Sponsored by Galvion
www.galvion.com
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
16 Jul 24. Galvion receives follow-on 8,400 Batlskin Caiman helmet order for the Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) programme. Galvion, a world leader in innovative head protection systems and power and data management solutions, has received a follow-on order from the Department of National Defence (DND) Canada for its flagship Batlskin Caiman® ballistic helmet systems. The Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) programme contract was awarded in February 2023 for 2,100 helmets and 4,200 helmet covers, all successfully delivered. Now in year two of a five-year framework contract, the DND has exercised an option to order an additional 8,400 helmets and 16,800 helmet covers taking the total Canadian DICE order to 10,500 helmets and 21,000 covers, to date. Developed over a number of years with extensive SOF community collaboration and feedback, Galvion’s Caiman® helmet system has been tried and tested on operations and is in service across multiple countries, delivering unmatched levels of weight and comfort, and is expressly designed to incorporate electronics, communications headsets, and other critical equipment needs, now and into the future. The helmet is equipped with Galvion’s premiere APEX lining system, an intuitively adjustable design that enables a customized fit for users.
The helmet systems assessed for DICE were trialled by members of the Canadian Light Infantry at the end of 2022. Conducted under operational conditions, the trials included the integration of equipment such as night vision goggles, gas masks, hearing protection, and cold-weather gear. The Caiman helmet received the highest rating by a significant margin and was selected after a phased bid process.
19 Jul 24. A new facility for Radnor Range. Radnor Range announced the completion of its new environmental testing facility, due to be up and running from October at the heart of its Welsh site.
This will be a fully operational environmental test capability, offering the ability to test explosive components. It is one of only two or three other facilities offering this service within the UK. The testing equipment can replicate:
✅ Temperature variation
✅ Humidity variation
✅ Resistance to shock
✅ Resistance to vibration
✅ Resistance to vibration in different or varying climatic conditions.
18 Jul 24. USN missile intercepts target using Army’s new missile defense radar. In recent exercise Valiant Shield, Raytheon demonstrated a successful intercept of a target using an Standard Missile-6 using tracking and targeting data from the Army’s Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense System and Integrated Battle Command System. A previous live-fire test involving the Navy destroyer John Paul Jones launching a SM-6 . (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
A U.S. Navy Standard Missile-6, guided by the U.S. Army’s new missile defense radar and command and control system, intercepted a target in a recent test during Valiant Shield 24 in the Indo-Pacific, Raytheon announced in a July 18 statement.
In the test involving both physical hardware and simulation, the Army’s Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS, simulator provided threat tracking data, along with operational SM-6 engagement control software, to the service’s Integrated Battle Command System, or IBCS, developed by Northrop Grumman.
The successful test is the latest reflection of the Pentagon’s desire to see the services operate seamlessly in battle.
IBCS, the brains of the Army’s air and missile defense architecture, passed the data to initiate a launch command and guide the SM-6 to a “successful” intercept, according to the statement.
Raytheon said the test proves that Navy missiles can work within the Army’s integrated air and missile defense architecture.
Such a test also “confirms a viable option” for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Tom Laliberty, company president of land and air defense systems, said.
“LTAMDS matched with SM-6 adds an exceptional capability to defeat increasingly diverse and complex threats with a multi-mission missile that flies as far as the radar can see – providing for long range Army and Joint integrated air and missile defense,” Laliberty said.
The effort to integrate the Navy’s long-range, anti-air missile that has a surface mode with Army missile defense systems could further builds out a layered missile defense architecture.
The Army is also using the SM-6 and Raytheon-built Tomahawk missiles paired with a vertical launch system for its Mid-Range Capability, or MRC, weapon rapidly developed and deployed to fit in the Army’s fires portfolio between its Precision Strike Munition, designed to hit targets over 500 kilometers away, and its ground-launched hypersonic missiles.
The service deployed the MRC to the Philippines earlier this year as part of its annual Salaknib exercise with the island nation in April.
LTAMDS will serve as the radar in the Army’s future Integrated Air and Missile Defense system. The Army fielded a LTAMDS battalion of four sensors in December as required by Congress, but the sensor is still in prototyping phase as the service works to integrate a back-end array to give the sensor a 360-degree tracking capability – an upgrade from the current Patriot sensor’s ability to see all the way around.
The Army plans to conduct an operational assessment in the first quarter of FY25 that will lead to an Engineering and Manufacturing Development decision in FY25, a preliminary step toward eventual serial production.
The test of the systems together is also critical in ensuring the air and missile defense architecture planned for Guam will work. The Army’s MRC launchers, LTAMDS and IBCS will make up part of the architecture along with Aegis weapon systems equipped with SM-3 and SM-6 missiles.
(Source: Defense News)
18 Jul 24. Singapore Army equips active units with new Infantry Automatic Rifle. Singapore Army’s new light machine gun IAR6940E-SG seen here at a media event on 17 July 2024. The service has begun equipping its active units with the new weapon type. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)
All active Singapore Army units with a requirement for the section automatic weapon (SAW) would have been equipped with the Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle 6940 (IAR6940) light machine guns (LMGs) by the end of July 2024.
The matter was confirmed by representatives from the Singapore Army at a media event on 17 July.
In response to questions at the event, the representatives confirmed that a roll-out of the new weapon type across active units is progressing according to plan since it was received.
Induction of the weapon began in April 2024 and active units that require the SAW in its respective operational concepts have since been progressively trained to handle the new weapon.
While there are plans to also equip its reservist units with the weapon type, the Singapore Army representatives were not able to disclose when this will take place.
Similarly, the Singapore Army has made no disclosure on the units that are fielding the weapon type or the quantity of rifles that have been procured for the service.
The SAW is likely fielded by units within the Singapore Army’s infantry, guards, and commando formations. Each seven-men section within these units will typically be formed up with two dedicated SAW riflemen.
(Source: Janes)
16 Jul 24. Slovenia intends to procure CAESAR SPHs, Mistral air-defence systems, and possibly Patria armoured vehicles. Slovenia has signed a letter of intent with France to join the European joint procurement of CAESAR SPHs (pictured) and Mistral air-defence systems. (KNDS)
The Slovenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on 12 July that its State Secretary Damir Črnčec had signed a letter of intent (LOI) with French national armaments director General Gaël Diaz De Tuesta on the joint European procurement of CAESAR wheeled self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and Mistral air-defence systems.
The day before, on the fringes of the NATO Summit held in Washington, DC, from 9 to 11 July, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob announced that negotiations were under way between the Slovenian and Finnish MoDs on the possibility of procuring a Patria armoured vehicle.
The Slovenian MoD said on 12 July that the government-to-government agreement between Slovenia and France on CAESAR and Mistral enables co-operation on the design, production, and procurement of armaments and makes it possible for the ministry to begin preparing to procure and introduce them into service. Slovenia can apply for European funds, the MoD added, referring to its eligibility for funding under theEU’s European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA).
The Slovenian signing of the LOI follows the signature by the Croatian MoD’s Directorate for Material Resources on 17 June of a framework agreement with the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, to join the joint European procurement of CAESAR SPHs. The agreement with Croatia does not include Mistrals.
For more information on the European joint procurement of CAESAR, please seeEurosatory 2024: Estonia orders CAESAR SPHs, which Croatia also plans to procure. (Source: Janes)
16 Jul 24. Italian Navy to equip F-35Bs with JSM, SPEAR 3 stand-off weapons. The Italian Navy has spelled out the future weapons package for the F-35B (foreground) that it is to field over the coming decades in place of the AV-8B (background). For the first time, this includes both the JSM and SPEAR 3 stand-off missiles. (Italian Navy)
The Italian Navy (Marina Militare Italiana: MMI) is to equip its Lockheed Martin F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) fleet with two stand-off missile types not previously disclosed.
The Senate of the Republic, Chamber of Deputies 19th Legislature’s Documentation of the Examination of Government Acts published on 15 July revealed that the MMI’s fleet of F-35Bs will be armed with the Kongsberg-RTX Joint Strike Missile (JSM) and the MBDA Selected Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR) 3 air-to-surface missile, among other previously disclosed weapon types.
“The armament programme, in international co-operation, aims to equip the country with a fifth-generation aeronautical weapon system capable of replacing the legacy [McDonnell Douglas] AV-8B [Harrier II] line, with an operational time horizon of at least 30 years, to effectively cope with the growing complexity of current and future operational scenarios,” the document said. “The MMI line will consist of 15 F-35B shorttake-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft for which the availability of armament and self-protection systems, according to actual needs, capable of supporting and protecting theNaval Squadron is central,” the document added. As noted in the document, the proposed weapons fit is geared at ensuring the MMI’s F-35B fleet has quantities needed for a hypothetical six-month operational scenario. (Source: Janes)
16 Jul 24. British Army’s Archer arsenal now complete with the arrival of 10 more howitzers. The British Army has now received all 14 of its Archer howitzer artillery systems after the final 10 arrived from Sweden.
The Archers, which are designed and built by BAE Systems Bofors, will fill a gap in the Army’s 155mm Close Support capability after the UK gave 32 AS90 self-propelled guns to the armed forces of Ukraine.
The UK struck an artillery deal with Sweden to acquire 14 Archers as an interim solution until the incoming Remote Controlled Howitzer arrives.
Defence Equipment & Support, the procurement arm of the MOD, said the 14 guns had been “rapidly delivered” to fulfil the Army’s artillery capability.
Exercise Dynamic Front in November will see Archer live-fire and put through its paces.
The Archer Artillery System is in a class of its own with its ability to move and fire before an enemy can react.
Its simplicity and impressive rate of fire make it a formidable opponent in battle.
Armed with an automatic-loading 155mm gun, the system can be deployed, fire and move off at speed, making it difficult for enemy forces to detect its location after it fires.
With a range of 50km, when loaded with Excalibur-guided extended-range artillery projectiles, and the ability to fire three high-powered rounds within 40 seconds, the Archer can demonstrate its effectiveness with its superior mobility, deployment speed, firepower and its three-person crew protection – although it can be operated by one person if required.
During testing, the system could be made ready to fire within 14 seconds and fire its first round after 23 seconds.
The Archer’s range is double that of the AS90. (Source: forces.net)
16 Jul 24. The Laser Revolution in Defence and Space. Power laser sources are becoming increasingly essential in defence and space applications due to their unique capabilities and versatility. In defence, these lasers provide precise and effective solutions for targeting and neutralising threats such as missiles, drones, and other airborne objects. Laser systems can also disrupt enemy communications and electronic systems, providing significant tactical advantages on the battlefield. In space, high-power lasers have the potential to revolutionize satellite protection, space debris removal, and propulsion systems, opening new frontiers for exploration and defence.
In defence, power laser sources are explored as cost-effective alternatives to traditional air defence systems like missiles, particularly for countering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). With UAVs becoming more common and affordable, using expensive missiles for interception poses financial challenges. While soft-kill solutions, such as radio frequency (RF) jamming, have been developed, directed energy weapons (DEWs) like lasers and microwaves offer more effective defence against drones and emerging threats like hypersonic missiles.
Similarly, in space applications, power laser sources are emerging as alternatives or supplements to RF communication systems. Ground-to-space and space-to-space communication systems are being enhanced with laser technology, promising improved performance and reliability.
Market forecasts by Region, Segment, Power, Platform (Space & Defence), and Applications (Space & Defence). Country Analysis, Market and Technology Overview, Opportunities and Impact Analysis, and Leading Company Profiles
Advancements in power laser sources have led to the development of systems capable of effectively countering small drones, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other similar threats, positioning them as crucial components of short-range air defence systems. Moving forward, the focus is on enhancing scalability to achieve even higher power outputs, ranging from 500 kW to 1 megawatt, significantly expanding their operational capabilities against larger or more distant targets.
In space applications, the scalability of power laser sources aims to achieve data transmission rates of up to 200 Gbps, enabling efficient communication systems for deep space missions. These advancements will facilitate faster and more reliable data transfer, supporting various space exploration and communication objectives with greater efficiency and effectiveness.
The report “Power Laser Sources for Defence and Space Applications – Market and Technology Forecast to 2032” offers a comprehensive and forward-looking analysis of the current state of the industry and future developments. It emphasizes the critical importance of high-power laser sources in the defence and space sectors, where recent advancements are driving significant progress and adoption.
One key area of development is in beam-combining techniques, which enable the integration of multiple laser beams into a single, high-power output beam with exceptional quality. This innovation allows for increased power output while maintaining precise beam characteristics essential for defence applications like targeting and countermeasures.
The study also analyses critical raw materials essential for advancing laser technology in defence and space applications. These raw materials play a foundational role in enabling the production and optimization of high-performance laser systems. The report provides insights into the strategic implications of raw material dependencies and market trends for stakeholders in the defence and space industries, including recommendations for diversifying supply sources, developing alternative materials, and fostering international collaborations to enhance material security and resilience. (Source: ASD Network)
16 July 24. Heckler & Koch USA Selects Flexxbotics for Robot-Driven Manufacturing to Meet Growing Military & Defense Demand. Flexxbotics, delivering digital solutions for robot-driven manufacturing at scale, today announced that Heckler & Koch USA (HKUSA), a leading designer and manufacturer of small arms and light weapons for military forces and law enforcement worldwide, has chosen Flexxbotics for robot-driven manufacturing with autonomous process control. Advanced robotic machine tending with Flexxbotics enables Heckler & Koch to increase capacity with precision quality to keep up with strong demand globally while addressing labor challenges through unattended operation.
With Flexxbotics HKUSA achieves a robot-enabled, multi-machine cellularized setup for machining complex geometry parts. The robot will operate both an Okuma 5-Axis vertical machining center and an Okuma horizontal machining center along with an integrated water dunk & blow-off station, a Hexagon Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), Renishaw inspection probe and SICK safety scanner all within an individual workcell. Automating the complete process of machining and inspection results in an 87% capacity increase and 24:1 machine-to-man ratio.
“Our main goals with robotic automation are increasing throughput, maximizing machine utilization, and creating flexibility to react quickly to production volume demands which Flexxbotics enables us to achieve,” said John Mitchell, VP of Operations at HKUSA. “Flexxbotics’s ability to use the robot to coordinate multiple machines and have in-line inspection results automatically correct the machining operations is totally unique and was key for us.”
HKUSA is a provider of small arms to law enforcement, defense departments and the US civilian with a reputation for quality, innovation and safety. With operations in Germany, USA, UK and France, Heckler & Koch is a recognized leader in the development of technologically advanced products with high reliability.
The Flexxbotics solution seamlessly connects the robot to each piece of equipment and coordinates the work so the robot has full command and control of the workcell. Using closed-loop feedback CMM inspection results, Flexxbotics writes offset macro variable changes to the CNC machines’ programs. The real time corrections ensure all parts are built to spec for continuous operations using autonomous process control.
In addition, Flexxbotics communicates with the in-machine probes to ensure proper part seating before and after each CNC cycle. Based on the probe’s feedback, the robot either automatically remove and replace the part or escalates the problem via text & email if there is a workholding issue.
HKUSA selected Flexxbotics based on the following criteria:
- Increase production capacity by over 80% per week and achieving a 24:1 machine-to-man ratio
- Open connectivity and interoperability between the robots, CNC machines and inspection equipment
- In-line inspection with CMM for precision quality, 100% part coverage, and closed-loop optimization for uninterrupted production
- Solution flexibility to scale out across entire machining division with initial workcell success and quickly add additional workcells
- Integrated safety with robot+machine coordination and connected safety scanners for the highest levels of human safety
- Responsiveness from initial discovery workshop to deployment and on-going support
John Mitchell continues, “With Flexxbotics, we achieve full ROI in less time, without taking into account additional capacity, than alternative solutions which exceeds our expectations. From a business perspective we view Flexxbotics robot-driven manufacturing as an investment that enables autonomy in our factories.”
Flexxbotics solution enables robot-driven manufacturing at scale. Flexxbotics robotic workcell digitalization delivers autonomous process control for next generation smart factory environments. Flexxbotics unique FlexxCORE™ technology seamlessly connects and coordinates robots with existing automation equipment, IT systems and people. More powerful, flexible and open, Flexxbotics revolutionizes the use of robotics in complex production.
“We understand the need for greater coordination between robots and machines in production as manufacturers look to increase output while maintaining six sigma quality,” said Tyler Bouchard, CEO & Co-founder of Flexxbotics. “What we are doing with the Flexxbotics solution is enabling the world’s most advanced smart factories to adopt robot-driven manufacturing at scale.”
About Flexxbotics
Flexxbotics enables robot-driven manufacturing at scale. Flexxbotics solution digitalizes robotic production with autonomous process control for next generation smart factory environments. Flexxbotics breakthrough, the unique FlexxCORE™ technology, seamlessly connects and coordinates robots with existing automation equipment, IT systems and people. More powerful, flexible and open, Flexxbotics revolutionizes the use of robotics in complex production. Visit www.flexxbotics.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn.
12 Jul 24. The Army’s Search for an Assault Shotgun. Assault shotgun sounds like a term made up by a politician from the northeast, but there was a time when the term meant something—or kind of meant something. The DoD and later the Joint Service Small Arms Program would try for years to achieve a select-fire shotgun that would be the ultimate close-quarters weapon. The reasons why such a weapon was needed were a bit murky, but we know it started in Vietnam. This is where we can find the origin of the military’s use of full-auto shotguns.
Assault Shotguns And Running in the Jungle
I’ve never had to participate in jungle warfare, and I’m thankful for that. Seeing photos of the Vietnam jungle makes me feel claustrophobic. The combat was surprisingly close, but the enemy was tough to see. Thick jungle seems like a total nightmare to fight in. Shotguns became fairly valuable tools for jungle combat.
In the context of jungle combat, a variety of shotguns and ammunition were fielded, including the Ithaca 37s, Remington 870s, Winchester Model 12s, and even the Winchester Model 1897s. The choice of ammunition was equally diverse, ranging from nine pellet 00 buckshot to twenty-seven pellet No. 4 buckshot.
The ability to discharge multiple pellets with a single trigger pull significantly increased the hit potential in the dense jungle. The military had long focused on this concept of multi-projectile firing, as evidenced by its decades-long Project Salvo.
The newly formed SEALs, in particular, wanted more shotgun firepower. This led to the development of the Remington 7188, which might be the first assault shotgun. It’s a selective-fire Remington 100 fed from a seven-round tube. Several variants were made, and the SEALs reportedly liked the idea but found the recoil to be too intense.
A seven-round burst would quickly empty the gun, and reloading it would take more than a moment due to the tube-fed design. This led to the request for a more modern full-auto shotgun. Shotgun fan and Naval Surface Warfare Center engineer Carroll Childers took up the task. Childers had previously designed a mag-fed Remington 870 and brought that same idea to something called the Special Operations Weapon, or SOW.
The SOW – A True Assault Shotgun
Carroll Childers was clearly a creative man. The SOW used a blow-forward operation and was full auto only. The gun had a cyclic rate of 200 rounds per minute and was fed from a top-mounted 10-round magazine. The SOW lacked a stock and instead had a forward and aft pistol grip. The gun was designed to be fired from the hip.
At first, that sounds silly, but it makes a bit more sense when you stop to think about it. First, the low cyclic rate helped make the gun controllable, or at least not as uncontrollable. The top-mounted magazines were necessary because 12-gauge ammo is bulky, and an under-mounted magazine would be obtrusive, difficult to wield, and probably difficult to load into the gun.
I’ve used 10-round mags for the VR-80, and it’s not easy. Being hip-fired likely made sense because the gun’s full auto recoil would carry it off target if aimed from the shoulder. It also helped keep the gun more compact, which might be a big selling point for troops in the jungle. Sadly, we never got to know if the idea worked because funding had been pulled before it could be fielded.
In an ambush situation, you could very quickly put down a lot of lead, and that is one of the keys to breaking an ambush. That role is the only one I’ve ever seen a purpose for the assault shotgun concept.
RHINO and CAWS
Years later, the newly formed Joint Service Small Arms Program(JSSAP) was making a mess of the XM9 program, and the American military decided that it needed a more modern combat shotgun. They tapped Childers, and the Navy led the program. It went from SOW to RHINO. RHINO stood for Repeating Hand-held Improved Non-Rifled Ordnance.
They didn’t just want an assault shotgun; they wanted a platform that could fire a wide variety of munitions. This included buckshot, flechettes, signal flares, explosive rounds, and even tear gas rounds. Not much happened in terms of development, and the name went from RHINO to Multipurpose Individual Weapon and finally to Combat Shotgun.
With each name change, the purpose became more obscure. Finally, they decided they didn’t want a multipurpose weapon, just a shotgun. The name finally landed on the Close Assault Weapon System. The CAWS system would be the final incarnation of the assault shotgun program.
The CAWS went the furthest. HK and AAI developed competing guns. HK used a bullpup design, and AAI used something more akin to an M16. S&W developed the AS or Assault Shotgun, and a little company called Pan Associates planned to enter a gun that didn’t quite exist into the competition. The contest called for a noncommercial proprietary 12 gauge cartridge, and HK and Olin teamed up to win the contest.
The HK CAWS remained in a testing period for years, and eventually, the program was canceled.
The End of the Assault Shotgun
By the end of the program, the purpose was so muddied and unclear that it was bound to fail. Who needed a select-fire, box-mag-fed shotgun? Yes, hindsight is 20/20, but even as a shotgun nut, I could look at the program with foresight and see that it’s silly.
Sure, a special-purpose shotgun design for close combat in the jungle makes sense to a degree, but with the advent and popularity of light machine guns, it becomes a little less necessary. The SEALs didn’t have a SAW in the 60s. Shotguns are niche weapons in warfare, and a full auto option just doesn’t make sense these days.
Sadly, the CAWS, Pancor Jackhammer, AA-12, and others will live only in later 1990s video games and FPS Russia videos. (Source: https://gatdaily.com/)
15 Jul 24. Australian F/A-18 to Be Armed With US Hypersonic Cruise Missile. The Royal Australian Air Force is integrating the US Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) with its F/A-18F Super Hornets.
This is in addition to the missile’s planned testing by the US Air Force at Australian ranges as part of its development, as revealed by a US Government Accountability Office report in June.
The missile is part of the collaborative Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment (SCIFiRE) agreement between the US and Australia.
The 15-year agreement calls for research into hypersonic scramjets, rocket motors, sensors, and advanced manufacturing materials.
“Through the SCIFiRE agreement, the US and Australia continue to collaborate on HACM design and development, including efforts to integrate HACM on RAAF F/A-18Fs and using Australian test infrastructure for flight tests,” Australian Defence quoted the Australian Ministry of Defence as saying.
According to the outlet, the decision is driven by the 2024 Integrated Investment Plan, which mentions the Super Hornets flying until 2040 and being outfitted with an unspecified hypersonic missile as part of an upgrade plan.
Australian Hypersonic Test Sites
The US Air Force plans to buy 13 HACM rounds for the testing, which is expected to start as soon as October and run through March 2027.
It is not clear when the Australia part of testing will commence.
Choosing Australia for testing is due to the lack of hypersonic testing infrastructure and facilities in the US, according to the Government Accountability Office.
“Australian weapons ranges offer operational flexibility for long range tests such as those planned under SCIFiRE,” Australian Defence quoted an Ministry of Defence source as saying.
“Some events in the test campaign in support of SCIFiRE will be conducted over Australian ranges, including Woomera.”
Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile
Raytheon, in collaboration with Northrop Grumman, has been developing the air-launched missile since 2022, with initial US Air Force fielding expected in 2027.
Its initial integration is expected with the F-15E Strike Eagle, with eventual outfitting onto other platforms.
The scramjet-powered two-stage missile comprises a rocket booster and a scramjet cruiser, which detaches from the booster and swoops down onto the target.
Specific details about the missile are limited, but it has been designed to strike high-value targets in contested airspace from standoff ranges. (Source: Google/https://www.thedefensepost.com/)
15 Jul 24. MBDA eyes a long-range strike missile boom in Europe. Pan-European missile maker MBDA is positioning itself as the prime candidate for developing a long-range European strike missile meant to elevate the continent’s deterrence posture following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war there.
Calls for such a weapon comes from the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) initiative, a French initiative to which Germany, Poland and Italy signed on at the NATO summit in Washington last week.
With an envisioned range of more than 1,000 kilometers, the missile would provide, in sizable numbers, what the German defense ministry calls a “deep precision strike” capability sought by NATO. The multinational initiative will entail “joint development and procurement,” according to a German defense ministry readout published online following a meeting last month of the German, French and Polish defense ministers.
While MBDA isn’t saying that the company is part of the contractor considerations, executives have unveiled a new missile that would fit the bill.
The firm presented its Land Cruise Missile at the Eurosatory defense show near Paris in June, touting the system as a “unique European sovereign solution” for a land-based deep-strike capability with stealth and terrain-following capabilities. The LCM is based on the naval cruise missile in service on French frigates and attack submarines, with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers.
The missile maker welcomed the letter of intent signed in Washington for a precision deep-strike capability as “a new step for European industry” in a July 12 post on the social network X, saying it has “unrivaled ability” in Europe to develop such capabilities. MBDA added it’s the only company that has the technology, expertise and cross-border partnerships to deliver European-designed deep-strike systems.
In addition to the French naval cruise missile, MBDA manufactures the French-British Scalp/Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missile and Germany’s Taurus missile, which have shorter ranges. The company is the largest European missile maker by a margin, with 2023 revenue of €4.5 bn and an order book of €28 bn at the end of last year.
The French government has repeatedly cited MBDA as a successful model for European defense cooperation. The company is a pan-European joint venture between Airbus, the U.K.’s BAE Systems and Italy’s Leonardo, and local units in the U.K., France, Germany and Italy provide those countries’ governments with an ability to shield some national defense interests.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Polish Ministry of National Defence told Defense News that Poland is in dialog with its allies regarding the development of capacities in all operational domains, including long-range strike capabilities.
“One of such initiatives is the ELSA program which is the subject of international analyses and consultations which may also bring further recommendations and decisions on this matter,” the spokesperson said. “The development of the ability to conduct long-range precision strikes is now widely recognized as a key element of the response to negative changes in the international security environment. This capability is not only of operational importance, but also of strategic importance, constituting an important component of the defense and deterrence posture.”
The ministry representative did not disclose whether Poland’s defense industry could be involved in the program’s development, and what kind of capabilities it could contribute to the joint effort. The country’s defense sector is dominated by state-owned defense giant PGZ. In cooperation with foreign partners, the group is leading Polish industrial efforts to enhance the military’s artillery and missile capacities, among others.
“The decision on Poland’s possible accession to this program will be based, among others, on whether its final scope will be consistent with our capacity development needs,” the spokesperson said.
The U.S. will start deploying long-range fires units to Germany in 2026, according to a joint statement from both the U.S. and German governments released last week during the NATO summit. The capabilities will include the SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles and “developmental hypersonic weapons,” the statement details. (Source: Defense News)
12 Jul 24. UK plans to procure VAMTAC air-defence vehicles to replace Stormers donated to Ukraine. The United Kingdom plans to procure VAMTAC Rapid Ranger 4×4 air-defence vehicles to replace Stormer tracked self-propelled high-velocity missile (SP-HVM) systems donated to Ukraine, Janes learnt at the Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) Expo hosted by the British Army at Baker Barracks, Emsworth, southern UK, on 11 July. The procurement, which has to be approved by parliament, will replace the six Stormers donated to Ukraine in 2023 and an additional six VAMTAC air-defence vehicles will be procured for a total of 12. Thales displayed a URO VAMTAC armed with HVMs and Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) at GBAD Expo. A Thales representative told Janes at the exhibition that the system was ready for procurement and had already been procured by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. (Source: Janes)
12 Jul 24. UK taps Kongsberg for MHC support vessel design study. KDA is to undertake an MHC Design Excursion study to examine the suitability of a commercial design to meet the MHC OSV requirement. (KDA)
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has revealed plans to contract Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) for a study to assess the suitability of its Vanguard multi-purpose ship concept to a future mine countermeasures (MCM) ‘mother ship’ role.
In a transparency notice released on 11 July, the MoD said the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Delivery Team in Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) intends to place a single-source contract with KDA for the provision of what it terms an MHC Design Excursion of the Kongsberg C2 Vanguard design.
According to the MoD, the initial eight-month contract provides for “a short study of a pre-existing commercial ship design proposed to the [Royal] Norwegian Navy to the MHC Delivery Team to develop and de-risk a potential UK requirement for MHC Offshore Support Vessels [OSVs]”. It added that the MoD was exploring opportunities to ascertain whether the representative pre-existing commercial design developed by KDA “can be used to demonstrate whether an indicative commercial design could be a suitable basis” to meet the MHC OSV requirement.
The MHC programme is designed to deliver the Royal Navy (RN) a next-generation MCM capability based on autonomous ‘system-of-systems’ packages that will be capable of executing MCM operations both in home waters and overseas. The overarching aim of MHC is to exploit advances in technology in areas such as autonomy, sensors, and advanced data processing techniques in order to increase the tempo of MCM; improve survey ‘product’; enhance transportability of MCM systems through ‘modularisation’; and take crews out of the mine danger area. (Source: Google/Janes)
12 Jul 24. Let it go (long): France joins Germany, Italy and Poland in new ELSA long-range missile project.
In a separate event, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters that more long-range missiles in Europe were “necessary for deterrence and peace.”
Defense leaders of four European powers announced this week they plan to work together to build new long-range strike weapons to shore up gaps in European defenses highlighted by the fighting in Ukraine.
The defense ministers of France, Germany, Italy and Poland signed a letter of intent Thursday for what they’re calling the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA). According to the French embassy in the US, the initiative “will allow the nations to develop, produce and supply capabilities in the field of long-range strikes, paving the way for cooperation aimed at strengthening our military capabilities and the European defense and industrial base.”
The effort includes the development of “missiles with a range beyond 500 kilometers” meant to “fill a gap in European arsenals that [participating nations] say has been exposed by Russia’s war in Ukraine.”
Specifically, Reuters reported, citing a military source, that the project envisions a cruise missile with a range of between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometers.
Few additional details about the project have been made available. European missile maker MBDA announced last month it was developing a new land-based cruise missile, creatively dubbed Land Cruise Missile, based on an existing naval variant.
That new munition “will offer the same unique capabilities as the [naval varient], including: metric precision at very long range; high survivability when penetrating through enemy integrated air defence systems thanks to reduced radar cross section & terrain-following capability; and high lethality against targets,” according to MBDA’s announcement.
French Defense Minister Sebastian Lecornu said Thursday the new French-German-Polish-Italian project would be open to other partners. The French government said the project could “draw on European funding.”
“The idea is to open it up as widely as possible,” Lecornu told reporters, according to Reuters, and indicated Britain’s new Labour government could come along. “It has value, including on a budgetary level, because it obviously also allows the various costs to be amortized.”
The Europe-developed missile would address two linked concerns for European military planners: the need for more long-range strike capability, and the need to greatly expand the ability of the continent’s industrial base to produce weapons at scale and speed.
“In all honesty right now we have in Europe a defense industrial base that’s shaped for a peacetime situation, and then we look at the war in Ukraine — it’s a war of attrition, a war of warehouses,” Swedish Defense Minister Pal Johnson said at a separate NATO event Wednesday. “So I think there’s lots of things we need to do in order to ramp up industrial production.”
The new long-range missile development program comes as Berlin also announced it would allow the US to deploy its own longer-range missiles on German territory, drawing condemnation from Moscow.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pushed back on Russian criticism of that move, saying that long-range weapons were “necessary for deterrence and peace.” (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Breaking Defense.com)
15 Jul 24. RDM set to be part of record €8.5bn ammunition order from Germany. Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) is looking to benefit from a record framework agreement for 155 mm artillery ammunition from the German military after the group received a contract that could be worth up to €8.5bn.
The contract – the largest in Rheinmetall history – was signed on 20 June by Annette Lehnigk-Emden, President of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), and representatives of Rheinmetall in Koblenz at the office’s headquarters in Germany.
The main purpose of the order is to replenish the stocks held by the Bundeswehr and its allies, as well as to provide support to the Ukraine in its defence campaign, Rheinmetall said in a statement.
Deliveries are to begin at the start of 2025. The primary purchaser will be the Federal Republic of Germany, which will provide part of the supplies to Ukraine. Additionally, the partner countries of the Netherlands, Estonia and Denmark are also participating in the order.
At the same time, an initial call-off from the framework contract was contracted to ensure the capacity utilisation of the new factory being built in Unterluess (Lower Saxony) in Germany during the start-up phase. This order also comprises the delivery of 155 mm calibre projectiles in different versions with a gross order value of around €880m. Deliveries are also scheduled to begin in 2025. Further increased call-offs are also expected in the coming years.
From 2025, Rheinmetall plans to produce up to 700 000 artillery shells and 10 000 tonnes of powder at its sites in Germany, Spain, South Africa, Australia and Hungary. When asked for clarification on RDM’s participation in these big new orders, a Rheinmetall spokesman said the group “will review internal capacities at all global locations. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any further details.”
RDM is heavily involved in various contracts secured by its German parent, including a €848m multi-year contract for the supply of various types of ammunition to the Hungarian armed forces and a €192 m contract for the delivery of an explosives factory in the same country.
Rheinmetall Denel Munition is running 24-hour-a-day shifts at its plants across South Africa and is investing hundreds of ms of rands in their expansion in order to keep up with the massive global demand for artillery ammunition. It is increasing capacity from 100 000 to 150 000 shells a year. RDM has received tens of millions of euros worth of orders over the last year, mainly for 155 mm and 40 mm ammunition – one Asian customer recently ordered 400 000 rounds of 40 mm ammunition.
Speaking about the massive new contract from the German military, Armin Papperger, Chairman of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall AG, said: “We are delighted about the largest order in our company’s recent history. This large-volume framework contract underlines Rheinmetall’s leading role as an ammunition supplier in Germany and our position as the world’s largest manufacturer of artillery ammunition. We highly appreciate the great trust that is expressed in this long-term order as part of the security provision of the Federal Republic of Germany and its allies.”
“The Federal Government is keeping its word. This framework contract will ensure the necessary capacity utilisation of the new factory that we are building at our Unterluess site in Lower Saxony to supply our armed forces with ammunition. The Federal Chancellor assured us of this during his visit on the occasion of the ground-breaking ceremony on 12 February 2024,” Papperger continued.
Rheinmetall will produce the entire value chain for artillery ammunition in Unterluess, Lower Saxony, in order to be able to offer the “full shot” by a single source: the projectile, the fuse, the explosive charge and the propellant charge that propels the projectile out of the barrel when fired. An annual capacity of 100 000 projectiles will be achieved on site from the second year of production, increasing up to 200 000 per year.
Rheinmetall noted that experience from the war in the Ukraine shows the immense demand for artillery ammunition. The production capacity available in the western world is not designed for these quantities. Germany – like other countries – is therefore planning to procure large quantities over a longer period of time.
The ammunition family offered by Rheinmetall in the artillery sector includes the DM121 explosive projectile, the DM125 smoke projectile and the DM702 SMArt search fuse ammunition (a production with Diehl Defence) as well as the RH68 training projectile and the RH1901 and RH1902 range-optimised smoke projectiles. The portfolio also includes the versatile 155 mm Assegai artillery ammunition family from Rheinmetall Denel Munition: insensitive ammunition (IM), conventional explosive projectiles (High Explosive/HE) as well as smoke, illumination, infrared illumination and other projectiles. The entire Assegai ammunition spectrum can be used at ranges of around 40 kilometres. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
12 Jul 24. Virginia class submarines set for weapon system overhaul.
The contract focuses on implementing the Common Weapon Launcher (CWL) system for Block I and II submarines.
In a boost to US naval capabilities, Progeny Systems, a subsidiary of General Dynamics Mission Systems, has been awarded an $11.9m contract to upgrade the weapon launch systems of Virginia Class submarines.
This move underlines the growing importance of modernising existing fleet assets to maintain maritime strength in an evolving defence landscape.
The contract focuses on implementing the Common Weapon Launcher (CWL) system for Block I and II submarines, an enhancement that will increase operational flexibility and streamline launch processes across missions.
Progeny Systems, which has a history of supporting the US Navy’s submarine initiatives, will undertake this work from its Manassas, Virginia facility, with project completion expected for July 2026.
Laura Hooks, vice president and general manager of Maritime and Strategic Systems at General Dynamics Mission Systems, expressed confidence in the project’s impact. “Progeny Systems has many years of experience supporting the US Navy’s submarine programs, especially in combat systems. We are pleased that the Navy has contracted with us to modernise older Virginia Class submarines with the capable and flexible CWL system,” she stated.
The US Navy is undertaking extensive modernisation of its Virginia-class submarines, highlighted by a $20.7m contract awarded to Goodrich Corporation for nuclear-powered propulsors, replacing long-time supplier BAE Systems. Concurrently, General Dynamics Electric Boat secured nearly $1bn in spare parts and development support contracts.
Additionally, the Navy is procuring new towed array motors from L3 Technologies, which will further enhance the fleet’s sonar capabilities.
As geopolitical tensions rise and naval operations become increasingly complex, enhancing the capabilities of existing fleets is paramount. The CWL system will enable Virginia Class submarines to launch a wider array of payloads more efficiently, augmenting their value.
General Dynamics Mission Systems acquired Progeny Systems in 2022.
Recently, HII has completed initial sea trials for the Virginia-class submarine USS New Jersey (SSN 796). Simultaneously, the US Navy christened the future USS Idaho. (Source: naval-technology.com)
09 Jul 24. Vaya Space Signs Agreement With Army DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center to Explore Vortex Hybrid Rocket Engine for Defense Missile Use. Vaya Space, a space and defense company, today announced that it has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center (DEVCOM AvMC) to investigate the use of Vaya Space’s vortex hybrid propulsion technology in a representative size for a surface-to-surface missile. The agreement will also allow Vaya to further prove out the engine’s capabilities for use in an operational environment, either as a replacement engine for existing missile systems or as the propulsion system for a new long-range surface-to-surface missile.
The CRADA is a follow-on action to Vaya Space’s demonstration of successful deep throttling, shutdown, and restart of an 8 kN test engine based on the design specifications of a Hellfire tactical missile. Vaya began designing the demonstration engine just after initial discussions with Army Futures Command in April of 2023. Vaya designed and built the test engine by that September at their own expense, with an initial test fire in October 2023. In January 2024, Vaya demonstrated the engine’s ability to throttle from 8 kN to 4 kN and back up to 8 kN, and the ability to shut down the engine while firing, pause for a period of time, and then restart the engine to senior representatives of Army Futures Command, DEVCOM AvMC, and several defense primes. This demonstration of the rapidly designed and built engine with operationally relevant capabilities was the impetus for the CRADA.
Robert Fabian, Vaya Space COO, said, “With our recent tests proving that Vaya’s proprietary technologies can provide a flexibility and control not normally seen in tactical missiles, it’s time to move the concept forward. This CRADA will start the design work, in cooperation with the Army’s missile experts, for a larger test missile, as well as begin to flesh out the operational and logistical requirements to potentially field it. Taking a new rocket engine from a clean sheet to first fire in less than six months is unheard of. We are planning to keep that pace going as we further explore defense applications for our unique vortex hybrid rocket engines.”
Market forecasts by Region, Technology, System, Platform, Component, Guidance System, and End-User. Market and Technology Overview, Opportunity and Scenario Analysis, and Leading Company Profiles
Utilizing its patented vortex hybrid rocket technology, Vaya Space is set to advance its engine testing to match the rigorous operational conditions of missile systems. Having conducted over 120 successful hot-fire tests across various sizes and configurations, Vaya is confident in its ability to perform future tests that meet the requirements and stringent standards of surface-to-surface missile systems.
Vaya Space envisions broader applications for its vortex hybrid propulsion technology in various missile systems used by the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Navy, including as propulsion for hypersonic weapons. The engine’s capability to be custom-tailored to specific form factors and thrust profiles, along with its in-flight throttling, is also enabling for missile defense targets. This adaptability allows targets to mimic adversary capabilities, providing more realistic training and testing scenarios for missile defense systems. (Source: ASD Network)
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
About Galvion:
Galvion designs, develops, and delivers mission critical head, face, and torso protective solutions as well as intelligent power and data management systems for the world’s most demanding military and tactical teams. Founded in 2002 as Revision Military, a foundational belief in calculated investment and capability expansion led to a strategic refocus, resulting in the divestiture of the protective eyewear business, along with the Revision name, in 2019. Rebranded as Galvion, the company’s products and technology continue to evolve beyond purely passive protection, focusing instead on active systems that enhance performance and survivability, with an eye to the ever-changing demands of the modern battlefield. Through advanced design, keen end-user insight and intelligent integration, Galvion engineers uniquely customized solutions that go beyond what was once thought possible.
Privately owned with ISO 9001:2015 certified facilities in Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the US, Montreal in Canada and Bristol in the UK, Galvion’s team of 400+ employees work proactively to solve the problems left unsolved by others.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————