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09 Feb 18. Armed Stinger UAV at Singapore Airshow 2018. ST Kinetics showed its armed Stinger UAV, part of its advanced soldier system, at Singapore Airshow 2018. Far from being a conventional UCAV, this is essentially a double quadrotor UAV that mounts a 5.56mm Ultimax light machine gun. Indeed, manned-unmanned teaming was the most obvious new element of a soldier system being developed partly in conjunction with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). As well as the Stinger, a small tracked and weaponised UGV and micro-UAVs are available for use by soldiers.
The Stinger uses the ST Kinetics’ Ultimax weapon on a gimbal mount because of its relatively low recoil forces, said Benjamin Ho, head of ST Kinetics’ soldier system division. Fitted with a 100-round drum magazine, the Stinger could be used by a fast combat response team to give elevated fire support. It could also be used by a scout team or for local protection.
The Stinger would be deployed from a vehicle, or carried by a two-to-three-man team. Firing tests were conducted beginning in 2017 using a joystick control, these were successful according to Ho. However, development continues to make the weapon more accurate and improve its control intuitiveness.
The aim is to eventually be able to control the Stinger using the SHielded ADvanced Eyewear System (SHADES) that combines ballistic glasses with a heads-up device showing critical mission data via augmented-reality imagery.
ST Kinetics is also working on controlling the micro-UAVs using brainwaves. Simplistic flight control has been achieved so far, and the aim will be to integrate it with SHADES in the future as well. (Source: UAS VISION/Shephard)
09 Feb 18. North Korea stages show of force with new missiles during parade. North Korea showcased new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) it tested last year and a new type of short range missile during Thursday’s large military parade, analysts said on Friday.
Intercontinental ballistic missiles are seen at a grand military parade celebrating the 70th founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, in this photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) February 9, 2018. KCNA/via REUTERS
The parade, marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean army, was attended by leader Kim Jong Un and other senior officials.
Usually held in April, the parade took place this year on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics being staged in the South Korean mountain resort of Pyeongchang, just across the heavily fortified border.
North Korean state media broadcast the parade, showing what appeared to be the Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15 – the ICBMs test-launched last year for the first time. The two-stage, liquid-fuel Hwasong-15 made its parade debut, with four of the large missiles carried on nine-axle transporter-erector-launchers (TELs). The ICBM was successfully tested last November and analysts believe it to be capable of reaching the continental United States.
The Hwasong-14 ICBM, successfully tested twice last year, also made its first appearance at the parade. The event unveiled a new short-range missile, which is based on the Russian Iskander ballistic missile but also shares many features of South Korea’s Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile, according to Michael Elleman, a missile expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
North Korea’s latest display of its military hardware focused on missiles and less on tanks and artillery, suggesting it was trying to project the image of a country with advanced capabilities in warfare.
A Reuters analysis shows there has been a gradual decline in conventional weapons on display since 2012, Kim Jong Un’s first parade as leader, and a move to showcase more sophisticated weapons