Sponsored by Galvion
www.galvion.com
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31 Aug 23. Galvion Teams with NP Aerospace and Establishes UK Helmet Production Hub. Galvion, a world leader in the design and manufacture of military head protection systems and intelligent power and data management solutions, is pleased to announce that it has established a strategic partnership with the UK-based global Defence composites company, NP Aerospace. The relationship is announced as the first batch of NP produced product is accepted and ready to deliver, and marks NP Aerospace becoming a key helmet production partner. NP Aerospace is manufacturing Galvion’s proprietary helmet designs to stringent production specifications and delivering to Galvion’s local UK and continental European customer base.
This new long-term, mutually exclusive partnership will initially focus on the delivery of Galvion’s Cobra® Plus helmets into the UK MoD’s VIRTUS programme. Since contract award in 2015, Galvion has produced and delivered over 200,000 helmet systems to the UK’s VIRTUS programme. NP Aerospace, already a long-standing and trusted supplier of the UK MoD, brings decades of advanced composite material and armour system manufacturing expertise to the venture, ensuring a continuity of production excellence for Galvion’s customers.
With validations, compliance assurance, tools, and technology transfer complete, NP Aerospace has concluded the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase and will deliver the first production batch, marking the transition to full operating capability of the new production facility. The on-shore UK production collaboration will shorten supply chains, improve responsiveness, and provide a platform for future support and sustainment, enhancing the UK’s VIRTUS programme customer journey. In addition, this move to regionalization fully aligns with the UK customer’s Land Industrial Strategy (LIS) and places Galvion in a strong position to continue to export to and support yet more European and wider regional customers.
James Kempston, CEO at NP Aerospace said: “NP Aerospace has a strong capability in delivering high volume military helmet programmes. We have delivered 625,000 helmets to UK MoD since the mid-1990s, and we are a long-term trusted supplier on multiple UK DE&S equipment programmes. We are honoured to be partnering with Galvion to continue the legacy of excellence with the UK-manufactured VIRTUS Cobra Plus Helmet and look forward to the opportunities that this relationship presents for the future.”
Jonathan Blanshay, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Galvion said: “We are firmly committed to providing best-in-class product and service to our global customer network. The UK’s MoD is an exceedingly high priority for Galvion, and we believe this new alliance represents a win-win for all parties. I’d like to thank all partners involved for working together to benefit our joint customer”. He added: “With everything going on in the world today, regional partnering and collaboration is part of a wider strategic initiative to establish onshore and localized production to enhance delivery, flexibility, responsiveness, and supportability for our customers around the world.”
01 Sep 23. UK MoD seeking info on Type 31 frigate naval gun ammunition. The five-ship Type 31 general purpose frigate class will uniquely feature a combination of a single 57mm main gun and two 40mm secondary Bofors.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a Request for Information (RfI) into the operational and training ammunition compatible with the BAE Systems 57mm naval weapon system and 40mm Bofors gun, which will be installed on the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 frigates.
Not since classes such as the initial Leander light frigate of the 1960s and 1970s has a Royal Navy warship been so gun centric, with the single 57mm main gun and two 40mm secondaries offering the Type 31 platform considerable kinetic effect at short ranges. The combination has likely been chosen with an eye on threats such as swarming crewed or uncrewed small boats and aerial threats.
Published on 31 August, the RfI is intended to “alert the market of an early engagement opportunity” relating to Type 31 57mm and 40mm operational and training naval ammunition”, according to the MoD notice.
The intention is to “grow the understanding of the medium calibre naval ammunition market, its readiness, supply chain resilience and competitiveness including key players”, gather knowledge of alternative options from potential bidders, and “understand the operational performance” of alternative ammunition.
A short deadline, which is due on 15 September, is the cut-off for industry expressions of interest.
Type 31 naval gun selection: the data
The BAE Systems Mk 110 57mm naval gun systems is relatively common across vessels operated by the US Navy (USN) and US Coast Guard, having been selected for use on the upcoming Constellation-class frigates being built for the USN, and currently fitted to the Freedom– and Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships. The 57mm main gun is also fitted to the 4,500 tonne Legend-class cutters operated by the US Coast Guard.
According to BAE Systems the Mk 110 is capable of automatic salvo fire at a rate of up to 220 round per minute and can feature a selectable fuze for each round as required, depending on desired effect.
Mk 110 57mm naval gun
Rate of fire
220 rounds/min
Ammunition capacity
120 rounds
Maximum range
>9nm
Loading time
3-5 minutes
Elevation
−10° to +77°
Weight
14,960lbs/6,800kg
Information courtesy of BAE Systems
The 40mm Bofors meanwhile can utilise the 3P all-target ammunition, programmed for optimised effect against targets, including airburst patterns for new threats “that were previously impossible to engage”, according to manufacturer BAE Systems.
Bofors 40mm naval gun
Rate of fire
300 rounds/min
Ammunition capacity
100 rounds
Maximum range
12.5km
Muzzle velocity
1012 m/s (3P)
Elevation
−20° to +80°
Weight
2,300kg
Information courtesy of BAE Systems
However, the issuance of the RfI by the UK MoD indicates that it is exploring what alternative ammunition options might exist for the Type 31 frigates, which are not due to enter service for several years.
Type 31 progress amid dispute and design changes
The first two ships in class, HMS Venturer and HMS Active, are currently in manufacture at Babcock’s Rosyth shipyard, with much of the hull and superstructure of the former completed. The class is also undergoing a slight design change to accommodate the integration of the Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launch system, which could remove the initially planned Sea Ceptor ‘mushroom farm’ air defence system, mounted amidships.
In April this year Babcock began a dispute resolution process (DRP) with the UK MoD to determine liability for increased costs being sustained on the Type 31 frigate programme, with up to £100m ($126.7m) in additional funds needed.
Providing a 2023 financial year and Type 31 programme update on 20 April, Babcock said it recognised over £600m in revenue on the Type 31 programme, which remained on schedule and due to conclude in 2028. However, the programme’s production plan was described as “demanding”, given the impact felt by UK industry during the Covid-19 pandemic, and had seen an increase in actual and projected costs.
Continuing, Babcock said that despite having been in dialogue with the MoD as to who is responsible for the additional costs under the contract, it had been “unable to reach agreement” and as such, has seen a DRP commence. A DRP could result in arbitration to determine who should bear the increased costs of the programme.
The original contact was signed in November 2019 to deliver five Inspiration-class Type 31 general purpose frigates, at an average production cost of £250m per vessel.
The Type 31 class was born from the realisation by the UK MoD that it could not afford to acquire 13 Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates from UK defence prime BAE Systems, instead constraining that programme to eight hulls. A stop-start competition to determine an alternative five-ship frigate requirement was won by Babcock using its Arrowhead 140 design, heavily derived from the Danish Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates.
(Source: naval-technology.com)
31 Aug 23. F-15EX weapons test ends key phase, could lead to production decision. The U.S. Air Force announced Wednesday the F-15EX Eagle II fighter has finished a key test and evaluation phase with the successful launch of air-to-air and air-to-ground standoff munitions.
The data collected from the test could pave the way for a decision on full-rate production for the newest version of the Boeing-made fourth-generation fighter.
The Air Force’s two test F-15EXs launched Joint Direct Attack Munitions, Small Diameter Bombs and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles during the Combat Hammer exercise that concluded Aug. 25, the 53rd Wing told Defense News. The wing carried out the exercise, meant to evaluation weapons systems, at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
Capt. Lindsey Heflin, a spokeswoman for the wing, said the weapons were employed during a wide range of scenarios.
The Air Force said that the weapons used during the test represent the longest-range air-to-air and air-to-ground standoff munitions in the U.S. military’s arsenal, and mark the completion of the F-15EX’s first phase of integrated test and evaluation efforts.
During that phase, the fighter took part in 19 large-force events to test how well it could integrate with fifth-generation aircraft and fire other air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, the Air Force said.
In November 2022, for example, the F-15EX test-fired AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles from two new weapons stations. The Air Force later said that test marked a step toward the fighter being able to carry up to 12 missiles — more than any other F-15 variant.
Maj. Calvin Connor, F-15 division commander for the 53rd Wing’s 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, said in a service statement that the exercise showed the F-15EX was able to employ three Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles.
Now that the F-15EX’s first integrated test and evaluation phase is done, the Air Force said, its Operational Test and Evaluation Center as well as the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation office will analyze the collected data. This data will be used to help make a decision on full-rate production for the fighter in the months to come.
The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron carried out the tests, alongside the 53rd Wing’s 83rd and 86th fighter weapons squadrons. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
31 Aug 23. Iran accuses Israel over faulty parts for ballistic missile program. Iran accused Israel on Thursday of trying to sabotage its ballistic missile program through faulty foreign parts that could explode, damaging or destroying the weapons before they could be used.
The Israeli prime minister’s office declined to comment on the allegation, though it comes amid a yearslong effort by both Israel and the U.S. to target Iran. A reporter also said the parts could be used in Iran’s extensive arsenal of drones, which have grown in prominence amid their use by Russia in its war on Ukraine.
The report described the alleged Israeli operation as “one of the biggest attempts at sabotage” it had ever seen. It accused Israeli Mossad agents of supplying the faulty parts, which the state TV report described as low-price “connectors.”
Footage aired by state TV showed the alleged parts, some of them popping up into the air, as if affected by an explosive.
The pieces shown in the television report appeared to be military-style, high-density circular electrical connectors. Such connectors can be used to attach electronic components of a missile or a drone, such as its guidance computer, and pass both electricity and signals. Video released by Iran in the past showed missile scientists working with similar connectors.
“This was planted in a part called the connector, which is responsible for connecting the [computer] network of Iranian-made ballistic missiles, as well as drones,” state television military correspondent Younes Shadloo said in the report. “Apparently the part contained a modified explosive kit planted in it and was timed to explode at a certain time.”
The state TV report did not explain why Iran sought to purchase the connectors abroad, though some Iranian websites advertising such connectors suggest that Russian-made ones were the best in the market. Russia faces international sanctions over its war on Ukraine, which has seen its own supply of electronics needed for missile systems challenged.
Iranian-made drones used by Russia in the war also use circular connectors, according to reports by experts who have torn down the weapons.
The TV broadcast did not say when authorities discovered the faulty parts, nor if they had been installed in any ballistic missile prior. In May 2022, an explosion at a major Iranian military and weapons development base east of Tehran called Parchin killed an engineer and wounded another. Other blasts have struck as well, including failures in Iran’s space program that the U.S. has long criticized as advancing Tehran’s ballistic missile program.
The New York Times in 2019 reported the U.S. under then-President Donald Trump had accelerated a sabotage program targeting Iran’s missile and rocket program that dated back to the administration of President George W. Bush.
The CIA declined to comment on the purported sabotage attack.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a hard-line force answerable only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, oversees the country’s ballistic missile arsenal.
Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies who examined the state TV footage of the parts, said the circular connectors “are used in almost every type of ballistic missile.”
“It’s quite likely Iran purchases these connectors from abroad,” Hinz said. “This is not the first time Iran is talking about components being tampered with to sabotage the missile program.”
Israel also has been suspected in a series of targeted killings of nuclear scientists in Iran. Sabotage attacks also have damaged Iranian nuclear sites.
The Stuxnet computer virus in the late 2000s also attacked control units for uranium centrifuges, causing the sensitive devices to spin out of control and destroy themselves. Experts widely attribute the attack to America and Israel, as does Iran. (Source: Defense News)
31 Aug 23. USS Zumwalt to receive hypersonic missile upgrades at HII. The guided-missile destroyer Zumwalt, which arrived at its new home port in Pascagoula, Mississippi, this month, is being outfitted with a hypersonic missile system by American shipbuilder HII.
The Zumwalt, which had returned to San Diego for an undisclosed maintenance system issue after departing for Mississippi, arrived in Pascagoula Aug. 19. The ship is now going through modernization, including installation of the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missile system.
“The upgrades will ensure Zumwalt remains one of the most technologically advanced and lethal ships in the U.S. Navy,” Cmdr. Arlo Abrahamson, a spokesperson for the Naval Surface Force, told Navy Times in a statement earlier this month.
The service aims to field hypersonic weapons on the Zumwalt by 2025, and Lockheed Martin announced in February it was preparing a ship-based hypersonic missile launcher for flight tests in 2024. Lockheed is developing the launcher, the weapon control system and other pieces of the missile.
Meanwhile, the Army, which has worked with the Navy to develop the missile, is set to field the weapon system by the end of this year.
On Tuesday, the Navy awarded HII a $154.8 m contract modification to update the Zumwalt, after previously awarding the shipbuilder a $10.5 m planning period contract in January for the modernization of the Zumwalt and the guided-missile destroyer Michael Monsoor.
The Monsoor will receive the Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missile system “during a future modernization period,” HII said in a news release.
“It is an honor to serve the sailors of Zumwalt and to welcome them to our community,” Ingalls Shipbuilding DDG 1000 ship construction manager Bruce Knowles said in a news release. “The Ingalls team is ready to support you in completing this important work.”
The Zumwalt concluded three months of operations in the Western Pacific last fall, where it conducted a series of joint and bilateral operations as part of its first operational employment.
The Zumwalt’s first full deployment is expected during late calendar year 2026 or early 2027, when it will operate under U.S. 7th Fleet and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command leadership. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
31 Aug 23. Estonia and Spain Agreed on Extending NASAMS Air Defence Unit Rotation in Estonia. At the margins of the European Union informal defence ministerial, the Minister of Defence of Spain Margarita Robles and the Minister of Defence of Estonia Hanno Pevkur agreed that Spain will extend the NASAMS air defence unit rotation in Estonia.
“We are very thankful for the Spanish commitment to NATO’s deterrence and defence posture in Estonia with the deployment of the NASAMS unit and the Air Policing rotation in Ämari. We are glad to hear of the decision to continue the NASAMS unit deployment to Estonia, as it has already provided a valuable cooperation opportunity for the Estonian Defence forces” said Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur. The Minister of Defence of Spain Margarita Robles will visit the Spanish unit in Estonia next week.
“In September, together with Latvia, we will also be signing a contract for the procurement of our own medium-range air defence systems with the German manufacturer Diehl. Thanks to the presence of the Spanish unit in Estonia, our Defence Forces and Air Force have already had the chance to gain experience in the tactical command of medium-range air defence systems,” explained Minister of Defence Pevkur.
The Spanish NASAMS unit was deployed to Estonia in April this year on the command of the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), similarly to a unit in Latvia, as a part of NATO’s eastern flank air and missile defence. At the Vilnius Summit, the NATO heads of state also agreed on the new Rotational Model for air and missile defence, which similarly to the Air Policing mission will see the rotation of air defence systems at NATO’s eastern flank.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Estonia Ministry of Defence)
30 Aug 23. RTX/Rafael Secure Multiple Ground Air Defence Initiatives (Iron Dome/MRIC & Patriot SkyCeptor). The RTX (formerly Raytheon)- Rafael team formed in 2020 have continued to capitalize on their ground-based air defence collaboration. The most recent being the US Marine Corps announcement of its intent to acquire three batteries of the Iron Dome short range interceptor which the Marines refer to as the Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC).
LtCol Matthew Beck, product manager for A-MANPADS/MRIC explained “MRIC is a middle-tier acquisition rapid prototyping effort, serving as a short-to-medium range air defence system that fills a crucial capability gap in the Indo-Pacific’s contested theatre. Although it was primarily designed for cruise missile MRIC also boasts capabilities against other airborne threats”.
The tactical truck mounted MRIC uses the Tamir interceptor to address targets at ranges from 4 km to 70 km. The Iron Dome has been fielded and successfully employed in Israel since 2011 while the US Army has two batteries form a US Congressionally directed procurement. In May 2023 US Army Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler testified that one of these is ready for deployment (Guam has been suggested), and the other is wrapping up its training. Iron Dome is able to protect an area of around 150 square kilometres making it suited to defending a specific area.
This additional Iron Dome/MRIC fielding is complemented by successes by the US/Israeli team in introducing its SkyCeptor interceptors for medium range ground air defence. Using the Mach 7.5 speed Stunner missile the system is able to engage missiles and aerial threats at ranges of 40 to 300 km. SkyCeptor is in service with Israel (called David’s Sling) and recently selected for fielding by Finland.
Creating further opportunity for the team is that the SkyCeptor’s Stunner effector is compatible with the PAC-3 Patriot. RTX has integrated it into Patriot thereby expanding the capabilities of the Patriot. The interceptor designed for “plug-and-play” insertion into the Patriot as well as other air defence systems.
Stunner is equipped with electro-optical/infrared sensors, an all-weather radar seeker, and a multiple-pulse rocket motor. A two-stage missile it is powered by a three-pulse solid propellant motor with the final increasing the speed before the final intercept. This is critical as Stunner has no warhead (differing from Iron Dome’s Tamir interceptor) instead relies on direct impact to destroy the target.
With integration of SkyCeptor’s effector into the Patriot the potential for its inclusion into the batteries of any of the eighteen countries which currently field Patriot offers a distinct opportunity. In fact, in May 2022 the Romania Romanian state-owned defence firm Romarm’s subsidiary Electromecanica Ploiesti announced its agreement with RTX to manufacture SkyCeptor interceptor missiles for the Patriot beginning in 2026. Further, Japan’s Self Defence Force, which had been exploring SkyCeptor recently indicated its intent to move forward.
In addition, that the team intents to propose the SkyCeptor air defence system for Australia’s medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) program was confirmed by a Rafael executive at the Avalon Airshow in Australia held in February.
The Iron Dome/MRIC, also referred to as SkyHunter, and the ability to integrate SkyCeptor with Patriot confirm the availability of ground-based air defence capabilities suited to addressing current and future threats. Expanding the abilities of currently fielded air defence systems like Patriot, in particular, as offered by RTX and Rafael offers a highly cost effective and readily available option. (Source: Armada)
31 Aug 23. Rheinmetall and WilNor Governmental Services, together with experienced Norwegian and German companies, will collaborate to remove unexploded ordnance in German waters.
By combining maritime and technical expertise, the partners will answer the request for quote issued by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, for ordnance removal.
With reference to an earlier statement by German Naval Yards, Rheinmetall bring together partners to answer the request for quote (RFQ) issued by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). Complimenting experience and infrastructure make for a strong constellation between Rheinmetall, WilNor Governmental Services, and an extended group of companies. Together, the constellation brings extensive experience and technology to remove unexploded ordnance safely and responsibly.
Rheinmetall has extensive and long-standing expertise in this domain, having planned and implemented concepts and facilities for ammunition disposal for many years.¬
WilNor Governmental Services, a subsidiary company of the Wilhelmsen group, brings the logistics and maritime operations element. The Wilhelmsen group, based in Norway, is the world’s largest maritime network, with activities concentrated on providing products and services to the maritime industry, offshore logistics and technology, renewable energy, ship management, and complex logistical solutions for operating under difficult offshore conditions.
The partners plan to jointly develop and operate an innovative offshore platform for ammunition disposal. Contaminated sites will be cleaned up in a safe and responsible manner, with ammunition disposal taking place offshore at the innovative offshore platform, minimising the danger to marine life and the natural environment.
Future ocean plans
Plans for future offshore wind turbine parks in the same waters, demands a safe seabed. Enabling that reality requires responsible and safe removal of ms of tons of unexploded ordnance first. “We want to assure a cleaner and healthier marine environment. Unexploded ordnance and substances can be unstable and dangerous, and we will avoid the risk of transporting these. It is therefore important that we can safely and responsibly recover unexploded ordnance and render it harmless on the spot. We also aim to minimise the impact on the underwater world and its inhabitants, and prevent future hazards,” says Dr. Deniz Akitürk, managing director of Rheinmetall Project Solutions GmbH. “Time is of the essence because the condition of the ammunition is deteriorating. Effects on the environment are already visible.”
The constellation of companies is ready to build a reliable unexploded ordnance value chain and look for quick implementation to start surveys and preparations early in 2024. Once all preparation and necessary regulatory processes are completed, the constellation is ready to construct the innovative offshore platform.
The constellation companies are able to expand from pilot to a full-scale industrial level value chain that can handle more efficient multiple platforms in several operational areas simultaneously.
30 Aug 23. SPARC Research Establishes Propulsion Research and Development Agreement with Naval Air Warfare Center at China Lake, CA. SPARC Research of Warrenton Virginia and the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) at China Lake CA have agreed to cooperate in the areas of improving the performance of solid rocket motors and airbreathing engines. The objective is to provide increased range and capability for missile systems delivered to the warfighter.
This relationship was formalized in a three-year cooperative research and development agreement, or CRADA, between NAWCWD and SPARC Research. “We are pleased to enter this agreement and leverage the strong capabilities existing at each organization for the betterment of the Department of Defense”, said Kevin Bailey, Director of Programs at SPARC Research. Matt Cornwell, SPARC Research President added “I view this CRADA as the start of a longer-term relationship to jointly develop and demonstrate prototype advanced propulsion systems”.
NAWCWD and SPARC Research formalize a three-year cooperative research and development agreement.
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Matthew Gross, the Principal Investigator at NAWCWD also said “We are honored to be working with SPARC Research to enable us to cooperatively develop, build, test, and effectively transition emerging propulsion technologies to future weapon development programs”.
About SPARC Research:
SPARC Research was founded to advance the state-of-the-art in rocket and airbreathing technology development, preliminary design, and prototype demonstration using modern multiphysics modeling tools. For more information, visit www.sparcresearch.com or contact: SPARC Research, .
(Source: PR Newswire)
30 Aug 23. Parting shot: Nag anti-tank guided missile. India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently confirmed to Janes that the Nag anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), the development of which was started in the 1980s, has cleared all the flight and user trials required for induction into the Indian Army. The DRDO is currently awaiting an order from the Indian Army for the missile, a DRDO official said.
The Nag ATGM was developed by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and the DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) to meet an Indian Army requirement for a vehicle- and air-launched ATGM with a maximum range of 4 km.
The Nag is a tripod-mounted ATGM that can also be mounted on helicopters and the Nag Missile Carrier (NAMICA) armoured vehicle, a variant of the Russian BMP-2 Sarath developed by the DRDO.
For targeting, the Nag missile employs a passive mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) focal plane-array imaging infrared (IIR)/longwave IR (LWIR) seeker. The missile uses a lock-on before launch (LOBL) mode; however, it is designed with stretch potential for lock-on after launch (LOAL) capability, according to the DRDO. (Source: Janes)
31 Aug 23. FN Herstal launches a new versatile weapon mount for land and sea platforms. FN Herstal is pleased to announce that its new Multi Weapon Mount has been fully MIL-STD certified and is ready for service. It joins a wide range of high-performance products in FN Herstal’s Air, Land and Sea Weapon Systems catalogue. The FN® MWM will be shown for the first time at DSEI 2023 in London in two weeks’ time.
Mission success and survivability often depend on the ability to rapidly adapt to the battlefield.
The FN® MWM is a new weapon mount for ground and naval platforms. The weapon interface can be adapted in minutes to take different calibre weapons:
– 12.7x99mm NATO (.50 Cal) heavy machine guns (FN® M2HB-QCB)
– 7.62x51mm NATO medium machine guns (FN MAG® 58M/infantry, FN® M240 D, H and L)
– 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher (MK19 AGL).
A tested and certified multi-calibre weapon system designed by a long-proven weapon system supplier
The FN® MWM, which was developed, tested and qualified in a collaborative project between FN Herstal and FNH UK, includes a hydraulic buffer system that ensures optimal weapon performance in all conditions and at all firing angles, while minimizing the effects of recoil on the platform and to the user.
The weapon mount is fully mechanical, so it is not dependent on electrical power from the carrier. It has a range of options that includes weapon specific adaptors (for FN MAG®, FN® M240 and MK19), ballistic protection, links and cases collector and a shoulder bar.
The FN® MWM is qualified for use on wheeled or tracked vehicles, the naval variant – FN® Sea MWM – has been tested and qualified for use in extreme maritime environments.
Trouble-free integration (standard or customer specific platform connections) and fully reliable operation with FN Herstal’s renowned range of machine guns, which are in service worldwide, is guaranteed with FN mounts such as the FN® MWM.
Be ready for anything with this modular and highly adaptable multi-weapon mount – the only weapon mount certified by FN Herstal for use with FN Herstal machine guns.
Configuration specifications
Further information on FN® integrated weapon systems solutions for air, land and sea applications in general, and the FN® MWM Multi Weapon Mount System in particular, can be obtained from the FN Herstal booth, Hall 4, booth 098 in the Belgian pavilion at DSEI exhibition in London, from 12 to 15 September 2023.
30 Aug 23. France Joins Belgian-Dutch Minehunter Program. France has joined the Belgian-Dutch minehunter program, the Belgian and Dutch defense ministers announced on their Twitter/X accounts on Wednesday morning from Toledo, Spain, where EU defense ministers are holding an informal meeting.
French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who posed with his two colleagues for a photograph they used in their announcements, has not yet reacted, and nothing has been posted on the subject on his ministry’s website.
“France is joining the Belgian-Dutch anti-mine naval development program. Welcome! Cooperation in this domain remains crucial to guarantee safe shipping routes and more European strategic autonomy. Our operational cooperation and interoperability will benefit from it,” Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder tweeted from Toledo.
This development is not totally unexpected, as France announced in October 2022 that it would join the program, with an initial order due this year.
The three countries’ navies presently operate the same minehunters, built in the 1980s under the Tripartite Minehunter program. While Belgium and the Netherlands jointly launched a replacement progam, France had not yet committed to the replacement of its own Tripartite ships, known as the Eridan-class.
“Today, France signed to join the Dutch-Belgian project to replace our mine countermeasures vessels. The joint development of these innovative ships is an example for the future of European defence cooperation. The war in Ukraine underlines the importance of this maritime capability,” Dutch Defense Minister Ollongren tweeted.
The Belgian-Dutch program is managed by Belgium Naval & Robotics – a joint venture between two French companies, Naval Group and ECA Group – which was awarded a contract in 2019 to build twelve minehunters and their drone systems for the Belgian and Royal Netherlands Navies. The program will run for over 10 years.
Six ships will be delivered to the Belgian Navy and six to the Royal Netherlands Navy with a first delivery scheduled for 2024. They will be equipped with complete drone systems supplied by ECA Group containing a total of more than eighty underwater, surface and aerial drones entirely dedicated to mine countermeasures operations. It is not yet known how many ships France will procure.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/)
29 Aug 23. Pentagon’s Shyu to discuss missile defense partnerships with Australia. The Pentagon’s chief technology officer will meet with Australian defense officials next month to discuss opportunities for integrated air and missile defense capabilities.
Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu and Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante visited Australia this summer to talk about opportunities for the two countries to collaborate. Speaking Aug. 29 at the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies for Defense conference in Washington, Shyu said the visit started a conversation between the two countries about how they might work together on air and missile defense projects.
“We’re going to start fleshing out details,” she told reporters during the conference.
Shyu didn’t divulge those details, but said she’s had conversations with the U.S. Army and Missile Defense Agency about collaboration opportunities on the Integrated Battle Command System, which will play an important role in connecting sensors and shooters for air and missile defense in Guam. The Army is the acquisition lead for the effort and is working with MDA to get the first wave of equipment for the architecture to the island in 2024. Northrop Grumman is developing the system.
“There’s significant interest from MDA and the Army, so the next steps is bringing the Australians in to figure out at what level do we integrate our system,” she said.
Australia’s Department of Defence is in the midst of its own effort to develop an integrated air and missile defense capability, the Joint Air Battle Management System. The agency on Aug. 28 selected Lockheed Martin as its “strategic partner” on the program, awarding the company a contract worth $765m Australian dollars ($491m) — overlooking Northrop, which had offered its IBCS solution.
More broadly, the country in April unveiled its new Defence Strategic Review, which emphasizes the need to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. It also makes a pivot from a hefty pursuit of vehicles and howitzers to procuring more missiles. The review singles out a need for an enhanced integrated air and missile defense system.
AUKUS announcement
Beyond missile defense, Shyu’s team has also been crafting a plan for technology partnerships with Australia and the U.K. through the trilateral security agreement known as AUKUS. The effort has two pillars: the first is focused on nuclear-powered submarines and the second centers on building deeper cooperation on advanced defense technology.
Few details on the structure or content of Pillar Two have been released, but it is expected to include technology areas like autonomy, AI, hypersonics and quantum.
Shyu said she anticipates an announcement from President Biden on the details of Pillar Two this fall, and in the meantime, she has submitted a proposal for inclusion in the agreement that would emphasize a “portfolio approach” to technology collaboration among the allies.
“The path that I proposed is linking back together to show a portfolio of capabilities,” she said.
Asked whether other countries might participate in Pillar Two, Shyu said the three governments need time to refine their own agreements before adding more partners.
“Each additional . . . country you’re bringing in, that means you’ve got to share the technology,” she said. “You have to have the network to be able to share so it doesn’t leak to your adversaries’ hands. It just complicates things a lot. So, give us time to show success first via AUKUS.” (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
29 Aug 23. 3M settles veteran hearing-loss lawsuits for $6bn. More than 300,000 hearing-loss complaints were submitted about earplugs that allegedly failed to protect veterans from hearing loss. Manufacturing giant 3M will pay $6bn to resolve hundreds of thousands of claims brought by veterans who said earplugs made by the company failed to protect them from hearing loss during their service, according to a company announcement.
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The payout resolves one of the largest mass torts in U.S. history. Plaintiffs said earplugs made by the company were faulty and caused them to develop hearing loss or tinnitus, which is a continuous ringing or buzzing sound in the ears.
The company arrived at the settlement without an admission of liability, according to its Tuesday announcement. The company said its earplugs “are safe and effective when used properly” and that it is prepared to continue to defend itself through litigation “if certain terms of the settlement agreement are not fulfilled.”
The case emerged from a 2016 whistleblower lawsuit filed on behalf of the U.S. government, which claimed that the manufacturer knew its earplugs, called the CAEv2, did not work as safely as it claimed. The U.S. military purchased the earplugs from 2003 until 2015, and in 2008, 3M acquired the company that made the earplugs.
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Last year, the acquired company, Aearo, filed for bankruptcy as a separate company, accepting responsibility for claims. But a judge tossed the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, according to media reports.
The case resolves another legal headache for 3M, a sprawling conglomerate that makes hundreds of products spanning dozens of industries.
Its coatings and sealants figure in numerous industrial supply chains, while its medical and orthodontic divisions make commonly used stethoscopes, as well as the preformed crowns that dentists use in root canals. Its N95 and KN95 masks became ubiquitous during the coronavirus pandemic.
In June 3M agreed to pay $10.4bn over 13 years to fund public water suppliers that have detected perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS and called forever chemicals because they don’t break down in the environment. Plaintiffs numbering in the thousands alleged that chemicals in the company’s consumer products could cause cancer, lower fertility, birth defects and other health problems. The company did not admit liability in that settlement.
3M stock jumped 5.2 percent Monday after news of a potential settlement surfaced in the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News. Some analysts had expected the litigation to cost the company between $10 bn and $15 bn, according to the Journal.
The settlement is to be paid out over a six-year period starting in 2023. It includes $5bn in cash and $1bn in stock. (Source: Washington Post)
28 Aug 23. Rheinmetall, Diehl, and Hensoldt working group submits BAFO for Bundeswehr V/SHORAD system. The Rheinmetall Electronics, Diehl Defence, and Hensoldt Sensors Arbeitsgemeinschaft (ARGE) Nah- und Nächstbereichsschutz (NNbS) short- and very short-range air defence (V/SHORAD) working group submitted its best and final offer (BAFO) to the Bundeswehr on 9 August, Oliver Hoffmann, Rheinmetall’s head of press and public relations, announced during a briefing for German-speaking defence journalists in Bonn on 24 August. (Source: Janes)
29 Aug 23. Germany: The European Sky Shield Initiative Leaves Many Issues Unresolved? After the United States on August 17 green-lighted the sale to Germany of the Arrow-3 anti-missile system, many issues remain unsettled, but three questions are more important than others.
Three burning questions
First, the issue of co-operation among members of the ESSI. So far, the club of 19 countries is more a buyer’s club of the IRIS-T-SLM middle-range air defence system. The new training centre of Todendorf, set-up by Diehl defence for the Lutfwaffe, will be extended to the other members of the club. This initiative is similar to other ones entering into the NATO’s Framework Nations Concepts: a pool of buyers of German systems agree to train together using one of the centres of excellence in Germany, enhancing NATO specific capabilities. But will this procurement pool transform itself into a defensive alliance in air defence systems? If yes, how will this alliance exchange information with three members – Austria, Switzerland, and (for nos) Sweden – are not members of NATO?
Second, the purchase of the Arrow-3 will remain a German-only investment. No other European country seems to have a similar project, as it is too expensive and too sensitive. How will this US-Israeli ATBM system be shared with the other ESSI members? The firing sequence being too short for a joint decision, how will Germany deal with missile threats outside of its airspace? So far, Germany has not signed any defence agreements with the 18 other members of ESSI to settle this crucial issue. Another question is whether Germany is free to sign such treaties, given the U.S control over its purchase and use? This “supreme shield” is strangely similar to the French deterrence: useful for all, but under strict national control and use…
Third, the interoperability with other ATMB systems: NATO has already deployed the SM-6 AEGIS Ashore interceptors in Poland (Redzikowo) and in Romania (Deveselu), which are nearing initial operational capability. How will the Arrow-3 and the SM-6 be coordinated in terms of firing sequences? Will France, UK and Italy’s competing ATBM interceptor – the very capable Aster 30 B1NT- interact with these two ATBM systems?
In the French doctrine, air defence – even against ballistic missiles – is strictly limited to point-defence: the role of the deterrence is strategic not tactical. On the contrary, German conventional ATBM systems – i.e., Arrow – are here to avoid the use of nuclear weapons as long as possible.
A rational purchase, really?
So far, the German Cabinet has refused to be specific on these issues: in its written answer (20/6218) of the 27th of March, it avoided making clear statements about whether Arrow-3 is also intended to protect other states, or about the needed coordination among NATO-and non-NATO members of its ESSI. Of course, agreements of this kind are certainly not discussed in public forums, but the impression left by German attitude so far is rather more a diplomatic coup on European scale than a rationale strategy.
Designed to counter to the threat of Iranian medium-range and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, the Arrow 3 system is capable of intercepting ballistic missiles in the exo-atmospheric domain, i.e. beyond 100 km altitude and in theory offers a perfect capability against both medium-range and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. But Russia does not own such missiles, being limited to ICMBs & SLMBMs (Bulava) and SRBMs (Iskander, Kinzhal). Russian authorities seem to prefer the development of hypersonic systems instead.
Countering such threats is not the main capability of the Arrow-3 but of the future Arrow-4, which has been in development since 2021. So, what is the real added-value of the Arrow 3 for Germany? It is very surprising that nobody inside the Budget and Defence committees of the Bundestag has dared to ask this simple question. That is the $3.5bn question… (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/)
28 Aug 23. ‘Bring it’: Adm. Aquilino open to greater directed-energy trials. The U.S. commander in the Indo-Pacific is interested in more widely experimenting with and deploying directed-energy weapons designed to zap electronics or incinerate incoming threats.
Navy Adm. John Aquilino, who leads the China-focused Indo-Pacific Command, on Aug. 28 said he is “certainly looking for asymmetric advantages” and that industry should “bring it.”
“I’m very encouraged by the high-energy laser capability that’s being experimented with and utilized,” Aquilino said at the NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense conference, held blocks from the White House in Washington. “There’s a few of them on a couple of our ships, to be able to blind, dazzle and kill.”
The U.S. and other nations have for decades pursued directed-energy weapons, capable of taking out targets at the speed of light. The Pentagon for the past three years has spent an average $1 bn on development; it requested at least $669 m in fiscal 2023 for unclassified research, testing and evaluation and at least $345 m for unclassified procurement, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The weapons come mainly in two forms: high-energy laser and high-power microwave. The former focuses a beam or beams of energy to blind, cut or inflict heat damage on a target. The latter unleashes waves of energy that fry or overwhelm electronic components.
The Navy in the past adopted Lockheed Martin’s High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance, or HELIOS, and the in-house Optical Dazzling Interdictor Navy, or ODIN, to tackle drones, small boats and intelligence-gathering systems. Both have been installed aboard destroyers.
Other services are tinkering with directed energy, as well. The Army in January tapped Epirus for prototypes of its high-power microwave kit known as Leonidas. The deal was worth $66 m. It also used Lockheed’s Mobile Radio Frequency-Integrated UAS Suppressor, or MORFIUS, to take out drones in a June demonstration.
“The key is about acceleration,” Aquilino said Monday. “If that capability exists, and we can deliver in 18 to 24 months, I’m ready to plug it in. I’m ready to experiment with it tomorrow. I’ve got the largest test range on the globe.”
Aquilino’s remit includes China and North Korea, as well as allies Australia, Japan and South Korea. The Indo-Pacific is home to more than half the world’s population, some of its biggest ports and a handful of its largest militaries. (Source: Defense News)
29 Aug 23. Japan to Design New Missile for Next-Gen Fighter Jets: Source. Japan plans to design a new missile for next-generation fighter jets it is developing with Britain and Italy, aiming to equip them with it when they are first deployed in the Asian nation in 2035, a source familiar with the matter said Monday.
A study involving Japan and Britain on what would be fit for new fighter jets to be used by Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force showed that a home-grown air-to-air missile would initially ensure better performance at a lower cost than the European-developed air-to-air Meteor missile, according to the source.
In the future, however, Japan may consider equipping its new fighters with missiles that are used for British and Italian warplanes to improve their capabilities, the source said.
The launch of the joint fighter jet project was announced last December by the leaders of Japan, a close U.S. security ally, and the two NATO members amid an increasingly severe security environment including Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and China’s military buildup.
It is the first time Japan has engaged in defense equipment development with a nation other than the United States.
Currently, the three countries are working on the basic design of the aircraft body and engine details. To streamline the development process, they are holding talks to set up a body to implement decisions made by their defense authorities, according to the source. (end of excerpt)
(Click here for the full story, on the Kyodo News website: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/08/f639a00ce003-japan-to-design-new-missile-for-next-gen-fighter-jets-source.html )
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Kyodo News)
29 Aug 23. DASA funded innovation gives old body armour a second life.
Military Veteran-run, green tech start-up has developed innovative technology to recycle the materials in body armour with the help of DASA funding
- With the help of DASA funding, Uplift360 has created an eco-friendly, low-energy method of recycling fibres that are used in body armour.
- Their innovation uses sustainable chemicals to turn waste para-aramid fibres into a liquid, this liquid can be spun back into a high performance material, with very similar characteristics to virgin material. Through this recycling process, high value materials can be put back into the supply chain.
- By following circular materials practices and utilising low-energy recycling technologies, this breakthrough could lead to a reduction in Co2 emissions, strengthen vulnerable supply chains, and provide substantial cost savings for Defence by preserving valuable and expensive body armour materials.
Body armour is a vital capability used to save lives and protect soldiers on the battlefield, designed to reduce the impact of small arms fire and blast fragmentation. However, body armour has a shelf life of around 5 years, because of the natural breakdown of para-aramid fibres (commercial names include Kevlar®, Twaron®, etc) that are used in body armour manufacturing.
Currently, when body armour expires, it is incinerated, resulting in the loss of valuable para-aramid fibres, estimated to be 85 times more expensive than steel. Para-aramid fibres are also found in other parts of defence, including airplanes, land vehicles, uniforms, and helmets.
The MoD released its Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy in March 2021, which noted a requirement to build circular economy principles into defence, by minimising wastefulness and considering the disposal and environmental impact of materials. Due to the high cost of manufacturing body armour (with each unit costing up to £3000), there is a clear need for more effective material preservation practices. The Defence Supply Chain Strategy released in 2022 also recognised the need to secure critical supply chains as part of defence support.
Introducing Uplift360: Circular economic practices for body armour material
Veteran-run, green-tech start up, Uplift360, recognised the opportunity to improve the methods used to dispose body armour. They have devised a method that allows para-aramid fibres to be recycled while preserving their original strength, enabling their reuse in defence materials with the potential for dual and multi-use application across sectors.
Funded through the DASA Open Call in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the innovation uses environmentally friendly, recyclable solvents to dissolve para-aramids into a concentrated solution so they can be reformed into like-new fibres. The system utilises a wet-spinning approach, where the aramid material is passed through a syringe into a bath of the eco-friendly solvents, and a rotating device is used to “re-spin” the fibres back to structural uniformity. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/ Kyodo News;)
28 Aug 23. AFCENT Special Operations Task Group Prepares JASSM Capabilities. U.S. Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) service members demonstrated the capability for the MC-130J Commando II to load, unload, forward arm, and arm the aircraft with the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, or AGM-158 JASSMs, as part of Rapid Dragon, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Aug. 6, 2023.
JASSM is a low observable standoff air-launched cruise missile, intended to keep aircrews out of range of hostile air defense systems without compromising lethality. Rapid Dragon is a precision munitions capability for medium-sized or larger cargo aircraft that allows U.S. forces a flexible rapid response option.
“We are demonstrating the capability for the MC-130, which is a special operations C-130 Super Hercules, to load, unload, and if it should become necessary — arm the aircraft with the JASSM,” said Maj. Anthony Belviso, Special Operations Task Group – Central operations director. “We practiced loading the JASSM collocated with the aircraft, to ensure our processes are in place, in the event to forward arm for the F-16 Fighting Falcons or any of the bomber at a forward location, we can do that quickly and effectively.”
While service members conduct ground static training and stand ready for forward rearming and Rapid Dragon employment, every detail, to include the ground movements and loading procedures, must be practiced to keep maintenance and crews ready at all times.
“Guaranteeing precise logistics is the basis of any mission execution, particularly in high-risk fields such as Aircraft Maintenance and Weapons employment,” said Capt. Paris Krula, AFCENT A4 FWD logistics liaison officer. “Exercising this muscle daily by training and equipping our members with the tools required ensures no fail missions can be executed seamlessly, at any time from any place.”
The Rapid Dragon palletized munitions system is capable of deploying long-range cruise missiles using standard airdrop procedures from cargo aircraft like the MC-130J operated by AFSOC. U.S. military and its coalition partners are poised and ready to respond to any aggression in the region. Our regional partnership and our commitment is to protect and defend toward the goal of a secure and stable Middle East.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/USAF)
28 Aug 23. Poland MND finalises offset agreements for PAC-3 WISLA Phase II. Valued at $242m, the agreements have been signed with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) has signed offset agreements for elements of medium-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, under the WISLA Phase II programme.
The agreements have been signed with US-based defence contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
It has an estimated value of approximately PLN1bn ($241.36m).
As part of this agreement, the two US companies will support Poland’s defence industrial base by ensuring that the Polish industry can provide service, repair and production facilities related to WISŁA system domestically.
The major elements included under WISŁA system are Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles and Lower Tier Air and Missile Defence Sensor (LTAMDS) radar.
According to the Polish MND, another crucial aspect of the new agreement is the inclusion of Polish industry partners in the group of “certified suppliers” for US-based companies.
As per a Lockheed Martin’s media release, the Polish offset companies included in this programme are PGZ (Warsaw), PCO (Warsaw), WZL-1 (Deblin), WZL-2 (Bydgoszcz) and Mesko (Skarzysko-Kamienna).
Lockheed Martin Poland, Central and East Europe director Robert Orzylowski said: “Our partnership with Polish industrial base and MND is providing real economic prosperity to local communities across Poland and delivering critical security assets to Polish armed forces.
“This work also boosts critical skills needed to develop national industrial capability and expertise for future.”
The latest effort further aims to modernise and strengthen the Polish Army’s defence equipment and capabilities to counter the rising threats from Russia’s “aggressive” policy.
Poland National Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said: “Experience from the war in Ukraine shows that air and missile defence is very important.
“I am therefore very pleased that after five years we can once again finalise offset agreements which precede the next phase of our cooperation with regard to acquiring further batteries of the Patriot system for the equipment of the Polish Armed Forces.”
In 2019, Northrop Grumman received a contract from the US Army to produce integrated air and missile defence battle command system for Poland under WISLA Phase-I programme. (Source: army-technology.com)
28 Aug 23. North Korea Converts Old Soviet Fighters into Kamikaze Drones. According to a statement made by a former intelligence agent, North Korea has initiated a military modernization program. This initiative, as reported by The Korea Times, is said to involve the repurposing of hundreds of antiquated fighter jets into kamikaze drones.
Choe Su-Yong, a former operative of the National Intelligence Service [NIS], has been reported to assert,
“These unmanned suicide drones are intended to target and strike at the heart of South Korea’s primary industrial and infrastructure installations.”
In the realm of military and political affairs, it has been divulged by a credible agent that North Korea, in a strategically significant move, is endeavoring to repurpose Soviet-era warplanes. The intent behind this maneuver is to transform these aviation relics into state-of-the-art, precision-guided kamikaze drones, thereby amplifying their warfare capabilities.
In stark contrast to conventional military drones, which are remotely piloted and capable of returning to their base post-deployment of ordinance, suicide drones are engineered with a singular, terminal purpose: to strike and subsequently detonate. Depending on the model, these so-called ‘kamikaze’ drones can be equipped with an assortment of explosive payloads and missiles.
“Indeed, it has been a considerable duration during which the South Korean military has been diligently preparing to counteract this type of military menace,” the agent elucidated.
According to an assessment by the esteemed US Defense Intelligence Agency, it is estimated that the military arsenal of North Korea boasts more than 900 combat aircraft. However, it is noteworthy to mention that a significant proportion of these aircraft are bereft of modern technology, rendering them conspicuously outmoded.
In the year 1950, it is widely believed that the Soviets introduced approximately 750 aircraft models. Among these, around 400 are speculated to be of the MiG-15 variant, while the remaining 350 are considered to be the MiG-17, -19, and -21 series. (Source: UAS VISION/Bulgarian Military)
25 Aug 23. Saab Showcases Missile System on Oshkosh Vehicle at DSEI. Saab will showcase a missile system on an Oshkosh vehicle at the DSEI exhibition. The purpose is to demonstrate the possibility to integrate the missile-equipped RBS 70 NG Mobile Firing Unit (MFU) with Saab’s ultra-rugged tactical electronics, low-latency video distribution system and the Barracuda Mobile Camouflage System onto the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). Come to Saab’s stand H7-210 at DSEI to learn more.
The aim is to address the growing requirements for mobile air defence and strengthen land users’ capabilities to meet these current and future challenges. Saab’s industry-leading MFU uses the RBS 70 NG missile system with its unjammable laser guided missiles, which provide threats with little forewarning and even less means for countermeasures.
The fully integrated multispectral Barracuda Mobile Camouflage System conceals the vehicle while also allowing the JLTV’s rapid deployment against air-based targets when needed.
“We are now offering the most modern mobile air defence solution, which is a perfect match with our existing multispectral camouflage capabilities on the JLTV vehicle. We are ready to support Oshkosh’s current customers as well as offering this to new users,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.
The Saab-provided tactical electronics and low-latency video distribution system aid the crew through increased situational awareness of the battlefield.
A partnership between Saab and Oshkosh Defense was announced in June 2022, focused on the fully integrated solution of Saab’s Barracuda Mobile Camouflage System (MCS) onto the JLTV.
Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/saab)
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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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