Sponsored by Galvion
www.galvion.com
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18 Jan 24. Galvion introduces E.D.G™ – a headborne power and data distribution and management system.
Galvion, a world leader in power and data management solutions and innovative head protection systems, is introducing E.D.G™ (Energy Data Grid; pronounced “edge”), a modular and scalable power and data distribution and management system for headborne accessories. The introduction coincides with Shot Show 2024 taking place in Las Vegas, USA, 23-26 January 2024, where Galvion will be exhibiting E.D.G, alongside their other products, on Booth 32003.
Galvion’s E.D.G headborne system has been developed in response to the continuing and escalating power and data needs of the warfighter. Developed over multiple years, the scalable power solution was first introduced on Galvion’s PDxT™ helmet platform to meet the operational needs of the United States Marine Corps as a part of the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) Integrated Helmet System (IHS) Other Transaction Agreement (OTA). Designed through an iterative development cycle, incorporating real-time feedback from USMC trials throughout the process, the E.D.G system represents a critical step in transitioning from a protective ‘helmet’ to an ‘integrated helmet system’ that enhances lethality and survivability. In response to similar operational needs across multiple global customers and end-users, the E.D.G system will be available for Galvion’s flagship Batlskin Caiman® head system, and when released for full production, the flexible and scalable power system can be retrofitted to a fielded helmet or delivered as a fully assembled helmet system.
The E.D.G system includes the Base Power Pack, powered by a single CR123 battery, and an attachable Extended Power Pack that accommodates a minimum of two and up to six AA batteries, boosting power availability and delivery when needed, but removeable to lighten the load when not. The system also features a battery-powered strobe and VAS connection point, ready for emerging technologies like AR and VR. It features an independent task light and evolved rails with integrated cable management and storage. An innovative feature of this system is the state-of-charge indicators on the Extended Power Pack, also viewable in the NVG display, ensuring operators know how much power they have available at all times.
Todd Stirtzinger, CEO at Galvion, said: “We are heavily invested in preparing our military and tactical teams to meet the ever-evolving technology and equipment demands of the modern battlefield. We work with tier 1 customers every day and see the challenges coming with the proliferation of headborne accessories and capabilities. Managing their power and data needs is a critical part of that. The E.D.G system represents a united effort across Galvion’s power & data, industrial design, human performance, and head systems teams to develop a user-focused solution, and we’re excited to introduce this capability to our global customer base.” He added: “With more and more of our Caiman® helmets out in the field, this retrofittable power system represents an upgrade path for existing systems or is of course available on a fully kitted new head system. We’re also excited about the future opportunity to include E.D.G in our NSPA framework contract so our multiple NATO customers can more easily access this technology and capability”.
21 Jan 24. Sea Viper System used to destroy Red Sea drones to be upgraded.
Cutting-edge Royal Navy missiles – recently used to shoot down multiple hostile drones in the Red Sea – will receive significant enhancements through an upgrade programme supporting hundreds of UK jobs.
Crucial to defend sailors, surface fleet and air threats, the Sea Viper Air Defence system will be upgraded with updated missiles featuring a new warhead and software update that will enable it to defeat ballistic missile threats. The system will protect the UK’s Carrier Strike group and can track, target and destroy a variety of air threats over 70 miles away.
Worth £405 million, the contracts will make Sea Viper the most capable naval air defence system ever developed for the Royal Navy, investing in vital capability used in recent weeks to protect one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes from multiple drone attacks.
The missile upgrades comprise three contracts awarded to MBDA UK, including two to significantly enhance the Sea Viper capability on board Type 45 warships, and a third to cover enhanced in-service support and availability of the system for the next five years.
By further investing in our world-leading defence industry, the contracts will also support the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by sustaining 350 UK jobs, including highly skilled technology roles in Stevenage, Cowes, Bristol & Bolton.
The work will include employees from MBDA across the UK, France and Italy working alongside colleagues from BAE Systems.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “As the situation in the Middle East worsens, it is vital that we adapt to keep the UK, our allies and partners safe. Sea Viper has been at the forefront of this, being the Navy’s weapon of choice in the first shooting down of an aerial threat in more than 30 years.
Our strong and enduring relationship with British industry has ensured we can deploy the latest technological capabilities wherever they are required while supporting hundreds of jobs across the country and bolstering UK prosperity.”
The Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers are among the most advanced in the fleet and carry out a range of activity, including defence from air attack, counter-piracy operations and providing humanitarian aid.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps this week visited HMS Diamond in the Red Sea, where it recently used Sea Viper missiles to shoot down multiple attack drones, as part of the US-led international taskforce Operation Prosperity Guardian.
Alongside HMS Diamond, the taskforce currently includes three US destroyers, and a French warship is also in the region. All are currently operating in the Southern Red Sea with the multinational partnership focusing on protecting freedom of navigation, international trade and human life by countering illicit non-state actors in international waters.
Rear Admiral Anthony Rimington, Director Force Generation said: “A cutting-edge weapon system, Sea Viper continues to provide the Royal Navy with impressive lethality. Sea Viper Evolution further enhances this capability against the more complex and evolving threats and strengthens our cooperation and interoperability with key partners.”
The Sea Viper enhancements aim to deliver Ballistic Missile Defence Capability to counter more complex threats, while providing an opportunity for further upgrades and increased capability to be taken forward into future systems.
The initial stage of the contract will upgrade the Royal Navy’s existing Aster 30 missiles to Aster 30 Block 1, which will enable defence against anti-ship ballistic missile threats, and will see modifications to the fleet’s Multi-Function Radar (Sampson), Command and Control system and Combat Management System.
The subsequent stage of the Sea Viper evolution will evaluate the introduction of the new Aster 30 Block 1NT missile. Currently under development with France and Italy, it features a new seeker that would even further enhance the ballistic missile defence capabilities of the UK’s Type 45 destroyers.
Vice Admiral Paul Marshall, Director General Ships at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the UK MOD, said: “In a rapidly changing defence environment, I’m proud to see our teams work collaboratively with industry colleagues to support highly-skilled jobs and ensure those operating the UK Type 45 fleet have the edge over their adversaries now and in the future.”
Chris Allam, Managing Director of MBDA UK, said: “These contracts will make Sea Viper the most capable naval air defence system ever developed for the Royal Navy in our 60-year history as the Navy’s primary air defence system supplier. They will also see the UK further enhance the co-operation with France and Italy through MBDA by joining the Aster 30 Block 1 programme, giving the UK the ability to defeat anti-ship ballistic missiles.”
The main element of Sea Viper Evolution will see the Royal Navy’s existing Aster 30 missiles receive upgraded Block 1 warheads and new guidance and seeker software to deal with new anti-ship ballistic missile threats, whilst retaining its world leading anti-air warfare capability. The Type 45’s Sampson multi-function radar, and combat management system will also be upgraded. An integrated team from MBDA across the UK, France and Italy is conducting the work together with BAE Systems Maritime Services.
Scott Jamieson, Managing Director, BAE Systems’ Maritime Services business, said: “Our Radar business is excited to be working with MBDA on the Sea Viper Evolution upgrade to our SAMPSON Radar on board the UK’s Type 45 Destroyers. This new capability will form a key element of the UK’s Maritime Ballistic Missile Defence programme.”
The second part of Sea Viper Evolution is an assessment phase evaluating adding the new Aster 30 Block 1NT missile to the Type 45 destroyers, as well as further improvements to the radar and the wider weapon system, to provide world leading capabilities against medium range manoeuvring and separating ballistic missiles.
The extended ISS contract will continue to build upon MBDA’s pioneering data driven approach to optimised stockpile availability, ensuring the Royal Navy have weapons ready at time of need.
The enhancements to the fleet of Type 45 destroyers are expected to reach full operational capability by Autumn 2032. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
18 Jan 24. Pakistan’s Air Force says it has a hypersonic-capable missile. The Pakistan Air Force has revealed the existence of a hypersonic missile capability, noting on social media and in a news release that the weapon is part of a wider modernization effort “to counter evolving threats.”
The service said the capability is meant to help create a “potent force and to rebalance the power dynamics in the region” under the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.
Other modernization efforts have included the “acquisition of J-10C fighter jets, Unmanned Aerial Systems, modern electronic warfare platforms, force multipliers, state-of-the-art integrated air defense systems, air mobility platforms, [and High Mobility Air Defense Systems],” the service said.
The Air Force did not respond to Defense News’ questions by press time for further information about the hypersonic missile.
Pakistan’s main supplier of military equipment, China, unveiled its air-launched YJ-21E hypersonic missile at the 2022 Zhuhai Airshow. However, a H-6K Badger bomber carried the weapon — an aircraft type not in service with Pakistan.
Timothy Wright, a military analyst the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank, said Pakistan’s hypersonic missile is likely not a new weapon, but rather the CM-400AKG, which the country acquired five years ago for its JF-17 Thunder jets. The service’s release included a video featuring the CM-400AKG missile.
“According to the missile’s manufacturer [Aviation Industry Corporation of China], the CM-400AKG can travel at hypersonic [Mach 5-plus] speeds,” he told Defense News. “However, there has not been an independent assessment of this claim.”
“It is possible the missile is instead a high-supersonic system” reaching speeds between Mach 3 and Mach 4.9, he added.
However, he said, Pakistan’s claim that it has a hypersonic-capable missile may be due to factors during the specific launch.
“The missile’s high speed might be achieved by the missile’s supposed flight trajectory, most of which takes place at high altitudes where it will encounter less drag, after which the missile descends toward its target,” he explained.
(Source: Defense News)
19 Jan 24. SIG SAUER Expands Operations in United Kingdom. SIG SAUER, Inc. announced an alliance with Accuracy International Limited (AI) to expand the business operations of SIG SAUER in support of the British Armed Forces and law enforcement customers within the United Kingdom.
“As part of our global strategic growth plan, SIG SAUER is solidifying several key partnerships to meet the increased demand for our products in Europe and other NATO countries,” began Ron Cohen, President, SIG SAUER, Inc. “The alliance with Accuracy International affords SIG an expanded presence, greater customer engagement, and new collaboration in the UK to meet the diverse, immediate and future needs of the British military, law enforcement, and other security and defense organizations.”
Accuracy International is a British firearms manufacturer based in Portsmouth, England with products fielded with military units and law enforcement globally.
“The benefits of the partnership with SIG SAUER are clear; our brand reputations are strong, the product lines and customer bases are complementary, and our company cultures are closely aligned,” stated Tom Irwin, AI Director; “SIG will benefit from AI’s extensive UK market expertise and manufacturing and logistical infrastructure to assist in the transition toward a fully independent SIG SAUER UK entity.”
“This strategic partnership signifies our commitment and laser focus on the US-UK defence security relationship and our investment brings new opportunity to the British economy,” Cohen concluded.
About SIG SAUER, Inc.
SIG SAUER, Inc. is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, airguns, suppressors, remote controlled weapons stations, and training. For over 250 years SIG SAUER, Inc. has evolved, and thrived, by blending American ingenuity, German engineering, and Swiss precision. Today, SIG SAUER is synonymous with industry-leading quality and innovation which has made it the brand of choice amongst the U.S. Military, the global defense community, law enforcement, competitive shooters, hunters, and responsible citizens. Additionally, SIG SAUER is the premier provider of elite firearms instruction and tactical training at the SIG SAUER Academy. Headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, SIG SAUER has over 3,400 employees across sixteen U.S. locations in three states, and four additional global facilities. SIG SAUER is certified a Great Place to Work™. For more information about the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.
19 Jan 24. Advanced future military laser achieves UK first.
First high-power firing of a laser weapon against aerial targets.
Laser boasts pinpoint accuracy and low long-term costs.
Partnership with industry making positive progress for UK Armed Forces.
A military laser which could boost the UK Armed Forces with greater accuracy while reducing the reliance on high-cost ammunition has reached its next milestone.
During a trial at the MOD’s Hebrides Range, the DragonFire laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system achieved the UK’s first high-power firing of a laser weapon against aerial targets. The range of DragonFire is classified, but it is a line-of-sight weapon and can engage with any visible target.
DragonFire exploits UK technology to be able to deliver a high-power laser over long ranges. The precision required is equivalent to hitting a pound coin from a kilometre away.
Laser-directed energy weapons can engage targets at the speed of light and use an intense beam of light to cut through the target, leading to structural failure or more impactful results if the warhead is targeted.
Firing it for 10 seconds is the cost equivalent of using a regular heater for just an hour and therefore it has the potential to be a long-term low-cost alternative to certain tasks missiles currently carry out. The cost of operating the laser is typically less than £10 per shot.
The Science Inside
This milestone demonstrated the ability to engage aerial targets at relevant ranges and is a major step in bringing this technology into service. The technology is being considered by both the Army and Royal Navy as part of their future air defence capabilities.
Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps said:
“This type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionise the battlespace by reducing the reliance on expensive ammunition, while also lowering the risk of collateral damage.
“Investments with industry partners in advanced technologies like DragonFire are crucial in a highly contested world, helping us maintain the battle-winning edge and keep the nation safe.”
The latest milestone builds on a series of highly successful trials, including the first static high-power laser firing of a sovereign UK capability and demonstration of the DragonFire system’s ability to track moving air and sea targets with very high accuracy at range.
Building on this research, the MOD recently announced its intention to fund a multi-m-pound programme to transition the technology from the research environment to the battlefield.
The latest trial was sponsored by the MOD’s Defence Science and Technology (DST) organisation and Strategic Programmes and enabled by many other agencies across government, ensuring all regulatory and safety approval requirements were satisfied.
Dstl Chief Executive, Dr Paul Hollinshead said: “These trials have seen us take a huge step forward in realising the potential opportunities and understanding the threats posed by directed energy weapons.
“With our decades of knowledge, skills, and operational experience, Dstl’s expertise is critical to helping the armed forces prepare for the future.”
The DragonFire weapon system is the result of a £100 m joint investment by the Ministry of Defence and industry. Together, the companies involved are supporting highly-skilled UK jobs in new cutting-edge technologies that are delivering a significant step-change in the UK’s capability in LDEW systems.
In 2017 the MOD’s Chief Scientific Advisor’s Research Programme awarded a £30 m contract to the DragonFire consortium to demonstrate the potential of LDEWs.
DST Director, Dr Nick Joad said:
“This is a really innovative application of science and engineering and is the fruit of sustained investment and effort. DragonFire uses cutting-edge science and technology and delivers much greater performance than other systems of a similar class. DragonFire provides a step-change in our ability to deal with high-performance and low-cost threats.” Shimon Fhima, Director Strategic Programmes for the MOD said:
“The DragonFire trials at the Hebrides demonstrated that our world-leading technology can track and engage high-end effects at range. In a world of evolving threats we know that our focus must be on getting capability to the warfighter and we will look to accelerate this next phase of activity.”
LDEW research and technology is delivered in partnership and is a cost-effective way of meeting the needs of the MOD while maintaining UK industry’s technology and skills base. UK defence is continuing to invest in these game-changing technologies and is advancing the plans which will ultimately bring them into service.
UK DragonFire is a team, led by MBDA, bringing together the best of industry expertise, with QinetiQ and Leonardo. The DragonFire team has worked in close partnership for several years with MOD organisations such as Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Defence Science and Technology (DST), and MOD’s Strategic Programmes to advance the DragonFire LDEW system and the UK’s LDEW ambitions.
19 Jan 24. US Minuteman III missile replacement breaks $96bn budget, triggers Pentagon review. The replacement for the ground-based U.S. nuclear arsenal anchored by the Minuteman III has officially busted through its $95.8bn budget due to the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation, the Air Force said on Thursday.
The Air Force is notifying Congress that the program, being designed and managed by Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N), opens new tab, is now at least 37% over a pre-pandemic cost estimate finalized in September 2020, Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, told Reuters in an interview.
Program changes, such as making bigger silos and switching to more durable materials, have also raised costs.
The total program cost, now estimated above $131bn, could grow further as the U.S. Secretary of Defense concludes a review by the summer.
While cost overruns regularly occur at the Department of Defense, the Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is especially expensive to replace.
The missile network is part of the so-called nuclear triad that includes nuclear-tipped ground-based ICBM, nuclear-capable bomber aircraft and submarine-launched nuclear arms.
“It’s been over 70 years since we did the ground piece of this,” Hunter said. “We didn’t estimate it well.”
Blasting through cost estimate thresholds triggers the Nunn-McCurdy Act. The 1982 law requires the Pentagon to formally justify to Congress the importance of a program in which unit acquisition costs have risen more than 25% above a baseline, and to show there are no alternatives.
The cost overrun is most acutely felt in modernizing the 450 missile silos and their command infrastructure, which includes 7,500 miles of new cables. The program will also buy trucks, training, command buildings and 659 missiles.
The missiles themselves are not to blame for the cost overrun, Hunter said.
The $95.8bn Minuteman III replacement program, named Sentinel, has multiple phases including development, design and procurement. In 2020 Northrop won a $13.3bn portion of that pie for an engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract to design, test, evaluate and advance the program.
Over time, specifications like square footage grew, things within the silos increased and moved, and costs rose due to the new systems with greater power and heating, ventilation and air conditioning demands, an Air Force official said on condition of anonymity.
With 450 missile silos, any small change is magnified, the Air Force official said.
Northrop said it “is committed to supporting the Air Force as it assesses and updates acquisition cost forecasts for the future phases of the program, to include construction projects, production, and deployment of the weapon system.”
Estimates generated in the $13.3bn EMD phase indicate that the next phase, procurement, will cost more than the $61bn contemplated under the $95.8bn program topline. Procurement would begin in the late 2020s.
When Northrop won the contract in 2020 it said, “Upon successful completion of EMD, the Northrop Grumman team will begin producing and delivering a modern and fully integrated weapon system to meet the Air Force schedule of initial operational capability by 2029.”
“Sentinel is absolutely necessary for the future of our nuclear deterrent,” Mike Rogers, chairman of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, said. “I’m committed to conducting vigorous oversight of the program and ensuring the Air Force follows through on making the necessary changes to address the cost overruns.”
“We’re going to continue to execute the program while the Nunn-McCurdy review is happening,” Hunter said. “Whether the program’s timeline will shift, that is pursuant to the Office of the Secretary of Defense review.” (Source: Reuters)
18 Jan 24. Northrop Grumman ends depleted uranium-capable tank ammunition production. The defence player closes the chapter on M829A4 deliveries and pivots towards next-gen ammunition technologies.
Northrop Grumman Corporation has officially completed its M829A4 production contract, ceasing depleted uranium ammunition as it gears up for munitions to redefine armoured warfare.
Northrop Grumman, a player in the defence sector, has officially finished producing the M829A4 120mm cartridge, signalling the end of depleted uranium-capable tank ammunition. This move is part of the company’s strategic realignment towards advanced ammunition technologies and pursuing solutions for modern battlefield challenges.
The M829A4, a linchpin in the Abrams M1A2 System Enhancement programme, was designed to counter third-generation explosive reactive armour on threat vehicles. However, the company has clarified that it will no longer produce ammunition with depleted uranium warheads.
Commenting on the closure of the current production contract, Jarrod Krull, Media Relations Manager at Northrop Grumman, stated, “Our cessation of depleted uranium ammunition production aligns with our forward-looking approach. We are adapting to the changing landscape of warfare, concentrating on advanced munitions that enhance precision and counter emerging threats.”
While the M829A4’s role in tank warfare is significant, Northrop Grumman emphasises its dedication to developing next-generation technologies.
Dave Fine, vice president and general manager of Armament Systems at Northrop Grumman, expressed the company’s commitment: “The successful completion of M829A4 marks a milestone, but our focus extends beyond. We are actively working on the M1147 120mm Advanced Multi-Purpose cartridge, a ‘smart round’ set to replace multiple existing rounds.”
In response to inquiries about the specifics of the depleted uranium penetrator, Krull clarified, “Currently, we are not producing ammunition that contains depleted uranium warheads. The M829A4’s depleted uranium penetrator was provided through L3 Harris / Aerojet under contract from the US Army.”
As the defence industry adapts to emerging threats, Northrop Grumman concentrates on creating ammunition that includes air-bursting, proximity, and guided munitions. (Source: army-technology.com)
19 Jan 24. Bundestag Approves €1.2bn to Develop New Air-Defence Vehicles.
Development of An Air Defense System for Land Operations. The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag has approved the financial resources for the production of prototypes of an air defense system for close and immediate area protection. This paves the way for the development of a new system based on the Boxer wheeled tank.
In order to close the existing capability gaps in ground-based air defense, the development of a system for protecting a troop formation against attacks from the air and for drone detection and defense can begin.
The core elements of such a network for close and immediate area protection will probably be a command post, fire control tanks, radar devices and anti-aircraft missile tanks. For anti-aircraft defense, the components are to on the basis of the GTK armored transport vehicle Boxer be installed with a guided missile.
The IRIS-T SLS, the surface-to-air variant of the IRIS-T, is to be used
The Budget Committee has approved 1.23bn euros for the development of an initial version of the most important components. The investment will initially be financed from the Bundeswehr special fund. The project will then continue in the regular defense budget. A prototype of the system is scheduled to be available in 2028.
Milestone in protecting our troops from drone attacks and other aerial threats. Yesterday the Budget Committee gave the green light for the future air defense system short-range/near-area protection. The first fully operational IRIS T SLM will be handed over to us in Todendorf this summer. (Twitter translation)
Until the Army’s anti-aircraft defense force was disbanded, the Gepard anti-aircraft gun was one of the main weapon systems to accompany the tank and armored infantry troops and to protect them from attacking aircraft and helicopters at low altitudes. It was in use until 2010.
Experiences from Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression underline how important mobile and protected air defense systems are for national and alliance defense: discarded Gepard tanks were put back into operation and delivered to Ukraine to combat air targets there.
With the Roland weapon system, the Bundeswehr already had an anti-aircraft missile tank to combat low-flying aircraft. It was withdrawn from use in 2005. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Deutsche Welle German Radio; issued Jan 19, 2024)
09 Jan 24. ASP Accurate On-the-Move Firing. The purpose of a military armament is to engage, hit and destroy a threat.
However, reliably hitting a target from a moving vehicle or vessel with a machine gun using a conventional mount is nearly an impossible task. Manually keeping the weapon on target and continuously compensating for movement especially of a vehicle driving off-road or boat can be an impossible task for a gunner. The movement of a naval craft in seas or vehicle driving off-road eliminates the possibility of effectively aiming. Few and more often no target hits are achieved despite the rounds fired.
The Flex Force ASP (Agile, Small-deflection, Precision) converts the standard MK-98 to a gyro-stabilized system that has demonstrated ability to repeatedly hit the target better than 90 percent of the time.
The ASP allows a manned machine gun to rapidly acquire, accurately engage and destroy targets with enhanced lethality independent of the movement of the platform it is carried on. The basic package adds a stabilization module and modified hand-grip control to the standard mount and weapon. A reflex or red-dot aiming sight like the Trijon MGRS or a multi-spectral day/thermal electro-optic or a can also be included on the weapon to further simply aiming.
In various field demonstrations comparing the ASP and a conventional manual mounted weapon replicating firing from moving platforms, boats, and vehicles it consistently achieved significantly superior results. In one case the ASP saw eighty-nine target hits of one-hundred rounds fired while the manual mount’s gunner was able to fire only sixteen rounds achieving zero hits in the same engagement time.
The ASP not only increases firing accuracy but also has been demonstrated to allow gunners to both acquire a target and train the weapon onto it in less time. It further increases the practical effective firing range by providing a tighter shot grouping.
The ASP can be employed with machineguns in 5.56mm, 7.62mm and 12.7mm (.50) calibers. Demonstrations have been conducted to the US and various NATO militaries with the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy acquiring the system for fielding on various vessels.
A Royal Navy seaman who fired the ASP with the .50 caliber machinegun underway in seas explained, “With the (ASP) mount stabilizing itself it allowed us to give a longer, more accurate burst of fire which enables us to eliminate threats quicker and at greater ranges.” (Source: Armada)
18 Jan 24. Norway Allocates 2bn Norwegian Kroner to Increase Production Capacity of Ammunition. The Norwegian government allocates 2bn kroner to increase production capacity in the Norwegian defence industry, mainly for artillery ammunition. The government has already allocated approximately one bn NOK to increase the Norwegian capacity of ammunition production through co-financing of ASAP projects.
Støre, Gram, Brandzæg and Løkke touring the facility.
“The war in Ukraine leads to a spur in demand for ammunition. The government will increase the financial support for the Norwegian defence industry in order to ramp-up ammunition production. One bn NOK will be allocated to specific projects at Nammo, and another One bn NOK will be provided to other projects within the Norwegian defence industry,” states Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
The government has previously set aside around one bn kroner to increase Norwegian production capacity through co-financing of so-called ASAP projects. (The Norwegian government will increase the production capacity of ammunition and missiles with one bn Norwegian kroner – regjeringen.no). The total production support is three bn Norwegian kroner.
“Enhancing the capacity in the defence industry is important, both for Ukraine and for our own security. We are now contributing to a significant increase in production capacity at Nammo to meet the needs of Norway, allies, and Ukraine,” says Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram (from The Centre Party).
The government has implemented a number of measures to replace donated ammunition and refill Norway’s stockpiles in the long term. Over the past year, the Norwegian government has placed several substantial contracts to the ammunition manufacturer Nammo, including the largest contract in the company’s history. Norway is also participating in a Nordic ammunition project.
“Norway is part of European defence industry projects such as ASAP. Through these programs, an estimated one bn kroner worth of applications from companies such as Nammo, Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace and Chemring Nobel have been filed,” says the defence minister. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Norwegian Ministry of Defence)
17 Jan 24. US Marines rush to field two air defense systems amid global threats. The U.S. Marine Corps is pushing two air defense systems closer to fielding this year, as emerging threats in Europe and the Middle East highlight the need to keep Marine units safe from incoming missiles and drones.
The Medium-Range Intercept Capability, which rapidly integrated several existing systems to create a new cruise missile defense capability, is moving into training and integration this year ahead of an operational assessment in September. The Corps plans to hand over the first system to 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion in Hawaii in June 2025.
The service also announced this month it successfully tested the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, in December during a live-fire event that saw the system shoot down several drones at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.
Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, the deputy commandant for combat development and integration, told Defense News in a Jan. 12 interview that integrated air and missile defense is becoming increasingly important for the service’s future operating plans and its Force Design modernization initiative.
“When you look at how we’ve approached [integrated air and missile defense] from a Force Design perspective, it’s got to be layered defense, and so the MRIC [Medium-Range Intercept Capability] is complementary and overlaps our MADIS and [Light] MADIS,” he said.
Heckl added that a critical concern former Commandant Gen. David Berger and current Commandant Gen. Eric Smith had about Force Design is the ability to defend small units on the forward edge — or inside an enemy’s weapons engagement zone.
“The MRIC is going to be a critical piece of that,” Heckl said.
Pointing to ongoing missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea as well as ashore in the Middle East, Heckl said the integrated air and missile defense model is already at play among the joint force: U.S. and allied naval ships are shooting down what they can at sea, but ground units in Iraq, for example, have still come under attack by incoming aerial threats. MRIC and MADIS would provide additional layers of defense for these units once fielded, he said, supplementing the broader protection Navy assets can provide to the region.
What matters “is how that Marine force … is nested within the larger joint force. So I think we’re seeing a real-world live view of that happening in the Middle East, and I think it’s working pretty doggone good.”
A new anti-missile system
The MRIC system will go from concept to fielding in about five years, due to its use of existing systems: the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar; the Common Aviation Command and Control System; the Tamir interceptor missile and an associated battle management system used in the Iron Dome defensive system in Israel; and a repurposed resupply trailer of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
Lt. Col. Matthew Beck, the product manager for MRIC, told Defense News the system had performed well in several live-fire events, but noted that personnel from the equipment manufacturers and the program office had run them. The next step, he said, is to train a low-altitude air defense battalion to use the gear and to conduct their own operations without outside help.
Though the Corps hasn’t identified which unit will participate in this year’s training and the operational assessment in September, he said it will include low-altitude air defense battalion members, who will manage the intercept with help from a Marine aircraft control group to operate the G/ATOR radar. Those units, once identified, will undergo “significant training events” ahead of the September test, he added.
From there, 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion will prepare to accept the new equipment, scheduled for June 2025. Beck said the Corps hopes to spread the capability to the rest of the fleet as rapidly as possible after that.
Heckl agreed he’d like to see MRIC fielded quickly but noted his main concern was “outstripping industrial base capability” to build the interceptor missile. He didn’t want units with empty launchers, he said.
To that end, Tamir builder Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has teamed up with RTX — formerly known as Raytheon Technologies — to build the interceptor missiles at Camden, Arkansas.
RTX spokeswoman Briana Gabrys told Defense News that a new production facility’s design and construction plans are in the works, and that factory test equipment was already ordered. The facility is expected to open in 2025.
She declined to disclose how many interceptors this new production line will build, but said it will produce enough missiles to support the U.S. Marine Corps, Israel and other international customers.
The American-built interceptors will be dubbed SkyHunter, but will be identical to Tamir missiles, which can shoot down cruise missiles, crewed aircraft, drones, rockets, artillery and mortars.
Global threats
MRIC is meant to protect fixed and semi-fixed locations, but users can move it with the help of a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement. MADIS, on the other hand, is mounted atop a pair of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and can provide a close-in protection to forces on the forward edge. One piece of the system detects incoming drones and small aircraft; the other shoots Stinger missiles and a 30mm cannon.
The December test in Arizona subjected the system to “actual battlefield scenarios,” according to a Marine Corps news release.
The system will go through additional live-fire testing, new equipment training, system verification testing, and initial operational test and evaluation between now and September.
If successful, the 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion will received MADIS. That battalion provides air defense to the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, which is at the heart of the Marine Corps’ stand-in force in the Pacific.
Both of the air defense systems are important to the Marines’ Force Design modernization effort. The service plans to send small units to dispersed locations throughout the Pacific region as a deterrence to China.
Critics of Force Design and its chief architect, former Commandant Berger, have long argued the service is developing a force that’s only applicable to a Pacific-based fight. But Heckl said ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe justify decisions made under Force Design.
“We have an axis of evil — Russia and the [Chinese Communist Party] are openly aligned, and now we’ve got Iran, North Korea, North Korea supplying Russia, Iran is supplying the Houthis,” he said. “It’s becoming less and less an issue of separating the CCP from anybody else” because technology is being shared among these countries and militant groups.
As a result, all the threats Marines were preparing for in the Pacific could be — and in some cases already are — used in other theaters.
“What we’re seeing bear itself out in the Middle East right now conceptually supports the direction [of Force Design],” Heckl said, citing loitering munitions, drone swarms and unmanned surface vessels. “So all these concerns clearly are a physical manifestation now of what we thought” Marines needed to prepare for in the Pacific and elsewhere.
(Source: Defense News)
17 Jan 24. Edge, Baykar integrating guided bombs with Bayraktar TB2 UAV. The Emirati defence group Edge is working with Baykar to integrate its Desert Sting guided bomb on the Turkish company’s Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), it was announced on 17 January.
In a statement, Edge said the plan is to initially integrate the Desert Sting 16 (DS-16) with the TB2 before the end of this year as part of its strategic alliance agreement with Baykar, with other payloads to follow.
“Integration of the Desert Sting 16 and other Edge weapons and systems will be valuable options in our UAV payload offerings,” the statement quoted Selçuk Bayraktar, Baykar chairman and chief technology officer, as saying. The statement was accompanied by a video showing a DS-16 being loaded on to a TB2 at a location that could be identified as Baykar’s Keşan facility and then being dropped on Hedef island in the Gulf of Saros, about 22km to the southeast. (Source: Janes)
16 Jan 24. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation have signed a teaming agreement to collaborate on integrated air and missile defense capabilities for Japan’s ground-based systems.
- Northrop Grumman and Mitsubishi Electric will combine their respective technologies to develop a networking solution integrating Japan’s air and missile defense capabilities to share target information across various defense systems.
- The partnership seeks to contribute to Japanese defense capability in integrated air and missile defense by providing better situational awareness, increased interoperability and effective resource management.
Expert:
Rebecca Torzone, vice president and general manager, combat systems and mission readiness, Northrop Grumman: “The Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) is accelerating integrated air and missile defense by prioritizing investments in operationally resilient systems and exploring the advantages of networking systems to facilitate fire control. Today’s agreement with Mitsubishi Electric signifies a renewed collaborative relationship combining Northrop Grumman’s proven integrated air and missile defense capabilities with Japanese defense expertise to accelerate innovation, in alignment with JMOD’s priorities.”
16 Jan 24. Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, a leading provider of specialty and sustainable material solutions, today announces the launch of a new website and brand identity for the world’s strongest fiber™. With a new user-centric online platform and modern, premium visual identity, the Dyneema® brand is better placed than ever to showcase its strengths, generate and capture market demand, and meet the needs and expectations of today’s buyers.
In particular, the new online platform provides an up-to-date hub for content and acts as a central touchpoint for engagement and communication with the wider value chain. It currently includes more than a dozen pages dedicated to the different sectors and industries Dyneema® serves, 20 pages aimed at downstream audiences looking for content about end-use applications and products, and seven pages providing system designers and engineers with insights into the technical properties and versatility of Dyneema® materials. Alongside these sit dozens of case studies and blogs, as well as a dedicated sustainability section with key information on how Dyneema® materials can be used to enable a lower environmental footprint and greater circularity. More content is already being developed and will be added throughout 2024.
“The all-new Dyneema.com website will form the heart of campaigns, customer engagement, and our brand growth strategy,” says Jan-Lodewijk Lindemulder, Vice President and General Manager for Dyneema®, at Avient. “Taking a user-centric approach, we’ve developed a content structure that will support customers and end-users throughout their journey. We’re excited to be able to share a wealth of new information that reflects the strengths we bring to the markets we serve – from our unique fibers and technical expertise to our technical know-how and secure global supply chain.”
Formed from two Greek words meaning “strong” and “fiber,” the name Dyneema® has become a byword for strength in applications and industries worldwide. While the brand name therefore remains unchanged, the highly recognizable Dyneema® diamond logo – the ultimate symbol of strength – has been given a modern redesign inspired by the unique manufacturing process that enables Dyneema® fibers to be engineered at the polymer level. The update creates visual synergy with the Avient logo, conveying a stronger connection to Avient as the new owner of the Dyneema® brand, and representing cohesion and unity for all customer and end-user markets.
“With our new website and brand refresh, we’re creating a universal, cohesive, and distinctly recognizable experience across all customer touchpoints,” continues Lindemulder. “The strength of Dyneema® extends beyond our products: our strength is in the talent, expertise, and commitment of our people; in our global reach, broad scope, and robust logistics infrastructure; and our brand’s visibility, reputation, and vision. Our brand is as strong as our organization, embodying the science, power, performance, and protection that customers gain from Dyneema®.”
About Avient
Avient Corporation provides specialized and sustainable material solutions that transform customer challenges into opportunities, bringing new products to life for a better world. Examples include:
- Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™, which enables unmatched levels of performance and protection for end-use applications, including ballistic personal protection, marine and sustainable infrastructure, and outdoor sports
- Unique technologies that improve the recyclability of products and enable recycled content to be incorporated, thus advancing a more circular economy
- Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional materials like metal, glass, and wood, which can improve fuel efficiency in all modes of transportation and reduce carbon footprint
- Sustainable infrastructure solutions that increase energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural resource conservation, and fiber optic / 5G network accessibility
Avient is certified ACC Responsible Care®, a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and certified Great Place to Work®. For more information, visit https://www.avient.com.
To access Avient’s news library online, please visit www.avient.com/news
16 Jan 24. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) successfully completed a live, static-fire test of a Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) stage-two solid rocket motor at the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex. The test was conducted in a vacuum chamber simulating real-world environmental conditions the solid-rocket motor would experience during high-altitude and space flight.
- Test data will be analyzed to determine how motor performance matched digitally engineered model predictions, critical to maturing the design and lowering risk.
- Following this development effort, Northrop Grumman will begin a series of rocket motor qualification testing for both stages.
- Northrop Grumman is designing and producing Stages one and two of the three-stage Sentinel missile.
- This test was conducted under the company’s engineering, manufacturing, and development (EMD), or design contract for Sentinel. Northrop Grumman continues to perform on this phase and is working closely with the Air Force on progressing EMD milestones.
Expert:
Sarah Willoughby, vice president and program manager, Sentinel, Northrop Grumman: “Our successful test moves us forward for qualification testing in partnership with the Air Force. The test’s data gives us an accurate reading of our design’s performance and now informs our modeling and designs. This lowers risk and builds confidence in our approach to deliver the next-generation ICBM capability to the Air Force.”
Details on Program:
The Sentinel program is a modernization of the nation’s ground-based leg of the strategic triad and is designed to be viable through 2075.
Northrop Grumman leads a nationwide team for the engineering, manufacturing and design (EMD) contract. The team is responsible for designing the most technologically advanced portion of America’s ground-based strategic deterrent and is closely partnered with the Air Force to continue progress on EMD milestones, maturing the design while reducing risk.
Other key milestones previously performed under EMD include hypersonic wind tunnel testing and a stage-one solid rocket motor static fire.
15 Jan 24. Burkina Faso receives new Chinese self-propelled guns and mortars. Burkina Faso is the latest African military to procure 105 mm WMA301 fire-support vehicles made by Chinese company Norinco, it was revealed on 12 January when President Captain Ibrahim Traoré attended a ceremony to mark the delivery of a consignment of new military equipment.
A video released by the president’s office showed Traoré inspecting six WMA301s with a command vehicle, along with eight Norinco 81 mm CS/SM1 self-propelled mortars, a type that uses a Dongfeng light tactical vehicle and has not been seen in Africa before.
Traoré was also shown a series of shipping containers that were filled with weapons and ammunition that included a 60 mm WW90 mortar, mortar rounds, and rounds for RPG-7-type recoilless guns.
Minister of Defence Brigadier General Kassoum Coulibaly said this was the first of five consignments that are expected to arrive over the coming months under the strategic equipment plan announced by Traoré on 31 December 2023. Traoré referred to the plan in his televised speech on
(Source: Janes)
16 Jan 24. Australia to commence domestic missile manufacture.
Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System missiles are scheduled to commence domestic production from 2025 as part of a contract between Defence and Lockheed Martin Australia announced today. Valued at $37.4m, the agreement will see the prime contractor transfer technical data to Australia, build a domestic workforce, and establish production processes ahead of manufacturing an initial batch of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles and launch pod containers in Australia.
A live fire demonstration is scheduled to occur in 2025.
The GMLRS is compatible with HIMARS, and the prime contractor has boasted that the capability has a 98 per cent accuracy rating, with a range of 15 to 70 kilometres and beyond. The United Sates’ Defense Security Cooperation Agency first gave Australia the greenlight to acquire the HIMARS in 2022. Announced in 2021, the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise was designed to enhance Australia’s security posture without having to rely on international supply chains for the delivery of critical munitions.
The Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy also re-affirmed the government’s commitment to procuring Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) when announcing the agreement with Lockheed Martin Australia. Australia has been a member of the Precision Strike Missile program since 2021, and will enable Defence to engage targets out to 500 kilometres.
The recent contract will help Australia develop its domestic guided weapons and ordnance manufacturing capability as prioritised in the Defence Strategic Review, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles said.
“Signing this contract with Lockheed Martin Australia to begin the manufacturing of GMLRS in Australia from 2025 is another example of the Albanese government delivering key outcomes of the Defence Strategic Review,” DPM Marles outlined.
“These are important milestones which will see Australia gain the technology we need to establish a sovereign industry, providing opportunities for a highly-skilled workforce.”
In May, the Commonwealth announced that then Air Vice-Marshal Leon Phillips OAM had been appointed as the inaugural Chief of the GWEO Group. As part of the appointment, he was promoted to air marshal.
A total $4.1bn has been committed to long-range strike systems, including acquisition and manufacturing, over the forward estimates.
The development of Australia’s domestic missile manufacturing capability has been delivered in close collaboration with our United States partners, Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said.
“This work is a clear demonstration of the ongoing collaboration between Australia and the United States on Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise – a key outcome of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations in July 2023.”
Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive Warren McDonald explained that the partnership is fundamental for establishing a domestic guided weapons manufacturing base, “as a GWEO strategic partner, we are proud to be awarded this important defence contract. The GWPC Risk Reduction Activity contract will provide a mechanism for swift knowledge and technology transfer and serve as a risk mitigator and pathfinder to future manufacture in Australia of the Lockheed Martin suite of guided weapons”. (Source: Defence Connect)
15 Jan 24. Challenger 3 Ammunition Update. Sources suggest that the UK MoD is entering into a Joint Venture with the German BAAINBw to develop a new Tungsten Head KE round designated KE 20/20. In addition, the MoD is buying more DM73 rounds and DM11 Multipurpose HE. The original plan was to use the US DU round as it was deemed superior to the exiting KE rounds. However the US L44 120m gun has a shorter barrel and the KE round is seen as superior, particularly in defeating ERA, using the German longer barrelled L55 120mm gun.
BATTLESPACE Subscriber Comment: I suspect the U.K. is observing the German (Rheinmetall) development programme. However that is not the basis for CR3. As you point out US rounds are not qualified in the L55 weapon – Abrams is L44. So that leaves DM73, which i think is a derivative of DM63, and DM11. Note the DM63 was compared to L28 as part of of the previous effort to convert CR2 to Smoothbore and found to not degrade the performance of the system. DM73 (Kinetic Energy KE) and DM11 (HE Air Burst). Both of these are produced by Rheinmetall and are qualified in L55. All that is good news from a Demonstration phase perspective, however has U.K. secured a manufacturing slot for CR3. I suspect that Rheinmetall will be running at capacity for the next five years at least. This is probably a minor point, however on the face of it there is a risk that the CR3 system will successfully complete the Demonstration phase but will be unable to enter service because of the lack of ammunition. These comments do not cover Training ammunition as there are probably more sources for that.
15 Jan 24. North Korea Says It Tested Solid-Fuel Missile Tipped with Hypersonic Weapon. North Korea on Monday said it flight-tested a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead as it pursues more powerful, harder-to-detect weapons designed to strike remote U.S. targets in the region.
The report by North Korea’s state media came a day after the South Korean and Japanese militaries detected the launch from a site near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, in the North’s first ballistic test of 2024.
The launch came two months after North Korea said it successfully tested engines for a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile, which reflected a push to advance its lineup of weapons targeting U.S. military bases in Guam and Japan.
The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Sunday’s launch was aimed at verifying the reliability of the missile’s solid-fuel engines and the maneuverable flight capabilities of the hypersonic warhead. It described the test as a success.
KCNA did not mention whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was present at the test, which it said was part of the country’s regular weapons development activities.
“The test-fire never affected the security of any neighboring country and had nothing to do with the regional situation,” KCNA said.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The North’s existing intermediate-range missiles, including the Hwasong-12 that may be able to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, are powered by liquid-fuel engines, which need to be fueled before launch and cannot stay fueled for long periods of time.
Missiles with built-in solid propellants can be made ready to launch faster and are easier to move and conceal, which theoretically makes it harder for adversaries to detect and preempt the launch in advance.
Since 2021, the North has also been testing hypersonic weapons, which are designed to fly at speeds in excess of Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. If perfected, such systems could potentially pose a challenge to regional missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability.
Hypersonic weapons were part of a wish-list of sophisticated military assets Kim unveiled in 2021, along with multi-warhead missiles, spy satellites, solid-fuel long-range missiles and submarine-launched nuclear missiles.
The North last year tested a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time, which added to its arsenal of weapons targeting the U.S. mainland, and also launched its first military reconnaissance satellite in November.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years after Kim in recent months ramped up his weapons demonstrations. The United States and its allies Seoul and Tokyo responded by strengthening their combined military exercises and sharpening their nuclear deterrence strategies.
There are also concerns about an alleged arms cooperation between North Korea and Russia as they align in the face of separate, intensifying confrontations with Washington.
In their latest sign of diplomacy, a North Korean delegation led by Kim’s foreign minister, Choe Sun Hui, left Pyongyang on Sunday for a visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, KCNA said. The report did not specify what would be discussed.
The U.S. and South Korean governments have claimed that North Korea has been providing Russia with arms supplies, including artillery and missiles, to help prolong its invasion of Ukraine.
The Biden administration said it has evidence that missiles provided by North Korea to Russia had been used in the war in Ukraine. In a joint statement last week, the U.S., South Korea and their partners said the missile transfer supports Russia’s war of aggression and provides North Korea with valuable technical and military insights.
Some experts say that the North could try to further dial up pressure in an election year in South Korea and the United States.
North Korea earlier this month fired a barrage of artillery shells near the disputed western sea boundary with South Korea, prompting the South to conduct similar firing exercises in the area. Kim has also released verbal threats, using a political conference last week to define South Korea as the North’s “principal enemy” and threatened to annihilate it if provoked.
Experts say Kim likely wants to see South Korean liberals win a crucial parliamentary election in April to deal a blow to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has taken a hard line on the North. They say Kim may also want former U.S. President Donald Trump to be elected again, possibly thinking that would give him an easier shot at winning U.S. concessions over the nuclear standoff.
Trump met Kim three times during his term, but their diplomacy never recovered from the collapse of their second meeting in 2019, when the Americans rejected North Korea’s demand for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Voice of America News)
15 Jan 24. Turkish Firms Equip Drone with 40mm Grenade Launcher. Turkish firms Asisguard and Repkon Savunma Sistemleri have successfully integrated the SONGAR drone with a 40mm grenade launcher.
Asisguard’s armed drone, SONGAR, underwent a series of integration efforts with Repkon Savunma Sistemlerinin’s RDS40-MGL, a 6-barrel rotary grenade launcher.
The armed drone underwent field deployment, showcasing seamless integration with the 6-barrel rotary grenade launcher through a successful firing test.
Barış Düzgün, General Manager of Asisguard said that commitment to enhancing SONGAR’s capabilities by incorporating diverse ammunition types and payloads following its deployment to security forces.
Düzgün emphasized SONGAR’s enhanced capabilities with the integration of the 6-barrel rotary grenade launcher, enabling more effective targeting and increased firing capacity. He remarked,
“We continue our work on different payloads. We are also working on a 2-axis gimbal design to support night operations based on customer requests from the field. This will enable operational capabilities with night vision.”
Uğur Cem Gürpınar, Director of Business Development and Corporate Communication at Repkon Savunma Sistemleri, emphasized their achievement in providing a new utilization concept for the 6-barrel rotary grenade launcher, recognized as the lightest in its class and manufactured using steel material through the flowforming method, featuring rifling in the barrel.
Gürpınar highlighted the imminent visibility of both the 40mm automatic and 6-barrel rotary grenade launchers in numerous air, land, and sea platforms domestically and internationally throughout 2024. (Source: UAS VISION/Defence Blog)
12 Jan 24. Colt CZ acquires rights for Mk 47 ‘Striker’ automatic grenade launcher. Czech Republic-based firearms holding group Colt CZ Group SE has acquired the intellectual property rights for the Mk 47 “Striker” automatic grenade launcher from American defence major General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.
Colt CZ Group, through its subsidiary Colt, has acquired ownership of the Mk 47 40mm Advanced Lightweight Grenade Launcher system and its fire control set-up.
The MK 47 has been widely utilised as a portable 40mm grenade launcher suited for light infantry vehicles and tripod applications, not only for the US military but also for the Israel Defence Forces and Australian Defence Force. MK 47 weapon systems have seen service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
“This acquisition expands Colt CZ Group’s offerings into the segment of larger and more sophisticated weapon systems and crew-served platforms,” according to Jan Drahota, Colt CZ Group board of directors chairman and chief executive officer.
“The acquisition of this highly capable weapon system is fully in line with our group’s mission to provide innovative and high-quality products that our customers can rely on in any situation.
“Also, it will nicely complement the efforts our subsidiary SwissAA has in the production of 40mm grenades.”
The Mk 47 lightweight 40mm automatic grenade launcher functions with a standard automatic grenade launcher or programable 40mm airburst capability; it can also be mounted onto tripod, vehicle, air or watercraft.
“Colt’s manufacturing company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of firearms used by militaries around the world,” said Dennis Veilleux, Colt CZ Group North America chief executive officer and Colt CZ Group board of directors member.
“Colt has a history of producing crew-served weapons and 40mm shoulder-fired grenade launchers.
“Bringing the Mk 47 and fire control into the Colt CZ Group will allow our experienced engineering and operations team to expand its capabilities for the Future Soldier requirements.”
More than 200 MK 47 Mod 1 ADF version grenade launchers, fitted with lightweight video sights and thermal imaging, were delivered to the ADF between 2016 and 2017. Those weapons are maintained and sustained by Australian munitions company NIOA Group.
The Australian Army’s Mark 47 L40-2 lightweight automatic grenade launcher previously entered acceptance and testing trials at Port Wakefield in South Australia in September 2016, while the weapon officially entered service in November of that same year.
“NIOA introduced the MK47 Lightweight Automatic Grenade Launcher (LWAGL) under the LAND 40 Phase 2 Program in 2015 completing introduction into service activities on an accelerated two-year timeframe with first systems fielded in 2017,” according to a NIOA spokesperson.
“NIOA currently supports this fleet of weapons under sustainment arrangements with Defence and has established an in-country MK47 LWAGL maintenance and repair facility including MILIS/AIMS managed inventory and spares holding managed by a highly skilled workforce.
“As a long-standing partner of Colt, NIOA congratulates them on this acquisition and looks forward to exploring opportunities to expand the MK47 LWAGL representation.”
Late last year, Colt CZ Group also announced they had executed an agreement with CBC Europe to acquire a 100 per cent interest in Czech firearms ammunition manufacturer Sellier & Bellot.
Under that agreement, Colt CZ would acquire 100 per cent of shares of Sellier & Bellot for the combination of the cash consideration in the amount of $350m and a new issue of Colt CZ common stock leading to a 27–28 per cent CBC stake in the share capital of Colt CZ Group post-transaction. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval in various countries and is expected to close in the first half of this year. (Source: Google/Defence Connect)
12 Jan 24. Cuashub.com said today that Improvised Explosive Device Lexicon. The United Nations published the Improvised Explosive Device Lexicon to furnish the United Nations system with a unified conceptual framework and operational terminology for addressing the global threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The Improvised Explosive Device Lexicon contains the following major sections:
- General Terms
- Tactical Characterization
- Tactical Design
- Purpose of Device
- Technical Categorization
- Switch
- Initiator
- Main Charge
- Power Source
- Container
- Enhancements
- Glossary
There are no noted distribution or sharing limitations of this document.
https://cuashub.com/en/content/improvised-explosive-device-lexicon/?_hsmi=289760705&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–0YaLQRx8u3MTGYo0Wzrcoqv-eOg0J8MdrF8Oh-vohJNlhv5Fj-du5aZV5oN09TgjxYZuCI-7-AMtGGBSIE48tfYKDPPJOS8yr2RBx14hG2bDT7jU#utm_campaign=C-UAS%20Hub%20General&utm_medium=email&utm_content=289760705&utm_source=hs_email (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
15 Jan 24. DRDO Conducts Successful Flight-Test of New Generation AKASH Missile off Odisha Coast. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight-test of the New Generation AKASH (AKASH-NG) missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha at 1030 hrs on January 12, 2024. The flight-test was conducted against a high-speed unmanned aerial target at very low altitude. During the flight-test, the target was successfully intercepted by the weapon system and destroyed. It has validated the functioning of the complete weapon system consisting of the missile with indigenously developed Radio Frequency Seeker, Launcher, Multi-Function Radar and Command, Control & Communication system.
The system performance was also validated through the data captured by a number of Radars, Telemetry and Electro Optical Tracking System deployed by ITR, Chandipur. The flight-test was witnessed by senior officials from DRDO, Indian Air Force (IAF), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The AKASH-NG system is a state-of-the-art missile system capable of intercepting high speed, agile aerial threats. The successful flight test has paved the way for User trials.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has complimented the DRDO, IAF, PSUs and the Industry for the flight-test. The successful development of the system will further enhance the air defence capabilities of the country, he said.
Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat also congratulated the teams associated with the successful flight test of AKASH-NG. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Indian Ministry of Defence)
11 Jan 24. Firing Tests of Marine Corps Low-Level Air Defense Vehicle Successful. The Marine Corps is one step closer to defeating unmanned aircraft systems. In December, Program Executive Officer Land Systems successfully tested the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, low-rate initial production model, hitting several launched drones during a live-fire test at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.
The live-fire test subjected MADIS to actual battlefield scenarios, where it detected, tracked, identified, and defeated unmanned aerial threats.
“MADIS can complete the entire kill chain, and we witness that during this event,” said Col. Andrew Konicki, program manager for Ground Based Air Defense. “It is a linchpin for mission success and our ability to neutralize airborne threats…which in turn, increases our lethality.”
MADIS is a short-range, surface-to-air system that enables Low Altitude Air Defense Battalions to deter and neutralize unmanned aircraft systems and fixed wing/rotary wing aircraft. Mounted aboard two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, the system is a complementary pair. MADIS includes multiple disparate systems, including radar systems, surface-to-air missiles, and command and control elements. In layman’s terms, one detects, and the other attacks.
Drones continue to be a threat, especially with the emergence of easily accessible, commercial off-the-shelf products. MADIS uses real-time communication and coordination to destroy or neutralize low-altitude aerial threats in defense of the Marine Air Ground Task Force.
“The importance of countering UAS threats cannot be overstated,” said Konicki. “We see it all over the news. MADIS is the key. We’re excited to get this out to Marines.”
During the test, MADIS successfully tracked and hit multiple targets using the Stinger missiles and 30mm cannon. Information passed through the Common Aviation Command and Control System to the “fighting pair” of vehicles, executing the engagements while continuing to track other UAS targets.
“We’ve taken multiple disparate commercial off-the-shelf and government off-the-shelf technologies and put them together,” said Konicki. “This is a capability the Marine Corps has never had, and it was a challenge for the acquisition community. This test event shows we met that challenge.”
The program office has additional live-fire testing planned for new equipment training, system verification testing, and initial operational test and evaluation in FY24, prior to the start of fielding, said Maj. Craig Warner, product manager for Future Weapons Systems. The 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion will be the first battalion in the Marine Corps to receive the MADIS. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/USMC)
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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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