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21 Dec 20. Singapore confirms Aster 30 SAMP/T operations, reveals new details of system configuration. Fresh details of the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF’s) Aster 30 SAMP/T (Sol-Air Moyenne Portée/Terrestre) self-propelled medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system emerged during a demonstration of the service’s enhanced Island Air Defence (IAD) system at the western Lim Chu Kang Camp II on 17 December.
Developed and manufactured by Eurosam, a joint venture between MBDA and Thales, the Aster 30 SAMP/T is the latest ground-based air defence (GBAD) missile system to be integrated to the RSAF’s progressively evolving IAD system – which was initially conceptualised in 2006 – and has been conducting “round-the-clock” air defence operations since August, according to RSAF officials.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) earlier confirmed that it took delivery of the SAMP/T system in 2018 to replace its heavily modified but ageing Raytheon MIM-23B Improved Homing All the Way Killer (I-HAWK) missile systems – operated by 163 Squadron – which entered service in the early 1980s.
The country announced its selection of the SAMP/T system in September 2013 as an upper-tier system to supplement the mobile, shorter-range Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Surface-to-Air PYthon and DERby – Short Range (SPYDER-SR) system. The SPYDER-SR was delivered in 2012 and attained full operational capability in July 2018. (Source: Jane’s)
21 Dec 20. Successful test for Aerojet Rocketdyne hypersonic missile engine. Aerojet Rocketdyne and the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) have achieved record levels of thrust by a scramjet engine 10 years after making history by powering the first hydrocarbon-fuelled and cooled air-breathing hypersonic flight test.
The AFRL-Aerojet Rocketdyne team recently completed a successful series of hot-fire tests of an advanced air-breathing hypersonic engine under the US Air Force’s Medium Scale Critical Components (MSCC) program.
Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and president, said, “Our scramjet engine powered the United States Air Force X-51A Waverider when it made history in 2010 by completing the longest air-breathing hypersonic flight ever and we continue to propel the technology.”
The 18-foot Aerojet Rocketdyne scramjet engine produced record levels of thrust, in excess of 13,000 pounds. The testing occurred over 12 months with more than an hour of sustained combustion at several hypersonic flight conditions.
Tests were conducted across a range of Mach numbers demonstrating performance to accelerate a vehicle approximately 10 times the size of the X-51 at hypersonic speeds.
“Our Generation-3 scramjet delivers increased performance and affordability because of our significant investments in our skilled workforce, advanced technologies and innovative manufacturing processes,” Drake added.
AFRL program manager Paul Kennedy expanded on Drake’s comments, saying, “Aerojet Rocketdyne successfully demonstrated the scalability of their air-breathing scramjet engine, proving its applicability to platforms ranging from missiles to high speed aircraft.
“Years of preparation paid off as the completion of the MSCC test program sets the foundation for design of hypersonic propulsion systems across a broad range of vehicle scale and Mach operability.”
Testing was accomplished by the ground test team operating the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) Aerodynamic and Propulsion Test Unit (APTU) at Arnold Air Force Base.
Kirk Butler, director of operations for the AEDC’s Hypersonic Systems Test Branch and ground test team section lead, said, “AEDC and the APTU facility have been proud to partner on this challenging and rewarding test program. The test team has worked through COVID-19 restraints, shared base resources and hardware limitations to make the test successful.”
Aerojet Rocketdyne has continued to improve the aerothermal performance, affordability, scalability and rapid manufacturability of scramjet engines to meet emerging needs. The company’s innovative design incorporates numerous advanced technologies and manufacturing materials and processes.
With ongoing investments in facility modernisation, retention of highly-skilled personnel, and decades of expertise in scramjets, solid rocket motors and warheads, the company is well-positioned to meet a range of defence operational requirements.
Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, is a world-recognised aerospace and defence leader that provides propulsion systems and energetics to the space, missile defence and strategic systems, and tactical systems areas, in support of domestic and international customers. (Source: Space Connect)
18 Dec 20. US Army mobile howitzer shoot-off participants emerge. Participants are emerging for the U.S. Army’s mobile 155mm howitzer shoot-off coming up in early 2021 at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. Elbit Systems of America announced Dec. 17 it had been chosen to bring its Autonomous Truck Mounted Ordnance System (ATMOS) Iron Sabre to the evaluation.
And BAE Systems, Nexter and Serbia’s Yugoimport announced they too had been chosen to bring offerings to the shoot-off.
AM General has also publicly expressed their interest in participating in the shoot-off. Other possible offerings could come from South Korean defense company Hanwha and Japan’s Mitsubishi. Other contenders could be the South African 6×6 Rhino or the Slovakian 8×8 DANA.
The Army is looking for a production-ready system that offers an improvement in range, rate-of-fire and mobility over the artillery systems used within Stryker Brigade Combat Teams now. The service released an announcement in July seeking a more mobile, lethal and survivable replacement for its current towed howitzers and described its plan for a three-month-long shoot-off.
Participants must provide 18 evaluation systems for the event, according to the solicitation. The Army would like the selected company to begin delivering systems in the first quarter of fiscal 2023.
Elbit said in its statement that it was confident its system would perform well in the shoot-off because it’s “ready now.” ATMOS Iron Sabre is “a proven fielded system from a family of howitzers that have supported international customers for more than 30 years.”
ATMOS Iron Sabre is a 155mm/52 caliber semi-automatic system capable of firing six to seven rounds a minute with a crew of four, Dave Richards, senior director of precision weapon systems ground combat & precision targeting solutions at Elbit Systems of America, said during a media availability.
The Elbit system is C-17-transportable and can traverse the battlefield at roughly 50 miles per hour and has a “shoot-and-scoot” capability of roughly 30 seconds, which means it takes a half minute to stop, set up and shoot and the same amount of time to stop shooting, pack up and move out of the way. This capability is critical against high-end adversaries like Russia, which have displayed its ability — particularly in the fight with Ukraine — to quickly detect firing locations and respond.
While ATMOS will arrive at the evaluation with its own fire control system used by Israeli forces, the system can be customizable and could integrate different fire control systems as customers see fit, Richards said. The Army will be looking at fire control system capability as part of the demonstration.
Should Elbit be chosen to manufacture and field its system for the U.S. Army, the company is looking at a plan to facilitate production capability in the U.S., according to Richards. As it stands today, ATMOS systems are mostly produced in Israel and final production would take place in the U.S. at least initially.
“COVID has demonstrated the importance of domestic supply chain security. We take that very seriously,” Richards said. “We are in a multi-year process of facilitating production of vehicle systems in the United States and obviously this will be contingent upon delivery timing, but we do have a broad plan to actually produce most systems and subsystems within the United States.”
BAE Systems announced earlier this year that it had offered up its Archer howitzer to the Army for the shoot-off.
The company confirmed to Defense News it was selected to participate in the shoot-off.
“We are confident that the Archer, highly mature and in service with the Swedish Army, will demonstrate its superiority at providing rapid, highly effective, and sustained fire support for troops in combat,” the company said in a statement. “The Archer’s automated design, armored cabin, fast shoot and scoot times, and extended range enhance its survivability on the battlefield. Soldiers can operate the vehicle entirely from inside the cabin, under armor, while striking enemy targets at long ranges.”
Archer is typically operated by a crew of three to four soldiers but can be operated by only one, according to BAE. Archer can also fire within 30 seconds after receiving an order to shoot and can scoot within 30 seconds as well. The magazine carries 21 rounds and can unload all of them in less than three minutes, BAE said. Archer can shoot the BONUS anti-armor munition up to 35 kilometers, conventional munitions up to 40 kilometers, and currently fielded precision-guided munitions like Excalibur in excess of 50 km, according to the company.
Global Military Products also announced Dec. 17 that the U.S. Army had chosen its Serbian partner Yugoimport’s NORA B-52 155mm wheeled howitzer for the shoot-off as well.
Serbia’s Yugoimport has been chosen to provide the Nora B-52 155mm Howitzer System Firing Desert for the U.S. Army’s mobile howitzer shoot-off scheduled to take place in early 2021. (Photo courtesy of Global Military Products)
NORA has a fully automatic autoloader and a “move-shoot-move while under armor” capability, according to the statement. NORA has undergone modernization and upgrades over the past several years “that are sure to get the attention of the U.S. Army” the statement adds.
Nexter told Defense News it had been selected to bring its 155mm self-propelled howitzer CAESAR — which has been in service since 2008 and battle-tested in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Mali and Iraq — as a strong candidate for the shoot-off. It will be bringing the 6×6 version used by the French Army.
The company has sold more than 300 CAESAR systems to the French, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern armies.
CAESAR can fire 6 shots in less than 1min 40 seconds, according to Nexter, and the system’s 8×8 version can carry 30 rounds. It’s 6×6 variant can carry 18. The gun has an adapted automatic loading system.
AM General has advertised both its Brutus 155mm and Hawkeye 105mm mobile howitzers and is expected to participate in the shoot-off. The company said it would not comment on whether it was selected at this time. (Source: Defense News)
17 Dec 20. Global Ordnance, LLC is awarded contract for supplying NORA Wheeled Howitzer for the US Army 155mm Mobile Gun System. Global Military Products, Inc. (GMP), a subsidiary of Global Ordnance, LLC (GO) has been awarded a Contract from the United States Army to provide a 155 mm Mobile Howitzer System to compete in a “shoot off” evaluation event at Yuma Proving Grounds in 2021. GMP, an industry leader in non-standard weapon systems, has partnered with our long-standing partner in Serbia, Yugoimport, to provide the highly-capable and proven NORA B-52 155mm wheeled howitzer. The United States Army is conducting a “shoot off” evaluation of mobile 155mm howitzers to determine which systems best fit the Army’s needs through variety of prioritized tasks. The best performers may be asked to provide proposals for the production, delivery, fielding, training and support for use by the United States Army.
Yugoimport’s NORA B-52 will be a formidable competitor with outstanding performance and unmatched value in its class. The NORA provides a very reliable, capable and fielded wheeled 155mm artillery system. NORA features a fully automatic auto loader and a move-shoot-move while under armor capability to protect the entire crew on the battlefield. The NORA was designed to combat the battlefield doctrine of maneuver by fire employed by nations with large armored and artillery forces. This doctrine masses large quantities of artillery on a key target to rapidly overwhelm and eliminate it. The NORA will move to a position while syncing the fire control system, emplace, fire, and displace, before counter battery or maneuver forces can fix them. Over the past few years, the NORA has been undergoing modernizations and upgrades that are sure to get the attention of the U.S. Army. The upgraded version, provides enhanced mobility, a larger chamber, automation, and speed. GMP is excited to present the NORA to the U.S. Army as an effective and lethal system to add to the U.S. arsenal.
GO maintains a long-established business relationship with Yugoimport to support the United States military and International allied countries. This has included non-standard weapons up to 120mm mortar weapons systems, non-standard ammunition up to 152mm artillery rounds. GO also partners with Yugoimport to supply 9mm and 7.62x39mm commercial ammunition to the U.S. commercial market from Belom, their small caliber factory in Serbia.
Marc Morales, President of Global Ordnance, LLC, expressed both his excitement and gratitude to the U.S. Army and Yugoimport,
“This is an excellent opportunity to bring a fantastic piece of equipment at an unmatched value to the U.S. Army soldier. Global Ordnance is proud to be the company to offer the NORA and is excited to show the U.S. Army what it can do in the shoot-off.” – Marc Morales, President
The latest award for GO represents a logical step in its growth into systems contracting for larger more complex systems. With sales approaching $200M in 2020, GO has grown exponentially over the past seven years from a provider of non-standard ammunition for U.S. allies, to now having four distinct and robust business lines, including Non-Standard Ammunition and Weapons, Energetics, Personal Protective Equipment, and Commercial Ammunition and Outdoor Equipment. Each division has had significant success and growth, which has been the result of careful strategic planning and execution that put capability before taking on new challenges. In mid-2019, GO purchased a part of Chemring Defense to bolster its already strong non-standard ammunition and weapons capability. The Chemring entity became GMP and is integrated within GO. With the acquisition, GO added strong systems and engineering talent which it is now leveraging to compete for more complex defense systems contracts. GO strategically added more industry talent in 2020 and is poised for growth in 2021, both organically and through acquisition. (Source: PR Newswire)
17 Dec 20. Elbit Systems of America’s mobile howitzer selected by U.S. Army for shoot-off evaluation. Elbit Systems of America’s Autonomous Truck Mounted Ordnance System (ATMOS) Iron Sabre is a mobile howitzer selected to participate in the United States Army’s 155mm Mobile Howitzer Shoot-Off Evaluation. The event, which will occur during the first quarter of 2021, provides the Army an opportunity to review various solutions from industry and then select a production-ready system that demonstrates increases in range, rate of fire, and mobility over current artillery systems available to Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs).
Elbit Systems of America is a market leader in providing artillery solutions and is confident its system will perform well at the shoot-off, being evaluated as “ready now.” ATMOS Iron Sabre is a proven, fielded system from a family of howitzers that have supported international customers for more than 30 years. Compatible with all existing US projectiles and propellant charges, it fulfils the Army’s mobile howitzer needs immediately, delivering on the modernization and capability improvements defined by Army Futures Command Long Range Precision Fires objective.
“US Army Fires needs solutions that can keep up with the SBCT, can shoot faster and farther, and most importantly are low risk and ready now. Elbit Systems of America’s ATMOS Iron Sabre addresses all of these needs,” said Ridge Sower, Vice President of Ground Combat & Precision Targeting at the company. “We are pleased to be selected for this evaluation and stand ready for rapid delivery from our hot production line if selected for production and fielding.”
17 Dec 20. Russia’s Korsar Undergoes Operational Evaluation. The Korsar reconnaissance and strike drone developed by the Rybinsk-based Luch Design Bureau (part of Vega Company of Ruselectronics Group within the state tech corporation Rostec) is undergoing operational evaluation, Rostec Chief Sergei Chemezov announced.
“If we speak again about developing medium-class drones, we can also recollect the Korsar unmanned aerial vehicle that can carry armament. It was already demonstrated at the Victory Parade and at the Army exhibition. Several prototypes exist that are flying and undergoing operational evaluation,” Chemezov said.
Responding to a question about the deliveries of Korsar drones to the troops, the Rostec chief said it was up to the Defense Ministry to make a decision.
“As soon as an order is placed, serial production of Korsar drones will begin,” he specified.
The Korsar has an operating range of up to 900 km and a data transmission radius of 100 km, which can be increased further, if several vehicles are engaged in retransmission.
The Korsar drone was demonstrated to the public during night rehearsals of the Victory Parade in Moscow in 2018. In May that year, Rostec said the Korsar would be upgraded to increase its radius of operation and outfit it with electronic warfare systems.
The Korsar is designated to reconnoiter the terrain, carry out patrol and observation flights and conduct aerial surveys. The drone outfitted with a piston engine driving a pushing propeller can develop a speed of up to 150km/h. It weighs 200 kg, has a wingspan of 6.5m and a fuselage length of 4.2m. (Source: UAS VISION/TASS)
15 Dec 20. Another Aerojet Rocketdyne Hypersonic Engine Makes History. Aerojet Rocketdyne and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) have achieved record levels of thrust by a scramjet engine 10 years after making history by powering the first hydrocarbon-fueled and cooled air-breathing hypersonic flight test. The AFRL-Aerojet Rocketdyne team recently completed a successful series of hot-fire tests of an advanced air-breathing hypersonic engine under the United States Air Force’s Medium Scale Critical Components (MSCC) program.
“Our scramjet engine powered the United States Air Force X-51A Waverider when it made history in 2010 by completing the longest air-breathing hypersonic flight ever and we continue to propel the technology,” said Eileen P. Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and president. “Our Generation-3 scramjet delivers increased performance and affordability because of our significant investments in our skilled workforce, advanced technologies and innovative manufacturing processes.”
The 18-foot Aerojet Rocketdyne scramjet engine produced record levels of thrust, in excess of 13,000 lbs. The testing occurred over 12 months with more than an hour of sustained combustion at several hypersonic flight conditions. Tests were conducted across a range of Mach numbers demonstrating performance to accelerate a vehicle approximately 10 times the size of the X-51, at hypersonic speeds.
“Aerojet Rocketdyne successfully demonstrated the scalability of their air-breathing scramjet engine, proving its applicability to platforms ranging from missiles to high speed aircraft,” said AFRL Program Manager Paul Kennedy. “Years of preparation paid off as the completion of the MSCC test program sets the foundation for design of hypersonic propulsion systems across a broad range of vehicle scale and Mach operability.”
Testing was accomplished by the ground test team operating the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) Aerodynamic and Propulsion Test Unit (APTU) at Arnold Air Force Base.
“AEDC and the APTU facility have been proud to partner on this challenging and rewarding test program. The test team has worked through COVID-19 restraints, shared base resources and hardware limitations to make the test successful,” said Kirk Butler, director of Operations for the AEDC’s Hypersonic Systems Test Branch and Ground Test Team Section Lead. “The knowledge gained from this testing will be studied for years and will drive future designs.”
Aerojet Rocketdyne has continued to improve the aerothermal performance, affordability, scalability and rapid manufacturability of scramjet engines to meet emerging needs. The company’s innovative design incorporates numerous advanced technologies and manufacturing materials and processes. With ongoing investments in facility modernization, retention of highly-skilled personnel, and decades of expertise in scramjets, solid rocket motors and warheads, the company is well-positioned to meet a range of defense operational requirements. (Source: ASD Network)
15 Dec 20. Israel and U.S. Successfully Completed a Series of Intercept Tests of an Advanced Version of the David’s Sling Weapon System. The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), of the Directorate for Defense R&D in the Ministry of Defense, together with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), have successfully completed a series of live-fire intercept tests of the David’s Sling weapon system, against threat-representative cruise and ballistic missiles. The tests conducted were led by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., from a testing site in central Israel, with the participation of the Israel Air Force and Navy. This successful series is a critical milestone in the augmentation of Israel’s operational capabilities in defending itself against current and future threats. The series tested the capabilities of a new and advanced version of the David’s Sling weapon system, and included a number of scenarios simulating future threats. The results of this test will enable IMDO and industry engineers to evaluate and upgrade the system’s capabilities. In the framework of the series, the IMDO and Rafael also successfully demonstrated the capabilities of the Iron Dome in intercepting a variety of threats including UAVs and cruise missiles. The test also demonstrated the interoperability of the multi-layer air defense mechanism (Arrow, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome). This indicates that the systems will be capable of intercepting threats simultaneously during conflict.
Representatives of the MDA and Israeli defense industries, as well as IAF soldiers participated in the test. Rafael is the prime contractor for the development of the David’s Sling weapon system, in cooperation with U.S. Raytheon. IAI’s Elta division developed the MMR radar, and Elbit Systems developed the Golden Almond BMC.
David’s Sling is a significant component of Israel’s multi-layer air defense mechanism. The development of this mechanism is led by the IMDO and consists of four layers: Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow-2 and Arrow-3. These are all operational in the Israel Air Force.
Israeli Defense Minister, Benny Gantz: “I commend the successful test, which for the first time, assessed the combined interception capabilities of the multi-layer air defense system of the State of Israel. This is one of the most advanced air defense mechanisms in the world and it protects the state from threats near and far. These systems have been developed in a fantastic manner by the Directorate of Defense Research and Development in the Ministry of Defense and by Rafael.
“The systems in this multi-layer mechanism provide Israel with a top-tier strategic capability, enabling us to operate effectively in every scenario. I would also like to thank our partners in the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Missile Defense Agency, U.S. government, and U.S. Congress, who support the State of Israel in the development of these systems and aid us in ensuring Israel’s security and operational superiority.”
Head of the Israel Missile Defense Organization in the Ministry of Defense, Moshe Patel: “In the last few weeks, the defense establishment, together with the defense industries, conducted a series of tests – unprecedented in their complexity. Through these tests, we demonstrated that the State of Israel has a robust, multilayered capability to face a variety of threats – cruise missiles, UAVs and ballistic threats.
“For the first time, we have demonstrated a multi-layered approach to dealing with threats – an approach that employs the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow weapon systems. Using this approach, a variety of threats may be identified and intercepted via full coordination and interoperability between the systems.”
Executive VP and Head of Rafael’s Air and Missile Defense Division, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Pini Yungman: “The capability that was demonstrated in this series of tests ensures the security of the State of Israel and its ability to contend with current and future threats. When the different systems in the multi-layered mechanism are combined, they can handle a variety of simultaneous threats and defend the citizens of the State of Israel.” (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Israeli Ministry of Defense)
15 Dec 20. The US Navy has an upgraded Tomahawk: Here’s 5 things you should know. The U.S. Navy test-fired its new Block V Tomahawk from the destroyer Chafee in December, introducing the newest generation of the venerable Tomahawk cruise missile to its arsenal.
The modifications are designed to bring the sub-sonic cruise missile into the era of great power competition. Why is this Tomahawk different from all other Tomahawks, and can this old Cold Warrior keep up in the era of hypersonic missiles?
Here’s five things to know about the Block V:
- Increased capabilities. Raytheon’s Tomahawk Block V, when fully realized in its Block Va and Block Vb varieties, will be expected to hit surface ships at Tomahawk ranges – in excess of 1,000 miles – with the integration of a new seeker. It also will integrate a new warhead that will have a broader range of capabilities, including greater penetrating power.
Tomahawk’s range is especially important in the Asia-Pacific, where China’s rocket force has extraordinary reach with its DF-26 and DF-21 missiles, with ranges of 2,490 and 1,335 miles respectively, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The missiles are destined not just for the VLS launchers of surface ships but also on attack submarines. Read more here:
- More survivable. The first iteration of the Block V upgrades the missile’s communication and navigation systems. This is about making it tougher to counter and detect electronically, said Bryan Clark, a retired submarine officer and senior fellow at The Hudson Institute.
“It has greater electronic hardening to be able to work through jamming more effectively,” Clark said. “The hardening and the electronic countermeasures they’ve put into it make it harder to find and target with radar, and that improves its survivability.
“They’ve incorporated a lot of survivability into Tomahawk over the years, this takes it a step further to make it less susceptible to jamming of its seeker or its communications. But it could, perhaps, also counter enemy radar that might be used to target it and shoot it down.”
In 2017, Raytheon’s Tomahawk program manager told reporters at an event at the missile plant in Tucson, Ariz., that the navigation system upgrades will ensure the missile can strike targets even if GPS is taken down.
- Subsonic is a feature, not a bug. With all the emphasis on supersonic and hypersonic missiles and with the improvements in air defenses, that might make Tomahawk seem like a fuddy-duddy by comparison.
But there are good reasons to keep producing the Tomahawk, even with its slower speeds.
“The benefit of the sub-sonic missile is range,” Clark said. “Being sub-sonic means its also able to travel at a more fuel-efficient speed. So, the fact that the Tomahawk can travel more than 1,000 miles is a function of the sub-sonic speed. To get that kind of range out of a super-sonic missile you’d need something much larger.”
- It’s cheap. Well, relatively so. The missile has been able to stay at the $1m price range, which is on the low end for missiles. Raytheon’s supersonic SM-6 can reach speeds of Mach 3.5 – with future iterations believed to be capable of reaching hypersonic speeds – but cost more than four times as much per shot and have less range. That’s the Tomahawk’s key differentiator, said Jerry Hendrix, a retired Navy captain and analyst with Telemus Group.
“The key capability of Tomahawk is the cost.” Hendrix said. “It can be purchased in larger quantities and you can afford to lose some to defensive capabilities even as you penetrate. That’s one of the reasons why Tomahawk is going to be in the inventory for a while to come, even as it brings back that longer-range anti-ship capability that we’ve been missing for some time.”
Tom Karako, an expert in missile technology with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, agreed that cost is a big advantage of Tomahawk, especially for low-end missions.
“As long as they can keep them to about a million dollars per shot, the Navy is going to want those all day long,” Karako said. “The next time the President says to the Navy, ‘Hey, go schwack this terrorist training camp,’ they’re going to want Tomahawks.”
- It’s all in the mix. The key to thinking about a sub-sonic cruise missile is understanding how it fits into a mix of weapons, Karako said. Not everything is going to be hypersonic or even supersonic, nor does it have to be, he argued, but the cost per salvo make it attractive as part of a varied and complex threat to present an adversary.
“The question is, ‘What’s the going to be the mix between hypersonic things and things that are supersonic and subsonic?’,” he said. “That, I think, is the right question. As long as you have standoff, subsonic and supersonic are going to be part of the equation.”
“Even for the high-end fight, I don’t think the hypersonic stuff will fully replace sub-sonic stuff. It might just mean you shoot your sub-sonic stuff earlier, let them fly for a while and everything arrives at the same time as part of how you structure an attack.”
Clark, the Hudson analyst, agreed that the mix was important, saying that even with the arrival of faster missiles, the Tomahawk has a place.
The combination of the SM-6, which has a surface strike mode, the new 100-plus-mile ranged anti-ship Naval Strike Missile bound for the littoral combat ships and next-generation frigate, and the Block V upgrades on Tomahawk, will give the Navy’s venerable birds a place in the service’s vertical launch system cells for some time to come, Clark said.
“Between Tomahawk Block V, the SM-6 and the NSM, the Navy has a collection of attack weapons that they are happy with,” he said, adding that a long-running effort to develop a next-generation land-attack weapon has lost some of its urgency.
The development of hypersonic missiles could, however, push out the Tomahawk down the road as the technology gets more advanced and of a size compatible with the Navy’s ubiquitous Mark 41 VLS launcher.
“What’s happening in parallel is in the development of hypersonic missile that are a smaller form factor than the boost-glide weapons that are coming to maturity now,” Clark said. “And if they can get it down to being able to fit in [the Mark 41], then that could provide the Navy a next-generation capability that is more survivable and has a shorter time of flight.
“So I think this combination of missiles the Navy has now, combined with the fact that the hypersonic weapons are coming along a little further out, means the Navy is going to stick with what it has potentially even longer than it had originally anticipated.” (Source: Defense News)
15 Dec 20. The Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency Successfully Completed a Series of Intercept Tests of an Advanced Version of the David’s Sling Weapon System. Israeli Defense Minister, Benny Gantz: “The development of a multilayered air defense system secures us from threats near and far.” The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), of the Directorate for Defense R&D in the Ministry of Defense, together with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), have successfully completed a series of live-fire intercept tests of the David’s Sling weapon system, against threat-representative cruise and ballistic missiles. The tests conducted were led by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., from a testing site in central Israel, with the participation of the Israel Air Force and Navy. This successful series is a critical milestone in the augmentation of Israel’s operational capabilities in defending itself against current and future threats.
The series tested the capabilities of a new and advanced version of the David’s Sling weapon system, and included a number of scenarios simulating future threats. The results of this test will enable IMDO and industry engineers to evaluate and upgrade the system’s capabilities.
In the framework of the series, the IMDO and Rafael also successfully demonstrated the capabilities of the Iron Dome in intercepting a variety of threats including UAVs and cruise missiles. The test also demonstrated the interoperability of the multi-layer air defense mechanism (Arrow, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome). This indicates that the systems will be capable of intercepting threats simultaneously during conflict.
Representatives of the MDA and Israeli defense industries, as well as IAF soldiers participated in the test. Rafael is the prime contractor for the development of the David’s Sling weapon system, in cooperation with U.S. Raytheon. IAI’s Elta division developed the MMR radar, and Elbit Systems developed the Golden Almond BMC.
David’s Sling is a significant component of Israel’s multi-layer air defense mechanism. The development of this mechanism is led by the IMDO and consists of four layers: Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow-2 and Arrow-3. These are all operational in the Israel Air Force.
Israeli Defense Minister, Benny Gantz: “I commend the successful test, which for the first time, assessed the combined interception capabilities of the multi-layer air defense system of the State of Israel. This is one of the most advanced air defense mechanisms in the world and it protects the state from threats near and far. These systems have been developed in a fantastic manner by the Directorate of Defense Research and Development in the Ministry of Defense and by Rafael. The systems in this multi-layer mechanism provide Israel with a top-tier strategic capability, enabling us to operate effectively in every scenario. I would also like to thank our partners in the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Missile Defense Agency, U.S. government, and U.S. Congress, who support the State of Israel in the development of these systems and aid us in ensuring Israel’s security and operational superiority.”
Head of the Israel Missile Defense Organization in the Ministry of Defense, Moshe Patel: In the last few weeks, the defense establishment, together with the defense industries, conducted a series of tests – unprecedented in their complexity. Through these tests, we demonstrated that the State of Israel has a robust, multilayered capability to face a variety of threats – cruise missiles, UAVs and ballistic threats. For the first time, we have demonstrated a multi-layered approach to dealing with threats – an approach that employs the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow weapon systems. Using this approach, a variety of threats may be identified and intercepted via full coordination and interoperability between the systems.”
Executive VP and Head of Rafael’s Air and Missile Defense Division, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Pini Yungman: “The capability that was demonstrated in this series of tests ensures the security of the State of Israel and its ability to contend with current and future threats. When the different systems in the multi-layered mechanism are combined, they can handle a variety of simultaneous threats and defend the citizens of the State of Israel.”
15 Dec 20. DARPA Gremlins Project Completes Third Flight Test Deployment. Attempts at airborne retrieval of three unmanned air vehicles, nicknamed Gremlins, were just inches from success in DARPA’s latest flight test series that started on October 28. Each X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicle (GAV) flew for more than two hours, successfully validating all autonomous formation flying positions and safety features.
Nine attempts were made at mechanical engagement of the GAVs to the docking bullet extended from a C-130 aircraft, but relative movement was more dynamic than expected and each GAV ultimately, safely parachuted to the ground.
“All of our systems looked good during the ground tests, but the flight test is where you truly find how things work,” said Scott Wierzbanowski, program manager for Gremlins in DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office. “We came within inches of connection on each attempt but, ultimately, it just wasn’t close enough to engage the recovery system.”
Hours of data were collected over three flights, including aerodynamic interactions between the docking bullet and GAV. Efforts are already underway to analyze that data, update models and designs, and conduct additional flights and retrieval attempts in a fourth deployment this spring.
“We made great strides in learning and responding to technological challenges between each of the three test flight deployments to date,” said Wierzbanowski. “We were so close this time that I am confident that multiple airborne recoveries will be made in the next deployment. However, as with all flight testing, there are always real world uncertainties and challenges that have to be overcome.”
The goal of the Gremlins program is to demonstrate air launch and air recovery of four GAVs within 30 minutes. The capability of safe, effective, and efficient air recoveries will dramatically expand the potential uses of unmanned air vehicles in conflict situations. The GAVs can be equipped with a variety of sensors and other mission-specific technologies. They can also be launched from various types of military aircraft, keeping those less expendable assets beyond the range of adversary defenses. After air retrieval of GAVs, they would be transported back to the ground where crews could prepare them for another mission within 24 hours.
Dynetics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leidos, is developing the Gremlin vehicles. (Source: UAS VISION/DARPA Press Release)
15 Dec 20. Boeing Delivers First Upgraded Compact Lasers to DoD Customer. Boeing has upgraded and delivered the first batch of previously deployed Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS) units to a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) customer – increasing their maximum beam power and reliability. Boeing expects to complete upgrades on the remaining units and deliver them in the first quarter of 2021.
“The upgraded units will provide warfighters with enhanced protection against larger and more numerous hostile unmanned aircraft systems,” said Kurt Sorenson, Boeing program manager for CLWS. “They will also enable them to defeat threats more quickly and efficiently.”
Boeing’s CLWS, developed to provide cost-effective, precision air defense capabilities against emerging threats, continues to prove its combat-readiness for current and prospective DoD customers in an array of exercises.
During a recent live fire drill in Yuma, Arizona, DoD trainees successfully defeated 12 out of 12 threats while operating a CLWS unit.
“Operators continue to have great success using the system to acquire, track and defeat hostile targets with minimal training required,” said Sorenson.
Recently, during a Sept. 3 field test of the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System, Boeing’s CLWS successfully defended a force protection convoy against unmanned aircraft systems while mounted on a small utility task vehicle. (Source: UAS VISION)
14 Dec 20. No Armed Drones for the German Army — for Now. The Bundeswehr has called for approval for armed combat drones for military use. But the controversial technology has been blocked in the German parliament. What does that mean for German defense? For the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, the timing could not be better: In the next few months, the German armed forces will receive five new Heron TP drones.The drone can circle in the sky for more than 30 hours, controlled remotely from a station on the ground. Even in bad weather, the Heron TP, which is being built by the Israeli defense company Israel Aerospace Industries, can send images of houses, cars, or people to earth in real-time.
The Bundeswehr is calling for weapons to be procured to arm the dronesas quickly as possible. These are missiles that can engage targets on the ground. The plan was for the German parliament to give the green light for the purchase of these missiles before Christmas. The Ministry of Defense had already prepared the purchase contract.
SPD has doubts
But for now, the drones will not be armed.The center-left Social Democrats (SPD), who are the junior partners in Germany’s ruling “grand coalition,” had initially indicated they would agree to the plan, but have now refused to support it.
“The line between defending the lives of our soldiers and killing with a joystick is extremely thin,” explained SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans. He also criticized the fact that the issue had not yet been sufficiently debated in the Bundestag, the German parliament. This statement was met with widespread incomprehension among German politicians — both by supporters and opponents of armed drones. Many pointed out that the controversial topic had been under discussion for years.
“The arguments on this issue have already been exchanged,” Tobias Lindner of the Green party said in early December during a debate on the defense budget. He told the SPD that they could be for or against the weaponizing of drones — but they must pick a side.
‘Condemned to be observers’
Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) also reacted frostily to the statement by her coalition partner. Her ministry, partly at the request of the SPD, has organized rounds of discussion on the topic in recent months. Soldiers, international law experts, defense experts, and politicians were invited to debate the issue.
In these hearings, soldiers described how they used unarmed reconnaissance drones to observe attacks on Bundeswehr camps or patrols — without having the power to do anything about it. The Bundeswehr currently uses the unarmed Heron 1, the predecessor of the Heron TP, in its missions in Afghanistan and Mali.
In this way, the drone pilots are put in a “particularly stressful situation” by being “condemned to be observers,” Andre Wüstner, chair of the German armed forces association, said in an October hearing. With the help of combat drones, field camps, convoys and patrols could be better protected on foreign missions.
Until now, in dangerous situations, fighter jets had to be requested and fly to the scene of the incident. This wastes valuable time. If the Bundeswehr does not receive combat drones, “we are negligently putting the lives of our soldiers at risk,” Defense Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer said. The CDU has long advocated for the arming of drones.
Better protection for soldiers
The argument for better protection has many supporters in the German parliament. CDU defense policy spokesman Henning Otte said it was “immoral to deny our soldiers technology that protects people and lives.” In Europe alone, France and the UK use armed drones, as do Serbia and Ukraine.
Eva Högl, the German parliament’s defense commissioner and member of the SPD, said that armed drones increase the safety of soldiers on the ground “because drones offer more flexible options for responding to threats.” The prerequisite, she said, was that the rules of engagement for the drones were clearly defined and controlled by the Bundestag.
‘Not a cure-all’
But does the argument for the protection of soldiers hold water? That depends entirely on the deployment scenario, according to drone expert Anja Dahlmann from the Berlin-based think tank the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. For national defense, which is the main role of the Bundeswehr, there is no need for combat drones.
“In the case of national defense, the airspace would probably also be contested,” Dahlmann told DW. “And then small, slow drones would be shot down very quickly.” The Heron TP has a maximum flight speed of 400 km/h (249 mph), making it relatively slow, just like the other drones in its class.
But Dahlmann believes it is a different story in foreign missions where the Bundeswehr is threatened by insurgents or terrorist groups. In cases like this, drones could be useful to be able to directly combat an identified threat.
“But they are not a cure-all,” Dahlmann added. She believes the impression is sometimes given that German soldiers are “wonderfully protected by armed drones and that nothing can happen anymore. That is not the case.” A total of five Heron TPs, which may have to be divided over several missions abroad, are simply too few to make a difference.
Targeted killings
It is not without reason that combat drones have such a bad public image. The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a recent example of the destructive potential of these weapons. The debate in Germany was primarily shaped by the excessive use of drones for targeted killings by the US, for example in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Yemen. Critics refer to this practice as an “execution of suspects without trial” and point out the high number of civilian casualties.
The German government has unequivocally stated in its coalition agreement that it rejects “killings in violation of international law” by drones. But once armed drones are actually procured, some skeptics fear that these restrictions could be relaxed.
And the issue is not only divisive among the ruling coalition, but also within parliament as a whole. Two main opposition parties — the business-friendly FDP and the far-right AfD — are campaigning for the arming of drones. The Greens and the Left Party are against it.
More dangerous foreign missions?
Critics of the acquisition of combat drones have another argument: Could these weapons lead to the Bundeswehr getting involved in more dangerous foreign missions in the future? Currently, Germany prefers to contribute military trainers, surveillance capabilities, or logistics to multinational military missions, but not send combat troops. Increased use of combat drones could change that, and pressure from allies on Germany could grow.
Even if the Bundeswehr does not receive weapons for its new drones now, then the path for this technology has long been laid out in Germany. In Manching in Bavaria, private company Airbus Defence and Space is developing the Eurodrone, which will be armed. In the defense budget for the coming year, which the SPD has green-lit, millions of euros have been made available for this purpose. So, it is only a matter of time before the Bundeswehr gets combat drones. (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Deutsche Welle German Radio)
14 Dec 20. Thales and Army Headquarters to Jointly Develop Close Combat Family of Weapons. Thales and Army Headquarters have started jointly researching, developing and designing options for the next generation Close Combat Family of Weapons.
To support Army’s emerging requirements this will include the next generation close combatant assault rifle, light machine gun and associated ammunition.
Supporting Army’s strategy to establish and maintain a capability edge for the dismounted combat capability, the joint research and development program will focus on new, disruptive technologies to radically advance the relationship between soldiers and small arms, ensuring Australian soldiers are equipped to anticipate and defend against contemporary threats. The research and development program will harness Thales’s existing extensive Australian supply chain, new SMEs, and its network of research organisations.
The project will develop working level prototypes for a Close Combatant Assault Rifle and Light Machine Gun over the next 3 years, while examining all aspects of a weapon system, including the performance and terminal effects of ammunition. Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), through the Lethality System Program, are co-partners in the project and are involved in the governance arrangements for the development activity. The aim is to have both weapon systems ready to compete for the Close Combatant Family of Weapons in Tranche 2 of the Lethality System project (LAND 159) by late 2023.
Thales Australia has recently announced it will double the size of its Small Arms Research & Development team in Lithgow as it anticipates the future technology requirements of a more digitised battlespace for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), and maximises the benefit of new manufacturing processes, novel materials and AI.
“This is an exciting initiative with one of our existing industry partners. As we seek to evolve the soldier combat system, the lethality component is a critical sub system. There are many challenges to ensure we have a capability edge over current and emerging threats, and the Australian Army welcomes the opportunity to explore some emerging disruptive technologies associated with complete weapon system design.” Colonel Stuart Davies, Director Dismounted Combat Program, Army Headquarters
“We are committed to maintaining the capability advantage of the Australian Army as rapid advances in digital technology bring increasing threats as well as new capabilities.” Graham Evenden, Director Soldier Weapon Systems. (Source: ASD Network)
14 Dec 20. Deliveries of PAC-3 air-defence systems to RoKAF completed. South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on 12 December that deliveries of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) interceptor missiles and upgraded ground equipment to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) has been completed amid Seoul’s efforts to enhance the country’s air defences to counter North Korea’s growing ballistic missile capabilities.
The agency said deliveries of the upgraded air-defence systems were completed in November – 10 months ahead of schedule – under a Patriot capability enhancement programme launched in March 2015 and carried out in close co-operation with the United States and South Korean companies.
DAPA said the detection range of the PAC-3’s radar system is twice that of the RoKAF’s previously deployed PAC-2 system, adding that the PAC-3 can also track and engage more targets simultaneously.
Moreover, the PAC-3 system, which features improved information processing and communication capabilities, can, unlike the PAC-2, engage ballistic missile warheads directly using a hit-to-kill interceptor, and thus reduce potential secondary damage on the ground. The PAC-2 is designed to engage ballistic missiles with a blast/fragmentation warhead.
DAPA chief Wang Jung-hong said the early delivery completion of the PAC-3 systems – the core equipment of the Korean Missile Defense System – “has enabled us to build a more effective [air-]defence system”. (Source: Jane’s)
14 Dec 20. USN completes first Tomahawk Block V firings. The US Navy (USN) DDG-51 Flight IIA guided missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) has conducted the first operational tests of the Tomahawk Block V cruise missile. A modernised and recertified Tomahawk Block IV missile, the new Block V variant embodies an upgraded navigation/communication (NAV/COMMs) package as a baseline capability. The NAV/COMMs upgrade delivers enhanced navigation performance and more robust and reliable communications.
Chafee, part of the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group, undertook a first Block V firing during an exercise on a Pacific test range on 30 November. The event “marked the first time a Block V Tomahawk, the weapon’s newest variant, was operationally tested, marking the navy’s transition to a more advanced capability for the fleet”, said the US Department of Defense in a statement. A second Tomahawk Block V was fired from Chafee on 1 December.
The missiles hit targets at ranges on San Nicolas Island and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California. During the tests, both missiles were redirected mid-flight to different targets using their new communications systems. (Source: Jane’s)
14 Dec 20. First firing of a Medium-Range Missile (MMP) from a Sabre special forces vehicle. MBDA has carried out the first firing of an MMP missile from an ARQUUS Sabre special forces vehicle, as part of a firing campaign implemented with the support of the French Army and of the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA – French Procurement Agency).
The firing was carried out at the Canjuers military camp in the south of France, using ‘lock-on-before-launch’ mode against a tank 3,500 metres away, with a rapid switchover to ‘fire-and-forget’ mode, making the vehicle fully mobile after firing.
Once again, the MMP system demonstrated the accuracy of its target acquisition and the quality of its guidance system by achieving a direct hit, without operator intervention.
In addition to this firing, multiple engagements were simulated on the post, against fixed or mobile targets, with the vehicle moving around the test range, thus crossing a further milestone in the validation of the ergonomic, tactical and safety studies.
During the debriefing, the French Army’s gunner was very enthusiastic: “The firing installation is safe, its ergonomics make for easy aiming, and the missile was launched without any discomfort to the gunner, and as stealthily as ever.”
The MMP – the first fifth-generation missile to be deployed in combat – has been in service with the French Army for two years. Flexible and versatile, it has been battle-tested and deployed in various theatres around the world (desert, tropical, mountainous and Arctic areas).A valuable asset for Special Forces operating over long distances, the MMP allows for the resupply of munitions by airdrop.
10 Dec 20. Footage suggests 122mm CTL181A-based SPH is in PLAGF service. Video footage released by state-owned broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) on 8 December suggests that a new lightweight 122 mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) based on a modified Dongfeng Mengshi 6×6 CTL181A armoured vehicle has entered service with the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF). The footage shows at least two examples of the new SPH, which features storage racks for ammunition and charges that are located to the immediate rear of the protected cabin, being used by a light combined arms brigade within the PLAGF’s 72nd Group Army during a live-fire drill held at an undisclosed location in China. CCTV reported that the first of these SPHs was handed over to the brigade, which was also shown operating Dongfeng Mengshi CSK181 4×4 armoured vehicles, “during the second half of the year”, but did not specify when. The footage shows that the SPH, which is being commonly referred to as PCL-171, is equipped with a semi-automatic loading system. Within this system, the loading process is carried out automatically by a moving loading arm and mechanical rammer. However, the loading system does not draw ammunition from a magazine, and instead the loading arm must be manually fed a shell after the previous shell has been loaded. (Source: Jane’s)
14 Dec 20. South Korea’s Light Armed Helicopter provisionally declared fit for combat. South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has provisionally declared the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) fit for combat.
KAI announced in an 11 December statement that DAPA’s assessment, which came five years and six months after the launch of the LAH project, “lays the foundation” for mass production of the helicopter, development of which is due to be completed by late 2022.
The LAH, which is being developed for the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) to replace the service’s AH-1F and 500MD/Tow Defender helicopters, was first rolled out in December 2018 and made its first flight in July of the following year at KAI’s facility in Sacheon. Three prototypes have been built so far.
The RoKA plans to acquire about 210 LAHs from 2023.
The helicopter, which is capable of carrying out ground-attack and close air support operations, is armed with a chin-mounted 20 mm Gatling-type gun, and fitted with stub wings to carry 70 mm unguided rockets as well as the locally developed Chungum anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), which has a stated range of about 8km.
The LAH also features a nose-mounted electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor, multiple missile and radar warning receivers, as well as upwards-directed exhausts to reduce its infrared signature.
The rotorcraft is powered by two Arriel 2L2 turboshaft engines co-developed and built by Safran Helicopter Engines and Hanwha Techwin.
Together with the Light Civilian Helicopter (LCH), the LAH is part of an integrated civil and military helicopter development project with KAI as prime contractor and in partnership with DAPA and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). (Source: Reuters)
15 Dec 20. Israel Tests Laser. Some Israeli defence industries continue to develop a laser based rocket interception systems using their own R&D budgets. Israel has a four tiered defence system against rockets and missiles, but what was sufficient until some years ago, looks now less capable of protecting the Israeli population.
The Iron Dome and David’s Sling rocket interceptors and the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 ballistic missiles interceptors, are operational and one of the layers, the Iron Dome, is combat proven with an average of 88 % intercepts.
But this is not enough and will be even less capable in the future. So the IAF, is looking for other layers, this time so it seems, laser will be the tool to shoot down rockets.
After it was pushed aside, in favor of the Iron Dome rocket interceptor, the Laser beam that can do the same mission and probably better, and with lower costs, is on its way back.
In recent months, Israel aerospace industries (IAI) and Rafael are working hard to accelerate the development of a laser system, that can shoot down rockets and mortar shells.
According to IA, a prototype of a laser cannon for intercepting mortar shells and similar short-range threats is in a very advanced stage of development, and successful experiments have already been carried out.
In recent years, the defence industries in Israel and the United States have been working to develop a laser-based defence system, which is considered to be the one that will change the battlefield.
A few years ago, Rafael presented the first model of a laser gun called an “iron beam” designed to respond to shells fired from a range of up to 5 miles from the border, and Iron Dome has difficulty coping because of the short time that passes from the moment the launch is detected until it hits.
According to IAI, the main advantage of the laser is a fast reaction time, and therefore such a system is good for dealing with short-range munitions such as mortars.
The U.S army and the IDF understand that this system has additional advantages over missile-based defence systems, since its arsenal of ammunition never ends, and the cost of launching a laser beam is very low compared with an Iron Dome interception missile that is estimated to cost tens of thousands of dollars.
The Iron Dome and the David’s Sling systems are now deployed on both borders to protect against the rockets, but sources say that in case of massive rocket attacks, and in many cases the need to launch more than one interceptor, the situation will be stretched to a critical point.
According to some estimates, in order to intercept such a large number of rockets, the IDF will have to fire a huge number of more than 30,000 interceptors from the Iron Dome system, and the astronomical price of these could reach billions of dollars.
That is the basis for the new interest in a laser system that can kill rockets, with a few dollars price tag, attached to each laser pulse.
In the past, Israel and the U.S cooperated for the development of the Nautilus, a laser “cannon” that could kill rockets.
The Nautilus was a Tactical High-Energy Laser, or THEL. In 1996, the United States and Israel agreed to cooperate on the development and production of the Nautilus. The demonstrator in 2000 managed to shoot down 28 Katyusha artillery rockets and five artillery shells.
On November 4, 2002, THEL shot down an incoming artillery shell. The prototype weapon was very big and heavy, and could not get smaller mainly because of the specifications of the Laser generator. The program was discontinued in 2005.
The opposition to the laser weapon in Israel, brought to the development of the Iron Dome and David’s Sling.
An Israeli very senior source, said that it was a mistake to stop the development of a laser based rocket interceptor “now there is a growing number of experts that understand the mistake that was made and ready to re start the development, with the more advanced building blocks available today”.
It can be assumed that in early 2021 the first tests with an electrical laser will be conducted in Israel, with U.S officials following the process and results. (Source: ARIE EGOZI)
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