Sponsored by Galvion
www.galvion.com
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
30 Nov 23. Hanwha all set for MFP. Simon Humphrey, VP strategy & Business Development, Hanwha Aerospace UK updated the audience at the MakeUK Defence Summitt, held at the Millenium Centre, Birmingham, UK yesterday, He confirmed that Hanwha is creating a capacity to build the K9A2 Howitzer with its Team Thunder Partners, Lockheed Martin, Pearson Engineering, Leonardo and Soucy, He also confirmed that Hanwha would use the UK as its industrial base to upgrade existing Northern European customers’ K9A1 systems to K9A2 specification, creating significant economic and job creation in the UK; The K9A2 has a fully automated loading system. He also confirmed that Hanwha is already developing the K9A3 variant which is a 3-vehicle system with one manned and two autonomous howitzers with a 58 calibre canon. K9 developments are spiralled from the ongoing RoK desire to defend its Borders and thus the Training burden is minimal. The AUKUS Agreement between the UK, USA and Australia is also offering opportunities for co-operation as Australia has chosen the Refback APC. Hanwha UK’s operations would broaden to include other opportunities such as Redback to replace the Warrior APC. Hanwa is also looking at other opportunities such as STEM and Apprenticeships. The MFP RfP is expected in the First Quarter of 2024 and will include both wheels and tracks, with the Rheinmetall 8×8 MAN-based solution believed to be favoured as a solution given the reported issues of growth reported for exiting 6×6 solutions such as Caesar with the Boxer RCH155 also in the frame. Sweden is believed to be gifting a further 18 Archer 6×6 systems to Ukraine and transitioning to the Archer 8×8 chassis in 2027 under the new contract announced in September. BAE Systems signed a contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) worth approximately $500m for 48 new ARCHER artillery systems for the Swedish Army. The ARCHERmobile artillery system, designed and produced by BAE Systems Bofors in Sweden, is already in service in the Swedish Army and has achieved the highest technical and manufacturing readiness levels. The 48 new systems covered by this contract will be built on a Rheinmetall MAN military vehicle, RMMV HX2 8×8, and first delivery to the Swedish Army will be in 2025.
“This important milestone establishes ARCHER as the basis of the Swedish Army’s new divisional artillery forces,” said Lena Gillström, president of BAE Systems Bofors. “It is also critical to BAE Systems Bofors’ work in jointly developing the ARCHER with Sweden, to confirm it as the most advanced wheeled 155mm howitzer in operation today.”
ARCHER can fire the BONUS anti-armor munition up to 35km, conventional munitions up to 40km, and the precision-guided munition Excalibur in excess of 50km. The automated magazines can hold a mix of different ammunition types and modular charges needed to support any mission.
30 Nov 23. CN ROMARM S.A and Elbit to Cooperate on the Establishment of an Artillery Center of Excellence in Romania. Elbit Systems Ltd. and CN ROMARM S.A, through its subsidiary S Uzina Automecanica Moreni S.A. (UAM), have announced a cooperation agreement between the two companies in the field of artillery production.
As part of the agreement, the parties will establish a Romanian Artillery Center, with the participation of additional local companies to enhance the domestic industrial base, generate additional employment opportunities and establish a strong foundation for sovereign artillery production in Romania.
The cooperation agreement includes production of Elbit Systems’ 155mm ATMOS Advanced Mobile Howitzers including the transfer of know-how for the manufacturing, production, assembly and integration of the ATMOS howitzers. ROMARM and UAM will operate as the system integrator, with more than 50% of the total workshare. Moreni will also serve as a long-term local support and maintenance provider for the ATMOS Howitzers.
The partners are considering additional potential Romanian companies for participantion in the center of excellence including: ELMET International SRL, Bacau, a manufacturer of Electronic Cables and Mechanical subsystems; IOR Optics Company Bucharest, a producer of military and civilian-grade optics; Simultec SRL, a supplier of operational and tactical trainers and simulators for defence; Systematic, to supply and support the Tactical Communications Network, Fire Support software and C4I applications.
The success of this partnership should generate new employment opportunities in Romania, supported by the growing demand for 155mm Howitzers from the Romanian military and other NATO and EU countries.
Udi Vered, General Manager, Elbit Systems Land: “Elbit systems, a global leader in artillery gun systems and heavy turrets, has proven its business model through its 25-year commitment to the Romanian market. Our battle proven solution can be further developed with ROMARM through UAM production capabilities and transform Romania into our artillery hub for the region. By working together with ROMARM, we aim to position ourselves as a strategic supplier not only to the Romanian Land Forces, but also to the entire European market.”
Corneliu Visoianu, General Manager, Uzina Automecanica Moreni S.A.(UAM): “UAM is a specialized company for designing, fabrication and maintenance of armored vehicles since 1958, with over 15000 vehicles delivered to Romanian Ministery of Defence, Norh of Africa or South East. As National Centre for Maintenance, UAM is looking at extending its list of products and new technologies in order to answer for the new challenges that the region is facing. In this respect, production of ATMOS Advanced Mobile Howitzers with ELBIT Systems is a great opportunity”.
Elbit Systems is a high-tech defense company, that among other solutions, specializes in land and weapons systems house including the design, development, manufacture and integration of Artillery Howitzer Gun Systems, Mortar Systems, Remote-Controlled Weapon Systems (RCWS), manned and unmanned turrets, tanks and combat vehicles upgrade and modernization as well as comprehensive, high-performance array of precision ammunition, rocket solutions and combat mobility, survivability and protection systems.
Elbit Systems has been working in Romania for decades, owning two local companies – ELMET, the largest defence exporter in Romania, and Simultec, Training and Simulators Company. (Source: ASD Network)
30 Nov 23. Fattah-2 missile unveiling: E3 joint statement. The UK, France and Germany have issued a joint statement in response to Iran’s announcement on the unveiling of the Fattah-2 missile system.
“The E3 – France, Germany and the United Kingdom – condemn the unveiling of a further new ballistic missile variant by Iran on 19th November. Iran continues to develop its missile programme despite repeated international calls to halt it, and after years of disregarding UN restrictions.
“Iran’s continued development of its ballistic missile programme follows continued nuclear escalation, beyond all credible civilian justification, and previously conducted research on nuclear weapons delivery. These escalations also highlight the grave threat Iran poses to global and regional security.
“The E3 remain committed to taking every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to holding Iran to account for its destabilising activity around the region and internationally.”
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
29 Nov 23. DHS Receives Patent for Explosive Consequence Assessment Tool. A U.S. patent for the Homeland Explosive Consequence Assessment Tool (HExCAT) has been granted to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through its Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). This patent safeguards the Department’s innovation, ensuring that the technology remains a valuable asset in fulfilling the DHS mission for an extended period. HExCAT is a distinctive modeling system designed to aid emergency managers in preparing communities for large-scale, scenario-specific hazards. It enables the prediction of consequences and potential outcomes. Rooted in the directive outlined in Homeland Security Presidential Directive-19, which addresses the Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives in the United States, HExCAT was developed to enhance the nation’s readiness to confront evolving threats effectively.
“With the HExCAT, response planners are now equipped with a fully integrated system that predicts the likely consequences of an explosion, including human injuries, structural damages, and medical responses, helping us evaluate a range of what-if scenarios and focus our energy on the most effective means of prevention, detection, mitigation and response,” said Helen Mearns, Deputy Director of S&T’s Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC).
HExCAT provides emergency managers with capabilities to streamline decision-making and emergency response planning by, among others, identifying vulnerabilities at large venues, devising effective evacuation procedures for facilities, and planning routes for relocating large groups of people to medical facilities. Additionally, HExCAT houses a library of 28 different types of military and homemade explosives, including various fuel and oxidizer combinations that amplify explosive effects, and provides unique insight into potential worst-case outcomes. The tool can also model different scenarios in diverse indoor and outdoor public spaces to more accurately predict how these scenarios will play out and how to adapt in real life situations.
S&T’s CSAC developed the HExCAT with support from the Directorate’s Explosives Threat Assessment Program, Battelle, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Leidos, and the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH). The U.S. Patent Office awarded the patent to eight scientists:
- CSAC
o Rachel Gooding, Chief Scientist
- Batelle
o Alexander Dolan, Chemist
o Brian Hawkins, PhD, Senior Program Manager
o Kevin Wegman, Senior Data Scientist
o Patrick Wilson, Software Development
- HHS
o Timothy Davis, MD, MPH, Former Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
- Leidos
o David Bradley, PhD, Senior Engineer
- NCDMPH
o Tom Kirsch, MD, MPH, Former Director
S&T expects to continue using HExCAT’s emergency planning and response preparation capabilities. More information about HExCAT can be found on S&T’s website: HExCAT Fact Sheethttps://www.dhs.gov/publication/homeland-explosive-consequence-assessment-tool-hexcat-fact-sheet
(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
30 Nov 23. Global vehicle armour market set to increase as threats multiply. Composite armour segment expected to lead, with reactive following close behind, as countries invest in vehicle protection systems. The global military vehicle armour market is expected to show persistent growth over the next decade, rising from around $2bn in 2023 to reach $3.3bn in 2033, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8%, as anti-armour systems become ever-more effective.
The vehicle armour market consists of three categories: conventional armor, reactive armor, and composite armor. According to the latest analysis by GlobalData, the market is expected to be dominated by the composite armor segment with a market share of 50.2% of the total market, followed by the reactive armor segment with a share of 42.8%.
Anti-armour missiles and other projectiles are designed to create damage on an armoured vehicle in a number of ways, including through explosive blasts, as well as more advanced techniques including shockwaves that break off shards of a target’s interior armour to incapacitate the crew, shaped charges that penetrate and flood the interior with super-heated material, and others.
Conventional armour, when applied to vehicles, comprises metal and steel armoured plates fitted to the exterior of vehicles to increase survivability in a contested environment, and is the most common of all armour types, particularly among older generation platforms.
Composite armour is a type of protective armour that includes layers of different materials, such as steel, plastic, or ceramic, which is both tougher and lighter than conventional armour. An example of this can be seen with the UK and US, with the Chobham armour fitted to the Challenger 2 and M1A1/2 Abrams tanks.
Reactive armour consists of two variants; explosive reaction armour (ERA), and non-explosive reactive armour (NxRA). The former (ERA) consists of explosive panels fitted to the exterior of a vehicle which when struck by an incoming projectile detonates, creating a shockwave that deforms the incoming blast or penetrator.
NxRA armour differs in that the reactive element of the armour does not explode to counteract incoming projectiles, rather includes elastic material to absorb incoming shockwaves. This armour is considered to be more resilient to repeat use.
Among geographic segments, Europe is projected to dominate the sector with a share of 38.9%, followed by Asia-Pacific and North America with shares of 24.1% and 23.4%, respectively.
The significant losses of armour seen in modern conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh and Ukraine recently, in which the latter case has seen Russia lose an estimated 15% of its entire national inventory of MBTs, has brought into sharp focus the threats faced by vehicles on the battlefield.
Case study: UK goes reactive
It is understood that the UK has opted to integrate the Trophy Active Protection System into its future Challenger 3 main battle tanks (MBTs), which will see the use of reactive amour for the first time on British MBTs. Prior to this, the British Army had found significant success with Chobham composite armour, such as was seen in the two Gulf Wars in Iraq.
According to GlobalData, the UK’s spending on vehicle armour over the coming decade is expected to increase from $36.2m in 2023 to $63.3 by 2033. Proportionally, this is broadly similar as forecast to be seen in the United States, which currently spending $446m on vehicle armour, rising to $740m by 2033. (Source: army-technology.com)
30 Nov 23. NIOA expands Arsenal presence, fortifying trans-Pacific alliances. The company aims to facilitate closer collaboration with US government agencies. In a strategic manoeuvre to deepen its involvement in the United States Army’s Joint Centre of Excellence for ammunition and weapons, NIOA Group has secured a tenancy at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey. The Australian defence player, which recently made a 100% acquisition of Barrett Firearms, sees this move as a step towards fortifying trans-Pacific partnerships in the ever-evolving landscape of global defence.
NIOA Group CEO Robert Nioa emphasised the company’s commitment to playing a role in supplying armament to the US Army and its allies. The Picatinny Arsenal’s workforce of more than 6,000 military, government, and civilian personnel is a hub for defence collaboration. The company’s presence within this centre amplifies its intent to expand further into the US defence sector.
This move, described by Mr. Nioa as going “inside the wire” at Picatinny, signifies NIOA’s broader objective beyond the Barrett Firearms acquisition. The company aims to facilitate closer collaboration with US government agencies to expedite its contribution to global security.
The announcement coincides with the heightened importance of trans-Pacific partnerships accentuated by the AUKUS security agreement.
NIOA’s existing ties with American companies such as General Dynamics, Northrup Grumman, and Winchester, operating within the Picatinny Arsenal, position it as a player in fostering collaborative efforts.
The company’s advisory board members, including former Picatinny Arsenal commander Brig. Gen. (Ret) Alfred Abramson and former US Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Hon. Ellen Lord, add experience to NIOA’s strategic endeavours.
Notably, the company’s team at Picatinny comprises individuals with backgrounds in defence programmes and international collaborations. Doreen Chaplin, formerly the first assistant programme executive office ammunition, and Daniel Napolitano, previously the program manager combat ammunition systems director of international programmes, bring expertise to NIOA’s operations at Picatinny Arsenal.
NIOA Group has secured multiple ammunition contracts for the Australian Armed Forces. In a A$100m ($80.45m) deal, NIOA supplied the Australian Army with advanced 155mm lightweight towed howitzer ammunition.
Another $72.3m contract involved providing over 30 different munitions to the Australian military, ranging from small arms to 120mm M1A1 Abrams tank ammunition. Additionally, NIOA is a supplier for Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s Land 400 Phase II combat reconnaissance vehicle programme.
As calls for greater co-production, co-development, and co-sustainment of weapons echo from top US defence officials, NIOA’s Picatinny tenancy positions the company for global defence collaboration. (Source: army-technology.com)
23 Nov 23. High Power Defence. After a stuttering start, directed energy/laser weapons are beginning to gain traction as viable ‘soft kill’ options for military forces.
In January 2022, the US Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) chief technology officer, Heidi Shyu, released a list of 14 technology areas deemed ‘most critical for investment’ to support the armed forces in the near future and beyond.
The list included Directed Energy Weapons (DEW), a group of emerging and disruptive technologies which have been in development for some time but which now appear to be gathering pace as the technology continues to mature. Efforts date back to 2014 when a DEW was deployed on board the USS Ponce, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock (AFSB(I)-15). When the USS Ponce was decommissioned in 2017, the LaWS was moved to USS Portland (LPD-27). Operating power was estimated at between 15–50 Kilowatts (kW) for engaging drones
According to US Government doctrine, DEW comprises multiple solutions including High Energy Lasers (HELs) and High Powered Microwave (HPM) systems, all of which can be deployed in a variety of mission sets including short-range air defence (SHORAD); counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS); and counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) missions.
High Energy Lasers
HEL weapon systems are evolving quickly with multiple companies in the US and Europe pursuing developments to support US DoD and UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) SHORAD and C-UAS missions.
On 18 August 2022, Lockheed Martin announced it had delivered a 60+kW-class HEL with integrated optical dazzler and surveillance (HELIOS) system to the US Navy. According to a company statement, HELIOS is the ‘first tactical laser weapon system to be integrated into existing ships and provide directed energy capability to the fleet’: “Integrated and scalable by design, the multi-mission HELIOS system will provide tactically relevant laser weapon system warfighting capability as a key element of a layered defence architecture.
According to Rick Cordaro, vice president, Lockheed Martin advanced product solutions, “HELIOS enhances the overall combat system effectiveness of the ship to deter future threats and … we understand we must provide scalable solutions customised to the Navy’s priorities.”
Lockheed Martin was awarded a $150m contract under the Surface Navy Laser Weapons Systems Increment 1 programme in 2018 with an initial integration of HELIOS on board an Arleigh-Burke destroyer set within just two years. A second technology demonstrator was also evaluated at White Sands Missile Range at the same time in a ground-based configuration.
At the Farnborough International Air Show in July 2022, Raytheon executives also provided Armada International with an update on their global HEL efforts. Referencing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Raytheon’s president for electronic warfare systems, Annabel Flores and president for land warfare and air defence, Tom Laliberty emphasised the continued proliferation of UAS across the modern battle space and subsequently, demand for DEW technologies to neutralise them: “We’re seeing real innovation in terms of how [Russia and Ukraine] are using UAS to deliver effects against ground elements and against civilian targets.”
Currently, Raytheon offers a variety of HELs in 15, 30 and 50kW configurations, according to company officials. This includes the integration of an undisclosed HEL solution on board Kongsberg’s National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) which is expected to be deployed to the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv to protect against Russian missile attack.
Flores confirmed Raytheon was also considering offering a similar capability to other NASAMS customers around the world as part of a layered air defence approach. “That was a key step to demonstrate that we can integrate with multiple other sensors and other command and control systems,” she explained at the media roundtable at Farnborough.
Raytheon is also supporting a two year programme with the UK MoD to integrate a HEL on board the General Dynamics (ex-Force Protection) Wolfhound tactical ground vehicle. The company was awarded a contract at the DSEI exhibition in September 2021. The Novel Weapon Programme is focused on using HEL for counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) tasks as well as air defence with Raytheon supported by Frazier Nash and NP Aerospace.
A technology demonstrator of the capability is expected to be evaluated by the MoD in the 2023-25 timeframe with Laliberty confirming: “We continue to work towards exporting our first system to the UK and working with our Raytheon UK partners, and the UK MoD.”
Finally, Raytheon is also in the process of manufacturing and delivering a total of four HEL solutions for the US Army’s DE-MSHORAD [Directed Energy – Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense] programme of record. The first system is due to be delivered by the end of 2022, Raytheon confirmed.
At Farnborough, MBDA UK also provided an update on the development of its own Laser DEW (LDEW) programme after several years of silence. The concept was first promoted back in 2017, featuring a consortium of the UK’s Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl); MBDA; Leonardo and Qinetiq.
According to an announcement at the airshow, live fire evaluation of the LDEW, also known as ‘Dragonfire’, has already been initiated as the programme aims to “prove the accuracy and power” of the system. “The first of these trials recently conducted by the Dragonfire consortium at low power proved the system can successfully track air and sea targets with exceptionally high accuracy,” stated an MBDA spokesperson. (Source: Armada)
28 Nov 23. The First HOMAR-K Integrated In Poland Handed Over to Artillerymen from Nowa Dęba. In the second half of November, the first HOMAR-K launcher, integrated in Polish defense industry plants, was handed over in Nowa Dęba.
The completed launcher, after integration with the JELCZ chassis and the TOPAZ Automated Fire Control Kit (ZZKO) carried out in the Huta Stalowa Wola SA plant in recent weeks, was transferred to the 18th Artillery Regiment being formed in Nowa Dęba.
On September 15, the first sea transport arrived in Poland, including 11 modules of the South Korean HOMAR-K system launcher, ready for integration with Polish components and ZZKO TOPAZ. On November 2, another 4 modules arrived. This year, i.e. on August 21 and November 2, HOMAR-K multi-launch rocket launchers mounted in the Republic of Korea on JELCZ chassis were delivered, also by sea.
On November 4, 2022, an executive agreement was concluded in Warsaw with the participation of the Minister of National Defense, Mr. Mariusz Błaszczak, related to the acquisition of missile launcher modules from the Korean side.
The subject of the first executive contract, worth USD 3.55 bn net, concluded between the State Treasury – Armament Agency and the Korean entity Hanwha Aerospace, is the delivery of 218 modules of multi-launch rocket launchers along with logistic and training packages, and ammunition stockpiles, including several thousand precision-guided missiles, with a range of 80 km and 290 km, and technical support from the manufacturer.
The training package includes training of technical staff both in Korea and Poland, while the logistics package includes, among others: diagnostic devices and spare parts stock. The contractor also provides service support in Poland from the moment the first launchers arrive.
The adopted method of contracting executive agreements is related to the implementation of the entire project, including the acquisition of nearly 290 launcher modules, divided into stages, which is also related to the planned wide scope of technology transfer and the establishment of industrial potential in the territory of the Republic of Poland. This will allow for optimal management of the entire program, and in particular will enable the rapid achievement, already in the first stage, of the operational capabilities required by the Polish Armed Forces by being supplied with modern military equipment. The HOMAR-K system is based on South Korean multi-launch rocket launchers (K-MLRS), adapted to the needs of the Polish Armed Forces, capable of firing several types of guided missiles. The launcher is equipped with two rocket pods that can accommodate 2 types of rockets. Each container holds, depending on the ammunition used: 6 239 mm caliber guided missiles with a range of 80 km, or 1 600 mm caliber guided tactical rocket with a range of 290 km.
(Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Polish Armament Agency; issued Nov. 27, 2023)
28 Nov 23. India test-fires extended-range BrahMos on soon-to-be-commissioned destroyer. India has carried out another test fire of its extended-range (ER) BrahMos PJ-10 supersonic cruise missile from a Kolkata/Visakhapatnam (Project 15A/15B)-class guided destroyer, the country’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) disclosed on 27 November.
The missile was fired from the programme’s sixth hull, which will be in service as INS Imphal once it is commissioned. It was fired as part of the vessel’s pre-commissioning trials, the ministry added.
India’s BrahMos PJ-10 is based on the Yakhont (3M-55E) supersonic cruise missile, which is the export version of Russia’s domestic P-800 (3M-55) Oniks.
The weapon has been in service with the Indian Navy for more than a decade, and the ER variant of the BrahMos PJ-10 is believed to have a maximum range of in excess of 500 km, which is an improvement over the older variant’s estimated range of about 300 km.
Besides the Project 15A/15B vessels, the BrahMos PJ-10 is also deployed from the service’s Rajput-class destroyers and Talwar (Krivak III)-class Batch II frigates. (Source: Janes)
24 Nov 23. Czech Republic to deploy DANA SPHs and TITUS vehicles to Lithuania. The Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) announced on its website on 21 November that it is deploying a battery of DANA vz 77 152 mm 8×8 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) to Lithuania. The Czech Army’s 3rd Task Force, including a DANA battery from the ACR’s 131st Artillery Battalion, will be deployed in Lithuania during the first half of 2024 as part of the German-led enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) NATO battlegroup in the Baltic country.
Most of the task force’s over 100 soldiers will be from the 131st Artillery Battalion, comprising fire support and artillery reconnaissance troops, as well as staff personnel. It will be supplemented by radar experts, workshop personnel, military police, medics, and members of the ACR Information and Cyber Forces Command.(Source: Janes)
27 Nov 23. Taiwan Begins Mass Production of Land-Based Air Defense Systems. Production of the TC-2 air defense system, which uses the Sky Sword II missile, is now in full swing.
The system first underwent a series of tests in March to evaluate its performance but failed to meet the Army’s requirements. However, it passed a second round of evaluations in July and is now approved for large-scale production, Liberty Times reported.
The Army plans to purchase 30 mobile missile launchers, six combat control centers, six phased-array radar systems, and 246 Sky Sword II air defense missiles for a cost of NT$8.8 bn (US$278 m).
The Sky Sword II missile was designed by Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and can reach up to 15 kilometers in range. The TC-2 air-defense system will be deployed alongside the U.S.-made Avenger missile system and is intended to fill Taiwan’s air defense gaps, achieving a “layered interception” effect. One system can fire between 16 and 20 Sky Sword II missiles. (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/ Taiwan News)
27 Nov 23. MBDA and KAI to Deepen Cooperation. MBDA and Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) have signed an agreement to deepen cooperation. The agreement will see the companies explore new opportunities for the integration of new MBDA weapons onto KAI platforms and the export of both together via a joint marketing approach. The agreement was signed on Monday 20th November by Chris Allam, Managing Director of MBDA UK, and Kang Goo-young, CEO of KAI, in London during a Korean State visit to the UK.
Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, said: “The combination of MBDA’s world leading weapon products and technologies with KAI’s proven record of new aircraft development and rapid delivery is an exciting prospect for the world defence market, reflecting the shared values and interests of both parties.”
Kang Goo-young declared: “Recently, there has been growing global demand for various armaments. We will work with MBDA to propose enhanced domestic fighter aircraft to our customers.”
MBDA is already committed to working together with KAI to complete successfully the integration of MBDA’s Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile on the KAI-led KF-21 Boromae fighter aircraft.
Examples of new areas of co-operation being explored under the new agreement include the integration of new MBDA weapons such as SPEAR, ASRAAM, and Brimstone onto KAI platforms such as KF-21 and FA-50, and the export of the above platforms and missiles. (Source: ASD Network)
————————————————————————-
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.
————————————————————————-