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25 Jul 24. India advances Phase II BMD interceptor. India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has progressed the development of its Phase II Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) interceptor through a flight test conducted on 24 July.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in New Delhi said the endoatmospheric interceptor – also known as the AD-1 missile – was launched from the DRDO’s integrated test range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, on India’s east coast. The interceptor’s maiden test was held in late 2022.
According to the MoD, the new test featured the launching of a target missile from the DRDO’s ITR on Abdul Kalam Island, about 70 km south of Chandipur, at 1620 h local time. The Phase II interceptor was launched four minutes later.
The MoD said the test validated a “complete network-centric warfare weapon system”. This system included long-range sensors, a low-latency communication system, a mission control centre, and the interceptor missile, it said.
The MoD added, “The performance of the missile was monitored from flight data captured by range tracking instruments [such as] electro-optical systems, radar, and telemetry stations deployed by ITR Chandipur at various locations including on board [a] ship.”
The MoD described the interceptor as a two-stage solid-propelled endoatmospheric missile system “meant for neutralising many types of enemy ballistic missile threats in the altitude bracket of endo to low exoatmospheric regions”. The MoD has said that the AD-1 will be capable of intercepting missiles that have a range of 5,000 km. (Source: Janes)
24 Jul 24. Rethink on APS systems? Sources close to BATTLESPACE suggest that a number of Active Protection System (APS) manufacturers are running their slide rule over their current designs to enhance them to fill gaps in protection identified in the Ukraine war. APS use in Ukraine has shown a lack of 360 degree protection for armoured vehicles, particularly from top attacks from kamikaze drones.
23 Jul 24. Raytheon Partners With AVIOo to Build a More Resilient US Defense Industrial Base for Solid Rocket Motor Production.
- Raytheon signs contract with AVIO to continue the development of solid rocket motor solutions to meet USG and Allied Demand.
Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, signed a contract with Avio (AVIO.MI), leaders in propulsion technology, to initiate and progress the development of critical solid rocket motors for defense applications. The contract furthers the systems engineering work required to mature these solid rocket motors into a production-ready state.
“This partnership with Avio marks a commitment between our companies to work together to develop resilient and responsive production of solid rocket motors,” said Bob Butz, vice president, operations and supply chain, Raytheon. “We will continue to develop and mature potenial rocket motor solutions with Avio to ensure we can meet the increased long-term demand of our domestic and international customers.”
Avio’s planned investments in capability and capacity enable them to help support immediate customer demand. Avio is leveraging its Italian manufacturing and engineering teams’ existing capabilities to support the maturation of Avio USA, and to facilitate their domestic solid rocket motor manufacturing strategy.
We are leveraging our past experience and track record in solid rocket motors to help expand production capacity and develop new product lines to meet the growing demand,” said Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio. “Avio and Avio USA are eager to partner with Raytheon to build a more resilient U.S. industrial base for rocket motors.” (Source: ASD Network)
24 Jul 24. New order of missiles secures future supply for UK Armed Forces. A significant number of Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) have been ordered by the Government from Thales UK for the supply of the versatile, precision weapon to UK Armed Forces.
A Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter equipped with the Martlet missile system.
The order is worth £176 m and will equip current and future short-range air defence capabilities for the British Army, such as Stormer combat vehicles, and be fired by the Royal Navy’s Martlet maritime anti-surface missile system deployed from Wildcat helicopters.
Weighing only 13kg each, LMM provides a precision solution against threats such as drones, helicopters, other aircraft, and small, fast maritime targets.
Supporting 135 jobs at Thales’ site in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the contract placed by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) – the MOD’s procurement arm – will also support economic growth through small and medium enterprises and the local supply chain.
Hundreds of LMMs have also been gifted to Ukraine, as they have fought to repel the illegal Russian invasion which started in February 2022.
Maria Eagle, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, said:
In a more dangerous world, we must continue to provide weapons to Ukraine but also replenish our own stocks.
Our new order of Lightweight Multirole Missiles from Thales UK will support this, providing our Armed Forces with versatile missiles that can be used against threats such as drones, helicopters and small maritime targets.
This contract is also a great example of how defence investment can support economic growth and sustain jobs in the UK for years to come.
LMM were first fired from a Wildcat in the Bay of Bengal during the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group deployment of 2021, marking initial operating capability for the Martlet system.
Martlet has since supported operations including Operation Prosperity Guardian, helping to protect commercial ships from attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
Andy Start, DE&S CEO, said: “As we have seen during UK military operations and when used by our Ukrainian allies, LMM is a versatile and valuable missile in a variety of battlespaces. Now more than ever we need to ensure UK Armed Forces and our allies are fully equipped to defeat the evolving global threats we face. This order with Thales UK is a key element of that collective effort.”
The order follows a £69m contract placed by DE&S earlier this year, also with Thales UK, to secure the supply chain for key components used in the manufacture of the missiles.
Production at the Thales Belfast site has doubled since the conflict in Ukraine as the global demand for air defence capabilities has increased.
Alex Cresswell, CEO of Thales UK, said: “Today’s contract announcement reflects the enduring partnership between the UK MOD and Thales for the provision of lightweight weapons. I look forward to continuing to work closely together with the Ministry of Defence to deliver the capabilities our Armed Forces need, and to make industry more resilient to deal with increasing demand.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
23 Jul 24. Israel’s IAI announces new Wind Demon air-to-surface missile. The weapon is “a new generation of air-to-surface cruise missile, combining new capabilities based on years of experience in missiles and loitering munition development,” Guy Bar Lev, executive vice-president and general manager of IAI’s Systems Missiles and Space Group, said. Israel Aerospace Industries announced today a new air-to-surface cruise missile dubbed Wind Demon, what the company says is a lightweight, reasonably priced munition.
“We see a growing market demand for effective and affordable systems that will offer attacks in mass,” said Guy Bar Lev, executive vice-president and general manager of IAI’s Systems Missiles and Space Group.
The weapon is “a new generation of air-to-surface cruise missile, combining new capabilities based on years of experience in missiles and loitering munition development,” he said.
Unveiling the new missile, IAI pitched it as an “accurate response to the changing nature of warfare where affordability is a key factor.” Bar Lev did not specify the unit cost, though large cruise missiles such as the Storm Shadow or Tomahawk can cost more than $1 m.
Weighing 140 kilograms (308 pounds) and with a range of over 200 kilometers (124 miles), IAI says the missile can be launched from various aerial platforms such as helicopters or warplanes. The system includes laser-homing seekers and electro-optics for day or night operations. It also has automatic target recognition built in.
IAI also said that the system includes “enhanced connectivity features [that] enable real-time video transmission, person-in-the-loop control, and low altitude hold throughout the mission. Additionally, its selectable fast/slow/fast speed profile allows for high-speed reactions and selective slow velocity approaches at points of interest.”
IAI said the munition’s warhead, “which exceeds” 20 kilograms or 44 pounds, “is adaptable for blast, fragmentation, and penetration effects.”
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The missile is smaller than other well-known Israeli armaments such as the Popeye and the Gabriel family of systems, as well as the more recently introduced Sea Breaker.
In addition to its purported affordability, IAI also referenced the ability to use the missile in large numbers, noting it “offers a pragmatic response to the changing nature of warfare where affordable mass can deliver lethality.” A brochure for the system showed it aiming at targets such as air defense systems and radars. These include moving targets as well.
The wars in Ukraine and Gaza have illustrated the need for countries to have large amounts of various munitions, but also highlighted the high pricetag that can come with such acquisitions. The cost disparity has been especially stark in the area of counter-unmanned aerial systems, where some militaries are using high-end missiles to knock out cheaply made drones — though the Wind Demon is designed to hit targets on the ground in numbers, potentially flipping the script on affordable mass munitions. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
23 Jul 24. RTX touts Stormbreaker record, prioritises newest AMRAAM production. RTX company Ratheon announced a 100% success rate in 28 tests of its Stormbreaker air-to-surface precision-strike weapon, at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024, which runs from 22 to 26 July.
Fourteen successful tests were conducted with F-35C aircraft. Fourteen other successful tests were conducted with the F/A-18E/F, F-15E, and F-35B across the US Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.
Among the design aims of Stormbreaker was solving the problem of adverse weather conditions such as fog, smoke, and rain interfering with air-to-surface missiles on their way to targets.
Paul Ferraro, president of Air and Space Defense Systems at Raytheon, told Janes the weapon is their first to include millimetre (also known as millimetric) wave radar as part of its ‘tri-mode seeker’, which also uses infrared seeking. It was “not trivial” to get the millimetric seeker in, Ferraro added.
The weapons also has the capability to receive updated target co-ordinates mid flight via a two-way datalink.
Ferraro said RTX is producing around 1,100 Stormbreakers per year, and is under contract to supply 1,700.
Under pressure from demands of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) air-defence batteries in Ukraine, and global orders, Ferraro said that RTX was now only producing the latest D-3 and C-8 versions of its anti-aircraft AIM-120 Advanced Medium‐Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs). (Source: Janes)
23 Jul 24. MBDA’s Sky Warden advances: new effector concept and successful system demonstration. MBDA, as part of its Farnborough International Airshow offering in 2024, is showcasing a new effector concept for its Sky Warden counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) modular solution.
The new effector concept on show is a ground launched anti-air munition targeting threats that include Class 1 & smaller Class 2 small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) and Loitering Munitions. Collaborating with Fortem Technologies and utilizing their DroneHunter® technology, the concept enables the rapid incorporation of a warhead on a drone to defeat threats at lower cost. Tests of the munition has proved its effectiveness and lethality.
Éric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, said: “Our flagship Sky Warden modular C-UAS system is designed to evolve at the same rapid speed as the drone threat the world now faces, as demonstrated so effectively in recent trials. This latest effector solution shows MBDA in our best light: innovative and agile, adapting to the environment around us, and anticipating our customers’ needs. The exciting advance MBDA have made with this effector is in creating an independent warhead design that operators can add to a drone in the battlefield. It demonstrates our collaboration DNA, partnering with an emerging technology company to create a new low-cost counter drone effector.”
The company will also draw on its recent successful operational demonstration, where MBDA’s flagship C-UAS solution demonstrated its capabilities to 17 customer delegations.
These recent customer demonstrations saw Sky Warden faced with a wide range of offensive drone threats – with varying kinetic characteristics and in realistic operational scenarios – neutralising them all. Using artificial intelligence (AI) to assist its human operators to identify and classify the different threats from its full set of sensors (radar, passive RF, electro-optical cameras, etc.), Sky Warden automatically assigned to the most appropriate and available effector maximising the efficiency. In the threat scenarios Sky Warden faced, it blocked attacking drones with jammers, captured them with hunter drones, neutralised them in rapid sequence by laser, and destroyed a ‘shahed-like’ drone with a Mistral 3 missile at very long distance.
With the tests of its new effector concept and the recent demonstration in Italy, MBDA sees an RF guided drone-style effector with a directional fragmenting warhead complementing the effects that Sky Warden already provides, giving customers more options to adapt it to their preferred needs.
Drawn from MBDA’s wide experience in air defence and effects management, Sky Warden is a scalable system that can effectively neutralise any form of threat, from tactical drones to reconnaissance mini-drones, as well as other traditional ‘air breathing’ threats. The system manages the full C-UAS kill chain from detection to neutralisation and is designed to operate both as an integrated component in a layered air defence architecture, or in a standalone configuration. Using a networked eco-system of constantly evolving sensors and effectors, Sky Warden matches the UAS threat and its evolutions.
Whether vehicle mounted or dismounted, Sky Warden satisfies the need for both mobility and deployment. Being modular, scalable, and evolvable, customer can tailor Sky Warden to their specific requirements.
About MBDA
MBDA is a unique multi-national European group, a world-leader in the field of complex weapon systems, playing a key role in keeping nations safe. Created in the spirit of international co-operation, MBDA and its 14,000+ employees work together to support the national sovereignty of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, and their allies worldwide. As an accelerator for innovation, MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and manufacturing complex weapons to meet the full range of current and future operational requirements of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%) jointly own MBDA.
22 Jul 24. Australia carries out first firing of Naval Strike Missile. A Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Hobart-class destroyer has carried out the service’s first firing of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM).
The firing was carried out by third-of-class HMAS Sydney during Exercise ‘RIMPAC 2024′, which is being hosted by the US Navy (USN) in and around the waters off Hawaii, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) disclosed in a statement on 22 July.
At the firing, Sydney successfully fired the NSM at a decommissioned USN amphibious assault ship, which was in service as USS Tarawa .
“HMAS Sydney’s firing of [the] Naval Strike Missile during ‘RIMPAC 2024′ represents a significant increase in the lethality of our surface fleet and delivers on our commitment to accelerate the introduction of enhanced lethality strike capabilities,” said RAN Chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond in the statement released by the DoD.
“[The] Naval Strike Missile is a key capability for the lethality enhancement and survivability of our ships and enables our ability to hold an adversary at risk at greater range,” said the admiral.
“Multidomain strike capabilities including [the] Naval Strike Missile are foundational to deterring any potential adversary’s attempts to project power against Australia,” he added.
The NSM is a sea-skimming long-range missile first developed by Kongsberg to provide the Royal Norwegian Navy with a surface-attack weapon that can better survive close-in defence systems.
It carries a 120 kg high-explosive blast fragmentation warhead and has a range in excess of 200 km. The NSM can be launched from naval ships and from launchers on land. (Source: Janes)
22 Jul 24. MBDA and UK MOD renew complex weapons partnership. MBDA and the UK Ministry of Defence have renewed their strategic partnership on complex weapons for a further decade, with a renewed Portfolio Management Agreement (PMA). Known as PMA2 and worth at least £6.5bn, the agreement will deliver battle winning complex weapons to the UK Armed Forces faster, at lower cost and with greater agility. PMA2 will also support British jobs, skills and industrial investment.
Eric Beranger, CEO of MBDA, said: “PMA2 underlines the excellent work done by our colleagues to innovatively support the UK, acting as both a key sovereign national champion and as a conduit for international co-operation across our group and worldwide.”
Chris Allam, Managing Director of MBDA UK, said: “Renewing the MOD-MBDA partnership for a further decade underscores our role as a critical national asset supporting UK Defence. PMA2 will build upon the many successes of the past decade while delivering enhanced value, speed and agility for the UK Armed Forces and enabling better collaboration with our allies across Europe.”
The new agreement confirms MBDA as the MOD’s preferred supplier of complex weapons. Its framework will drive a further £2bn in benefits and efficiencies while enhancing current capabilities. The new agreement also is anticipated to deliver new systems such as the Future Cruise and Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW), Land Precision Strike and continue the evolution of Meteor.
The PMA2 incorporates a decade of learning into the running of the complex weapons portfolio. It includes a number of measures to enhance performance including, improved commercial agreements, acceleration of procurement processes and enabling ‘always-on’ manufacturing. It will hold industry at a high state of readiness to respond to the demands of Defence.
The original PMA secured a strong and innovative British industrial base. While providing the UK with the freedom of action to respond to conflicts on its own terms, the original PMA also produced confirmed savings of £2.6bn. With the UK seen as a strong partner, the original PMA also supported international collaborations and saw UK exports grow by 6.5 times.
Today more than 5,500 people work at MBDA UK sites in the North-West, East and the South-West of England. Nearly doubling the workforce since 2010. MBDA’s work also supports thousands of further jobs in the eco-system of its UK’s supply chain. The value of the PMA model has enabled MBDA to invest over £550 m in the UK, including a new manufacturing site in Bolton. PMA2 will see a further £500 m of MBDA investment in British manufacturing and technologies.
21 Jul 24. Orchestrike: MBDA accelerates deployment of AI for SPEAR cruise missiles. MBDA has made rapid advances to its Orchestrike collaborative weapons artificial intelligence (AI) over the past 12 months and can announce the SPEAR family of weapons will be the first cruise missiles to feature AI-enhanced collaboration, while keeping a human operator in the loop.
Eric Beranger, CEO of MBDA, said: “Being at the forefront of innovation in AI highlights how MBDA has unique technologies and expertise in Europe for delivering the decisive air domain missile capabilities to enable our armed forces to defend our values and freedoms.”
Orchestrike will enhance the performance of SPEAR missiles via AI-driven co-ordination, collaboration and co-operation between the missiles and the pilot controlling them from the launch aircraft. Orchestrike will enable SPEAR missiles to react to threats and work together with the pilot to solve tactical challenges, increasing both missile and platform survivability and overall mission performance. The missiles will only ever operate within the boundaries of operator input, ensuring legal and ethical utilisation at all times.
Since it was unveiled at Paris Air Show 2023, MBDA has rapidly developed Orchestrike from concept towards capability in twelve months. In particular, work has focused on refining the AI algorithms, advancing missile-to-missile datalinks, and on integrating both elements together and into SPEAR to enhance the already world-leading capabilities of the cruise missile weapon system.
Orchestrike showcases how MBDA is collaboratively investing across our nations to meet the needs of our customers. It also demonstrates the ability of the company to innovate, bring capabilities to service quickly and then update spirally.
On the MBDA stand at Farnborough International Airshow, an Orchestrike digital-twin simulator featuring real missile AI and hardware including new networked-enabled datalinks, will allow military users to immerse themselves in a unique simulated raid where the missiles react live and collaboratively to the developments of a tactical situation thanks to the Orchestrike AI capability.
SPEAR is a family of network-enabled cruise missiles developed by MBDA to meet the need of air forces to defeat and supress enemy air defences by striking moving targets in all weathers, at stand-off ranges. They feature all the advanced features of a cruise missile, including advanced mission planning and the ability to perform complex missions at long ranges, while being of a revolutionarily small size – with a single F-35 able to carry eight SPEAR missiles within its weapon bays.
In the future Orchestrike can be extended to other munitions with network-enabled datalink capabilities.
About MBDA
MBDA is a unique multi-national European group, a world-leader in the field of complex weapon systems, playing a key role in keeping nations safe. Created in the spirit of international co-operation, MBDA and its 14,000+ employees work together to support the national sovereignty of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, and their allies worldwide. As an accelerator for innovation, MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and manufacturing complex weapons to meet the full range of current and future operational requirements of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%) jointly own MBDA.
15 Jul 24. Colt CZ Group announces the continued global expansion of its small arms manufacturing network to include the Colt CZ Hungary facility, where the Group owns a majority share and fully controls all production activities.
This newly built, firearms manufacturing plant will provide additional manufacturing capacity to support the increasing worldwide demand for CZ’s commercial, military, and law enforcement products. All processes will be supervised by CZ Specialists, who are recognised around the world as experts in high-quality engineering and manufacturing.
This joint venture between Colt CZ Group and the government of Hungary that began in 2018 will not only continue to supply military grade CZ firearms to the Hungarian Armed Forces, but also serve to manufacture small arms for export globally. The investment and technology transfer from CZ in Uhersky Brod, Czechia includes state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, robotics, fully automated turning and milling centres, and advanced finishes. Global production will continue to provide the same high quality, dependability and exceptional shooting comfort modern-day militaries and shooting sports enthusiasts have found synonymous with the CZ brand. (Source: www.joint-forces.com)
22 Jul 24. Shaping the way to win on land through operational analysis. Over the last 2 years, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has carried out more analytical war games in support of Army HQ decision-making than ever before.
Dstl partnered with Army HQ’s Futures Directorate to run a campaign of experimentation using a range of war gaming tools, concluding with a series of events known as Army Wargame 23 (AWG23).
The aim of these events was to help shape the Army’s new Land Operating Concept (LOpC).
Dstl used 3 war games over 14 weeks to explore the strategic, operational and tactical aspects of the Army’s proposed new way of operating. As well as the impact of various capability enhancements to find and strike adversaries and defend from air attack. This included a manual war game (map, counters, dice and rule book) to understand how the Army might advance into the operating theatre and survive. Such as, through engagement with the host nation and making use of prepositioned equipment and munitions.
A second high-level manual war game assessed the full warfighting capabilities of the division, while a detailed computerised war game, examined the tactical fight.
The wargaming output (which was subjected to a robust evaluation through the use of Dstl’s evidence framework approach) has been instrumental to the Army’s new operating concept, and has also informed the Army’s capability investment plan. These war games will also provide the context for land system concepts research over the coming years.
In response to these changes, the British Army will:
- fight by recce-strike: combine surveillance capabilities with artillery and other strike assets to find the enemy as far forward as possible, and destroy them at every level from battlegroup to corps
- adopt a new approach to survival: putting the protection of soldiers at the heart of the new strategy
- exploit the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace to outmanoeuvre, outpace and outmarch the opponent to give tactical advantage
- develop a new approach for logistics: drawing on dispersal, concealment and forward manufacture and repair
- seize the initiative in the information environment: increasing the speed, reach and sophistication of information warfare capabilities (including calling out misinformation)
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
22 Jul 24. First trial on British Army vehicle for high-powered laser weapon. Dstl, DE&S and industry have worked together to enable the development of this critical new capability and help prepare the UK’s armed forces for the future.
- Speed of light laser weapon trialled for first time on a British Army vehicle.
- Lightweight, portable and cost effective.
- Developed to defeat enemy drones.
For the first time scientists and engineers have successfully fired a high powered laser energy weapon from a British Army combat vehicle.
This ground-breaking test, conducted at Dstl’s range in Porton Down, saw the laser weapon neutralise targets at distances in excess of 1km.
The high-energy laser weapon mounted on to a British Army Wolfhound armoured vehicle, represents a major leap forward in the UK Ministry of Defence’s Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Demonstrator programme, providing increased operational advantage on the battlefield.
The lightweight portable high energy laser system is the first laser weapon integrated on a land vehicle to be fired in the UK.
The advanced capability demonstrator will allow the Ministry of Defence along with the British Army to understand the utility of LDEW systems against an evolving threat.
The next phase of testing will involve trials with Army personnel later this year, further evaluating the system’s capabilities and benefits in real-world scenarios.
The low cost system is fully portable, low cost and easy to operate. The system can track multiple targets and engage faster than the speed of light.
Dstl chief executive Dr Paul Hollinshead OBE MBA said:
This is another significant milestone in accelerating the adoption of directed energy weapons.
Working ever closer with DE&S and industry to develop critical new capabilities, we are preparing the armed forces for the future so they can detect, disable and destroy future and novel threats.
Team Hersa, which pairs Dstl’s technical expertise with the best acquisition skills from DE&S, is managing delivery of the demonstrators and is responsible for preparing Defence for the introduction of innovative weapons systems, ensuring the UK Armed Forces can successfully exploit this potentially game changing capability at pace.
Matt Cork, Dstl Programme Lead, said:
The joint working between Dstl, DE&S and industry has enabled rapid evolution of this laser demonstrator. The successful testing of this high-powered laser weapon marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to enhance the future operational capabilities of the British Army. This technology offers a precise, powerful and cost effective means to defeat aerial threats, ensuring greater protection for our forces.
The laser system, developed in collaboration with a consortium of UK suppliers, showcases the potential of advanced technology in modern warfare.
The system operates with a command and control system and can be integrated with wider battle management radar and surveillance systems. The weapon can be mounted on various platforms to meet different operational needs.
The British supply chain includes: Raytheon UK, Frazer-Nash, NP Aerospace, LumOptica, Blighter Surveillance Systems, and Cambridge Pixel.
James Gray, chief executive and managing director of Raytheon UK, said:
In successfully firing the first laser weapon integrated on a land vehicle in the UK, Dstl has proven that the Raytheon high energy laser weapon system can track, engage and defeat targets whilst mounted on a vehicle
We now look forward to the British Army experimenting with the weapon over the coming months and proving that the technology is battlefield ready.
Dstl’s research and development efforts focus on preparing UK Defence for future challenges and improving operational advantage. By collaborating with DE&S, industry, academia, and international allies, Dstl continues to address some of the most complex issues facing UK Defence.
This development underscores Dstl’s work and its commitment to the UK Ministry of Defence’s by leveraging cutting-edge technology to maintain a strategic advantage in defence operations. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
19 Jul 24. NIOA expands to the UK. The firearms, weapons and munitions company announced its expansion into the United Kingdom during the Australian British Chamber of Commerce Defence Catalyst dinner.
NIOA’s new UK office is expected to be located in Abbey Wood, Bristol, and enable the company to collaborate more closely with its existing British partners and identify new engagement opportunities.
Group chief executive officer Robert Nioa told the conference that the expansion was logical given the company’s existing presence in the US and Australian markets.
“As a company, we are committed to operationalising the industrial collaboration envisaged by our collective governments under the AUKUS agreement … and it’s not AUKUS without the UK,” he said.
“From an AUKUS technology exchange perspective, this completes our Australia, UK, US network.
“Our first engineers are on site, albeit in temporary desks while we get our building fitout finalised.
“Our intention is for this office building to also act as our European headquarters in support of all of the different NIOA Group businesses.
“We will be looking to build close relationships and support Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) in their objectives and also build close connections with other UK businesses for both UK and international-focused efforts.” (Source: Defence Connect)
22 Jul 24. Raytheon UK, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) have successfully tested Raytheon’s High-Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) integrated onto a British Army combat vehicle, the first test of its kind in the UK.
This ground-breaking test, conducted at Dstl’s range in Porton Down, saw the laser weapon fired at full power whilst integrated onto a British Army Wolfhound armoured vehicle. The lightweight, portable HELWS is the first laser weapon integrated on a land vehicle to be fired in the UK.
This milestone marks a major leap forward in the UK Ministry of Defence’s Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Demonstrator programme. The increasing prevalence, proliferation and evolution of drone warfare makes the rapid adoption of counter-UAS technologies ever more important.
This variant of the HELWS has been designed to defeat NATO class 1 drones whilst being easily compatible within existing air defence systems, including radar, command and control and other platforms.
“We have proven that the Raytheon high energy laser weapon system can track and engage targets whilst mounted on a vehicle,” said James Gray, chief executive and managing director of Raytheon UK. “The speed at which this capability was delivered is only possible due to the hard work of our British SME partners, coupled with the operationally proven technology developed by Raytheon.”
The Wolfhound integration successfully fused the proven capability of Raytheon’s High-Energy Laser Weapon System with cutting edge UK intellectual property from Frazer Nash, NP Aerospace, LumOptica, Blighter Surveillance Systems, and Cambridge Pixel.
“As Defence Secretary, I want to take the politics out of national security so where there is important work begun under the previous government, we will take it forward in the interest of national security,” said Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon John Healey MP. “That is why we are renewing important partnerships with industry and continuing to push technological boundaries. This will drive prosperity and create skilled jobs across the country.”
Team Hersa, which pairs Dstl’s technical expertise with the best acquisition skills from DE&S, is managing delivery of the demonstrators and is responsible for preparing Defence for the introduction of innovative weapons systems, ensuring the UK Armed Forces can successfully exploit this potentially game changing capability at pace.
“The joint working between Dstl, DE&S and industry has enabled rapid evolution of this laser demonstrator. The successful testing of this high-powered laser weapon marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to enhance the future operational capabilities of the British Army,” said Matt Cork, Dstl Programme Lead. “This technology offers a precise, powerful and cost-effective means to defeat aerial threats, ensuring greater protection for our forces.”
Raytheon’s HELWS is certified for use in combat with US forces, with multiple systems now in service. The system has logged more than 40,000 testing hours and downed more than 400 targets.
The next phase of testing for the UK will allow British Army soldiers to familiarise themselves with the system and refine requirements for future capability. (Source: PR Newswire)
21 Jul 24. UK soldiers test next generation of body-worn technology.
Major advances have been made in body-worn technology for UK soldiers, improving their operational advantage.
- Major advances made in body-worn technology for UK soldiers.
- Improving operational advantage by connecting soldiers to data tools and new technology.
- A range of technologies, such as laser detection systems and on person drone control will enhance battle fighting tactics.
The next generation of body-worn technology has been put through its paces by British soldiers, bringing a modernised advantage to the battlefield. The aim of the trials is to integrate available technology into wearable tech for soldiers, advancing battlefield awareness and allowing faster tactical decision making.
This announcement comes as part of the new government’s commitment to procuring state-of-the-art defence capabilities. The Future Soldier programme delivers on the aim of adapting military equipment programmes to meet emerging requirements, as outlined in the launch of the Strategic Defence Review this week.
Examples of the technologies being looked at by the Army include laser detection systems to warn if enemies are targeting personnel, drone thermal detection to identify enemies, and ground sensors to detect enemy movement with alerts sent to body-worn systems.
The digital system is standardised and provides customised control that can be tailored to each individual mission.
Troops from Leicestershire-based 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, tested cutting-edge data visualisation tools, integrated sensors, and live intelligence feeds all connected in a single system.
The trial, conducted by scientists from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), demonstrates that even minor changes to infantry-level tactics with Command and Control, Communications, Computing and Information Systems, can vastly improve operational outcomes.
Improved outcomes can include:
- Increasing the tempo of a battle – outthinking the enemy by creating a faster understand, decide, act loop.
- Increase situational awareness meaning better informed decision making based on real-time local operating picture of where friendly and enemy forces are, as well as other assets are on the battlefield.
- Enhanced decision making – the ability to send data, such as images and full motion video, from the soldier to wider teams.
Minster for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle said:
This government is clear in our commitment to advancing technology that ensures the safety and superiority of UK Armed Forces. This cutting-edge technology will bolster operational lethality and elevate battlefield awareness.
I welcome the continued collaborate on between government, industry, and scientists on this innovative programme.
Dstl scientists are carrying out this research as part of the Future Integrated Dismounted Soldier Vision (FIDSV) with research into how the next generation of ‘digitally connected soldier’ technology can improve capability and operational advantage.
The range of technologies tested includes:
- A helmet mounted strobe alert system to identify friend or foe.
- An electronic system that emits an identifiable beacon when it detects an incoming laser.
- Laser detection system to warn if enemies are targeting personnel.
- A system that detects the wavelengths of incoming lasers and warns the user.
- On person drone control which gives the user the ability to control and pre-programme drones.
- Drone thermal detection to aid enemy detection.
- Laser range finder – a device on the weapon that calculates the range of an object/target.
- Advanced digital day and night optics for weapons, powered via the weapons’ Picatinny rail.
- Smart hub – the ‘brain’ of the integrated power and data supply for all digital devices.
- Mesh network – a type of radio configuration that permits “hopping” from one soldier’s radio to another to enhance range.
- Ground sensors to detect movement with alerts sent to body-worn systems.
Dstl chief executive Dr Paul Hollinshead OBE MBA said: “Dstl is working closely with industry to develop and integrate technologies that will transform our armed forces, making them more capable and lethal.
Building on our decades of expertise, this work is delivering mission success, protecting the nation and helping it prosper.”
Jon Russell, Dstl’s Senior Principal Scientist on the research, said:
“This technology will protect the lives of our Armed Forces by improving operational capability by giving them the advantage over the enemy.
It is great to see the Future Integrated Dismounted Soldier Vision is clearly proving how a soldier system containing multiple knowledge capabilities that are designed to combine crucial data to improve operational advantage. Our aim is to develop the most capable armed forces in the world, by merging different technologies to advance battlefield awareness.”
Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) at the infantry Trials and Development Unit said: “The trial, led by Dstl, was a showcase of future technologies and digital integration. The research has now advanced, bringing together industry to enhance capabilities with Command, Control, Communications, Computing and Information Systems. As the Army’s lead in dismounted close combat trials and development, we are at the forefront of improving operational advantage and look forward to supporting its future development.”
Dstl, in partnership with industry, will make use of the lessons learned from this latest testing on Salisbury Plain’s military training area to develop the need for future equipment for defence.
The next phase will include vehicle mounted options, as well as develop a joint soldier system with UK allies. Further development and experimentation will continue over the next five years and will evolve as and when new technologies become available. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
22 Jul 24. MBDA is showcasing, for the first time ever at Farnborough International Airshow, its new MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defence System) VSHORAD (Very Short Range Air Defence) solution, under development for the Italian Army and ready to be marketed to export customers.
The new VSHORAD missile is a supersonic, fire and forget, all-day interceptor, equipped by a seeker with image processing capabilities. It can target fighters, helicopters, small drones. Its design will allow a smooth integration either on current (VTLM2 by IDV with Leonardo turret, as displayed on MBDA stand) and on future vehicles, equipped by automated turrets.
Being man-portable, this VSHORAD solution will be suitable for paratroops and amphibious forces, while giving tactical advantage when mounted on military vehicles. This VSHORAD system will also be integrated in Sky Warden, MBDA’s modular, scalable, and evolvable flagship system to counter unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS).
The system is in development following an Italian Army operational requirement expressed last year for a very short-range man portable air defence missile. The system characteristics and performances are fully compliant with NATO standards.
Capitalizing on MBDA’s know-how in the design and development of air defence systems, the new missile will contribute to reinforce the company’s offer for a European multi-layer air defence capability, ranging from very short to the future Anti-Ballistic-Hypersonic Defence.
About MBDA
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About Galvion:
Galvion designs, develops, and delivers mission critical head, face, and torso protective solutions as well as intelligent power and data management systems for the world’s most demanding military and tactical teams. Founded in 2002 as Revision Military, a foundational belief in calculated investment and capability expansion led to a strategic refocus, resulting in the divestiture of the protective eyewear business, along with the Revision name, in 2019. Rebranded as Galvion, the company’s products and technology continue to evolve beyond purely passive protection, focusing instead on active systems that enhance performance and survivability, with an eye to the ever-changing demands of the modern battlefield. Through advanced design, keen end-user insight and intelligent integration, Galvion engineers uniquely customized solutions that go beyond what was once thought possible.
Privately owned with ISO 9001:2015 certified facilities in Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the US, Montreal in Canada and Bristol in the UK, Galvion’s team of 400+ employees work proactively to solve the problems left unsolved by others.
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