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15 Oct 24. US Army quits plan for next-gen Patriot missile replacement. The U.S. Army has decided to back off an effort to replace its Patriot missile with a next-generation interceptor, according to Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, program executive officer for missiles and space.
“We are not going to move forward on what we were calling a Lower-Tier Future Interceptor,” Lozano told Defense News in an interview at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference.
Lozano said those scrapped plans would have been “a very expensive endeavor.”
“Those Patriot interceptors are very capable, but also very expensive and so after going through a business case analysis within the PEO and with the Army senior leaders, what we’ve decided to do is, one, look at continuing to upgrade the PAC-3 MSE missile, which I believe is probably the best air defense missile in the world, and continue to advance that capability so that it can remain relevant against the evolving threats,” he said.
The effort would have completed the final piece of the puzzle in a new Integrated Air and Missile Defense System. Already the service has fielded its command-and-control system – the Integrated Battle Command System – and is developing and will soon field a new radar – the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor – capable of detecting threats from 360 degrees.
The Army is anticipating threat missiles in the 2040 timeframe will evolve to have rocket motors that make missiles fly faster with hypersonic capability, more maneuverable tactical ballistic missiles, decoys and electronic warfare countermeasures
Army Futures Command a year ago was formulating an abbreviated capabilities development document. If approved the funding would have been included in the fiscal 2025 through FY29 funding plan.
The Army has continued to see just how capable the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) is in Ukraine since the U.S. sent it in to help the country defend against the Russian invasion.
The missile has shot down, for example, Russian Kh-47M2 Killjoy hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles.
The service has decided to also explore what IBCS integration with its Terminal High Altitude Air Defense system would look like.
“What that would allow us to do is create a tighter coupling between the THAAD system and the Patriot system and via that tighter coupling, then you can manage the battle space in a much more efficient way,” Lozano said.
“You could launch a THAAD interceptor against a particular target and then, as backup, launch a PAC-3 interceptor and it opens up the amount of battle space that you can use to take advantage of two interceptors against a very stressing threat,” he said, “and in that same vein maintain the magazine depth of both family of interceptors.”
The Missile Defense Agency has done some Patriot and THAAD integration work in recent years in response to an urgent operational need in the Indo-Pacific theater. For example, the agency was able to launch a PAC-3 MSE queued off of early THAAD radar data. MDA has coded the THAAD MSE integration and launch on remote capabilities and plans to drop it into the next THAAD software upgrade.
But without IBCS integration, Patriot and THAAD pairing is still limited in scope.
“If we could do the THAAD IBCS integration then that brings in the full suite of integrated capabilities that allows us to have a more homogenous, seamless, netted architecture against all these threats within the Patriot, [Integrated Fire Protection Capability] architecture,” Lozano said. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
17 Oct 24. Dynateq International unveils new Rogue weapon systems. Dynateq International, a division of Reunert Applied Electronics, is broadening its successful Rogue series of remotely controlled weapon systems (RCWS) with two new offerings: the 23 mm Super Rogue and the 12.7 mm Sea Rogue.
The original Land Rogue, designed to accommodate either a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun, can also be equipped with four 76 mm smoke grenade launcher tubes. The larger Super Rogue series was developed to support 20 mm calibre weapons for extended-range combat. The Super Rogue 2 is designed to mount a 20×139 mm cannon, while the Super Rogue 3 is compatible with a 20×128 mm cannon. Additionally, the series can be outfitted with 30×173 mm and 30×113 mm cannons. For low-intensity operations, Dynateq offers a lightweight version, the Rogue LITE, tailored for 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm applications.
The Land and Sea Rogue RCWS consists of a console with a display screen for the cameras on the mount and a joystick control. The turret is gyro-stabilised and electrically driven. An optical observation and sighting system is mounted on the turret alongside the weapon with a variety of daylight and thermal imaging cameras, and a laser rangefinder.
A key highlight of the Rogue series is the latest 23 mm Super Rogue, specifically developed for the African defence market, where 23 mm calibre cannons, like those used in the ZU-23-2 and SZU-23-4 anti-aircraft systems, are widely deployed.
Alongside the 23 mm variant, Dynateq International has also successfully designed, tested, and delivered a new iteration of the 12.7 mm Sea Rogue RCWS, purpose-built for fast interceptor vessels where weight is a critical factor. This new Sea Rogue RCWS weighs just 180 kg, including the weapon and 200 rounds of ammunition, making it ideal for high-speed naval platforms.
The 12.7 mm Sea Rogue provides an azimuth range of -170° to +170° and an elevation range from +70° to -20°. Its advanced electro-optical suite includes a day camera, thermal imager, and laser rangefinder, with optional optical tracking for enhanced accuracy. The system can also be integrated with a Combat Management System (CMS) for improved operational coordination.
The entire Rogue lineup is engineered to perform reliably in challenging environments, such as those found in the Middle East. The Rogue and Super Rogue systems have been exported to several countries, including Benin, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates. Domestically, the South African Navy employs naval versions of the Rogue system on its frigates and newly commissioned Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPVs). (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
14 Oct 24. UVisionUSA Unveils Autonomous Multi-Launch Loitering Munition System. UVisionUSA, a global pioneer in loitering munition systems, unveils its latest innovation: the autonomous multi-launch system. This cutting-edge solution marks a significant evolution from single munition operations to an advanced multi loitering munitions system capable of launching and managing multiple HERO 120 munitions simultaneously, coupled with advanced mission planning capabilities.
The newly introduced system offers unprecedented operational flexibility to armed forces, allowing for autonomous mission management from target engagement to neutralization. It integrates seamlessly with various intelligence-gathering platforms, including tactical UAS, drones, and command and control systems. The system’s real-time AI-driven automatic target recognition and mission management capabilities ensure rapid and accurate responses to both pre-identified and time-sensitive targets. Operators can deploy multiple loitering munitions per operator, with the system continuously processing intelligence from multiple sources.
Designed for saturated area dominance, the system can launch munitions in waves, overwhelming enemy defence and providing operators with full mission control and the ability to abort missions’ mid-flight if necessary.
The containerized design of the HERO-120 system ensures quick deployment across various platforms without the need for mechanical or electrical modifications. Its unparalleled mobility and flexibility make it easily integrable with existing and third-party command and control structures on trucks, naval vessels, and other mobile platforms.
Dr. Ran Gozali, Chairman of the Board of Directors, UVision USA and CEO of UVision Air, states: “Our new holistic battlefield solution revolutionizes mission planning and execution. With the ability to manage multiple loitering munitions and autonomously decide the engagement of multiple targets, operators can concentrate on strategic decisions, enhanced lethality and fire-power efficiency while operating from stand-off position.” (Source: ASD Network)
15 Oct 24. BAE Systems and the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) signed a Letter of Intent at the Association of the U.S. Army 2024 (AUSA) trade show on Monday agreeing to work together on developing the Tridon Mk 2 ground-based air defense system.
“BAE Systems Bofors has an impressive legacy in air defence and we have been strengthening the air defence capabilities of Sweden and its partners for many years,” said Lena Gillström, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Bofors, based in Karlskoga, Sweden. “With this Letter of Intent, together with the Swedish customer we can develop a demonstrator of our latest product, the Tridon Mk2 to prove its capabilities in helping defend Sweden and its partners.”
Tridon Mk2 is a modern 40mm anti-aircraft system made for combating a wide range of ground-based and airborne threats, including small targets such as drones. It was launched by BAE Systems Bofors at Eurosatory in June 2024, following a rapid development effort focused on delivering a new CUAS system based on proven technology. It is fully adapted for the modern battlefield with high precision and efficiency, providing security and protection for both military forces and civil infrastructure. Tridon Mk2 is modular and can be mounted on various mobile or stationary platforms.
Based on learning from Ukraine and other environments, Sweden is looking for new capabilities to defend its Armed Forces and infrastructure from a growing variety of air threats. The new Tridon Mk2 demonstrator is intended to be trialed by Sweden to prove its counter-UAS capabilities.
11 Oct 24. Autonomous Algorithms Demoed for Launched Effects Aircraft. The Launched Effects (LE) in Kutta Technologies’ autonomous mission flight tests executed autonomous cooperative target surveillance, terrain-following flight, and target tracking. The LEs executed autonomous cooperative target surveillance, terrain-following flight, and target tracking. This technology met an even more challenging Advanced Teaming requirement by successfully demonstrating coordinated effects while transferring targets between team members. Human involvement consisted of high-level supervisory commands such as “identify targets in this sector.”
Since contract initiation in 2019, Kutta developed and tested software to automatically manage LEs and their on-board payloads. The resulting software autonomously flies the LEs while automatically controlling the payloads, and performing sophisticated Detect, Identification, Location and Report (DILR) missions.
Michele Atkinson, Senior Program Manager of Kutta’s Advanced Teaming efforts, said; “Over the last four years, we have frequently tested these algorithms with LEs in relevant environments to fine tune them.
“The result is an innovative autonomy product that offers advanced autonomous teaming and coordination for reconnaissance planning and coordinated effects.” (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
17 Oct 24. IAI reveals Teaser missile with external optical guidance. IAI’s Teaser, revealed at AUSA 2024, is a guided missile that does not rely upon a homing sensor or GNSS. (Janes/Dan Wasserbly)
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced it has completed a development phase for its Teaser, an automatic command to line-of-sight infantry missile that uses external optical guidance without a homing sensor or global navigation satellite services (GNSS).
Teaser “can attack ground targets, light structures, lightly armoured vehicles, low-altitude aerial vehicles, and moving targets”, the company said in its 15 October announcement at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference in Washington, DC.
The missile does not require GNSS and does not have a homing sensor, IAI said. “It uses an external guidance system (the Teaser-Sight) to guide the missile automatically to the target,” IAI said, adding that Teaser-Sight can connect to external sensors.
The system communicates via a radio frequency (RF) datalink with AES-256 encryption to guide the missile, Avi Kadoori, business development manager at IAI, told Janes on 16 October. Without onboard optics and guidance systems, the missile weighs 2.2 kg less than similar missiles with those systems, Kadoori said.
According to a company fact sheet, Teaser is 70 cm in length, 8.4 cm in diameter, and can travel at 200 m/s. The system has two modes of operation: shoulder-launched, with the Teaser-Sight attached to the canister, and remote-launched.
When shoulder-launched, the entire system is carried by a single soldier and can be launched from “enclosed areas” with a two-stage (ejection and booster) embedded motor, IAI said. (Source: Janes)
17 Oct 24. Five companies selected for US Army artillery demonstrations. Around USD4bn in total was awarded to five companies to officially demonstrate systems that can produce a longer range than the current M109 Paladin howitzer, the army announced on 15 October.
American Rheinmetall Vehicles (ARV), BAE Bofors, Hanwha Defense USA, General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), and Elbit Systems USA were given other transaction authority (OTA) contracts for demonstrations that will take place all over the world and wrap up before the end of the calendar year, self-propelled howitzer (SPH) programme officials told reporters at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2024 conference. After the demonstrations wrap up, a competitive evaluation ending in a downselect will begin sometime in fiscal year (FY) 2026.
The Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) programme has now been christened the Self-Propelled Howitzer Modernization (SPH-M) line of effort.
Multiple companies told Janes that the army was estimating November 2025 for final competitive evaluation at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, but that time could be pushed. A draft request for proposals is expected in January 2025.
Competitive evaluation is not limited to the five companies, said Brigadier General Rory Crooks, director of the army’s Long Range Precision Fires Cross-Functional Team. He said the army is open to different approaches and technology.
The demonstration will assess performance, maturity, and availability, according to Lieutenant Colonel Todd Mueller, product manager for SPH-M.
“If the performance is there, but you can’t build it or buy it, it’s not really good to an artillery battalion,” he said during a media roundtable on 15 October. (Source: Janes)
16 Oct 24. US Army speeds up development of multipurpose ‘launched effects.’ With funds freed up from the U.S. Army’s aviation rebalance earlier this year, the service will move more quickly on Long-Range Launched Effects development and procurement, according to the Army’s program executive officer for aviation.
Launched Effects, or LE, is the service’s term of art for an envisioned unmanned segment among its aerial platforms, capable of delivering a wide range of capabilities such as targeting, reconnaissance, surveillance, network extension or kinetic strike. Launched Effects can be deployed from both air and ground vehicles.
The effort represents a new direction in the Army’s aviation portfolio, which prioritizes drones and the more loosely defined category of LE platforms as the tip of the spear in enemy contact.
“We were able to accelerate the long-range efforts by about a year,” Brig. Gen. David Phillips told Defense News in an interview before the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference.
This means the Army will likely put out a request for proposals for what is considered more of a Corps-level asset in the third quarter of fiscal 2026. The service was originally looking at focusing on small and medium launched effects first and had yet to secure funding for the long-range version.
At the same time, the Army is making sure it is collaborating with the joint force to ensure it is not duplicating efforts.
“We have been paying close attention to the maturity of longer-range capability,” Phillips said.
The Army also continues to mature its medium-range capability which is in a prototyping effort well underway using Anduril Industries’ Altius 700 aircraft. Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies company, is the mission system provider, and Aurora Flight Sciences is the system integrator. Technology Service Corp. and Northrop Grumman Information Systems are providing modular payloads.
“We completed some additional flight testing off of an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, last month and we’re looking at a way to deliver that capability faster,” Phillips said.
The medium-range LE will also be developed in conjunction with Program Executive Office Missiles & Space to fill its requirement for a helicopter-fired Long-Range Precision Munition.
The service was debating whether it made sense to pursue a separate LRPM program through PEO M&S or if the capability essentially could be classified as an LE and was therefore a redundant effort.
The Army’s ruling is that “it is a Launched Effects Medium Range. It’s captured in that requirement and that’s [how] we’re going to go about the acquisition process,” Lt. Gen. Karl Gingrich, who overseas the programs and resources division of the Army staff at the Pentagon, told Defense News.
As part of the requirement, the Army is looking at ways to accelerate the lethal version of the medium-range LE to meet the service’s need for an air-launched precision munition.
“We’re being more efficient and effective that way,” Phillips said.
The Army has already issued a request for white papers for a short-range LE.
“We’re squarely in the evaluation space,” Phillips said.
The service plans to launch an effort late this year or early next year that will lead to a user demonstration aimed at getting feedback from the force.
The method is similar to what the service has done with other small, unmanned aircraft systems efforts. “That may sound familiar, that model, but it’s working for us in the small UAS space,” Phillips said. (Source: Defense News)
11 Oct 24. Italy’s biggest rocket and missile motor manufacturer, Avio, is set to triple production within five years as the American military and industry look to it to ease a chronic production shortfall in the United States, the firm’s CEO has said.
In July, Avio signed with Raytheon to develop “critical solid rocket motors for defense applications,” as well as partnering with the U.S. Army “for the development and fast-prototyping of a solid rocket motor for surface-to-air applications.”
The demand in the U.S. for Avio’s wares and know-how reflects the demand for rocket motors driven by conflicts around the world as well as a narrowing in supply options following the 2018 purchase of Orbital ATK by Northrop Grumman.
Avio is working on opening a U.S. production site, but will start out by working on its new American workload at its Colleferro site in Italy.
“Today we manufacture 200-300 rocket motors a year at Colleferro and can triple that in 4-5 years on present commitments,” Avio CEO Giulio Ranzo told Defense News.
Avio already works on the propulsion and other components for the Aster 30 missile, as well as solid-propellant rocket motor of the new CAMM-ER air defense missile, while its core business is space, putting 120 satellites into orbit in the last 12 years thanks to 24 launches of its Vega launcher.
Ranzo said approximately two more years would be needed for Avio to qualify Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) products at its Colleferro site as per recent U.S. contracts. The approach would however be faster and safer than waiting for the new facility in the U.S. to start its qualification phase ahead of volume manufacturing, he added.
“U.S. officials have said production in the U.S. would be the ideal, but they understand that takes time. Establishing new capacity cannot be done in months,” he said.
“There are plenty of startups trying to enter this market, but this requires decades of experience in production at scale and a large and authorized site to handle explosives” he added.
Few details have emerged about the two U.S. deals, but Ranzo said, “We have just worked on the new CAMM-ER missile which means we have fresh technical knowledge. Most equivalent systems in the U.S. date to the 1980s.”
Avio set up a U.S. subsidiary, Avio USA, in 2022, appointing as CEO James Syring, a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral and former director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
Syring told Defense News, “There has been a consolidation of the industrial base, essentially leaving Northrop Grumman and Aerojet as the sole SRM manufacturers, but even before that there has been a longstanding capacity shortfall for the production of rocket motors and missiles vs current demand.”
He added, “This is not a new thing. You talk to customers and prime contractors and they say they would order double if they could. The ongoing conflicts have exacerbated the situation.”
Syring said the company’s expansion aims to top up lagging U.S. production capacity as opposed to capturing market share there.
“We hear ‘Buy American’ a lot, and that is why we are working to establish by a sizeable U.S. factory presence to serve all customers,” Syring said.
He added, “The Department of Defense has been vocal about the need to leverage international production capabilities, given the maxed out supply base. The DoD has been supportive of us getting established.”
As well as capacity, Avio also offered innovations, according to Syring. “Avio has innovative technology and capabilities for booster cases, thermal protections and nozzle manufacturing that no U.S. rocket motor supplier has.” (Source: Defense News)
11 Oct 24. DCD incorporates Aselsan 120 mm mortar onto new Springbuck armoured vehicle. DCD Protected Mobility has launched a new Springbuck double cap weapons platform vehicle, which has been fitted with a 120 mm Aselsan Alkar automated mortar system.
Officially unveiled at the recent Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition in September, the new vehicle is a double cab version of the Springbuck SD weapons platform, which debuted in single cab format in mid-2023.
The Alkar mortar has a range of up to 8 000 metres (minimum range is 1 500 metres). It features an automatic barrel laying system, automatic ammunition loading system, recoil mitigation system, and fire control system that can be integrated with a target detection radar and other sensors. It can fire in automatic and manual modes and takes less than a minute to shoot a first round. The mortar can rotate 360 degrees to bear on its target.
The 120 mm Alkar has also been fitted to BMC’s Vuran 4×4 armoured vehicle in service with the Turkish military. The Alkar – Turkey’s first domestic automatic mortar weapon system – was first exhibited in 2017 and from 2019 became available in 81 mm format.
The new Springbuck SD single cab and double cab weapons carrier variants can fit multiple weapon options, such as 14.5 and 23 mm cannons, and 60, 80 and 120 mm mortars. Unlike unarmoured ‘technicals’ fitted with weapons on the back, the DCD offerings have mine and ballistic protection and are able to withstand blasts equivalent to 8 kg of TNT (STANAG 4569 Level 3A and 3B). The double cab is able to accommodate weapon crew under armour.
The company said the Springbuck ballistic and landmine protected vehicle was built with simplicity, comfort, protection and cost effectiveness in mind and was geared specifically towards the African market.
The Springbuck SD is the Standard version, the HD is the Heavy Duty and XD is the Xtra Duty, with performance, payload and protection increasing with each model. The 4×4 SD has B6 ballistic protection (up to 7.62×51 mm rounds) and can withstand a TM57 landmine directly under the hull, or two under any wheel. The SD is the lightest in the series and weights 9 000 kg and has a 1 500 kg payload. It is powered by the MWM 6.10T 6.45 litre six cylinder turbocharged diesel delivering 194 hp.
The intermediate Springbuck HD is powered by an MWM 6.12TCA 7.2 litre six cylinder turbocharged diesel engine delivering 286 horsepower and giving a maximum speed of 110 km/h and range of 600 km. The 13 000 kg vehicle has a payload of 2 500 kg and B7 ballistic protection (up to 30.06 armour piercing rounds).
The Springbuck XD is the heaviest in the range and weighs 15 000 kg and has a payload of 3 500 kg. It carries two crew and eight personnel, who enter and egress via two side doors, a rear door and two roof hatches. With ballistic protection upgradeable to STANAG Level 3 (resistant to 7.62x52R rounds), the all-steel armoured V-shaped hull is certified against STANAG Level 4a under any wheel and 3b blast protection under the hull. A 6.7 litre Cummins turobdiesel delivers 360 hp and gives a top speed of 110 km/h and range of 600 km.
The Springbuck is available in multiple configurations, including ambulance, command and control, explosive ordnance disposal, border patrol etc.
DCD Protected Mobility’s African clients, using Springbuck and Husky vehicles, include Angola, Burundi, Congo Brazzaville, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria and South Africa. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
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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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