16 Mar 23. British Army announces new artillery deal with Sweden. The British Army will receive modern artillery platforms to replace those supplied to Ukraine, as part of an agreement struck with Sweden.
- Army to replace the AS90 gifted to Ukraine with new ‘Archer’ heavy artillery guns
- Rapid procurement upgrades Army artillery capability, ahead of long-term artillery programme
- Vehicles can be brought into action within 20 seconds and hit targets simultaneously
The first 14 Archer artillery systems will have ownership transferred to the British Army this month and be fully operational by next April, forming an interim replacement for the 32 AS90 artillery systems the UK gifted to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Designed and built by BAE Systems Bofors in Sweden, Archer has double the maximum range of AS90, greater operational mobility, greater availability and reduced time into action. Operated by 3-4 crew, it has a lower requirement for personnel than the AS90’s five, and benefits from a higher top speed of 70kph compared to the current 53kph.
Archer 6×6 boasts a fully automated, self-propelled 155mm howitzer gun designed for rapid deployment, with a firing range of 50km using extended range ammunition – a doubling of the AS90’s 25km range. For a sense of distance, the AS90 could fire from Central London to the M25, whereas Archer is capable of reaching the distance of Sandhurst in Berkshire.
Loading and firing of Archer is handled from inside the armoured cabin, with the unit able to be deployed into action in just 20 seconds and is ready to move after firing in the same amount of time.
Archer can fire a number of types of 155mm artillery ammunition, including extended range and precision anti-armour shells. It can also fire eight rounds a minute and four rounds in a simultaneous impact-mode, meaning several shells are fired in succession with different trajectories so they hit the same target at the same time.
Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace said: “While continuing to double-down on our unwavering support for Ukraine, it’s imperative we simultaneously replenish our capabilities at home. Archer artillery systems are powerful, protective and can be rapidly deployed. This agreement with a close European ally will sustain the British Army’s requirements until the longer-term Mobile Fires Platform comes into service – a programme we are working hard to accelerate. The purchase of the Archers from Sweden enables the UK to quickly replace AS90 until the long-term Mobile Fires Platform delivers later this decade as part of the Future Soldier modernisation programme. Archer will contribute to the Close Support capability as part of our commitment to NATO.”
Lieutenant General Sharon Nesmith, Deputy Chief of the General Staff said: “Archer is a potent, modern artillery system procured at a speed previously unseen in Defence. Today’s agreement took only eight weeks to secure and the guns will be in service with the British Army by next Spring. Archer fires further and faster than any artillery system previously in service with the British Army – it is a step change in capability and fills a gap left by UK support to Ukraine. It will provide a bridge to the next generation of artillery systems, the procurement of which is being accelerated to speed up modernisation. The agreement has been reached in the space of just two months, demonstrating agility to procure at pace and deliver the Army requirements, following the gifting to Ukraine. It also emphasises the strong ties with our Swedish allies, who have risen to support the challenging timeframe.”
The government-to-government sale is being negotiated by Defence Equipment & Support – the UK MOD’s procurement arm – and the final contract will be signed with their Swedish counterparts, FMV, shortly.
Recognising the need to sustain Ukraine’s fighting and support capabilities, the UK and Sweden have also agreed to collaborate on bringing together efforts for repair and maintenance of vehicles granted in kind to Ukraine. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
BATTLESPACE Comment: This Archer procurement was described as, ‘The worst kept secret at the recent Indirect Fires Conference.’ The MoD appears here to have made their mind up two months ago, when they issued the RFI to the other possible contenders including Hanwha with K9A1 Thunder and Krauss-Maffei with the Boxer derivative RCH 155. Hanwha appears to have been found wanting on its industrial strategy preferring to offer the first 25 howitzers from Poland in 2024 without offering a UK solution based on its Team Thunder offering. The RCH 155 is still in development and could well be procured post 2027 as part of the Boxer options. In the early days of the procurement of Mobile Fires (Protected) MFP, Archer was seen by some as being non-compliant. However, rumours of BAE systems being part of Team Thunder was never announced, which was a clue to their ultimate intensions with Archer. One of the key MoD conditions for MFP was the offering of advanced 155m ammunition systems which BAE produces at its Glascoed facility (See: BATTLESPACE UPDATE Vol.25 ISSUE 11, 13 March 2023, MISSILE, ARTILLERY, HYPERSONICS, BALLISTICS AND SOLDIER SYSTEMS UPDATE, Archer for Interim MFP?)
16 Mar 23. DSEI Japan 2023: Kawasaki unveils ‘Island Defence’ anti-ship missile. Japanese company Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has unveiled a model of a new long-range cruise missile at the DSEI Japan 2023 exhibition in Chiba.
KHI told Janes that the weapon – known tentatively as the ‘Island Defence’ anti-ship missile (ASM) – is designed to be launched from warships, aircraft, and land platforms. The company said the missile could also be modified to enable launches from submarines.
A company spokesperson told Janes that KHI has been researching the concept of a precision-guided long-range cruise missile for several years. KHI now plans to develop a prototype of the new missile in alignment with Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) requirements. The company envisages JSDF induction by the late 2020s.
KHI said the missile is capable of striking targets at sea and land. The spokesperson declined to provide details on the type and weight of the warhead. Janes assesses that the missile would likely feature a high-explosive (HE) warhead. (Source: Janes)
15 Mar 23. MBDA has hypersonic solutions to “bring to the table.”
The growth of hypersonic missiles has resulted in a race to develop defence capabilities able to match the performance characteristics of the advanced weapons. Pan-European missile manufacturer MBDA has said it stands ready to help Europe develop hypersonic missile defences, even as threats continue to mature amid an ongoing war on the continent.
In 2019, the Council of the European Union gave the green light to the Timely Warning and Interception with Space-based Theatre surveillance (TWISTER) capability project, which sat within the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework, to develop a European multi-role interceptor to begin to address emergent threats.
The TWISTER interceptor was envisaged to defend against manoeuvring ballistic missiles with intermediate ranges, hypersonic or high-supersonic cruise missiles, hypersonic gliders, anti-ship missiles, and more conventional targets – such as next-generation fighter aircraft. A November 2021 MBDA press release also mentioned the programme as being one of two missile system projects being developed under the PESCO framework, as the company opened a permanent office in Brussels.
European competition emerges
In January this year, European aerospace company Airbus, which has become increasingly active in missile defence and is a potential rival to MBDA, agreed a partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence’s Missile Defence Centre (MDC). Since establishment in 2003, the MDCs remit has expanded to include defence against advanced missile threats, including hypersonics.
However, little has been heard recently from MBDA regarding its own hypersonic ambitions, with few if any developments on its own programmes. Speaking on 15 March during a press conference detailing the company’s 2023 outlook, MBDA CEO Éric Béranger, said that the company had “a lot” to offer in the field, but declined to comment on questions regarding a planned hypersonic missile test in the US.
“We think we have something to bring to the table,” said Béranger, when asked about the company’s plans for European hypersonic defence.
Countries such as the US, Russia, and China have pressed ahead with the development of hypersonic missiles, with Moscow having conducted numerous tests of its Zircon system in recent years.
Meanwhile, in December 2022 the US Air Force (USAF) announced it had conducted the first launch test of its first AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) off the southern California coast, representing a five-year turnaround from design to first launch test.
Following the ARRW’s separation from the aircraft, it reached hypersonic speeds greater than five times the speed of sound, completed its flight path, and detonated in the terminal area, according to a USAF release.
Missile defence market growth
According to GlobalData, the global missiles and missile defence systems (MMDS) market was valued at $34.9bn in 2022 and was set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5% to reach a value of $49.2bn by 2032. The cumulative market for global MMDS was anticipated to be valued at $488.7bn over the forecast period.
Demand for MMDS was anticipated to be driven by air defence modernisation and advanced precision strike procurements by countries such as the US, Russia, China, India, and several European states.
All leading military powers are exploring the potential for hypersonic missile to be utilised during conflict, with the systems operating differently to how contemporary strikes are carried out, not least of which is the speed of attack, theoretically flying at up to 25 times the speed of sound.
In addition, hypersonic glide weapons offer a further difficult for missile defence systems, incorporating flight characteristics of uncrewed aerial vehicles to present even more difficult proposition.
(Source: airforce-technology.com)
15 Mar 23. India’s DRDO performs two consecutive flight tests of VSHORADS.
VSHORADS has been developed by DRDO laboratories, Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad, and industry partners.
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced the successful completion of two consecutive flight tests of the very short-range air defence system (VSHORADS).
The test was carried out by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Integrated Test Range off the coast of Odisha in Chandipur, India, on 14 March.
As part of the tests, VSHORADS were fired from a ground-based portable launcher system to strike a high-speed uncrewed aerial target that was acting as an approaching and receding aircraft.
After being launched, the VSHORADS attained all the mission objectives and successfully intercepted designated targets.
The latest efforts were also appreciated by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and MoD research and development secretary and DRDO chairman Dr Samir V Kamat.
Singh said: “The missile equipped with novel technologies will give further technological boost to the armed forces.”
In another development, the DRDO has successfully carried out the first flight test of the power take-off (PTO) shaft aboard the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Limited Series Production-3 aircraft.
Announced by the Indian MoD, the test was held on 14 March in Bengaluru, India.
The PTO shaft is a crucial component of the aircraft that is equipped for supporting the fighter aircraft and its different variants’ future needs by minimising the cost and time of availability.
It has been designed and developed indigenously by the DRDO’s Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) using a patented ‘Frequency Spanning Technique’ that allows the shaft to negotiate the operating speeds of an engine.
The test was carried out by the CVRDE in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics, Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance, the Centre for Military Airworthiness, and te Certification and Aeronautical Development Agency. The component has now been transferred to Godrej & Boyce, Mumbai, and Lakshmi Technology and Engineering, Coimbatore. (Source: army-technology.com)
15 Mar 23. India-Russia defence firm eyes $200m missile deal with Indonesia.
Summary
- Companies
- BrahMos expects to clinch Indonesia deal this year-CEO
- Aiming for $300m follow-on order from the Philippines
- Sanctions against Russia haven’t impacted production -CEO
India-based defence company BrahMos Aerospace expects to close a deal this year to sell Indonesia supersonic cruise missiles worth at least $200m, as it looks to expand its presence in Southeast Asia, its chief executive said on Wednesday.
BrahMos, a joint venture between India and Russia, clinched its first foreign deal last year with a $375m sale of shore-based anti-ship missiles to the Philippines – part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious push to triple defence exports.
The company has been in protracted negotiations with Indonesia and details about the size and timeline of a potential deal have not been previously reported.
BrahMos Aerospace CEO Atul D. Rane said that it was in advanced discussions with Jakarta on a deal worth $200m to $350m under which it had offered to supply shore-based missiles and a version that can be mounted on warships.
“I have a team right now in Jakarta,” Rane told Reuters in an interview, adding that a deal could be in place within the year. “The defence forces of Indonesia are extremely interested.”
A spokesperson for Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday declined to give immediate comment and said he needed to first check the information.
BrahMos is also aiming to land a follow-on order of around $300 m with the Philippines, where its missiles are scheduled to be delivered to the Philippine Marine Corps starting at the end of 2023, Rane said.
“The Philippines themselves have sort of indicated to us that this is just an ice breaker,” Rane said, referring to the 2022 sale. “They are looking at more systems.”
A spokesperson for the Philippine Department of National Defence did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
DEFENCE SPENDING
In response to a growing Chinese maritime presence in the South China Sea and some surrounding areas, Indonesia and the Philippines have ramped up their spending on the procurement of weapons and other military equipment, according to data from defence intelligence company Janes.
Indonesia’s investment in the acquisition of new weapons grew by nearly 28% in 2021 and 69% in 2022, while the Philippines saw a rise of 29% in 2021 and 40% in 2022 – far higher than the average in Southeast Asia, the data shows.
“Territorial disputes with China have been a major concern for most of the Southeast Asian countries which is driving their defence budget to meet their security requirements,” said Akash Pratim Debbarma, an aerospace and defence analyst at GlobalData.
Much of Southeast Asia’s new military purchases come from traditional suppliers, including the United States, France and Russia, but India – the world’s largest defence importer – and BrahMos are trying to make inroads.
“We have got the go-ahead to market to every country in southeast Asia from both the government of India and the government of Russia,” said Rane.
BrahMos was established through an inter-governmental agreement in 1998 as a joint venture between India’s state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation and NPO Mashinostroyenia of Russia.
Western-led sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine have not impacted BrahMos production or planning, said Rane.
Although BrahMos missiles still depend on Russian parts and raw material, Rane said the percentage of local input had gone up to over 70% from around 15% at the start of the venture. (Source: Google/Reuters)
15 Mar 23. US Army to Test Out its New Guns in Extreme Environments. The Army will test its new rifle and light machine gun in extreme environments this summer — from hot and cold to mud and “salt fog,” according to a Tuesday press release. The announcement added that the new equipment will continue to trickle out to line units and is expected to undergo airborne testing sometime next year.
The XM7 Rifle and XM250 Automatic Rifle, designed by Sig Sauer, are set to replace the M4A1 Carbine and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon within the next decade. Sig was awarded the contract for the initiative, called the Next Generation Squad Weapons, or NGSW, program, in 2022.
The Army, Sig Sauer and soldiers assigned to test the equipment “feverishly” worked to get the new pieces fielded, according to the release, concluding more than 100 technical tests, 20,000 hours of operation, and 1.5m rounds of fresh 6.8mm ammo fired through the new weapons.
In addition to the extreme environment testing, the weapons’ ability to handle malfunctions and blank firing will be assessed in what the service is calling Production Qualification Testing, or PQT.
“The soldier touch point allowed the program and Sig Sauer the opportunity to solicit direct soldier feedback on the systems post-contract award and inform simple design changes to improve the weapons before going into Production Qualification Test and Operational Tests in the coming year,” said Capt. Tyler Morgan, assistant product manager for the Next Generation Squad Weapons program.
Overall, the weapons are reportedly popular with the special operations community, though there are complaints about the rifle’s weight. Compared to its M4 predecessor, for example, the XM7 is two pounds heavier — more than three pounds if equipped with a suppressor.
The XM250, however, weighs nearly 5 pounds less than its M249 predecessor.
One former 75th Ranger Regiment officer told Military.com that the XM250 “is a welcome replacement to the outdated and largely unreliable M249. It’s lighter, more accurate, and uses a far superior round.”
But the weapons aren’t perfect, and the continued testing, especially the extreme environmental assessments that will occur between May and July, will likely show where those flaws may lie.
“The [XM7] is incredible in terms of its features and capabilities, but it’s too heavy, and too large right now to be a standard infantry rifle,” said the former Ranger officer, who was granted anonymity out of concern that talking to the media might impact professional prospects.
The fielding brings new ammo, as well. The lighter 5.56mm will be replaced with a heavier 6.8mm round. The additional weight, though seemingly minimal, adds up for grunts carrying it and a heavier weapon over long distances.
“The new round is amazing performance-wise, but the average soldier can’t carry nearly as many rounds compared to the 5.56. … I see it [as] more of a designated marksman rifle [rather] than a standard issue combat rifle,” the former Ranger Regiment officer said.
Once the PQT is complete, the Army will conduct further operational testing before rolling the weapons out to line units across the service next year, according to the press release. (Source: Military.com)
14 Mar 23. Indian Navy’s indigenous efforts continue with purchase of BrahMos missiles. According to The Times of India, BrahMos Aerospace is set to bag a $2.5bn cruise missile order from Indian Navy to help stock the missiles in its arsenal as part of the mobile coastal missile batteries of the force.
In a deal to boost indigenisation in the armed forces, the Indian Navy is looking to acquire over 200 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, which would be equipped on all the frontline warships.
The Indo-Russian joint venture company has recently conducted test firings of the missile.
Purchased under the ‘Buy Indian’ category, the Indian Navy plans to equip all its frontline warships with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. This significant acquisition would also allow the Indian Navy to stock its inventory with the missiles already deployed on the naval force’s warships and coastal missile batteries.
From 2022-2027, the funding available to India’s Armed Forces will increase to $83.8bn in 2027, showing the country’s desire to fortify its armed forces and satisfy its security needs. The Defence Research & Development Organisation is leading India’s indigenous modernisation programmes.
According to reports, the Indian Navy is expected to equip the Project 15-B destroyers and Project 17-A frigates, among other warships, with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles when the delivery begins on approval.
Over the years, supersonic cruise missiles have witnessed significant advancements. BrahMos, the Indo-Russian firm, has significantly improved the strike range of the rockets by increasing it from 290km to over 400km.
In January this year, the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft conducted test firing of an extended range version of BrahMos air-launched missiles against a ship target.
India’s BrahMos and Philippines Aerospace Limited signed a deal worth around $375m to procure BrahMos cruise missiles for the Philippines Marines. The agreement between the Philippines and BrahMos is a milestone in India’s efforts to become one of the largest defence exporters in the world. (Source: naval-technology.com)
14 Mar 23. According to Defense Post, The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is developing a next-generation missile concept with a rapidly pivoting forebody. The missile’s “active morphing” capability increases its range and effectiveness against highly maneuverable targets at a limited cost. The missile’s agility is achieved through the articulation control actuation system (ACAS), a “composite high-strain skin structure that envelops an internal electromagnetic actuation system,” the AFRL explained. On March 10th, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram visited Kyiv, Ukraine, and announced that Norway will be sending two NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine. Gram noted that Ukraine is in dire need of additional air defense systems and Oslo is providing assistance. The United States also previously announced in January that they will be transferring NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine as part of a new aid package. The NASAMS missile systems are medium-range complexes developed in the 1990s by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace in partnership with the American Raytheon. Norway will be providing Ukraine with two complete NASAMS firing units in cooperation with the United States, which will add to the two firing units that the United States provided last fall. (Source: Google/Defense Daily)
13 Mar 23. India, US explore development of enhanced M777 howitzers. India and the US are exploring the development of an extended-range, longer barrel variant of the M777 155 mm/39 calibre ultra lightweight howitzer (ULH), manufacturer BAE Systems told Janes. Ravi Nirgudkar, managing director, BAE Systems – India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, told Janes that “ discussions have been held [to develop an enhanced version of M777], and the belief is that we will see them [discussions] continue as both parties [India and the US] recognise the potential benefits that an extended-range variant of the M777 could bring”. According to Nirgudkar, the enhanced version will likely be equipped with a 155 mm/52 calibre. “It is far too early to speculate on any aspect of the programme, as discussions are still under way,” he added, without delving into technical or range-related details. (Source: Janes)
10 Mar 23. Russian Navy to upgrade vessels with Kalibr cruise missiles. Russia plans to equip several Navy vessels using Kalibr missiles, a weapon with which one naval policy expert predicts the country will more widely arm its fleet.
Russia recently attacked Ukraine using Kalibr cruise missiles, among other projectiles.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced Tuesday the future Lada-class submarine Kronstadt, which is under construction, will be able to fire Kalibr cruise missiles. That same day, state-run news agency Tass reported the corvette Steregushchiy will receive a new Kalibr-NK missile system during modernization work at the Kronstadt Marine Plant.
And Mikhail Budnichenko, CEO of the shipyard Sevmash, said earlier this month the nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov will be armed with Kalibr-NK missiles, following repairs and modernization work.
Submarine construction
The keel laying of the diesel-electric submarine Kronstadt took place in 2005, but construction was suspended. It resumed in 2013 and is ongoing, after which the boat will join the Northern Fleet.
The transfer to the fleet was planned in 2019, but was postponed several times due to noncompliance with Defence Ministry requirements. The fleet will likely take delivery of the boat this year, according to the Russian naval policy expert, who spoke to Defense News on the condition of anonymity for security reasons.
The submarine is expected to have a launcher that can hold 10 Кalibr missiles.
“Thanks to the Kalibr missiles, submarines will be able to hit not only land and sea targets, but also submarines,” the expert said.
Defense industry experts in 2017 estimated the cost of the Lada-class sub at $350m, but increased the approximation to $700m in 2018.
Corvette update
The corvette Steregushchiy was produced under the shipbuilding program dubbed Project 20380. It and the other ships made under that effort were equipped with the Uran anti-ship missile system, which consists of two four-container, inclined launchers with an ammunition set of eight Kh-35U missiles.
Now the lead ship of its class, the Steregushchiy — constructed 17 years ago — is undergoing a midlife update, during which it will receive a universal shipborne firing complex 3S14. That technology will allow the vessel to launch Kalibr missiles and, eventually, hypersonic Zircon missiles.
“The next ships of this class will also receive Kalibr missiles in the course of their modernization,” the naval expert said.
In an interview with a corporate newspaper, the CEO of the Kronstadt Marine Plant, Anatoly Beloev, said modernization of the Project 20380 corvette will not begin until the end of the spring or the beginning of the summer. By that time the plant is required to hand over a large landing ship to the Defence Ministry, which would make room for new projects. The timeline for the modernization work is not yet determined, Beloev said.
Per annual reports from the shipyard Severnaya Verf, which makes corvettes, it appears the cost of such as vessel in 2016 was 17-29bn roubles (U.S. $224-382m).
Warship work
The nuclear missile battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov has undergone repairs and modernization since 2013. More than 150 enterprises have participated in the effort.
Last year, the installation of systems and equipment took place. The cruiser is currently at the outfitting quay, and it will begin trials in the spring of 2023, Budnichenko told a corporate magazine.
Delivery to the Navy was postponed several times, and the service is now expected to receive the ships in 2024.
As part of the modernization effort, the ship will carry 10 3S14 launchers, with eight Kalibr-NK cruise missiles in each, instead of 20 heavy supersonic Granit missiles.
In total, there will be 80 attack missiles on the vessel — a record number for the Russian surface fleet, according to the naval expert.
The Kalibr missile family is made up of several variants, including long–range cruise missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes. Russia decided as far back as the 1990s to equip naval platforms with the weapon.
Almost all newly built and most upgraded units receive this system, the naval expert said. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
10 Mar 23. US Defense Production Act to speed hypersonics development, Pentagon says. The White House’s recent decision to invoke Defense Production Act authorities to mobilize the hypersonics-industrial base will “accelerate” the transition from development to production of high-speed systems, Pentagon officials told lawmakers Friday.
The Biden administration last week authorized the use of DPA Title III authorities to “rebuild and expand the nation’s domestic hypersonics industrial base.” The authorities allow the government to establish incentives for companies to increase production capacity or quality within critical technology areas that the president deems critical to national defense.
Hypersonic vehicles can travel and maneuver at or above Mach 5, and the Defense Department plans to spend close to $25 bbn over the next five years to develop, test and field these systems. In a March 3 statement, Pentagon officials said they plan to use DPA authorities to “strategically accelerate” programs that are transitioning from the prototype to the operational phase by investing in advanced manufacturing technologies for hypersonic engines and guidance systems.
During a March 10 hearing with the House Armed Services Committee’s strategic forces panel, Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J., noted that the DPA is typically invoked when industry is unequipped to meet demand for a high-need capability. For example, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Defense Department relied on DPA Title III authorities to shore up struggling supply chains.
In the case of hypersonic capability development, Norcross said it’s unclear why the authorities are needed.
“Where is industry not answering the call?” he asked defense officials.
Michael White, the Pentagon’s principal director for hypersonics, said he thinks industry “can step up” to meet the department’s needs as it transitions technology from labs and test facilities to production floors. DPA authorities, he explained, allow the DoD to incentivize companies to move faster.
“The real purpose for that presidential determination for hypersonics is to accelerate the pace at which industry can respond to our supply chain needs,” he said. “As we move out of the laboratory environment and into a production environment, we have to make sure we’re pulling in even nontraditional and commercial-based industry practices and procedures to deliver affordable capacity moving forward.”
White noted that the Pentagon recently completed a report, directed by the fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, that outlines its work to improve collaboration among the military services as well as with industry and academia on hypersonic testing and development.
The report, which was due in February, should be submitted within the next month, he said. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/C4ISR & Networks)
14 Mar 23. New US nuclear chief takes fresh stance on sea-launched cruise missile. The new head of U.S. Strategic Command, which oversees the country’s nuclear arsenal, is taking a less forceful tone on developing the sea-launched cruise missile than his predecessor, who was an unabashed champion of the program.
Gen. Anthony Cotton neither endorsed nor repudiated the sea-launched cruise missile nuclear program, commonly called SLCM-N, in a February letter to Congress. The letter — entered into the congressional record during Cotton’s testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee last week — and the Biden administration’s proposed nuclear arsenal budget for fiscal 2024 lay the groundwork for another tussle with Congress over whether to proceed with SLCM-N.
“A low-yield, non-ballistic nuclear capability to deter, assure and respond without visible generation (similar to the characteristics of SLCM-N) offers additional options and supports an integrated deterrence approach,” Cotton wrote. “It is one of several possible nuclear or conventional capabilities the U.S. could develop to enhance strategic deterrence.
“I support funding to address the full range of possible options to address this challenge in a rapidly changing security environment with the backdrop of multiple adversaries.”
Congress authorized $25 m for continued SLCM-N research and development when it passed the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act in December. By contrast, the Biden administration’s FY24 budget request for the National Nuclear Security Administration does not include SLCM-N funding.
Proponents of SLCM-N in Congress heavily relied on Cotton’s predecessor, Adm. Charles Richard, to argue in favor of what they view as gaps in the United States’ low-yield, unobservable nuclear capabilities. In his own letter to Congress in June, Richard wrote that he supports SLCM-N despite the Biden administration’s attempts to cancel it, citing “the current situation in Ukraine and China’s nuclear trajectory.”
Richard retired when Cotton assumed leadership of Strategic Command in December.
“Cotton, who’s taking a more measured approach, is still open to it, but he’s not the adamant supporter that Richard was at all,” said Stephen Young, who lobbies for the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nuclear nonproliferation advocacy group. “He’s not wedded to that as the only possible way to fill that gap.”
Young noted that the W76-2 warhead equipped on submarine-launched ballistic missiles already provides the U.S. with a low-yield, unobservable capability — even if the country doesn’t have cruise missiles with those specific functions. Additionally, he argued that the U.S. is building the low-yield B61-12 gravity bomb that can launch from the new B-21 stealth bomber as a non-ballistic nuclear option.
“To me it’s a huge stretch to have to have all these things,” said Young, arguing that SLCM-N is “a nuclear warfighting tool that we don’t need” to achieve deterrence.
The proposed FY24 nuclear weapons budget also includes funding to maintain the B83 megaton gravity bomb, which is 80 to 100 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II. The Biden administration wants to retire the B83, per its Nuclear Posture Review, but has yet to lay out a time frame to do so.
In the meantime, Congress used the FY23 defense authorization bill to prevent its retirement until the Pentagon identifies a replacement capability to strike hard and deeply buried targets.
“We are going to have to figure out how we are going to continue [with] what capabilities we have to go after [hard and deeply buried targets], whether conventional or nuclear,” Cotton told the Senate Armed Services Committee last week.
But Young argued that “there are very few scenarios where” the U.S. would want to strike hard and deeply buried targets using the B83 given the immense level of destruction that would ensue.
“If you want to hit the various facilities in North Korea and drop the larger bomb, you’ve got fallout — all of South Korea and Japan,” Young said. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
16 Mar 23. We thank a reader for the following correction: Of note, the 105mm on Jackal at Eurosatory last year was not a Light Gun, the barrel fitted was the British Light Gun barrel – the L118. This doesn’t fire the same ammo as the US L119 barrel, with the UK firing electrically initiated ammunition and the US using percussion initiated ammo. The Hawkeye is the system, which is the Mandus Soft Recoil System fitted with a L119 barrel. Both barrels can be fitted to the Mandus Soft Recoil System but to date, only the L119 barrel has actually been fired. (See: BATTLESPACE UPDATE Vol.25 ISSUE 11, 13 March 2023 MISSILE, ARTILLERY, HYPERSONICS, BALLISTICS AND SOLDIER SYSTEMS UPDATE, Archer for Interim MFP?)
13 Mar 23. The US Army wants this many new rifles, machine guns by next year. Though the Army still hasn’t publicly disclosed which close combat unit will first carry its new rifle, machine gun and ammunition, it did share how much it’s spending and how many weapons are rolling out early next year.
The Army seeks to spend $38 m on research, development, testing and experimentation and another $293 m to procure the Next Generation Squad Weapon in fiscal 2024, the service announced Monday.
That will end up buying 17,122 rifles, 1,419 automatic rifles, 14,932 fire control optics and 21 m rounds of 6.8mm ammunition, said Army Under Secretary Gabe Camarillo.
The service bought more than 18,000 weapons last year, according to budget documents.
Those rifles, light machines, optics and rounds are set to reach the first unit equipped by early 2024, officials said. The weapon, which will also include a suppressor, is primarily for special operations forces, infantry, scouts and combat engineers attached to infantry or other close combat units.
The new combo gives soldiers a uniform round for fighting at the squad level, as they had with the weapons’ predecessors the M4/M16 and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. Those older systems, still in use by the force and likely to remain for non-close combat forces for decades to come, fired the 5.56mm round.
The intermediate cartridge of 6.8mm relies on an Army-designed projectile but is an entirely new round not used by U.S. forces before. It falls between 5.56mm and 7.62mm, both NATO rounds in use for more than half a century.
But the 6.8mm retains the accuracy needed at farther ranges than the smaller round while delivering energy on target that equals or exceeds 7.62mm in some instances, officials said.
Sig Sauer won the contract last year to supply the weapon and some of the ammunition to the Army. This came after the company won the contract to replace the previous M9 Beretta 9mm sidearm with the M17 handgun made by Sig Sauer, which continues to fire the 9mm round. (Source: Army Times)
13 Mar 23. Plasan Sasa Ltd. (“Plasan”) announced today on its intention to increase its commitment to the Australian defence industry and to establish a local subsidiary in Australia to be named “Plasan-Australia” which will aim to support its local partners and the projects that Plasan is involved with in Australia in the best possible way, to support the company’s AIC commitments and to enhance transfer of technology efforts.
Dani Ziv, CEO: “The long term experience and substantial understanding of Australia defense strategic needs for the next decade, as well as the importance for Australia to acquire core and critical technologies and capabilities, have led us to decide to amplify our presence in Australia as well as to shift our supply chain to Australian industry to the widest possible extent. The establishment of Plasan-Australia will solidify this presence.”
Plasan has a successful history in Australia, the most significant achievement of which to date is the Hawkei program. Early collaboration with Thales Australia starting in 2009 resulted in a partnership for LAND121 Phase 4 which lead to the creation and win of the Hawkei, whose cabin was designed, tested and produced by Plasan. Currently, Plasan’s cooperation with BAE Australia is taking it on board the Hunter Class frigate, a project which was kicked off in February, incorporating Australian sourced Armor Steel by Bisalloy into Plasan’s survivability solutions.
Plasan’s cooperation with HDA (Hanwha Defence Australia) for the last four years, has proven to be an exceptionally productive journey that materialized with the birth of the Huntsman (the AS9 SPH and AS10 AARV under Land 8116) and the state-of-the-art Redback IFV, which has been developed for the LAND400 Phase 3 program about which an award announcement is expected shortly.
Plasan’s core competencies of protection technologies and vehicle and systems upgrades are capabilities highlighted by the Australian Department of Defence as critical industrial capabilities and the establishment of Plasan-Australia to support Land400 Phase 3 will ensure that the supply-chain to provide these technologies and support them in the coming decades is brought and maintained in Australia. (Source: PR Newswire)
09 Mar 23. HMAS Toowoomba performs first ESSM launch after AMCAP.
The 18-month long upgrade programme for Toowoomba was completed in April last year. The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) fifth Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba has successfully carried out the test launch of an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM).
The missile was test fired during a recent training exercise conducted off the coast of Western Australia.
It marks the first time HMAS Toowoomba launched an ESSM after the receiving upgrades under the Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Programme (AMCAP).
Through the latest activity, the RAN assessed and validated the performance and capability of Toowoomba’s onboard combat systems. It also ensured the operational readiness of the Anzac-class warship.
HMAS Toowoomba weapons electrical engineering officer lieutenant commander Kieran Davis said: “The purpose of Toowoomba’s ESSM firing was to verify combat system performance in the detection, tracking and engagement of manoeuvrable targets at the sea.
“The safe and successful execution of this firing involved synchronisation from many parts of ship, including the weapons electrical department, combat systems operators, warfare officers and the navigation team.
“Thanks to the combined efforts of ship’s company, we were able to effectively fire an ESSM and intercept the intended target.”
Toowoomba’s 18-month long upgrade programme, which was completed in April last year, primarily provided the required out-of-water maintenance as well as capability upgrades to various systems of the ship, including radar system and communication systems. (Source: naval-technology.com)