Archive for category: Latest News

IMI has teamed with the German company Rheinmetall Defence to offer an upgrade package for the Israel Defense Forces M-109A5 self propelled howitzers. The modular package will enable the IDF to introduce a list of long awaited upgrades, required to maintain the M109 in service for 40 years.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG has taken over the UK company WFEL Ltd. based in Stockport, Cheshire. WFEL is regarded as the world-market leader for mobile bridging systems in both military and civil applications.

Elbit Systems unveiled today the Soltam SPEAR 120mm autonomous, soft recoil mortar system, designed for light wheeled platforms. The patent pending recoil system reduces the barrel firing load from 120 tons to less than 10 tons.

The U.S. Air Force has included AeroVironment’s new WASP AE to its Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle (BATMAV) program. This inclusion enabled the Air Force to place a $2.5 million order for this enhanced configuration of the WASP Micro Air vehicle (MAV), which has already been adopted by the [...]

The Philippines is looking to non-USA sources for combat aircraft to strengthen the nation’s warfighting capabilities. France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and South Korea were all prime candidates being considered.

A successful first launch of a foreign satellite is a major step forward for Japan, but the future of the program is fraught with uncertainty and burdened by a national economy that is far from healthy. The whole effort may be too little too late.

The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon the largest order yet for the Griffin missile,amounting over $85 million. The first delivery order will buy 22 all-up rounds and 43 telemetry rounds, to be delivered by July 2013.

South Korea has requested buying eight MH-60R SEAHAWK Multi-Mission Helicopters through the U.S. Foreign Military Sale (FMS), the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified U.S. Congress Tuesday, May 16.

Friday May 18th was a busy day in the rapidly growing space-launch industry with three rockets, launched from three separate locations, placing six satellites into Earth orbit. In contrast to the global fanfare that followed the failed South Korean launch attempt, these flawless launches from Russia and Kazakhstan were hardly noticed by the world media.

Defense Update provides an insight into the armored fighting vehicle market trends expected to highlight the upcoming Eurosatory 2012 defense expo. Is there a future for main battle tanks? what are the growth areas? Can platforms become lighter?

The Polish Ministry of National Defense is embarking on the acquisition of a new transport helicopter for the Polish military, at an estimated budget of US$1 billion. The first phase will cover 26 aircraft: 16 new medium transport helicopters for the Army; four ASW and three for Search and Rescue SAR for the Navy and three Combat SAR for the air force.

Russia is testing Italy’s Centauro ‘wheeled tank’ and considering building it under license. The company has already delivered two Centauro vehicles, the original design with the 105mm gun and another fitted with a Russian 125mm cannon.

In a much awaited announcement, the United Kingdom has decided to reverse its previous selection and will now focus its efforts on acquiring the Lockheed Martin F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft instead of the conventional F-35C naval model of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Nearly 27 years after the controversy over the purchase of howitzers from Swedish-based AB Bofors the Government of India approved today the purchase of 145 M77 155/39-caliber howitzers at a total cost of $650 million from BAE Systems.

The U.S. Missile defense Agency (MDA) conducted a successful missile intercept test on Thursday May 10, 2012 using an advanced Standard Missile – 3 (SM-3) Block 1B missile and second generation battle management system (AEGIS BMD 4.0.1).

The US House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee included multiple allocations with a total amount of $947 million in the next year budget (FY 2013) to support Israel’s multi-level active rocket and missile defense programs. This is the highest single-year Appropriation ever for Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow. “President Obama, Chairman [...]

Hypoxia (oxygen depravation) conditions often affecting pilots during and after flying in F-22s remain unsolved even after comprehensive investigation launched after the 2011 loss of an Alaska based pilot. While the F-22 returned to operational flying, at least 11 new cases were reported since the Raptors resumed their flights, CBS 60 Minutes reported.

The Indian Air Force has floated a brand new requirement to support the acquisition of nine special mission aircraft for airborne Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Communications Jamming (COMJAM), ground survey and target towing.

Between Russian Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov who dosn’t rule out a preemptive strike against NATO missile defenses and Madelyn Creedon, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs claiming the US will not agree to any limitations on those systems, Russia’s Security Council secretary Nikolai Patrushev reiterated Moscow’s offer to run the missile shield together with NATO.

An unexpected agreement was signed at Kadex 2012 Show by the representatives of Kiev and Astana about a local production of the Ukrainian 8×8 BTR-4 wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) of which Kazakhstan is meant to receive 100. The contract’s value is being estimated around US$150 million. The BTR-4 was [...]

According to some sources Beijing expressed interest to acquire Russian S-400 counter-missile system. To date the Chinese use the components of the S-300 system but are said to be willing to enter closer co-operation on military and technological levels which would eventually lead to implementation of the S-400′s in a [...]

Satellite imagery company GeoEye Inc offered to buy rival DigitalGlobe Inc today for $792 million in cash and stock as it tries to make up for a possible revenue loss from U.S. defense spending cuts.

Preparation for the Olympic Games is at full swing in the UK. On the security side, preparations for the event are underway as the Royal Navy, Marines, Army and Air Force are embarking on a full-scale exercise testing their pals, readiness and integration in an eight-day military exercise called Olympic Guardian.

After sixteen long years of debate and aggravating delays, the United States and Japan have reached an agreement to reduce the presence of US Marines on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa. Okinawa, some 400 miles south of the Japanese main islands has been a key strategic forward base for [...]

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) formally notified the United States Congress on 30 April of a potential Foreign Military Sale of Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) to Japan.  The sale includes an initial order for four F-35A Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) stealth fighters with an option for the purchase of an additional 38 F-35A CTOL aircraft.  The cost of the purchase is estimated to be $10 billion.

The RQ-7B Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (TUAS) has officially commenced operations with Australian forces in Afghanistan, providing an enhanced capability to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

The Philippines is asking the United States to assist in upgrading the Filipino military in light of the South China Sea standoff with China at Scarborough Shoal. Specifically, the Philippines needed naval patrol vessels, aircraft, advanced radar systems, and coastal surveillance facilities.

In an unexpected statement 3 May, Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith announced Australia’s decision to delay its purchase of 12 Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) for at least two years.

The U.S. Navy took delivery of PCU Mississippi (SSN 782) from General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) yesterday May 2, 2012 one year early to the submarine’s contract delivery date of April 30, 2013. PCU Mississippi took just more than 62 months to build, which set the record for the Virginia Class Submarine Program’s fastest delivery

Following successful builders sea trials the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) shipyard in Kiel delivered today the forth Dolphin class submarine to the Israel Navy. This 68 meter long ‘Super Dolphin’ submarine is believed to be the largest produced in Germany since World War II.

Finland has selected the Israeli Orbiter-2 mini-UAV system for its next generation Unmanned Aerial System to be used in support of the tactical ground forces. The acquisition of 55 systems is expected to be worth about US$30 million.

the United Nations’ Security Council approved sanctions against three North Korean state-controlled firms ordering all nations to immediately initiate a freeze on all the assets of the companies. The sanctions are being imposed for the firm’s role in the failed 13 April North Korean satellite launch.

While the last of 195th F-22 Raptors was delivered to the U.S. Air Force, at its home base in Alaska, other Raptors are being Upgraded to Assume Precision Strike Missions

The Swiss defense forces has shortlisted two Israeli Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for the next generation Swiss reconnaissance drone. The Heron 1 drone from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Hermes 900 proposed by Elbit Systems were the two systems shortlisted by the Swiss evaluation team

Market research company ICD predicts the global market for armored and counter IED vehicles which was valued at US$25.1 billion in 2011 will decline during the next nine years, as global operations in Afghanistan and Iraq drawing down toward the second half of the decade. As a result, the global [...]

The military submarine market is expected to continue growing in a modest pace through the second decade of the 21st century, as naval forces are inducting modern, more capable submarines, designed for extended operational missions at sea.

The global UAV market is expected to increase at a Combined Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.08% in the ten-year period between 2011 and 2012. While the demand for advanced technology UAVs is forecast to be on the rise, particularly for MALE UAVs, the global economic pressure and high R&D costs are driving JVs and consolidation in the developed markets, while low reliability and high accident rate limit the use of UAS mainly to combat roles.

Unlike the US requirements for all-aspect stealth for its future combat aircraft, other countries have other requirements and may opt for different stealth fighters mean different technological approaches for their future fighter planes. The article examines what India could be looking for in its future stealth planes.

Northrop Grumman has test fired a ruggedized and compact high power solid-state laser designed to form the basic module of future, operational laser weapons.

The US Army awarded NIITEK, Inc. a sole source contract for the supply of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Husky Mounted Detection System (HMDS). This multi-year contract has a ceiling of US$579 million with an initial order of $161 million. This contract provides the U.S. Army the ability to procure spares [...]

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has received the first delivery of the Boeing tactical cross-domain technology, also known as eXMeritus HardwareWall, designed to improve the ability of intelligence analysts and warfighters to securely access videos and imagery from the MQ-1Predator and MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). GA-ASI contracted Boeing to [...]

Lockheed Martin successfully tested a new, lightweight precision guided weapon called ‘Shadow Hawk’ designed specifically for deployment from tactical unmanned aerial systems such as the MQ-7B Shadow 200 used by the US Marine Corps and Army.

Against a backdrop of a Filipino-Chinese standoff in a small corner of the South China Sea, senior US and Filipino representatives concluded defense discussions 30 April with a firm commitment to fully honor their respective mutual defense treaty obligations.

Remington Arms Company was award an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to supply up to 120,000 M4/M4A1 carbines, for a maximum amount of US$180 million. The Army has initially ordered 24,000 M4A1 carbines from Remington; deliveries will start in September, 2013.

The Indian Space Research Organization launched yesterday the second radar imagery satellite, and the first indiginously built by the country’s space research organization (ISRO). The satellite named Risat-1 successfully deployed into a polar orbit at an altitude of 480 km and orbital inclination 97.552 degrees. Risat-1 has an expected life [...]

RAFAEL has demonstrated key elements for an active defense system for helicopters, designed to protect from unguided weapons such as Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG). The ‘Fliker’ interceptor is designed to minimize debris and thereby reduce the risk that shrapnel will hit and damage the aircraft.

Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 Missile successfully intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile target yesterday at the Utah Test and Training Range, in an unprecedented interoperability demonstration utilizing the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor (JLENS) and the PATRIOT system.

Defense lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives are demanding ‘rights to Israel’s the Iron Dome Technology’ before releasing the requested $680 million to follow-on production of the Iron Dome anti-rocket weapon systems for Israel The Washington news blog The Hill reports. “The United States has invested nearly $900 million into Iron Dome work, yet it has no rights to the technology involved.”

The Pentagon is launching a new intelligence organization called ‘Defense Clandestine Service’ (DCS), focusing on interests of ‘national intelligence’ rather than battlefield intelligence and tactical support for the warfighter.

The U.S. Navy is ordering eight enhanced unmanned helicopters to be delivered by Northrop Grumman under the designation MQ-8C Fire Scout Endurance program. The Navy plans to deploy 28 such helicopters.