Fire Support

The Russian defense establishment's perception of the place of artillery - in general, and rocket Artillery - in particular, has undergone a significant advancement over the past decade, placing these systems at a central place on the ground battlefield. This emphasis was evident at the recent Victory Parade in Moscow and at the Army Forum 2020 defense expo taking place in Kubinka this week.

Lockheed Martin successfully tested today the long-range missile designed for the Army's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program. The program now enters a 14-month technology maturation risk reduction phase that will lead to the delivery of 30 missiles by late 2023 under an urgent material release. 

Israel’s Ministry of Defense (IMOD) has announced the acquisition of 'Fire Weaver' - a networked sensor-to-shooter system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Fire Weaver will be implemented at the divisions of Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) as it becomes operational in the coming year.

In a recent firing series held in South Africa, the German-South African joint-venture Rheinmetall Denel Munitions (RDM) demonstrated a dramatic increase in the range of its artillery firepower. The demonstration employed three 155 mm cannons with 52 and 39 caliber lengths, which scored three world records - firing at ranges of 76, 67 and 54 km.

Supacat, Rheinmetall Defence and SCISYS have partnered to showcase at DSEI 2019 the ‘High Mobility Integrated Fires Capability’. Supacat also demonstrates a hybrid, optionally manned autonomous ATMP developed in cooperation with te University of Exeter

Rheinmetall has partnered with WB GROUP of Poland to provide dismounted troops with high precision strike capabilities using loitering munitions, by integrating Rheinmetall's 8x8 all-terrain Mission Master UGV with WB's WARMATE Loitering Munition System.

Although Loitering Munitions (LM) have been introduced decades ago, these weapons have gained general acceptance and maturity in recent years, following their operational debut in battlefields in the Caucasus and the Middle East. While several manufacturers already offer various types of ‘suicide drones’, only a few are committed to this category as Israel’s UVision Air, the developer, and producer of the Hero line of loitering missiles that unveiled a range of new members of its Hero family of LMs this week at the recent Paris Air Show. Uvision has already sold Hero LMs to multiple customers, including the Israel Defense Forces, and leading NATO countries.

RAFAEL has tested a new lightweight launcher for its Spike NLOS missile system, designed for integration on light offroad vehicles. For the launcher qualification testing the system was integrated into the Tomcar TE6 all-terrain, hybrid-electric powered vehicle, demonstrating unique operational capabilities for the system. RAFAEL developed this application to meet a specific customer requirement, making it the...

An illustrated report reflecting on of some of the new missiles displayed this week at the Airshow China in Zhuhai.

A new robotic vehicle displayed at 'Airshow China' defense expo in Zhuhai this week is equipped with a missile called by its developers a 'micro-intelligent missile'. The tube-launched weapon weighs only one kilogram but is equipped with energetic rocket propulsion powerful enough to carry it on a flight up to 2,000 meters, and a warhead, (likely shaped charge) designed to defeat light armor.

The US Army has developed a self-propelled variant of the XM-907 155mm 58 Caliber cannon. an M-109A8 variant based on this enhanced design is expected to be fielded by 2023 and provide the US Army with cannon artillery firepower that could reach targets 70 km with high precision. Eventually, the Army hopes that with enhanced ammunition those guns could reach targets at 100 km.

AeroVironment is working with General Dynamics Land Systems to tighten the integration of its unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with GDLS’ combat vehicles. This integration will enable mounted forces to employ small drones and loitering weapons on demand and on the move.

Israel's RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. is expanding its Spike guided missile family with the introduction of Spike ER2, an extended-range tactical missile the company positions to equip attack helicopters, combat vehicles, and mall boats.

Israel's defense ministry has placed a major order for a number of IMI Systems precision-guided rockets and rocket systems to equip the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) artillery corps.