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08 May 25. Japan continues deployments of Type 20 assault rifles. Japan has continued to roll out its 5.56×45 mm Type 20 assault rifle, with a new delivery to a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) airbase in Ibaraki prefecture. A spokesperson from Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) told Janes on 7 May that an undisclosed number of Type 20 rifles were delivered to the JASDF Hyakuri Air Base in 2024.
However, the spokesperson indicated that the JASDF has not yet started using the rifles. “We are currently making arrangements so that the rifles will become operational as soon as can be,” the spokesperson said.
Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) allocated JPY3.3bn (USD22.8m) in its fiscal year (FY) 2023 to procure 8,577 Type 20 rifles, according to MoD budget information. An ATLA spokesperson told Janes in 2023 that deliveries of the rifles were scheduled for FY 2024 and FY 2025. The MoD further allocated JPY4.3 billion for 9,927 Type 20 rifles in FY 2024 and JPY5.4bn for 12,907 rifles in FY 2025. According to Janes Weapons: Infantry, the Type 20 assault rifle – produced by Howa Machinery Limited – was developed in 2015 to replace Japan’s ageing 5.56×45 mm Type 89 assault rifles, which were also built by Howa Machinery. In 2019 the MoD selected the Type 20 rifle over Heckler and Koch’s 416A5 and the FN Herstal’s SCAR-L rifles. The Type 20 is a selective-fire, air-cooled, magazine box-fed, gas-operated assault rifle, with a conventional layout. The rifle can be configured for either automatic or semi-automatic fire via the use of a fire-selector lever. (Source: Janes)
08 May 25. ST Engineering to supply Singapore with unmanned MCM systems. ST Engineering has received contracts to supply the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) with a suite of mine-countermeasures (MCM) unmanned systems, the company disclosed in a media release on 7 May on the sidelines of IMDEX 2025, held in Singapore from 6 to 8 May. The suite will comprise a fleet of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and a command-and-control (C2) centre, read the statement. In addition to this, the company will supply the RSN with a “high-fidelity simulation system” for operators to hone their skills with the equipment under various MCM scenarios, it added.
“Designed to operate in unison, both the USV and AUV will be integrated with advanced sensors to detect and classify mines,” the company said in its media release.
“Real-time data from the USV and AUV will be transmitted to the C2 centre through a secure communications network, also to be developed by ST Engineering, enabling quick assessments and faster decision making.”
“The USV will also be integrated with advanced payloads to identify and neutralise the mines. The C2 centre will act as the operational hub, remotely monitoring and controlling the USV and AUV from shore or the mother ship, ensuring safety by maintaining a safe distance during the MCM operation,” the company added.
No further details on this simulator and MCM systems were provided in the media release. Similarly, ST Engineering has stopped short of revealing any numbers or the USV type that will be supplied to the RSN. (Source: Janes)
08 May 25. Anduril Shows Mass Production of Roadrunner Loitering Interceptor. U.S. defense technology company Anduril Industries has revealed large-scale production of its new Roadrunner loitering interceptor, a reusable drone designed to counter aerial threats with rapid-launch capabilities. The company shared an image across its social media platforms showing a substantial number of serially produced Roadrunner units, signaling that the system is moving beyond development into full-scale manufacturing. According to the company, Roadrunner is a “reusable, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), operator-supervised Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV)” equipped with twin turbojet engines and modular payload options. These engines enable the aircraft to launch vertically without a booster and reach high subsonic speeds in flight. The interceptor’s key feature lies in its partial reusability. While the Roadrunner-M variant carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead to destroy airborne targets, the system can be safely recovered if it misses its mark. In such cases, the drone performs a controlled vertical landing powered by its own propulsion — a method compared to the Falcon 9 rockets from SpaceX. Roadrunner-M is a high-explosive interceptor variant of Roadrunner built for ground-based air defense. It can rapidly launch, identify, intercept, and destroy a wide variety of aerial threats — or be safely recovered and relaunched at near-zero cost. This combination of high-speed interception and reusability sets the Roadrunner apart from most conventional loitering munitions, which are typically single-use systems. Its modular design also allows for various mission configurations beyond kinetic interception. (Source: UAS VISION/Defence Blog)
08 May 25. Like Cars, Rockets Evolve: Navy’s Ramjet Test Proves Game-changing Potential. Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division successfully air-launched a Solid Fuel Integral Rocket Ramjet (SFIRR) from an unmanned vehicle for the first time, one step toward modernizing missile technology. The test also integrated the use of a fire control system on a BQM-34 unmanned target vehicle for live firing, demonstrating advancements in high-speed, long-range weapon capabilities. Launching the missile from an unmanned vehicle can allow warfighters to safely engage targets from greater distances. As the Lead Prototype Integrator, NAWCWD combined advanced propulsion, avionics and fire control technologies into the technology demonstrator in just 12 months. Rapidly transitioning technologies from research to operational use is critical for maintaining a warfighting advantage.
“This successful integration validates key aspects of our design and moves us closer to delivering an advanced propulsion system that will provide warfighters with greater range and speed,” said Abbey Horning, product director of NAWCWD’s Advanced Concepts, Prototyping and Experimentation office.
Although Solid Fuel Ramjet technology is not new, this test proves its relevance to the modern battlefield.
“We’re not just revisiting an old idea; we’re refining and modernizing it to fit today’s mission,” Horning said.
SFIRR simplifies missile propulsion by eliminating the complexity found in liquid fuel ramjet propulsion. This significantly reduces weight, allowing missiles to carry more payload and travel greater distances with increased maneuverability. Horning highlighted additional benefits: “SFIRR offers a balance of affordability, reliability and performance tailored to the Navy’s operational needs.”
Ephraim Washburn, deputy director for energetics at NAWCWD, noted that technology evolution occurs across many industries. He compared SFIRR advancements to automotive improvements, where early designs laid a foundation, and ongoing developments continue to enhance performance.
“We’ve been driving cars since the early 1900s, but that doesn’t mean we stopped improving them,” Washburn said. “Solid fuel ramjet technology had significant investment in the 1970s and 1980s, but we’re making it a modern propulsion solution for the fleet today.”
These recent advances are part of the Navy’s ongoing efforts to ensure technological superiority. NAWCWD collaborates across government, industry and academia to deliver propulsion innovations. Lessons learned from recent tests directly informed the development of a next-generation missile prototype aimed at enhancing speed, range and operational flexibility for future Navy strike capabilities.
“This is a combat-credible technology,” Washburn said. “We are working to refine its range, endurance, and targeting capabilities.” (Source: ASD Network)
08 May 25. EuroTrophy announces that it is working with defence and technology company Patria on the integration of the Trophy® Active Protection System onto the Patria AMV XP 8×8. The first demonstrator vehicle was unveiled to representatives of selected nations during March 2025 in the framework of Patria’s Arctic Events that took place Rovaniemi, Lapland. The Patria AMV XP 8×8 is one of the world’s leading 8X8 Armored Fighting Vehicles, with advanced survivability vs. a variety of threats. By integrating the Trophy® APS, the vehicle is enhanced with unmatched protection from ATGMs, RPGs, drones and other ‘Anti-Tank’ threats. In addition to protection capabilities, the integration onto the AMV XP enables Trophy’s Fire Source Location (FSL) capability, in which Trophy’s sensors detect enemy fire and transfer the azimuth and distance of the enemy shooter to the vehicle. By using this data, the crew can then use any other effector on the vehicle to return fire. One other capability is to share the enemy’s location via BMS to other forces that are able retaliate to enemy fire. The integration between the AMV XP and Trophy brings together a mature solution to potential customers, with both being already fielded and operational in NATO. It also creates new capabilities to handle current and evolving challenges in the Arctic. EuroTrophy is the European hub of the Trophy® APS. Based in Germany, the company is the only provider of a European made, combat proven, NATO fielded Active Protection System. The company also provides a wide range of services such as vehicle integration support, maintenance and related introduction-into-service and through-life support of its APS. EuroTrophy is dedicated to the European defense community and is committed to suppling state of the art life-saving capabilities.
07 May 25. Adventure Tactical announces IR sensor upgrade for its VIP light™ and Trilobyte® beacon products, at SOF Week 2025. Adventure Tactical, the defence arm of Adventure Lights Inc, is a premier manufacturer of durable safety and signalling beacons for use where positive visual ID is vital, in the most extreme of environments. Adventure Tactical has announced an upgrade to their IR sensor for the next generation of VIP light™ and Trilobyte® beacon products which significantly increases the range of detection and early warning for their users. This announcement coincides with SOF Week 2025, where you can find out more about this and their wide range of complementary products, by visiting their booth (Level 3, Booth #255) at the Tampa Convention Centre, from the 6th-8th May 2025. Adventure Tactical has been designing and manufacturing highly durable, easy to use and often bespoke safety lights and signalling beacons for the US military, NATO, global security forces and extreme adventurers for over 30 years. Renowned for their excellent quality and robust multi-use designs, and packed with innovative technologies such as Mockingbird®, AutoSync™ and self-healing mesh networks for S.M.A.R.T. Beacons®, they are the provider of choice for special forces, regular combat troops and homeland security teams, globally. Adventure Tactical has strategic partnerships in place with Galvion and Robotics Centre. With customer needs and end user requirements at the heart of their ethos, Adventure Tactical identified a need for users to have increased protection from a wider array of Laser Range Finder and IR detection devices that have become far more prevalent, when facing an asymmetric threat. Adventure Tactical has been leading the way in integrating Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and early warning detection systems into their light and beacon products for over 15 years. Their products have been proven operationally with US, European, Scandinavian and Middle East customers and are in use with 24 NATO countries. The IR sensor upgrade announced today, combined with other technologies, ensures that the next generation of VIP light™ and Trilobyte® beacon products offer the widest possible range of early warning and detection capabilities. This upgrade helps to protect those operating in the most extreme of environments by increasing their survivability, enhancing command and control and delivering real-time situational awareness.
Tim Ford, Founder and President of Adventure Tactical said: “Our mission is to deliver an extreme product for extreme situations and central to our ethos is to meet our customers’ unique demands. This IR sensor upgrade is a perfect example of that ethos in action. Front line troops identified an emerging risk when facing an asymmetric enemy threat that we have responded to by delivering an increased range of detection capability to enhance the users early warning and ability to respond. This enhancement, combined with all our existing innovative technologies and design quality, ensures we offer a cost-effective but superior product compared to alternatives. We are very excited to announce this significant upgrade to our long-standing VIP light™ and Trilobyte® beacon products at SOF Week, and we will be incorporating this enhanced capability into our other products as soon as possible.” Tim added, “Our products are designed and manufactured in Canada, Europe and the US. Therefore, we are able to offer export license and tariff free access to our full range of products.”
06 May 25. PDW is Future-Proofing Arsenals with Lethally Affordable Multirotors. The creator of the world’s most mission-versatile sUAS, the C100, is now revolutionizing small drones from a first-person view. Today’s battlefield has become a dizzying display of futuristic technology and old-world brutality. While IEDs and insurgent attacks were hallmarks of past conflicts, modern conflicts have taken new form: signal jammers in trees, electronic warfare FPVs, and homemade flying bombs that can take out thousands. Over the centuries, warfare has evolved from bayonets to fighter jets. Now it’s back in the trenches with deadly flying robots delivering the killing blows. Drones are the new king of combat and PDW is ushering in a new era of air superiority with its Attritable Multirotor FPV (AM-FPV). The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that cost-effective weaponized drones manufactured at scale own the battlefield. Militaries around the world are now demanding this capability and PDW is ready to deliver. We’re gearing up to manufacture the ultimate attritable weapon system at scale and at a fraction of the cost of comparable systems. This will fill a critical gap our operators require at the front lines to achieve successful multi-domain operations.
“In this new era of warfare, the name of the game is delivering increased lethality, manufactured at scale for minimal investment. We’re doing just that,” said PDW co-founder and CEO Ryan Gury. “As General Fenton recently testified to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Special Operations Forces are prioritizing attritable, affordable uncrewed systems that can be employed at scale. Current conflicts around the globe are shaping the way militaries view and use drones. As a result, drones have become a new form of artillery.”
90% of casualties in the Ukraine war have been attributed to small drones. War is now a numbers game and maintaining a fully stocked arsenal of attritable weapons will help forces maintain the upper hand. To stay true to their name, attritable systems must be both expendable and affordable. While budgetary pockets have been deep in the past for defense spending, deploying a single top-dollar platform against dozens of attritable systems is neither strategic nor sustainable. PDW’s AM-FPV is made for mass scale production at home, and mass disruption on the battlefield.
The ultimate attritable system, the AM-FPV was built by PDW to address the needs of our front-line forces and first responders as they begin to field organic FPV assets. It delivers both kinetic and ISR capabilities in one flexible system that can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of comparable platforms.
The conflict in Ukraine has also highlighted the critical need for drones that can be deployed rapidly. The AM-FPV is designed for rapid-fire assembly – in under 120 seconds – without tools or soldering. Operators can quickly build, repair, and redeploy on the fly.
Featuring swappable arms and a universal mount, AM-FPV is an adaptable, high performance modular system capable of executing a variety of missions. It excels in precision strike, delivering both anti-personnel and anti-material effects in harsh conditions and contested environments. Optimized for reliable and precise deployments, day or night, the AM-FPV integrates IR and LED illumination, assuring a clear sight picture in any situation.
“To put it simply, our customers want quality, hardened, reliable systems at scale. It’s our duty to ensure we exceed these requirements. We’ve continually refined and flown our FPV to its limits to ensure failure isn’t an option when it gets in the hands of our warfighters,” Gury continued.
PDW is already the creator of the world’s most mission-versatile sUAS, the C100, and is now revolutionizing small drones from a first-person view. AM-FPV is an evolution of the Drone Racing League (DRL) Racer Series FPV with over 10 years of design refinement and operational employment in contested electronic environments. Designed by elite FPV engineers and U.S. SOF veterans, the AM-FPV provides military operators and first responders the tactical edge to rapidly respond to the world’s toughest missions with confidence and precision.
07 May 25. Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B) has successfully developed and delivered custom fin Control Actuation System (CAS) shipsets to Leidos in support of the Black Arrow Small Cruise Missile (SCM). Leidos integrated Moog CAS shipsets into Black Arrow, an affordable mission adaptable delivery platform in the 200-lb class which is designed to support both kinetic and non-kinetic missions. In November, Leidos conducted a guided end-to-end flight test of Black Arrow from an AC-130J aircraft with Moog hardware accurately steering the missile throughout the test. During the extended flight, Black Arrow successfully achieved all test objectives, including meeting the desired standoff range, duration, and terminal accuracy. Black Arrow is designed to meet the demand for a low-cost yet effective solution and aligns with Moog’s commitment to consistently provide high-value, affordable solutions in support of the warfighter.
“In collaboration with Leidos, Moog is committed to producing additional CAS shipsets for continued testing. Our Salt Lake City, UT missile manufacturing center of excellence is fully prepared to quickly stand up the necessary production lines to meet future expanded needs,” stated Mike Gruver, Moog Group Senior Vice President. Moog CAS shipsets for Black Arrow are each comprised of four electromechanical actuators and one control electronics card.
“Dynetics has engaged in extensive cooperation with Moog for over a decade on a number of successful programs including the GBU-69 Small Glide Munition and the X-61 Gremlins. The Black Arrow Small Cruise Missile is a natural progression of our relationship merging our strike and unmanned aerial vehicle expertise into a new capability that will help fulfill the nation’s need for affordable standoff strike systems,” said Mark Miller, Leidos, Dynetics Group, Senior Vice President, Missile and Aviation Systems Division.
07 May 25. Ursa Major Validates SRM Manufacturing Process with Successful Static Fires using Highly Loaded Grain. Ursa Major has completed multiple static fires of a 5” solid rocket motor using all components of Highly Loaded Grain, successfully validating all phases of Ursa Major’s proprietary solid rocket motor manufacturing process, known as “Lynx.”
Highly Loaded Grain is an energetics technology that Ursa Major has improved and demonstrated using additive tooling. With HLG, the warfighter gets extended range in the same size rocket motor and custom thrust profiles with the same propellent, enabling reuse across multiple products. Lynx can be used to manufacture HLG and traditional solid rocket motors on the same production line, revolutionizing the producibility of HLG motors.
“While our solid rocket motors are already flight-tested and proven, this static fire represents the successful validation of the full Lynx manufacturing process with HLG, affirming Ursa Major’s ability to be a supplier of mission critical solid rocket motors,” said Bill Murray, Chief Engineering Officer, Ursa Major. “As SRM supply chains continue to bottleneck, Ursa Major’s real, proven, and 100% American-made SRMs are ready to fulfill a critical role in national security across mission sets and product lines, faster and more cost-effective than other SRMs on the market.”
Not just another SRM single-product production line, Ursa Major’s Lynx manufacturing process uses a common architecture so that a single factory can be turned on to make almost any SRM on a common production line. This approach allows Ursa Major to execute higher production volumes with a smaller team, saving our customers and taxpayers time and money for both HLG and traditional SRMs. (Source: ASD Network)
06 May 25. Reduced funding slows MDA’s hypersonic interceptor development. The Missile Defense Agency is facing a roughly three-year delay in its plan to deliver an interceptor capable of defeating a hypersonic weapon in the glide phase of flight, according to its director. In an attempt to mitigate the delay, the agency truncated a competitive development effort years’ early, choosing one team to go it alone to design and build the Glide Phase Interceptor. But the program’s reduced funding levels have still slowed down the program, MDA confirmed in a May 6 statement to Defense News.
“The glide phase interceptor program (delay) was due to priorities and resourcing decisions,” Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, MDA director, said in testimony before the House Armed Services Strategic Forces subcommittee on April 30.
“Last year, we were driven to make an earlier selection and a down-select years earlier than planned,” he said.
MDA chose Northrop Grumman to design the interceptor last fall, prior to even reaching a preliminary design review. Ideally, major programs remain competitive through critical design review in order to motivate competitors to deliver high levels of capability at appealing price points. Each design review phase can typically take between a year and a year and a half. In the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress mandated MDA move more quickly by requiring the agency to reach full operational capability by the end of 2032 and provide no fewer than 12 GPIs for tests by the end of 2029. The funding the agency has received for the program “will actually push that delivery to 2035,” Collins said.
“It’s primarily a resourcing at this point. There are some technology things that need to happen in the next three to five years, but then there is a resourcing alignment issues that could accelerate that,” he added. “We believe we could recover to 2032 with no increased level of programmatic risk across the program, but that’s about the fastest we could do today.”
In the meantime, Collins said MDA is exploring other alternatives or options that could fill a partial or residual capability from other systems.
“But as it stands today, the only hypersonic maneuvering target defense capability we have is in the fleet with the SM-6 [missile] and the Sea-Based Terminal [radar] capability,” he said.
MDA is also delayed by about 18 months in fielding its Next-Generation Interceptor that will replace the Ground-Based Interceptors making up the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system, designed to defend the continental U.S. from intercontinental ballistic missiles that could come from Iran and North Korea.
Again, the service chose a winner over a year earlier than planned, selecting Lockheed Martin and its partner L3Harris’ Aerojet Rocketdyne in April 2024 to continue the development of NGI.
“Due to a funding decision and priorities, we did downselect to a single contractor last year, a year and a half earlier than expected,” Collins said in testimony.
The NGI will play a big role in the Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile defense shield to protect the U.S. homeland from air and missile defense threats from a wide variety of adversaries. Golden Dome would likely call for an increase of NGIs well beyond the 44 GBIs already in place, although the official plans for the architecture have yet to be revealed.
“Our No. 1 risk issue and risk going forward with either the vendors at that time was the solid rocket motor effort and development,” Collins said. “This is a new booster, a new development, and we have experienced delays and issues with that development and are expecting 18 month or more delay in the delivery of that initial capability.”
The agency said the previous schedule supported an initial operational capability for NGI no later than the fourth quarter of fiscal 2028.
MDA has “taken actions to shore up that development as well as bring in an additional source to help buy down the schedule risk of the development as we move forward,” Collins added.
The Army operates the GMD system, and the service’s Space and Missile Defense Command commander, Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, told reporters in a May 2 briefing that any delay to capability that would address advanced threats “is obviously concerning.”
But, he added, “we’ll continue to work with Missile Defense Agency to mitigate from an upgrade of the current GBIs, an upgrade of the software as necessary to be able to fight the fight with the capability that we have right now.”
“It is still the foundation for the future of ballistic ICBM protection of the homeland and we are 100% committed and focused on that program,” Collins said. (Source: Defense News)
06 May 25. Israel Negotiates Acquisition of U.S. JASSM Missiles to Strengthen F-35 Fighter Jet Air-to-Ground Strike Power. Citing information published by the Israeli financial newspaper Globes on May 4, 2025, Israel’s Ministry of Defense is reportedly in advanced negotiations with the United States to acquire the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), a highly advanced precision strike weapon developed by American defense giant Lockheed Martin. This development marks a significant step in enhancing Israel’s long-range strike capabilities and reflects the ongoing strategic cooperation between the two allies. The JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) is an air-to-surface missile designed to destroy high-value, fortified, and well-defended targets from a significant distance. It features a stealthy airframe and is armed with a powerful 450-kilogram (1,000-pound) warhead capable of penetrating hardened bunkers. Guided by a sophisticated dual-mode system that includes GPS and an infrared seeker, the missile is capable of operating in GPS-denied environments with high accuracy. It provides a decisive edge in modern air warfare with a standard range of more than 370 km and up to 1,000 km in the extended-range (JASSM-ER) variant. This capability becomes exponentially more valuable for Israel when paired with its fleet of F-35I “Adir” stealth fighters. These fifth-generation aircraft, developed by Lockheed Martin and uniquely customized for Israeli operational needs, offer unparalleled stealth, sensor fusion, and electronic warfare capabilities. The JASSM is fully compatible with the F-35, and when carried internally, it preserves the aircraft’s low observable signature, allowing for precision strikes in heavily contested airspaces without detection. This integration would enable the Israeli Air Force to hit strategic targets deep within hostile territory while minimizing the risk to pilots and aircraft. This potential acquisition is part of a broader pattern of deepening military-technical ties between the United States and Israel. The two countries have long maintained a close defense relationship, underscored by the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, through which Israel has procured a wide range of cutting-edge American military systems. The JASSM deal, if finalized, is expected to be processed through this channel and may also fall under the $3.8 bn annual military aid package stipulated in the 10-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2016 between the U.S. and Israeli governments. The U.S. has consistently supported Israel’s efforts to maintain its qualitative military edge in the region. In recent years, this support has included the delivery of KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling tankers, CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters, and additional F-35I fighters. The addition of the JASSM to Israel’s arsenal would further enhance its ability to conduct precision strikes against time-sensitive and high-value targets—particularly important in scenarios involving Iranian strategic infrastructure or weapons stockpiles held by non-state actors like Hezbollah. While neither side has disclosed the exact quantity of missiles under discussion, the strategic implications are clear. The JASSM’s standoff range, combined with its precision and low-observable characteristics, would significantly improve Israel’s ability to carry out long-range operations with minimal exposure. This capability aligns perfectly with Israel’s military doctrine of preemptive defense and strategic deterrence. Ultimately, this move illustrates both Israel’s intent to maintain its air dominance and the strength of the U.S.-Israel defense alliance. As talks progress and potential contracts are finalized, defense analysts will closely monitor how this capability is integrated into Israel’s existing force structure and operational planning. The successful acquisition and deployment of the JASSM missile would not only enhance the Israeli Air Force’s operational reach but also reaffirm its position as one of the most capable and technologically advanced air forces in the world. (Source: Google/armyrecognition.com)
06 May 25. Estonia receives six HIMARS MRLs. Estonia received six High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) on 30 April, the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) announced later the same day. The systems were handed over to the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) at Ämari Air Base, to which they had been flown by a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 transport aircraft. Major General Indrek Sirel, commander of the Estonian Division, said, “The arrival of HIMARS systems provides important additional capabilities for fulfilling the division-level tasks of the [Estonian] Defence Forces. Since US HIMARS units are already stationed in Estonia, our soldiers have already undergone training, and now we can move forward with developing and preparing our own HIMARS unit at the division level.” The ECDI said the EDF had established a staff and completed pre-training for the personnel of a HIMARS rocket artillery battery, in co-operation with US Task Force ‘Victory’, and the first live-fire exercises are planned to begin in the third quarter of 2025. ECDI Director General Magnus-Valdemar Saar signed a USD200m contract with the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) for the six HIMARSs in December 2022. The procurement also includes rockets with ranges from 70 to over 300 km, communication systems, training, logistics, and life-cycle support, according to the ECDI. (Source: Janes)
05 May 25. DoD Demonstrates Reusability of Hypersonic Test Vehicle. The U.S. Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center (TRMC), in partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane), conducted a second successful flight of a fully recoverable uncrewed hypersonic test vehicle in March 2025, within three months of the first test in December 2024. This test campaign marks the Nation’s first return to reusable hypersonic flight testing since the manned X-15 program ended in 1968. In both tests, the Stratolaunch Talon-A hypersonic vehicle launched from the Roc carrier aircraft, flew over the Pacific Ocean and achieved speeds greater than Mach 5 before landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The landmark tests supported the ongoing TRMC Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) project.
George Rumford, Director of the TRMC, stated, “Demonstrating the reuse of fully recoverable hypersonic test vehicles is an important milestone for MACH-TB. Lessons learned from this test campaign will help us reduce vehicle turnaround time from months down to weeks.”
MACH-TB accelerates delivery of advanced hypersonic capabilities to the warfighter by providing DoD, other Federal agencies, industry, and academia the capability to affordably and rapidly conduct hypersonic experiments and test hypersonic system components. NSWC Crane awarded the MACH-TB contract to Leidos through the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) vehicle on behalf of the TRMC. As the prime contractor for MACH-TB, Leidos awarded Stratolaunch, LLC a competitive contract to provide flight test services for the program.
About TRMC
The U.S. Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) is a DoD Field Activity that reports directly to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The mission of the TRMC is to ensure the readiness of DoD to experiment and test. (Source: U.S. DoD)
05 May 25. Ursa Major’s Hadley liquid rocket engine designed for commercial space and national security needs, successfully achieved sustained hypersonic speeds during two separate tests conducted since late 2024. Both test flights exceeded flight and power objectives for Stratolaunch’s Talon-A2 (TA-2) testbed and also featured the successful recovery of the hypersonic testbed vehicle post-landing for re-use.
“With these successful sustained hypersonic flights, Ursa Major and Stratolaunch are pushing the boundaries of hypersonic technology and building a track record of achievement. Ursa Major is answering the call from our military and government partners to innovate and meet the mission to provide critical national security capabilities, while continuing to assert ourselves as a hypersonics category leader for the warfighter,” said Ursa Major CEO Dan Jablonsky.
Hadley is a 5,000-pound-thrust (lbf) liquid oxygen and kerosene, oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle reusable rocket engine for small vehicles or hypersonic applications. In addition to the two recent hypersonic flights, Hadley flew its first successful flight, achieving high supersonic speeds with Stratolaunch, completing three successful flights in one calendar year. Hadley enables the U.S. Department of Defense to field new mission solutions faster and advances performance metrics of speed, range, and payload. Hadley is the first product in a family of propulsion systems, including liquid rocket engines, solid rocket motors, and in-space propulsion systems, being designed, developed, and produced by Ursa Major. (Source: PR Newswire)
05 May 25. Pakistan shows JF-17 Block III fitted with PL-15 missiles for first time. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has published video imagery showing, for the first time, a JF-17 Block III fighter aircraft armed with the long-range PL-15 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM). While Pakistan received its first batch of PL-15 missiles in 2021, according to Janes data, the new video provides official evidence that the missile has been integrated with the JF-17 Block III. Janes previously reported that the Block III variant entered the PAF service in 2023. In the same video, the PAF also showed a J-10C in a camouflage colour scheme of green-grey, equipped with PL-15 missiles in dual-launch wing hardpoints. Earlier, Janes had reported that J-10C aircraft in this colour scheme are used in the maritime strike role. Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the PL-15 has been in Chinese military service since 2016. Designed as an enhanced version of the earlier PL-12 BVRAAM, the PL-15 is equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system and is capable of a speed of Mach 4. Janes estimates that the PL-15 has a maximum range of 300 km. In contrast, the earlier PL-12 (SD-10/10A) missile, which Pakistan also possesses, has an estimated maximum range of 70–100 km. In the PAF video, the JF-17 Block III aircraft featured the serial number 22-311 and was also equipped with wingtip-mounted PL-10 short-range imaging infrared (IIR)-guided AAMs. The aircraft lacked a squadron insignia. (Source: Janes)
05 May 25. Gentex Corporation announced at SOF Week in Tampa, FL the public release of its next-generation Ops-Core® FAST® SF Headborne System. A global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces, emergency responders, and industrial personnel, Gentex first introduced the FAST SF helmet in 2017, setting the standard for light weight, comfort, stability, and protection. Adopted as the USSOCOM FTHS helmet system, it quickly became the choice of top-tier customers worldwide. This latest version establishes a new benchmark for lightweight ballistic protection, delivering exceptional performance and enhanced comfort for the most elite SOF and LE forces.
The new FAST SF Headborne System incorporates major advancements through three innovative sub-systems:
- Lighter System Weight: This system achieves the same ballistic performance as the legacy FAST SF helmet system while reducing system weight by 10-15% (depending on size). The new ballistic shell boasts a thinner, lighter design for enhanced wearability. The reduced weight has users questioning the need for a separate bump helmet.
- Universal LockDown™ Liner System: A universal suspension solution backward compatible with all FAST Helmet Systems that enhances comfort, airflow, and stability for heavy VAS and NVG setups. Featuring LockDown Fit Shims and a Cable Occ-Dial® with a conformal nape pad, this liner ensures a secure, customizable fit for any head shape, eliminating interference with communications headbands and delivering unmatched performance in the most demanding conditions.
- Versatile Head-Loc® Flex Retention System: Featuring a convertible chin cup design, the Head-Loc Flex retention system can be worn over or under the chin, offering unprecedented user flexibility. Optimized buckles and sliders improve usability and eliminate the need for mask extenders in most cases. The patented Ops-Core Head-Loc sliders continue to offer market leading one handed adjustment.
“These advancements represent a significant step forward in functionality and comfort for the end user,” said Peter Harbeck, SOF Segment Director at Gentex Corporation. “The FAST SF Headborne System delivers the protection our customers expect while addressing critical needs for weight reduction, fit, and adaptability. With its new liner system, the helmet provides a tailored, secure fit that conforms to the user’s head shape, enhancing stability and long-term wearability in demanding environments.”
Designed with the end-user at its core, the next-generation FAST SF Headborne System represents a significant step forward in headborne protection. This lighter, more comfortable, and ultimately more effective solution underscores Gentex’s ongoing commitment to providing cutting-edge protection for those that demand the absolute best. With the new FAST SF Headborne System, Gentex builds on its position as the exclusive provider of USSOCOM’s FTHS helmet system, delivering unmatched performance, uncompromising protection, and a proven track record that elite forces rely on when failure is not an option. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
05 May 25. NUBURU, Inc. (NYSE American: BURU), a pioneering leader in high-power blue laser technology announced the initiation of a strategic working group dedicated to revitalizing its Blue-Laser Business Unit. This initiative is set to redefine the company’s approach to leveraging laser technology within the defense sector, promising to enhance NUBURU’s market position. In alignment with the Joint-Pursuit Agreement recently signed with a defense-tech company, NUBURU aims to deploy vertical applications that synergize with the defense industry. These applications, together with other few additional verticals which the Company will be focussed on, will facilitate cross-selling and up-selling strategies, harnessing NUBURU’s existing expertise and extensive network of distributors and clients who have conducted initial pilot projects using blue laser technology.
“NUBURU is embarking on an exciting journey to strengthen and expand our Blue-Laser Business Unit,” said Alessandro Zamboni, Executive Chairman of NUBURU. “By assembling a team of subject matter experts and leveraging our partnership with the defense sector, we are poised to create innovative solutions that not only resonate with our current clientele but also appeal to a broader market.”
To ensure the success of this initiative, the Company is currently in advanced discussions to engage a senior expert specializing in revenue generation and marketing strategies to develop a robust go-to-market model. This will also allow NUBURU to facilitate a collaboration with the defense-tech company’s client portfolio and leverage the partnership with NexGenAI Solutions Group and its AI-driven marketing solutions that will provide NUBURU with deep market insights and enable targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with potential customers for the Blue Laser. As part of this revitalization plan, NUBURU is in the process of establishing a new state-of-the-art facility encompassing a warehouse, laboratories, and office space. This facility will serve as the operational hub for the Blue-Laser BU, marking a new chapter in NUBURU’s growth trajectory. The company has already identified a first suitable location and is planning for a seamless migration. NUBURU remains dedicated to delivering innovative solutions tailored to the dynamic needs of its clients, ensuring it remains at the forefront of technological advancements in laser applications.
About NUBURU
NUBURU, Inc. was founded in 2015 as a developer and manufacturer of industrial blue laser technology that is transforming the speed and quality of laser-based manufacturing. Under its new management team led by Executive Chairman Alessandro Zamboni, NUBURU is executing a comprehensive growth and diversification strategy, expanding into complementary domains such as defense-tech, security, and operational resilience solutions. NUBURU is leveraging strategic partnerships and acquisitions to accelerate growth in high-value sectors. For more information, visit www.nuburu.net. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
05 May 25. Pakistan tests Abdali missile system. Pakistan has launched its Abdali surface-to-surface missile (SSM) system (also known as Hatf 2) as part of a recent military training exercise, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported on 3 May. The launch comes amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April. ISPR said the “training launch” of the missile was part of ‘Ex Indus’. It did not elaborate but the name is likely a reference to an exercise conducted by the Pakistan military, possibly for the first time. ISPR claimed that the Abdali missile has a range of 450 km, which could indicate the missile has been enhanced or that it was carrying a light payload. Citing Pakistani military, Janes reported in 2006 that the Abdali SSM has a range of up to 200 km, can carry nuclear or conventional warheads, and has a payload of up to 500 kg. Janes assesses that a reduced payload of about 200–300 kg could increase the range of the missile to 450 km.
“The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features,” ISPR said.
According to Janes Weapons: Strategic, the Abdali SSM entered service with the Pakistan Army in 2005. It is a single-stage, solid-propellent, road-mobile close-range ballistic missile (CRBM). The missile has an ogival nose and four clipped‐tip delta fins at the rear. (Source: Janes)
05 May 25. Europe’s long-range strike project nears choice of lead contractors. The six European countries cooperating on a conventional long-range, ground-launched strike capability may announce the lead companies for the project in June, according to one of the co-authors on a French parliamentary report on the state of artillery. The European Long-range Strike Approach (ELSA) coalition has identified 13 development pillars, and in June is expected to define who is responsible for what, said Jean-Louis Thiériot, a French deputy who sits on the National Assembly’s defense committee, in a hearing here last week. The lead on each segment will be determined based on a “best athlete” approach, Thiériot said. France will play a “major role” through rocket builder Ariane Group for the ballistics segment, according to the lawmaker, who struck an optimistic tone about progress on ELSA.
“What is very interesting about this project is that it is indeed a coalition of volunteers and sovereign states, and it has been achieved without getting bogged down in the bureaucratic red tape that can often be encountered in more bureaucratic forms of cooperation,” Thiériot said.
“We are really at the beginning, but something is working,” he added.
France, Germany, Poland and Italy signed a letter of intent on the long-range strike initiative at a NATO summit in Washington in July 2024, with Sweden and the U.K. joining in October. European NATO members have a capability gap in long-ranged strike compared with Russia, which operates several ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of between 500 kilometers and 2,500 kilometers, and capable of hitting targets across Europe, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies France’s current lack of a land-based, deep-strike capability creates a risk of nuclear deterrence being circumvented, with a gap between the lower threshold of nuclear deterrence and the maximum of what the conventional forces can do, according to the parliamentary report. ELSA could address that gap, with a capability separate from France’s plans to replace its rocket artillery.
Thiériot said there is political will to move forward on ELSA, combined with “manufacturers who will not get involved in cumbersome mechanisms such as the European Defence Fund, where you have to find the necessary number of partners, which means that you end up taking the SME that makes bolts to make ailerons.”
“There is a real desire for efficiency,” the deputy said. “It’s something that can work, both in the French interest and in the European interest, so it really seems like a good model to me. We’ll talk about it again in a year.”
Ariane Group, MBDA, Safran and Thales all either didn‘t immediately respond to requests for comment, or had no immediate comment. MBDA has proposed its Land Cruise Missile, a land-based version of the company’s Missile de Croisière Naval, as a short-term solution for ELSA. Ballistic and cruise-missile technologies each have comparative advantages, and ideally both technologies would be developed for strike capability in the range of 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers, the report said. Ballistic tech primarily focuses on fixed targets, while cruise missiles allow for precision strikes on fixed or mobile targets. The ground-based, long-range strike capability would be a useful complement to existing air and sea-launched cruise missiles, according to the report. Diversifying delivery systems would significantly increase options available to political decision makers and provide an additional offensive vector for possible escalation management.
“The commitment of all joint strike assets at great depth would make it possible to combine trajectories and saturate the enemy’s defenses at specific points, forcing them into dilemmas,” the French artillery report said.
The deep strike capabilities of the French Navy and Air Force face constraints due to air defenses and access denial. A land-based system could offer greater flexibility, including for opportunistic targeting, according to the report.
Feedback from hearings and visits to Ukraine suggests interception of ground-based ballistic missiles by air defenses remains very low, “significantly lower” than for cruise missiles, according to Thiériot. If one technology were to be chosen due to budgetary constraints, developing ground-based ballistic technology for land-based long-range strike is more important, the report stated.
“I would add that the ideal solution would be to do both,” Thiériot said.
France’s work on nuclear deterrence and ballistic strike capability means it has companies such as Ariane Group able to “quickly master these capabilities,” Thiériot said.
Meanwhile, French defense manufacturer Turgis Gaillard on Wednesday announced a truck-mounted long-range strike system dubbed Foudre, able to fire both French and allied munitions, with the company saying it will present the system at the Paris Air Show in June. France’s Directorate General for Armament is already working with a consortium of Safran and MBDA and another of Ariane Group and Thales to develop a tactical strike capability in the 150-kilometer range to replace the French Army’s remaining fleet of decades-old rocket launchers. Turgis Gaillard has presented its system as complementary to what is being developed with the DGA, as the launcher would be able to fire the munitions developed by the two consortiums, according to Matthieu Bloch, a member of parliament and co-author of the artillery report. Bloch said fire control and missiles for the launcher are critical and require a sovereign solution, whereas chassis and launch pods are non-critical elements. (Source: Defense News)
02 May 25. British Army no longer operates AS90 artillery. The UK initially donated 32 AS90 artillery systems to Ukraine in 2023 and acquired the interim Archer system in 2024. The British Army no longer operates the AS90 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH), Army Technology can confirm, with the UK’s only 155mm artillery capability now maintained by a small, 14-strong fleet of Archer systems. The fate of the remaining approximate 50 units in the British Army was unknown, with no future announcement by the UK of additional AS90 donations to Kyiv. Given the fact that the British Army has no AS90s operational, there is a possibility that the entire fleet has been donated to Ukraine.
Does the British Army have any 155mm artillery?
Yes. The UK acquired 14 Archer SPHs in 2023 in a direct government-to-government agreement with Sweden as an interim artillery system intended to bridge the gap between the ageing AS90 systems and an, at the time, undecided replacement under the Mobile Fires Platform. The wheeled Archer 6×6 is equipped with an automated, self-propelled 155mm main gun designed for rapid deployment, with a firing range of 50km using extended range ammunition – doubling the AS90’s 25km range. In 2024, the UK announced that it would partner with Germany in the development of the new RCH 155 SPH, which is based on the Boxer mechanised infantry vehicle currently being rolled out into British Army service, fitted with a 155mm howitzer in an uncrewed turret module. The UK government expects to begin introducing the RCH 155 from 2029, with the interim Archer artillery system itself due to leave service from 2030.
UK AS90: slipped out of UK service
Although increasingly outgunned by more modern counterparts, the AS90 was still considered to be a viable fire support platform on the battlefield, although its firing range of around 25km is significantly lower than other 155mm in Western service, which can fire out to 50km. Introduced into service in 1992, the AS90 has been a staple of UK military operations for decades, including in the 2003 Iraq war. In total, 179 units were delivered to the British Army. While it has apparently left UK service via the back door, the platform maintains a presence in social media channels, covering the equipment being operated by Ukrainian forces. (Source: army-technology.com)
02 May 25. USN Proves Sea-Based Hypersonic Launch Approach. The Defense Department conducted a successful flight test of a conventional hypersonic missile launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The test marked the first launch of the Conventional Prompt Strike capability, using the Navy’s cold-gas launch approach that will be used in Navy sea-based platform hypersonics.
“The cold-gas approach allows the Navy to eject the missile from the platform and achieve a safe distance above the ship prior to first-stage ignition. This technical achievement brings one step closer to fulfilling our role of providing a safe and reliable hypersonic capability to our Navy,” said Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe Jr., director of SSP, which is the lead designer of the common hypersonic missile.
“The speed, range and survivability of hypersonic weapons are key to integrated deterrence for America,” said Navy Secretary John Phelan. “When fielded, Conventional Prompt Strike will deliver unmatched capabilities to our warfighters.”
This was the next step in the Navy’s flight test of the common All Up Round, which is being developed in partnership with the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. In 2024, the programs completed two additional end-to-end flight tests of the AUR that will be fielded to both services. The CPS program has been planning and executing engineering and test efforts to prepare for the first Navy fielding aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Zumwalt. Using an in-air launch test facility, the program conducted an extensive test campaign to validate the launch approach prior to the completion of this flight test. Information gathered from this test will inform the continued development and production of the AUR and the first use of this cold-gas launch approach on a surface ship platform. The rapid development and demonstration of conventional sea-based hypersonic strike weapon systems supports the department’s ability to deter, and if necessary, defeat potential strategic competitors. The range, accuracy, lethality and survivability of hypersonics is a significant leap ahead in U.S. conventional strike capabilities, complementing existing capabilities and enabling the U.S. to defeat adversary high-end capabilities, according to a department news release today. (Source: U.S. DoD)
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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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