18 Sep 13. US military demonstrates ADS’s non-lethal maritime operational capabilities. The US military has demonstrated the new active denial system’s (ADS) capability at Fort Eustis, Virginia, US. During the testing, the US Army 7th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Transportation Battalion personnel as well as 733rd Mission Support Group and the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate members validated the system’s non-lethal capability onboard waterborne vessels. Active Denial Technology uses radio frequency millimetre waves at a frequency of 95 gigahertz and penetrates the first one-sixtyfourth layer of the skin hitting the nerve receptors. The beam creates an intolerable heating sensation, forcing the targeted individual to instinctively move. Developed to help operating forces in reducing civilian casualties and collateral damage, the ADS also demonstrated its effectiveness and the ability to be used with minimal risk of injury. Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate experimentation officer US Navy lieutenant commander Shawn Kelley said that the ADS can avoid vessels from entering a port in maritime environment and also allows extra range for vessels to detect hostile intent prior to engaging threats with possible lethal force. The ADS uses millimetre wave technology as a non-lethal compliance system and can be used in static defence, area denial, suppression of vessel and vehicle operators or occupants, critical asset protection and crowd control. Currently deployed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, US, the ADS system receives maintenance and undergoes trials and evaluation to remain available to US operating forces. (Source: naval-technology.com)
18 Sep 13. Russian Army to induct AK-12 assault rifles in 2014
The Russian Army will induct modified version of new Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle along with several other small arms into operational service next year, a senior government official has revealed.
An upgraded variant of the Russian Army’s Soviet-era 5.45mm calibre AK-74 Kalashnikov series, AK-12 is capable of firing foreign-standard barrel-mounted grenades in three different modes, including single shot, three-shot burst and automatic fire. Rolled out by its manufacturer, Izhmash in January 2012, the rifle retains almost all the AK-74’s features and overall layout, with enhanced technology and features a folding stock, height-adjustable heelpiece, as well as Picatinny rails to support attachment of optical and night-sights, grenade launchers, target indicators and other special equipment. Configurable for cartridges varying from 5.45mm x 39mm to 7.62mm x 51mm Nato standard, the rifle is also designed to serve as a basic platform for development of AK-12U carbine, PPK-12 submachine gun, SVK-12 sniper rifle RPK-12 light machine gun and several other export versions. Also known as AK-200, the tactically flexible assault rifle however, demonstrated technical faults during its preliminary trials, which were carried out by the Russian central arms testing body, Tochmash, in November 2012. The state acceptance trials of the rifle are scheduled to commence in later in 2013, with serial production planned by the end of the year. (Source: army-technology.com)
19 Sep 13. Lockheed Martin, the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy successfully demonstrated, on the first attempt, the second generation Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System’s capability to engage a sophisticated, separating short range ballistic missile target with two Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB guided missiles that were fired and guided to intercept nearly simultaneously. The test, known as Flight Test – Standard Missile-21 (FTM-21), was an operational test for Aegis BMD and SM-3 Block IB guided missile to engage and defeat a ballistic missile threat. FTM-21 marked the tenth time the USS Lake Erie (CG 70) and crew have successfully performed in Navy and Missile Defense Agency at-sea test events against cruise and ballistic missil