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10 May 24. The U.K. Ministry of Defence (MOD) has selected L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) for an $18mi contract to deliver up to 50 medium-sized T4™ explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) robots to defeat explosive threats located within confined urban spaces.
The contract includes providing robots, in-country support, maintenance, training and follows L3Harris’ successful delivery of Project STARTER, a program that replaced the legacy fleet of large EOD robots with 122 T7™ systems that have been fully operational since 2019.
“Like the T7, the T4 robots will play an integral role in enhancing the EOD capabilities leveraged by the British Army,” said Lt. Gen. Simon Hamilton, Director General Land, Defence Equipment and Support, U.K. MOD. “Critical to the MOD’s land modernization ambitions is the prioritization of agile, modular and highly capable technology built to tackle the demands of the future threat environment. The versatile T4 is a significant step forward in achieving this.”
“We’re ready to deliver these critical systems to the U.K. armed forces for their EOD operators,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. “The T4 robots offer many of the same capabilities and intuitive control as the T7 robot but in a more compact footprint, allowing operators to safely access threats in much smaller spaces.”
This contract award with the U.K. follows L3Harris’ successful award for T4 and T7 variants to the Australian Defence Force. Those robots will be delivered to Australia starting in mid-2024 as part of their Land-154 program to enhance EOD unit capabilities in improvised explosive device neutralization and exploitation as well as route clearance. The U.S. Air Force also ordered more than 100 T7 robots to support their EOD missions around the world, many of which have been delivered and are now fully operational.
10 May 24. New bomb disposal robots for the British Army.
New high-tech bomb disposal robots will provide greater protection for soldiers and the public in a new deal for the British Army announced today (10 May). High-tech robots will protect soldiers and the public from variety of threats including explosives and hazardous materials.
- Can operate in narrow spaces, tough terrain, and climb stairs.
- £21m investment will see 50 robots delivered by end of the year.
New high-tech bomb disposal robots will provide greater protection for soldiers and the public in a new deal for the British Army announced today (10 May).
50 of the T4 bomb disposal robots will be able to be used in situations of bomb and hazardous material disposal, helping the explosives team who attend thousands of call outs every year, all over the country. This will greatly reduce the risk to service personnel and the public when neutralising bomb and chemical threats.
A £21m contract with L3 Harris Technologies – based in Tewkesbury – will deliver with the first T4 units before the end of 2024.
Adept at navigating narrow urban spaces, with its tough all terrain treads and adjustable manipulation arm, the T4 can operate in narrow aisles of planes, trains and buses and can even climb stairs.
Advanced controls, high-definition cameras and lightning-fast datalinks will enable the operator of the T4 to perform complex tasks like unzipping bags and opening glove boxes from a safe distance.
We are ensuring that our Armed Forces have the best kit available, and we have recently announced plans to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2030 – meaning an additional £75bn spent over the next six years
Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said: “Procuring this high tech robot means that we can provide our forces with the tools they need to safely handle a range explosive threats. Rapidly delivering uncrewed systems, like the T4, that ensure our armed forces can safely face future threats is a key part of our Drone Defence Strategy.”
Weighing in at just over 100kg, the T4s are significantly smaller and nimbler than their bigger brother – the 300kg T7 UGV – and will be used as the rapid response system for emergency situations as its compact size means it can be transported in a standard 4×4 vehicle.
However, both models use ‘advanced haptic feedback’ which allow operators to ‘feel’ their way through the intricate process of disarming devices from a safe distance, reducing the risk to life of the explosive ordnance operators.
The systems, which underwent rigorous testing, have been contracted by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the UK MOD and include an initial three years of in-service maintenance and repair support.
Major General Lizzie Faithfull-Davies, Director Land Equipment at DE&S, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the project team at DE&S, who have worked with their industry partner to harness available cutting-edge technology and have identified a critical capability that can respond to hostile explosive threats and help in keeping the wider general public safe.
The T4’s will enter service with the 29 EOD & Search Group and the Diving Threat and Exploitation Group, Royal Gibraltar Regiment (RG) and Cyprus Operational Support Unit (COSU).
Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris, said: “The T4 EOD robots are the world’s most capable robot for operations in crowded and difficult environments like subways, airports and even hospitals. These highly advanced, durable robots provide best-in-class mobility and uncompromised performance to protect human lives We’re honoured to continue working with the U.K. Ministry of Defence as they provide this technology to the British Army.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
10 May 24. US Army sends HIMARS rocket launcher island hopping in the Philippines. The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System has gained international attention in recent years, particularly in the war in Ukraine, but a U.S. Army unit challenged the system’s ability to rapidly deploy in a drastically different Pacific island environment this month during the bilateral training exercise known as Balikatan in the Philippines.
HIMARS made a trip down to the southwestern island of Palawan and up to northern Luzon, hitching rides on C-130s and being whisked from ship to beach using U.S. Marine Corps amphibious hovercraft called Landing Craft Air Cushion, or LCACs. These vessels are large enough to carry an M1 Abrams tank.
The Lockheed Martin-manufactured HIMARS is a truck-mounted, mobile rocket launcher that can carry six missiles at a time. Lockheed has seen a large increase in HIMARS orders from a wide variety of countries in Europe but was also recently slated to provide a few to Indo-Pacific nations, including Taiwan.
While this is not the first time HIMARS was used at the annual training exercise in the Philippines, the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, Long Range Fires Battalion of the 1st Multidomain Task Force tried to demonstrate how it can be transported and quickly deployed in a plethora of different ways, including via non-Army assets, Capt. Garrett Kohnke, battery commander of Alpha Battery, told Defense News at La-Lo Airport.
During the exercise the Army and its partners demonstrated two HIMARS Rapid Infiltration (HIRAIN) operations.
On May 1, the Army hauled two HIMARS aboard a semi-truck from Fort Magsaysay located in central Luzon to an airfield in Subic Bay on the southwestern side of the Philippines largest island. The HIMARS launchers were then loaded into a U.S. Air Force C-130 transport aircraft and flown roughly 700 kilometers to the San Vincente airfield on Palawan island.
The Army then took HIMARS on a tactical road march to San Vincente beach and loaded the systems onto LCACS, which then drove into the ocean to the U.S. Navy’s USS Somerset LPD-25, an amphibious transport dock, which then traversed the western coast south to Rizal.
The LCACs delivered HIMARS ashore at the beach for a live-fire exercise that included other assets such as 105mm howitzers from the Philippine Armed Forces.
Following the live-fire exercise, the HIMARS systems took a reverse trip back to Subic Bay.
The entire process took 72 hours, according to Kohnke. However, it takes just 30 minutes to load a HIMARS into a C-130 and 10 minutes from rolling off the aircraft to be ready to fire, Kohnke said.
Two days later, the battery prepared to load the two HIMARS systems to fly them via C-130 to La-Lo, located in north-central Luzon not far from the shore. Plans had to be adjusted when one C-130 experienced a problem requiring maintenance and so the Army took just one HIMARS up north from Subic Bay.
At La-Lo, a commercial airport shut down for military operations during Balikatan, the HIMARS system conducted a series of simulated live-fires, receiving fire mission commands from the All-Domain Operations Center, part of the MDTF, set up in the Philippines at a base near Manila.
Then the battery conducted another tactical road march on May 7 from La-Lo to Port Irene, a distance of 40 kilometers.
The purpose of the road march was to prove HIMARS could make it through to a northern port using challenging island infrastructure. Roads in many cases are narrow. Village storefronts and homes along the road are built just inches from where vehicles such as “jeepneys” – made from jeeps left behind by the U.S. military after World War II – and “trisikads” – motorbike taxis – zip through while weaving and dodging each other in intense tropical heat.
The HIMARS went along with two Army Humvees and a Marine Corps Joint Light Tactical Vehicle as well as a Philippines Armed Forces escort in an SUV.
The trip was without incident and took an hour and a half, Kohnke reported as his unit line-hauled HIMARS on a 10-hour road trip back to Fort Magsaysay.
HIMARS can travel roughly 260 miles on one tank of fuel, which is helpful when the system needs to shoot and move quickly well out of the way to avoid enemy detection after firing.
The system has participated in a previous iteration of Balikatan. Last year it played a part in a combined, joint live-fire exercise where participants tried to sink a ship off the coast at a training facility north of Subic Bay.
HIMARS’ rockets missed the ship at the time. The service identified challenges with targeting because the munitions were not able to easily account for drift. Kohnke said drifting at sea is a complex problem because it can take roughly 8 minutes to lock in a target and fire. Ships can move 30 to 40 meters in that time, he explained.
The Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile tested during Balikatan this year, though not in a live-fire exercise, would better address the challenge of hitting ships at sea, Kohnke said. On the horizon is also the Precision Strike Munition, which could feature ship-killing capability at a later time. The first set of PrSM equipment was delivered to the Army late last year.
Using HIMARS more extensively at Balikatan this year allowed the Philippine Armed Forces to get a closer look at the system as it assesses its own modernization needs, which includes a rocket system like HIMARS.
The southern Pacific is beginning to see more HIMARS customers. Singapore is already a HIMARS user. Australia is also slated to buy 20 HIMARS systems and Taiwan was also cleared by the U.S. State Department to buy 11 HIMARS in late 2020. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
09 May 24. DSA 2024: Malaysian consortium Kemalak presents new maritime attack helicopter. During the DSA exhibition held in Malaysia from May 6 to May 9, 2024, the Kemalak consortium presented a new Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH). Combining offensive capabilities with support for amphibious assaults, the MAH is thus introduced to equip national navies in a region focused on maritime fronts. The Kemalak Group of Companies is a Malaysian enterprise known for its technological and innovative solutions, especially in defense and aerospace sectors. It provides products, technical expertise, tools, and operational advisory services to help clients make critical business decisions. The group aims to be a leading technology solution maintenance company globally, recognized for meeting the highest international standards.
Kemalak is involved in various projects including the supply of FA-50 aircraft in collaboration with Korea Aerospace Industries. It is also engaged in programs like PROTÉGÉ-RTW, which aims to integrate graduates into the workforce by providing job training in collaboration with local companies and government departments.
The MAH, standing for Marine Attack Helicopter, is a medium helicopter based on the Marine Utility Helicopter and is designed for amphibious maritime operations support, air support, and coastal defense missions. It appears that the MAH is inspired by the KUH-1 Surion manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries.
Several configurations are possible, particularly regarding the stub wings, which can carry a payload consisting of air-to-ground missiles, air-to-air missiles, guided and unguided rockets, as well as gun turrets or a laser designation pod (TADS). The base helicopter is equipped with a 20mm caliber 3-barrel machine gun.
In terms of protection and integration, the MAH features the Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN) as well as missile jammers and flares for Fox 3 and Fox 2. All the constraints related to maritime use have been considered; the helicopter is relatively modest in size and weight at 8,709 kg, with a length of 19m and a width of 6m. It can be embarked on vessels of regional navies and is protected against corrosion caused by saltwater. The MAH is thus designed to meet the constraints of being deployed on a vessel and perfectly adapts to regional maritime forces.
(Source: Google/https://armyrecognition.com/)
09 May 24. US special forces want longer reach for rockets, snipers, robots. Special operators are pushing for more firepower in their small teams, asking industry for a lighter shoulder-fired rocket, a long-range sniper rifle, and both land- and air-based weaponized drones.
Lt. Col. Tosh Lancaster told the audience at the Special Operations Force Week conference that U.S. Special Operations Command plans to publish a request for information covering a “Javelin light” by late fiscal 2024 or early fiscal 2025.
The program for a tactical precision missile would give small teams of special operators the capabilities of the current shoulder-fired, anti-tank Javelin rocket but in a smaller package.
The Javelin is a 127mm caliber rocket made by Lockheed Martin that’s been in operation since the 1990s. The weapon has been used extensively by Ukrainian fighters in the ongoing war with Russia. It can strike targets at a distance of 65 meters to 4,000 meters, depending on operational conditions, the company has said.
Defense contractors Lockheed Martin and RTX are working together on a Javelin modernization program that will lighten the systems’ command unit and upgrade its missile, according to a 2023 Pentagon test report.
The updated version is expected to field in 2025, Breaking Defense reported.
Special operators are also seeking a so-called Extreme Long Range Sniper Rifle that could also strike targets at 2,500 meters or beyond, Lancaster said. The project, first announced in December, would replace the existing M107 and Mk15 sniper rifles, which have effective ranges of 2,000 meters and 1,800 meters, respectively.
Both rifles are chambered in .50 caliber, but the new one could be the same caliber or a different round, Lancaster said.
“We are opening it up, seeing what else is out there. And even if that is just [an] improvement of our current .50-[caliber] system, that’s fine too,” Lancaster said.
For even more punch and options, the command has expanded its ongoing effort to arm its teams with their own loitering munitions by adding ground robotics to the mix of lethal options.
Lancaster said that program for precision strike systems is now working toward what’s described as unmanned precision effects. That’s a nod to options for operators to use conventional strike or other assets such as electromagnetic attack tools.
Ideally, Lancaster said, the solution for this capability runs on an aerial drone or a man-portable ground robot and has “bolt-on” lethality, meaning operators can attach or install a variety of weapons or sensors to either the ground or aerial system. (Source: Defense News)
09 May 24. US and Danish forces use containerised missile launcher in convoy rehearsal. The portable, shore-based containerised missile launcher increases the Navy’s flexibility to support maritime security along sea lines of communication.
The US Sixth Fleet has conducted convoy protection rehearsals with the Danish military using a modular, containerised missile launcher (CML).
As a portable, the shore-based CML, in contrast to a conventional shipboard missile launcher, is said to increase the Navy’s flexibility to move and employ the weapon systems to support maritime security along sea lines of communication.
Both forces co-ordinated the exercise on Bornholm Island in the Baltic Sea, 105 miles southeast of Copenhagen, or 22 miles south of the Swedish mainland, between 3-5 May 2024.
This rehearsal follows another iteration
This is the second convoy rehearsal operation on the island after the two nations conducted a similar exercise in September last year using another containerised US Navy (USN) Mk70 Mod 1 Payload Delivery System with a Standard Missile 6 (SM-6).
“This second iteration continues to reaffirm our commitment to a strong Nato security ally, and strengthens the US-Denmark partnership,” the USN said in a recent statement.
SM-6, also known as RIM-174, is a ship-launched anti-air and anti-surface interceptor missile developed by Raytheon, an RTX subsidiary. The missile is part of Raytheon’s STANDARD missile family, which also includes SM-1, SM-2 and SM-3.
US Naval Forces Europe-US Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) operates naval forces in the US European Command and US Africa Command areas of responsibility. The Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.
Other nations have caught onto the containerised missile concept as well, with India’s Defence and Research and Development Organisation testing its own novel weapon system, the Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system.
SMART is similarly launched from the ground. It is a canisterised hybrid system that can travel at supersonic speeds, and it is made up of a medium-range missile carrying a lightweight torpedo as a payload.
Although it performs an anti-submarine warfare role for the Indian Navy, the objective behind the project is to develop a quick reaction launcher system from a standoff distance. (Source: naval-technology.com)
07 May 24. DSA 2024: Malaysia trials enhanced version of Shrike Marine’s weapon station. Shrike Marine has secured an arrangement to trial an enhanced version of its advanced weapon station (AWS) with the Malaysian Army. While speaking to Janes at the 18th Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur, Shrike Marine disclosed that the trials are planned to start from the week beginning 13 May.
The enhanced version of the AWS was revealed for the first time at DSA 2024.
Shrike Marine is manufacturing the AWS in Malaysia in collaboration with Advanced Defence Systems Sdn Bhd (ADSSB).
The enhanced AWS is provided with an “ammo box” for feeding the rounds and a better shock-absorption mechanism to improve the operation. The enhanced version is available in the 12.7 mm cartridge version only as compared with the older version, which is available in 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm. The contractor informed Janes that a 7.62 mm model of the enhanced version is in pipeline. (Source: Janes)
08 May 24. Special operators set to pick light machine gun in new caliber. U.S. special operations officials are set to select a new machine gun in the coming months to give shooters .50-caliber-like performance in a lightweight machine gun package, according to the program manager for special operations lethality.
Army Lt. Col. Tosh Lancaster said here Tuesday during the Special Operations Forces Week conference that Special Operations Command will select its so-called Lightweight Medium Machinegun, or LWMMG, by Oct. 1.
First announced in 2017, the project focused on the .338 Norma Magnum to provide shooters with more distance and lethal punch in a weapon that one person could carry and use. The .338 Norma Magnum is a new entry into military operations.
The three companies competing for the contract are Ohio Ordnance Works; Sig Sauer; and a True Velocity and Lonestar Future Weapons team.
Lancaster previously said the weapon is scheduled for fielding in fiscal 2026.
Sig Sauer in recent years won the Modular Handgun System contract to provide a 9 mm sidearm to all military branches as well as the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon rifle and automatic rifle contract.
Companies delivered three weapons each in February and a total of a dozen each in late April for endurance testing, according to documents.
Basic specifications of the Lightweight Medium Machinegun from the competitors are:
- Sig Sauer’s MG 3r38:’ Recoil Enhanced Automatic Precision Rifle, or REAPR: a 26.8-pound, 54.5-inch weapon with a rate of fire of 550 rounds to 660 rounds per minute.
- Sig Sauer’s MG 338: a 24.1-pound, 50-inch weapon with a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute.
- True Velocity’s Recoil Mitigation 338: a 25-pound, 49-inch weapon with a rate of fire exceeding 500 rounds per minute.
U.S. troops began noticing range limitations in Afghanistan with their M240 machine guns, chambered in 7.62 mm, that reached about 1,500 meters. The M2 .50-caliber machine gun could reach farther, up to 2,000 meters, but weighs 84 pounds.
Weapons and ammunition experts in the Army, Marine Corps and other government groups began evaluating the small arms suite of ammunition and platforms as those reports emerged.
One specific effort on the .338 included the Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate.
In 2021, Army snipers began using the .338 Norma Magnum for the MK22 Precision Sniper Rifle; SOCOM has fielded an advanced sniper rifle that can fire the .338 Norma Magnum, .300 Norma Magnum or 7.62 mm with barrel changes. (Source: Defense News)
08 May 24. US Army YPG tests new modular turreted mortar system.
The ongoing tests, expected to complete in July 2024, will help in validating the safety and performance of the mortar system. The US Army’s test centre Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) is conducting a series of tests to assess the capabilities of a new modular turreted mortar system (MTMS).
The MTMS, known as ‘NeMo’, is a semi-automated 120mm single-barrel mortar system mounted on an armoured multi-purpose vehicle (AMPV), reported James Gilbert.
According to US Army YGP Munitions and Weapons Division test officer Kevin Irr, the evaluations for NeMo began in January 2024, and are currently underway, with completion expected in July.
Partne
Irr highlighted that the ongoing tests will help in validating the safety and performance of this breech-loaded mortar system, further ensuring its readiness for the upcoming Maneuver Warfighter Conference that will be held at Fort Moore in September.
The NeMo turret requires a vehicle commander for operation and two crew members for loading the turret.
The ongoing tests will also help the soldiers to practice operating the new turret before the final demonstration at the conference.
A final demonstration test is also scheduled to take place at the YPG to underline any potential concerns or the requirement of fine tuning the operating procedures before the AMPV-mounted weapon is presented at Fort Moore.
It also includes safety testing, which prioritises evaluating the impact of vehicle operation on soldier’s auditory health and to check the buildup of toxic fumes in the vehicle which is caused by firing and engine exhaust.
Irr added: “We are diligently verifying its advertised capabilities and making sure it is safe for soldiers to operate. Additionally, we’re conducting several other tests to gauge weapons system’s overall operability.”
The project’s origins trace back to a multi-phase foreign comparative test, where the US Army assessed the system’s compatibility with US ammunition on a foreign vehicle.
US Army Ground Combat Systems Program Executive Office captain Mike Hapner explained that the AMPV platform was selected for the MTMS to replace the Mortar Carrier Variant with an automated system.
Hapner added: “The US Army is interested in MTMS’ capability to shoot on the move, perform direct fire missions, as well as its capability to conduct Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact missions.” (Source: army-technology.com)
08 May 24. K9 artillery stalled, but not stopped by British Army rejection. In an exclusive media event, Hanwha UK relayed their regret over UK rejection of the K9, but remain open to future opportunities such as AUKUS Pillar II.
Following news that the UK selected the German Remote Controlled Howitzer 155mm wheeled artillery system (RCH155) for its Mobile Fires Programme (MFP), Hanwha Aerospace UK expressed its disappointment over the rejection of its K9 Thunder tracked system in an exclusive roundtable event on 8 May 2024.
During a visit to Berlin on 24 April 2024, ahead of talks with the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that, “as an initial step,” the UK and Germany will jointly develop RCH155 systems, developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegemann (KMW), which the British Army will fit atop its Boxer mechanised fighting vehicles.
Simon Humphrey, vice president of business development and strategy at Hanwha Aerospace UK, said the company feels “bruised” by the decision.
K9 timeline
The K9 provides effective and deep fire support in all kinds of theatres. Built on a mobile platform, the K9 delivers a high rate of fire at long range.
K9 development began in 1989, while the company rolled out and tested the first prototype in 1996. The design phase was completed in 1998 and serial production began in 1999.
The K9A1 upgrade entered the market in 2018; it is equipped with improvements such as automatic fire control system, driver’s night periscope, and auxiliary power system for enhanced efficiency.
Hanhwa went on to propose the K9A2, an advanced variant of the K9 howitzer, for the UK’s MFP programme that aims to upgrade the artillery capabilities of the British Army.
K9A2 is expected to enhance the firing rate, automatic ammunition loading, and other capabilities of the artillery. Furthermore, this MFP solution will feature mine protection kits, an uncrewed turret, and composite rubber tracks.
Currently, Hanwha have the next A3 iteration currently in the research and development phase in South Korea. When asked about the timeline, Humphrey confirmed A3 will enter the market in the early 2030s.
K9A3 will have a larger 58 calibre gun and increased autonomy as Hanwha seek to bring the system within a crewed-uncrewed teaming concept alongside other assets.
What does the K9 offer?
The main 155mm, 52 calibre weapon has a burst rate of fire of three rounds per 15 seconds and a maximum rate of fire of six to eight rounds a minute for three minutes.
Sustained rate of fire is two to three rounds a minute for one hour. Hanwha Aerospace designed Thunder to meet the up-to-date tactical concept on shoot and scoot.
The gun can fire a standard M107 high-explosive (HE) projectile for a maximum range of 18km.
Maximum range firing the HE rocket assisted projectile with uni-charge of five zones, is 30km. It can also fire a K307 projectile with a modular-charge of six zones for a maximum range of over 40km.
MFP was meant to be a competitive acquisition
Strangely, the government’s decision was made without a competition to showcase what each contender had to offer – this was a point picked up by Humphrey in his address to the media.
“Hanwha is very disappointed. There’s no question about it. I’m professionally very disappointed that we haven’t been able to get K9A2 to the start line of a competitive process. I think that would have been the only way that we as a defence industry could guarantee we’re giving our soldiers survivability and lethality going forward.”
Sunak’s decision to select RCH155 neglected any chance of competition, which could be argued to divert away from the spirit of the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM) put forward by his own government.
IPM implements timely delivery of systems across the UK Armed Forces. One critical enabler within this model are its checks and balances, which challenge assumptions right from the outset of a new programme, which is hoped will ensure better and more expert-informed decisions.
While Sunak’s unexpected decision does follow suit with the end goal of timely delivery, it could be said bypassing competition entirely excludes these checks and balances that are there to evaluate performance.
“We probably have never really felt that it’s been a level playing field.”
Simon Humphrey, vice president for business development and strategy, Hanwha Aerospace UK
“I think the K9 is a great contender to front up at a competitive process where it can prove whether or not it’s the thing that the British Army needs.
“I’m not sure [that] without a competition how you guarantee that you’re not marching down the path to some other procurement disappointment that we’re all very familiar with in our world. I just don’t understand how you can have confidence that you won’t,” he added.
“Hanwha is upset with the outcome of a single source decision taken by the Ministry of Defence [MoD]. We probably have never really felt that it’s been a level playing field. It’s been difficult to really view it as a way where everyone has been considered in equal fashion.
It should be noted that Humphrey added “there will be reasons behind [the decision] which I won’t try and unpack.”
Though, he speculated that perhaps the “single source became the only way to meet the [initial operating capability] and [full operational capability] dates toward the end of this decade.”
Future opportunities – AUKUS Pillar II?
With the UK’s MFP programme out of sight for the time being, Humphrey turned his attention to Hanwha’s global prospects.
With the accession of Japan to the second pillar initiative launched by the trilateral AUKUS partnership exploring technology advancements, the prospect of South Korean industry joining up is certainly on the table.
New partners will enter the fold of the AUKUS Pillar II phase, which focuses on developing a range of advanced capabilities, to share technology and increase interoperability.
It includes quantum technologies, undersea capabilities, artificial intelligence and autonomy, cyber, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, and electronic warfare.
Among Pillar II activity so far, there has been work on enhancing autonomy with uncrewed ground vehicles and harnessing electromagnetic spectrum supremacy.
With the prospect of South Korea’s entry in sight, “we have got to move into the AUKUS space as a company,” Humphrey observed. (Source: army-technology.com)
07 May 24. Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), introduced its new Rogue 1™ loitering munition system at this week’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week convention in Tampa.
Rogue 1 is a next-generation, rapidly deployed, and optionally-lethal vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) that enables warfighters to conduct precision-strikes against moving and stationary armored targets, soft-skinned vehicles, and dismounted threats. An advanced fuzing system on Rogue 1 features a first-of-its-kind mechanical interrupt that allows the aircraft to be safely recovered and reused when targets are disengaged or missions are aborted.
Leveraging Teledyne FLIR’s pedigree as the world’s premier sensor provider, Rogue 1 also features advanced electro-optical and FLIR Boson® 640+ thermal cameras to deliver day/night long-range reconnaissance and surveillance. Plus, a novel coupling between sensors and warhead in the gimballed payload enables extremely precise targeting. Operators can attach modular, mission-specific payloads with lethal effects designed for distinct target types. Users can choose from Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP), Forward Fragmenting, or non-lethal Trainer payload options.
With a 30-minute flight time, burst speeds of more than 70 mph (113 kph), and range greater than six miles (10 km), the lightweight Rogue 1 was developed for today’s harsh battlefield conditions, including communication- and GPS-denied environments. Rogue 1 performs beyond the range and capabilities of existing organic weapon systems, while minimizing collateral damage and maximizing standoff.
“The new Rogue 1 gives warfighters the versatility, survivability and lethality demanded by the modern battlespace,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, executive vice president and general manager of Teledyne FLIR Defense. “With its unique ability to be recovered and reused when targeting conditions change, this innovative platform also offers military forces greater economy and flexibility. Rogue 1 leverages our decades of expertise developing combat-proven drone technology and complements our global UAS portfolio – from the Black Hornet nano-drone to our SkyRaider and SkyRanger quadcopters to our StormCaster sensor and targeting payloads.
“Customers and potential users have been awe-struck by Rogue 1’s performance, and we’re confident it will deliver a meaningful edge to troops on the frontlines,” Lei added.
In April, Teledyne FLIR Defense announced it had been selected by the U.S. Marine Corps for an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract worth up to $249 m for the Organic Precision Fires-Light (OPF-L) program. The company is offering Rogue 1 as its OPF-L platform and will deliver an initial order of 127 systems to the Marines later this summer.
In 2022 Teledyne FLIR supplied the first Rogue 1 systems to U.S. Special Operations Command for evaluation under their Ground Organic Precision Strike Systems (GOPSS) program and continues to deliver additional systems at present. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
08 May 24. MBDA: successful qualification firing of GRIFO system with CAMM-ER missile. MBDA has recently performed a successful qualification firing of the GRIFO system, the Italian Army’s new generation air defence system, a member of the EMADS (Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions) family developed by MBDA, based on the CAMM-ER (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile – Extended Range) missile.
The Italian Army will operate GRIFO System for its air defence, giving its short-range air defence (SHORAD) capability an extended range. CAMM-ER is part of the wider air defence family of CAMM (Common Anti-Air Missile) missiles, which are vertically launched to provide 360° air defence coverage.
The trial was a major milestone: for the first time, the Command Post and Engagement Module (PCMI – Posto Comando Modulo di Ingaggio) of the GRIFO system was tested and qualified, integrated with missile launcher and CAMM-ER missile. The test was carried out against a target drone simulating an attack by an enemy aircraft, confirming the defence capabilities and performance of both the missile and the entire system in an integrated mode.
MBDA is the design authority of the entire system and the key sub-systems as the PCMI – which includes an MBDA Command & Control system integrated with a Rheinmetall Italia X-TAR3D radar and a Leonardo identification friend or foe (IFF) system – the launcher and the CAMM-ER missile.
During the test, the PCMI detected the target drone, which was in attack mode, and proceeded to identify and classify the type of threat, evaluated the type of defence to deploy and commanded the launch of CAMM-ER to successfully neutralise it. The trial also verified the correct functioning of the two-way datalink between CAMM-ER and the GRIFO ground system.
The success of this qualification is the result of the joint work of the integrated Italian and UK teams of MBDA, together with Italian Customer.
CAMM-ER is the extended-range missile of the new generation CAMM family jointly developed in the United Kingdom and Italy for land and naval air defence. The CAMM family can be easily integrated with customer’s choice of radar and C2 to form an Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solution (EMADS). It will also replace the Aspide in the Medium Advanced Air Defence System (MAADS) of the Italian Air Force, successfully qualified last year. CAMM-ER is also integrated into Albatros NG, the new generation naval based air defence (NBAD) system, already sold abroad, that optimises the naval surface-to-air capabilities of fleets.
CAMM-ER is equipped with a state-of-the-art active seeker and a new motor – designed by AVIO – to provide an extended range, with respect to the CAMM missile version.
07 May 24. Elbit’s new Red Sky air defense system goes public with first customer.
The system includes a radar, as well as links to a 30mm gun and missile system for downing threats within ranges of seven kilometers and 15,000 feet, according to a company executive.
Elbit Systems’ broke cover last week on its new Red Sky air defense system, announcing the short-range asset has landed its first international customer.
The company on April 30 announced a $50 m contract for its Red Sky short range air defense system, the company said on April 30. The company did not specify the customer or even the region it was acquired in, as is often typical of Israeli industry, but did say the contract covers a two-year period.
Yehuda “Udi” Vered, General Manager of Elbit Systems Land, told Breaking Defense that this was the “first international customer for this system, with all the three layers.” The name Red Sky previously referred to an older air defense system made by IMI, which Vered says was a “completely different” system. IMI was acquired by Elbit in 2018 and the current Red Sky was developed over the last three years.
Elbit describes Red Sky as “a Tactical Very Short-range Air Defense (VSHORAD) System designed to provide protection against low-altitude aerial threats.” It includes the company’s Redrone electronic warfare solution, which is designed to counter unmanned systems and includes a “DAiR Radar, Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) sensors, RF Jammer, and COAPS-L electro-optical (EO) payload,” per the firm.
In addition to that soft-kill option, Red Sky is designed to provide a hard-kill capability. Vered told Breaking Defense that the system includes a radar, as well as links to a 30mm gun and missile system for downing threats within ranges of seven kilometers and 15,000 feet. The only part of the system not supplied by Elbit is the missiles, which will be integrated with whatever the customer nation wants to use. Vered emphasized the ability for the system to be flexible, which should allow it to meet emerging threats in the future.
A graphic put out by Elbit showed the system deployed with vehicles, in which one vehicle is mounted with a gun and another has a radar. The system itself is deployed with a missile. The graphic shows Red Sky combating helicopters, warplanes, drones and loitering munitions.
“I would say the main achievement as I see it is the full system with the kinetic interception ammunition, missile, radar and soft kill. And also Elbit’s Command and control system,” Vered said. He described the system as mobile and easy to deploy, and emphasized the modular nature.
“You can decide the threat is only drones and UAVs, or small and medium UAVs, maybe the gun is [not] enough or the missiles, and maybe in the future add the guns,” the executive said. “Each one comes on a different vehicle, a relatively not heavy vehicle. It’s an elegant solution.”
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated this kind of system can be very efficient against Iranian UAVs, Vered noted.
Elbit is one of the big three Israeli defense firms, but has not built the same name in air defense for itself that competitor Rafael has. Red Sky fills a defense niche that is different to Rafael’s well-known Iron Dome system, but only time will tell if Red Sky can achieve the same level of commercial success. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
07 May 24. DSA 2024: MBDA offers short-range air-defence systems to Malaysia. European missile maker MBDA has offered its Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions (EMADS) self-propelled surface-to-air missile (SAM) system and VL MICA New Generation (NG) SAM to the Malaysian Armed Forces, a spokesperson of MBDA told Janes at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.
“[MBDA has] proposed the systems to the Malaysian Army and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF),” the spokesperson said.
However, it is still unclear when the systems will be tested by these services, the spokesperson added.
The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) seeks to procure a short-range air-defence (SHORAD) system as a part of the 12th Malaysia Plan, which runs from 2021 to 2025.
Both the EMADS and VL MICA are short- to medium-range air-defence systems developed and are primarily intended for defending ground formations or static assets against common aerial threats such as fighter and multirole aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and cruise missiles, according to the spokesperson. (Source: Janes)
07 May 24. BrahMos eyes cruise missile export to Southeast Asia.
BrahMos Aerospace – a joint venture (JV) between India and Russia – has outlined its plans to export its supersonic cruise missiles to Southeast Asian countries at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.
Speaking with Janes at the show, a spokesperson for BrahMos Aerospace said the company has offered its cruise missiles to countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
“We [BrahMos Aerospace] are in talks with all these countries, and they have shown good interest in the missile,” the spokesperson added.
Janes understands that Malaysia and Indonesia are looking to procure air-launched variants of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to arm their Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets.
Vietnam plans to procure the shore-based anti-ship missile version of the BrahMos to counter the Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.
The spokesperson confirmed that BrahMos Aerospace has initiated the delivery of the BrahMos system to the Philippines.
The Philippines signed a USD375 m contract with BrahMos Aerospace in 2022 to procure three shore-based anti-ship missile systems.
Without providing much detail, the spokesperson said the delivery is “well within the timeframe”.
A land-based BrahMos missile system comprises at least three mobile firing units, a mobile command-and-control vehicle, a radar, and support vehicles. A mobile firing unit can fire three missiles, each of which can strike the target at a maximum distance of 290 km.
According to the BrahMos specification, the missile can cruise at a maximum altitude of 15 km between a speed of Mach 2.5 and Mach 2.8.
(Source: Google/Janes)
07 May 24. KNDS France Offers the CAESAR 6×6 to Meet the Needs of the Malaysian Artillery Units. KNDS France, the main provider of artillery systems for Malaysia and a strategic industrial partner for the Malaysian defence industry
The achievement of our industrial partnership initiated in 2018 with the assembly and delivery of 18 units of 105mm LG 1 MKIII howitzers to the Malaysian army reflects our mutual commitment to enhancing the nation’s defense capabilities but also signifies the excellence of local skills in the defense industry.
Today, KNDS France, together with ADSSB, commit to expand their partnership at an upper level in addressing the 155mm CAESARself-propelled howitzer to be assembled and integrated in the industrial facilities of ADSSB in Segamat, State of Johor. The installation of the CAESAR not only provides additional strength to the Malaysian Army but also contributes to the local economy by creating job opportunities and enhancing expertise in the field of armaments. KNDS and ADSSB are committed to continuing its efforts to advance Malaysia’s defense industry and support national security initiatives.
In a pro-active action, both companies will also address selected export markets for the 105mm LG1 MKIII, creating additional value to the Malaysian eco-system.
KNDS – ADSSB partnership is an example of cross-border cooperation aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s defense capabilities and increasing investment, particularly in the national defense industry.
A various offer of innovative defence systems
KNDS France exposes its new solutions such as:
- The RAPIDFire 40mm close-in weapon system perfectly fitted to neutralize sea, air and land threats.
- The TITUS ARX 20 infantry fighting vehicle and the SERVAL 4×4 vehicle made for counter-UAV warfare thanks to its new ARX 30 turret.
- The NERVA robots on the booth of our partner Harapan Erat.
(Source: ASD Network)
07 May 24. AeroVironment’s (AV) Switchblade 600 loitering munition system has been selected for Tranche 1 of the first iteration of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Replicator initiative. AV’s Switchblade 600 is a man-portable, extended-range loitering munition system equipped with an anti-armor warhead for engaging larger, hardened targets at greater distances. The first iteration of the Replicator initiative aims to accelerate all-domain, attritable autonomous systems to warfighters at speed and scale.
The first iteration of the Replicator initiative will field thousands of autonomous systems across multiple domains within the next 18-24 months, as part of the Pentagon’s strategy to counter peer adversaries’ rapid military buildup. The initiative will prioritize the fielding of attritable capabilities — affordable uncrewed platforms that allow commanders to tolerate a higher degree of risk in employing these “force multiplying” systems.
“Switchblade 600 is a battle-proven system in full-rate production that can support the DoD’s desire to field thousands of autonomous systems across multiple warfighting domains,” said AV’s SVP of Loitering Munition Systems, Brett Hush.
Equipped with advanced sensors and precision flight control, Switchblade 600 is capable of quick and easy deployment via tube launch and can fly, track and engage non-line of sight targets. Switchblade 600’s patented wave-off and recommit capability allows operators to abort the mission and re-engage as the mission requires.
“Our uncrewed systems, autonomy technology and computer vision software can help achieve multidomain operations in a heavily contested battlespace, at very low costs and high levels of resiliency,” continued Hush. “We have not only invested in the maturation of such disruptive technologies but also the production capability and capacity to produce large volumes at the level of reliability that the U.S. DoD expects.”
02 May 24. Indian Air Force inducts Rampage long-range missile. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is inducting Elbit Systems’ Rampage supersonic, long-range air-to-ground missile, the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) announced. As a stand‐off weapon (SoW) capable of engaging high‐value targets in attack missions, the Rampage is expected to give the IAF significant strike capabilities. The IAF’s induction of the missile will allow its aircraft “to strike targets up to 250 km away”, the MIB said on 30 April. According to the MIB, the missiles are being deployed on IAF Sukhoi Su-30, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29, and Sepecat Jaguar combat aircraft. The IAF told Janes it could not comment on the matter as the service has not issued an “official notification” on the missile. Janes understands that while the missile has likely been deployed with IAF Su-30 and Jaguar units, it is not yet operational with the IAF’s MiG-29 UPGs and Fulcrum-As. The IAF acquisition follows the Indian Navy’s acquisition of the missile for its carrier-borne MiG-29K fleet. (Source: Janes)
06 May 24. CAES, a leading provider of mission-critical cutting-edge technology, is advancing a key U.S. Army modernization priority with the development of the Precision Strike Sensor Core, a state-of-the-art programmable transceiver. The Precision Strike Sensor Core enables Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) and supports the Army’s Long Range Precision Fires initiative, enabling first-strike success. The programmable transceiver was developed to facilitate RF guidance and control as well as in-flight data link communications. CAES has recently been awarded multiple development contracts with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center to advance this technology.
“We are proud to support the U.S. Army’s precision fires mission with our pioneering technology to develop high-performance, long-range accuracy,” said Mike Kahn, CAES President and CEO. “We are excited to collaborate with our partners to support the Army as it develops new technologies to address the demands of future missions.”
The CAES team developing the Precision Strike Sensor Core includes key support from the DEVCOM Armament Center in Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, EngeniusMicro in Huntsville, Alabama, as well as Oklahoma State University for modeling, simulation and UAS support, Berry Aviation for supporting concept development, and the new Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator (FISTA) in Lawton, Oklahoma.
06 May 24. USMC to field Iron Dome. The United States Marine Corps has confirmed that it will field Rafael’s Iron Dome by 2025, following a series of medium-range interceptor capability live fire events.
The corp’s medium-range interceptor capability (MRIC) SkyHunter, which is equipped with 20 Rafael Tamir missile cells per launcher and an integration of several existing systems, is expected to move into training and integration in 2024, the company confirmed.
Pending an operational assessment in September, the corps expects to deliver the first system to the 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion in Hawaii in mid-2025.
The capability surpasses the maximum range of a Stinger by eight times, the company boasted, with a range of four to 70 kilometres.
A spokesperson for Rafael explained that the capability will improve the footprint of the Marines and provide cover in the event that the Marines are unable to receive cover from ships or planes.
The system has been tailored for the Marines since 2019, with the integration jointly carried out by Rafael and Raytheon.
The announcement represents a 21st century revitalisation of air defence, managing director of Rafael Australia Golan Ben Giat said.
“As warfare dynamics shift, Rafael are proud to be supporting and sharing our world-leading combat-proven defence capabilities with our global allies,” Ben Giat said.
“The USMC will soon have a capability to protect US Marines from almost all flying threats. By integrating Rafael’s Iron Dome into the MRIC, the USMC is adopting a proven system that has over a decade of operational success in saving lives.
“SkyHunter ensures the Marines have the ability to exist and persist within enemy weapon engagement zones, reinforcing the adaptability and resilience of the US Marine Corps.”
The company noted that the demand for medium-range defensive systems will continue to grow, demonstrated with the continued use of kamikaze drones and cruise missiles in the war in Ukraine. (Source: Defence Connect)
03 May 24. USMC eyes 2025 fielding of 3 new, mobile air defense systems.
“We are on track from a programmatic standpoint — cost, schedule performance — but we’re always gonna be late to need,” said Col. Andrew Konicki, the program manager for Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD). “The threat is ever changing and ever evolving.”
The US Marine Corps is planning to field a trio of mobile, ground-based air defense systems over the next year, including a modified Iron Dome launcher — and at least two will be bound for the Indo-Pacific region.
Over the past several years USMC leaders have been focusing on littoral operations and creating a smaller, more nimble force. Part of that work has centered around investing in a host of defensive weapons to protect Marines and bases from incoming aerial threats like rockets, drones and cruise missiles.
“We are on track from a programmatic standpoint — cost, schedule performance — but we’re always gonna be late to need. … That’s not anything that we’re doing from a program office standpoint, that’s essentially derived from the threat. The threat is ever changing and ever evolving,” Col. Andrew Konicki, the program manager for Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) told an audience at the Modern Day Marine expo on Wednesday.
“It’s challenging to keep up with that,” he later added.
In that effort, however, three new air defense systems — the Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC), Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) and Light MADIS — are set to undergo operational testing, of sorts, before being handed over to Marines in 2025.
Iron Dome Mobility
If all goes as planned, the MRIC will make its way into the services arsenal in calendar year 2025 to help Marines defend against higher-end threats like cruise missiles and larger class drones.
The mobile system centers around Israel’s famed Iron Dome and uses truck-mounted Iron Dome launcher with Tamir interceptors, teamed up with a Common Aviation Command-and-Control System (CAC2S) and a mini battle management control (BMC) system, along with the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR).
Konicki said the plan is to host a quick reaction assessment with MRIC in September, train Marines on how to use the new system and get it into the field. As for the Tamir interceptors, the service is buying 80 from Israel in fiscal 2024, according to a source familiar with the program. Then in FY25 the service is slated to receive about 240 additional interceptors, likely a mix from Israel and some from off the new production line being stood up in Camden, Ark., by RTX and Rafael.
The ultimate goal, though, is for the USMC to receive a US Tamir variant. Dubbed the SkyHunter missile, the weapon will have about 90 to 95 percent commonality with the original weapon, Konicki said. Although he declined to detail any deviations in a public forum, the source familiar with the program noted that the US-variant will have a classified data link designed to better protect it from jamming and spoofing.
Fighting Pairs
Marines are also eyeing the addition of two vehicle-based defense weapons into their portfolio: MADIS and LMADIS. Both are slated to undergo operational testing and, if deemed successful, counter-UAS capabilities integration officer Capt. Taylor Barefoot said both will be headed to Indo-Pacific region next year.
MADIS consists of two Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Heavy Guns Carriers designed to fight as a pair. The first vehicle includes a 360-degree radar, command and control suite, remote weapons station, electro-optical/infrared optic, and electronic warfare system. The second vehicle hosts Kongsberg’s RS6 remote weapon station, stinger missiles, a 30mm XM914 gun, an electronic warfare capability and more.
For LMADIS, the service initially designed the capability around the Polaris MRZR but opted to put it on the Marine’s new Ultra Light Tactical Vehicle (ULTV) for the program of record. Also designed to fight in pairs, one vehicle provides the capability to transmit and receive data to and from external airborne and ground platforms, while the second vehicle provides target detection, tracking, and a non-kinetic C-UAS capability, according to FY25 budget request documents. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Breaking Defense.com)
03 May 24. US NAVAIR supports development of new extended range LRASM. US Naval Air Systems Command is pursuing a new Long Range Anti-Ship Missile variant with a range beyond that of existing AGM-158C-1 missiles.
According to the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, the LRASM can travel at supersonic speeds, reaching up to 200 nautical miles; the next-generation variant will exceed this range.
In addition, this new ‘AGM-158C-3’ variant will incorporate advanced communications and survivability capabilities while supporting maritime strike missions for the US Navy.
Under a modified contract that appropriates a further $288m, Lockheed Martin will provide non-recurring engineering and material to support post-critical design review activities and test asset builds.
The DoD anticipates the completion of the project in August 2026.
What is an LRASM?
LRASM is an autonomous, precision-guided anti-ship stand-off missile developed by Lockheed Martin, the original equipment manufacturer.
This development programme was jointly initiated in 2008, by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Office of Naval Research, to penetrate more sophisticated air defence systems of enemies from long range.
LRASM production began in 2018, achieving early operating capability for the B-1B Lancer in the same year and for the F/A-18E/F in 2019. There are 120 missiles currently under contract.
The LRASM is designed to be launched by Mark 41 vertical launch systems aboard most US Navy vessels and fixed wing aircraft.
It can be fired from outside direct counter-fire ranges with maximum possibility of target hit. The missile can function as an anti-surface warfare weapon capability. (Source: naval-technology.com)
03 May 24. UK replenishment of Javelin anti-tank missiles will take years. The UK has spent significant quantities in recent months securing production of critical munitions to replenish stock granted to Ukraine, but delivery of F-series will not begin until 2027.
The vast quantity of UK Javelin anti-tank missiles granted to Ukraine to aid Kyiv in its war against Russia will not begin to be replenished until 2027 at the earliest, when the first batch of F-series munitions arrive in-country, it has emerged.
Within days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 the UK had sprung to action, donating thousands of munitions to Kyiv. By mid-July 2022 the UK had sent 6,900 Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons (NLAW), Javelin, Brimstone and other anti-tank weapons, committing at the time to providing a further 1,600 anti-tank weapons “in the coming weeks”.
Although this rapidly depleted stockpiles, the UK continued to send military equipment to Ukraine with number of anti-tank systems, including Javelin, reaching in excess of 10,000 by late-April 2024. This support continues and has amounted to more than £4.6bn ($5.7bn) since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Such has been the quantity of ammunition provided to Ukraine that the UK’s stockpiles of critical military capabilities like the NLAW and Javelin have been severely reduced, leading to a concerted effort to try and replenish its stores.
However, James Cartlidge, Minister for Defence Procurement, said on 30 April that the UK MoD had “yet to take delivery” of the Lightweight Command Launch Units for the Javelin system, with initial deliveries expected in 2026.
However, the Javelin F-model missiles, required to replenish stocks Granted in Kind to Ukraine, were scheduled to be delivered in two batches, “in 2027 and 2028”, Cartlidge said.
UK spending £1bn to replenish munitions given to Ukraine
In an April 2024 UK Government response to a UK Parliament Defence Committee report as to whether the country’s military was prepared for war, it was stated that almost £1bn in contracts had been placed to replenish UK stocks of equipment and munitions already granted to Ukraine.
Specifically, this included replenishment contracts for NLAW, Starstreak High Velocity Missiles, Lightweight Multirole Missiles, Javelin missiles, Brimstone missiles, 155mm artillery rounds, and 5.56mm rifle rounds.
The UK Government withheld the exact quantity of stockpile holdings on grounds of national security, however conceded that the war in Ukraine “highlighted to the UK and allies that we all need to invest more in munitions to increase stockpile levels and ensure we have the industrial base required”. (Source: army-technology.com)
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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.
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