18 May 22. New rounds, new small arms make special operators’ firepower wish list. Special operators say the next machine gun should deliver the power, range and accuracy of a .50 caliber in the size of a platoon-level M240 machine gun.
That .338 Norma Magnum Lightweight Medium Machine Gun, to put it lightly, is a “big advancement” in small arms for spec ops, one expert said.
The initiative launched back in 2017 and, in the ensuing years, two companies, Sig Sauer and General Dynamics, have primarily been vying for the contract.
A lieutenant colonel over Special Operations Forces’ lethality program for Special Operations Command shared details of this and other small arms programs during his presentation Tuesday at the SOF Industry Conference held here by the National Defense Industrial Association.
Due to media ground rules, officials at the rank of O5 and below are not identified by name due to the operational nature of their work with SOCOM.
The General Dynamics Lightweight Medium Machine Gun is in .338mm Norma Magnum and is being considered by Special Operations Command to replace the M240 7.62mm machine gun. (General Dynamics)
“This is basically going to give us firepower, not exactly, of a .50 caliber in a M240 form factor,” the official said. “It is a big advancement in SOF lethality and there are going to be a lot of accoutrements.”
The current M240 machine gun is chambered in 7.62mm NATO. It’s a round that’s been in service for more than half a century and has seen many advancements but, most experts agree, has reached the limits of its potential for range and lethality.
The Marine Corps and the Army recently added a multi-barrel sniper rifle that can shoot 7.62mm, .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum, Marine Corps Times reported.
The official said the command is still working through the competition, but expects delivery of the machine gun by fiscal 2024.
Sig Sauer offered the Sig Sauer Lightweight Machine Gun, or SLMG, a 20-pound, foldable stock machine gun designed to be fed from either side. That feature allows the weapon to be used effectively in dismounted, aircraft or ground vehicle operations.
And the Sig Sauer version allows for an adjustable gas block that matches pressure requirements for a variety of suppressors.
In 2019, Sig Sauer defense product manager Cory McQuilkin told Army Times the suppressor add-on hadn’t changed the weapon’s rate of fire, a previous concern with these types of systems.
Every small arm option now factors in suppressors.
In 2017, Sig Sauer won the sidearm replacement contract for all of the services with the Modular Handgun System program. It also won the carbine and squad machine gun weapon replacement contract earlier this year for the Next Generation Squad Weapon program.
General Dynamics touts that at ranges out to 1,000m, its weapon combo can penetrate Level III body armor and knock out soft-skinned vehicles.
The M338, a .338mm Norma Magnum machine gun made by Sig Sauer, completed safety testing recently and is under limited user evaluation by special operations troops. (Sig Sauer)
Another ongoing small arms replacement is the Mid-Range Gas Gun, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor.
That weapon will come a bit earlier, expected to begin deliveries this year, according to slides the official displayed.
The next step for the gas gun is creating an assault variant, useful for airborne operations and close-quarters fighting in built-up areas.
For both weapons, the key add-ons will be “accoutrements,” the official said. That means optics, accessories to strap onto the weapon and, most importantly, new types of ammo.
He said forces want armor-piercing rounds, training rounds and “something that acts like a tracer.”
The services have been after a “one-way tracer” for years now. That’s because when a shooter fires a tracer, the light emitted can be seen from both sides. That’s helpful for a shooter “walking in rounds” on a target with others firing in their formation. But it works both ways, meaning the enemy can see where they’re shooting from and target them accordingly. (Source: Defense News)
19 May 22. Colombia to buy 12 French-made Caesar howitzers.
Colombia has selected Nexter’s Caesar howitzer as part of an effort to modernize its Army’s field artillery capabilities, with negotiations beginning for a first batch of four, worth about $35m, military sources in Bogota told Defense News on condition of anonymity due to security reasons.
The French-made six-wheel drive, 155mm howitzer was shortlisted in late 2021, with the Army selecting it earlier this month, followed by the government accepting the decision and authorizing the start of negotiations. The Defense Ministry declined to comment for this story.
The 155mm/52-calibre weapon can fire a wide range of ammunition, including LU, BONUS, ERFB NR and KATANA; the LU munition provides a range of 4.5-40 kilometers (2.796-24.85 miles).
The Caesar underwent a demonstration in Colombia in 2011. As a result, Nexter was invited by the Army to submit bids for the sale of up to 12 howitzers, with the order of the first batch of six scheduled for 2014.
However, political and fiscal troubles caused the postponement of purchasing plans. Acquisition efforts were revived in 2019 and, according to sources, are to include the procurement of up to 12 Caesar howitzers, but spread across three batches of four each.
The acquisition is part of the country’s effort to modernize and to increase its conventional military capabilities for countering insurgencies and drug trafficking. As part of that effort, seven of the 13 General Dynamics European Land Systems 155/52 APU SBT towed howitzers in Colombia’s inventory were recently refurbished and modernized.
The modernization program has also included integration of the NELI positioning and targeting system from Spain’s Star Defence Logistics and Engineering. A version of the NELI, tailored to Colombia’s needs and conditions, was developed jointly with local firm Dynamic Trading Solutions. NELI is used with Colombia’s 105mm guns and 120mm mortars, and will be integrated with the Caesar.
The Army has also acquired sophisticated mobile artillery simulators to support field training. American firm Force Improvement has provided four units since 2020, and a fifth was ordered in late 2021, although the cost was not revealed.
Fitted inside truck containers measuring 120 meters (393.7 feet) long, the mobile technology allows for the full control of training and exercises, simulating various environments and weather conditions as well as a wide range of munitions, resulting in more intense and higher-quality training at a fraction of the cost of live exercises.
(Source: Defense News)
19 May 22. India conducts maiden flight test of indigenous naval anti-ship missile. The missile system will strengthen the Indian Navy’s offensive capabilities. The Indian Navy and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have successfully conducted the first flight test of the naval anti-ship missile. The missile is also the Indian Navy’s first indigenously developed air launched anti-ship missile system.
The maiden flight test was conducted at Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha, India on 18 May. It was witnessed by senior officials of the Indian Navy and DRDO.
During the test, a naval anti-ship missile was released from an Indian Navy helicopter. It followed the desired sea skimming trajectory to hit the designated target.
According to the Indian Navy, all the stipulated objectives were fulfilled with high precision.
In addition, performance of the missile’s sub-systems was satisfactory.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said: “India attained a high level of capability in the indigenous design and development of missile systems.”
The test also validated mission algorithms and various capabilities of anti-ship missile including guidance, control and accuracy.
All the events during missile launch, including the tracking of missile trajectory, were captured using the sensors deployed at the test range and at near impact points.
DRDO chairman Dr G Satheesh Reddy also lauded the efforts of the Naval Flight Test Squadron, the Indian Navy and associated teams for the mission success.
The naval anti-ship missile features various latest technologies such as a home grown launcher for the helicopter.
Furthermore, the guidance system equipped in the missile system also included integrated avionics and navigation system. (Source: naval-technology.com)
19 May 22. QinetiQ, Inzpire support HMS Lancaster’s ‘Sharpshooter’ lethality training. The scenario aimed to improve lethality and agility across multiple warfare domains. QinetiQ and Inzpire have successfully delivered a live firing anti-surface warfare training scenario for the UK Royal Navy’s (RN) Duke-class Type 23 frigate, HMS Lancaster.
The scenario, which accompanied the warship’s Exercise Sharpshooter 22 (EXSS 22) training, was delivered in collaboration with the RN’s Fleet Operational Sea Training (FOST).
It was carried out at QinetiQ’s T3E Range at the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) Aberporth, the base for testing air-launched weapons and systems.
The exercise allowed personnel to use live ammunition from close and medium-range weapons against remotely controlled dynamic surface vessels and stationary targets.
Inzpire Maritime Division head Nick Borbone said: “Inzpire was delighted to support FOST and work with QinetiQ to generate realistic scenarios which accompanied HMS Lancaster’s ‘Sharpshooter’ enhanced lethality training.
“By developing and delivering dynamically managed training vignettes, Inzpire provided an immersive tactical wrapper, which allowed the ship’s team the freedom to operate weapon systems against QinetiQ’s array of targets thereby enabling them to more effectively train as they would fight.”
The initial two days of EXSS 22 evaluated the Type 23 frigate’s operational abilities to use gunnery systems against stationary targets along with other enemy interactions from coastal defence cruise missile and maritime patrol aircraft.
The scenario involved several time-sensitive tactical dilemmas which were made for practicing the ability to quickly prioritise and engage high-threat targets moving at real-world speed.
The complexity of the scenario was increased on the last day. HMS Lancaster was required to respond and manage multiple targets using its live ammunition and weapon systems.
The targets included synthetic coastal defence cruise missile attacks, fast inshore attack craft and maritime patrol aircraft.
EXSS 22 was also supported by Maritime Capability Trials and Assessment (MCTA) team, 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery andv148 (Meiktila) Commando Forward Observation Battery. (Source: naval-technology.com)
19 May 22. PGZ and MBDA sign agreement on Brimstone tank destroyers. Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and MBDA UK announced in a press release on 16 May that they had signed an agreement to co-operate on the design and production of tank destroyers armed with Brimstone anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). Under the agreement, which follows on from one signed in 2019 on co-operation between the two companies, PGZ and MBDA will integrate Brimstone into a Polish tank destroyer squadron module.
The new agreement also covers foreign markets as well as foreseeing Brimstone production in PGZ facilities. PGZ CEO Sebastian Chwałek said, “As a result of Polish-British co-operation, a joint offer will be made to the Polish Armed Forces and allied forces; our companies will also enter supply chains.”
MBDA UK managing director Chris Allam added, “By deepening our co-operation around Brimstone, we will jointly support the development of Poland’s military and industrial capabilities and enhance the strategic ambition of our companies.” (Source: Janes)
17 May 22. USS Montgomery LCS completes first land attack missile exercise. The ability to conduct maritime strikes will allow LCS to conduct amphibious and expeditionary warfare missions. The US Navy’s Independence-class littoral combat ship (LCS), USS Montgomery (LCS 8), has successfully completed the first land attack missile exercise.
The missile exercise marks the first proof-of-concept launch of AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missile. It was conducted on 12 May.
During the exercise, three Longbow Hellfire sea-based missiles were fired from a surface-to-surface mission module (SSMM), aboard USS Montgomery, to strike a land-based target situated miles away.
USS Montgomery commanding officer commander Dustin Lonero said: “This test proved the critical next step in increasing lethality of the littoral combat ship.
“Using our speed and shallow draft, we are now uniquely optimised to bring this level of firepower extremely close to shore in support of our warfighters and operators on the beach.”
The exercise was also supported by Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 operating MQ-8C Fire Scout uncrewed helicopter. The MQ-8C remained airborne and provided advanced bomb hit assessment capability to the LCS.
Commissioned in 1998, the Longbow Hellfire missile was initially designed as the US Army’s anti-tank weapon.
The AGM-114L missile’s capabilities, such as semi-active laser guidance and all-weather millimetre-wave sensing, were later proven efficient against the maritime threats.
In 2019, Longbow Hellfire missile was originally used by the Independence and Freedom LCS variants to demonstrate its capability to defeat various fast attack craft or fast inshore attack craft (FAC/FIAC).
The LCS variants can carry around 24 missiles each.
A fast, mission-focused platform, LCS can operate in near-shore environments and perform various missions including deterrence, forward presence, maritime security and sea control. (Source: naval-technology.com)
16 May 22. USAF Conducts Successful Hypersonic Weapon Test.
A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress successfully released an AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, off the Southern California coast, May 14. Following separation from the aircraft, the ARRW’s booster ignited and burned for expected duration, achieving hypersonic speeds five times greater than the speed of sound.
“This was a major accomplishment by the ARRW team, for the weapons enterprise, and our Air Force,” said Brig. Gen. Heath Collins, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Weapons. “The team’s tenacity, expertise, and commitment were key in overcoming the past year’s challenges to get us to the recent success. We are ready to build on what we’ve learned and continue moving hypersonics forward.”
The 419th Flight Test Squadron and the Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force, or GPB CTF, both at Edwards Air Force Base, California, executed the test.
“The test team made sure we executed this test flawlessly,” said Lt. Col. Michael Jungquist, 419th FLTS commander and GPB CTF director. “Our highly-skilled team made history on this first air-launched hypersonic weapon. We’re doing everything we can to get this game-changing weapon to the warfighter as soon as possible.”
ARRW is designed to enable the U.S. to hold fixed, high-value, time-sensitive targets at risk in contested environments from stand-off distances. It will also expand precision-strike capabilities by enabling rapid response strikes against heavily defended land targets. (Source: ASD Network)
16 May 22. Sound and fury from Russia as super-heavy Sarmat far from ready. For all the bombastic talk from Russian President about the hitting power of the new RS-28 Sarmat ‘super heavy’ ICBM, observers are highly sceptical that it will enter service in 2023 as claimed. Russia publicised a test of its RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on 20 April amid its invasion of Ukraine, but industry observers think that accompanying statements of its readiness are optimistic to say the least. The 208t RS-28 has been under development by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau since 2009 as a replacement for the R-36M ICBM (SS-18 ‘Satan’). In the 20 April test, according to the Russian MoD, the ICBM blasted off from the Pesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, and a dummy warhead aboard Sarmat hit its intended target. (Source: News Now/Shephard)
16 May 22. RAFAEL Unveils the AEROSPIKE Missile at SOFIC 2022. As part of the 2022 Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems unveils AEROSPIKE, a new advanced air-to-surface Stand-Off Precision Guided Missile (SOPGM) for fixed-wing airborne platforms. AEROSPIKE is a state-of-the-art, next generation EO/IR SOPGM system, designed to meet the needs of complex modern warfare. It is light-weight, high precision (CEP ≤ 3 ft), and offers an significant stand-off range of 30 km, all within a contested environment, independent of GPS.
Vice President Mr. Alon Shlomi, Director of RAFAEL’s Air-to-Surface Directorate: “We believe the AEROSPIKE can enhance the precision, lethality, and survivability of future SOCOM AOW [Armed Overwatch] squadrons, providing the Air Force Special Operations Command an advanced tactical CAS solution while keeping the warfighter out of harm’s way. Today’s battle arena is saturated with portable air defense threats – like MANPADs – that require CAS elements to operate with greater precision and longer ranges; that is precisely what AEROSPIKE brings to the modern battlefield.”
16 May 22. Polish pick MBDA’s Brimstone missile for their new fleet of tank-busting vehicles. The British arm of pan-European missile maker MBDA has struck an agreement with the Polish military to provide its Brimstone missile for a new fleet of tank busters being developed by a local industrial consortium led by PGZ. The deal comes just weeks after MBDA UK concluded a separate deal with Warsaw to accelerate the delivery of a new ground-based air defense system.
The announcement that the Brimstone anti-tank missile will provide the cutting edge for the Polish vehicle program known as the Ottokar Brzoza came on the same day that PGZ named the members of the industrial consortium set to design and produce the vehicle that will replace the Soviet–era wheeled BRDM-2 currently in service.
Polish munitions company MESKO, which is part of the PGZ-led consortium, already makes components for the Brimstone weapon.
The British have been competing with rival international weapons suppliers for the key part of the weapon system for several years.
Brimstone has been in the news in the last few days after it emerged that Ukrainian troops had been using the British-supplied weapon to destroy Russian armor.
Video footage showed the missile being fired from a truck rapidly adapted to fire a weapon normally used by the British in an air-to-ground role by the Royal Air Force in several conflicts.
Naval, helicopter- and drone-mounted versions of the weapon have also been developed by the British arm of MBDA.
A spokesman for the company said MBDA had been talking with the Poles about possible multiple applications of the weapon but said he was unaware of whether the current agreement for the tank buster vehicle carried provision for other applications.
PGZ chief executive Sebastian Chwalek said in a statement accompanying the announcement that the deal would strengthen cooperation with British industry.
“In difficult times it is good to have partners one can rely on. We are strengthening our cooperation with the UK defense industry. Today’s agreement is another step towards establishing production of the latest generation Brimstone missile in the country,” he said.
It’s the second time in less than a month that PGZ, Poland’s largest defense industrial company, and MBDA UK have made news over a missile cooperation deal.
Britain originally signed a deal last year to supply Poland with MBDA’s Common Anti-air Module Missile (CAMMS) and launcher as its part of an ground-based anti-air program known as NAREW.
But in April the British agreed to accelerate delivery of the first two missile systems to later this year.
PGZ is the lead of an industrial consortium which will see the British elements integrated with locally developed radar and command and control systems.
The original schedule envisaged the weapon being made available in 2027 but the Russian attack on Ukraine, Poland’s neighbor, changed that.
The British Army deployed its own CAMMS based anti-air system, known as Sky Sabre, to Poland earlier this year as a stop gap to boost local air defenses. (Source: Defense News)
16 May 22. Satellite photo shows possible new Chinese nuclear submarine able to launch cruise missiles. A submarine seen in a satellite photo of a Chinese shipyard shows what could be a new class or subtype of a nuclear-powered attack sub with a new stealthy propulsion system and launch tubes for cruise missiles.
The satellite photo of the shipyard at Huludao in Liaoning province, northern China, which was provided to Defense News by Planet Labs, was taken May 3 and shows a submarine on a drydock.
The unidentified boat’s presence at the yard was first noted in an April 29 satellite image by geospatial intelligence outfit AllSource Analysis. The organization said the submarine is possibly a new class undergoing construction by China.
The submarine has two distinct patches of green coloring on its hull immediately behind its conning tower, while a cruciform rudder arrangement and a possible shrouded propulsion system are seen.
A naval expert told Defense News he has “moderately high confidence” the submarine includes a row of vertical launch system cells for submarine-launched missiles and a shroud for pump-jet propulsion.
Collin Koh at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies told Defense News that China has conducted research into submarine pump-jet propulsion, citing previously published scientific literature.
Having submarines capable of launching cruise missiles for land-attack and anti-ship missions fits into China’s pursuit of long-range offensive strike capabilities, he said, adding that these include the capability to target U.S. Navy assets and distant land targets, such as those in Guam, where American forces are based.
If the rectangular section on the submarine, as seen in the satellite photo, is indeed a set of VLS cells, it would be in line with a 2021 Pentagon report on China’s military power that the country was likely building “the Type 093B guided-missile nuclear attack submarine.”
The sighting of the new submarine comes after a model of a nuclear-powered attack submarine bearing the nameplate of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited and fitted with VLS technology as well as pump-jet propulsion appeared online. (China’s two largest shipbuilding conglomerates, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation, merged in November 2019 to create the business.)
The model, which features 18 VLS cells in three rows of six missile tubes behind the boat’s conning tower, was posted on Chinese social media without the shipyard’s plaque in early May. Some speculated this was a development of the Type 093 class tentatively named Type 093B.
The submarine seen in the latest satellite image of Huludao appears to measure up closely to the Type 093′s 110-meter length, indicating it is likely a development of the Type 093 rather than an altogether new class.
The Type 093 is also known as the Shang class; the Pentagon’s report noted the “new Shang class variant will enhance the PLAN’s [People’s Liberation Army Navy’s] anti-surface warfare capability and could provide a clandestine land-attack option if equipped with land-attack cruise missiles (LACMs).”
The Type 093 and the follow-on Type 093A Shang-II-class boats displace about 6,100 tons each when submerged. China has six Type 093s, including the “A” variant. Their commissioning began in 2006, with each successive boat featuring slight differences in sail design and a hump behind the conning tower, whose purpose has yet to be disclosed nor been fully understood. (Source: Defense News)
16 May 22. INVISIO launching the most versatile headset for both in-vehicle and on-foot missions.
Racal Acoustics and INVISIO launch their first joint product solution for the military – the RA5100 Tactical Communication Headset – which combines the technical expertise and operational knowledge of both companies to give users the optimal hearing protection and communication solution for hybrid missions, protecting troops from the most extreme continuous and impulse noise exposure, whether in a vehicle or on foot.
With over 100 years of military hearing protection expertise, Racal Acoustics has designed market leading hearing protection solutions, using its core digital technology and advanced noise reduction technologies to provide the ultimate headset flexibility, allowing users to select the best protection level appropriate to the mission. The new RA5100 offers:
- Digital Active Noise Reduction ANR mode (SNR 30dB) – to maximize noise attenuation from constant high-level noise i.e. when operating in or around vehicles.
- Situational awareness and hear-through mode, including adjustable volume control for extra enhanced hearing in quiet environments, with digital noise compression providing protection from high impulse noises.
- Dual hearing protection mode (SNR 41dB) – for extreme noise environments.
As with all INVISIO and Racal Acoustic products, the headset has been designed with the user as the priority and so it is lightweight, comfortable, waterproof (to 1m) and has a left or right microphone mount. The RA5100 is fully military specification compliant, qualified to MIL-STD-810G and MIL-STD-461F, designed to withstand extreme shock and vibrations and harsh electromagnetic environments.
The new RA5100 has a host of advanced features to ensure mission success, ease of use and reduced life cycle costs. The headset is designed for easy integration with industry leading in-service radios, digital devices such as laptops, smart phones and tablets, and is fully interoperable with the INVISIO product range, and has additional PTT and cable options. The headset can be powered from the attached communications device or used stand-alone powered from one internal AA battery. The advanced digital software optimizes hearing protection to suit the mission, ensures outstanding voice recognition and speech intelligibility and can be upgraded to adapt to changing vehicle noise profiles. Software upgrades also allow new features to be added, increasing service life and lowering whole-life costs.
Rob Harrison – High Noise Headset Product Manager said “The new RA5100 is an excellent example of partnership working, combining the expertise of two industry leading organizations to produce a better product. The modern battlefield is a rapidly changing complex environment and the RA5100 is an extremely versatile tactical headset that can be used across the whole spectrum of combat missions, both mounted in vehicles and on foot. The user can also optimize situational awareness, critical to the detection, recognition and location of enemy threats, leading to improved communication, lethality and survivability.”
13 May 22. IDF testing Edge of Tomorrow technologies to empower infantry.
Israel’s Ministry of Defense’s (MoD’s) Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) and Elbit Systems announced on 10 May a new programme to improve infantry lethality and survivability called Edge of Tomorrow.
Led by Elbit’s C4I and Cyber Systems Division and the DDR&D, the programme is designed to boost “stamina, cognitive load, enemy exposure, performance analysis and simulation, command-and-control, and more among combat soldiers in the IDF’s [Israel Defense Forces’] dismounted corps”, the statement said.
The programme will be based on Elbit’s Torch-X-based battle management applications for teams and platoons. Technologies will be plugged into the open network, such as augmented-reality goggles, computerised assault rifles, digital head-mounted displays, tactile sleeves for navigation and command transmittance, and other technologies. (Source: Janes)
10 May 22. Brazil seeks to complete the development of an anti-ship missile in 2025. Brazil should complete the MANSUP (Míssil Antinavio Nacional de Superfície) anti-ship missile effort during 2025, according to the Navy Materiel General-Directorate (DGMM).
The MANSUP is an all-weather, sea-skimming, fire-and-forget, shipborne-launched surface-to-surface missile featuring transonic speed and mid-range capability against moving targets. It is being developed as part of the Esporão programme of the Navy Weapon Systems Directorate (DSAM), by a team formed by the Brazilian Navy and local companies Fundação Ezute, Avibras, SIATT, and Omnisys.
The third stage of the MANSUP project reached 60% of industrialisation of the guidance, navigation and control system (SGNC), and about 90% of the telemetry system, the DGMM noted during its 29 April update of the programme.
During this year, two MANSUP launches are planned for further qualification tests, in which more than 200 parameters will be monitored in each flight.
One missile prototype, fitted out with a telemetry head, was launched in November 2018 from corvette Cv Barroso (V34) and another two in March and July 2019 from the frigate F Independência (F44), as part of the second stage of the missile development. (Source: Janes)
13 May 22. IAF’s Su-30MKI test fires first extended range version of Brahmos missile. Brahmos can be launched from sea, air, land, and sub-sea against land or sea targets.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft has successfully conducted the first test launch of the extended range version of Brahmos air-launched missile (ALM).
According to the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD), the missile achieved a direct hit on the target in the Bay of Bengal region.
In a statement MoD said: “The launch from the aircraft was as planned and the missile achieved a direct hit on the designated target in the Bay of Bengal region.”
“The dedicated and synergetic efforts of the IAF, Indian Navy, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Brahmos Aerospace (BAPL) and Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) have proven the capability of the nation to achieve this feat.”
With the first successful launch of the extended range version of Brahmos ALM, the IAF is now capable of conducting air strikes from the Su-30MKI aircraft with more accuracy.
The aircraft can now hit the long-range targets precisely on the land or at the sea.
The latest version of the missile offers a high-performance extended range capability when coupled with Su-30MKI aircraft, providing IAF the ability to dominate future threats.
In December last year, the IAF test-fired an air launched version BrahMos supersonic cruise missile off the coast of Odisha, India.
The air launched version of Brahmos integrated on the IAF’s Su-30MKI aircraft was tested for the first time in the Bay of Bengal in 2017.
The missile has already received Fleet Release Clearance (FRC) and can be used by IAF for combat missions. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
13 May 22. Raytheon Missiles & Defense ships first Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor to US Army test range. The first Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, built by Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies business, arrived at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range on April 11th. The radar is the newest air and missile defense sensor for the U.S. Army, providing significantly more capacity and capability against the wide range of advancing threats facing air defenders around the world.
This is the first of six radars planned for delivery to the Army in 2022 and marks the beginning of a series of extensive tests to prove LTAMDS performance and functionality in an operational environment.
“Together with the Army, we set out to build a radar that could detect and defend against complex and evolving threats while reducing the workload on operators – and we’ve done it with LTAMDS,” said Tom Laliberty, president of RMD’s Land Warfare & Air Defense business unit. “LTAMDS provides dramatically more performance against the range of threats, from manned and unmanned aircraft to cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. Air defense forces around the world are taking notice of LTAMDS, with over a dozen countries showing formal interest in acquiring the radar.”
LTAMDS is a 360-degree, Active Electronically Scanned Array radar powered by RMD-manufactured Gallium Nitride, a substance that strengthens the radar’s signal, enhances its sensitivity, and increases its reliability. LTAMDS is designed to operate as a sensor in the U.S. Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System.
LTAMDS, designed specifically for the U.S. Army’s lower tier mission, is the first sensor in a family of radars Raytheon is calling GhostEye®. These sensors can detect otherwise unseen threats at greater distances, higher velocities, and from any direction. Leveraging the advancements of GaN technology and commonality with LTAMDS, Raytheon has separately developed GhostEye MR, a medium-range battlefield radar. (Source: ASD Network)