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15 Dec 23. Cuashub.com said today that Mitigation Strategies for Autonomous Vehicle-Borne IEDs
Fully Autonomous Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices- Mitigating Strategies is a Naval Postgraduate School thesis by Kevin S. Knopf.
Integrating technology into fully autonomous vehicles (FAVs) is poised to become a significant homeland security concern. With investments ranging from major corporations to small startups reaching billions of dollars, the widespread availability of fully autonomous vehicles to the general public is anticipated in the coming years. As these vehicles become more accessible to individuals and private entities, potential impacts on safety, both at the individual and community levels, are expected.
This thesis outlines the projected threat stemming from the malevolent use of fully autonomous vehicles, specifically as potential vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs). It highlights the ease with which autonomous vehicles can be repurposed for explosive delivery and explores proactive technological solutions to mitigate this threat. There is a critical need for the implementation of secure communications, robust user authentication, law enforcement override mechanisms, and payload interrogation protocols from the outset of the system design process.
Without adopting a security-centric approach to system design, the nation risks responding reactively rather than preventing the use of autonomous vehicles as explosive delivery systems. The overarching goal of this thesis is to underscore the potential outcomes achievable through collaborative public-private partnerships addressing strategic issues related to public safety in the United States.
Publication Date– March 2019
Fully Autonomous Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices- Mitigating Strategies contains the following major sections:
- Introduction
- Emerging FAV Threats
- FAVBIED Mitigating Strategies
- A Matter of Perspective
- Moving Forward
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
C-UAS Hub does not own this content and provides a link for users at the bottom of the page to access it in its original location. This allows the author(s) to track important article metrics related to their work. All credit goes to its rightful owner.
Author- Kevin S. Knopf
(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
15 Dec 23. French Army Integrates Thales Spy’Ranger Drones and CAESAr Self-Propelled Howitzers.
In January 2023, the 68th Régiment d’Artillerie d’Afrique (68RAA) conducted operational preparation for its deployment to Romania as part of the Aigle mission, Laurent Lagneau reports in Opex360. During this preparation, they utilized a firing campaign at Canjuers to train their drone section in fire support coordination.
This training also included validating a drone-observed firing procedure through simulations using the Virtual Battlespace 3 system. This innovative operational approach was initially experimental but is now on track to become standard practice.
On December 7, 2023, the Ministry of Defense announced a significant development in artillery capabilities. The 40th Artillery Regiment conducted a five-week firing campaign that incorporated an accelerated intelligence-fire loop during operational preparation. This was achieved by integrating the self-propelled howitzer 155mm CAESAr with the System of Mini Reconnaissance Drones (SMDR). The SMDR serves multiple functions, such as intelligence gathering, target designation, transmitting firing requests through the ATLAS system, and assessing damage inflicted on the enemy. This integration allows for rapid firing within minutes.
The French Army emphasizes that the SMDR, along with drones, complements Forward Air Controllers teams and is set to replace the VAB OBS armored vehicles with the Griffon VOA, the Artillery Observation Version.
The success of this accelerated intelligence-fire loop is attributed to the Spy’Ranger reconnaissance mini-drones, developed by Thales. These drones boast an impressive 2-hour and 30-minute autonomy and can securely transmit high-definition video over a distance of at least 30 km. This is a significant improvement compared to the 10 km range of the Contact Reconnaissance Drones (DRAC) they replaced.
The Spy’Ranger fixed-wing contact drones have proved their worth in combat. As part of the French SMDR (Systèmes de Mini-Drones de Reconnaissance) programme, the Spy’Ranger 330s have carried out numerous missions alongside French forces since the end of 2020, contributing to the success of military operations and protecting soldiers during the French Barkhane operation in Mali.
With more than 2,000 flights and over 2,000 flying hours in overseas operations, the SMDR has accumulated unrivalled experience. After a period of learning and adaptation, the French army has gradually increased the SMDR’s objectives, dedicating it to missions involving observation of enemy movements, surveillance of empty zones and routes, detection of enemy fire and Improvised explosive devices (IED), protection of convoys and disembarked combatants, day/night intelligence, BDA (Battle Damage Assessment) and the provision of coordinates for friendly fire guidance. (Source: UAS VISION/Army Recognition)
13 Dec 23. Hanwha tests automatic fire suppression system for Huntsman vehicles. Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA), Sydney-based HIFraser, and Busan-based DNB tested the Automatic Fire and Explosion Suppression System (AFESS) developed by DNB for the AS9 and AS10 Huntsman family of vehicles, HDA said in a press release on 13 December.
According to HDA, the test – which took place in early November at DNB’s facility – was carried out using steel hull constructs designed to simulate the internal volume and layout of the AS9.
As part of the demonstration, two test rigs went through a series of assessments to inspect the effectiveness of the AFESS, including an engine compartment fire suppression test, fire suppressant concentration tests, and a crew compartment hydrocarbon explosion suppression test, HDA said.
“All tests are expected to achieve successful results against contracted requirements,” HDA added.
According to DNB specifications, AFESS can automatically detect and extinguish fires and explosions within 0.25 seconds in ground military vehicles. (Source: Janes)
14 Dec 23. Norway to Invest $95m to Increase Production of Ammunition and Missiles. The Norwegian Government Will Increase the Production Capacity of Ammunition and Missiles with One Bn Norwegian Kroner (NOK). The Norwegian government aims to strengthen the production capabilities of Norwegian ammunition and missiles and is increasing the state sponsored financing of the ASAP applications.
“Ukraine needs artillery ammunition and missiles. Supporting Norwegian industry through ASAP will aid us in the continuing support for Ukraine, and at the same time strengthen our own defence,” says Defence minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp).
Western defence industry has been significantly downsized and has limited production capacity. The capacity is insufficient to meet the substantial need in Ukraine and to replenish the stockpiles in donating nations.
ASAP, or “Act in Support of Ammunition Production,” is a program developed by the EU in order to strengthen and increase the production capabilities of ammunition and missiles that are donated to Ukraine and to also replenish storage. The program has an estimated cost of 500m euros. The Norwegian support is financed through the Nansen program. In the past, the Norwegian government has supported Norwegian industry with 500m NOK. The amount will now be increased to 950m NOK. Another 190m NOK in admission fee to the ASAP programme is also added.
“ASAP will contribute to better coordination between nations in order to further expand production capabilities. We have received a number of Norwegian project proposals, and we hope to support their ASAP applications,” states the Defence Minister.
The Government has already supported a number of applications from Nammo Raufoss, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) and Chemring Nobel. Nammo produce both artillery ammunition and rocket engines, KDA produce missiles and Chemring Nobel produce explosives for ammunition.
Decisions on which companies will receive support from ASAP is expected in February. With good results in ASAP, the production capacity of the Norwegian defence industry could be expanded by several bn NOK.
“We are continuously working on various ways to strengthen production capacity, and ASAP is one of several measures,” concludes Defence minister Gram. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/)
14 Dec 23. Missile Warning Data Sharing Between S. Korea, U.S., Japan to be Operational in ‘Next Few Days’: U.S. Official. A system for the real-time sharing of North Korean ballistic missile warning data between South Korea, the United States and Japan is expected to become operational “within the next few days,” a White House official said Wednesday.
Mira Rapp-Hooper, the National Security Council senior director for East Asia and Oceania, made the remarks, touching on progress in trilateral cooperation since the landmark Camp David summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in August.
“We are on track to make good on our promise to be sharing real-time missile warning data by the end of this year and in fact, expect that to be operational within the next few days,” she said during a keynote speech at the forum hosted by the Brookings Institution.
At the August summit, Yoon, Biden and Kishida agreed to operationalize the trilateral real-time system by the end of this year as their countries have been stepping up security coordination in the face of evolving North Korean nuclear and missile threats.
As the U.S. has bilateral alliance treaties with South Korea and Japan, it has had a data sharing system with each ally, but there has not been a direct data linkage between the two Asian neighbors that have long been in historical feuds stemming from Japan’s 1910-45 colonization of the Korean Peninsula.
Information collected through this method is expected to enhance the countries’ overall capabilities to detect and track incoming North Korean missiles, observers said.
Highlighting deepening trilateral cooperation, Rapp-Hooper also noted a “full agenda plan for 2024,” which includes trilateral meetings between the three countries’ commerce ministers and between their financial ministers in the first half of next year.
During the forum, the official cast the three countries’ “commitment to consult” each other in case of a common crisis as “one of the most important things” from the Camp David summit.
She said that the commitment does not place the three countries in a “formal trilateral security guarantee relationship” but acknowledges that they increasingly share a common security environment.
“It has, as the basic premise of trilateral cooperation, also encouraged us to go on to have much deeper … better informed conversations about mounting challenges in the region, such as DPRK-Russia cooperation or the PRC’s recent aggression in the South China Sea,” she said.
DPRK and PRC stand for the official names of North Korea and China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China, respectively.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Yonhap News Agency)
14 Dec 23. Poland Awards Contract for Pilica+ Short-Range Air Defense Vehicles. Another Contract in the Pilica+ Program Signed. On December 12, the PGZ-PILICA+ consortium and the Armament Agency concluded another executive agreement as part of the ongoing PILICA+ program. Its subject is the delivery of Jelcz chassis and their integration with iLauncher launchers.
Pursuant to the signed contract, Jelcz will provide chassis, which, as part of the consortium, will be properly completed and integrated at the Military Armament Plant with the British iLauncher launchers, which are part of the Pilica+ missile and artillery sets.
The value of the contract is approximately PLN 550m gross, and its implementation period is scheduled for 2024-2029.
“The Pilica+ system is an intermediate solution between the lowest and middle layers of Poland’s multi-layer anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense system. Based on the proven PSR-A Pilica system, which was fully transferred to the army, we have developed its extended variant, reinforced with, among others, iLauncher launchers, which will ultimately be included in the Narew short-range program.
“Today’s agreement is further proof that, as part of the consortium, we were able not only to quickly design, develop individual elements and integrate the Pilica+ system, but also efficiently move to the stage of its implementation,” emphasized Sebastian Chwałek, president of the management board of PGZ SA.
ZRA PILICA+ will include iLauncher short-range missile launchers with CAMM missiles, BYSTRA radars and elements of PILICA anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems (PSR-A), i.e.: command post, short-range radar, six fire units with artillery tractors, communications subsystem and vehicles ammunition and transport vehicles, and then anti-aircraft guns with programmable ammunition and a system intended to combat unmanned aerial vehicles.
The missile and artillery sets will be able to conduct autonomous operations in various weather and visibility conditions using their own passive reconnaissance and tracking systems and based on radar information sent from the battery command post.
The system configuration ensures the use of the possibility of reconnaissance, identification and destruction of air targets with both rocket and artillery fire. The guns’ rate of fire and their range also enable them to fire at ground and surface targets, and thanks to the implementation of common data exchange protocols, the system ensures the transmission and reception of data from other air defense systems.
The PGZ-PILICA+ consortium consists of: Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA, Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów SA, PIT-RADWAR SA, PCO SA, Jelcz sp. z o. o., MESKO SA, Research and Development Center of Maritime Technology Center SA, Wojskowe Zakłady Ujazdenia SA and Wojskowe Zakłady Elektroniczne ARE. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ PGZ Group)
13 Dec 23. US Navy Provided Launcher for First Flight of French Hypersonic Glider. Naval Warfare Center Detachment’s Rocket Launch Propels First Flight of French Hypersonic Glider.
Boosting hypersonic research capabilities was at the heart of a White Sands, New Mexico-based naval detachment’s latest sounding rocket launch with the French military.
The high-profile June 26 mission in Biscarrosse, France, was the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) detachment’s first successful flight of a new three-stage rocket configuration and a new type of nose cone, and it propelled a French payload into a hypersonic velocity for testing.
Stakes were high for White Sands Detachment’s third sounding rocket mission in Biscarrosse, FS-1, due to the advanced equipment on board and the attention of high-ranking French officials. Also, in the previous mission, FS-0, the rocket suffered a power system failure after it launched, which added to the pressure for a successful flight with FS-1.
“After FS-0, we needed a home run, and this was it,” said Aaron Cowman, White Sands Detachment’s branch manager for applied environments, integration and testing.
The successful FS-1 rocket flight proved the viability of a Terrier-Oriole-Oriole motor configuration and a separating shroud nose cone, which enclosed a new French hypersonic glider before it soared off on its own during the rocket’s descent.
The mission was the third rocket launch in an ongoing collaboration between White Sands Detachment and the France Ministry of Armed Forces.
The detachment and its contractors — Corvid Technologies LLC, Kratos Defense and Rocket Support Services Inc., and Peraton Inc. — provided “cradle-to-splash support” for the complex sounding rocket, according to Troy Gammill, chief engineer for White Sands Detachment.
“There were several new technologies developed and flown, including a new shroud design, revised payload ordnance with backup timers, revised attitude control system and a revised ground firing line,” Gammill said.
The result of the diverse team members’ efforts, Gammill added, was “a very successful mission.”
Blasting off in Biscarrosse
Building and blasting off sounding rockets into space is the longest-running mission for White Sands Detachment, which is based at White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico but works on missions around the world.
White Sands Detachment’s deep experience with the research-oriented rockets led to the ongoing project in France. In early 2020, the NSWC PHD detachment began helping the country’s Ministry of Armed Forces establish its own sounding rocket program at a military site in Biscarrosse, a town on the Bay of Biscay in southwestern France.
In the first phase of the project, the White Sands team helped stand up a state-of-the-art launch complex in Biscarrosse. That includes a 50K launcher, which can support several rocket configurations with a maximum design load of 50,000 pounds.
The first flight from the Biscarrosse facility was a Terrier-Oriole two-stage sounding rocket dubbed Pathfinder. The rocket soared into space during the successful October 2021 tracking exercise and transmitted telemetry data back to range personnel before splashing down into the ocean.
The second flight, FS-0, in June 2022 was White Sands Detachment’s first effort with a three-stage Terrier-Oriole-Oriole motor configuration. The rocket launched successfully from the Biscarrosse facility, but when the second-stage Oriole motor separated from the third-stage Oriole, an active circuit was exposed to the rocket plume, which fused wires together and caused an electrical short.
“The short caused a power system failure for the whole avionics system,” Cowman said, referring to the rocket’s aviation electronics. “That prevented most of the subsystems on the vehicle from working, so it was largely considered a failed flight.”
Following an investigation, the White Sands team incorporated corrections into the design of FS-1 — the next attempt with a Terrier-Oriole-Oriole rocket.
Preparing the payload
Leading up to the FS-1 launch, the White Sands suborbital vehicles team conducted system-level integration testing on the vehicle in facilities at White Sands Missile Range. The testing focused on the payload — everything above the motor stack such as the avionics, the attitude controls that adjust the rocket’s orientation, and the nose cone.
“We make sure that all of the subsystems come together as one system, electrically and mechanically, and that they will function in flight,” Cowman said.
The testing covered everything from electrical systems to workmanship, mass properties measurement and center of gravity. In an Army facility at White Sands, the team assessed the payload on a vibration table and a spin balance table.
At the tip of the FS-1 vehicle was a new nose cone from defense contractor Peraton in Princess Anne, Maryland. The clamshell-style shroud assembly is designed to protect the experimental device — in this case, the French hypersonic glider — as the rocket soars out of the atmosphere and into space. Before apogee — the highest point in the rocket’s trajectory — the nose cone shroud breaks away.
“The two shroud halves separate, exposing the French experiment so it can start gathering data and preparing for its ultimate jettisoning,” Cowman explained.
In another change after the FS-0 mission, the White Sands team updated its inspection procedures for the various stages of building the next rocket.
After the integration testing at White Sands, the rocket and about 30 team members traveled to Biscarrosse to execute the FS-1 mission in June.
Experimental maneuvering
FS-1 launched June 26, two days ahead of schedule. On that day, Cowman’s role switched from vehicle manager to test conductor, while White Sands Detachment’s Brandon Snyder served as assistant test conductor.
A French counterpart to Cowman oversaw the experiment enclosed in the nose cone — a hypersonic glider called VMaX, which French aerospace company ArianeGroup developed for the Ministry of Armed Forces’ General Directorate of Armaments, known as the DGA. The glider’s name stands for the French equivalent of “experimental maneuvering vehicle.”
As that name indicates, hypersonic gliders can maneuver in flight while traveling at hypersonic velocities, which start around 3,800 mph, making them much harder to intercept than conventional ballistic missiles, as those fly in an arcing trajectory similar to a football thrown across a field.
With the VMaX glider shrouded in the nose cone, the three-stage FS-1 rocket launched from Biscarrosse into the night sky around 10 p.m. The rocket motors propelled the payload to an altitude that was higher than expected, but still within the French requirements.
Another requirement concerned the operation of the nose cone shroud, which separated as planned to uncover the VMaX glider around the apogee of the flight in space. As the rocket descended, it jettisoned the glider at a hypersonic velocity.
Cowman said that “all events, maneuvers and functions of the vehicle performed as expected,” meeting the DGA’s requirements.
“The French were very appreciative of everything we accomplished,” Cowman said. “They had some high-ranking people from their government paying attention to this one.”
While a more detailed post-flight performance report was still in the works, the FS-1 mission has already been hailed a success — and has captured many news headlines.
Hypersonic milestone
The French Ministry of Armed Forces issued a press release (but did not mention the origin of the rocket–Ed.) announcing the successful first flight of the VMaX hypersonic glider, which generated widespread media coverage.
French news outlet Le Monde quoted Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu as calling the flight “a new milestone on the road to France’s mastery of hypervelocity.”
The FS-1 mission also advanced White Sands Detachment’s own hypersonic testing capabilities, according to Cowman.
“The Terrier-Oriole-Oriole rocket motor configuration has proven to be viable in the growing number of our options for hypersonic research,” he said.
Moreover, the lessons learned and other experiences from the previous mission — including integrating a three-stage vehicle with the DGA and ArianeGroup — played a key role in the recent FS-1 success, Cowman added.
“Everyone stayed positive and focused on what we learned from FS-0, and all of that paved the way to make FS-1 a lot smoother than it would have been (otherwise),” he said.
The White Sands team members’ efforts on FS-1 earned kudos from their French partners, including Pierrick Bouazza, flight test project manager with the DGA.
“All the work done by the teams of the U.S. Navy and its partners, whether at White Sands Missile Range or Biscarrosse, to allow the success of this project was greatly appreciated, both at the working level and by our hierarchy,” Bouazza said. “I can’t wait for us to work together on new projects.”
The next phase in the trans-Atlantic partnership will focus on boosting training for both French and American personnel.
Education and training phase
The key components of White Sands Detachment’s agreement with the Ministry of Armed Forces were developing the launch site in Biscarrosse, building rocket vehicles and training French personnel.
With three launches under their belt, the partners will now focus on the educational piece. That will include sounding rocket classes and hands-on training both in Biscarrosse and White Sands. Classes will cover technical topics like flight performance, modeling and structural analysis.
The effort will benefit White Sands Detachment in a couple of ways, Cowman said. For one, the detachment will improve its suborbital vehicles training program. Also, newer White Sands team members will be able to sit in on the classes along with French personnel.
“It will be mutually beneficial moving forward,” Cowman said. “We’ll be training their personnel and ours further.” (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Naval Sea Systems Command)
12 Dec 23. Iran has reinforced its air defense capabilities by adding combat drones equipped with air-to-air missiles to its arsenal, state media reported Sunday.
“Dozens of Karrar drones armed with air-to-air missiles have been added for air defense in all border areas of the country,” the official IRNA news agency said.
The drones, said to have an operational range of up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), were exhibited Sunday morning during a televised ceremony organized at a military academy in Tehran.
“The enemies will now have to rethink their strategies” because the Iranian forces have “become more powerful,” IRNA quoted the commander-in-chief of Iran’s army, General Abdolrahim Mousavi, as saying.
The Karrar interceptor drone, the first version of which was unveiled in 2010, has been equipped with a “Majid” thermal missile with a range of eight kilometers (five miles) “made entirely in Iran,” added the agency.
It “succeeded in its operational tests” during military exercises held in October, Mousavi said.
The development of Iran’s military arsenal has sparked concern among many countries, particularly the United States and Israel, the sworn enemies of the Islamic republic.
The latter accuse Tehran of providing fleets of drones to its allies in the Middle East, notably to the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, and to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Iran also backs the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has been engaged in a war with Israel since it launched deadly attacks there on October 7.
Tehran has been accused by Kyiv and its Western allies of providing Russia with drones for use in the Ukraine war, a claim Tehran denies.
Western governments, however, imposed several rounds of biting sanctions on Iran over the alleged arms sales.
Iran began manufacturing drones in the 1980s during its eight-year war with Iraq. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Voice of America News)
13 Dec 23. Insitu Successfully Demonstrates Shryke with Integrator UAS.
Insitu, A Boeing Company, has announced the first successful drop of inert GPS-guided Shryke munitions from the Integrator Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) in collaboration with Corvid and L3Harris Technologies.
Shryke, developed by Corvid Technologies with L3Harris, is known for its multi-mission precision strike and versatility and is another option in a long line of highly sought-after strike capabilities that Insitu is offering to its customers.
“We were able to demonstrate a low signature munition with a safe separation sensor, fuze, and warhead on Integrator,” said Kyle Bowen, Corvid Technologies Director of Business Development. “Integrator delivered the munitions within 1-2 meters of the target in each test flight. We couldn’t have asked for a more successful demonstration,” Bowen said.
Integrator, a NATO Class 1 Small UAS (DoD Group 3 UAS) offers endurance of more than 24 hours and carries up to 40 lb of payload capacity. Payload integrations are accommodated in the center CG bay, two wing trays, and two wing-mounted hardpoints. Integrator’s multi-payload capacity provides our customers the ability to carry multiple munitions and/or transition between kinetic and non-kinetic objectives as the mission requires.
“The two rounds of munitions were seamlessly fitted into Integrator’s CG payload bay and several mission sorties were executed demonstrating advanced navigation, targeting, and payload delivery systems,” said Justin Pearce, Insitu Vice President of Programs, Engineering & Flight. “Pairing kinetics with Insitu’s proven endurance and range gives our customers flexibility in how they address a dynamic battlefield.”
The Integrator was equipped with a MIL-STD-1316 Electronic Safe and Arm Device (ESAD) from L3Harris to provide safety-critical energetic systems initiation-on-command and to safely support the post-flight recovery of munitions still installed.
“The ESAD was designed for applications that require a reliable arming and firing sequence with precise timing events, as well as vital personnel safety precautions,” said Steve Stasiak, General Manager, L3Harris Technologies. “We were able to validate this capability on Integrator and are very pleased with the way the ESAD configurations performed during the flight test.”
Insitu continues to work with customers and industry partners in testing and integrating additional munition payloads.
With three decades of experience, more than 3,500 uncrewed aircraft manufactured to date, and more than 1.4 m operational flight hours, Insitu continues to deliver the most advanced capabilities available to our global customer base in more than 35 countries. Visit Insitu.com to learn more about the most capable, reliable, and combat-proven small tactical UAS on the market. (Source: UAS VISION)
12 Dec 23. Rheinmetall’s Skymaster to bolster Austrian drone, missile defenses. The Austrian government tapped Germany’s Rheinmetall to modernize the country’s close-in air defenses in a agreement worth €532m ($570m).
The scope of the four-year project entails bringing the armed forces’ 28 twin guns of the Rheinmetall Skyguard product range, grouped into seven tactical units, to a “Next Generation” standard, according to a vendor statement. Improvements are slated to include greater sensor accuracy in capturing targets such as drones, missiles and low-flying aircraft, thanks to a new command-and-control system dubbed Skymaster.
Once detected, threats as far aways as four kilometers, or two-and-a-half miles, can be pulverized with a 35mm gun shooting at a rate of 1,000 rounds per minute, according to the Rheinmetall.
The deal complements recent Austrian pledges to buy upgraded military equipment. In the air-defense domain, Vienna is eying the U.S.-made Patriot and Israeli Arrow-3 systems for the long-range segment, and the German IRIS-T system for the medium- and short-range segments.
Combined with the close-range Skynet guns, which target threats that made it through the outer layers of an air-defense shield, the envisioned Austrian setup is typical for the types of capabilities on which European nations are spending their defense money these days.
Spooked by Russian attacks on population centers in Ukraine with drones and missiles, governments here have banded together under the European Sky Shield Initiative, led by Germany. The project aims to link national assets into one giant shield for all of Europe.
Rheinmetall is using its new business in Austria, to be managed by the company’s Zurich plant, to trumpet its cannon-based solutions as the last line of defense against threats about to make impact.
Company officials cited the gun-based German Gepard air-defense tanks, which reportedly notched vital intercepts in Ukrainian soldiers’ hands, as proof that the technology remains relevant.
That is in comparison with guided interceptor missiles, which cost more, and lasers, which still need development. (Source: Defense News)
12 Dec 23. Estonia eyes kick-starting a domestic ammunition industry. Estonian leaders are assessing options for making the Baltic country, known for its cyber-savvy startup scene, into a producer of ammunition for the exploding European market, according to a senior defense official.
“Ukraine needs more ammunition and countries have lots of stocks to refill as well,” Tuuli Duneton, undersecretary for defense policy, told Defense News in an interview. She was referring to the dynamic by which European nations are donating rounds to Kyiv while at the same time ramping up production for their own forces. “The Estonian government made a decision that, in principle, Estonia could have a defense industry in the area of ammunition.”
Estonia depends heavily on imports when it comes to military goods, including ammunition. The government will need a constant supply of rounds for the weapons purchases lined up in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
For example, Estonia launched a tender last month for the acquisition of over $300 m worth of 155mm artillery shells.
“We currently do not have any ammunition production within the country, [hence] we are heavily dependent on other European countries for this,” Duneton said.
She explained that two courses of action are on the table to establish domestic production.
The first one would involve an Estonian defense company setting up a dedicated facility for producing ammo, according to the official. As no local companies know how to do this, it may require a transfer of technology from a firm with the proper know-how, which can be costly.
The second option would entail the establishment of a manufacturing plant in Estonia by a European company, preferably a privately owned one.
“We are quite open in this area, but what we do not foresee is for a state-owned firm to establish production in Estonia. … We have a different approach on this than some of our neighbors,” Duneton said.
“The Estonian state and government are very liberal, and we are a highly market-based society, so we appreciate the competition as it lowers the price of ammunition or what you are producing,” she added.
Estonian defense officials have already started assessing suitable locations for either option.
Last month, Indrek Sirp, special advisor for the defense industry development at the Estonian Ministry of Defense, told local media that five possible sites in the northern and western part of the country had been proposed.
“The next step would be to showcase to the municipalities in question key indicators including the planned facilities land area, size of hazardous zone, logistics and energy connections as well as proximity of available local labor,” Sirp said during an interview with the Estonian newspaper ERR.
According to statements made by the Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur in August, Tallin has provided Ukraine with military assistance worth more than $441m, including ammunition. (Source: Defense News)
12 Dec 23. OCCAR takes control of EU’s hypersonic interceptor as HYDIS enters Concept Phase. OCCAR will execute budget decisions on behalf of the European Commission on the development of a hypersonic missile interceptor. The Hypersonic Defence Interceptor Study (HYDIS) consortium took another important step step on 11 December 2023, as the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) signed a contribution agreement for the concept phase of Europe’s new hypersonic interceptor programme to support the development of a defensive capability to counter adversarial hypersonic threats.
HYDIS, coordinated by European missile manufacturer MBDA, aims to design various interceptor concepts and mature the associated critical technologies in order to deliver the best interception solution that meets the needs of its four co-funding member countries – France, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands – while also complying with the European TWISTER capability programme.
OCCAR, which has member states Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, will manage the project under indirect management mode on behalf of the European Commission, which announced backing from HYDIS in August.
Projects under the indirect management mode – which account for around 10% of the overall EU budget according to the EU Commission – budget execution tasks are delegated by the European Commission to its implementing partners, such as OCCAR for the concept phase of HYDIS.
HYDIS is the fifth EU Programme OCCAR will handle under this format, following two European Defence Industrial Development Programmes (Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System and European Secure Software-defined Radio) and two European Defence Fund Programmes (Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette and European Hypersonic Defence).
For five years MBDA has been developing counter-hypersonic air-defence as a part of HYDIS, with a consortium of 19 partners and 30 subcontractors across 14 European countries.
The HYDIS project is a component of European states’ contributions to the mission of defending populations and armed forces against emerging hypersonic threats that represent a radical shift from ballistic threats. The consortium contributes to the AQUILA concept – which received €80m ($87.2m) without a call for funding through EDF’s 2030 work programme – for an endo-atmospheric hypersonic interceptor capability that can reach 100km above the surface of the Earth.
As of 30 March 2023, €123m of EDF funds had been earmarked for projects in air and missile defence, for the development of counter-UAS capabilities and an endo-atmospheric interceptor, from a total of €1.2bn that the EDF will provide for defence Research Design and Innovation (RD&I).
The HYDIS partners are ArianeGroup, Avio, Avio Aero, Bayern-Chemie, CIRA, DLR, GKN Fokker, LYNRED, MBDA España, MBDA France, MBDA Germany, MBDA Italia, OHB System AG, ONERA, ROXEL France, THALES LAS France, TDW, THALES Netherlands and TNO. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
12 Dec 23. Finland to increase domestic ammunition production capacity. Finland plans to more than double its ammunition production capacity by 2027, the defence ministry said on Tuesday. It said in a statement it expected investments in boosting capacity to total around 120m euros, with the government providing around 24m, and industry, the rest.
“The current decision will significantly increase the production capacity of heavy ammunition in Finland, enabling long-term support for Ukraine up to the 2030s,” Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said in the statement.
(Source: Reuters)
13 Dec 23. Next steps of UK’s MHC minehunter evolution coming in Spring 2024. The Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Block 2 will further the work done under Block 1, with the UK host platform RFA Stirling Castle recently delivered to the Royal Navy.
New contracts for the UK’s acquisition of naval mine countermeasure (MCM) capabilities could be on the horizon, after the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated that details of the wider plan for MHC Block 2 will be released in Spring 2024.
In an early engagement notice published in early December 2023, the MoD stated that the updated acquisition pipeline relating to MHC Block 2 will be met “using existing contractual arrangements”, much of which will be met through the placement of news contracts, including the procurement of a “new variant of Remote Command Centre” and a synthetic system level training facility.
The note added that, “subject to a Full Business Case approval in 2026”, there would be “significantly” more funding allocated for the acquisition of MHC Block 2 mission equipment.
It is likely that much of the capabilities being sought will be in the form of maritime autonomous systems, both surface and subsurface, which are being developed to provide the Royal Navy an uncrewed MCM capability. Currently, the majority of the Royal Navy’s MCM capability is provided by the Hunt– and Sandown-class MCM vessels, although these are slowly being withdrawn from service.
The UK recently again confirmed that two Sandown-class MCMVs were being transferred to the Ukrainian Navy.
The MHC Block 2 phase will continue the work seen under Block 1, which saw the development of concepts and plan to create an uncrewed MCM capability. Block 2 will further this through the maturation of technology, using machine learning and AI, improved command-and-control, as well as the development of new autonomous technologies.
According to UK Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), an arm of the MoD, MHC systems include the joint French/UK Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) system, the WILTON mine detection system, the Combined Influence Minesweeping (SWEEP) system, and the SEACAT Medium Underwater Autonomous Vehicle. The programme is also providing host platform to expand operating ranges.
In terms of host platforms, the MHC will initially use two vessels; the RFA Stirling Castle, acquired in 2023 to be the UK host platform; and the Bay-class Landing Platform Dock RFA Cardigan Bay, which is based at Mina Salman in Bahrain and will function as the Gulf host platform.
UK MHC host vessel delivered to Royal Navy
On 11 December, 2023, DE&S stated the former 6,000 tonne specialist offshore support vessel Stirling Castle, purchased to carry cutting-edge autonomous minehunting systems, had been delivered to the UK Royal Navy.
The newly christened RFA Stirling Castle will deploy the systems to locate, identify and neutralise mines and underwater explosive devices, particularly in UK waters, as well as gathering further critical data for analysis.
Technology onboard will include the joint French-UK Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) system, the Combined Influence Sweep (SWEEP) system and Medium Underwater Autonomous Vehicles (MAUVs).
RFA Stirling Castle has undergone military conversion and will be operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, with the delivery coming a month after the arrival of RFA Proteus, will host specialist autonomous systems to safeguard seabed telecommunications cables and oil and gas pipelines.
(Source: naval-technology.com)
12 Dec 23. Finland approves Hamina-class weapons upgrade. Patria will modernise the vessels’ torpedo, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems besides inducting new ASW capabilities.
Finland looks to strengthen its weapons capabilities onboard its four Hamina-class corvettes – Hamina, Tornio, Hanko and Pori – giving final approval for the development project on 12 December 2023.
Originally signed between the indigenous manufacturer Patria and the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) in 2018, this modernisation contract will allow the Navy to counter maritime threats, repel attacks at sea, protect sea lines of communication, and secure territorial integrity – all relevant criteria to US and Nato objectives for securing a free and open maritime strategy around the world.
Since its accession to the Nato military alliance earlier this year, the Finnish Government has already begun efforts to bolster its defence. Recently, the FDF hosted its first major military drills as a Nato member alongside UK and US marines, comprising a 4,000-strong amphibious force, in an effort to traverse and understand the Finnish coastline – a rugged and island-strewn maritime region with narrow channels.
Features of Finland’s Hamina missile boats in a critical theatre
The Navy’s new Hamina-class missile boats serve as the successor to the Navy’s enduring Rauma-class fast-attack craft acquired in the early 1990s.
One boat has an overall length of 51 metres (m), a waterline length of 44.3m, a breadth of 8.3m and a design draft of 1.7m. Displacement of the ship is 250 tonnes (t) and the vessel’s full complement is 23t.
Critically, the original equipment manufacturer, Aker Finnyards, designed the vessels as stealth ships, the Hamina-class features a round bilge aluminium mono-hull, with a superstructure made of reinforced carbon fibre composite.
The shape and materials used reduce the ship’s magnetic, heat and radar signatures. Radar absorbent materials such as kevlar and balsa cover the ship’s metal structures, while its composite parts are made from radar absorbent material.
Hamina’s upgraded missile defence systems will allow the FDF to operate as a more credible fighting force against Russia around the Gulf of Finland, right on Nato’s north-eastern flank. The vessel is armed with four RBS-15 mark 3 anti-ship missiles each with a range of over 100 kilometres (km). The onboard Umkhonto-infrared surface-to-air missile system can simultaneously engage up to eight aircraft within a 14km range.
What is more, the vessels were integrated with a new underwater operations capability by the installation of the lightweight torpedo TP47 and variable depth sonar, VDS.
As the Finnish Border Guard and Navy are upgrading their primary surface fleet, naval vessels and surface combatants form the second-largest sector in the Finnish defence market, according to GlobalData intelligence. The total value for this sector is $1.2bn between 2023-28. GlobalData anticipates its value allocation across the forecast period to peak in 2025 at $285m.
After the nation’s contract to procure F-35 Lightning II multi-role aircraft, in a sector worth $4.3bn, the FDF’s second and third priorities are corvettes anti-ship missiles, worth $816m and $446m respectively.
(Source: naval-technology.com)
11 Dec 23. National Institute of Justice Publishes NIJ Standard 0101.07, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, and NIJ Standard 0123.00, Specification for NIJ Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats, and Information About the NIJ Compliance Testing Program – (88 Fed. Reg. 83579) – The Office of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has published NIJ Standard 0101.07, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, and NIJ Standard 0123.00, Specification for NIJ Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats. The NIJ Compliance Testing Program (CTP) will be transitioning program operations to focus on implementing NIJ Standard 0101.07. It specifies minimum performance requirements and test methods for the ballistic resistance of body armor used by U.S. law enforcement that is intended to protect the torso against handgun and rifle ammunition. This revised standard supersedes NIJ Standard 0101.06, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, effective immediately. The primary purpose of this standard will be for use by the NIJ Compliance Testing Program (CTP) for testing, evaluation, and certification of ballistic-resistant body armor. It will also be used by NIJ-approved ballistic testing laboratories and body armor suppliers participating in the NIJ CTP. More information on this standard can be found here: https://nij.ojp.gov/ballistic-resistance-body-armor-nij-standard-010107
NIJ also announces the publication of NIJ Standard 0123.00, Specification for NIJ Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats. It specifies the NIJ ballistic protection levels and associated test threats identified by U.S. law enforcement as representative of current prevalent threats in the United States. This standard should be used in conjunction with other standards to test and evaluate specific ballistic-resistant equipment, such as ballistic-resistant body armor, against contemporary ballistic threats that pose a life-threatening safety hazard to U.S. law enforcement officers. The NIJ CTP will use this standard for testing, evaluation, and certification of ballistic-resistant body armor using NIJ Standard 0101.07 and other types of ballistic-resistant equipment that may be added to the scope of the NIJ CTP’s conformity assessment activities in the future. More information on this standard can be found here: https://nij.ojp.gov/specification-nij-ballistic-protection-levels-and-associated-test-threats-nij-standard-012300
National Institute of Justice to Hold Body Armor Manufacturer In-Person Workshop on Feb. 5 – (88 Fed. Reg. 83580) – The Office of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice will hold an in-person workshop for body armor manufacturers on Thursday, February 15, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM ET, at RTI International’s William M. Moore, Jr. Collaboration Center, located in the Holden Building on RTI’s main campus at 3040 E Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. The in-person workshop will be an open forum and there will be opportunities for attendees to ask questions. Space is limited at this workshop, and as a result, NIJ requests that each manufacturer limit their representatives to no more than two per organization. Exceptions to this limit may occur, should space allow. Participants planning to attend are responsible for their own travel arrangements. To register for the in-person workshop, please send an email to by 5:00 PM ET on Friday, February 2, 2024, and provide the name of your company and the names of the representatives who will attend. Please put “Body Armor Manufacturer In-person Workshop” in the subject line of the email. A preliminary agenda will be sent to registered attendees approximately one week before the workshop. The workshop will provide an overview of NIJ Standard 0101.07, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, and NIJ Standard 0123.00, Specification for NIJ Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats. The NIJ Compliance Testing Program (CTP) will outline how it will begin to phase out the use of NIJ Standard 0101.06 and phase in the use of NIJ Standard 0101.07 in the administration of the program over the next year. The impact of the transition to NIJ Standard 0101.07 on the Compliant Products List (CPL) and Follow-up Inspection Testing (FIT) of currently listed body armor models compliant with NIJ Standard 0101.06 will also be discussed. (Source: glstrade.com)
11 Dec 23. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) supported Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) test of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. The FTG-12 test used a stage selectable Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) missile system against the company’s own air-launched Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) target vehicle, managed by the GMD Ground System and Fire Control to demonstrate enhanced capabilities for the warfighter.
- During the test, the GMD Ground System processed data from multiple sensors to identify and characterize the inbound IRBM threat, devised a defensive solution and launched the intercepting GMD GBI to negate the threat.
- This test validated Northrop Grumman’s enhanced capabilities, increasing the performance of the GMD system against the evolving threat.
- The GMD system is currently deployed in multiple locations and is the first and only operational missile defense system to defend the U.S. against intermediate and long-range ballistic missile attacks.
Expert:
Scott Lehr, vice president of launch and missile defense systems, Northrop Grumman: “As the threat landscape advances, it’s critical to ensure our homeland defense systems are tested and proven in the event of an attack. This successful test demonstrates we are ready and have confidence in the MDA’s end-to-end missile defense solutions that are deployed today.”
Northrop Grumman serves as a strategic partner to The Boeing Company for the GMD development and sustainment contract, providing development, integration, operations and sustainment of the ground systems as well as the interceptor boost vehicle.
11 Dec 23. Missile Defense Agency, Boeing-Led Industry Team Conduct Early Release Intercept Test.
– Early release configuration provides more time, space, and flexibility to intercept ballistic missile threats to U.S.
– Test demonstrates GMD system’s enhanced capability to defend the nation
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Missile Defense Agency and a Boeing [NYSE:BA]-led industry team successfully intercepted an intermediate-range ballistic missile in space during the latest test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense, or GMD, system. The test validated GMD’s Capability Increment 6B configuration, which gives the Missile Defense Operators more time, space, and flexibility to intercept ballistic missile threats to the U.S. homeland.
During the test, a GMD interceptor released a kinetic-force Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle, or EKV, during the rocket booster’s second stage of its normally three-stage sequence of flight. The threat-representative target was air launched from the Broad Ocean Area and the interceptor was deployed from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
“This successful test is important because it opens up the window of opportunity to intercept threats to our homeland,” said Debbie Barnett, vice president of Strategic Missile & Defense Systems. “We’re committed to continuously enhancing the GMD system’s capability to meet rapidly evolving missile defense needs for the nation.”
Boeing has supported the GMD program as lead system integrator since its inception in 1998 through development, test, operations and sustainment. The system has now been on alert for nearly two decades and is an integral part of America’s layered ballistic missile defense architecture.
11 Dec 23. Babcock part of BAE Systems team for the UK’s future artillery programme. We’re teaming with BAE Systems and RBSL to develop the ARCHER wheeled mobile artillery system for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) as the replacement for the British Army’s legacy AS90.
From our production facilities in Devonport and Walsall, we will use our significant vehicle manufacturing and maintenance capabilities to consolidate the Archer superstructure and ammunition resupply system.
Chris Spicer, Managing Director of Engineering & Systems Integration at Babcock said, “In line with the MOD’s Land Industrial Strategy, Babcock is pleased to be working with BAE Systems to bring to the UK and the British Army this market-leading capability. Our skilled teams and facilities in the South-West and West Midlands will deliver important elements of the engineering expertise, system integration and innovative technology required for system assembly that will enable the Archer Artillery Alliance to provide the British Army with this exciting capability.”
ARCHER is a fully automated artillery system, purpose-built to keep pace with fast-moving land forces. It is designed for rapid deployment to quickly respond to threats and deliver superior mobility, lethality, and survivability.
This strategic relationship between BAE Systems, Babcock and RBSL brings together some of the largest and most experienced British defence companies to deliver the UK’s most critical artillery programme in a generation.
11 Dec 23. Belgium Advances Purchase of 19 Caesar SPH, 24 Griffon Mortar Carriers. Four Military Procurement Files Approved by A House Committee. The Belgian parliament’s military procurement commission has approved the purchase of 19 Caesar NG self-propelled howitzers, 24 Griffon armored vehicles, 14 mini-drone systems and two R-ESM systems.
The House’s military procurement committee approved, on Wednesday, four purchase applications, the largest of which is the acquisition of 19 “additional long-range precision mobile artillery systems,” in other words the French-made Caesar NGs (trucks equipped with a new generation artillery system), Belga learned from several sources.
This purchase appears in the defense ministry’s STAR plan approved by the government and the House last year at the instigation of the Minister of Defense Ludivine Dedonder (PS). The approval by the House committee paves the way for the upcoming presentation of the four files to the Council of Ministers.
Partnership with France
Belgium had already ordered nine “Caesar NG infovalorized systems” for delivery scheduled from 2027 under the “strategic partnership” concluded with France as part of the Camo (MOtorized CApacity) program, which aims to make the army units of the two countries fully interoperable by equipping them with new Griffon and Jaguar combat vehicles.
Defense therefore plans to acquire 28 Caesar howitzers in total, to equip an artillery battalion and ensure the training of the artillerymen. The Belgian armed forces lost their field artillery capability through successive restructuring plans in 2000-2020, which end with the retirement of the M109s.
According to the same sources, the House committee, which meets behind closed doors, also approved – without much debate – the acquisition of 24 Griffon vehicles equipped with an integrated mortar system (MEPAC), also within the framework of the CAMO program.
Mini drones
A third contract approved by the committee is for the acquisition of 14 mini-drone systems of the RQ-11 Raven, RQ-20 Puma and Puma 3AE type – all produced by the American firm AeroVironment –, the supply of spare parts, the training of the necessary personnel and logistical support.
The final contract concerns the purchase of two digital radar signal interception systems (R-ESM), intended to improve the equipment of the two patrol boats of the Belgian Navy, the P901 Castor and the P902 Pollux.
No amount has been cited for these four upcoming contracts, but one source has reported a total of 360 m euros. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Belga News Agency; published Dec. 07, 2023)
08 Dec 23. Norway and Finland simplify mutual transfer of K9 artillery systems. The agreement enhances Nordic military readiness, allowing both nations to ship the weapon systems to each other without approval from South Korea, the system’s country of origin.
Norway, Finland and South Korea have signed an agreement that simplifies the procedures enabling the two Nordic nations to transfer Korean-made K9 self-propelled howitzer systems to each other, according to an 8 December 2023 press release issued by the Norwegian Government.
“The direct results of this agreement are that artillery vehicles will be operational in a shorter span of time,” the government asserted.
Hanwha Vision is the original equipment manufacturer since the system’s debut for the South Korean Army in 1989. At that time, the company was formerly known as Samsung Techwin and remains a subsidiary of the South Korean defence prime Hanwha Group.
Designated the ‘K9 Thunder’, the artillery system is a highly mobile, 155mm/ 52 calibre self-propelled howitzer that can exert a high rate of fire at long ranges.
The gun can fire a standard M107 high-explosive (HE) projectile at a maximum range of 18 kilometres (km). Maximum range firing the HE rocket-assisted projectile with uni-charge of five zones, is 30km. It can also fire a K307 projectile with a modular-charge of six zones for a maximum range of over 40km.
GlobalData intelligence tells us that Norway operates 24 units while Finland employs seven.
In Norway, these long-range artillery units serve to protect critical national infrastructure, operated by the country’s Home Guard, a light infantry force that forms a nexus between the civil and military spheres.
Similarly, Finland envisions the platform to act as its linchpin artillery, with a life cycle service span reaching the 2050s. Deliveries began in 2018, the first equipped unit of the Finnish Army stood up in 2020, and continued procurement is expected through to 2024. In late 2021, the Finnish Ministry of Defence exercised an option to add more units to the initially planned procurement of 48, bringing the total number up to 58.
Enhancing Nordic military collaboration
Besides the procurement of the same, or at least similar, platforms and equipment due to their shared northern climate, Nordic militaries also tend to operate very closely to one another.
In March this year, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden all signed the Nordic Air Commander’s Intent, pledging to “operate seamlessly together as one force.” This agreement establishes common air education, training and exercises.
Before the signing of the trilateral K9 artillery agreement, procedures for cross-border transfer of Korean artillery equipment were bureaucratic, comprehensive, and time-consuming. A signed application had to be posted to South Korea before any reserved parts could be moved between Norway and Finland.
Now the two nations can simply send a report, after the spare parts have been delivered. The agreement allows the two nations to freely transfer spare parts between each other, even though this involves military material, where restrictions are typically imposed by the originating nation.
“Now that Finland is a member of Nato, our collaboration is more important than ever, and this arrangement will further enhance our defence capabilities,” stated the Norwegian Defence Minister, Bjørn Arild Gram. (Source: army-technology.com)
10 Dec 23. New ICBM will take US nuclear missiles out of Cold War-era.
The control stations for America’s nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles have a sort of 1980s retro look, with computing panels in sea foam green, bad lighting and chunky control switches, including a critical one that says “launch.”
Those underground capsules are about to be demolished and the missile silos they control will be completely overhauled. A new nuclear missile is coming, a gigantic ICBM called the Sentinel. It’s the largest cultural shift in the land leg of the Air Force’s nuclear missile mission in 60 years.
But there are questions as to whether some of the Cold War-era aspects of the Minuteman missiles that the Sentinel will replace should be changed.
In this undated image provided by the Department of Defense, crews construct missile site connections in the 12th Missile Squadron flight area north of Great Falls, Mont. The 12th MS is one of four missile squadrons in the 341st Operations Group of the 341st Space Wing. (Department of Defense via AP)
Making the silo-launched missile more modern, with complex software and 21st-century connectivity across a vast network, may also mean it’s more vulnerable. The Sentinel will need to be well protected from cyberattacks, while its technology will have to cope with frigid winter temperatures in the Western states where the silos are located.
The $96bn Sentinel overhaul involves 450 silos across five states, their control centers, three nuclear missile bases and several other testing facilities. The project is so ambitious it has raised questions as to whether the Air Force can get it all done at once.
An overhaul is needed.
The silos lose power. Their 60-year old massive mechanical parts break down often. Air Force crews guard them using helicopters that can be traced back to the Vietnam War. Commanders hope the modernization of the Sentinel, and of the trucks, gear and living quarters, will help attract and retain young technology-minded service members who are now asked each day to find ways to keep a very old system running.
Nuclear modernization was delayed for years because the United States deferred spending on new missiles, bombers and submarines in order to support the post 9/11 wars overseas. Now everything is getting modernized at once. The Sentinel work is one leg of a larger, nuclear weapons enterprise-wide $750bn overhaul that is replacing almost every component of U.S. nuclear defenses, including new stealth bombers, submarines and ICBMs in the country’s largest nuclear weapons program since the Manhattan Project.
For the Sentinel, silo work could be underway by lead contractor Northrop Grumman as soon as 2025. That is 80 years after the U.S. last used nuclear weapons in war, the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, which killed an estimated 100,000 in an instant and likely tens of thousands more over time.
For the Pentagon, there are expectations the modern Sentinel will meet threats from rapidly evolving Chinese and Russian missile systems. The Sentinel is expected to stay in service through 2075, so designers are taking an approach that will make it easier to upgrade with new technologies in the coming years. But that’s not without risk.
“Sentinel is a software-intensive program with a compressed schedule,” the Government Accountability Office reported this summer. “Software development is a high risk due to its scale and complexity and unique requirements of the nuclear deterrence mission.”
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has acknowledged the challenges the program is facing.
“It’s been a long time since we did an ICBM,” Kendall said in November at a Center for New American Security event in Washington. It’s “the biggest thing, in some ways, that the Air Force has ever taken on.”
“Sentinel, I think quite honestly, is struggling a little bit,” he said.
New connections
By far, the biggest cultural shift the Sentinel will bring is the connectivity for all those who secure, maintain, operate and support the system. The overhaul touches almost everything, even including new equipment for military chefs who cook for the missile teams. The changes could improve efficiency and quality of life on the bases but may also create vulnerabilities that the analog Minuteman missiles have never faced.
Since the first silo-based Minuteman went on alert at Montana’s Malmstrom Air Force Base on Oct. 27, 1962 — the day Cuba shot down a U-2 spy plane at the height of the Cuban missile crisis — the missile has “talked” to its operators through thousands of miles of hard-wiring in cables buried underground.
Those Hardened Intersite Cable Systems, or HICS, cables carry messages back and forth from the missile to the missileer, who receives those messages through a relatively new part of the capsule — a firing control console called REACT, for Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting, that was installed in the mid-1990s.
In this Oct. 19, 2018, photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, one of the multiple launch switches sits in the upper-left portion of a panel at a missile alert facility launch control center operated by the 320th Missile Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. The control panel that would be used in case of a silo-based nuclear missile launch is still very much reflective of the 1960s and 1980s technology it still relies on. It will all be overhauled with the arrival of the new Sentinel system, but some caution that it’s dependence on old technology is what keeps it protected from cyber warfare. (Staff Sgt. Neal Uranga/U.S. Air Force via AP)
It’s a closed communication loop, and a very secure one that brings its own headaches. Any time the Air Force wants to test one of the missiles, it literally has to dig up the cables and splice them, to isolate that test missile’s wiring from the rest. Over decades of testing, there are now hundreds of splices in those critical loops.
But it’s also one of the Minuteman’s best features. You would need a shovel — and a lot more — to try to hack the system. Even when missile crews update targeting codes, it is a mechanical, manual process.
Minuteman is “a very cyber-resilient platform,” said Col. Charles Clegg, the Sentinel system program manager.
Clegg said cybersecurity for the software-driven Sentinel has been a top focus of the program, one that has all of their attention.
“Like Minuteman, Sentinel will still operate within a closed network. However, to provide defense in depth, we will have additional security measures at the boundary and inside the network, enabling our weapon system to operate effectively in a cyber-contested environment,” Clegg said.
Frigid fields
Those who maintain the Minuteman III have tried over the years to bring in new technology to make maintenance more efficient, but they have found that sometimes the old manual way of tracking things — sometimes literally with a binder and pen — is better, especially in frigid temperatures.
Nuclear missile fields are located in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming. Those missiles need maintenance even in the winter, and crews spend hours outside in sub-zero field conditions,
“An iPad won’t survive a Montana winter” at the launch sites, where maintenance crews have worked outdoors in temperatures of minus 20 degrees or even minus 40 degrees, said Chief Master Sgt. Virgil Castro, the 741st missile maintenance squadron’s senior enlisted leader.
Also, when maintenance crews at Malmstrom tested some radio frequency identification, or RFID, technology — think of how seaports track items inside cargo containers — it created security vulnerabilities.
“Today, everything is connected to the internet of things. And you might have a back door in there you don’t even know” said Lt. Col. Todd Yehle, the 741st maintenance squadron commander. “With the old analog systems, you’re not hacking those systems.”
What it means is that even though technology could automate the whole operations process, one critical aspect of missile launch will remain the same. If the day comes that another nuclear weapon must be fired, it will still be teams of missileers validating the orders and activating a launch.
“It’s the human in the loop,” said Col. Johnny Galbert, commander of the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren. “I think what it comes down to is we want to rely on our airmen, our young officers out there, to make that decision, to be able to interpret what higher headquarters is telling them or directing them to do.” (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
11 Dec 23. RDM demos refurbished ammo at Exercise Vuk’uhlome. At the South African Army’s largest annual exercise this year, Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) demonstrated its ammunition upgrade capabilities by firing 30-year-old refurbished mortar rounds.
The November exercise at the Lohatlha Combat Training Centre in the Northern Cape gave RDM a chance to demonstrate to the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) the company’s ability to restore ammunition to condition A status. RDM took ammunition over thirty years old that had degraded to Condition C1 and Condition C2 and refurbished it for use as part of an SANDF feasibility study.
Given SANDF budget cuts, refurbishing old ammunition offers a significant cost-saving for the military.
RDM said its ammunition expertise goes beyond just development and manufacturing, as the company offers life-surveillance programmes for ammunition in storage magazines; testing; and refurbishment of unserviceable ammunition that has degraded below condition “A” status and reached its shelf-life limit. As a last resort, the company also provides demilitarisation services, an environmentally friendly way of disposing of unserviceable ammunition.
In a statement released after Exercise Vuk’uhlome 2023, RDM said the firing feasibility analysis on the M26 High Explosives (HE) Hand Grenade, 60 mm M61 HE Mortar Bomb, and 81 mm M61 HE Mortar Bomb obtained “impressive results”. The M26 HE Defensive Hand Grenade, used in close combat, was restored to its initially designed performance parameters, achieving a casualty radius of 15 meters by only replacing the fuze head of the new generation M15 Grenade variant. The feasibility study proved that the original explosives filling of 160 g of High Explosives was still intact.
The 60 mm M61 High Explosive Infantry Mortar Bomb was restored to its initially designed performance parameters, achieving a 201 square meter radius lethality at a maximum effective range of 2 230 m through only replacing the bomb’s propulsion system. The feasibility study proved that the original explosives filling is still intact, and the actual mechanical fuzes are still intact, RDM said.
The 81 mm M61 High Explosives Infantry Mortar Bomb achieved 90% of its designed initial performance parameters, with degradation in range of 100 meters from its designed maximum effective range of 4 866 m, with lethality of 346 square meter radius maintained, through only replacing the propulsion system and the obturator ring, according to RDM. The feasibility study proved that the original explosives filling of 4.43 kg is still intact, and the actual mechanical fuzes are still intact.
Some of the 81 mm mortars were fired at Lohatlha by a Scorpion automated mortar fitted to SVI’s Max 9 4×6 armoured personnel carrier.
“This ammunition refurbishment solution presents more options to the SANDF, as the refurbished ammunition can be used for training purposes and also provides an alternative to the disposal of unserviceable ammunition,” RDM said.
RDM CEO, Dr Frank Dirksen, said the SANDF has been instrumental in the establishment of RDM’s capabilities with all the support rendered over the years, and the company intends to work on more innovative ideas, such as the establishment of Framework Contracts to support the SANDF, especially during current harsh economic times. (Source: www.joint-forcescom)
08 Dec 23. Taurus-LIG Nex1 developing KEPD 350K-2 for FA-50. A smaller version of the Taurus Systems KEPD 350K air-launched precision‐attack cruise missile being planned for the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 fighter aircraft could enter production two years after full-scale development is launched.
Designated as the KEPD 350K-2, this all-weather-capable missile is being developed to meet “increasing demand” for air-to-ground missiles for light combat aircraft and short-range fighters, according to Taurus. The company has signed an agreement with LIG Nex1 to jointly develop the new missile.
“From Taurus’ perspective, once the full-scale development is launched, we can be ready for production in 36–48 months, depending on the time it requires for the integration on the platform,” a Taurus company spokesperson told Janes. (Source: Janes)
08 Dec 23. Green Ammo enhances electronic blanks technology. Norwegian firm Green Ammo has continued to develop its electronic blanks technology and introduced several enhancements.
Speaking to Janes at Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) 2023 in Orlando, Steffen Botten, Green Ammo chief operating officer, said that the system software had been improved and there was now an inertial measurement unit (IMU) embedded in the bolt to monitor weapon movement. The software improvements have been made in conjunction with the Norwegian Army.
Botten said that development of the M4 version of the system was complete; the M249 version, which was on display and demonstrated at I/ITSEC, was being tested by the Norwegian Army; and work was starting on the M240 and .50 calibre heavy machine gun. The latter has an additional motor for the recoil and a sound device that operates at 130 dB. Development of the SA80 version was also complete, although it has not been adopted by the British Army.
Botten said that the New Zealand Defence Force and the French Army were also testing the system. (Source: Janes)
08 Dec 23. Successful Live Fire Demo Clears Path for Spike NLOS Airworthiness Release Onto U.S. Apache. Lockheed Martin successfully fired eight Spike NLOS all up rounds (AURs) over the course of five days from the U.S. Apache Echo Model V6 at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The successful live fire event clears the Spike NLOS Long Range Precision Munitions Directed Requirement (LRPM DR) system for Airworthiness Release (AWR) for the U.S. Apache platform, which paves the way for starting to equip the system onto the U.S. Army’s current Apache V6 platforms.
“This successful demonstration of Spike NLOS showcases that the system is ready to be integrated onto the Army’s current Apache fleet and provides a premier defense capability of choice when precision and accuracy matter,” said Tom Bargnesi, program management senior manager of the Precision Strike team at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “The AWR allows delivery of 21st century security solutions to our Army customer for complex threat environments.”
The demonstration featured eight Spike NLOS AURs firing from an Apache platform at a variety of targets, showcasing the system’s different mission set capabilities across multiple scenarios. This demonstration was one of the final steps for the system to receive AWR and allow the Army to begin the fielding Spike NLOS onto its Apache V6 platforms.
In mid-2024, Lockheed Martin will work with the Army to train pilots to use the system on the Apache V6 platforms. The Army expects the Spike NLOS LRPM DR system to be fully integrated onto all 18 Apache Echo Model V6 platforms by September 2024.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/Lockheed Martin)
08 Dec 23. US Army receives first long-range Precision Strike Missiles.
The U.S. Army has taken delivery of the first Precision Strike Missiles that will begin replacing the legacy Army Tactical Missile System, according to a Dec. 8 service announcement.
“The delivery of the Precision Strike Missile Increment 1 Early Operational Capability missiles follows successful production qualification testing in November at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico,” the statement read.
The delivery marks a major milestone for the PrSM program and was one of 24 major modernization programs the Army was trying to get into the hands of soldiers by the end of 2023.
“The Precision Strike Missile will provide Joint Force commanders with a 24/7, all-weather capability that will counter the enemy’s ability to conduct combat maneuver and air defense operations,” Doug Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, said in the statement. “The rapid development and delivery of this capability is a prime example of the Army’s aggressive use of new acquisition authorities from Congress that allow us to move at much greater speed to get improved equipment to Soldiers.”
PrSM has been a top program for the Army and a key technology within the service’s long-range precision fires portfolio, which was created as part of the service’s new wave of modernization priorities identified in 2017.
The missile — which can launch from both the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and the M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System — will be critical to the service as it seeks a deep-strike capability that can counter Russian and Chinese technologies. Both European- and Indo-Pacific-based U.S. commanders have been eager to receive the capability.
The program originally began as a competition between Lockheed Martin and RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies), but the latter struggled to get the weapon ready for flight tests during the program’s technology maturation and risk reduction phase. The Army and RTX mutually decided to end the effort in March 2020.
Lockheed continued alone in development and flight testing for the first increment. The Army approved the PrSM program to move into the engineering and manufacturing development phase in September 2021, awarding the company a $62m contract for early operational capability production.
The service again awarded Lockheed another $158m a year later for additional early operational-capability PrSMs.
The Army is planning add-ons, including an enhanced seeker as well as technology to provide increased lethality and extended range. The priority for the PrSM in the near term is to pursue a maritime, ship-killing capability.
Lockheed Martin and an RTX and Northrop Grumman team will compete for a subsequent phase of the PrSM program. The Army awarded RTX a $97.7m contract in February 2023 to advance its design for a Long Range Maneuverable Fires program, planned to become the PrSM Increment 4 effort.
Lockheed received a $33m contract to develop capability for the increment around the same time. That increment focuses on dramatically extending the range of PrSM, possibly from its currently planned 499 kilometers (310 miles) to more than double that distance.
America’s 2019 withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia has allowed the U.S. Army to develop the missile to fly farther. The treaty had prevented the development of missiles with ranges between 499 kilometers and 5,000 kilometers.
In October 2021, the U.S. Army conducted a long-range flight test of PrSM that is believed to have exceeded the current range requirement of 499 kilometers. (Source: Defense News)
08 Dec 23. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) successfully conducted a full-scale static test fire of a new solid rocket motor that was developed in less than a year as part of its Solid Motor Annual Rocket Technology Demonstrator (SMART Demo).
The SMART Demo successfully demonstrated several innovative technologies, alternate manufacturing materials and processes to reduce lead times by 75 percent, including:
- Several advanced, long-lead tooling products as well as components of the solid rocket motor’s nozzle structure, constructed with additive manufacturing techniques
- A new cost-effective solid rocket motor propellant capable of operating at cold temperatures
- Alternative suppliers and new materials that could supplement or replace other long-lead materials experiencing challenged supply chains
Expert:
Wendy Williams, vice president, propulsion systems, Northrop Grumman: “We are designing and building the world’s largest and most advanced solid rocket motors, and we’re proving we can do so with shorter lead times, an expanded supply chain and increased agility for our customers.”
Details on SMART Demo:
SMART Demo shows the effective implementation of new solid rocket motor technologies, materials, and processes to reduce development time and costs and improve motor performance. The efforts include the design, development, build and test of a new solid rocket motor and associated tooling.
Northrop Grumman plans to execute SMART Demo’s annually as the company continues to invest and advance in solid rocket motor development and propulsion. SMART Demo expands and strengthens Northrop Grumman’s supplier base by streamlining the test and qualification of new materials, processes and alternate suppliers who manufacture critical materials that use faster and more efficient processes.
Northrop Grumman is also developing five new motors concurrently for the first time. As the company anticipates significantly expanding and increasing motor production count by 2030, it is constructing 11 new buildings and modifying 16 more to support new and existing programs.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.
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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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