02 Jul 14. Non-lethal weapons market to reach $1.6bn. The global market for non-lethal weapons will reach $1.63bn in 2014, according to a forecast by market research firm ASDReports.
The market is heating up as more nations embrace non-lethal weapons for military and especially for law enforcement purposes. The report breaks the category into several sub-categories:
*Blunt impact non-lethal weapons;
*Crowd dispersal non-lethal weapons;
*Non-lethal electrical devices;
*Directed-energy non-lethal weapons, and;
*Anti-vehicle non-lethal weapons.
“Efforts of nations such as India, Brazil and South Africa to modernize their armed forces and security services will provide significant new market opportunities,” said the study. “It is believed that a lowering of barriers to entry with technological advancements made over the past decade will create new demand for a range of non-lethal systems. This new demand will drive growth within the market. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
30 Jun 14. Missile upgrade will boost Australian Navy protection. Royal Australian Navy warships will be better protected against the threat of anti-ship missiles following a decision that opens the way to equip the ships with an upgraded version of the Evolved Seasparrow missile system, the Minister for Defence, Senator David Johnston, announced. Australia has elected to continue its participation in the NATO Seasparrow Consortium Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) program that commenced in 1990. Senator Johnston said the First Pass Approval for the upgraded ‘Block 2’ version of the Evolved Seasparrow missile would lead to a significant boost in Australia’s ability to defend its fleet against the next generation of anti-ship missile threats by delivering a more sophisticated ship self-defence missile to the Navy. The Block 2 upgrade will primarily focus on developing improvements to the missile’s guidance system. Senator Johnston said the Block 2 missiles would be fitted to ANZAC Class Frigates and Hobart Class Destroyers. The Government will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the NATO Seasparrow Consortium and funding of around $300 million has been allocated to support Australia’s participation in the development of the missile upgrade. Participation in the consortium at this level strengthens Australia’s international relations with NATO, in particular with the United States, through Australia sharing the risks and costs associated with developing the upgraded Block 2 missile. The countries that form the NATO Seasparrow Consortium are: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the United States. (Source: ASD Network)
30 Jun 14. Raytheon, USAF test small diameter bomb II on stationary land targets. Raytheon’s small diameter bomb II (SDB II) has successfully acquired and destroyed several stationary targets during a recent series of flight tests. Undertaken in collaboration with the US Air Force (USAF), the test flights enable the SDB II programme to move from engineering, manufacturing and development phase to low rate initial production (LRIP). The GBU-53/B SDB II is an air-launched precision-strike weapon designed to destroy armoured targets even in adverse weather conditions, from a range of more than 40nm. Raytheon Small Diameter Bomb II programme director John O’Brien said the tests demonstrate the tri-mode seeker’s capability to acquire, track, engage and destroy both stationary and moving targets in adverse weather. “The SDB II is an air-launched precision-strike weapon designed to destroy armoured targets from a range of more than 40nm.” “Upcoming live fire tests will prove the end-to-end capability of SDB II and will demonstrate the program’s readiness to progress to System Verification Review and Milestone C, clearing the way for low rate initial production,” O’Brien said. Raytheon Missile Systems president Dr Taylor Lawrence said: “Acquiring stationary targets with the same see