MSE programme by providing dual-pulse solid rocket motors and lethality enhancers.
Earlier this month, the company reported sales of $2.23bn for the full year 2022. (Source: army-technology.com)
28 Feb 23. SIG SAUER Announces the Commercial Introduction of the MCX-SPEAR Rifle – The Next Generation Has Arrived. SIG SAUER is pleased to introduce the MCX-SPEAR, the civilian version of the U.S. Army’s new XM7 rifle chosen for the Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program. The MCX-SPEAR is available in 7.62 NATO and 6.5 Creedmoor and coming soon in 277 SIG Fury.
“The SIG SAUER-MCX family of rifles has become synonymous with innovative engineering and premium quality in a reliable and proven carbine.” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales. “The next generation has arrived with the new MCX-SPEAR, offering enhanced AR-10 capabilities in the MCX platform for the first time on the commercial market.”
The MCX-SPEAR is an adaptable multi-caliber rifle (277 SIG FURY, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7.62 NATO) featuring rear and side non-reciprocating charging handles, a 6-position folding Magpul SL-M stock, integrated stainless steel QD mounts on the lower receiver and handguard, fully ambidextrous fire controls, including safety, bolt-catch, and magazine release, 2-stage Matchlite Duo trigger, 2-position adjustable gas valve, a lightened free-float M-LOK™ handguard with a full-length picatinny rail, and user-interchangeable barrel for easy caliber conversion. The MCX-SPEAR ships with (1) 20-round magazine.
MCX-SPEAR Specs:
MCX-SPEAR
Overall Length: 38.3 in.
Overall Height: 8 in.
Overall Width: 2.5 in.
Barrel Length: 16 in.
Barrel Twist: 1:10 in.
Weight: 9.2 lbs.
MCX-SPEAR SBR
Overall Length: 35 in.
Overall Height: 8 in.
Overall Width: 2.5 in.
Barrel Length: 13 in.
Barrel Twist: 1:10 in.
Weight: 8.6 lbs.
MCX-SPEAR Pistol
Overall Length: 24.5 in.
Overall Height: 8 in.
Overall Width: 2.5 in.
Barrel Length: 13 in.
Barrel Twist: 1:10 in.
Weight: 7.6 lbs.
01 Mar.23. Colombian Army reveals new Rafael Spike ER anti-tank missiles. The Colombian Army in February 2023 showcased its Rafael Spike ER anti-tank missile systems for the first time, having quietly purchased them in 2019 and receiving them a year later.
The army revealed the updated systems during a ceremony in Bogotá on 14 February. Military sources told Janes that the service acquired a small batch of three launch units and more than 15 missiles to reinforce defences against armoured threats.
The new missiles are mounted on M966 Humvees operated by the Medium Combined Arms Task Force No 1 (FUTAM), located in La Guajira department near the Venezuelan border.
The Colombian Army, based on strategic reviews and new mobility and manoeuvre warfare tactics for addressing potential external threats, identified a need to increase its anti-tank capability, in part by adding range. (Source: Janes)
01 Mar.23. BAE Systems partners with MBDA to support GWEO capability. BAE Systems Australia and European-based MBDA have announced a collaboration agreement that will support Australia as it establishes its sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) capability.
The industrial collaboration is a direct response to the federal government’s objective to deliver an expanded guided weapon capability to the Australian warfighter by introducing a diversified source of supply to the Australian Defence Force that will markedly enhance the local GWEO ecosystem.
The collaboration will leverage MBDA’s status as a world-leading missile provider and BAE Systems’ local experience and expertise. Delivery of weapon system capabilities through the collaboration will develop enduring Australian industry capability through work package transfer, product assembly, and testing.
The initial areas of collaboration will focus on the weaponisation of BAE Systems’ STRIX Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) to meet the Army, Navy, and Air Force capability needs, alongside the development of a skills and capability initiative to upskill and build capacity within the Australian GWEO ecosystem.
The collaboration will draw on BAE Systems’ established advanced manufacturing footprint and network of trusted industry partners, which delivers a range of GWEO capabilities, including the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) subsystems and Nulka subsystems operating on NATO, US, and Australian warships. Building on this, the partnership can also support agreements from UK–Australia bilateral discussions, AUKUS dialogue, and export opportunities to regional partner nations.
BAE Systems Australia chief executive Officer Ben Hudson welcomed the collaboration agreement, saying, “BAE Systems is delighted to announce a major industrial collaboration with MBDA to establish an enhanced guided weapons capability in Australia.”
MBDA has a proud history of supporting Australian defence with sovereign missile capabilities, particularly through the Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) program for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) that established software testing and hardware-in-the-loop facilities at Edinburgh Parks, South Australia, and deep maintenance facilities at Edinburgh Parks then at Defence Establishment Orchard Hills, NSW. (Source: Defence Connect)
01 Mar.23. Qatar inaugurates coastal missile defence system. The Qatar Emiri Naval Forces’ (QENF’s) new coastal anti-ship missile system was officially inaugurated by Minister of State for Defence Affairs Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah at the new Al-Houl Naval Base, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 23 February. It provided no further details but released a short video clip showing components for the MBDA Exocet and Marte ER coastal anti-ship missile systems lined up at the base for the event. The MBDA announced during the DIMDEX show held in Doha in March 2016 that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Qatar that would pave the way for a EUR640m (USD678.34 m) contract to supply the QENF with a coastal defence system with both the Exocet MM40 Block 3 and smaller Marte ER anti-ship missiles. The company confirmed in September 2016 that the contract had been signed. Qatar is the first customer for the extended-range development of the Marte and has also ordered the air-launched version for use with its NH90 NFH helicopters. (Source: Janes)
28 Feb 23. China deploys PHL-16 MLRS along Taiwan Strait. The People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) has deployed the PHL-16 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) in its 73rd Group Army of the Eastern Theatre Command, which is in charge of dealing with conflicts around the Taiwan Strait. A video clip released by state-owned broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) confirms at least two PHL-16s in service with the PLAGF’s 73rd Artillery Brigade of the 73rd Group Army. The system is manufactured by China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco). According to Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence, the PHL-16 is based on a modified Wanshan WS2400 8×8 chassis. It has a four-door fully enclosed air-conditioned cab at the front with an additional fully enclosed crew cab to the immediate rear. (Source: Janes)
23 Feb 23. Saab reveals new self-protection system. Saab has revealed a new self-protection system called the Laser Warning Sensor-700 (LWS-700) at IDEX 2023, being held in Abu Dhabi from 20 to 24 February.
Speaking to Janes, Gavin Copeland, business development and marketing for naval electronic warfare at Saab Grintek Defence, said that the LWS-700 is a “laser warning sensor for the automated detection, classification, and identification of laser-based weapons”.
The sensor has been developed over the past 3.5 years and is capable of classifying and identifying laser threats such as target designators or laser rangefinders, he said.
With a 1° bearing and elevation accuracy, the sensor is able to support countermeasures, specifically the deployment of hard-kill counter fires, he added.
This is a much-improved version of the LWS-310 – which forms part of the Land Electronic Defence Systems-50 (LEDS-50) MK2 – and offers a bearing accuracy of 7.5°.
The system weighs approximately 3.5 kg and is intended primarily for land and naval platforms. A North American original equipment manufacturer (OEM) has already acquired several units, he noted. (Source: Janes)
28 Feb 23. BAE Systems to provide Maritime Indirect Fires System for Royal Navy. New automated Ammunition Handling System combined with Mk45 gun to give the Royal Navy critical advantage at sea. BAE Systems, Inc. has received a $219m (£181m) contract to equip the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates with five Mk 45 Maritime Indirect Fire Systems (MIFS). The system combines the 5-inch, 62-caliber Mk 45 Mod 4A naval gun system with a fully automated Ammunition Handling System (AHS).
“We have innovated and customized the Mk 45 system to provide a critical and reliable fully-automatic ammunition handling solution that revolutionizes medium and large calibre naval gunnery,” said Brent Butcher, vice president of the weapon systems product line at BAE Systems, Inc.
“The customized, lightweight and compact Mk 45 gun system with AHS provides our customers commonality with the U.S. Navy, a highly reliable system with security of lifecycle support, and access to future technology upgrades. We look forward to continuing to build these critical partnerships and delivering the MIFS system to our U.K. customer.”
The Type 26 frigates, the first of which is due to be delivered to the Royal Navy in the mid-2020s, will be one of the world’s most advanced classes of warships, with the primary purpose of anti-submarine warfare. In addition to its range of advanced weapons and sensors, it will also be capable of countering piracy, delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
As part of the ships’ world-class capabilities, this innovative, automated naval gun solution will help the Royal Navy increase crew productivity, reduce sailor safety hazards, and improve the operational capability of these advanced warships as they deliver protection to the Royal Navy’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent and Carrier Strike Group.
Engineering and programme support for the new contract will be performed at BAE Systems’ Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky production facilities. BAE Systems shipped the main equipment for the first MIFS system at the end of 2022 with installation to follow in 2023.
27 Feb 23. US prepares MK 48 torpedoes as Chinese threat looms. The US prepares itself and its Asia-Pacific allies with MK 48 torpedoes intended for use in the South China Sea as tensions build for conflict against China.
While the war in Europe against Russian aggression has led to a marked increase in defence investment, particularly for land-based platforms, from HIMARS to MBTs, the US and its Asia-Pacific allies appear to be shoring up their naval warfare investment.
As Russian forces appear to be contained as a regional level threat, the US is starting to turn an eye to another autocratic regime that poses an equally sinister threat in the Far East.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) have been testing the limits of the so-called rule-based order by illegally asserting authority over swathes of territory in the South China Sea (SCS), including the autonomous country of Taiwan. This leads to a greater need for maritime support in the Asia-Pacific region.
Recently, on the 24 February, the US Department of Defense (DoD) awarded two contracts to support the MK 48 Mod 7 Heavyweight Torpedo Programme.
The first was awarded to Science Application International Corp. (SAIC). The Virginia-based technology company was given $102m to exercise options for the production, spares, production support material, engineering support and hardware repair of components for the MK 48 Heavyweight Torpedo All Up Round.
The second contract of $16m was awarded to Lockheed Martin for engineering and maintenance services at Intermediate Maintenance Activity, Peral Harbor, Hawaii in support of the MK 48 torpedo efforts.
The MK 48 MOD 7 torpedo is the result of a Joint Development Programme with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and reached IOC in 2006. The MK 48 MOD 7 hardware upgrade has enabled further software improvements to the MK 48 that provide increased capability in the most challenging scenarios.
In the details of the contract awarded to SAIC, the DoD specifies that this contract combines purchases to support the US Navy (USN), the RAN and the government of Taiwan, under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
Strengthening the capabilities of the USN in response to Chinese provocation is nothing new. The USN is already seeing enhanced weapons systems to their frigates as well as the gradual progress of the navy’s DDG(X) programme. Although, the fact that the DoD is supplying Australia and Taiwan with the MK 48 demonstrates the start of the US Government’s preparations for a potential future conflict.
Underwater warfare system investment
It is reported that in the Asia-Pacific region, torpedoes are the UWS with the second highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) at 4.02%, which follows the torpedo counter measure systems and decoys USW with a CAGR of 4.76%.
The PRC leads as the largest forecasted procurer of torpedoes for 2023 – out of countries in and around the SCS – spending $49.5m. Taiwan follows, with $36.3m. Then South Korea with $19.3m, Japan with $16.8m, and Australia with $16.4m to name a few.
The US alone, however, is expected to spend over $151m in 2023.
This data gives a sense of the demand for USWs as countries stockpile naval weapon systems in preparation for the potential future conflict with the PRC in the SCS.
Sonar capability
In their Global Naval Vessels and Surface Combatants Market Report, 2023-2033, GlobaData states that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is the Asia-Pacific region’s largest navy, with more than 300 surface combatants.
It is for this reason that the USN has recently been jolted into producing more frigates to meet their own force-structure goal of 355 ships, to supersede China’s count.
But Lockheed Martin has rendered the MK 48 torpedo a highly modernised weapon system that will likely have a high lethality rate against PLAN’s vast, but ageing fleet. When it comes down to it, quality trumps quantity.
What makes the MK 48 Mod 7 Heavyweight torpedo so effective is its sonar system according to lead manufacturer of the torpedo: Lockheed Martin.
The company states that the sonar systems for “guidance and control systems will equip the heavyweight torpedoes with increased bandwidth and streamlined targeting and tracking capabilities”.
27 Feb 23. USMC Axes Elite Scout Sniper Platoons. The USMC is getting rid of one of its most elite and storied jobs — the scout sniper.
Official message traffic leaked to social media last week described a switch from scout sniper platoons to what will only be known only as “scout platoons.”
The change is part of Force Design 2030 (FD2030), the Marine Corps’ ongoing and controversial effort to reinvent the service for future warfare. The decision has already triggered concerns from within the ranks about the loss of sniper capabilities.
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All three training locations for the grueling 3-month Scout Sniper course at Camp Pendleton, California; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, will stop admitting new students starting in fiscal 2024, according to the message.
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A spokesman for the Marine Corps confirmed that the scout sniper platoons would be eliminated, but said that the underlying skill set would be integrated elsewhere in the service.
“Precision rifle capability will remain within the infantry company, and the Marine Corps will continue to maintain school-trained snipers within Marine Reconnaissance and Marine Special Operations units,” said service spokesman Capt. Ryan Bruce.
Bruce added that the Marine Corps’ Training Command “is in the process of analyzing both the new scout platoon mission and enduring requirements for precision marksmanship capabilities to determine the performance standards and training options necessary.”
Snipers are qualified to venture 10 to 20 miles beyond the forward line of troops, into the enemy’s domain. Reconnaissance skills, like days-long observation of enemy outposts, are tough to maintain, as is the ability to shoot long distances with different sophisticated rifle systems. They’re trained in how to call for fire and close-air support, and have to understand complex mission planning requirements.
The messages outlining the changes, posted to social media, described the move as being driven by the two-year-long “Infantry Battalion Experimentation” the Corps undertook, which “showed the scouting capabilities in the newly designed Infantry Companies were insufficient to offer the Battalion continuous all-weather information gathering.”
Unlike tanks and select artillery capabilities, which were publicly put on the chopping block early during the force design rethink, the Marine Corps has remained mostly quiet on the future of snipers until now.
The new “scout platoons” will consist of 26 Marines. Infantry companies will no longer have Marines trained as snipers, but they will keep “designated marksmen.”
It’s not the first time the Corps has dropped the scout snipers.
The Marine Corps previously canned the program after World War I, World War II and Vietnam, anticipating that future warfare wouldn’t require snipers.
Scout snipers are a storied part of Marine Corps history.
During WWII, scout snipers known as the “40 Thieves on Saipan” operated far behind enemy lines and grew famous for their silent killing techniques. And before “American Sniper,” there was Carlos Hathcock, a Vietnam War Marine with 93 confirmed kills (and up to 300 unconfirmed kills), and Chuck Mawhinney, another Vietnam sniper with more than 100 confirmed kills.
The Marine Corps’ commandant, Gen. David Berger, has been vocal about wanting infantry Marines to become well-versed in multiple weapons systems — less specialized and more “commando-like.”
But some Marines, who spoke with Military.com about the service’s decision to eliminate scout snipers on condition of anonymity, say that kind of mindset highlights a misunderstanding of the extreme capabilities snipers provide and the importance of their uncompromising training.
“We’re talking out of both sides of our mouth here,” said one Marine gunner, a weapons expert. “We don’t want to divest the equipment because we know we need that capability,” he said, pointing out that tough-to-master sniper rifles aren’t going anywhere.
“You just can’t pick up an advanced sniper rifle and hand it to somebody and expect them to be able to do what a trained sniper can do,” the Marine added.
Instead, the Corps will rely on training up Marines through the two-week-long Designated Marksman course.
It’s unclear how “scout platoons” will be trained, as there is currently no stand-alone “scouting” course within the Marine Corps.
Scout snipers have faced a serious shortage of numbers in recent years, which some say is due in part to a too-high attrition rate from the scout sniper schoolhouses. Fewer Marines finishing the course means fewer snipers overall.
Others see it differently.
“Part of this is a retention problem,” said a Marine officer who’s involved with current scout sniper training efforts. The Marine said that, because being a sniper is a secondary responsibility, it gets short shrift from higher-ups.
“A lot of them want to keep doing their jobs as snipers,” the Marine added. “So they get out, and they go to the SEALs, Army Special Forces or MARSOC. I’ve seen it happen multiple times. They don’t want to stay because they’re not valued properly.”
Previous reporting suggests there may be anywhere from 150 to 300 scout snipers in the Marine Corps. Save for snipers produced through stand-alone courses with Reconnaissance and MARSOC units, numbers will likely plummet, given the closing of the sniper schools.
In 2018, then-Commandant Gen. Robert Neller sought to increase scout snipers’ numbers, amidst the shortage. The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory reportedly recommended an increase in sniper platoon numbers around the same time.
While snipers are set to remain at MARSOC and Recon, Marines point out that MARSOC snipers are likely to be under the purview of their Special Operations Command structure, and aren’t likely to be easily dispersed throughout the service. And while Recon will maintain snipers, their small numbers and specialized, high-level missions leave the majority of Marine infantry units out in the cold.
“I think a lot of senior commanders don’t really understand the full capability that a sniper brings to them,” lamented a senior enlisted sniper.
“Snipers can’t be mass-produced,” he continued. “They’re trying to mass-produce capabilities and cutting corners, thinking that numbers on a spreadsheet is what will win wars. But it’s not; all it’s going to do is fill body bags.” (Source: Military.com)
28 Feb 23. The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of anti-tank Javelin missiles to the United Kingdom for an estimated $125m, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. European demand for U.S. weaponry is soaring, but instead of big-ticket items like jets and tanks, shopping lists are focused on shoulder-fired missiles, artillery, and drones that have proven critical to Ukraine’s war efforts. This sale to the close U.S. ally may be the first to one of many as European nations looking to restock smaller weapons that were sent to Ukraine. The potential sale package authorized by the State Department would include 600 Javelins technical assistance, and logistics support, the Pentagon said. The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale on Tuesday. Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded. The prime contractors will be the Raytheon Technologies Corp (RTX.N) and Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) who have a joint venture to product the tank-busting weapon, the Pentagon said. (Source: Reuters)
28 Feb 23. Calidus to produce Alheda missile. Tawazun Technology and Innovation (TTI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with local company Calidus to manufacture the Alhedah missile, it was announced during the IDEX 2023 show held in Abu Dhabi from 20 to 24 February. TTI is the research and development arm of Tawazun Council, the organisation tasked with developing the UAE’s defence industry.
Displayed inside the Tawazun Council’s pavilion at IDEX 2023, the Alheda is a short-range missile with a diameter of 140 mm, a length of 1.8 m, a weight of 37 kg, and a maximum range of 10 km. It can be fitted with either high-explosive or anti-tank warheads and either a semi-active laser (SAL) or imaging infrared (IIR) seeker.
Four were displayed on a launcher mounted on a Nimr Hafeet 6×6 vehicle with an integrated Mirsad-II electro-optical system for acquiring targets using a day camera, a short-wave IR camera, and a thermal imager, and then designating them using a laser. The system also had radar panels, although TTI officials told Janes. (Source: Janes)
27 Feb 23. Poly Defence unveils XC-150 UAV. China’s Poly Defence exhibited its indigenously developed fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) multirole autonomous XC-150 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at IDEX 2023 in Abu Dhabi.
The XC-150 is a tactical UAV designed to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and strike missions. The UAV can take off and land with the help of three fixed landing legs at a maximum altitude of 4,000 m, in what a company official described as “strong breeze conditions”, and it can cruise in level flight in “gale conditions”. The UAV requires a take-off and landing clearance of 8×10 m, and can be deployed in 30 minutes.
Speaking to Janes, a Poly Defence official said, “The development of the UAV started a few years ago primarily to support ISR missions, and the armed capability is yet to be worked on.” (Source: Janes)
27 Feb 23. Lockheed’s HIMARS plant gearing up to meet demand after Ukraine success. Lockheed Martin’s mobile rocket launcher plant in Camden, Arkansas is gearing up to boost production of the HIMARS system after its success on the battlefield in Ukraine drove up demand from other nations, executives said on Monday.
The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is now a widely recognized weapon after mobile phone camera footage of the war in Ukraine showed the launchers in action.
“When you have a combat proven system that is out there and in the news – daily – then that’s driving that demand,” said Jennifer McManus, the vice president for operations of Lockheed’s missile business.
Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) makes HIMARS and refurbishes an older version in Camden, a small town southwest of Little Rock.
Thanks to some investments made over the last year in the 282,000 square foot building where the ground vehicles are made, Lockheed only needs a few upgrades to meet that increased production rate, Lockheed executives said.
The list includes a paint booth, non-skid coating mixer, tire assembly manipulator arm and an axel installation track, the executives told Reuters.
On an earnings call with investors Lockheed’s CEO said “on HIMARS specifically, we’ve already met with our long lead supply chain to plan for increasing production to 96 of these units a year.” Lockheed started 2022 with a HIMARS launcher production rate of 48, but has since ramped up to 60 year.
The HIMARS launcher had been growing in popularity even before its success in Ukraine.
Poland was cleared in February to purchase 18 HIMARS launchers and 468 launcher loader kits that can be in installed on Polish-made trucks to turn into them into similar launch platforms. Talks for that deal began in 2017, a Lockheed spokesperson told Reuters. (Source: Reuters)
27 Feb 23. Paramount readies for production of N-Raven loitering munition. Paramount Aerospace Systems (PAS) will shortly commence production of its N-Raven loitering munition, the company announced atthe IDEX 2023 show, which was held from 20 to 24 February in Abu Dhabi. According to PAS press release, production is set to start in April 2023 with first deliveries in October 2023 to meet the urgent requirements of armed forces around the world. Speaking to Janes, Brian Greyling,CEO of PAS, said that the development of N-Raven started in August 2022 ahead of Africa Aerospace and Defence 2022 (AAD 2022) expo. He explained that the munition has been “digitally designed with quick transfer of technology in mind, to enable governments to manufacture [the N-Raven] in their countries in less than one year”.
“The autonomous long-range precision strike loitering munition, which can strike static and moving targets, is set to undergo various industrial tests. The tests through the development process enable us to start the production of N-Raven soon after,” Greyling added.(Source: Janes)
25 Feb 23. Iran says it has developed long-range cruise missile. Iran has developed a cruise missile with a range of 1,650 km (1,025 miles) a top Revolutionary Guards commander said on Friday, in a move likely to raise Western concerns after Russia’s use of Iranian drones in the Ukraine war.
Separately, Amirali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guards aerospace force, also spoke of Iran’s often repeated threat to avenge the U.S. killing of a top Iranian commander, saying “We are looking to kill (former U.S. President Donald) Trump.”
“Our cruise missile with a range of 1,650 km has been added to the missile arsenal of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Hajizadeh, told state TV.
The television broadcast what it said was the first footage showing the new Paveh cruise missile.
Hajizadeh said Iran did not intend to kill “poor soldiers” when it launched a ballistic missile attack on U.S.-led forces in Iraq days after Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020 in Baghdad.
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“God willing, we are looking to kill Trump. (Former Secretary of State Mike) Pompeo … and military commanders who issued the order (to kill Soleimani) should be killed,” Hajizadeh said in the television interview.
Iranian leaders have often vowed to avenge Soleimani in strong terms.
Iran has expanded its missile programme, particularly its ballistic missiles, in defiance of opposition from the United States and expressions of concern by European countries. Tehran says the programme is purely defensive and of a deterrent nature.
Iran has said it had supplied Moscow with drones before the war in Ukraine. Russia has used the drones to target power stations and civilian infrastructure.
In November, the Pentagon said the United States was sceptical of reports quoting Hajizadeh as saying Iran had developed a hypersonic ballistic missile. (Source: Reuters)
24 Feb 23. Brazilian EMGEPRON and TideWise jointly develop unmanned minesweeper. The Brazilian state-owned naval engineering house Empresa Gerencial de Projetos Navais (EMGEPRON) and the local privately owned unmanned systems specialist TideWise have jointly developed a long-endurance unmanned surface vehicle (USV) configured to carry out mine countermeasure (MCM) operations and meet potential requirements of navies for such type of unmanned systems, André Gabriel Sochaczewski, the head of the EMGEPRON Trade Promotion Department, told Janes .
The USV, called Suppressor, was designed to deploy a wide range of mission effectors, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a Light Detection and Ranging radar (LiDAR) and an electro-optical payload; a towed synthetic aperture sonar system; a multibeam echosounder; an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV); an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV); and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), Sochaczewski said.
The Suppressor USV can be lifted by transport aircraft and deployed from surface combat ships, Sochaczewski added.
The companies want to build a prototype through a self-funding mechanism, or with the support of private investment, he said. The USV can also carry out other roles, such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). (Source: Janes)
24 Feb 23. Sudan displays UAV-launched loitering munition. Sudan’s Military Industry Corporation (MIC) unveiled Kamin-25, a loitering munition designed to be launched from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), during the IDEX 2023 show being held in Abu Dhabi from 20 to 24 February. Engineer Atif Mohamed al-Amin, MIC’s manager in Abu Dhabi, told Janes the munition is being tested by the Sudanese Air Force on Z3-M UAVs, with final acceptance tests scheduled for May. He said two Kamin-25s can be carried by the Z3-M with their wings rotated 90° along their bodies until they are released.
The munition can carry either a 5 kg anti-tank warhead or a 7 kg anti-personnel warhead, Atif said, without clarifying which type accounts for the 25 kg total weight listed for the munition. Its batteries give it a flight duration of 45–60 minutes, depending on the altitude it is released, and it loiters at an altitude of 250 m. It can operate up to 50 km from the UAV, which relays the signal from the munition’s day/night camera to the ground control station. (Source: Janes)
24 Feb 23. US Army redesigning fires units amid modernization push, chief says. The Army is planning new ways to organize and distribute artillery, air defense and counter-unmanned aerial surveillance units throughout the force as modernization projects come to fruition.
As the Army “transform[s], we’re gonna have to build new organizations,” said Gen. James McConville, the service’s chief of staff, at a Thursday event hosted by George Washington University’s Project for Media and National Security.
The chief described the looming force structure overhaul as a “hard look.” The Army’s challenge, he said, is designing and implementing organizations that adequately harness new technologies while not increasing their staffing levels.
Even before dismal recruiting numbers caused the Army to shed troops, the service’s decision to protect modernization projects from budget constraints meant its end strength would remain virtually unchanged for the foreseeable future.
McConville mentioned needing new unit designs specifically for long-range precision fires, air and missile defense, and counter-unmanned aerial surveillance.
Although the chief didn’t offer many details on the force structure redesign, some pilot efforts and other early steps are already known.
The service stood up a battery designed for the “Dark Eagle” hypersonic missile at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, in 2021. Those soldiers have launchers but still no missiles — the Army plans to complete another round of testing by the end of September, and defense publication Aviation Week reported the service expects to field the missile by then, too. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Army Times)