Archive for category: Missiles

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.

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 [...]

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.

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 [...]

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.

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.

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 F-35 testing program is rapidly progressing toward the weapon testing milestone, which will be significant in validating the new fighter’s combat capabilities for the first time. Among the testing were pit drops conducted at Pax River, and external carriage flights which included aerial refueling for the first time.

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 [...]

Northrop Grumman Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with with PT Industri Telekomunikasi Indonesia and the Research Centre For Electronics And Telecommunications of The Indonesian Institute Of Sciences to facilitate collaboration on pending ground-based radar opportunities in Indonesia. The MOU was signed at the Sixth National Radar Seminar [...]

In response to the failed April 13th North Korean attempt to launch a satellite using a long-range ballistic missile, South Korea released a video showing launches of unidentified cruise missile and a ballistic missile, likely to be the latest versions of the Hyunmoo family, indigenously developed in South Korea.

North Korea launched its long-range Unha-3 rocket today, Friday the 13th but the launch seems to have failed shortly after lift-off. No launch confirmation has been provided by North Korea yet. First reports say that an abnormally large “flare” was identified shortly after separation of the rocket’s first stage and the remaining portions of the rocket crashed somewhere in the sea.

North Korea’s new Unha-3 is now assembled on its launch platform in preparation for a highly controversial satellite launch later this week. And for the first time, the secretive North has granted a select group of international observers an extraordinary opportunity to view the rocket and witness the launch.

As North Korea continues preparations to launch a satellite into orbit with a long range missile, the Japanese government deployed three Aegis-armed destroyers and Patriot missile batteries as a defensive measure to protect Japanese property and lives. North Korea claims the southward launch trajectory will not risk its neighbors

Satellite imagery captured by the Israeli EROS-B satellite on March 28, 2012 show the North Korean preparations for the planned April launch of a North Korean satellite. The test is widely believed to be an opportunity for PyongYang to test its long range ballistic missile technology. The launch is expected [...]

Russia is pitching its top-of-the-line air defense system at DefExpo 2012 in India, this week, promoting the S-400 Triumph air and missile defense system. The S-400 causes much concern among western air forces, as none of the existing 4++ generation fighter aircraft, nor the F-35 JSF, are designed to penetrate areas defended by the Triumf.

India plans to modernize its Very Short Range Air Defense Systems (VSHORAD) systems currently relying on the Russian SA-18 missile with new missiles. For 800 launchers and an initial delivery of 5,000 missiles, India intends to spend over US$5.2 billion. Four candidates are being considered, from Russia, South Korea, Sweden and France with testing and evaluated to commence in May – June this year.

Japan’s Minister of Defense, Naoki Tanaka, issued orders on 30 March authorizing the Japanese Self-Defense Force (SDF) to shoot down a North Korean rocket, scheduled for launch in mid-April, should the rocket or rocket debris appear to pose a danger to Japanese life or property.

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.

The recent round of inconclusive fighting across the Gaza-Israel border prompts several observations about the outcome and possible implications for the future. Mark A. Heller, Principal Research Associate at the Tel-Aviv based Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) discusses some of the highlights of recent events in the recent edition of INSS Insight.

Following the delivery of the first four batteries of S-300 PMU2 surface to air missiles from Russia, Algeria has begun inducting the systems, partly replacing former S-125 (SA-3) systems. In the following satellite images taken recently by the Eros B spy satellite operated by the geospatial services company ImageSat International, two of the SA-3 sites are seen converted to serve the S-300.

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.

Israel has concluded a major arms deal with Azerbaijan selling the central Asian country advanced missile defense systems, air defense systems and unmanned aerial systems to Azerbaijan, as part of a US$1.6 billion arms package.

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 [...]

Israel Military Industries (IMI) is exploring a new air launched application of the 300mm Extra guided ballistic surface launched rocket, enabling air forces to perform autonomous, precision standoff attack, at extended ranges, well outside the effective protected range of even the most advanced air defense systems. The Extra rocket was developed by IMI and [...]

Diehl Defense from Germany is back at the Singapore Airshow promoting a number of defense systems which are of high value to customers in Asia. Particularly interesting is the IDAS (Interactive Defence and Attack System for Submarines). This unique submarine launched anti-helicopter weapon is designed to protect attack submarines from anti-submarine helicopters, [...]

IMI is unveiling the Whipshot, a guided weapon developed for light aircraft, offering operators of light aircraft affordable precision firepower. IMI is discussing the new weapon with a number of aircraft manufacturers, including Embraer, which was recently selected to deliver the Super Tucano under the US Air Force Light Attack [...]

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 [...]

Israel Military Industries Ltd. announced today that the Boeing Company [NYSE:BA] has approved IMI’s 500-pound Multi Purpose Rigid (MPR 500) Bomb as compatible with their Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kit. The combination of IMI’s MPR 500 with Boeing’s JDAM guidance kit substantially enhances operational flexibility while reducing total [...]

The Blade Arrow Precision Attack Munition (PAM) was unveiled today by UVision Air Ltd. five years after being first demonstrated. The PAM concept brings new offensive capabilities for precision strike of high-value and time sensitive targets, in complex terrain and urban background. UVision’s Blade Arrow provides long range, highly flexible [...]

The Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency completed a successful test of the key elements of the joint U.S.-Israel IAI Arrow Weapon System (AWS) today. The test involved the latest generation ATBM radar – known as Super Green pine.

IAI’s new family of networking systems integrates common core capabilities and specific solutions designed for land forces missions, and airborne applications supporting air operations. A special subset of the system is uniquely tailored for the operation of precision-guided weapons.

With proposed defense budget reductions creating a need to reshape American military forces, the US Department of Defense is once again looking into the possibility of developing a sub-launched “Prompt Global Strike” (PGS) weapon as a means of reinforcing America’s power projection capability.

Poland wants to modernize its F-16 weaponry with Block II Sidewinders, Enhanced Paveways and Laser JDAMs, as part of a $447 million support package for ‘Peace Sky’ program

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.

MBDA was awarded a £483 five-year MOD contract to develop the Sea Ceptor, a new naval air defense system for the British Royal Navy Type 23 frigates. As part of the ‘Future Local Area Air Defence System’ (FLAADS), Sea Ceptor will replace the current Vertical Launch SeaWolf by 2016.

The US military European Command and the Israeli Ministry of Defense decided to reschedule a large missile defense exercise originally planned to take place in Israel in April 2012. The exercise will be held at a later date, in the second half of this year.

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 [...]

An American arms sale to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) valued at $3.48 billion, first proposed in September of 2008, was finally signed on December 25 amid growing concerns about Iran’s nuclear weapon’s program and Iranian threats to stop oil shipments from transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Christmas Day [...]

The growing threat of missile attack by North Korea has concerned Seoul for decades, but only recently defensive systems are showing progress, with interceptor technology becoming available on the domestic and world market. Last week Seoul unveiled the Cheongung, a new medium-range Surface to air Missile system designed to beef up the country’s air and missile defense.

Libyan and American bomb disposal teams have secured thousands of shoulder-held man portable air defense missile systems (shoulder fired missiles) originally owned by the Libyan military, however, about 15,000 such missiles are still at large. While some are believed to have been destroyed by NATO bombings, the majority of weapons, considered extremely valuable by terrorist and criminal groups, are believed to have reached terrorists organizations in the region.

In a step further deteriorating relations between Pakistan and NATO, Islamabad announced today its air defense forces will shoot down any aircraft, manned or unmanned, penetrating its borders, turning the airspace over Waziristan along the Pakistan-Afghanistan borderline into a ‘contested access’ airspace for aircraft, helicopters and UAVs.

Russia has supplied two Bastion coastal missile systems to Syria, concluding a controversial $300 million arms deal inked with the Syrian government four years ago. These missiles could put at risk elements of the Six Fleet patrolling the eastern Mediterranean, as well as Israel navy vessels and Israeli offshore rigs.

Two images taken during the Barak 8 test firing show a flight testing of the propulsion system (left) and vertical launch system (right). Both versions were the basic barak 8 missile.

India’s Defense Research & Development organization (DRDO) is planning to test fly the Agni-5 intermediate range ballistic missile for its full range in December 2011. The missile will be launched from Wheeler Island, on the Orissa coast, traveling its full range of 5,000 km southward, halfway to Antarctica

India and Israel are planning to conduct a system test of Barak 8 Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) early next year. IAI and DRDO are cooperating in the development of the Medium and Long Range Surface to Air Missile (MR-SAM/LR-SAM) missiles, also known as Barak-8, are preparing for the next milestone in the program – testing with its entire supporting system, in early 2012. The Israel Navy also expects to filed the missile with its upgraded/new Saar 5 / 5B corvettes.

MBDA has delivered the first VL MICA naval surface-to-air defense systems to the first export customer and is moving the land-based VL MICA land system into production, anticipating first export deliveries starting in 2012. The launch customer for both systems is believed to be Oman.