24 Jun 13. FLIR Government Systems’ new Star SAFIRE 380-HDc under the AW149 helicopter mock-up at Le Bourget. The sharp-eyed visitor observing the AgustaWestland AW149 mock-up on display at the Paris Air Show may have noticed its under-nose sensor turret being a little shallow compared with the usual depth of such items. Closer inspection revealed it to be the latest variant in FLIR Government Systems’ Star SAFIRE HD (high definition) range, the Star SAFIRE 380-HDc (compact), which was launched at the show. The 380-HDc is some 122 mm shallower than the regular 380-HD model and is aimed at accommodating the reduced ground clearance encountered on some helicopters. According to Glen Rowling, FLIR’s senior director of business developmnent and applications engineering, the 380-HDc “is half the weight of a standard 380-HD with two-thirds of the performance.”(Source: Jane’s)

21 Jun 13. USMC UH-1Y Huey helicopter to feature redesigned weapons mount. The US Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Program Office (PMA-242) Crew Served Weapons Integration team has successfully redesigned and tested the Bell UH-1Y Huey uility aircraft’s weapons mount at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, US. Developed to meet a US Marine Corps (USMC) urgent universal needs statement, the redesigned weapons mount, which was originally designed for the GAU-17 mini gun, will now provide enhanced ground-firing capabilities for the GAU-17, GAU-21 and M240 weapons. During the trials, the redesigned defensive armament system validated its ability to hold the weapon-specific mount and the weapon-specific mount stops. In addition, the enhanced weapon mount can fire weapons with greater range, elevation and azimuth, while the aircraft is on the ground. PMA-242 programme manager captain Brian Corey said that the upgraded mount can be used by US Marines in Afghanistan to defend against enemy fire in the air and on the ground. (Source: airforce-technology.com)

21 Jun 13. BATTTLESPACE will not be supporting the Warrior Competition to be held in Jordan in 2014 at KASOTC. (Source: naval-technology.com)

25 Jun 13. Stevens Institute of Technology to License Stevens Passive Acoustic Detection System to Sonardyne. Stevens Institute of Technology and Sonardyne Inc., a subsidiary of U.K. based Sonardyne International Ltd., manufacturer of subsea navigation and security technologies, have executed a licensing agreement for intellectual property of the Stevens Passive Acoustic Detection System (SPADES), which uses sound processing to detect, track and classify vessels, swimmers and divers. Researchers at Stevens developed SPADES as a cost effective, highly-portable, near shore and harbour surveillance system to protect naval ships, ports, waterways, and high-value maritime assets from threats posed by divers or small vessels. SPADES can be used standalone, or to augment a Sentinel active sonar, to provide an enhanced underwater surveillance solution. SPADES can covertly classify and track sound sources in the water without transmitting a signal that can be detected. This licensing agreement enhances Sonardyne’s defence and maritime security capability and builds on Sonardyne’s recent record sales of the Sentinel diver detection systems.

26 Jun 13. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems expects to conduct the first launch of its new Silver Sparrow air-launched ballistic target before the end of 2013. Development was reported to have been completed earlier this year, and the new target is expected to be used in trials of Israel’s new Arrow 3 anti-missile interceptor. Silver Sparrow is the latest member of a family of ballistic targets that started with the Black Sparrow, which was designed to simulate a ‘Scud-B’ tactical ballistic missile by emulating its ballistic trajectory, radar cross-section, and thermal signatures as well as its re-entry manoeuvres and behaviour. Black Sparrow is 4.5 m long, and weighs 1,275 kg at launch. (Source: Jane’s)

24 June 13. Russia proposes new