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23 May 24. Future Artillery 2024: PzH 2000 system improvements proposed. System improvements to the Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 were proposed at Defence iQ’s Future Artillery 2024 conference held in Paris from 21 to 23 May to extend the lifetime of the self-propelled howitzer (SPH) to 2040–50.
Proposed new capabilities made possible by the PzH 2000’s modularity include an advanced 155 mm gun firing ammunition with a range of 100 km and beyond. A related option would be an automatic charge loader, in addition to 30 ready-to-fire rounds.
Other proposed system improvements would protect the PzH 2000. This includes lightweight roof protection of the SPH against unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as a remote-controlled weapon system.
Optronics on the roof and a vision system for the driver would improve situational awareness.
There have been no fatalities among crews of the PzH 2000s donated to Ukraine, which have been effective against Russian Lancet loitering munitions, it was claimed at Future Artillery 2024. (Source: Janes)
23 May 24. Future Artillery 2024: Switzerland modernises artillery. Janes learnt about Swiss efforts to modernise its artillery at Defence iQ’s Future Artillery 2024 conference being held in Paris from 21 to 23 May. Switzerland is rebuilding its armed forces that were drawn down after the end of the Cold War, followed by the reduction of defence spending from 1.52% to 0.68% of GDP. For Swiss fires capabilities, this resulted in the reduction in the number of artillery battalions from 16 to four and the disbandment of fortress artillery, and for the air force, the phasing out of air-to-ground munitions. To reverse this decline, Swiss defence spending will be increased to 2% of GDP, with the still-to-be-decided timeframe starting either in 2030 or 2035. As a first step, Switzerland plans to modernise its operational fires, among other capabilities, increasing its artillery range from 20 km to 50 km, and as a second step, to 300 km, combined with munitions delivered by the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) it is procuring. (Source: Janes)
23 May 24. Romanian H215M fleet to integrate Marte ER anti-ship missile. Romania will introduce two H215M helicopters after having signed multi-year agreements with Airbus on sustainment and potential acquisitions in 2017.
MBDA has signed a contract with IAR Brasov to support the integration of the Marte ER missile onto a maritime helicopter platform for the Romanian Naval Forces, based on the Airbus H215M rotary-wing platform, the company has stated.
Revealed in a 23 May 2024 release, MBDA said that the Marte ER missile will enable the Romanian Navy to carry out rotary-based anti-surface warfare missions, with the deal in partnership with majority state-owned IAR Brasov and Airbus on weapon system integration.
Marte ER represents the latest generation of the family, designed to operate in all weather conditions and deliver effect at ranges over 100km. MBDA states that the missile features flexible mission profile to offer automatic or manual waypoints, salvo firing, and land-attack capability.
The Marte family of missiles have also been integrated on a number of platforms for the Italian Armed Forces and several export customers.
In April 2017 Airbus Helicopters and IAR signed an exclusive agreement for twin engine H215M multi-role helicopter support in Romania, which saw IAR become the prime contractor for the H215M for any future order for the Romanian Ministry of Defence to replace its ageing fleet.
By August of the same year, the agreement between Airbus Helicopters and IAR on H215M cooperation had been extended for a further 15 years. The agreement also covered cooperation between Airbus Helicopters and IAR on the production, assembly, customisation, support and maintenance of H215M helicopters heading to the Romanian Armed Forces, and any export opportunities. (Source: naval-technology.com)
23 May 24. A new variant for FN MINIMI® Mk3 light machine guns. The FN MINIMI® light machine gun (LMG), designed by Belgium-based FN Herstal, is a global reference in its category. It is the most widely used NATO calibre LMG, being the standard weapon in many armed forces worldwide, including several NATO members. FN Herstal constantly adapts its products to align with evolving user requirements, ensuring that they always retain peak combat effectiveness. One requirement that is increasingly being expressed is for sufficient rail space to allow in-line mounting of optics.
The FN MINIMI® is often fitted with an optical sight mounted on a rail that is integral with the feed cover. However, it is difficult to mount two optics in-line on the current rail. Configurations of both the FN MINIMI® 5.56 Mk3 and FN MINIMI® 7.62 Mk3 have been introduced with a long rail feed cover (23 slots).
The one-piece rigid top rail gives sufficient rail length to mount two optics in-line. For example, a non-magnifying day optic with a magnifier, or a day optic with a night vision optic. Mounting both optics on a single rail provides reliable assembly and ensures greater accuracy.
The standard adjustable rear iron sight has been replaced by a flip-up non-adjustable rear sight for back-up use.
A cover retaining latch holds the feed cover open during loading, unloading and clearing actions to counter the weight of the optics. This ensures that handling is equally safe and easy with or without optics fitted.
These modifications give the user a valuable added capability that can make a real difference in current operational conditions.
This variant of the FN MINIMI® Mk3, available in 5.56x45mm NATO or 7.62x51mm NATO calibre, will be on display at the FN Herstal stand at the major EUROSATORY trade show, to be held in Paris-Villepinte, from 17 to 21 June 2024.
22 May 24. At Gulf Cooperation Council, U.S. Participates in Maritime, Missile Defense Working Groups. Defense Department representatives will sit down today with partners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting to discuss ongoing and mutual security concerns in the Middle East, including those posed by Iran.
“The region is experiencing one of its most challenging periods in recent years,” said a senior defense official on Monday. “Threats from Iran and its proxies are pervasive, demonstrated by an unprecedented number of Iran-backed attacks since October, such as the 175 Iranian-aligned militia group attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria and Jordan; more than 90 Houthi attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea; and more.”
Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. The council first met in 1981 to strengthen relations among the member states.
The U.S. last participated in talks with the GCC in February 2023. During today’s discussions, representatives from the Joint Staff, U.S. Central Command, Naval Forces Central Command, Air Forces Central Command, the Missile Defense Agency, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency are participating in two working groups, including one on maritime security and the other on air and missile defense.
“In the maritime security working group, we’ll focus heavily on these Houthi terrorist attacks against international shipping, which have used an unprecedented array of anti-ship ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, one-way attack UAVs , unmanned surface vehicles, and unmanned underwater vehicles,” the senior defense official said. “These attacks endanger freedom of navigation and the lives of innocent mariners.”
More than 24 nations are now participating in the U.S.-led “Prosperity Guardian” mission in the Red Sea to counter Iranian-backed, Houthi-led attacks on merchant and naval vessels.
” have resulted in the kidnapping and deaths of innocents, immense property destruction, and environmental despoliation and immense hardship for the peoples of the nations of the Red Sea,” the official said. “These attacks are not just a U.S. problem. They impact the entirety of the region, and they have global ramifications. So, we look forward to discussing how we can expand cooperation with our Gulf partners to mitigate the Houthi threat to maritime security.”
Last month, on April 13, Iran and its proxy groups launched more than 300 airborne weapons at targets in Israel, but the U.S., Israeli and partner forces destroyed a significant portion of those before they reached their targets.
Among the weapons launched from locations in Iran, Syria and Yemen were over 110 medium-range ballistic missiles, more then 30 land-attack cruise missiles, and more than 150 uncrewed aerial vehicles.
During the meeting, the U.S. will also participate in the integrated air and missile defense working group, which the official said now takes on more significance in light of those Iranian missile launches at Israel.
“This attack really was a watershed moment in the Middle East, the official said. “Together with our partners, we … successfully defeated Iran’s attack, and that’s a stark testament to the value of integrated air and missile defense and its vital importance for regional stability.”
The official said the attack — and the defeat of that attack by partners in the Middle East — demonstrated what can be achieved by partnerships, such as the ones the U.S. has with some Middle East nations.
“It really showcased what we’re collectively capable of when we work together on defeating regional security threats,” he said. “Ironically, … April 13, which was really a proof-of-concept of integrated air and missile defense, was ultimately successful in sparking a deeper cooperation among our partners. Iran’s destabilizing and dangerous behavior has given a newfound urgency and newfound energy to convene this working group and build out the elements of integrated air and missile defense.”
Discussions within the integrated air and missile defense working group will include, among other topics, multilateral efforts to counter existing threats, expansion of air and missile defense early warning systems, and the sharing of information to ensure a common air picture.
“We’ll focus on improving U.S. and GCC interoperability and integration to ensure that the region is postured to counter, to deter, and to defeat air and maritime threats and ultimately to advance peace and security in the region,” the official said. “Our basic message as we head into these discussions is: ‘We’re stronger when we act together.'”(Source: U.S. DoD)
22 May 24. Joint Statement: U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council Defense Working Groups on Integrated Air and Missile Defense and Maritime Security. The United States and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held a meeting of U.S.-GCC Defense Working Groups on Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) and Maritime Security in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 22, 2024.
Assistant Secretary General for Military Affairs Major General Eisa Al Mohannadi chaired the GCC delegation and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro chaired the U.S. side. All GCC members attended the discussion, along with U.S. senior representatives from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Joint Staff, Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
In the IAMD Working Group, attendees concurred on urgent and shared assessments of air threats in the region, including missiles and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) that threaten regional stability of the GCC. The working group discussed multilateral efforts to counter shared threats in light of unprecedented destabilizing activities by malign actors in the Middle East. The Department of Defense and U.S. Central Command briefed on efforts to further strengthen and expand the successful integration of air and missile defense and early warning systems across the region. The United States and the GCC committed to prioritize IAMD and to work through multilateral mechanisms to develop IAMD capability in response to shared threats. All attendees are looking forward to the kick-off meeting for the GCC Early Warning Study, in cooperation with the MDA and DSCA, later this summer and agreed that the implementation of the Early Warning Study is accelerating laying the foundation for an eventual GCC integrated air and missile defense system.
In the Maritime Security Working Group, the group reiterated the importance of freedom of navigation and adherence to international law in regional waters. The United States and the GCC concurred on the importance of multilateral efforts to bolster information sharing and counter proliferation and to increase the effectiveness of combined interdictions. The working groups discussed the malign activities of the Houthi militias on maritime security, emphasizing the importance of international efforts that support maritime security in the region to maintain the flow of trade and energy to the world, and to review the current duties of the Combined Maritime Force (CMF) to include counter smuggling and strengthen intelligence cooperation for all participating states.
Both working groups advanced strategic cooperation between attendees, building on discussions at the 2023 round of Working Groups. The United States and GCC member states affirmed the importance of continuing periodic working groups to discuss IAMD and Maritime Security. (Source: U.S. DoD)
22 May 24. Slovakia, Poland near deal for short-range air defense weapons. The Polish and Slovak governments are nearing a deal for the purchase of short-range, man-portable air defense systems, according to the manufacturer, as part of Slovakia’s push to bolster its anti-aircraft capabilities.
“We are in advanced negotiations with the Slovak Ministry of Defense for the sale of the Piorun systems, and we look forward to conclude a government-to-government contract by the end of this year,” a representative from the Polish Armaments Group PGZ, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks, told Defense News during the IDEB defense fair, held here May 14-16.
PGZ’s flagship weapon is the Piorun (Thunderbolt), designed to destroy drones, helicopters, aircraft and winged rockets. It is able to hit targets at an altitude of up to 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) and has a maximum range of 6.5 kilometers (4 miles), according to data from the company.
Slovakia has identified gaps in it air-defense capabilities, a shortfall deemed urgent by many eastern European nations who fear Russian aggression beyond Ukraine.
In April 2022, the previous government donated a S-300 air defense weapon to Ukraine, a key part of its air defense network. At the time, U.S. European Command temporarily relocated a Patriot system to Slovakia to help protect its skies.
Late last year, Slovakia’s defense ministry published a list of recommendations for very-short-range (VSHORAD) and medium-range (MRAD) air defense systems to buy, based on an evaluation process.
“The MoD recommends that VSHORAD systems be procured from Poland via a G2G agreement, the best offer from Poland was followed by the offers from Sweden, France and South Korea,” the study said.
For the MRAD systems, defense officials recommended the purchase of a mobile medium-range surface-to-air missile from Israel.
Following this, the Slovak government stated its intention to procure 36 Polish-made Piorun sets and one Barak MX MRSAM-M system, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries.
The overall procurement costs for these two types of air defense systems is estimated at €194 million ($210,4 million), and both are expected to enter into service with the Slovak Armed Forces from 2024 to 2027. (Source: Defense News)
23 May 24. MFP Interim, focus again on bad procurement. The news that Rheinmetall MAN was contracted for delivery of 48 HX 8×8 Protected Military Trucks for Swedish Archer Artillery System, is further proof of the huge costs of the MFP Interim buy of Volvo 6×6 Archer systems from BAE Systems. Clearly DE&S failed to do any due diligence on the lack of capacity of the existing 6×6 chassis to fulfill what was a political fix, not a true interim artillery system procurement. (See BATTLESPACE UPDATE Vol.26 ISSUE 18, 06 May 2024, MFP Interim – Talking Point). Rumours abound that at least two of the Archer systems are already in Ukraine. BAE must have thought that Christmas had arrived early when the MoD accepted their MFP Interim bid! Did the MoD consider an 8×8 buy? The highly mobile 8×8 military vehicles from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) will serve as carriers for the Swedish Armed Forces’ Archer artillery systems. The contract, which was concluded in March 2024, has a volume of around €71m. Deliveries are foreseen to start in the third quarter of 2024 and to be completed by the end of 2027. Besides the vehicles the order also includes additional service and maintenance scope. The robust HX vehicles are specially adapted to the requirements of a 155mm wheeled howitzer, for example to withstand the pressure wave when firing, and provide the operator with the highest level of off-road mobility. The particular hardened Rheinmetall integrated armoured cabin contributes significantly to the protection of the crew during deployment in high-risk scenarios. This contract constitutes the first series integration of Archer system on the HX truck family. The integration of the system is done by BAE Systems Bofors AB. The Archer wheeled artillery system is currently being used by the Swedish Armed Forces on a 6×6 platform, which will now be replaced by the new HX-8×8 systems. With doubts over the choice of the RCH155 entering service in the near future and with all the AS90 systems now in Ukraine, will the MoD relent and convert the exiting 6×6 Archer systems to 8×8 and buy more 8×8 systems prior to the RCH155 fielding? (See Feature : When Will The Boxer RCH 155 Self Propelled Howitzer Enter Service With The British Army? A simple question that deserves a proper answer By Paul Hough)
21 May 24. Swedish army pursues four-fold artillery growth, including rocket artillery. Sweden’s artillery will push from two units to eight by 2030, moving beyond simply balancing support for the Army.
At Future Artillery 2024 in Paris, Swedish Army Colonel Stephan Sjöberg discussed the growth and recovery of the Swedish artillery, which has ambitious plans to expand this function as part of the lastest defence bill.
“For decades of international operations, which was the focus for the Swedish army,” says Sjöberg, “the artillery was a function that was not needed, not asked for, and going from [counter-insurgency] operations in Afghanistan and Mali, to high intensity warfare and Nato conflict is a challenging journey for the artillery. The artillery is the function is that is growing the most in the defence bills.”
2024 will see the next Swedish defence bill, likely to take on considerations identified from Ukraine, as well as Sweden’s new membership in Nato, which began on 7 March, 2024. “This means a completely different a new landscape for Sweden,” says Sjöberg. On 26 April, 2024, Sweden submitted its final report on the development of its military defence, with proposals to gradually increase defence funding from the 2025, to reach Skr52.8bn ($4.9bn) by 2030.
Sweden had plans for growth in the artillery segment of the Army that were present in the 2020 defence bill, before the outbreak of the Ukraine War put the need for an expansion in long-range fires into focus, and before the deepening of the partnership between Sweden and Nato.
The proposition for artillery in 2020 was decided by the Swedish government without the need to increase the home defences for forces in Sweden. The intention then was to “refill” artillery, says Sjöberg, to the point where it could balance the rest of the army.
Moving towards 2030, the Swedish Army will now expand its artillery from two units to seven units, with an eight unit to be procured of rocket artillery, according to a report from the defence advisory board. Sjöberg sees the new intention of the 2024 defence bill being to “fill up” artillery, leaving behind the idea of balancing artillery with the rest of the Swedish army, and head to a new structure reflective of how war in the land domain occurs today.
The new Swedish Army structure would see one artillery company and four brigades, each containing an artillery battalion. The first priority is for Sweden’s two existing brigades to be provided with artillery battalions.
Sjöberg stresses that the definition of a unit, for rocket artillery, has not yet been decided, but that the concept is separate to a less operationally tangible requirement class, such as demonstrator. (Source: army-technology.com)
22 May 24. US Navy is close to getting waivers for new countermine platforms, says service official. The US Navy (USN) should soon have the waivers it needs to field its proposed countermine(MCM) replacement platforms, according to David Chase, USN Expeditionary Warfare deputy director.
“We are weeks, not months away from getting that over [the] goal line,” Chase said on 21 May during a keynote speech at the International Mine Warfare Technology Symposium 2024 in San Diego, California.
The USN needs two separate waivers from requirements, Chase noted, that must be cleared through Congress to lift certain restrictions.
“One prohibits us from decommissioning the Avenger-class MCM [ships],” he noted, adding that Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro must certify – and the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) must concur with that certification – that “what we are fielding is equivalent to the capability before decommissioning”.
The second restriction concerns surface ship requirements that would be unmet by the littoral combat ships (LCSs) slated to replace Avenger-class ships for MCM missions, according to Chase. The LCSs require an exception. (Source: Janes)
21 May 24. British Army’s AH-64E attack helicopter purchase forecast to be on budget. The UK is acquiring 50 remanufactured AH-64D airframes to the E standard, which adds additional sensor, performance, and weapons capabilities.
The UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) planned acquisition of 50 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters via a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) arrangement with the US Government appears to be running to budget, according to the latest figures.
Detailing the currently initial procurement cost of the UK Apache FMS with the US, UK Defence Procurement Minister James Cartlidge stated on 17 May 2024, that the current forecast was £1.793bn ($2.3bn) against an approval of £1.999bn.
This is broadly on track with the figures outlined in the earlier FMS agreement between the UK and US.
In addition, the long-term training and support for the British Army’s future AH-64E, which will be supplied by Boeing Defence UK (BDUK) through the current five-year Long-Term Training and Support Contract (LTTSC) has a value of £341.2m, not including actual operating costs of the platform, which are accounted for separately.
This sees a change in sustainment provision, with the older Mk1 Apaches in service with the British Army being maintained by Leonardo until they leave service.
The 20-year agreement with BDUK will cover aircraft design organisation services, maintenance, logistics support, pilot, and maintainer and groundcrew training.
In 2020, the UK MoD’s DE&S finalised the FMS with the US Government to buy 50 AH-64Es, worth approximately $2.3bn at the time, with the first two aircraft arriving in November 2020. By February 2024, 38 airframes had been delivered ahead of the arrival of the final dozen AH-64Es by the end of the year.
Initial Operating Capability was declared in May 2023, with a Full Operating Capability on track for early 2026, according to DE&S. According to GlobalData intelligence the British Army retains around 20 Apache Mk1 variants in service, originally procured between 2001 and 2007, which are due to leave service by the end of the 2024.
DE&S states a large number of parts from the Mk1 are being used in the production of the E model, which reduces production costs, effectively remanufacturing the aircraft with upgraded and updated capabilities.
AH-64E Apache: open architecture planning
According to GlobalData, Boeing designed the AH-64E with open systems architecture to support long-term plans to position the platform as a key component of the multi-domain operations.
This compliments the UK MoD’s procurement reform, in which the Government prioritises a fast delivery with minimal sovereign configuration details, underscored in the Defence Command Paper in July 2023.
New capabilities with the AH-64E compared to the D variant include improved rotor blades, engine output, maritime mode radar, and weaponry. The UK’s acquisition, combining platform acquisition as the LTTSC amounts to £2.13bn. (Source: army-technology.com)
21 May 24. Singapore Army inducts Colt’s Infantry Automatic Rifle. The Singapore Army has initiated inducting Colt’s Infantry Automatic Rifle 6940 (IAR6940) as its new section automatic weapon (SAW) to replace ST Engineering’s 5.56 mm Ultimax 100 Mk2 light machine gun (LMG), which has been in service since 1982.
The service began induction of the IAR6940 LMGs – which were evaluated and procured in partnership with the state-owned Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) – in April, the Singapore Army said in a social media post on 20 May.
According to the Singapore Army, the IAR6940, locally termed as IAR6940E-SG, is a closed-bolt rifle that provides “enhanced lethality, improved ergonomics, and customisation to better suit the needs of our soldiers”.
The rifle is fitted with “new” sighting systems such as a red dot sight paired with a 3x magnifier scope, the Singapore Army said.
“The combination of these two sighting systems assists our soldiers to acquire targets more rapidly and accurately,” the service added. The rifle is also equipped with a multi-purpose laser aiming device (LAD), which has four modes: visible, infrared laser, infrared illuminator, and white-light torch, the service said. (Source: Janes)
21 May 24. US Successfully Tests PAC-3 Missile Launch from Naval Platform. The U.S. military, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, has achieved a milestone by successfully testing the launch of an Army PAC-3 missile from a naval launch platform on land. This test, conducted under a classified Defense Department project, could pave the way for U.S. Navy ships to deploy Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles.
The test took place at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, where the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) was fired from an MK-70 containerized platform. The missile accurately tracked and intercepted a cruise missile target, according to a Lockheed Martin announcement on May 20.
Tom Copeman, Vice President of Strategy and Naval Programs at Lockheed Martin, emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating that it demonstrates the company’s commitment to advancing technologies that keep U.S. forces ahead of emerging threats.
Lockheed Martin is working to adapt the PAC-3 MSE missile for naval use, integrating it with the Aegis Weapon System’s SPY radar. This effort is part of a broader initiative outlined in the Navy’s fiscal year 2024 budget, which includes a project called “Compact Agile Interceptors” aimed at addressing complex threats like hypersonic and cruise missiles.
The PAC-3 MSE missile is an enhanced version of the Patriot system, designed to intercept and neutralize various threats including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft. It features a solid-fuel rocket motor, advanced guidance system, and a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, with a hit-to-kill capability that ensures direct impact destruction.
This recent test is part of Lockheed Martin’s ongoing efforts, which began in 2017, to provide the U.S. Navy with advanced missile defense capabilities. The company’s facility in Camden, Arkansas, is ramping up production of the PAC-3 MSE to meet increasing demand, aiming to produce 550 missiles annually. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)
21 May 24. Lockheed Martin to advance US Army’s LRHW systems.
The contract builds on Lockheed Martin’s previous achievements, including delivering the first LRHW battery, nicknamed Dark Eagle, to the US Army in 2021.
The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a $756m contract to boost its Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) capabilities.
The deal aims to fortify the nation’s hypersonic strike capabilities by providing additional batteries, equipment, and logistical support.
The LRHW system is known for its ultrafast, manoeuvrable missiles that launch from ground mobile platforms. These advanced hypersonic missiles, part of the US Navy-managed Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) programme, are designed to deliver rapid and precise strikes, enhancing the Army’s offensive and defensive operations.
Steve Layne, vice president of Hypersonic Strike Weapon Systems at Lockheed Martin, emphasised the importance of this contract: “With this contract, we will support the US Army to sustain the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon System currently in the hands of US soldiers, produce additional batteries for future fielding, and support flight testing.”
This contract builds on Lockheed Martin’s previous achievements, including delivering the first LRHW battery, nicknamed Dark Eagle, to the US Army in 2021.
Lockheed Martin’s involvement in hypersonic technology spans over six decades, aligning with the company’s 21st Century Security vision.
Bottom of Form
Enhancing the LRHW system is a step in maintaining the US military’s competitive edge as global threats evolve.
Lockheed Martin reported net earnings of $1.54bn in Q1 FY24, an 8.5% decrease from $1.68bn in Q1 FY23, despite sales growth in multiple segments, including a 25% rise in Missiles and Fire Control. Recently, Lockheed Martin also secured a $451m contract to upgrade M270 multiple launch rocket systems for the US Army. (Source: army-technology.com)
20 May 24. Teledyne FLIR’s ‘New’ Rogue 1 Loitering Munition has been under SOCOM Contract for Two Years.
When Teledyne FLIR unveiled its “new” Rogue 1 loitering munition system (LMS) on May 7, it was the first glimpse the public got of the design. But quietly, US Special Operations Command has been testing the vertical take-off/landing capability system for over two years.
The company has been under a training and evaluation contract with SOCOM since 2022 as part of the Ground Organic Precision Strike System Echelon 0-Air (0A) requirement. Teledyne FLIR Defense’s Dave Salter, director of US Business Development, confirmed the company continues to deliver “additional systems” to SOCOM.
GOPSS 0A is sub-divided into three categories including ‘nano-’, ‘micro-’ and ‘mega-’ sized platforms. Weighing approximately 10lbs, Rogue 1 satisfies the micro category; Rogue 1 is the only system currently being tested in that category, with the other categories yet to be fulfilled.
In response to questions from Breaking Defense, a SOCOM spokesperson said the command
“is using a multi-phase approach to field Ground Organic Precision Strike Systems Echelon 0 Air Micro capabilities, which began with competitive demonstration and down select of the Teledyne FLIR Rogue 1.
Our next step is to purchase limited quantities of the Rogue 1 for further test and evaluation in support of a fielding decision and follow-on Low-Rate Initial Production in late calendar year 2025.”
Addressing delegates at SOF Week, Lt Col Tosh Lancaster, Program Executive Officer- SOF Lethality confirmed SOCOM “already have one of the solutions we’re going after” although he did not specifically reference Teledyne FLIR Defense’s Rogue 1 LMS. He also clarified the selected system remains “in development.”
“In contested environments, we know that a lot of our things that we relied on in the global war on terror are not survivable. So that’s originally what we were after,” Lancaster said. “So now we describe it as precision effects unmanned with control at the tactical level.”
According to a company statement, Rogue 1 is a “next-generation, rapidly deployed and optionally-lethal VTOL small unmanned aerial system that enables warfighters to conduct precision strikes against moving and stationary armored targets, soft-skinned vehicles and dismounted threats.”
The Rogue 1 allows users to abort and recover the system if needed, and is able to operate in day or night conditions. The company also hyped up its modular nature with multiple payloads. The system has a maximum endurance of 30 minutes and range of 10 km and has capacity to fly at a top speed of 113 kph, including through GPS-denied areas of operation. Navigation can be enabled by GNSS, visual or thermal recognition. Communications are AES 256 encrypted.
The air frame is controlled by a single operator using a 2.3kg fire control unit. The LMS can also carry a laser range finder and LADAR sensor to calculate height of burst for proximity fire missions. A company official said Rogue 1 could be hand-launched, tube-launched as well as fired from a multi-canister launcher which could be integrated on board a tactical ground vehicle or surface vessel for example.
SOCOM’s pursuit of the 0A requirement comes at a time when one-way attack drones and small, weaponized UAS are proliferating the modern battlefield, particularly in Ukraine where both sides are using a wide range of technologies to target dismounted and mounted personnel.
The command may be particularly interested in a VTOL LMS solution, which allows alternative concepts of operation for end users over fixed wing solutions — particularly thanks to their ability to be launched and controlled in confined spaces such as dense urban environments.
The company official emphasized how his system could be deployed to dominate the so-called “Atmospheric Littoral” environment- the low altitude airspace where systems do not need to worry about obstacles on the ground and where they can use buildings and topography for concealment before attacking enemy combatants.
SOCOM is hardly alone in its interest in this kind of technology, nor in its interest in Rogue 1. On April 11, the US Marine Corps awarded development contracts to Anduril Industries, Aerovironment and Teledyne FLIR Defense for a mix of VTOL and fixed wing LMS as part of the Organic Precision Fires—Light program. Selected solutions include the Rogue 1, Aerovironment’s Switchblade 300 Block 20, and an undisclosed VTOL solution from Anduril.
Ground Competition Next Up
Lancaster also revealed that the SOCOM is looking for equivalent systems from ground robotics, under the GOPSS Echelon 0-Ground (0G) program name. Like the 0A effort, this will feature three categories — nano, micro and mega unmanned ground vehicles integrated with interchangeable payloads, including a munition.
“We’re looking for multiple solutions and that’s why we’re looking for bolt-on lethality. Ideally, in my head what we would be able to do is take some of our ISR assets and be able to bolt-on lethality, whether it be in the air or on the ground,” Lancaster said. “It would be great to be able to have the same [lethal payload] that can be lifted by a [R80D] SkyRaider [UAV] and then just bolted onto a quadroped [UGV]. That would be ideal to save both money and training.”
In fact, the question of training is one that SOF operators of unmanned systems are trying to get a better handle on.
“What we have found through much experimentation over the last three years is that we thought flying drones and flying robotics was going to be a lot easier than it is. It is not something that you can just pick up and do,” Lancaster said. “It takes a lot of training. In fact, some of the systems take a specialist to [operate] so what we’re asking for is if you have training systems or systems that make the user interface much easier.
Then reliability increases and that’s everything from training to cold weather and hot weather fixes allowing them to be used in every environment and work every single time.” (Source: UAS VISION/Breaking Defense)
20 May 24. Rafael launches ‘independent’ towed decoy for aircraft. Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced on 10 May its new X-Guard RT, the latest addition to its X-Guard family of airborne protection systems. The original X-Guard is housed in a pod that attaches to a hardpoint and releases a towed decoy that protects the aircraft against radar-guided air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles. Janes understands that it does this by emitting a signal that gives the incoming missile an inaccurate location for the aircraft. Unlike the original X-Guard, which was primarily designed to be carried by fighters, the new RT variant is an ‘independent’ system that does not require the aircraft to be fitted with separate onboard electronic warfare (EW) systems that can receive, analyse, and tell the decoy what signal to emit as it can perform these functions by itself, a Rafael executive told Janes. (Source: Google/Janes)
20 May 24. Aerojet Rocketdyne accelerate solid rocket motors in missiles. The company has executed the $215m DoD funds allocated last year to expand and modernise its missile production facility in Arkansas.
Aerojet Rocketdyne has decided to allocate funds from the US Department of Defense DoD), awarded in a security co-operation agreement in 2023, amounting to $215.6m, toward its capacity to produce solid rocket motors (SRMs) at its Camden, Arkansas facility.
SRMs are solid-based propellants used as fuel to power missiles. Specifically, they consist of a mixture of fuel, oxidiser and binder that are baked to a pencil-eraser consistency. Aerojet says that its SRMs can be used to launch rocket artillery and missiles from land, sea, air and space.
Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris company, manufactures more than 100,000 of them each year in Camden. Around 1,100 employees work at the site, covering nearly 2,000 acres with 1.35m square feet of floor space spread across 150 buildings.
The SRMs Camden produces range in size from large boosters the size of a small car, to small steering motors that can fit in the palm of your hand. The motors propel some of the US Armed Forces’ most critical, multi-domain defence systems such as the Theatre High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile, Patriot missile defence System, the shipborne Standard Missile (SM), as well as the man-portable Stinger and Javelin anti-armour systems.
Camden serves as a beehive of construction activity over the past several years as the company has upgraded existing buildings and built several new, purpose-built facilities in an effort to accelerate production of SRMs, which are so critical to the security of our nation and its allies.
SRM supply chain grows across the Euroatlantic
According to GlobalData intelligence, the global missiles and missile defence systems market is valued at $45.2bn in 2023 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.2% to reach a value of $67.9bn by 2033.
Increased focus on the development and procurement of newer-generation missiles and sophisticated missile defence systems by key military powers is expected to further drive market growth over the forecast period, and SRMs are an integral segment of the global supply chain.
The Patriot system, for example, is a US-manufactured air defence system in popular demand around the world. While Aerojet provides Patriot SRMs for US-based systems, the country’s European allies must be able to maintain their systems readily given the uncertain security climate.
This places demand on SRM production in Europe too – a continent that has grown to dominate the global missile market, which GlobalData forecast to gain a 31.1% market revenue share over the next ten years in response to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.
At the end of 2023, MBDA Germany’s subsidiary SRM manufacturer Bayern-Chemie returned to Raytheon’s industrial supplier base for the Patriot missile defence system.
By the time that demand for Patriot missiles diminished at the close of the Cold War, the Bavarian company had produced more than 2,300 rocket motors for PAC-2 missiles from 1987 to 1996; this makes the lifetime of its PAC-2 rocket engine nearly 40-years-old.
Now, the provider is ramping up production once again for the next-generation PAC-2 variant: the Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile (GEM-T) interceptors.
Meanwhile, in Arkansas, Aerojet’s Camden facility opened a new 51,000 square foot production facility in 2022 that consolidated several SRM manufacturing activities under one roof and added advanced equipment, including modern tool-up bays, dedicated propellant casting and oven areas, and upgraded X-ray systems.
Employees at this facility manufacture SRMs for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE), the PAC-3’s newest and most capable variant.
More recently, investments made in the PAC-3 attitude control motor (ACM) production facility at Camden yielded results.
Due to significant building upgrades that included increasing manufacturing space, improving automated production processes and purchasing new, advanced equipment, the site moved from two to three production lines, increasing ACM production by 40%, the company said.
(Source: army-technology.com)
17 May 24. Another Dead End for Airborne Lasers: Air Force Scraps Effort to Mount Directed-Energy Weapon on Fighter Jet. After years in development, the U.S. military’s latest attempt at an airborne laser weapon to protect troops on the ground from incoming ballistic missiles appears to be headed for the scrapyard.
Initiated in 2016, the Self-Protect High-Energy Laser Demonstrator, or SHiELD, was envisioned as a laser weapon mounted on fighter jets such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II that would neutralize incoming air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, as well as ballistic missiles potentially targeting U.S. forces abroad, according to a 2023 Congressional Research Service report.
The Air Force had planned on the SHiELD system taking flight for airborne testing aboard an F-15 Eagle some time in fiscal 2024. The service had already reported a successful ground-based shootdown of test missiles and taken receipt of the laser weapon system and pod subsystem in recent years. But any plans to complete the weapon and put it into operation now appear to have been abandoned, according to service officials.
“The SHiELD program has concluded, and there are no plans for further testing and evaluation,” Dr. Ted Ortiz, SHiELD program manager at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy Directorate, told Military.com in an email. “The Air Force has not installed a laser pod on a fighter jet test bed.”
SHiELD is the second airborne laser weapon effort that the Air Force has scrapped in recent months. In March, Air Force Special Operations Command revealed that it had abandoned plans to mount an Airborne High Energy Laser system, or AHEL, on a AC-130J Ghostrider gunship, citing “technical challenges” even with “significant end-to-end, high-power operation” during ground tests.
Despite that, Air Force officials remain bullish on the potential for airborne laser weapons to reshape the battlefield.
“Through SHiELD and related efforts, [the Air Force Research Laboratory] has made significant advances in the readiness of airborne [high-energy laser] technology, and we continue to mature airborne HEL weapons technology for the operational needs of today and tomorrow,” Ortiz said.
News of the SHiELD program’s conclusion comes as the Defense Department seeks to bolster air defenses for U.S. troops deployed overseas as the threat of adversary missile attacks has grown.
Iran conducted the largest ballistic missile attack on American forces abroad ever in January 2020 in response to the U.S. assassination of top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Gen. Qasem Soleimani, resulting in traumatic brain injuries among at least 110 service members.
In recent months, Iran-backed militias have been taking potshots at U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria and at Navy warships in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, resulting in even more TBI diagnoses among U.S. troops.
With drone and missile attacks on the rise, the Pentagon has increasingly eyed directed-energy weapons such as lasers and high-powered microwaves that, with a low cost-per-shot and a virtually unlimited magazine, could eventually provide efficient low-cost alternatives to existing — and costly — air defense systems such as the $125,000-a-pop Coyote interceptor or the $2 m-a-shot, ship-launched Standard Missile-2.
To that end, the Army recently deployed a pair of ground-based laser weapons overseas to help counter incoming drones and is investing heavily in the development of more powerful systems designed to counter even fast-moving cruise missiles. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is spending around $1 bn per year on at least 31 directed-energy programs, according to C4ISRNet.
Deploying airborne laser weapons for missile defense has been a goal since the Air Force’s Boeing 747-based YAL-1 Airborne Laser Test Bed knocked ballistic missiles out of the sky during testing in the 2000s.
Even before the uptick in missile attacks on U.S. troops, the Pentagon’s 2019 Missile Defense Review suggested that “developing scalable, efficient, and compact high-energy laser technology holds the potential to provide a future cost-effective capability to destroy boosting missiles in the early part of the trajectory,” and that mounting laser weapons aboard unmanned aerial vehicles could prove an effective countermeasure to ballistic missiles such as those in Russia and China’s arsenals.
But developing effective and reliable airborne laser weapons has proven challenging compared to their ground vehicle- and warship-based counterparts, as former Pentagon research and engineering chief Mike Griffin detailed in 2020, according to Breaking Defense.
The first problem is power generation. Lasers require a significant amount of power to produce their destructive beam, and generating that amount of power from a relatively small tactical aircraft is a major engineering challenge.
The second problem is the beam itself. Even if you generate enough power, the atmospheric turbulence involved with operating a fighter jet in combat makes it nearly impossible to maintain a coherent laser beam for long enough to successfully engage a ballistic missile in flight.
“I think it can be done as an experiment, but as a weapon system to equip an airplane with the kinds of lasers we think necessary — in terms of their power level, and all their support requirements, getting the airplane to altitudes where atmospheric turbulence can be mitigated appropriately — that combination of things doesn’t go on one platform,” as Griffin put it in a May 2020 conference call with reporters, according to Breaking Defense.
One month after Griffin’s comments, then-Pentagon acquisition chief Will Roper said that the Air Force was rethinking the potential applications of the laser weapon technology developed through the SHiELD program beyond integrating the system into a tactical fighter jet, Defense News reported.
“What I’ve told that team is, ‘Let’s have a dialogue,'” Roper said in June 2020, per Defense News. “Let’s understand the different power levels and what they should correspond to, and let’s not make the highest power level that we can dream up and the mission that’s the sexiest be the thing that drives us.”
With the SHiELD program concluded and the AHEL defunct, the Defense Department’s dream of airborne laser weapons seems as distant as ever. But as the Pentagon continues to invest in directed-energy programs to deal with the rising tide of adversary drone and missile attacks, chances are high that the Air Force’s efforts in that arena are far from finished.
“After many years of development, HEL weapons are now a battlefield reality,” Ortiz said. “The game-changing features of HEL weapons — deep magazine, scalable effects, and speed-of-light engagement — combined with the potential logistics benefits of a weapon that effectively uses jet fuel for ammunition, make air platform integration a natural next step.” (Source: Military.com)
20 May 24. KF-21 Boromae fighter fires IRIS-T missile for first time. The Korean fighter currently under development has successfully deployed the short-range, German IRIS-T missile against a target drone.
South Korea’s latest fighter jet, the KF-21 Boromae, which is still under development, has deployed the short-range German IRIS-T missile for the first time this month.
IRIS-T (infra-red imaging system – tail/thrust vector controlled) is an air-to-air guided missile manufactured by Diehl Defence as part of a German-led multinational programme.
This successful demonstration comes after the 34-minute-long maiden flight of Korean Aerospace Industries’ (KAI) fourth KF-21 prototype in February 2023. South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol announced that the Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force will induct 40 KF-21s by 2028, with plans to put an additional 80 jets into service by 2032.
South Korean defence industries have sought to co-operate with European countries over the past several years, where the companies aim to tap into the flourishing missile market on the continent. GlobalData intelligence projects Europe to gain the largest global missile market revenue share, which amounts to 31.1%, throughout the next decade.
In this backdrop, KAI have already integrated European manufactured missiles prior to Diehl Defence’s increasingly popular IRIS-T.
Toward the end of November 2023, MBDA signed an agreement with KAI to deepen cooperation, citing efforts to integrate the European prime’s Meteor missile with the ROK’s fledgling jet. The agreement will also explore integrating other MBDA munitions such as SPEAR, ASRAAM and Brimstone into KAI platforms KF-21 and FA-50.
IRIS-T missile effectiveness
Nonetheless, KAI and Diehl have worked together since 2017.
The successful live firing from the KF-21 is also an important milestone for the IRIS-T programme track record. With the upcoming integration into the KF-21, IRIS-T is proven to be compatible with both legacy and modern fighter aircraft.
In February 2024, KAI and Diehl agreed to start the integration of IRIS-T into KAI’s FA-50. With IRIS-T on board, both platforms, KF-21 and FA-50, will be ready for demanding missions.
So far, IRIS-T has been integrated into major combat aircraft platforms such as Panavia Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon, JAS-39 Gripen, F-16, EF-18 and F-5. The system is in service or on order with several NATO countries as well as Brazil, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Ultimately, the IRIS-T missile is intended to replace the US-manufactured AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles used by the Nato member countries.
The AIM-9X infrared homing guidance section performs tracking and guidance functions. This ensures the launch of the missile during day and night missions and in an electronic countermeasure environment. The missile can engage targets in the near beyond visual range and within visual range areas.
Similarly, IRIS-T employs an imaging infra-red seeker with high-target tracking rate and an intelligent image processing generates high-resolution images.
Moreover, the German missile is equipped with a proximity fuse and a high-explosive fragmented warhead delivering anti-missile capability against incoming missiles. The lock-on-after launch feature allows the engagement of targets in the rear hemisphere.
The missile is propelled by a solid propellant motor, developed by Nammo. The propulsion mechanism provides the missile with a maximum speed of Mach 3, or three times the speed of sound, and the thrust vector control module enables the missile to engage targets behind the firing aircraft. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
16 May 24. US Army’s future artillery may include wheeled howitzers, automated cannons, and long-range mortars. Wheeled howitzers are “having great effect in a place like Europe,” Army Futures chief says.
An Army plan to modernize its artillery could include howitzers fielded in Europe, automated cannons, and long-range mortars, Army Futures Command chief Gen. James Rainey suggested Thursday at a Senate hearing.
“There are some very good wheeled howitzers that are having great effect in a place like Europe,” said Rainey, speaking while describing acquisition plans informed by an Army study on artillery modernization, also dubbed the tactical fires study.
The U.S. is planning on a competition between various mobile artillery systems this summer to select a new self-propelled howitzer. The competition follows the cancellation of the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) howitzer.
Rainey may have been referring to artillery systems fielded in Ukraine, the only place in Europe where wheeled howitzers are being used in combat.
Ukraine uses a number of wheeled howitzers, including France’s Caesar, Sweden’s Archer, and the domestically produced 2S22 Bohdana. The Caesar has performed well on the battlefield, with losses of less than 10 percent amid frequent Russian drone strikes on Ukrainian artillery.
Rainey’s emphasis on mobile artillery comes following previous statements that artillery systems must constantly be on the move in order to avoid being identified and destroyed.
His interest in wheeled artillery marks a shift from the Army’s traditional focus on tracked howitzers like the Paladin. In 2021, the Army launched ultimately unsuccessful trials of various foreign wheeled artillery to pick one for its Stryker brigades.
Rainey also said the Army is also working on extending the range of mortar systems, and that the Army has seen success with one of three mortar calibers in use. The Army uses 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm mortars.
“We’re having great success with one of [of the mortars] and we’re going to expand that extended range and lethality efforts to the other ones,” Rainey said.
The efforts parallel Army work in developing longer-range howitzer rounds. In one test, BAE installed an extra-long Rheinmetall barrel on the Army’s standard Paladin howitzer to fire a modified 155mm round farther than ever before.
Echoing earlier comments made at the AUSA conference in March, Rainey also expressed interested in a “very capable autonomous and robotic cannon” made by a U.S. partner.
While Rainey did not specify which cannon he was referring to, U.S. allies Germany and Sweden allies have produced the RCH 155 and Archer, whose loading processes are automated. The RCH 155 may be able to drive autonomously in the future, according to a KNDS fact sheet.
Rainey also downplayed the importance of precision munitions for tactical fires, a term that refers to the use of indirect weapons in support of local objectives, such as silencing an enemy’s heavy artillery.
“Capability is nice, but unlike precision munitions where it’s sinking a handful of ships or closing a piece of ground, the most important thing in tactical fires is not just capability but its capacity,” he said, giving the example of blanketing an enemy formation with dozens of standard 155mm rounds versus destroying a tank with rounds costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense One)
17 May 24. Belgium pursue 155mm Caesar and 120mm Griffon artillery. The Belgian Government want to increase mobility and range as part of its call for a new artillery “renaissance” that meets the geopolitical uncertainty.
Belgium continues to pursue big changes to the Artillery Batallion in its Land Forces by increasing the range and mobility of its systems.
Under a joint initiative with France, the 2018 Capacités Motorisée (CaMo) agreement, or ‘Motorised Capacity’ in English, is designed to bring about what the Belgian Government has labelled a “true rennaissance” in its artillery capabilities.
Although CaMo has been in place for more than five years, Belgium continues to increase its artillery ambitions, prompted by a security climate that has grown insecure since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine mobilised all of Europe during the past two years.
As part of the CaMo artillery plan, Belgium will procure 382 Griffon armoured vehicles and 60 Jaguar infantry fighting vehicles in total; two 120-millimetre (mm) Griffon batteries will be delivered in 2028.
In addition to these plans, in 2021, the government also procured nine 155mm Caesar howitzer systems and has since continued to procure ten more. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently stated it currently plans to induct 24 155mm Caesar howitzer systems in the short-term.
In mid-May 2024, a demonstration of the new Caesar and Griffon vehicles took place in Brasschaat, under the eye of the Vice-Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Vansina, accompanied by a delegation of Belgian and French generals and colonels.
can fire six rounds per minute and its 155mm gun has a range of 40 kilometres. This capability makes it possible to prepare the terrain, neutralize threats and attack targets with formidable precision.
Belgium’s existing artillery systems
Notably the Belgian Army’s existing artillery systems are looking increasingly tired as the service operates 6×6 and 8×8 Pandur units, YP-408 and the Eland Mk7 fighting vehicles, among others – almost all of which were procured throughout the 1990s.
“Today our 105mm and 120mm weapon systems are performing well, but we would like to improve the mobility of our artillery, increase its range and strengthen fire support for units that need it,” relayed Lieutenant Colonel Verstraelen, Corps Commander of the Belgian Artillery Battalion.
Besides equipping the Army with extended mobility and more powerful guns, CaMo also ensures interoperability with foreign partners. According to GlobalData intelligence, France similarly operates 77 Caesar howitzers, 20 Jaguar infantry fighting vehicles and 1,872 Griffon units.
Furthermore, it was announced that a second Artillery Battalion will also be established in the southern part of the country in 2035.
“We are currently spread over two sites: Brasschaat and Lombardsijde. From next year we want to open a third, French-speaking branch in Marche-en-Famenne. This makes our unit bilingual,” explained Verstraelen.
Meanwhile, a training centre in Marche-en-Famenne will open its doors in the summer of 2025. (Source: army-technology.com)
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