Other Regional Defense Updates:
Algeria | Bahrain | Cyprus | Egypt | Iran | Iraq | Israel | Jordan | Kuwait |
Lebanon | Libya | Morocco | Oman | Qatar | Saudi-Arabia | Syria | Turkey |
Tunisia | UAE | Yemen.
- Defense-Update Weekly News Summary Sep 20, 2024
Dive into the latest global defense and military technology developments with Defense-Update Weekly News. Visit Defense-Update to dive deeper in this week’s news: Highlights: Combined Hardware-Cyber Attack Annihilate Hezbollah Command Network JASSM-XR Further Extends Cruise Missile Strike Capability Australian Redback AFV to Get PASEO Joint Fires Payload Rafael Breaks Cover of Iron Dome Mission Modules L3Harris Details Advances in Hypersonic Missile Tracking and Defense This week’s news summary includes: Land Warfare Weekly News Summary Aerospace Weekly News Summary Unmanned Systems Weekly News Summary Get a rapid-fire update on global defense’s latest developments in this concise 15-minute podcast. Stay informed on the latest defense technology, geopolitical shifts, and military innovations. Whether you’re a defense professional, technology enthusiast, or simply curious about global security, this update provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of modern warfare. View last week’s episode. (Sept. 12, 2024) #DefenseTechnology #MilitaryInnovation #DroneWarfare #AviationTechnology #GlobalSecurity #DefenseIndustry #MilitaryNews For more in-depth analysis and defense updates, visit our website: https://defense-update.com DISCLAIMER: This content is for informational purposes only. All information presented is based on publicly available sources and should not be considered professional military or strategic advice. - BAE Systems Awarded $440 Million Bradley Fighting Vehicle Contract Sep 19, 2024
BAE Systems has secured a $440 million contract from the U.S. Army to produce 220 additional Bradley Fighting Vehicles, partly replacing Bradley vehicles delivered to Ukraine. The contract will support the production of a new batch of M2A4, ensuring that the U.S. Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) formations maintain and improve their operational capabilities. The Bradley Fighting Vehicle, first introduced in the 1980s, is designed for troop transport and reconnaissance missions and provides significant firepower and protection. This new contract will produce the latest serially produced variants with enhanced armor protection, advanced targeting systems, vehicle electronics, and communication systems. The Army and BAE Systems have already introduced a more advanced Bradley, designated M2A4E1, equipped with the Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS) and a more robust electrical system feeding that APS. The U.S. Army plans to keep the Bradley platform operational until the XM30, its future replacement vehicle, is developed, slated for the 2030s. Rafael Breaks Cover of Iron Dome Mission Modules Rafael Advanced Defense Systems showcased its new Iron Dome Mission Module at last week’s Land Forces 2024 exhibition in Australia and the Air Force Association Air, Space, and Cyber (ASC) event in Washington, D.C., this week. Utilizing a mobile radar sensor and a 10-canister launcher mounted on light tactical vehicles such as the JLTV, The Iron Dome’s mission module is a compact, flexible solution that can be integrated into various defense platforms, providing rapid response to aerial threats, including rockets, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The module can be deployed in static and mobile configurations, making it versatile for different operational needs. (Read more) India’s Light Tank Zorawar Completes Trial by Fire India’s new light tank has completed its first live-fire trials and is expected to undergo limited user testing in the coming months. The Zorawar light tank has completed its first ... - Netherlands and Italy Increase F-35 Order Sep 19, 2024
The Netherlands has announced plans to expand its purchase of F-35 fighter jets, further bolstering its defense capabilities. The new order will raise the total number of F-35s to 58, up from 52. The decision reflects ongoing efforts by the Netherlands to modernize its air force and align with NATO defense goals. A week later, Italy announced a budget of 7 billion Euros to acquire 25 additional F-35s for its air and naval force. The new order will bring the Italian F-35 fleet to 115, with the naval F-35B STOVL variant at 40 aircraft. This expansion comes as European countries reevaluate their military assets in response to increased geopolitical tensions. The increased fleets of Italy and the Netherlands are expected to enhance NATO’s collective air power soon before future and ambitious 6th-generation programs materialize sometime in the next decades. Air Force Announces Second and Third B-21 Raider Bases The United States Air Force has officially announced the locations for the second and third bases for the B-21 Raider, its next-generation stealth bomber. Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri will host the second squadron, while the third squadron will be at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. “We continue to achieve B-21 production milestones; through digital engineering and open architecture design, we are getting an agile strategic deterrent that delivers a decisive response as required,” said Gen. Thomas Bussiere, Air Force Global Stike Command commander. Air Force Global Strike will remain ready and provide strike options for the country by maintaining, modernizing, and keeping its B-1 and B-2 bombers in service until the B-21 is delivered in the mid-2020s. The B-21 Raider is a long-range stealth bomber designed to carry out conventional and nuclear missions. With its advanced stealth capabilities and next-generation systems, the B-21 will play a pivotal role in the U.S. military’s strategy for ... - GA-ASI Unveils its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Sep 19, 2024
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has displayed a full-scale model of GA-ASI’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) during the Air Force Association (AFA) Air, Space & Cyber Conference 2024. The model was displayed at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s booth. GA-ASI was one of two developers selected by the center to develop and build production CCA. GA-ASI builds on its Gambit family of UAS to provide its CAA design. The second company developing CCA under the program is Anduril. Many highly capable autonomous warplanes will fly alongside and well ahead of legacy human-piloted fighters to enhance their sensing, networking, and combat capabilities. Oshkosh Submits Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Proposal Oshkosh Defense has officially submitted its proposal for the second phase of the U.S. Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program. The company’s design focuses on providing the Army with highly mobile, unmanned ground vehicles capable of performing various roles, including reconnaissance, logistics support, and direct combat engagement. Phase II consists of a base award of $118.9 million and calls for down-selected contractors to deliver nine RCV Production Representative Prototypes in early 2026. Oshkosh delivered two RCV Platform Prototypes as part of the Phase I Ground Vehicle Systems (GVS) Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) that Oshkosh was awarded in September 2023. These prototypes support platform mobility testing and Soldier touchpoints as part of the Phase II source selection. The Oshkosh team includes Pratt Miller Defense and QinetiQ US. The U.S. Army is expected to evaluate multiple RCV prototypes before making a final selection, with Oshkosh positioning itself as a key competitor in the program. The RCV program is part of the Army’s broader push to integrate unmanned systems into its force structure to reduce personnel risk and increase operational flexibility. Kratos Introduces New Low-Cost Turbojet Engines Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced the immediate availability of ... - Australian Redback AFV to Get PASEO Joint Fires Payload Sep 19, 2024
Safran is integrating the PASEO Joint Fires advanced day and night panoramic sight system onto Hanwha’s Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). The company announced this development at Australia’s recent Land Forces 2024 event. The PASEO system is designed to provide superior targeting, surveillance, and fire control, enabling the Redback to operate in various combat environments. The Redback IFV will soon enter service with the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) under the Land 400 Phase 3 project. PASEO integrates high-performance day and night all-weather optronics sensors, offering 360° coverage with a high-rate sectorial scanning capability. The PASEO Joint Fires includes Safran’s Geonyx inertial navigation system, which provides precise and reliable positions, even if satellite navigation signals are unavailable or inaccessible (GNSS-Denied environment). These capabilities allow the Redback crew to engage targets with greater accuracy while providing enhanced situational awareness for the crew. Safran has established operations through its local subsidiary, Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia, which successfully delivered several programs, including the supply of portable optronic solutions under the LAND 17 and LAND 300 projects and the integration of day and night sight MINEO into Australia’s Huntsman family of vehicles also delivered by Hanwha under the LAND 8116 Phase 1 project. - India’s Light Tank Zorawar LT Completes Trial by Fire Sep 19, 2024
India’s new light tank has completed its first live-fire trials and is expected to undergo limited user testing in the coming months. The Zorawar light tank has completed its first live-fire trials, marking a significant milestone in developing the nation’s Indigenous light tank program. The trials in desert conditions demonstrated the tank’s firepower and agility. The Zorawar is designed to address the needs of India’s army in mountainous and high-altitude borders like Ladakh and the northeast, where traditional heavy tanks struggle to perform. The Chinese already have the T-15 light tank deployed along their southern border with India. Equipped with a 105mm gun and advanced targeting systems, the 25-ton Zorawar is optimized for operations at high altitudes and in extreme weather, providing crucial support to infantry units in remote areas. Compared to modern main battle tanks weighing more than twice the Zorawar’s weight, it can move faster over more bridges and roads, delivering fire support and anti-tank capabilities to mountain troops and mechanized forces. The new tank was developed by the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) with Larsen & Turbo (L&T) as the private sector lead systems integrator and industrial partner. The company has already received the initial order for 59 tanks. The subsequent batches will be re-competed by local industries under the Make-in-India scheme. The successful trials bring the tank closer to full production, with the first example out of the 350-unit production series expected by 2025. - Rafael Breaks Cover of Iron Dome Mission Modules Sep 19, 2024
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems showcased its new Iron Dome Mission Module at last week’s Land Forces 2024 exhibition in Australia and the Air Force Association Air, Space, and Cyber (ASC) event in Washington, D.C., this week. Utilizing a mobile radar sensor and a 10-canister launcher mounted on light tactical vehicles such as the JLTV, the Iron Dome’s mission module is a compact, flexible solution that can be integrated into various defense platforms. It provides rapid response to aerial threats, including rockets, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The module can be deployed in static and mobile configurations, making it versatile for different operational needs. The system is designed to be deployed as part of a tactical layered air defense protecting contingency Air Force or Marines units deployed overseas. These elements in Australia address the Littoral Lift Group Australia’s plans to stand up in Queensland and the Northern Territory. The Iron Dome, a proven system that has successfully intercepted thousands of rockets in operational use, is being marketed to allied nations as a key component of multi-tiered air defense strategies. - L3Harris Details Advances in Hypersonic Missile Tracking and Defense Sep 19, 2024
Threats to our national security increase every day as the United States near-peer adversaries develop and field sophisticated weapons on accelerated timelines – including hypersonic missiles that are faster, more elusive, and more dangerous than ever before. U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Salzman described the current environment at the Mitchell Institute’s annual Spacepower Security Forum in 2024. “We must protect our space capabilities while being able to deny an adversary the hostile use of its space capabilities,“ said Salzman. “The adversary won’t wait, and neither can we,” said Rob Mitrevski, Vice President and General Manager of Spectral Solutions, L3Harris, adding that L3Harris has made significant progress in advancing the United States’ hypersonic missile tracking and defense capabilities. As part of its broader effort to counter emerging hypersonic threats, the company completed a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the Infrared Sensor payload for the US Space Systems Command (SSC) Missile Track Custody (MTC) Epoch satellite constellation, expected to begin launching in late 2026. SSC plans to deliver satellites every three years in “Epochs,” incrementally building out capabilities over time. The system will detect and track missile launches and hypersonic glide vehicles in flight. Under separate work with the Space Development Agency (SDA), L3Harris designed, developed, and built four satellites for the SDA’s Tranche 0 (T0) Tracking Layer program in less than three years. Those satellites will launch with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) satellite. With these sensors, the DOD can concurrently warn, track, and target advanced threats by launching the T0 and HBTSS satellites. In a follow-on step, the company completed the Critical Design Review and Production Readiness Review for SDA’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program, a $800 million 16-vehicle constellation designed to identify and track hypersonic missiles. L3Harris has also awarded a ... - JASSM-XR Further Extends Cruise Missile Strike Capability Sep 19, 2024
Lockheed Martin has unveiled the AGM-158 JASSM-XR, the latest extended-range version of its Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). As a variant of a proven and air-qualified family of weapons, the XR variant offers a low-risk solution compared to a ‘clean sheet’ new weapon. It is designed to offer significantly increased range and payload capacity compared to previous models, enabling strikes from further distances while carrying larger warheads. According to Lockheed Martin, by leveraging the mature JASSM and LRASM production line, established supply chain, mission planning, and software infrastructure, and implementing a few structural changes, XR can significantly reduce development and production time. With its 1,000 lb warhead, JASSM-XR can deliver precision strikes on heavily defended targets, with a range exceeding 1,500 miles (2,400 km). This advanced capability allows the missile to penetrate deep into enemy territory while staying out of reach of modern air defense systems. Its low-observable design ensures high survivability against detection and interception. This new variant will be integrated with various platforms, including the B-1B Lancer, F-35, and other U.S. aircraft, strengthening long-range precision strike capabilities in future combat scenarios. The introduction of JASSM-XR reflects ongoing efforts to extend the reach of air-launched weapons while minimizing risk to crews and platforms. Lockheed Martin has leveraged its Model-Based Enterprise (MBE). This integrated digital environment spans the entire life cycle of a program, including informing upgradeable product improvements and spiral evolution to existing programs. - Combined Hardware-Cyber Attack Annihilate Hezbollah Command Network Sep 19, 2024
Over 3,000 pagers and hundreds of two-way radios exploded this week, causing about 40 fatalities and wounding thousands of Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon and Syria. The pagers exploded after receiving a coded message in Arabic that triggered the explosion after a short delay, thus maximizing the damage when users picked up the devices to read the messages appearing to come from Hezbollah leadership. The operation was executed on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 17, 2024, and was followed by the activation of hundreds of booby-trapped walkie-talkies the next day. A senior Lebanese source said the devices had been modified “at the production level.” Such compromise could involve integrating an electronic board with explosive material that receives a code that triggers an explosive device hidden in the pager, integration of a primer mechanism activated by a similar code, triggering the batterie’s energetic lithium compound to explode, or replacing one or more of the batteries powering the device with alternative batteries containing PETN sheet explosives. The devastating effect requires a minute amount of explosives weighing only a few grams per device. Such action leaves no signature and can only be detected with a chemical or forensic lab examination. Hezbollah imported the pagers from a supplier in Hungary five months ago. The compromised devices included pagers from several countries, including Brazil and Taiwan. At least one of the manufacturers indicated that the actual supplier of its branded devices was another company called B.A.C. Consulting. Operating from Budapest, Hungary, they allegedly produced the AR-924 pager model used by Hezbollah under license from Gold Apollo. This agreement allowed BAC to use Gold Apollo’s brand trademark for product sales in certain regions. The partnership had been in place for three years. Israel allegedly began shipping these pagers to Lebanon in small numbers in the summer of 2022 and ...
