DAN .338, a new Israeli sniper rifle from IWI
IWI is launching the DAN .338 sniper rifle at Eurosatory 2014. The new bolt action sniper rifle was developed in cooperation with the IDF special operations units. Bolt action rifles are preferred by snipers for their high precision at long range
New Russian Armor – First analysis: Armata
The Russian Ministry of Defense publicly presenting today the first members of the Armata family of heavy armored vehicles - the T-14 main battle tank and T-15 armored infantry fighting vehicle. The two vehicles are designed to become the spearhead of armored formations of the Russian Army, replacing T-72, BMP-2 and MT-LB based platforms.
Amphibious Ships Transformed Into Aircraft Carriers Debut in Asia-Pacific
The planned arrival of amphibious support ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) in the Pacific Ocean introduces a new capability for amphibious support ships carrying the F-35B fifth-generation stealth fighters without relying on large aircraft carriers. Apart from the American LHD, both Japan and South Korea are interested in the new potential mating STOVL fighters with flat-deck helicopter carriers. Both countries already acquired the conventional take-off variant (F-35A), and consider operating the Short Take-Off / Vertical Landing (STOVL) B version from ships.
Home Grown Syrian Soft Kill System Successfully Defeated TOW Missiles
The Syrian Army has reportedly introduced a locally developed infrared countermeasure system that effectively defeated the TOW guided missiles used by the US supported rebels. Three versions of the SARAB active protection (soft kill) systems were introduced since late 2015, which, according to Syrian sources, resulted in significant reduction in the loss rate of its armor to guided missiles attacks.
US Navy to test powerful, mobile laser weapon against drones
A compact yet powerful laser weapon developed by Raytheon will soon be integrated on a HMMWV, to demonstrate its ability to defeat enemy drones, as part of the enhancement of current US Marine Corps ground-based air-defense capabilities.
New Izumo-class carriers to greatly boost Japan’s force projection
Japan's new Izumo-class helicopter carrier currently undergoing sea trials is expected to be commissioned in 2015. The new carrier will dramatically increase Japan's force projection in the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, raising concern in China
Rheinmetall Ups Tank Firepower with new 130mm Gun
The new 130 mm gun is a precondition for the future tank, known as 'Main Ground Combat System' (MGCS) being developed by Germany. MGCS is currently being developed by Germany and France as a future replacement for the Leopard 2 and Leclerc main battle tanks, considering the increasing threat posed by Russian systems such as the Armata (T-14) MBTs. Rheinmetall...
US-Japanese Missile – SM-3 Block IIA Scores a Bullseye on 1st Intercept Test
The first live intercept test of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA interceptor missile was completed successfully on Friday dawn, off the west coast of Hawaii, proving the design maturity of the most advanced interceptor in the sea-based AEGIS Missile Defense system. The intercept was conducted by the US Navy AEGIS test ship - from the USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) as part of a US-Japanese cooperative development.
“Fireball, We’re Taking It Down!”
Last night th United States Navy tracked and intercepted the most capable and maneuverable ballistic missile deployed in the Pacific today, a target missile, representing the Dong- Feng 21 Chinese "carrier killer." The new medium target missile was flown for the first time on May 17, launching out of the PMRF range in Hawaii.
A new stealth corvette from France
Cherbourg based CMN (Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie) has unveiled the C Sword 90 stealthy corvette at the Euronaval naval expo in Paris this week. The stealth vessel is one of three new ship designs the company is launching, all positioned to address the growing needs of world navies to support increasingly demanding missions encountered at the high sea and littoral waters.
RD93 to power China’s J-31 Stealth Fighter
RD-93 engines made in Russia will power the Chinese J-31 fifth generation fighters, Sergei Kornev an official from the Russian Rosoboronexport said. He mentioned that there is a solution to the problem of China's reverse engineering of Russian weapons. "J-31 with the Russian engine RD-93 is considered to be an export program, able to compete with the American F-35 fifth generation aircraft on the regional...
An Austrian Assault Weapon Positioned as a Possible Successor of the German G36 Rifle
The German defense company Rheinmetall has teamed with Austrian arms manufacturer Steyr Mannlicher to manufacture and market the RS556 - a German version of the 5.56mm x 45 cal. modular assault rifle system based on Steyr's STM556. Rheinmetall positions the weapon as a proposed replacement for the current German military assault rifle - G36 made by Heckler & Koch.
First Israeli F-35 ‘Adir’ is Airborne
The first F-35 bound to Israel made its maiden flight June 25 from Fort Worth, Texas, flown by Lockheed Martin's test pilot. The aircraft will now conduct a series of flight tests to confirm its airworthiness.
Israel’s Navy New Anti-Ship Missile
Israel’s Navy conducted a successful test firing of a new surface-surface missiles launched from a Saar 5 corvette. The new missile is assumed to be part of an indigenous surface-to-surface missile system developed for the Israeli Navy by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
