Aerial Weapons

The French armament directorate (DGA) has launched a development program that will modernize the MICA air/air and surface/air missile, introducing a new generation of the weapon (MICA NG).

Lockheed Martin's Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) system has successfully passed its Defense Acquisition Board review and achieved milestone C. The signed Acquisition Decision Memorandum approves the JAGM system to enter into Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP). JAGM flight tests, including ten Limited User Test flights, were completed across the performance envelope and target requirements over a period of months leading...

The U.S. Navy is testing an upgraded weapon kit for the KC-130J Harvest HAWK to provide close support for Marine and special operations forces. The HH+ is an upgrade to the original Harvest HAWK roll-on, roll-off precision strike package weapons system. The team also develops an engineering change proposal (ECP) to improve the Hellfire weapons capacity on the aircraft and ensure the KJ platform is sensor-shooter, electronic warfare and digitally interoperable capable.

The Indian Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) completed a first test flight of an advanced propulsion system that promises to enhance the range and agility of air-to-air (AAM) and surface-to-air missiles (SAM). The Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) developed under a joint Indo-Russian R&D project achieved a speed of Mach 3 on its first flight.

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Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, a manufacturer of jet-powered tactical unmanned aerial drone systems, will soon offer its Mako militarized, combat unmanned aerial vehicles systems for export, following approval of such export by the U.S. State Department to certain European and Asia Pacific region countries.

Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Republic confirmed today that Russia began deploying new strategic weapons that are virtually immune to enemy missile defense capabilities. These weapons include a hypersonic air-launched attack missile and ground-launched hypersonic glider, that can be used with nuclear or conventional warheads. Russian scientists have also matured a compact nuclear propulsion system that can be fitted to unmanned aerial vehicles and torpedo-like submersibles, used as cruise missiles. Nuclear powered Representing new weapon categories, both systems are not likely to be covered by the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).

Israel's UVision demonstrated their Hero-400EC extended-range loitering missile system last month, pitching the enhanced drone to a strategic customer that already operates the company's other Hero loitering weapons.

As part of the expanded weapon's capability of the M-346 Master aircraft, the Leonardo Group tested the fighter/attack trainer with air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, launching Raytheon's AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missile and drop laser-guided bombs.

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) munitions directorate awarded two competitive contracts for the first phase of development of a new cruise missile designed to defeat modern, integrated air defense systems (IADS).

The German Air Force officially received the first shipment of Raytheon Enhanced Paveway II guidance kits (GBU-48), preparing its Eurofighter Typhoon to assume ground attack missions.

As the SDB II program is nearing completion of developmental testing Raytheon has completed the first production lot of the Small Diameter Bomb II (designated GBU-53/B) at its fully-automated manufacturing facility in Tucson, Arizona.

In recent months Qatar defense officials were busy dealing in shopping for fighter jets to expand their minuscule air force into a significant, modern air power. If those deals are fulfilled, in less than five years the Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF) will increase its order of battle from the current nine Mirage 2000-5 fighters to 96 modern combat jets, armed with the latest weapons the Western world can offer.

The U.S. Air Force is planning to increase the weapon loadout on its MQ-9 drones by integrating Guided Bomb Unit-39B/B, also known as laser small diameter bomb (LSDB) onto the drone. The weapon is integrated into the vehicle using a dual carriage system, controlled via universal armament interface. The Reaper currently carries the GBU-12 250 pound Laser Guided Bomb, in addition to Hellfire missiles, both are limited to short range attack patterns.