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24 Apr 25. U.S. Army Prepares for Next-Gen Air Defense with Leidos’ Indirect Fire Protection Capability Launchers. On April 23, 2025, American defense company Leidos announced that it is preparing to advance the production of its Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc 2) launchers, marking a pivotal step in the U.S. Army’s air and missile defense modernization efforts. This strategic move follows a significant contract award from the Army’s Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space (PEO M&S), underscoring the critical role of the IFPC Inc 2 system in addressing an expanding array of aerial threats. Engineered to neutralize unmanned aerial systems (UAS), cruise missiles, and rocket, artillery, and mortar (RAM) projectiles, the system bridges a key capability gap between short-range air defenses and long-range strategic systems like THAAD and Patriot. In December 2024, Leidos secured an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract worth up to $4.1bn. This contract includes provisions for Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP), Full-Rate Production (FRP), and a broad range of support services. The initial delivery order under this contract authorizes the production of 18 launchers, which will be deployed as part of the Guam Defense Systems (GDS). The contract runs through December 2026, with further orders extending to 2029, reflecting the long-term strategic investment in the IFPC Inc 2 program. The IFPC (Indirect Fire Protection Capability) Inc 2 system is a mobile, ground-based weapon platform offering 360-degree coverage and rapid reload capabilities. It is fully integrated with the U.S. Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) network, allowing for a modular and scalable approach to air defense. Built on an open architecture framework, the system enables flexible configuration and effector integration. While it currently utilizes the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, it is designed for compatibility with future interceptors to adapt to evolving threats. The development of IFPC Inc 2 traces back to September 24, 2021, when the U.S. Army awarded a three-year prototype Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement to Dynetics, a subsidiary of Leidos. Valued at approximately $237.38m, the OTA covered the development and delivery of 16 launcher prototypes, 60 interceptors, and associated all-up-round magazines. Prototype development was planned in Huntsville, Alabama, and Tucson, Arizona, with deliveries for testing scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2022. The goal was to have the first combat-capable IFPC Increment 2 battery operational by the fourth quarter of FY2023, with a Milestone C procurement decision expected in the second quarter of FY2024 and the first full battalion fielded by FY2026. The IFPC Increment 2 interceptor variant is notable for its open architecture design, which supports the integration of multiple missile types. Besides the AIM-9X, the system can employ the AGM-114L Longbow variant of the Hellfire missile. The U.S. Army is also conducting tests with the Israeli Tamir missile, the interceptor used in Israel’s Iron Dome system, showcasing the system’s versatility and potential for international technology integration. The Enduring Shield launcher, a key component of the IFPC Inc 2 system, has already demonstrated success in intercepting UAS and cruise missile threats during flight testing. These trials confirm the system’s operational effectiveness and readiness for deployment. (Source: Google/armyrecognition.com)
25 Apr 25. Bundeswehr procures loitering munition, and together with Latvia and Norway, anti-tank mines. The Bundeswehr is procuring loitering munition, and together with Latvia and Norway, anti-tank mines. Two contracts for “a large number” of loitering munition have been signed, preceded by the signing of a multilateral agreement in Brussels on 9 April, according to the Bundeswehr website. Procurement of loitering munition was described by the Bundeswehr on its website on 17 April as heralding a new era, with German combat troops receiving a large number of loitering munition early on, testing the systems, incorporating them into their tactics, and providing feedback. A year of comprehensive testing is planned to begin in 2025, with the Bundeswehr leadership deciding from the results to procure a larger number of systems or possibly considering additional suppliers or alternative systems. Presenting procurement plans on 3 April, Generalinspekteur der Bundeswehr (armed forces defence chief) General Carsten Breuer described loitering munition as a game changer in modern warfare. “Drones represent a key capability that must be considered to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of modern armed forces,” he said.
Advantages/disadvantages
The Bundeswehr listed the advantages of loitering munition as quick reaction and precision, as well as longer range than artillery shells, and being cheaper and easier to produce and employ than unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It noted disadvantages of loitering munition and UAVs in terms of speed, protection, and susceptibility to weather conditions. It therefore sees them as an element of combined arms combat and deterrence, along with armour, artillery, combat aircraft, and warships. The German-led NATO Multinational Brigade being built up in Lithuania will be the first formation to receive a complete package of loitering munition procured by the Bundeswehr. (Source: Janes)
24 Apr 25. US Army Announces Official Name for its Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon. The U.S. Army announced “Dark Eagle” as the popular name for the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon following the system’s successful end-to-end flight test of the common All-Up Round last December. Part of the name pays tribute to the eagle — a master hunter known for its speed, stealth and agility — due to the LRHW’s combination of velocity, accuracy, maneuverability, survivability and versatility. In addition, the bald eagle — our national bird — represents independence, strength and freedom. The word “dark” embodies the LRHW’s ability to dis-integrate adversary capabilities, including anti-access/area-denial systems, communications capacity, long-range fires and other high-payoff/time-critical targets. The Dark Eagle brings to mind the power and determination of our country and its Army as it represents the spirit and lethality of the Army and Navy’s hypersonic weapon endeavors.
“Hypersonic weapons will complicate adversaries’ decision calculus, strengthening deterrence,” said Patrick Mason, senior official performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology. “Their speed, accuracy and versatility are befitting its new popular name, Dark Eagle.”
The U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office and the U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs partnered to rapidly field land and sea variants of a hypersonic weapon system that will meet critical joint warfighting needs. The use of a common hypersonic missile and joint test opportunities allow the services to pursue a more aggressive timeline for delivery and to realize cost savings. For more information about Dark Eagle, please contact Chelsea Dietlin (Office of the Secretary of Defense) at . (Source: U.S. DoD)
23 Apr 25. US Army ups ammo output with new 155mm loading, packing plant. The United States Army and General Dynamics have opened a new facility to load, assemble and pack 155mm high-explosive artillery munitions in Camden, Arkansas. The move aims to expand production of a key munition and comes as part of a larger effort to increase production capacity and restore the U.S. industrial base for military equipment.
“The Army must transform and get war-winning capabilities into the hands of soldiers now, including key munitions,” said Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. “The Army remains committed to delivering relevant munitions at speed and scale to our soldiers, the joint force, and allies and partners. It is not lost on us that a key component of victory on the battlefield starts in our production facilities.”
The projectile facility is reportedly in the final stage of production. It is where the 155mm munition bodies are filled with explosive material, assembled and then packed. The Camden facility contains two new load, assemble and pack lines for high-explosive projectiles.
Once fully operational the lines will be able to produce approximately 50,000 rounds each month.
That’s part of another effort to increase total monthly output of 155mm projectiles to 100,000. The new facility opened on April 22.
“Today is the result of a robust partnership between industry, local, state, and federal government teammates,” said Pat Mason, a senior service official standing in for the job of assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology. “All parties worked quickly and flexibly to accelerate the construction you see around you.”
Former Army acquisition chief Doug Bush told Defense News back in October that shoring up all the 155mm parts and material production by the end of 2025 was a major goal.
“There’s going to be a lot of ribbon cuttings between now and the end of the year,” Bush said at the time.
The Pentagon is investing bns to ramp up the capacity of 155mm munition production as it seeks to replenish munitions sent to support Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion. The move also ensures the United States has sufficient artillery stockpiles should those rounds be required in another conflict.
The Army planned to spend $3.1 bn in FY24 supplemental funding to increase artillery shell production.
Before the Russian-Ukraine War the U.S. production capacity came in at around 14,400 of the artillery shells each month. But as Ukrainian forces burned through the artillery ammunition the United States recognized that replenishment could not be adequately accomplished with the existing infrastructure. As of October, the Army was able to produce an estimated 40,000 artillery shells each month. Before this move, a single plant in the Pennsylvania city of Scranton had been the lone source of 155mm artillery shell production. The Army has added both a new plant in Mesquite, Texas, and the loading and packing lines in Camden, Arkansas, to meet the growing demand. Meanwhile, another loading and packing facility is planned to stand up in Parsons, Kansas, Bush said. In addition to General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, the Army has also contracted with IMT Defense in Ontario, Canada, for an additional artillery shell production facility. In 2023, the service awarded $1.5 bn in contracts to companies globally to procure bulk energetics like TNT and IMX-104 explosive as well primers and fuses. (Source: Army Times)
23 Apr 25. Japan progresses test of shipboard electromagnetic railgun. Japan has released images of its shipboard electromagnetic (EM) railgun, which suggest that the weapon system will soon undergo a wider variety of at-sea trials. In a post made via its official social media page on 18 April, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) disclosed that Vice Admiral Omachi Katsushi, its fleet commander, had visited JS Asuka to observe the railgun. The visit took place on 9 April, according to the JMSDF statement. Asuka is a 151 m destroyer-like vessel that was commissioned by the JMSDF as a survey and research ship in March 1995. In response to questions from Janes in October 2023, a spokesperson from Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed that Asuka has been installed with the EM railgun as part of efforts to test the weapon system. This confirmation followed an announcement from the MoD’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) in the same month disclosing that the first shipboard firing of the EM railgun had taken place. In the latest images released by the JMSDF, the EM railgun can be seen within a turret-like structure that allows the weapon’s barrel to oscillate on its vertical axis. Furthermore, the weapon has been incorporated with a full-length barrel shroud, presumably to protect the EM railgun from the elements and accidental contact. These changes suggest that ATLA and the JMSDF are in the midst of or are preparing to deploy Asuka for at-sea firings of the EM railgun system on targets at various distances. (Source: Janes)
23 Apr 25. Roketsan aims to increase its exports to Africa. Roketsan is Turkiye’s flag carrier in rocket and missile technologies. The company intends to expand its relations with African armed forces, having many products particularly well suited to their needs. A number of African nations already use Roketsan products, including Niger, Mali, Ethiopia, Chad, and Djibouti. Many of these countries equip their unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with Roketsan munitions.
“We have been proudly waving our flag in many parts of the world as one of the top 100 defence companies. Having strong relations both with our country and our defence industry, the African countries are of great importance for us as well,” Murat İkinci, Roketsan CEO, told defenceWeb.
“We at Roketsan intend to further develop relations with Africa and to increase our contribution to security in Africa by reinforcing the already strong political and cultural ties between Turkiye and Africa, expanding them to the defence industry. We are determined to offer optimum solutions to the security needs of African countries with our field-proven products that outweigh competitors in terms of their price-performance ratio,” he said.
One product Roketsan believes can reinforce African militaries with is the laser-guided CIRIT 70 mm 8 000 metre range rocket. Lightweight at just 15 kg, it can be used by helicopters, light attack aircraft and UAVs, and from ground or ship launchers. The related MAM-C omits the rocket motor, resulting in a 6.5 kg glide bomb with up to 8 000 metre range depending on release altitude. Also of interest will be the MAM-L and MAM-T glide bombs. The 23 kg MAM-L has a 25 km+ range depending on release altitude. It has an imaging infra-red (IIR) seeker and an RF datalink, and can have a tandem anti-tank, fragmentation or thermobaric warhead, and has been integrated with several UAVs. The 95 kg MAM-T is a winged glide bomb intended for use from heavier UAVs and manned aircraft with 50 km range depending on the release altitude. It has a blast/fragmentation warhead and GPS/INS complementing the IIR terminal guidance.
“The striking power of Turkish UAVs, which have become world-renowned and are included in the inventory of numerous countries, is enhanced by our Smart Micro Munition (SMM) family. We are further developing this product family, which has been a source of our export success and an indispensable component of Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs. Especially the IIR (Imaging Infra-Red) guidance capability of the MAM-L, which gives precision strike capability up to 25 kilometres, and has demonstrated superior performance in test firings,” Ikinci said.
“We believe that the Bayraktar TB2 UCAV and MAM-L duo, which have proven their success in the field, could be the most effective solution for the countries in Africa in their combat against terrorist threats. We are inviting our friends in Africa to become acquainted with this risk-free defence system that can neutralise both internal and external threats in the air.”
Another practical tool being promoted is the TEBER guidance kit for Mk 81 and Mk 82 bombs, which use an Inertial Navigation System, a Global Positioning System and a laser seeker. Among Roketsan’s anti-tank missiles, the 2 500 metre range KARAOk uses an IIR seeker for fire-and-forget capability, has a tandem warhead and both direct and top attack modes. The 4 000 metre range OMTAS has an IIR seeker and RF data link for man-in-the-loop capability. The seeker has lock-on-after-launch and lock-on-before-launch modes. It has tandem HEAT, blast/fragmentation or thermobaric warheads. The L-UMTAS long-range laser-guided anti-tank missile has a range of 8 000 metres, lock-on-before-launch and lock-on-after-launch capability, and tandem HEAT, blast/fragmentation or thermobaric warheads. Also highlighted is the SUNGUR air defence missile system, of particular interest in that it is intended for use against UAVs and cruise missiles as well as aircraft. It comprises a 360° traverse gyro-stabilised turret that allows fire-on-the-move. Fire direction is by a FLIR STAR SAFIRE 380 HLD system with a laser designator, laser range finder and IFF. The turret mounts four fire-and-forget missiles with IIR seekers. It can engage targets from 500 to 8 000 metres and at altitudes up to 4 000 metres. The KMC-U Tactical Missile Weapon System uses a stabilised turret with 360° traverse, which can launch the CIRIT and UMTAS. Further development will include the extended-range UMTAS-GM (16 km, dual IIR/SAL seeker) and the SUNGUR air defence missile, making it an extremely flexible fire support system. The BURC Mobile Air Defence System developed specifically for use against UAVs and loitering munitions has four AESA radars that can detect drones at 4 kilometres, tactical UAVs, helicopters and small vehicles at 20 kilometres, and large vehicles at 24 kilometres. It mounts two four-round SUNGUR missile launcher pods and a three-barrel 20 mm cannon for close-in engagements.
Roketsan’s medium range HİSAR-O Air Defence Missile has an engagement envelope of 25 km in range and 10 000 metres altitude. It uses INS and an RF datalink for midcourse flight and an IIR seeker for terminal guidance. The TRG-122 guided 122 mm rocket will be of immediate interest to the many African armies with 122 mm systems. The 76 kg rocket has a 13.5 kg blast/fragmentation warhead, and a range of 13-30 km. Guidance uses GPS and GLONASS aided INS giving better than 20 metres CEP (circular error probability), improving to better than 2 metres with terminal laser guidance that could be provided by a UAV marking the target. An air-launched version, IHA-122, with TV or laser guidance has been tested successfully from a UAV. The RG-230 missile launched from a multiple rocket launcher gives a range of 20 to 70 km with a 42 kg blast/fragmentation warhead. The TRG variant uses GPS/GLONASS aided INS navigation for a 10 metre CEP, and the TRLG variant uses terminal laser guidance for a CEP better than 2 metres. An air-launched version, TRG-230-IHA, has a range up to 150 km. Perhaps of interest mainly to larger African forces is the ÇAKIR cruise missile. This uses a turbojet to deliver a 70 kg blast/fragmentation warhead to 150 km. The use of radar absorbent materials in the airframe considerably reduces its signature, making it difficult to detect and engage. Roketsan was established by the Turkish Defence Industry Executive Committee in 1988 as a missile technology centre and is majority owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation. It has developed a wide range of innovative rockets, missiles and guided bombs for the Turkish armed forces and for export. It also manufactures subsystems for international missile projects and is active in space technology since the 2020 establishment of a satellite launch, space systems, and advanced technology research centre.
“Looking forward, Roketsan is developing technologies ‘from under the seas to the depths of space’ by working on air, land, sea, and space systems. As a company that has been operating for 36 years, with more than 5 000 highly-skilled personnel and modern facilities, we can provide reliable system solutions with proven performance for domestic and foreign users. We design, develop and manufactures rockets, missiles, guided munitions and weapon systems, integrate them into land, air and naval platforms, and can provide tailored systems determined by customer requirements. As a result, we hold an indispensable place in the inventories of many countries’ armed forces, particularly the Turkish Armed Forces,” Ikinci said.
“Ranking fourth among the companies investing in research and development nationwide in Türkiye as announced in 2024, our company ranked eleventh in the list of the fastest growing defence companies at a global scale according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and is included in the list of top 100 defence industry companies ranked by their size, again according to SIPRI, as the signs of our worldwide success. While taking our part among the biggest exporter companies of Türkiye in 2023, we have been sustaining our exports to friendly and allied nations at faster pace in 2024 too as a company that exports its products to many parts of the world from the Americas to Asia and Europe.
“Today, we continue to invest in our human resources and improve our production infrastructure through special programmes. With 36 years of experience and know-how, we continuously enhancing our expertise in land, sea, air and space systems, while developing cutting-edge technologies that places us among the leading companies in the world in our field,” Ikinci concluded. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
22 Apr 25. Hellenic dome? Greece touts ‘Achilles Shield’ air defense system to free up ships, fighter jets. It remains to be seen if Athens is set on acquiring Israel’s Iron Dome or holds interest in other solutions, but at a more general level, Achilles Shield is part of an extraordinary modernization push. As the US, Turkey and others each race for an Israeli-style comprehensive air defense system, Greece’s top defense official said Athens sees its own ambitious Achilles Shield system as the “heart” of the nation’s modernized military. In an article posted on the Ministry of Defence’s website, Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias described Achilles Shield as having “anti-missile, anti-aircraft, anti-drone, anti-ship and anti-submarine” capabilities — capabilities that would allow naval ships and fighter jets that currently do homeland defense to instead operate farther from Greek territory. Dendias did not share additional details about Achilles Shield, but Army Recognition reported earlier this month that the program is valued at €2.8 bn ($3 bn) and the future system could be operational in 2027. The new comments from Dendias also follow a Reuters report in November that said Greece had entered talks with Israel to potentially develop a version of its Iron Dome, based on the Rafael produced, short-range air defense system. Israel’s air defense system is made up of three layers of air defenses, with Iron Dome as the lowest tier. Throughout the course of the Gaza conflict, Iron Dome has intercepted “thousands of rockets” alongside drones and cruise missiles, according to Israel’s defense ministry, and Israeli defense executives have noted increased interest from nations who are keen on replicating that success. It remains to be seen if Athens has settled on acquiring Iron Dome or holds interest in other solutions, but at a more general level, Achilles Shield is part of an extraordinary modernization push expected to cost €25bn over the next 12 years. Separately, Greece is part of the 23-nation, German-led Sky Shield initiative based on future development of a common ground-based air defense (GBAD) capability.
“In the global geopolitical landscape, which is being rearranged and characterized by instability, we have a duty not to allow Greece to become a prey to developments,” Dendias said, according to an automated translation. “We must strengthen its defense footprint and its role as a pillar of stability and security provider in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean and Southeastern Europe.”
Regional concerns appear linked to tension with Turkey and decades old disputes over Cyprus and the Aegean Sea. Among a raft of other ambitious moves to bolster modernisation, Dendias said that the Greek armed forces will undergo the largest reform of its kind, inspired by “Agenda 2030.”
He added, “With a new philosophy as a guide and innovation as the spearhead, we are creating a broader plan to project power, as a total defense policy.”
The standing up of the Hellenic Center for Defense and Innovation last year has already contributed to such change and will “consolidate Greece’s presence” as a producer of innovative solutions, while also reducing its dependence on foreign made systems.
“My challenge here on my aeronautics team is, let’s get 80 percent of six-gen capability at half the price,” said Lockheed CEO Jim Taiclet.
By Valerie Insinna
The Center has released two “calls for interest” tenders, though there is no indication of which weapon systems are being sought.
“Greece is changing the narrative, by utilizing systems that combine low cost with high operational value, with an emphasis, among other things, on drone systems and the utilization of artificial intelligence,” the article on the MoD’s website explained.
It also mentions that Athens is prepared to “take advantage” of recent decisions relating to the European Union’s ReArm Europe program.
On naval procurement matters, Dendias also noted that “the possibility of the country’s participation in the design and construction of Constellation-type frigates with the United States is being examined.” The US has tasked Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri with building the frigates to replace the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships, but construction is years behind schedule. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
22 Apr 25. Leidos is pitching a production contract for its Black Arrow cruise missile to US Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The missile, also called the Small Cruise Missile, was live-fired from a US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Lockheed Martin AC-130J in November 2024 at the Utah Test and Training Range, the only known weapon of its size to do so. The test culminated a process that began in 2021, when Leidos began development of an internal research and development (IRAD)-funded missile, based on the company’s experience developing the GBU-69 Small Glide Munition, a guided, modular, reprogrammable weapon deployed from the AC-130J, and the larger X-61 Gremlin, an experimental vehicle that demonstrated deployment from and recovery aboard an in-flight C-130. SOCOM and AFSOC soon took notice, and in 2022 signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Leidos to develop the missile, with a contract for further testing signed in 2024.
“While we invested the resources to develop the Small Cruise Missile, SOCOM and AFSOC invested the resources to approve it [to] go through all the safety boards, to integrate it into the battle management system [network, BMS] and the platform, [and] to pay for the range time [and] the aircraft utilisation,” Mark Miller, Leidos’ senior vice-president for Missiles and Aviation Systems, said.
A December 2023 test series saw the Small Cruise Missile perform separation and electromagnetic interference tests following launch from the rear of an AFSOC AC-130J, one of the final steps before powered flight tests. (Source: Janes)
22 Apr 25. Modini Gets UK MOD £4.5m Precision Strike Drone Contract. The UK Ministry of Defence has formally awarded a £4.5m contract to Modini Limited for the delivery of One Way Effector (OWE) systems under a two-year, single-source arrangement intended to support Project ASGARD and upcoming operational deployments. According to the contract award notice published on 17 April 2025, the agreement was concluded on 20 February 2025, with delivery timelines aligning to the MOD’s requirement for operational readiness ahead of Operation CABRIT in summer 2025. OWEs—unmanned combat aerial vehicles designed for single-use strike or reconnaissance missions—form a key part of a broader capability enhancement under Project ASGARD, a network-enabled, software-defined reconnaissance and strike framework. The goal is to provide “any sensor to any effector” decision-making superiority on the battlefield through rapid and scalable integration of effectors and digital decision tools. The MOD previously published a voluntary transparency notice in December 2024 outlining its intention to proceed with the contract via negotiated procedure without prior publication, citing technical exclusivity and urgent delivery requirements. The contract was awarded through the Human Machine Teaming (HMT) Framework, with MOD citing that “only Modini could meet the required performance specifications and tight delivery schedule” for the required payload weight, speed, range, and terrain-following capabilities. The notice stated: “There is strict technical impracticality for a supplier other than the chosen supplier to achieve the Authority’s technical requirements… only Modini could reach the Authority’s strict and necessary deadlines for production and delivery of the hardware.” The initial contract value is £4.5m (excluding VAT), with options for further procurement of additional effectors and spares anticipated. A prior estimate suggested the overall value for the OWE component of Project ASGARD could reach £7.5m, depending on evolving operational needs. Modini Limited, based in Pewsey, is an SME and has been identified as the sole contractor for this stage of the programme. The company’s ability to rapidly meet demanding specifications has made it a key partner for near-term strike drone delivery, though MOD clarified this deal “will not define longer-term OWE solutions for the UK.”
What Does this Mean?
In this context, OWE systems refer to advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed to deliver precision strikes with the ability to operate autonomously and strike specific targets with high accuracy. This contract, set for a 24-month period, will support Operation CABRIT, a key NATO mission, and is part of a broader effort to develop a software-defined, network-enabled system for the UK Armed Forces. Op Cabrit is a UK-led NATO operation based in Estonia. It is part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) initiative in the Baltic region. The operation involves the deployment of British Army personnel and equipment, primarily focused on providing a deterrent against potential aggression, strengthening NATO’s defensive posture, and enhancing security in the region, particularly in response to concerns about Russian influence. The One Way Effector systems will be procured through the Human Machine Teaming (HMT) Framework, with Modini selected due to its ability to meet the MOD’s stringent technical requirements. The MOD noted previously that “it was identified that only Modini could reach the Authority’s strict and necessary deadlines for production and delivery of the hardware for Spring 2025 and be deployed on Op CABRIT in Summer 2025.” This makes Modini the sole supplier able to deliver on the MOD’s demanding criteria, which include payload weight, scalability, range, maximum speed, and terrain-following capabilities. Project ASGARD is an initiative designed to provide the UK with enhanced decision support and operational execution across land, air, and maritime domains. The project is divided into three main areas, or ‘tents’, which include “Effectors,” “Digital Innovation,” and “Enhanced C4 ISTAR & Networks.” The procurement of the OWE systems falls under Tent 1, Effectors, which focuses on increasing the range and effectiveness of kinetic effects, particularly in support of brigade and divisional deep battles. This initiative seeks to integrate “all appropriate effector capabilities with in-theatre communications and data exchange systems” to ensure seamless operational execution. The MOD also clarified that while the OWE systems will be crucial to meeting the UK’s near-term defence needs, they will not define the technical solutions for the MOD’s longer-term OWE-based capability requirements. This aligns with the broader aim of enhancing the UK’s military capabilities, reinforcing its commitment to cutting-edge technology and operational readiness in modern warfare. The MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) team is managing the contract, with Modini’s proven expertise ensuring that the OWE systems will meet the necessary performance standards and be ready for deployment by mid-2025.
“Project ASGARD is intended to meet a specific, near-term capability need and will not define technical solutions for the UK MOD’s longer-term OWE-based capability requirements,” the MOD noted in the official award announcement. (Source: UAS VISION/ukdj)
21 Apr 25. India delivers second batch of BrahMos missile system to Philippines. This delivery comes after a $374.96m contract which was signed in January 2022. India has completed the delivery of the second BrahMos missile system battery to the Philippines. This delivery comes after a $374.96m contract signed in January 2022, marking India’s first substantial export of a strategic missile system. The initial batch reached the Philippines in 2024. The contract includes a total of three missile system batteries. Alongside the missile systems, which have a 290km range and 2.8 Mach speed, the Philippines will also receive operator training and an integrated logistics support package. Jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPOM, the BrahMos missile is a long-range system capable of being launched from various platforms, including land, sea, and air. It has been designed to perform anti-ship and land-attack roles and is already operational within the Indian Navy and Army.
A source stated that: “The second battery of the missile has been sent in a ship this time.
“The first battery was sent in April 2024 in an IAF aircraft, with support coming from civil aircraft agencies. The long-haul flight carrying the heavy load was a non-stop six-hour journey before the equipment reached the western parts of the Philippines.” (Source: naval-technology.com)
22 Apr 25. Israeli firms to arm Germany with suicide drones. UVision’s partnership with Rheinmetall and IAI’s partnership with MBDA will help equip the German Army with an arsenal of loitering munitions. Last week, Germany’s Ministry of Defense announced a new program to modernize the country’s military weaponry, with mass procurement of loitering munitions (suicide drones) at its heart. This is encouraging news for the Israeli defense industry as a whole, since according to a report published last September, Israel is the world leader in supplying loitering munitions, mainly through UVision and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which have formed partnerships with overseas companies. For Berlin, this is a transformative decision, reports the “Army Recognition” website. “This initiative not only marks a technological leap for the German military but also represents a strategic shift in how new weapon systems are adopted and integrated into operational use. Rather than pursuing the traditional approach of incremental trials with small batches, the Bundeswehr (German Army) will now deploy a significant number of loitering munitions directly to frontline units for immediate testing and tactical integration. Feedback from these operational environments will guide future procurement decisions, potentially expanding the program or steering it toward alternative systems,” the website reports. Following the Russia-Ukraine war and the war in Israel, the German military has learned the lesson of the importance of loitering munitions. “This is a game changer,” said German Chief of Staff General Carsten Breuer.
UVision cooperating with Rheinmetall
German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall is an integral part of the planned process. The German company, ranked in 20th place, two places above Elbit Systems in “Defense News” biggest 100 defense manufacturers, has extensive cooperation with UVision. Based in Tzur Yigal, UVision develops and manufactures the Hero series of loitering munitions. The collaboration with Rheinmetall has already produced impressive products on an international scale, such as a launcher in a shipping container with a capacity for 126 loitering munitions, designed to launch the Hero. The “TWZ” (The War Zone) website has reported that a standard shipping container will be divided into three arrays, each with about 42 compartments. This could indicate a modular system that can be adapted to 10-, 20- or 40-foot containers, with the larger the container, the more loitering munitions it can launch. Rheinmetall’s innovative launch platform is impressive news for three major reasons. First and foremost, it enables swarm attacks, in which a large number of munitions are launched to hit a target and cause serious challenges for air defense systems. Two additional essential advantages of launching from a container that are intertwined with each other are the multiplicity of platforms and the ability to camouflage. A container can be launched from both a land and a sea platform. Containers comprise about 80% of all global maritime trade. In terms of UVision’s models, the Hero line includes 30,90 and 120 lighter models in terms of weight operated by soldiers in the field, 30, 90 and 120, and the 400, 900, 1250 heavier models launched from dedicated platforms. The Hero 120 has a maximum range of 40-60 kilometers and an operating time of one hour. Companies from Germany and Israel say that the Hero 120 warhead weighs about 4.5 kilograms (about 10 pounds). Different warheads can be installed on the same munition to target armored vehicles or soldiers. Compared with the 120 model, the Hero 1250 is bigger and deadlier, carrying a 50 kilogram warhead, with a range of more than 200 kilometers and an operating time of up to 10 hours. The Hero has a system that allows the remote operator to see what the loitering munition sees, through electro-optical and infrared cameras. The operator can make minor course corrections to the UAV, or decide to cancel the mission, if innocent passersby appear unexpectedly, for example. The loitering munitions can also be launched at targets, and carry out missions from start to finish themselves, or can be transferred to ground forces to increase the coordination and efficiency of the forces.
Cooperation with IAI
In a loitering munition model resembling Rheinmetall and UVision’s Hero, European company MBDA has a collaboration with IAI for the sale of the Harop loitering munition. The Harop is effective up to a range of 200 kilometers and can fly for nine hours and reach a speed of 225 knots at an altitude of up to 15,000 feet. It carries about 16 kilograms of explosives, is very accurate and is capable of attacking at a vertical or horizontal angle. Based on it, Iran developed the Shahed 136 imitation, against which Israel has been defending itself since the start of the war. However, while the price of each Harop is estimated at about $700,000, the price of each Shahed 136 is just $30,000. The Harop gained a worldwide reputation thanks to its lethal effectiveness in the Second Karabakh War in 2020, in which Azerbaijan defeated Armenia. The Armenians were unable to cope with it, and the weapon became one of the symbols of victory. This was reflected, among other things, when at a military base, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev affectionately stroked the Harop in front of television cameras – a move that reflected the feelings of his entire nation. (Source: News Now)
21 Apr 25. BAE Systems has developed innovative new approaches in the production of energetics and propellants expected to strengthen supply chain resilience for the UK and its allies. These developments follow more than £150m of investment by the Company in its UK munitions facilities since 2022, which will deliver a sixteen-fold increase in production capacity of 155mm artillery shells when its new explosive filling facility at Glascoed, South Wales, becomes operational this summer. The Company has invested a further £8.5m in novel manufacturing methods over the last five years, leading to significant breakthroughs in the creation of next generation explosives and propellants. The new methods will use continuous flow processing to synthesise explosive material and remove the need for Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine, which are high in demand across global supply chains, in propellant production. As a result, the Company anticipates it will be able to produce sufficient explosives and propellants in the UK to meet UK Ministry of Defence and export requirements, with the initial phase of industrial capacity expected by the end of 2026.
Steve Cardew, Business Development Director at BAE Systems’ Maritime and Land Defence Solutions, said: “Our leap forward in synthetic energetics and propellant manufacture will strengthen the UK’s supply chain resilience and support our ramp up of critical munitions production to meet growing demand in response to the increasingly uncertain world we’re living in. It also supports economic growth through high-skilled jobs and potential export opportunities.”
A pilot has already demonstrated the technological breakthrough producing the explosives in small nodes. This technology would remove the need for a large-scale explosive factory. The new propellant formulation and associated manufacturing process have been demonstrated across a wide range of products from small arms to large calibre munitions. The new technologies are intended to require lower investment and would offer greatly reduced running costs whilst providing enhanced safety in manufacture due to the continuous process meaning there is less explosive in process at any given time. As the primary producer of ammunition for the UK Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems supplies a range of munitions including small arms and artillery shells from sites across the UK, including in Cheshire, Monmouthshire and Tyne and Wear.
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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.
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