16 Dec 10. The first Iskander tactical surface-to-surface ballistic missile system has entered service with the Russian Army’s Western Military District, Russian Army Regional Commander Arkady Bakhin said.
“We are at practically 98% permanent readiness. We are carrying out re-equipment and delivery of new types of weapons,” he added.
Iskander missile system has been designed for tactical strikes on small, high-value land targets, according to RIA Novosti. The missile system is available in two variants, export variant with a range of 280km and Russian variant with a range of 500km. Russia has threatened to deploy Iskander in the Kaliningrad region if Nato deploys missile defence systems in Poland without Russian approval. (Source: armytechnology.com)
20 Dec 10. The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program displayed the first MEADS Battle Manager during ceremonies at MBDA Italia facilities in Fusaro, Italy. The Battle Manager, configured on an ARIS Italian Prime Mover, will shortly be joined by other MEADS major end items at Pratica di Mare Air Force Base in Italy as part of system integration activities leading to flight tests at White Sands Missile Range, NM, in 2012. Five more Battle Managers are being assembled to support integration, test and qualification activities for the flight test series. Using standardized interfaces and a revolutionary network-centric open architecture, the MEADS Battle Manager can command and control both MEADS and non-MEADS sensors and launchers. Through a capability called “plug-and-fight,” sensors, launchers, and other battle managers simply act as nodes on the MEADS network. A commander can dynamically add or subtract these elements as the situation dictates without shutting the system down. This unprecedented flexibility is a first for ground-based air and missile defense systems. With MEADS, a commander can dynamically extract MEADS elements to protect a fast-moving maneuver force. The Minimum Engagement Capability requires only one launcher, one battle manager, and one fire control radar. When more MEADS elements arrive, they automatically and seamlessly join the network and build out capability. MEADS was shown to defend up to 8 times the coverage area with far fewer system assets. This allows for a substantial reduction in deployed personnel and equipment, and demand on airlift. In August, the MEADS program completed an extensive series of Critical Design Review events with a Summary Critical Design Review at MEADS International in Orlando, FL. The program is now focused on final build, integration and test activities leading to flight tests involving all system elements at White Sands Missile Range in 2012.
29 Nov 10. Light multiple grenade launcher developed in Armenia. Armenian open joint-stock company GARNI-LEP has developed a new short-range light multiple launcher for RPG-7 class rocket-propelled grenades (RPG). Probably designated the N-2, it is now in production and is being offered for export by the Defence Industry section of the Armenian Ministry of Defence. (Source: Jane’s, JMR)
16 Dec 10. US sells sensor-fuzed weapons to India. The US government has approved the sale of 512 Textron Systems-designed cluster bombs and 41 training units to India under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme for USD257.73m, the US Department of Defense announced on 8 December. The CBU-105 Sensor-Fuzed Weapons (SFWs) will be fitted to the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) front-line fighters such as the Su-30MKI and will significantly augment their strike capability against ground armour and other land-based targets. (Source: Jane’s, JDW)
21 Dec 10. The Israeli Defence Forces has successfully tested the abilities of the Trophy active defence system by firing anti-tank missiles at a manned Merkava 4 tank. The military training exercise was conducted with kinetic missiles without warheads, which simulate the missile’s path, so that the system will intercept and destroy aer