Sponsored by Galvion
www.galvion.com
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23 Apr 24. Galvion surpasses milestone of 125,000 Caiman® Ballistic Helmets ordered by NATO countries. Galvion, a world leader in integrated head systems and intelligent power and data management solutions, has received three (3) new orders for its Batlskin Caiman® head system through its NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) framework contract. These latest orders, combined with previously announced orders from Norway, Finland and Sweden, take the total number of helmet systems ordered by NATO countries to over 125,000, with tens of thousands more in the pipeline.
In December 2022, Galvion was awarded a framework contract by NSPA that facilitates the procurement of its high performance Batlskin Caiman® head system and accessories, for NATO countries and partners. To service the rapidly growing demand, Galvion is investing in the establishment of a European production hub in Gdansk, Poland, originally announced in September 2023 and scheduled to be opened later this year. Concurrently, Galvion established a production partnership with NP Aerospace in the UK to produce helmets for the growing demand in the UK and wider NATO markets. This partnership is now producing a steady supply of Galvion’s Cobra® Plus helmets for the UK VIRTUS programme, and Batlskin Caiman® systems for NATO.
The NSPA framework contract through which NATO countries are ordering, was awarded following extensive user trials conducted by Norway, acting as the lead user nation, under the supervision of the NSPA. Selected to meet the higher performance bracket of four specified helmet categories, Galvion’s Caiman® helmet system comes in five sizes and is equipped with Galvion’s very latest APEX lining system, an intuitively adjustable design that enables a customized fit for users and is designed to offer unparalleled stability for the latest visual augmentation devices. The Caiman helmet is scalable for highly dynamic operations with mission-specific accessories, and is expressly designed to incorporate electronics, communications headsets, and other critical equipment, now and into the future.
“This contract is a good example of NSPA’s added value to both Nations and Industry” said Ms. Céline Danielli, NSPA General and Cooperative Service Programme Manager. “Through the use of the NATO Logistics Stock Exchange, the Agency brings together technical requirements and the latest technology and equipment, enabling Nations to procure what they need on a web-platform”.
Todd Stirtzinger, CEO at Galvion said: “We’re very proud to see more countries joining Norway, Finland and Sweden in ordering our flagship Caiman head system through the NSPA, which offers NATO countries a vastly simplified procurement route for our helmet, along with a growing list of integrated accessories. We continue to work both internally and in conjunction with best-in-breed partners to develop and integrate capability enhancements, from our E.D.G™ scalable power to communications to strobes and visual displays that will ensure the Caiman platform continues to evolve to meet ever-growing mission needs, all available through the NSPA procurement route.” He added: “Our investment strategy remains focused on keeping pace with the growing demand for our head systems around the world, through the establishment of a European production facility and strategic partnerships, as well as continued investment in Galvion’s domestic facilities, allowing us to effectively service demand now and into the future.”
26 Apr 24. India delivers Brahmos missiles to Philippines. The first batch of BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles from India has been delivered to the Philippines by an Indian Air Force C-17 transport aircraft. The missiles arrived at Clark International Airport in Pampanga on 19 April, according to Indian media.
The Brahmos will be used by the Philippine Marine Corps to build its Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile (SBASM) system.
The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) signed a contract worth approximately US$375m for the acquisition of the Indo-Russian BrahMos medium-range supersonic cruise missiles in January 2022.
The deal calls for three missile batteries, each of which comprises mobile launchers – equipped with three missiles each – and associated datalinks and tracking systems.
Depending on the variant, the BrahMos cruise missile can be launched from a ship, aircraft, submarine, or land-based launcher and has a top speed of around Mach 2.8. It can carry warheads weighing up to 300 kg.
Based on imagery earlier released by the Marine Corps on its social media channel, it appears that a modified, twin-missile mobile launcher design has been adopted instead of the standard triple-missile launcher configuration used by the Indian armed forces.
The SBASM battalion, activated in April 2022, will be operating the anti-ship missile system. The Marine Corps have also activated a new unit known as the Shore-Based Air Defense System (SBADS) battalion. According to the AFP news agency, the SBADS will protect SBASM assets from aerial threats during anti-ship missile launch operations.
Both the SBASM and the SBADS are sub-formations of the Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense Regiment, which was also recently stood up in August 2020.
The Philippine Army is also seeking to acquire two BrahMos batteries for coastal defence missions under the third tranche, known as ‘Horizon Three’, of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernisation Program (RAFPMP) which runs from 2023-2027. (Source: AMR)
25 Apr 24. German RCH 155 artillery selected for British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform. The UK has announced that it will develop the RCH 155 Boxer-based artillery system with Germany for its Mobile Fires Platform programme. Seemingly out of left field, the UK has granted approval for the initiation of the co-development with Germany of the Boxer-based Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) wheeled artillery systems for the long-planned Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) programme.
The RCH 155, which sees a remotely operated 155mm 52 calibre turreted weapon module fitted to the rear half of the Boxer mechanised infantry vehicle (MIV), will proceed through an assessment phase on the planned co-development with the UK as part of the MFP requirement.
In an announcement published late on 23 April regarding a visit by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Germany, it was stated that the two countries would “announce plans for a joint endeavour to develop Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155), which will be fitted to Boxer vehicles.”
The release added that the joint programme was expected to create “hundreds of British and German jobs” and would equip UK armed forces with “battle-winning capabilities” for future ground warfare.
A British Army release published on 24 April stated that the RCH 155 was intended to be delivered into service “this decade”, and would equip Royal Artillery personnel with a “world-class close-support artillery system”.
MFP programme takes unexpected turn
As recently as this week, Army Technology had analysed the prospective solutions to the MFP programme, which was expected to see a mix of wheeled and tracked options put forward by the industry later this year. The winner would replace the incumbent AS90 155mm self-propelled howitzer currently in service with the British Army.
Earlier this month, UK Defence Procurement Minister James Cartlidge stated that the country would see a next-generation artillery system acquired “within five years”, with the programme at that time seeking approval to commence an assessment phase.
It appears that the decision will see the RCH 155mm solution through to the assessment phase and intended delivery to the British Army.
In Q4 2023, the UK took delivery of the first of 14 Archer 155mm SPH platforms from Sweden, as part of an interim artillery solution intended to bridge the gap between the donation of 32 AS90 SPH to Ukraine and the eventual winner of the MFP programme.
With Archer in service with the British Army, it was considered to be a strong contender for the MFP, along with the South Korean K9A2 Thunder-tracked SPH.
MFP programme “fundamental” to British Army
The importance of the MFP programme to the British Army cannot be overestimated, with the real-world lessons of the applicability of artillery being seen daily in the Ukraine-Russia war, a conflict in which perhaps the determining factor for success is the availability of long-range fire support and ammunition provision.
James Marques, GlobalData defence analyst, described the MFP as “fundamental” to the British Army’s modernisation plans in the medium term, speaking before the UK’s RCH 155 announcement.
“Discussing any sort of generating a conventional warfare formation without adequate artillery is a non-starter,” Marques said, adding the British Army had “a lot to figure out” in terms of the intended range and ammunition of the MFP programme.
“I believe that the initial timeline given [in 2023] was based on AS90’s original retirement date, but since donating some of those to Ukraine and the security situation more broadly I wouldn’t be surprised if there are aspirations to get it done sooner, [and] would be a good example for the MoD of overcoming previous procurement problems,” Marques explained.
UK Mobile Fires Platform: Boxer commonality key
The commonality provided with the use of the wheeled 8×8 Boxer as a host platform for the RCH 155 system is significant, with the British Army already firmed up on the procurement of more than 600 MIVs in the years ahead, with early vehicles already in testing.
The Boxer has long been touted as a multi-role platform, showcasing a range of possible payload solutions at trade shows in recent years, including as a mobile fires platform, as well as moduled Brimstone anti-armour systems.
In its 24 April release, the British Army said that “as part of the Boxer family, [RCH 155] uses a common Boxer drive module, creating efficiencies in support through platform commonality and modularity, and improving interoperability.”
The RCH 155 sees the combination of the 8×8 Boxer armoured vehicle with an Artillery Gun Module (AGM) from German-OEM Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. KNDS, a jointly owned holding company of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Nexter, markets the RCH 155 system.
The system is based on the German Army’s PzH 2000 SPH, intending to mix the mobility of the Boxer platform with the firepower of its tracked cousin.
The RCH 155 can fire up to nine rounds per minute to a range of up to 40km with standard ammunition, increasing to a potential 54km using extended-range munitions. The AGM of the RCH 155 is uncrewed, with the platform operated by a driver/operator and commander from the front cabin. (Source: army-technology.com)
23 Apr 24. French Navy conducts first synchronised firing of MdCN naval cruise missile. The French Navy has successfully conducted its first simultaneous test launch of the Missile de Croisière Navale (MdCN)naval cruise missile from a frigate and a submarine. The test-firing was carried out by the service’s lead multimission (FREMM) frigate Aquitaine, positioned off the coast of Brittany, and one of its Suffren (Barracuda)-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs), located off the coast of Biscarrosse, on 18 April, the Ministry of Armed Forces of France confirmed the same day. During the test the two vessels launched a co-ordinated strike against a ground target located at the DGA’s Biscarrosse missile test centre at Landes in southwestern France – with both missiles engaging their target “in perfect synchronisation”, the Ministry of Armed Forces of France said. In a statement issued the same day the French Navy said the test was carried out in operational conditions to strengthen the operational know-how and combat skills of the service. (Source: Janes)
23 Apr 24. Pentagon budget 2025: USAF funds HACM but not ARRW development. The US Air Force (USAF) requested just shy of USD517 m to continue development of Raytheon’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) hypersonic air-breathing missile in its fiscal year (FY) 2025 presidential budget request, but zeroed out the procurement of the Lockheed Martin AGM-183 Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) hypersonic boost-glide weapon. The FY 2025 funding request is a change from that of FY 2024, which requested USD350 m for HACM and USD150 m for ARRW. ARRW was for years considered the frontrunner in the US’s race to field an air-launched hypersonic weapon, but the system has seen mixed results in all-up round flight-testing, notching both successes and failures. The final all-up round test is thought to be upcoming, following the USAF’s publication of a photograph depicting the munition in Guam, hanging from the wing of its B-52 launch platform. (Source: Janes)
24 Apr 24. NP Aerospace Extends Ukraine Support with Norway Contract. NP Aerospace is continuing its support for Ukraine with the delivery of a further 2,000 sets of body armour and carrier vests via Norway and the UK Ministry of Defence. This takes the total number of ballistic plates sent to Ukraine from NP Aerospace to over 180,000 since the start of the war. In addition to NP Aerospace ballistic helmets and bomb disposal suits which are being used on the frontline. The latest delivery is in support of Operation Ellisiv a Norwegian Ministry of Defence operation. Previous deliveries have been in support of Operation Interflex, a British-led multinational military operation to train the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and part of the UK’s commitment of £3bn in military aid for this year. The 2,000 sets of body armour (4,000 plates and 2,000 vests) were contracted and delivered from Coventry in the UK in less than three months.
Peter Hardisty, Managing Director and Senior Vice President of NP Aerospace’s Composites and Armour Systems business, said: “Our team in Coventry are honoured to continue to support Ukraine with life-saving body armour and associated military equipment. We have expanded our facilities and team to deliver NATO programmes and will continue to do so for as long as the war continues.”
19 Apr 24. General Atomics is positioning a future version of its MQ-1C Gray Eagle combat drone as a potential alternative to the Army’s now-canceled Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft effort, the president of its aeronautics unit told Breaking Defense.
The California-based defense firm intends to pitch a short takeoff and landing version of the Gray Eagle — what it calls Gray Eagle STOL — to fulfill the armed scout mission now that the service has halted work on a manned helicopter and shifted the focus to drones.
“We’re trying to jump into that [opportunity],” Dave Alexander, who leads General Atomics’ aeronautics unit, told Breaking Defense in a recent interview.
Not yet fully designed, a Gray Eagle STOL would build on the company’s Mojave demonstrator, which has acted as a “proof of concept” to test capabilities that can be incorporated in future products, said General Atomics spokesman C. Mark Brinkley.
Mojave, whose existence was first reported by Breaking Defense in 2021, already shares common DNA with the extended-range version of the Gray Eagle, adding short takeoff and landing capability and the ability to carry a maximum payload of 16 Hellfire missiles — double that of the baseline MQ-1C.
In its most recent test on April 13 at Yuma Proving Grounds, the Mojave hit ground targets using miniguns mounted on its wings for the first time — providing an alternative to precision-guided missiles typically used by General Atomics drones, Brinkley said.
The company is showing off that Mojave demonstrator to service officials next week during the Army Aviation Association of America conference in Denver, Brinkley said. The aircraft will be displayed in a configuration with two M134 miniguns made by Dillon Aero mounted on its wings.
After decades of failed attempts at replacing the OH-58 Kiowa scout helicopter, service leaders announced in February their hunt would end with the canceled FARA program.
“We are learning from the battlefield — especially Ukraine — that aerial reconnaissance has fundamentally changed,” Army Chief Gen. Randy George said at the time. “Sensors and weapons mounted on a variety of unmanned systems and in space are more ubiquitous, further reaching and more inexpensive than ever before.”
The Army anticipates that that decision — coupled with ending production on the UH-60 V Black Hawk, keeping General Electric’s Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) in the development phase, and phasing Shadow and Raven unmanned aerial systems out of the fleet — will free up $4.5 bn between fiscal 2025-30, with the lion’s share reinvested in aviation coffers.
So far, the plan is to give Boeing some of those dollars for CH-47F Block II Chinook production, a new multi-year procurement deal with Lockheed-Sikorsky for UH-60M Black Hawk aircraft, develop and buy unmanned aerial reconnaissance systems like the future tactical unmanned systems, and move out on the launched effects portfolio.
And while it has not yet announced new aviation requirements or program competitions in the wake of that FARA decision, companies like General Atomics are beginning to float potential options.
The goal of bringing Mojave to the show, Brinkley said, is to highlight the versatility that a STOL version of the Gray Eagle could bring to the Army, such as its ability to deploy launched effects and operate in austere environments or onboard ships. The company also intends to show a contested resupply pod that can be carried by the drone, allowing it to carry 1,000 pounds of cargo for ground resupply missions up to 500 kilometers away.
“The opportunity to use UAS [unmanned aerial system] in a new way is tremendous when we look at the requirements that FARA laid out and what FARA was trying to achieve,” he said.
Mojave, or a purpose-built derivative, has yet to land its first customer, but Brinkley said interest is “significant, especially internationally following our Mojave carrier demo last year.”
(Source: Defense News Early Bird/Breaking Defense.com)
23 Apr 24. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) confirms that its Mojave Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) destroyed static targets in live-fire tests on April 13, 2024, validating the system’s battlefield relevance and recording another milestone for the demonstrator aircraft. GA-ASI partnered with Dillon Aero to mount two of Dillon’s DAP-6 Gun Pod Systems onto the Mojave aircraft. Mojave performed seven passes across two flights during the demonstration, expending around 10,000 rounds of ammunition as the UAS shredded a variety of targets.
“Seeing our Mojave perform this live-fire demo really emphasizes the versatility of the Mojave UAS and what it can do,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “Mojave has the ability to act as a sensor, shooter, and sustainer while mitigating threat environments and vulnerabilities and safeguarding human lives.”
Mojave and its short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability has built significant interest in the military and aerospace communities. Mojave is unique: a UAS with significant payload capacity that can perform in areas once considered unsuitable for UAS operations. Its ability to take off and land from unimproved landing sites at short distances as well as operate from aircraft carriers – as it did in November 2023 as part of a demonstration with the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy – is capturing imaginations and changing expectations about how large unmanned systems can be used.
The live-fire demonstration took place at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, and was funded via GA-ASI’s internal research and development budget.
The Mojave technical demonstrator shares common systems and components with GA-ASI’s modernized Gray Eagle 25M, effectively providing an expeditionary Gray Eagle STOL capability. In addition to a wing kit option for Gray Eagle, GA-ASI is planning one for the larger MQ-9B aircraft, which includes SkyGuardian® and SeaGuardian® models.
The actual Mojave STOL UAS with multi-mission payloads will be on display in GA-ASI’s booth (#792) at the Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Denver, Colorado, April 24-26, 2024.
22 Apr 24. Australia pursuing enhanced air strike capabilities. Australia has earmarked $21bn for the Royal Australian Air Force as part of the Integrated Investment Program. Following the release of Australia’s 2024 Integrated Investment Program (IIP) and National Defence Strategy (NDS) on 17 April, Australia’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) highlighted on 22 April the A$28bn-A$33bn ($18bn-$21bn) earmarked for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Enhancements include new air-mobility aircraft, and combat aircraft upgrades for Australia’s fighter jets, as well as autonomous platforms and ISR capabilities.
The IIP identifies the investments as enabling Australia to undertake expeditionary air operations and project force into the Indo-Pacific region, Australia’s primary area of military interest. The theatre involves various security challenges, including territorial disputes, military build-up, and the presence of non-state actors.
Australia will mitigate advanced threats and maintain interoperability with partners and allies by investing up to A$12bn in upgrading the fleet of combat aircraft, with a focus on lethality and survivability against threats at extended ranges from all domains.
The F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, Australia’s most advanced air platform, will include incremental advancements in performance as well as the integration of long-range strike munitions. The IIP cites the long-range anti-ship missile as an example of the new capabilities being introduced to increase the platform’s lethality and states that there is also potential for the integration of the Joint Strike Missile.
Between A$5bn and A$7bn will be spent on air-launched strike weapons, including the development of hypersonic missiles.
The MQ-28A Ghost Bat, an autonomous collaborative combat aircraft programme saw further investment in the IIP, with an announcement of between A$4.3bn and A$5.3bn for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), covering delivery of three Block 2 Ghost Bats and other developmental UAS.
The plans for enhancing Australia’s expeditionary posture include the replacement of the current fleet of 12 Hercules aircraft, with the acquisition of 20 C-130j Hercules medium air mobility aircraft, at a cost of more than A$10bn. Sustainment of the C-17 Globemaster III and KC-30A multi-role tanker transport aircraft will continue, with the airframes supporting rapid personnel deployment under the air mobility assurance program through the 2030s.
Nearly A$4bn will be allocated for air intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, including the sustainment and upgrades of the P-8A Poseidon, the acquisition of a fourth MQ-4C Triton remotely piloted aircraft, and the delivery of an MC-55A Peregrine fleet. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
22 Apr 24. OCCAR amends Italian CAMM-ER system specifications. As part of a second amendment to its missile contract with MBDA, Italy will continue to augment CAMM-ER missiles across its Armed Forces.
Italy will implement changes to its contract for Common Anti-air Modular Missile Extended Range (CAMM-ER) systems.
On behalf of Italy, Joachim Sucker – director of Europe’s defence programme overseer, OCCAR – signed a second amendment of the CAMM-ER contract with Giovanni Soccodato, managing director of the Italian branch of Europe’s leading missile manufacturer, MBDA.
Under an ongoing ‘CAMM-ER contract’ originally granted on 28 November 2022, the Italian Army and Air Force will benefit from a short-range (SHORAD) air defence capability. This deal initiated the procurement of two different configurations: the Modular Advance Anti-air Systems (MAADS) for the air force, and ‘GRIFO’ for the army.
OCCAR built on this contract through the first amendment on 24 September 2023, which procured more missile systems, including telemetric missiles that can be fired on test ranges.
The latest contractual change will enable the development and implementation of new technical specifications that will “increase the operational capabilities” of CAMM-ER systems in the Italian Army. Specifically, it will adopt a new fire control unit that will improve the command and control (C2) capabilities of the GRIFO configuration.
CAMM-ER missile
The difference between MAADS and GRIFO is explained by the customisable nature of the missile.
When designing the CAMM family MBDA enabled the customer to make their own choice of different components. This led the Italian Army and Air Force to select different radars and C2 systems for their respective configurations.
GRIFO’s new fire control unit will replace a subsystem that was not manufactured by MBDA.
CAMM-ER is a popular system used across major European militaries. It is featured in the Polish Mala NAREW SHORAD system, which offers protection for both troops and facilities within the operational area, as well as five units operated by the UK Armed Forces, which is designated ‘Sky Sabre’.
Incorporating advanced technologies, CAMM-ER provides complete protection against all known and projected air targets.
It has an active RF seeker that provides true all-weather performance with clutter-rejection capabilities. There is no need for dedicated complex and high-cost fire control/illumination radars.
CAMM-ER offers land-based forces a highly effective and easily deployable, medium-range air defence system, as part of the Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions (EMADS), capable of operating as either a standalone unit or integrated within a battlespace network.
The use of third-party target information from the wider battlespace network allows the system to engage targets that are non-line-of-sight from the local launcher or sensors. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
22 Apr 24. Bulgarian Navy to restore minelaying capability in transport ship conversion. Bulgaria appears to be seeking to restore naval minelaying to its forces through the conversion of a transport vessel.
Bulgaria will convert one of its small naval transport vessels into a dual-use minelayer for use by the Bulgarian Navy in a programme budgeted to cost around lv3.3m ($1.8m) in a bid to “restore and develop minelaying capabilities”, according to a European Union (EU) tender notice.
Details of the EU tender notice stated that the vessel would be “reconstructed” into the new role, while also “preserving its existing functional purpose”, indicating the vessel is intended to have dual-role capabilities once work is completed.
The vessel being converted to a transport-minelayer was listed as the Antares, which could be a former Polish Project 770Е Polnocny-class tank landing vessel operated by the Bulgarian Navy. GlobalData intelligence indicates that the Bulgarian Navy operates several auxiliary vessels of uncertain origin, with many hulls dating from the Soviet era.
The programme of work is due to begin in April 2024 and conclude by the end of this year. According to the EU notice, Terem-KRZ Naval Arsenal was contracted to perform the conversion.
Varna-based Terem-KRZ Naval Arsenal carries out a range of ship repair work in both the military and commercial sectors, according to information available on the company site. The company performs ship conversion and building work, with “complex repair” of military vessels including hull restoration, radar station upgrades, and armament repairs, as well as work in other areas such as hydroacoustics.
The Bulgarian Navy has a total of 51 surface vessels and naval combatants, with over 61% of its fleet being more than 30 years old, according to GlobalData intelligence.
At the time of publishing, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence had not responded to requests for comments on the planned restoration of minelaying capability for the Bulgarian Navy.
A consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was an increase in minelaying by Russia in the Black Sea, with Nato forces having reported the sighting of floating sea mines as Moscow sought to blockade Ukrainian ports. Situated on the western Black Sea coast, Nato members Bulgaria and Romania have reportedly had to neutralise mines, likely placed by either Russia or Ukraine.
Bulgarian defence spending increasing after years of decline
According to GlobalData forecasts, Bulgaria’s defence spending, like most other European nations, is set to increase substantially compared to recent years as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the political fallout leading to a shifting security landscape on the continent.
The country’s defence spending is recovering after a sharp decline, with the defence budget from 2019-2023 amounting to $7.1bn, or a negative compound annual growth (CAGR) rate of 9.2%.
However, forecasts show that in the 2024-2028 period, the total spend is expected to accumulate to $10.9bn, or a CAGR of 5.4%, with the single highest annual spend forecast to come at the end of this period at $2.5bn in 2028. (Source: naval-technology.com)
23 Apr 24. Hanwha Aerospace likely to sign additional deal for Chunmoo with Poland: sources. South Korean defense firm Hanwha Aerospace Co. is expected to export an additional batch of Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) to Poland, a deal estimated at around 2.2trn won (US$1.6bn), multiple sources said Tuesday.
A Polish delegation, led by Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Bejda, plans to observe a test-firing of the K239 Chunmoo MLRS at the state-run Agency for Defense Development’s Anheung testing site in Taean, 109 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Wednesday.
A successful test of the system, modified to fit a Polish military vehicle, is expected to lead to a deal, sources familiar with the issue said.
As Poland committed to buying 288 units of the Chunmoo and signed a contract to purchase 218 units in November 2022, the anticipated deal is likely to cover the remaining 70 units, they noted.
The MLRS is one of the Korean weapons systems Poland bought to bolster its defenses in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.
In 2022, Poland signed procurement deals worth 17trn won to buy K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light attack aircraft and Chunmoo, marking South Korea’s largest-ever arms sales abroad.
The delegation has been in South Korea to observe weapons systems, review their performances and discuss terms of contracts with industry and military officials.
During their weeklong trip running through Saturday, the Polish officials are scheduled to visit K2 manufacturer Hyundai Rotem Co., K9 maker Hanwha Aerospace and aircraft manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., according to industry officials.
Their visit comes at a time when South Korea is mulling ways to provide state-backed loans and other financial packages to support another round of weapons deals with Poland, estimated at a total of 30trn won. (Source: Google/https://en.yna.co.kr/)
22 Apr 24. Lockheed Martin eyes Patriot interceptor production in Spain. Lockheed Martin has forged a partnership with a Spanish firm for the production of interceptor missile parts for the Patriot air-defense system, a move that could help alleviate a bottleneck in manufacturing the sought-after systems.
“Lockheed Martin has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Grupo Oesia to enable potential future production of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement components in Spain,” the American company wrote on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, on April 22.
The agreement will allow the Spanish multinational engineering company to manufacture PAC-3 MSE parts for international customers, according to the statement. It builds on existing ties between two companies, as executives signed a letter of understanding at last year’s Paris Air Show to become strategic partners.
The PAC-3 MSE missiles are launched by the Patriot air defense system, made by Raytheon, and they rely on kinetic force to bring down a wide range of aerial threats, including ballistic and cruise missiles as well as aircraft.
Lockheed is on tap with the U.S. Army to reach a yearly production rate of 550 missiles at its Arkansas manufacturing site. In a December interview with Defense News, Brenda Davidson, the company’s vice president of PAC-3 programs said that they had attained a rate of 500 per year.
Air defense, and the lack thereof, has shaped Russia’s war against Ukraine, as Moscow’s forces target critical infrastructure and population centers.
“If Ukraine is a guide, in a conflict NATO air defenses may down most drones and missiles, but some will get through. … They might reduce risks with a two-prong strategy of strengthening air defenses and boosting infrastructure resilience,” a recent report published by the American think tank RAND Corporation stated.
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency recently awarded a contract for 1,000 missiles on behalf of Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain for the acquisition of 1,000 PAC-2 guided enhanced missiles, the predecessor to the PAC-3 MSE variant.
The deal, worth up to $5.6 bn, went to COMLOG, a German-based joint venture between Raytheon and MBDA. The two companies strive to increase the European production capability of these missiles.
In a recent interview with Defense News, Tom Laliberty, Raytheon’s president of land and air defense systems, said group orders enable states to get discounts on the hefty price tag of the Patriot system.
The distribution of the missiles is derived on the basis of which of the ordering countries needs them most urgently, he added. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
19 Apr 24. AEVEX Aerospace to Debut Atlas Loitering Munition at 2024 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit. AEVEX Aerospace, a leader in advanced unmanned systems, proudly announces the first public showcase of the Atlas loitering munition at the 2024 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit. Industry attendees and defense partners are invited to experience the unveiling of the Atlas, a cutting-edge development in loitering munitions, at Booth 1800.
The Atlas is a Group II loitering munition with robust capabilities in air, land, and sea tactical scenarios. With a flight duration of over two hours and a striking distance comparable to larger Group III aircraft, Atlas delivers unprecedented mission flexibility and performance. Designed for high-impact scenarios, it supports a range of operations from intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)/detect, identify, locate, and report (DILR), electronic warfare, direct action engagements, etc. The munition’s payload includes options for fragmentation or penetration effects, further enhanced by optional ISR capabilities. Notable for its operational efficacy, AEVEX’s loitering munitions are extensively utilized in global defense activities, solidifying AEVEX’s reputation in unmanned systems technology.
“We are thrilled to introduce the Atlas at this year’s Summit as a testament to AEVEX’s commitment to evolving unmanned systems technology,” said Jim Sturim, SVP, Tactical Systems. “The Atlas represents the pinnacle of loitering munition innovation, designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern defense operations.”
Visitors to the AEVEX booth will have the opportunity to engage with our team of experts, explore the Atlas’s capabilities, and discuss future applications and integrations of this technology in their operations.
(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
24 Apr 24. Major Milestone Reached for Key Weapons Component.
Sandia’s work is helping modernize the US nuclear deterrent.
Sandia National Laboratories and the Kansas City National Security Campus completed a crucial weapons component development milestone, prior to full rate production.
The Mark 21 Replacement Fuze interfaces with the W87-0 warhead for deployment onto the Minuteman III and, eventually, the Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.
The first production unit of the replacement fuze was approved through the National Nuclear Security Administration’s rigorous Quality Assurance Inspection Procedure in March.
The Mark 21 fuze, an integrated assembly of Sandia-designed logic and sensing devices, directs the warhead to initiate firing sequences at the correct point in targeting parameters. The Mark 21 Fuze Replacement Program is a Strategic Partnership Program effort between the NNSA and the U.S. Air Force.
“Sandia’s role is to deliver a fuze that meets the Air Force’s requirements. Completing the first production unit is a visible milestone in maintaining a credible deterrent,” said Brad Boswell, a director in Sandia’s nuclear deterrence modernization program. “It demonstrates that we are providing the necessary capability for the U.S. nuclear deterrent into the future.”
Designing the fuze
As the lead design agency of the Mark 21 fuze, Sandia was responsible for incorporating Air Force requirements into a form, fit and functional package that interfaces with the Mk21 aeroshell, MMIII missile and W87-0 warhead. Work began in 2011.
“The early engineering work takes a lot of time. While some of it is done in parallel, much of the work must be sequential,” said Bob Oetken, a former program manager for the fuze program. “We’re doing a very specific job that requires, in many cases, custom parts.”
Sandia worked closely with the Kansas City National Security Campus to ensure the design was producible and delivered on schedule. While the Kansas City National Security Campus is producing and assembling the fuze, Sandia is manufacturing some of the parts.
Fuze qualification
Before production of the fuze began, a significant amount of time was spent qualifying the design, which ensures the design meets Air Force specifications. It includes analysis through testing and other engineering tools to ensure the fuze will function as intended.
“Qualification involves significant resources and time. We are in a very rigorous business. Some of the qualification is used to verify that we are meeting requirements and took as long as three years from concept to delivery,” Oetken said.
The program has conducted numerous tests, including environmental, ground and flight tests, to ensure the fuze withstands multiple difficult environments, such as acceleration, vibration and thermal environments expected during missile launch and ballistic reentry.
Stockpile assessment
Now that the fuze is in full rate production, Sandia’s responsibilities shift.
“As the design agency, Sandia is responsible for the component until the weapon is retired. Sandia is accountable for ensuring that the weapon with the fuze attached is safe, secure and reliable,” Boswell said.
As part of the stockpile assessment, Sandia will conduct surveillance through processes such as modeling and simulation and flight and ground testing to ensure the fuze continues to work as intended.
Partnering for great results
Completing the first production unit of the Mark 21 fuze is the culmination of more than a decade of work and collaboration, not just at Sandia, but by NNSA and the Department of Defense.
“This first production unit marks a significant milestone not just for Sandia but the broader nuclear security enterprise, particularly our partners at the Kansas City National Security Campus,” Boswell said. “While we stop to recognize this achievement, we must also acknowledge this is the start of the next phase of our partnership as we work to meet key production milestones to deliver the quantity of fuzes needed to meet the needs of the stockpile.” (Source: ASD Network)
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