Defense Technology

The T-15 and T-14 Armata family tanks and heavy APC are also on display at Army Forum 2018. According to UVZ, the new vehicles will be accessible to all visitors for the first time. Previously displayed with the 30mm turret, the T-15 was shown here for the first time with a 57mm cannon and two missile launchers on the...

The IRST will enable the Navy fighters to target adversaries beyond visual and radar range, and enhance survivability in radar denied environment, operate against existing and emerging air threats.

As a modernized version it will bring earlier models to the T2 standard. The Mi-26 is operated by a crew of five but the improvements introduced by the BREO-26 avionics suite enables most missions to reduce the to crew to 2-3 persons.

Laser beams are used for numerous applications and when associated with unmanned aerial systems are most likely used as drone killers. But under a new research supported by the US Defense Advanced Programs Research Agency (DARPA), lasers are used as a consistent power source for drones. DARPA plans to demonstrate this capability under the Stand-off Ubiquitous Power/Energy Replenishment - Power Beaming Demo (SUPER PBD), which will extend the mission of a Silent Falcon solar electric UAS using laser power.

The Italian MOD has ordered the first ten Centauro II wheeled tanks from Iveco-Oto Melara consortium (CIO). This award, worth 159 million Euro, that includes the procurement of vehicles, equipment, and logistics, is the first tranche of a planned procurement of 136 vehicles.

Finland has selected Israel's Advanced Naval Attack Missile to replace its current MTO85M system, a derivative of Swedish RBS15 that will reach the end of its life cycle in the 2020s. The new missile will be installed on existing Hamina-class missile boats and the new Squadron 2020 vessels, the first will be launched in 2019. According to the Finnish MOD, the missile will also be usable from vehicular platforms on land and against land targets.

The Raytheon Company and Dynetics are both developing laser weapon prototypes that will utilize 100 kW class laser weapons. One of the prototypes will be tested by the Army in 2022. Each company received $10 million from the U.S. Army recently, to build a High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator (HEL TVD) prototype based on the Army Oshkosh tactical FMTV truck.

Several contracts awarded recently marked significant progress in DARPA's Ground X-Vehicle Technologies (GXV-T) program with field demonstrations of projects developed by teams and companies under the Phase 2 of the R&D program. Among the technologies showing much progress are extreme mobility projects and crew augmentation technologies. The GXV-T program aims to demonstrate how future combat vehicles could improve mobility, survivability,...

In a fire demonstration that took place on the Suippes firing range in Northern France last week CMI Defence displayed an impressive lineup of combat vehicles weaponized with the company’s latest versions of Cockerill turrets. The first Cockerill Firepower Symposium included a dynamic live firing demonstration, in front of dozens of military officers, official delegations and media representatives from...

Germany and France are jointly launching the development of a new main battle tank and self-propelled gun, what seems to be the most strategic project in the European European land defense for the next 30 years, a program package that will shape the future of European armies’ main combat capabilities

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released today the findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2018, which assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security. One of the key findings includes the state of world's nuclear forces as of January 2018. "All the nuclear weapon-possessing states are developing new nuclear weapon systems and modernizing their existing systems" the report stated. The inventories listed in the table above show a small decline in the U.S. and Russian inventories, as Russia modernizes its strategic weapon's arsenal, and the US phases out some of the oldest warheads, under the nuclear disarmament agreements.

Israel’s armor specialist Plasan showcases broadened product line at Eurosatory, introducing a blast-protected model of the SandCat along with several light armored vehicles. In the heavier weight classes, Plasan provides a peek into the advanced protection technologies being integrated into newly designed combat vehicles. In recent years Plasan expanded its activity to heavier armored combat platforms, including 6x6, 8x8 and tracked fighting vehicles at weight levels up to 45 tons. Such armored vehicles are required to withstand medium caliber cannon threat levels and maintain functionality.

The U.S. Army conducted an operational test of two new Infantry and Recon Stryker variants in Europe. The Infantry Carrier Vehicle - Dragoon (ICVD) was equipped with an unmanned turret mounting a 30mm cannon, the other was equipped with the Common Remotely Operated Weapon System-Javelin (CROWS-J). Both were equipped with enhanced optics.

Plasan expands the Sandcat family with the introduction of the 4 GEN Sandcat. The new generation uses a monocoque hull, that eliminates the need for the Ford 550 frame, although retaining the automotive parts of the heavy-duty commercial vehicle. The use of a monocoque hull enabled designers to improve the vehicle's blast protection while retaining the overall vehicle's weight below nine tons.