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24 Aug 23. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has delivered a miniaturized high-energy laser source to the U.S. government. The laser is ruggedized for field use and miniaturizing it allows for rapid placement in tactical situations.
- The 10kW class high-energy laser, known as Phantom, is about 12 cubic feet (nearly the size of a mini fridge).
- Weighing less than 200 pounds, it enables lift, carry and installation by as few as two personnel.
- The Phantom customer will integrate it with other subsystems for testing and delivery to military customers.
Expert:
Robert Fleming, vice president and general manager, strategic space systems, Northrop Grumman: “By miniaturizing this advanced capability, we are expanding the reach of our technology and continuing to lead the way in high-energy lasers. Northrop Grumman is using its expertise in directed energy to deliver an extremely compact, lightweight and efficient laser for the warfighter.”
Details on Phantom:
Northrop Grumman develops high-energy laser solutions for warfighters to defend our nation at sea, on land and in the air. For more than 50 years our technology continues to protect U.S. forces from a range of threats such as unmanned aerial systems, rockets, artillery and mortars, fast attack boats and missiles.
For more information about Northrop Grumman’s directed energy solutions, visit Directed Energy – Northrop Grumman.
21 Aug 23. Indonesia receives new German-made minehunters. The Indonesian Navy has formally taken delivery of two new German-built mine-countermeasure vessels (MCMVs) from the Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MoD) during a handover ceremony in Surabaya on 14 August, according to an announcement on the same day by local shipbuilder PT PAL.
The two new MCMVs, which will enter service as KRI Pulau Fani (731) and KRI Pulau Fanildo (732), were designed and built by German company Abeking & Rasmussen under a contract awarded in January 2019.
The vessels are also based on the Frankenthal-class minehunter operated by the German Navy, featuring an overall length of 61.4 metres and a and a beam of 11.1 metres. The type’s main hull has been derived from the company’s MHV60 design and constructed out of non-magnetic steel.
It has been designed to embark off-board MCM capabilities such as a small unmanned surface vehicle (USV) for detection as well as a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for close inspection of suspicious underwater objects.
The new MCMVs are also capable of accommodating two rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) for maritime inspection and interdiction operations, but are only lightly armed with a Rheinmetall 20 mm gun and two 7.62 mm light machine guns.
The Indonesian government earlier approved a budget of US$215 million in 2016 for the new MCMV programme, but the allocation was subsequently reduced to US$204 million as a result of evolved mission requirements from the navy.
Indonesia reportedly held discussions with Abeking & Rasmussen for a new ocean hydrographic ship in late 2021, with an approximate budget of US$150 million sourced from foreign loans.
The Indonesian Navy presently operates several types of hydrographic and oceanographic survey ships, including KRI Dewa Kembar, the ex-Royal Navy HMS Hydra survey ship, as well as two French-built Rigel-class hydrographic vessels which were commissioned in 2015. (Source: AMR)
24 Aug 23. PLA Southern Theater Command Holds Fighter Exercise from Islet-Based Airfield. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command recently conducted a maritime strike and air-to-air combat exercise featuring newly enhanced fighter jets operating from an islet-based airfield.
Organized by an aviation brigade affiliated with the navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command, the round-the-clock drill focused on the characteristics of the islet-based airfield, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Wednesday, without naming the islet.
During the exercise, four fighter jets took off from the airfield one by one and formed two groups of two before moving stealthily toward a designated region by skimming the sea.
Upon approaching maritime targets, they immediately pulled up to gain altitude and carried out mock strikes.
After the maritime strike training, the two fighter jet groups switched to commence an air-to-air combat exercise. The red team launched covered attacks by greatly changing flight stances in an intense dual with the blue team above the sea.
The ground maintenance crew quickly conducted checks and carried out refueling of the aircraft after their return, which allowed them to sortie again.
Islet-based airfields are characterized by fast-changing weather, complex bird conditions and the lack of objects of reference while flying over the sea, Major Tong Liguang, a member of the brigade, said in the CCTV report.
Compared with flights from land-based airfields, islet-based airfields demand higher psychological fortitude, skills and tactical capabilities from pilots, as they mostly have to rely on instruments and navigation devices to determine their stances and locations, Tong said.
The exercise omitted conventional methods, instead closely focusing on the environmental traits of the airfield, which highlighted new changes in air combat tactics, Captain Li Yingli said in the report.
“By finding problems and gaps in real confrontations, we pilots effectively improved our skills and tactical capabilities,” Li said.
Based on an analysis of the report footage, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday the fighter jets that took part in the exercise were two variants of the J-11B, one of an older configuration with a black nose and one of a newer configuration with a gray nose.
It is believed that the gray-nosed J-11B is enhanced with an active electronic scanning array (AESA) radar that significantly improves its situational awareness and enables the fighter jet to carry the more powerful PL-10 short-range combat missile and the PL-15 beyond-visual-range missile, making the fourth-generation fighter jet close to the 4.5 generation, the expert said.
The latest exercise shows that this upgraded version of the J-11B is now operable on islets in the South China Sea, the expert added. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Global Times)
24 Aug 23. LCA Tejas Successfully Test-Fires Indigenous ASTRA Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile Off Goa Coast. The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) LSP-7 successfully fired the ASTRA indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa on August 23, 2023. The missile release was successfully carried out from the aircraft at an altitude of about 20,000 ft. All the objectives of the test were met and it was a perfect text-book launch.
The test launch was monitored by the Test Director and scientists of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) along with officials from Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DG-AQA). The aircraft was also monitored by a Tejas twin seater chase aircraft.
ASTRA, a state-of-the-art BVR air-to-air missile to engage and destroy highly maneuvering supersonic aerial targets, is designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and other laboratories of DRDO. The indigenous Astra BVR firing from home grown Tejas fighter is a major step towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has complimented ADA, DRDO, CEMILAC, DG-AQA and the industry for the successful firing of the missile from Tejas-LCA. He said the launch would significantly enhance the combat prowess of Tejas and reduce the dependency on imported weapons.
Secretary, Department of Defence (R&D) and Chairman DRDO has also congratulated the teams involved in the successful launch.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Indian Ministry of Defence)
24 Aug 23. Aerobond & Kongsberg partner to deliver naval missile contract for Australia. South Australian company Aerobond will manufacture launcher canisters for Kongsberg’s naval strike missile programme, enhancing Australia’s maritime strike capability. The document includes detailed information on the manufacturers and suppliers and their products, along with contact details, to inform your purchasing decision.
The partnership will see Aerobond take on the production of launcher canisters for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) programme, a project chosen by the Commonwealth of Australia to bolster its maritime strike capabilities.
Aerobond will establish a dedicated defence-focused entity, Aerobond Defence, to enhance Australian manufacturing content as part of this collaboration. This contract contributes to developing a robust sovereign-guided weapons and explosive ordnance enterprise, fortifying Australia’s self-reliance in defence technology and production.
The initial naval strike missile contract from the Australian government was initially awarded to just Kongsberg in June this year. In the same month, the US Navy showed the missile’s popularity by putting in a new naval strike missile order for the US Navy’s over-the-horizon weapon system (OTH WS).
Australia’s decision to replace the Harpoon anti-ship missile capability with the advanced NSM in 2022 set the stage for this partnership. Aerobond and Kongsberg’s contract enhances Australia’s maritime defence capabilities, particularly for the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigates and Hobart class destroyers.
Aerobond’s dedication to the cause is evident in their plans to establish a purpose-built 3,500 sqm facility in Adelaide to manufacture NSM launcher canisters. The company aims to create and recruit an additional 35 roles in South Australia.
Justin Struik, the founder and managing director of Aerobond, expressed his excitement about the contract. Struik affirmed, “We look forward to working with the team at Kongsberg and delivering exceptional quality to support the Royal Australian Navy in safeguarding our nation.”
Norway-based Kongsberg has a history of supplying naval strike missiles (NSM) to strategic military powers worldwide. At the end of last year, Kongsberg and NDMA signed an indigenous deal to provide more NSMs to Norway and Germany in a joint procurement initiative.
As production gears up to commence in January 2024, the Aerobond-Kongsberg venture contributes to national security and showcases the country’s capability to engage in advanced manufacturing that propels its defence sector to new heights.
(Source: naval-technology.com)
24 Aug 23. Cost-savings, ESG key amid first deployments of Directed Energy Weapons. DEWs offer an advantage due to their reduced risk of collateral damage, low-cost energy sources, and mitigated lethal capabilities. The cost-saving benefit of Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) is among those that have been key to their first deployments, according to a new GlobalData report.
Elsewhere, unprecedented global media visibility of modern warfare, exemplified by the Russia-Ukraine war, illustrates the importance of ESG for the use of DEWs, according to the Thematic Intelligence – Directed Energy Weapons (2023). From cluster munitions to dumb bombs, there has been strong criticism of certain weapon technologies on the grounds of international human law and human rights.
Plans for DEWs, which encompass defensive weapons systems that produce electromagnetic energy to ‘fire’ on a target such as a drone or missile, were first revealed in 1983, at the height of the Cold War.
They were announced by then-US-President Ronald Reagan at the launch of his Strategic Defence Initiative – or so-called ‘Star Wars program’ – a seemingly omnipotent if fanciful space-based laser system designed to obliterate the threat of incoming ballistic missiles.
Decades of research and development later, in 2022, DEWs were deployed for the first time in an armed conflict during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
DEWs offer a practical and symbolic advantage due to their reduced risk of collateral damage, low-cost (and potentially renewable) energy sources, and mitigated lethal capabilities.
Russian authorities claimed to have developed and used its own Zadira-16 model, equipped with a high-energy laser capable of destroying drones in five seconds, although this has been met with scepticism.
China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Turkey, South Korea, the US and UK are among nations at various stages of DEW development. The report also shows that Paris-headquartered Thales have led DEW patents over the past two decades.
“There is growing investment and demand for technical expertise within the global defense market amid concerns surrounding Counter-UAS (C-UAS) capabilities and logistical sustainability in high intensity warfare scenarios”, says Tristan Sauer, defence analyst at Global Data. “While development and engineering challenges continue to impose delays on the eventual deployment of destructive DEWs, the ongoing use of air and space DEWs foreshadows an inevitable global shift towards a more widespread use of laser-based weapons systems in armed conflict over the coming decades.”
For policymakers and military procurement officials, increases in defence expenditure have become increasingly justifiable. China, for instance, is forecasted to grow its defence budget from $225bn (1.6trn yuan) (current) to $318bn by 2027, with investment expected in its LW-30 Laser Defence Weapons System.
Amid various global geopolitical flashpoints and the interminable Russia-Ukraine war, DEW development is expected to continue as nations seek a “politically palatable” military advantage. (Source: army-technology.com)
24 Aug 23. Brazil Seeking Truck Artillery. The Brazilian Army is seeking proposals for truck mounted artillery systems. The intent is to initially acquire two systems for evaluation. This could be followed by the purchase of an additional thirty-four systems.
The truck artillery will replace current M114A1 towed howitzers in service and will be provided to three army artillery units. The project is an element of the country’s “VBCOAP 155mm SR” Program to improve its forces. The plan was originally identified in January 2022 on “InfoDefensa’s” web site.
The objective is to provide both artillery with greater mobility than the current towed howitzers and capability to reach targets at ranges of 40 km. These truck guns are understood to be intended for support of Brazil’s mechanized forces. The Army also has tracked M109A3 and M109A5+ self-propelled howitzers, however, these are both heavier and less deployable. Truck mounted artillery is particularly well suited to rapid redeployment over roads and highways including long distance road marches. Their truck chassis also require less maintenance and support.
The published Brazilian Army requirements include a howitzer at 155 mm calibre capable of utilizing existing ammunition but with a maximum range of 40 km. Two companies which both have proven fielded systems have reportedly already responded to the Army’s request.
Israel’s Elbit Systems’ ATMOS 2000 which uses a 155mm/52 calibre gun mounted on a 6×6 tactical truck chassis. It uses automated loading and computer-controlled laying system offering a rate of fire of four to nine rounds per minute. It is in used with ten armies and was recently selected by the Colombian Army as well.
France’s Nexter CAESAR is offered both for integration in 6×6 and 8×8 tactical trucks. It is reported that the Brazilian defence firm AVIBRAS and Nexter may be discussing collaborating with n the project. Their approach could utilize the truck chassis utilized in the Astros Mk6 multiple rocket launcher system already in service with the Army.
Nexter would supply the 155mm gun, mount and associated systems from CAESAR which AVIBAS would integrate. CAESAR is in service with ten armies and seen combat use. Its platform adaptability has been illustrated on at least four different truck chassis. It is designed for a crew of five with integrated navigation and positioning, assisted loading, automated laying and set-up in sixty seconds and displacement in forty. The 52-caliber cannon offer a range of 42 km with Extended Range Full Bore (ERFB) ammunition and 50 km using rocket assisted.
The Brazilian Army acquisition follows a growing trend toward truck mounted artillery by many world armies. Originally these were primarily a replacement for towed howitzers that provided greater tactical mobility and the ability to shoot-and-scoot supporting motorized and light forces. They have been appreciated by armies facing operations in areas with less developed road and bridge networks and by expeditionary forces. However, increasingly they are being viewed as a complement or even substitute for some tracked self-propelled howitzers. The benefits of their typically lower initial and operating and maintenance support costs being major influencing factors. Illustrating this is Russia’s Rostec defence company announcement of its contract to produce 2S43 Malva 155mm truck howitzers for the Russian Army. (Source: Armada)
23 Aug 23. New ballistic missile types delivered to IRGC. Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) officially received what appeared to be its first Khorramshahr and Haj Qasem ballistic missiles in a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Raisi to mark the Defence Industry Day on 22 August.
Six liquid-fuel Khorramshahrs were shown with three solid-propellant Haj Qasems on either side during the ceremony, all of them on transporter erector launchers (TELs).
The Khorramshahr was unveiled in September 2017 and two other versions have since been displayed, most recently the Khorramshahr-4 in May, but this was the first handover ceremony for the missile series that has been publicised.
The missiles all had the same large re-entry vehicle (RV) seen on the original version rather than smaller one seen on the Khorramshahr-2 or the powered one on the Khorramshahr-4. IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh has claimed the original Khorramshahr has a range of 2,000 km with an 1,800 km warhead, although European experts have said its warhead weighs 1,500 kg, which still makes it Iran’s most powerful ballistic missile. (Source: Janes)
23 Aug 23. Iran Unveils Armed Drone It Says Could Potentially Reach Israel. Iran’s Defense Ministry unveiled a drone on Tuesday resembling America’s armed MQ-9 Reaper, claiming that the aircraft is capable of staying airborne for 24 hours and has the range to reach the country’s archenemy Israel.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency published a photograph of the drone, called the Mohajer-10, on display at a conference marking Defense Industry Day with what appeared to be smoke-machine fog underneath it.
“Mohajer” means “immigrant” in Farsi and has been a drone line manufactured by the Islamic Republic since 1985.
IRNA said the drone is able to fly up to 24,000 feet with a speed of 210 kph (130 mph), carrying a bomb payload of up to 300 kilograms (660 pounds). It also said the drone could carry electronic surveillance equipment and a camera. Iran’s hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, a protégé of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also viewed the drone on Tuesday.
“Today, we can firmly introduce Iran as an advanced and technologic nation to the world,” Raisi said in comments aired on state television.
He reiterated Iran’s stance about friendly relations with “all countries in the world,” adding that Iran’s armed forces will cut off any hand that will reaches out in an attempt to invade Iran, state TV reported.
The Associated Press could not immediately verify the claims about the drone’s capabilities, though an arm of state television shared a video of it taking off from a runway. Long-range drones like the Reaper also require ground stations and satellite communications.
Officials in Israel, which flies its own long-range, high endurance drones, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Iran has in the past captured U.S. drones or pieces of them, but there’s no evidence that it has taken a General Atomics’ Reaper, which is flown by the U.S. Air Force and allied American nations as a “hunter-killer” drone that can operate at high altitudes for long hours and follow a target before attacking. North Korea in July showed off drones mirroring the Reaper, possibly designed from publicly available information about the aircraft.
In December 2011, Iran seized an RQ-170 Sentinel flown by the CIA to monitor Iranian nuclear sites after it entered Iranian airspace from neighboring Afghanistan. Iran later reverse-engineered the drone to create their own variants.
In 2019, Iran shot down a U.S. Navy RQ-4A Global Hawk in the Strait of Hormuz amid high tensions over its collapsed nuclear deal with world powers.
The Reaper also carries special significance for Iran, as one reportedly carried out the 2020 strike in Baghdad that killed Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian general in its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
Iran separately said it had provided two types of ballistic missiles to its army and the Guard on Tuesday, including one named for Soleimani.
Iran has unveiled a series of drones it describes as capable of long-endurance flights over the last several years. It remains unclear how they’ve been used in combat.
But other Iranian drones have been a key element of Russia’s continued war on Ukraine. Tehran has offered a series of contradictory explanations about the drones, first denying they supplied them to Moscow and then claiming they sold drones only before the war began. However, the volume of drones used in the conflict show a steady supply by Iran of the bomb-carrying weapons in the war.
In June, the White House said Iran is providing Russia with materials to build a drone manufacturing plant east of Moscow as the Kremlin looks to lock in a steady supply of weaponry. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Voice of America News US)
23 Aug 23. US Army Successfully Fires Tomahawk Missiles from MRC System. The Army took its next step in bolstering its top modernization priority with a successful launch of the Tomahawk missile from its mid-range capability prototype system on June 27, showcasing the potential of its newest, ground-based missile launcher.
Soldiers from the 1st Domain Task Force at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington and Sailors from the Navy Program Executive Office Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons Office took part in the joint, live-fire exercise that demonstrated the system’s full operational capability. Earlier this year, the Army fired an SM-6 missile from the mid-range capability. The launches occurred at undisclosed test sites.
The Navy uses the Tomahawk, an intermediate-range, subsonic, cruise missile to strike targets from 1,000 miles away and can switch destinations in mid-flight.
The Army eventually plans to field an MRC battery which will be assigned to a strategic fires battalion under a multi-domain task force. The battery’s prototype design consists of four launchers and a control center.
Soldiers contributed to the design and testing of the Mid-Range Capability weapon system, which the Army will use to augment its long-range, precision fires capability.
“From the start of the [Mid-Range Capability] program, Soldiers and Sailors have collaborated to provide the Army with this important capability,” wrote the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. “Soldiers have consistently participated in each phase of the development, training and testing of the MRC and continue to provide useful feedback.”
The MRC system will eventually support the joint, multi-domain mission. The SM-6 missile can engage multiple threats including terminal ballistic missile defense, anti-air warfare and anti-ship strike roles.
Improvements by near peer adversaries in their long-range artillery systems present possible threats to U.S. forces. The Chinese military has leveraged unmanned aerial vehicles or UAV, to produce precision munitions and greater target acquisition.
The Army made long-range precision fires its top modernization priority to upgrade and bolster its artillery and missile systems while developing hypersonic weapons and long-range cannons. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/US Army)
23 Aug 23. Germany to get Arrow in 2025. Due to the increasing threat from Russian medium and long-range missiles, the Federal government decided last autumn to procure the Israeli Arrow missile defense system to defend its air space. The first units are to be handed over to the Air Force in 2025. The Arrow 3 missile is part of the Arrow Weapon System (AWS). Among other things, it can defend against medium-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The weapon system is a joint development of Israel and the USA.
Since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the security situation in Europe has changed fundamentally. Along with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the Russian President’s threats to further escalate the attacks, the threat to Germany from long-range missiles has increased.
Air defense only works in combination
With the Patriot and the Mantis system, Germany already has defensive weapons to defend against threats from the air. However, there is a capability gap related to high-altitude, long-range missile defense, what we call territorial missile defense. An effective air defense only works if different systems are combined. A single air defense system as a supposed all-rounder to protect against all dangers is not enough.
Proven missile defense system from Israel
The Israeli Arrow missile defense system is a commercially available and comparatively inexpensive system for defending against long-range missiles. It has already been used successfully to protect Israeli territory. Arrow is a purely defensive system for combating missiles at altitudes well above 100 kilometers. Announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz during his Europe speech in Prague in August 2022, Germany aims to establish a joint air defense system under German leadership to ward off enemy missiles in the top interception layer: the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI).
Structure of the Arrow missile defense system
The Arrow missile defense system consists of three truck-mounted radar devices for detecting and tracking incoming missiles and ten truck-mounted launchers. The core of the system is the Arrow-3 guided missile, six of which are mounted on each launcher.
An Arrow-3 guided missile intercepts a missile with a direct hit – the so-called hit-to-kill principle. The enemy missile is not destroyed by an explosion, but by the kinetic impact energy of a direct hit. Enemy long-range missiles fired from a distance of 500 to 4,000 kilometers can thus be intercepted in space.
Protection of Germany and its neighbors
With a radar and a low single-digit number of Arrow launchers9, a 360-degree defense umbrella can be established over Germany. Additional radars and launch pads increase resilience.
Due to Arrow 3’s long range, our neighboring countries can also be protected against a ballistic missile threat. Because the individual components of the system can be deployed quickly, it is also possible to set up protected areas in the states on NATO’s eastern flank.
It is planned that the first air defense systems will be made available to the Air Force from 2025. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Bundeswehr)
23 Aug 23. ADF to invest in new guided weapons. Air Vice-Marshall Gerald van Leeuwen from GWEO, Ben Walter CEO of Varley Rafael Australia, and Golan Ben-Giat, managing Doirector of Rafael Australia, with a Spike 2 missile at the contract signing ceremony; and (top) Lockheed Martin’s Long Range Mobile Fires (LRMF) which exceeds the 500km range of the PrSM missile fired from the HiMARS launch. Images: Defence and Lockheed Martin.
The Australian Government is investing more than $1.7bn in three new classes of weapon for the ADF, and a further $1.6bn in HiMARS launchers. Missiles, including the PrSM hypersonic weapons to be launched from the HiMARS system, will be manufactured in Australia by Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.
“We are buying these weapons now to deliver capability quickly – but we are also considering options to manufacture missiles domestically because of the importance of building sovereign Australian defence manufacturing capabilities,” said Minister for defence Industry Pat Conroy
To deploy enhanced strike capabilities and hold an adversary at risk at longer ranges, the ADF will acquire more than 200 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States for the RAN’s Hobart-class DDG, for approximately $1.3bn.
With a range of 1,500 kilometres, the Tomahawk is a world-class long-range strike capability. Australia will be only one of three nations to have them, along with the United States and the United Kingdom.
In addition, the Government has approved the acquisition of more than 60 AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) missiles from the United States for $431m.
These air to ground missiles are designed to target enemy radar systems. They will be operated on the RAAF’s EA-18G Growler and F/A-18F Super Hornet aircrafts and, in future, on the F-35A Lightning II fighter jets.
The Australian Army’s Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles will also be armed with Spike Long-Range 2 anti-tank guided missiles. This will provide soldiers with the capability to engage with enemy armour at a range of more than five kilometres.
Under a contract worth more than $50m, Varley Rafael Australia is expected to deliver the first Spike missile early next year. The Varley Group will present options to Government for domestic manufacturing.
The Australian Government will also more than double the number of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers being acquired for the ADF. It will invest $1.6bn to expand and accelerate this acquisition, bringing the total number of HIMARS to 42.
The land-based, long-range, surface-to-surface HIMARS and associated munitions and support systems will equip the Australian Army. The project is also scoped to procure the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), which is expected to have a maximum range beyond 500km.
To support the accelerated acquisition of a long-range strike capability, Defence is developing detailed plans for a Guided Weapons Production Capability (GWPC) to manufacture HIMARS-compatible missiles in Australia from 2025. (Source: https://www.ex2.com.au/news/)
22 Aug 23. U.S. Department of Defense and Japan Ministry of Defense Press Release on the Commencement of Glide Phase Interceptor Cooperative Development. During the January 2023 Security Consultative Committee (“2+2”) meeting, the United States and Japan concurred with beginning discussions on potential joint development of a future interceptor.
Based on subsequent studies, the U.S. Department of Defense and Japan Ministry of Defense decided to initiate a Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) Cooperative Development program as an important part of implementation for the 2023 U.S.-Japan bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Projects (RDT&E).
The development of a counter-hypersonic capability is a pressing need for both countries to address challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, including the emergence of offensive hypersonic and other sophisticated missile capabilities for potential acts of coercion.
The GPI co-development will build upon long-standing U.S.-Japan missile defense cooperation and strengthen the Alliance deterrence posture.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/US DoD)
21 Aug 23. First Magistr-SV Air Defense Systems were Delivered to Armed Forces — Source. The Russian armed forces have taken the first delivery of the Magistr-SV, an automated air defense fire control system, a source told TASS on the sidelines of a military conference outside Moscow that ended on August 20.
“The Magistr-SV automated air defense fire control system is in mass production. The first batch of these machines has already been delivered to the customer,” the person said.
The system has been developed by the Rubin Research and Production Enterprise, which is part of the Ruselectronics Group (which is part of the state corporation Rostec). The machine is designed for air space reconnaissance using external and built-in reconnaissance capabilities. It also is designed to coordinate air defense missions.
The system includes a unique opto-electronic station with the capabilities for automatically spotting, identifying and tracking air targets. A database of optical characteristics of various air targets and specifics of natural interference emissions has been created to provide for such technical capabilities.
The small-sized radar detector combines the capabilities of a surveillance radar with the high accuracy of coordinate measurement inherent in radar tracking systems. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/TASS)
21 Aug 23. USAF fires hypersonic ARRW in first test since March failure. The Air Force on Saturday conducted its latest test of a prototype hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, collecting data it hopes will help it develop future weapons that can travel at greater than Mach 5.
The Air Force said in a statement that a B-52H Stratofortress released a full operational prototype ARRW, known as an all-up round, off the coast of Southern California. ARRW is made by Lockheed Martin.
This ARRW test marked the first since a failed test of another operational prototype in March. After an announcement about that test was silent on whether it had achieved its objectives, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall soon afterwards told Congress it was “not a success.” Kendall also told lawmakers the service was more committed to the HACM than ARRW, and that the ARRW’s future is in doubt, with a decision on whether to continue with the program likely to come as part of the fiscal 2025 budget process.
Hypersonic weapons travel at speeds greater than Mach 5, or more than 3,836 miler per hour, and are highly maneuverable, which makes them difficult to track and shoot down. Lawmakers have expressed concern that the U.S. military has not done enough to develop and field hypersonic weapons, and that the nation may be falling behind Chinese and Russian hypersonic capabilities.
The service said it would not discuss specific objectives of the Aug. 19 test, and did not say whether it considered the test a success. But the Air Force said it “gained valuable new insights into the capabilities” of ARRW, and that the data would help it advance programs such as ARRW and the service’s other major hypersonic weapon program, the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile.
The Air Force said the test focused on ARRW’s end-to-end performance, and that it also validated and improved the service’s test and evaluation capabilities to continue to develop advanced hypersonic systems.
In another March hearing, Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter said the Air Force was still planning to conduct the last two ARRW all-up round test flights to collect data for future hypersonic programs.
(Source: C4ISR & Networks)
21 Aug 23. BeaverFit sees international demand for its revolutionary high-security containerised Armouries. BeaverFit Special Operations Equipment (SOE), continues to see global demand for its custom made high-security, ballistic and blast resistant armouries.
Flexible, versatile and instantly reconfigurable, BeaverFit’s modular secure armouries recently achieved three nominations at the 2023 Fire and Security Matters Awards. The awards promoted the importance of innovation whilst underlining the highest standards of excellence. BeaverFit’s Armouries have been highlighted due to their deployable and highly portable configuration, as well as being Government approved facilities, manufactured to minimise threats and maximise protection.
Reinforced with specialist secure doors, CCTV, and alarms, BeaverFit’s containerised Armouries are custom fabricated and portable secure units, that can be used as an internal armoury or ammunition storage facility.
Designed to meet strict security standards and regulations, the Armouries provide a high level of security and protection for firearms and other weapons. They contain reconfigurable, internal racking, which is suitable for a range of different sized weapons, as the holsters can be altered to suit specific requirements.
The containerised Armouries are incredibly flexible and easy to transport. They can be easily deployed, to where they are most needed, to accommodate modern warfare agile requirements supporting international militaries. With climate control and solar panels, all weaponry is kept in an optimum environment for storage.
Discreet in design, the self-contained and sustainable Armouries are more cost-effective than traditional infrastructures. The container solutions limit construction costs and reduce the need for anchors or groundworks due to the semi-permanent location, meaning that less off-site work is needed, reducing travel and air pollution.
Tom Beaver, Managing Director of BeaverFit,says: “Our innovative custom Armouries for weapons and tactical equipment are bespoke manufactured to suit our customers specific high-level security and operational requirements. Government approved and easily relocatable, our containerised Armouries have become increasingly popular solutions and favoured over traditional infrastructures due to their easy installation and portability.”
The BeaverFit team will be showcasing their modular containerised Armouries and special operations equipment at London’s DSEI exhibition next month on Stand H1285.
BeaverFit is a market leader in the supply of innovative and highly secure modular solutions. Their commitment to sustainable working practice, personable client facing processes and the manufacturing of industry leading facilities make them a trusted and reliable supplier to the global security and defence industries.
18 Aug 23. RDM developing artillery ammunition with 150+ km range. Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) continues to evolve its ammunition portfolio, with the development of a ramjet-powered 155 mm artillery round that will have a range of 155 km keeping the company at the forefront of long-range artillery ammunition.
In 2019 RDM set a world record for artillery, firing a rocket-assisted 155 mm projectile out to 76 km. Now it is aiming to double that distance with the new ramjet round.
“I’m very proud of our artillery ammunition,” outgoing RDM CEO Jan-Patrick Helmsen recently told military attaches during a tour of the company’s Boskop facility. “We have the longest artillery arms in the world.” However, he said the company has seen competition slowly creeping in for its VLAP (Velocity Enhanced Artillery Projectile) ammunition and so is looking at other technologies like ramjet propulsion to stay ahead.
Although the ramjet round has a longer range than conventional artillery, is has reduced payload. However, the ramjet round is much cheaper than missiles with similar range. Some test firing of the new RDM ramjet rounds has taken place, but further work is still ongoing, as it is a challenging endeavour to perfect ramjet technology.
There are very few other companies exploring the use of ramjets for artillery. Boeing and Nammo are two that have collaborated on 155 mm ramjet artillery shells, which will have ranges of up to 150 km. Their Ramjet 155 round is to be compatible with all existing NATO 155 mm guns. India is also exploring the technology, and aims to have rounds capable of reaching in excess of 60 km. RDM believes it ramjet rounds will be able to achieve some of the longest ranges on the market.
RDM’s experience with rocket technology is assisting its ramjet work. RDM supplies rocket components to South African and international companies, including Denel Dynamics and Thales. It manufactures rocket motors, warheads and launchers, including for FZ-90 rockets, and motors, propellants, warheads and safety and arming devices for the Umkhonto, Ingwe, Mokopa, C-RAM and A-Darter missiles manufactured by Denel. RDM rocket expertise is also incorporated into 68 mm and 127 mm rockets, FT5 anti-tank weapons and the Plofadder minefield breaching system.
More recently, it has worked with the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) on its Phoenix sounding rocket series, which have been launched from the Denel Overberg Test Range. RDM and the UKZN are cooperating on rocket propulsion, including a liquid propellant rocket engine project named SAFFIRE (South African First Integrated Rocket Engine).
Rocket technology is also making its way into RDM’s mortar range. Few countries manufacture rocket-assisted mortars, some being China, Serbia, South Korea and Iran, but now RDM has a rocket-assisted 120 mm mortar that extends range to 15 km, although RDM hopes to increase range to 20 km. The company’s mortar range covers 60, 81 and 120 mm rounds.
Although RDM prides itself on range, lethality and accuracy, it says it is good at lethality and range with its mortars but not precision. However, it is collaborating with Northrop Grumman to create a highly accurate 120 mm ‘sniper mortar’.
Other new products include an airbust 40 mm grenade round ideal for obscured targets. (RDM manufactures low, medium and high velocity 40 mm rounds.) The company says the airburst round is easily programmable, simple to integrate and is jam/spoof resistant. A device is fitted on the launcher’s Picatinny rail and rounds are programmed as necessary. Another relatively new product is a self-destruct 40 mm round – this ensures that no unexploded rounds are left on the battlefield.
A staple product for RDM has been the Mk 80 series of aircraft bombs, available in Mk 81 (120 kg), Mk 82 (250 kg), Mk 83 (440 kg) and Mk 84 (880 kg) weights. The company has now developed a small (50 kg) lightweight bomb that is ideal for small aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It has also come out with a ‘bunker buster’ precision strike warhead that can penetrate up to 1.8 metres using a delayed fuse. Helmsen told defenceWeb that RDM is already talking to potential customers on the new aircraft bomb range. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
18 Aug 23. Poland’s Gladius system breaks cover. The Polish army unveiled the components of its new Gladius artillery strike-reconnaissance system during a military parade on 15 August, displaying a commander’s vehicle and a mobile launcher vehicle, the FT-5 tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and the training version of the BSP-U strike UAV (BSP-U(T)).
Huta Stalowa Wola’s (HSW) Waran 4×4 is used as the base platform for the commander’s vehicle and the launcher vehicle, with the former being the light armoured vehicle variant and the latter the pickup chassis.
While the FT-5 and the BSP-U(T) UAVs were shown at the parade, a WB Group spokeperson told Janes that the launcher vehicle could also operate other types, such as the company’s Warmate 2 loitering munition.
Both vehicles are fitted with expandable antenna masts, RRC 9311 AP amplified radios, and the FONET digital intercom. This equipment provides long-range communications and enables the vehicles to integrate with the Topaz combat management system, which supports co-ordinated reconnaissance and strike operations. (Source: Janes)
18 Aug 23. Japan mulls long-range missiles on transport aircraft. Transport aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) could be equipped with long-range missiles to improve the country’s stand-off strike capabilities.
A Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) spokesperson confirmed to Janes that the MoD and the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) “will develop and procure a stand-off missile launch system that can be equipped on transport aircraft”.
Such missile-equipped aircraft could be used by Japan to conduct long-range attacks on adversarial targets such as ships and missile launch sites. The use of transport aircraft would also obviate the need for Japan to acquire additional combat aircraft such as bombers for this role.
The programme is part of a plan by Japan to diversify its stand-off missile launch capabilities. According to the MoD spokesperson, Japan’s Defense Buildup Program (DPB) stated that further diversification of missile launch capabilities is required to “effectively disrupt, defeat, and deter invasions against Japan”. (Source: Janes)
21 Aug 23. Hungary to Produce Combat Drones in Cooperation with Israel and Germany.
Hungary has signed an agreement to manufacture combat drones in cooperation with Israeli and German companies as part of an effort to grow and modernize its military and defense industry, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a new combat vehicle factory in Zalaegerszeg in southwest Hungary, Orban said the drones will be produced in cooperation with Israeli defense technology company UVision, and with a German partner that he did not specify.
“If I heard about a country that produces and develops military technology together with Germans and Israelis, I would think twice about messing with them, and that’s good news for every Hungarian,” Orban said.
The combat vehicle factory that opened Friday in Zalaegerszeg, in which the Hungarian government has a 49 percent stake, is majority-owned by German military technology company Rheinmetall. The investment is part of increasing efforts by Orban’s government to enlarge its fighting forces and increase production of military equipment.
Orban said Friday that operations would soon begin at another Rheinmetall investment in Central Hungary, which he said would be “one of Europe’s most modern ammunition factories.”
He also pointed to an Airbus factory in Hungary that opened last year which produces components for modern combat helicopters, and the acquisition by a Hungarian company in 2021 of Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody, which produces military and training aircraft.
The growth of Hungary’s military industry comes as it has consistently advocated for an immediate cease-fire and peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. The Hungarian government has refused to provide Kyiv with weapons or to allow their transfer across the two countries’ shared border.
Orban has portrayed himself as being “on the side of peace” in the war, but on Friday said that “for peace, you must have strength.”
“We have not given up building an independent Hungarian defense industry, nor have we given up on putting Hungarian innovation and technology at the forefront of the world,” he said, adding that the war in Ukraine had “only strengthened our determination.”
Hungary, a NATO member, will this year achieve the alliance’s expectations that member nations spend at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense, Orban said. (Source: UAS VISION/Haaretz)
21 Aug 23. Australia Invests in Powerful New High-Tech Missiles. The [Australian] Government is investing more than $1.7bn in some of the most powerful and technologically advanced weapons systems ever fielded by the Australian Defence Force.
Long-range strike missiles and other guided weapons are fundamental to the ADF’s ability to deploy enhanced strike capabilities and hold an adversary at risk at longer ranges.
To build this critical capability, the Government has decided to purchase more than 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart Class destroyers, for approximately $1.3bn.
With a range of 1,500 kilometres, the Tomahawk is a world-class long-range strike capability. Australia will be only one of three nations to have them, along with the United States and the United Kingdom.
In addition, the Government has approved the acquisition of more than 60 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) missiles from the United States for $431m.
These air to ground missiles are a specialised missile used to target enemy radar systems. They will be operated on the Royal Australian Air Force’s Growler and Super Hornet aircraft and, in future, on the F-35A Lightning II fighter jets.
The Australian Army’s Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles will also be armed with Spike Long-Range 2 anti-tank guided missiles. This will provide soldiers with the capability to engage with enemy armour at a range of more than five kilometres.
Under a contract worth more than $50 m, Varley Rafael Australia is expected to deliver the first Spike missile early next year. The Varley Group will present options to Government for domestic manufacturing.
The Defence Strategic Review emphasised the need for Australia to be able to hold an adversary at risk further from our shores, by developing the ADF’s ability to precisely strike targets at longer range.
With these new defence capabilities, the Government is delivering on the Review’s recommendations, strengthening national security and responding to Australia’s strategic environment.
Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP, said: “With the acquisition of these formidable long-range strike missiles the [Australian] Government is acting with pace to deliver on the recommendations of the Defence Strategic Review.
“We are investing in the capabilities our Defence Force needs to hold our adversaries at risk further from our shores and keep Australians safe in the complex and uncertain world in which we live today. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the importance of having not just war stocks, but a domestic missile manufacturing industry and this announcement will help deliver that.”
Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, said; “These advanced weapons are a clear demonstration that the [Australian] Government is delivering on the recommendations made in the Defence Strategic Review. As we enter what many are calling the missile age, these will be vital tools for the Australian Defence Force to do its job of defending Australians.
“We are buying these weapons now to deliver capability quickly – but we are also considering options to manufacture missiles domestically because of the importance of building sovereign Australian defence manufacturing capabilities.” (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Australian Department of Defence)
21 Aug 23. Australia Accelerates Long-Range Precision Strike Capability Acquisition. The [Australian] Government is accelerating Australia’s long-range precision strike capability, and will more than double the number of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers being acquired for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
To implement a key priority of the Defence Strategic Review the Government will invest $1.6 bn to expand and accelerate this acquisition, bringing the total number of HIMARS to 42.
The land-based, long-range, surface-to-surface HIMARS and associated munitions and support systems will ensure the ADF is equipped to deter potential threats and keep Australians safe.
The project is also scoped to procure the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), which is expected to have a maximum range beyond 500km.
To support the accelerated acquisition of a long-range strike capability, Defence is developing detailed plans for a Guided Weapons Production Capability (GWPC) to manufacture HIMARS-compatible missiles in Australia from 2025.
Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP said: “The Defence Strategic Review and the Government’s response recognised that a long-range strike capability is critical to the defence of Australia’s national interests.
“The accelerated acquisition of additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launchers provide the Australian Army with a significant capability boost, ensuring it has the resources it needs.”
Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, said: “Australia is investing in enhanced long-range capabilities across all domains, which will deliver a persistent, long-range, all weather, rapid response capability that is operationally deployable and tactically mobile.
“As well as acquiring HIMARS from the US, the Government is taking important steps towards domestic missile manufacturing, aiming to both build up Australia’s defence industry, protect our supply chains and contribute to easing global demand.”
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Australian Department of Defence)
24 Aug 23. India Assures Timely Delivery of Brahmos Cruise Missile to PH. India has assured the Philippines of the timely delivery of the BrahMos cruise missile platforms which the country has acquired for its Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile (SBASM) system.
The assurance was made during the courtesy call of India Ambassador to the Philippines, Shambhu Santha Kumaran, to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. last Aug. 17.
“Ambassador Kumaran also reassured the timely delivery of the Shore-Based Anti-Ship SBASM, which is being procured by the Philippines from BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd under the Horizon 2 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement Tuesday night.
The BrahMos cruise missile can be launched from a ship, aircraft, submarine or land, and has a top speed of around Mach 2.8 (around 3,400 km. per hour), and is capable of carrying warheads weighing 200 to 300 kilograms.
Former DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and BrahMos Aerospace director general Atul Dinkar Rane signed the contract worth PHP18.9 bn in a virtual ceremony at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City in January 2022.
Three batteries of the BrahMos cruise missiles will be acquired by the country under this contract.
Lorenzana earlier said the BrahMos cruise missiles will greatly beef up the Philippine Navy’s firepower, particularly the Marines’ Coastal Defense Regiment, and provide counter-attack capabilities within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.
“As the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles, the BrahMos missiles will provide deterrence against any attempt to undermine our sovereignty and sovereign rights, especially in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
Both officials also agreed to elevate the level of their dialogue mechanisms in view of increasing and deepening defense and military engagements.
Andolong said the DND chief reiterated the invitation to meet with India’s Minister of Defence, which may also be conducted through virtual means.
“Ambassador Kumaran encouraged strengthening cooperation on counter-terrorism, cyber security, maritime security, and other specialized training programs that could enhance capabilities of their military establishments in addressing common defense and security challenges,” he said.
The DND chief also highlighted the importance of deepening collaboration among defense industries of India and the Philippines as the country is currently developing a credible defense posture.
“Ambassador Kumaran welcomed the initiative and further conveyed India’s willingness to support, through line of funding or credits, the development of the Philippine’s defense infrastructure, including extensive maintenance support for various projects and transfer of technology,” Andolong said.
In their meeting, Teodoro and Kumaran reaffirmed their commitment to upholding a rules-based international order and strengthening relations with like-minded countries in the region.
“Ambassador Kumaran conveyed that India recognizes the Philippines’ emerging role in shaping the regional security architecture in the Indo-Pacific. The Ambassador further conveyed India’s support for ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) centrality and all ASEAN platforms, particularly the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus,” Andolong said. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Philippine News Agency;)
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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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