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02 Aug 24. Japan adds AMRAAM to missile co-production pact with US. Japan’s defence leaders have agreed to provide industrial support to the United States by participating in co-production of the US-designed Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles, the two countries announced during the US-Japan Security Consultative Committee (SCC) meeting in Tokyo on 28 July.
“The Ministers welcomed high-priority efforts to pursue mutually beneficial co-production opportunities to expand production capacity of [AMRAAM] and Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) and meet critical demand for such advanced systems, address timely procurement and readiness requirements, and deter aggression,” the US Department of Defense (DoD) said in a statement.
According to the DoD statement, the effort will be led by the US-Japan Forum on Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition, and Sustainment (DICAS). DICAS’ initial will focus on advancing missile co-production efforts as well as building supply chain resilience and facilitating ship and aircraft repair.
DICAS will also will provide additional details on timelines, acquisition requirements, and funding strategies for missile co-production by the end of 2024.
It is understood that Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will manufacture the missiles under license. According to news wire Reuters, MHI is already manufacturing Patriot PAC-3s at a reported rate of about 30 missiles annually but can increase production to 60. However, AMRAAMs will be a new endeavour for the company.
Japan amended its defence export regulations in December 2023 to enable domestically produced PAC-3 missiles to be exported to the United States to replenish the latter’s missile stocks, which have been depleted after transfer to the Ukrainian armed forces. However, Russia has threatened possible retaliation against Japan if its locally produced PAC-3 missiles are delivered directly to Ukraine.
Japan’s defense ministry struck a deal in July to transfer the land-based missiles to the United States, which has a shortage of interceptors due to its support for Ukraine.
Japan and the United States have also agreed to restructure its military command and control relationship amid concerns over China’s increasingly assertive behaviour, by reconstituting the present US Forces Japan (USFJ) as a joint force headquarters under US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM). (Source: AMR)
30 Jul 24. Ceremonial handover in Hungary: Rheinmetall takes over ammunition factory in Várpalota, Hungary, after completion.
On 29 July 2024, the Duesseldorf-based technology group Rheinmetall celebrated the official takeover of its new state-of-the-art 30mm ammunition factory in Várpalota, Hungary.
The ceremony took place in presence of the Hungarian Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and the CEO of Rheinmetall AG, Armin Papperger.
The new production facility in Várpalota is a significant milestone in Rheinmetall’s expansion strategy. It underlines the company’s commitment in providing up-to-date technologies to support the defence capabilities of its partners. The factory is designed to produce 30mm ammunition for the KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), which will be built in Zalaegerszeg and delivered to the Hungarian armed forces. The Várpalota factory will start production in October 2024. Furthermore, ammunition for battle tanks and artillery as well as igniters will be among the products manufactured in Várpalota in a second phase. In the final expansion stage, the company site will cover a total of around 150 hectares.
In his opening speech, Armin Papperger highlighted the importance of the new factory for Rheinmetall and the site in Hungary: “The opening of this state-of-the-art ammunition factory in Várpalota is a clear signal to our commitment concerning innovation and quality. This facility will not only strengthen the defence capabilities of our global partners and in Hungary, but will also contribute to the economic development of the region.”
In his address, Hungarian Defence Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky emphasised the strategic importance of the cooperation with Rheinmetall, and stressed the joint efforts in strengthening the national security and defence industry.
The new factory in Várpalota is equipped with the latest technology and will create more than 200 jobs in the region, making an important contribution to the local economy. The establishment of the Lynx IFV and other Lynx models also strengthens the development of the Hungarian defence industry. Rheinmetall is thus continuing its tradition of contributing to global security through technological innovation and close partnerships.
31 Jul 24. X-Bow Systems Successfully Completes Static Fire of 34″ Ballesta Rocket Motor. X-Bow Systems Inc. (pronounced “/crossbow/”), the nation’s leading non-traditional advanced supplier of solid rocket motors (SRMs) and defense technologies, announces the successful static test of the Ballesta-34 solid rocket motor, nicknamed the XB-32. At ~34 inches in diameter, X-Bow’s XB-32 is the world’s largest advanced manufactured solid propellant motor fired to date with its patented manufacturing technology. This groundbreaking achievement not only marks a significant technological milestone in X-Bow’s Advanced Manufactured Solid Propellant (AMSP) process, but also represents a significant step forward in the industry’s use of additive and advanced manufacturing for both strategic and tactical sized propulsion systems.
The successful static fire validates the scaling feature of AMSP. X-Bow has previously manufactured and tested hundreds of smaller tactical sized motors. The XB-32 is part of the larger Ballesta family of Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs), a modular motor platform designed for use as both first stage and second-stage boosters in government and commercial launch systems. X-Bow now joins the likes of Northrop Grumman and L3 Harris as the only other U.S. companies producing strategic class solid rocket motors. X-Bow is the only company to use and test fire a strategic class SRM with a revolutionary affordable advanced manufacturing system.
“The success of this test is a monumental milestone for X-Bow that validates the viability of our advanced manufacturing technology as it has now scaled from 2 inch diameter to 30 inch plus diameter, proving the applicability of X-Bow’s industry-changing process to meet a rapidly growing SRM demand,” said Jill Marsh, X-Bow VP of Advanced Manufacturing and Operations.
To quote Chief Engineer Matthew Hinton, “X-Bow’s AMSP technology offers significant advantages in throughput, safety, efficiency, and production cost over traditional propellant manufacturing methods. It is an extremely versatile, customizable, and scalable method of producing solid rocket motor propellant.”
The results yielded from the test align within the predicted margin of error with X-Bow’s models, verifying the accuracy and predictability of its AMSP manufactured motors. With these results, X-Bow is now rapidly moving to its planned flight demonstration of the AMSP technology in the coming months. The propellant grain for this ground-breaking test fire was produced in X-Bow’s New Mexico Tech University hosted R&D facilities in Socorro, New Mexico. This test also marked the 150th energetics test at X-Bow’s Luling Texas SRM giga-campus. (Source: ASD Network)
26 Jul 24. Belgium’s latest F-35 acquisition enhances arsenal. The acquisition of the Small Diameter Bomb-Increment II underlines Belgium’s commitment to modernising its defence assets. The bomb’s ability to be deployed from the fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter, enables Belgium to conduct strikes. This acquisition is set to integrate with Belgium’s F-35s, enhancing the aircraft’s firepower. The deal includes the bombs and a suite of support elements, including training, maintenance, and logistical support, ensuring that Belgian forces are fully prepared to utilise this weaponry effectively. Belgium has also been advancing the transition to new air capabilities with its F-35 simulator instructor training programme in the US. The programme trains instructors to master F-35 simulators and prepare for the integration of 34 F-35s into Belgium’s Air Component. This initiative will see these instructors return to train future pilots at Florennes Air Force Base. In June 2023, the US State Department also approved a potential $293m sale of Small Diameter Bomb II(SDB-II) to Norway, a Nato ally. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
28 Jul 24. South Korea develops new truck-mounted 155mm howitzer. Hanwha Aerospace introduced a mock-up of its latest wheeled self-propelled howitzer at the 2024 Defense Quality Comprehensive Symposium in Changwon on July 19, according to journalist Kim Minseok.
The new wheeled howitzer, often referred to as a response to market demands for more agile and cost-effective artillery solutions, builds on the success of Hanwha’s K9 self-propelled howitzer.
The K9, a tracked vehicle, has been highly popular and is currently in service with over nine countries, commanding more than 36% of the 155mm howitzer market. In July 2022, Hanwha secured an order to deliver 54 K9 units to Romania, showcasing the model’s global appeal.
Despite its advantages, the K9 has defeated in the UK’s Mobile Fires Platform (MPF) competition in April competition highlighted the need for a wheeled counterpart. The K9’s tracked design offers superior mobility in rough terrains and supports shoot-and-scoot tactics without needing ground spades for stability. However, tracked vehicles are more expensive to maintain and operate compared to wheeled systems, which can travel hundreds of kilometers on roads without additional transport.
The RCH 155, which won the UK competition, boasts the ability to fire on the move and respond more effectively to threats such as enemy artillery and drones. However, Hanwha’s new wheeled howitzer aims to surpass the RCH 155 in several aspects. The vehicle features the K9A2 turret, known for its fully automated loading system, enabling operation with just a two or three-person crew. The new system also retains the K9A2’s impressive rate of fire.
Hanwha’s wheeled howitzer is built on the proven chassis of the KTSSM launch vehicle, known for its mobility in desert and mountainous terrains. The turret is modular, allowing it to be mounted on various platforms to meet different customer requirements. Future configurations might include the longer 58-caliber gun, capable of hitting targets over 70 kilometers away with guided munitions.
One noted difference between Hanwha’s new howitzer and the RCH 155 is the need for a spade to stabilize the vehicle during firing, which may slightly delay the initial shot compared to its German counterpart. However, this design also promises better cost-efficiency, similar to Rheinmetall’s HX3 wheeled howitzer.
Hanwha Aerospace is funding the development of the wheeled howitzer independently but plans to submit it for the upcoming export weapon system development project. If selected, it could significantly boost the company’s competitiveness in the global defense market, similar to the success of the AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicle. (Source: Google/https://defence-blog.com/)
30 Jul 24. MFP is purely ‘an intention to procure’ as confirmed by the FoI placed by BATTLESPACE. This explains the reluctance by RBSL and KMDS to answer questions regarding the German announcement by Rishi Sunak and wy BATTLESPACE didn’t report on the event until this carification
I would like to request the following information regarding a specific contract awarded by the Ministry of Defence:
- Contract Title: British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) requirement • Awarded Contractors: ARTEC consortium, Krauss-Meffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) Information requested:
- Copies of the contracts awarded for the development and procurement of the Mobile Fires Platform, including but not limited to agreements with ARTEC consortium, Krauss-Meffei Wegmann, Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), and any other contractors involved in the project.
- A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the UK and German governments regarding the programme
- Details on the scope of work, timelines, and deliverables outlined in these contracts.
- Detailed project plans, including the expected timelines for the development, testing, and deployment of the Mobile Fires Platform.
- Any documents outlining the project management approach, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies.
- Total estimated and actual expenditure on the Mobile Fires Platform to date, including a breakdown of costs.
- Funding sources for the project and any future financial commitments.
- Specific details on the collaboration agreement with Germany regarding the RCH 155 artillery system, including the roles and responsibilities of each country.
- Documentation on joint assessment and qualification plans, as well as any bilateral agreements influencing the project.
- Information on the expected economic impact of the Mobile Fires Platform on the UK, including job creation, industrial benefits, and export potential.
- Details on the involvement of UK-based suppliers and the extent of UK industrial content in the project. We are handling your request in accordance with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000. A search of Ministry of Defence (MOD) records has been conducted, and I can confirm that Defence Equipment & Support some information in scope of your request is held. However, we believe that the following qualified exemptions may apply to some of the information held: Section 24 (Security), Section 26 (Defence), Section 27 (International Relations), Section 43 (Commercial Interests). As such it is necessary for us to decide whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the relevant exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosure. The Freedom of Information Act requires us to respond to requests promptly, and in any case no later than 20 working days after receiving your request. However, when a qualified exemption applies to the information and the public interest test has to be conducted, the Act allows the time for response to be longer than 20 working days. A full response must be provided within such time as is reasonable in all circumstances of the case and, in relation to your request, we estimate that it will take an additional 20 working days to take a final decision on where the balance of public interest lies. We therefore plan to let you have a response by 9 September 2024. If it appears that it will take longer than this to reach a conclusion, we will let you know. Under Section 16 (Advice and Assistance) of the FOI Act, please note that no contracts have been awarded to date.
BATTLESPACE Comment: Given that no contract has been awarded this leaves the door open for Hanwa in particular to re-enter the MFP programme either by an unsolicited bid by Hanwha ULK or government-to-government discussions between RoK and the UK to secure the tripling of firepower and the accompanying ammunition production by 2030 as stated by incoming CGS Roly Walker at the recent RUSI Land Warfare Conference. As to the RCH155 Boxer-based howitzer, which, from a personal point of view, ahs always looked top heavy with an lightly armoured turret, more work clearly needs to be done to bring the TRL level to the required point. The launch by KNDS of their wheeled solution based on the GD 10×10 chassis points ot the fact that the Boxer 8×8 chassis may not be robust enough to enable growth potential of an RCH155 with an ERCAS cannon and unarmoured turret. At present the RCH 155 is not on the OCCAR list for the UK programme. The argument that as the turret is unmanned it can be lightly armoured doesn’t stack, as the gun and ammunition need protection. So. no contract has been awarded and yet Germany has apparently ordered 80 RCH. If the system is sufficiently mature – TRL 8 or 9 – for Germany to place the order what is the subject of the collaboration? If there are no contracts placed, to date, under the protocol with Germany, an important question is how will the collaboration work and who will place the contracts? Surely that is a matter where public interest is greater than any commercial concerns. Other sources suggest that the forthcoming defence review will address all new and future contracts and report in the New Year at the earliest.
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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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