Archive for category: Land Systems

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.

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?

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.

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 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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 [...]

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.

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.

The US Army is improving 3,500 M2 heavy barrel machine guns (M2HB) into the A1 version. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics, was awarded a $6.9 million contract by the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command for the conversion of more than 3,500 M2HBs to the new configuration.

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.”

Lockheed Martin has received a $79.4 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop a new ‘Alternative Warhead’ (AW) for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) that incorporates a new explosive area effector replacing the cluster warheads currently used with the weapon. Under the 36 month Engineering [...]

Part of a comprehensive four-year defense modernization bill, Norway plans to invest US$1.74 in CV90 armored vehicles modernization, to include added mine protection, improved C4ISR integration, rubber band tracks and Remote Weapon Stations for self defense.

The Australian company Sentient announced the successful demonstration of a software solution that automatically indicates movement and changes in electro-optical (EO) full motion video (FMV) imagery captured by ground vehicles.

Integrated into existing airport security inspection systems the new LDS5500D explosive scanner is expected to ease security measures currently restricting carrying more than 100cc alcohol and perfumes in passengers carry-on luggage

Arma Global Corp. will develop and deploy an advanced intelligence management, mission planning and control system for the US Special Operations Command. The company has been awarded SOCOM contract worth half a billion US$ for the job for the delivery of the Tactical Local Area Network (TACLAN) system.

Cassidian recently unveiled a ‘new-generation’ Convoy Protection Jammer that uses ultra-fast ‘Smart Responsive Jamming’ technology’ to substantially enhance protection, while maintaining relatively low power consumption and uninterrupted communications.

The Indian Army has a fleet of more than 150,000 vehicles. The services buy around 7,000 new trucks every year, a volume attracting commercial vehicle manufacturers to invest in meeting peculiar military standards. This year at DefExpo 2012, traditional truck manufacturers Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland were joined by the new competitor Asia Motor Works, each taking aim at specific segments of this huge market.

The centerpiece of the Russian display at Defexpo 2012 is undoubtedly the T-90MS upgrade program developed by the Russian Uralvagonzavod corporation. The T-90MS upgrade was unveiled August 2011 at Nizhni Tagil, Russia and is making its international debut here in New Delhi.

The South Korean Samsung Techwin (STW) and its Indian partner Larsen & Turbo Ltd. (L&T) announced today a teaming agreement addressing the development and production of the ‘K9 Thunder’ self-propelled artillery system (SPG) in India.

Following the acquisition of majority stake in the Israeli automotive company TOMCAR, the Maini Group is launching the light off-road vehicle in India. The Indian group established a manufacturing facility in Bangalore to cater for both domestic and overseas customers.

Preparing for the next phase in the Joint Light Tactical vehicle (JLTV) program, the U.S. Army Tacom Life Cycle Management Command in Warren Michigan gathered five bids yesterday, for the upcoming 27 month Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase.

New types of ammunition are positioned to enhance the combat capabilities and survivability of the Indian T-90S and T-72M Main Battle Tanks, improving their armor penetration capability as well as efficiency against anti-tank teams and fortified targets.

The delay in modernizing the Indian Army artillery for over two decades is of significant concern. By late February, the Army placed an order with the OFB for 100 artillery guns of 155mm/ 52 caliber. In addition, local production of the 300mm SMERCH rocket system is expected to begin in India in the coming months.

ISDS is introducing the Fort 1 armored combat vehicle at LAAD Security 2012; the vehicle was developed in only three months, under a joint venture established by ISDS and Global Shield. The Israeli team plans to offer the vehicle to the Brazilian special security forces an advanced, specialized urban assault and security vehicle.

The latest version of the IAI/RAMTA RAM armored vehicle – the RAM Mk3 AT debuts today at the FIDAE airshow. Configured as an anti-tank weapon carrier the vehicle equipped with a weapon station carrying four laser guided anti-tank missiles.

Israel’s armor protection company Plasan announced today the acquisition of controlling interest in Artis LLC, a Virginia-based engineering company. Iron Curtain is a vehicle active protection system developed under a DARPA contract. The system has been demonstrated on live firing tests on the HMMWV and is currently being integrated on the M-ATV.

Raytheon Company has tested a new propulsion system for the Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wireless (TOW) missile. The new system developed by ATK doubles the range of the TOW missile and reduces the missile’s flight time by one-third.

The ‘HoverMast’ developed by the Israeli start-up company Sky Sapience is scheduled to go on an operational demonstration in the upcoming months, demonstrating the system’s capability to expand the surveillance coverage of unmanned ground vehicles. The payload currently integrated on the HoverMast is the T-Stamp from Controp, a stabilized multi-sensor [...]

Facing a growing threat of ballistic missiles and rockets capable of hitting any point in the country from distances of four, up to 2,000km, Israel has grouped its air defense forces into the ‘Air Defense Command’, integrating all active defense elements into an multi-layered defensive system. Israel’s missile defense wing [...]

ST Kinetics is displaying the Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) variant of the Terrex at the land systems pavilion of the Singapore Airshow 2012. The vehicle is based on the operational Terrex, fitted with a number of new systems supporting intelligence gathering and target acquisition missions. Most notable is [...]

ST Kinetics is displaying two versions of the Advanced Combat Man Systems (ACMS) at the Singapore Airshow 2012. The basic ACMS is currently deployed with Singapore Army units’ with the ACMS Lite version being developed for future applications. Key components of the current ACMS system shown in the picture below [...]

Rafael is expanding the Spike missile family with the lightweight, man-portable Spike SR, a ‘fire and forget’ short range guided missile enabling infantrymen to engage a wide range of targets with high precision, from ranges up to 800 meters. Spike SR is positioned between the Spike MR (medium-range) weapon and [...]

BAE Systems and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems have teamed to develop, demonstrate, and produce the 81mm Roll Controlled Guided Mortar (RCGM), an affordable 81mm precision mortar round.

Eltics has released a new video showing unique thermal signature shaping, employing the ‘Black Fox’ cloak able to conceal large vehicles, causing them to blend with the background or mimik much smaller, less distinctive vehicles.

The global missiles and missile defense systems market, estimated to be worth US$15.2 billion in 2011, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.71% in the next decade to a value of US$19.8 billion in 2021. Cumulatively, the market for missiles and missile defense systems in the next 10 [...]

The Israeli SK Group is broadening its defense technology companies portfolio with the acquisition of Camero-Tech Ltd., a world pioneer in Sense-Through-The-Wall (STTW) solutions. Camero will continue to operate under its original name. Amir Beeri, CEO of Camero-Tech welcome the acquisition: “cooperation with the other SK Group companies combined with the [...]

Plan BeerSheba announced by the Australian Defence on December 12, 2011 aims to ensure that the country continues to contribute forces to operations including Afghanistan and successfully transition to a force that is able to respond effectively to future challenges, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and other operations.

The Australian Defence has selected Hawkei light tactical vehicle design from Thales Australia as the preferred design for LAND 121 Phase 4. The government plans to buy 1,300 vehicles at a cost of A$1.5 billion. Government approval of the project is expected in 2015 with production work to commence in Australia by 2016. To bridge production gap at the manufacturing plant in Brisbane, the government considers to order more Bushmaster vehicles.

Australia is moving forward to with Project Overlander, with the selection of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia and Thales Australia. MAN will provide medium and heavy armored and unarmored trucks while Thales will deliver the Hawkei light tactical vehicle, in protected and unprotected configurations. The two programs are part of an investment of A$7.5 billion, providing the Australian Defence Force with around 7,500 new vehicles over the next decade.

Elbit Systems has won an initial order worth $11 million to develop a light Remote Weapon Station for the IDF, equipping Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs). The two finalists in the program were Elbit Systems and IMI.

MBDA has won a contract from NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) for the dismantling and destruction of 36,000 missiles, rockets and artillery rounds carrying 15 million cluster munitions. The munition processing plant will be installed at MBDA’s Bourges Subdray site in central France at an investment of around €12 million, creating about 20 direct jobs.

Stockpiles of hundreds of artillery shells filled with mustard agent raise questions on the source of these CW agents and how the West can monitor and verify compliance with non proliferation treaties.

Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Field Intelligence Corps’s has fielded an advanced reconnaissance vehicle called ‘Granite’, based on IAIs’ EL/I-3302 Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance Vehicle (ISRV) developed by ELTA Systems Ltd. Elta has integrated the mission payload on the SandCat, an armored vehicle based on Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) Ford 550 model. The vehicle has full armor protection and concealed telescopic mast, which can be erected rapidly as the vehicle halts.

A new active protection system developed by Rheinmetall and ADS GmbH was successfully demonstrated in live firing test earlier in the summer of 2011, validating the design parameters of the proprietary blast-based defeat mechanism in development by IBD Diesenroth for years. Since the test ADS has booked a first serial order for the system.

A new technique that can remotely locate suspected IED sites over a wide area was developed by U.S. Navy scientists at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD). The technique employs airborne polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), processing multiple polarization analysis at the pixel level, thus providing detailed information from SAR imagery obtained through airborne or satellite surveillance.

Nexter Systems and Renault Trucks Defense have teamed to respond to the French MOD request for proposal (RFP) for the VBMR programme, designed to provide the French Army with a modern, multirole, 20 ton range 6×6 wheeled armored vehicle. The teaming extends the cooperation of the two companies on both [...]