The second batch of orders worth of a total US$79 million for low-rate initial production MRAP vehicles were issued this week. The vehicles include the South African designed RG-31, the Australian Bushmaster and the new Golan vehicle, designed under a joint Israeli-US cooperation. Three manufacturers received orders for a total of 180 vehicles. Oshkosh Truck Corporation received $30 million to deliver 30 PVI designed Alpha armored vehicles, (defined as Category I, to be used as urban combat vehicles). Protected Vehicles, Inc. also received $37.4 million to deliver another 60 Golan heavy armored vehicles, produced under cooperation with Israel’s RAFAEL and Oshkosh Truck. These vehicles will comply with MRAP Category II – the Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Rapid Response Vehicle JERRV) requirement, expected to be used for operations such as convoy lead, troop transport, ambulance, explosive ordnance disposal and combat engineering. General Dynamics Land Systems Canada received $11 million, for RG-31 armored vehicles, designed for Category I and Category II roles. The company will deliver 10 vehicles of each class. Deliveries of all vehicles is expected to complete within four months (by June 2007). Previous orders worthe $122 million for 200 vehicles were issued to BAE Systems and Force Dynamics. Both are based on South African designed vehicles, producted in the USA.
Barrett Develops a New Precision Grenade Rifle System (PGS)
Tamir Eshel - 0
Barrett Firearms Manufacturing has been selected as the winner of the U.S. Army's xTech Soldier Lethality competition, securing a contract to develop an advanced 30mm precision grenade rifle system. The new system features programmable...
Modular Turrets for Localized AFV Manufacturing
Tamir Eshel - 0
European defense manufacturers are accelerating domestic production capabilities of Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFV) amid ongoing regional security tensions. Patria and General Dynamics European Land Systems initiated 42 ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) assembly in...
Israel Achieves World’s First Operational Combat Interceptions with Iron Beam Laser Prototypes
Tamir Eshel - 0
Israel has crossed a historic threshold by becoming the first nation to successfully deploy laser weapons in actual combat. During the Swords of Iron War, Israeli forces used Rafael's high-energy laser systems to intercept enemy threats, marking the transition from experimental technology to operational directed energy warfare.
Tiberius Introduce Sceptre – a Liquid Fuelled 155mm Ramjet Artillery Munition
Tamir Eshel - 0
Defense startup Tiberius Aerospace has unveiled Sceptre, a ramjet-powered 155mm artillery munition designed to achieve ranges up to 150 kilometers with sub-5-meter accuracy.
European Armies Accelerate Armor Modernization as US Scales Back Legacy Programs
Tamir Eshel - 0
As the U.S. Army scales back its armored vehicle programs, European nations are accelerating major modernization efforts, acquiring thousands of new armored fighting vehicles across multiple platforms. This article examines key programs in Greece, Romania, and the Netherlands, highlighting recent, local industrial involvement, competing international bids, and the broader implications of diverging transatlantic defense priorities.