Counter Terror & Homeland Security

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) unveiled today the ELM-2090S Spectra 'mega radar', an 'S band' companion to the Ultra UHF radar system introduced few months ago.

Iran has test fired a new missile equipped with maneuverable, re-entry-vehicle (MARV) warhead, capable of hitting targets with accuracy four times better than previous Shahab and Ghadr missiles.

With the evolution and proliferation of drone technology, ordnance disposal units are now facing a new and worrisome threat, the Flying IED.

The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and US Navy conducted a successful series of missile intercepts in the Pacific Ocean last week, demonstrating the capability of a newly modified missile interceptor to defeat short range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles with the same weapon. The SM-6 was designed from the start to defeat air breathing targets such as cruise missiles, but the recent test was the first to demonstrate the modified variant's capability to defeat ballistic threat missiles in their final seconds of flight.

The U.S. military is launching 'Operation Jade Helm 15' today, a large scale exercise taking place over several states. The Special Operations Command (USASOC) will supply the vast majority of the roughly 1,200 personnel participating in the joint exercise, along with units from the Navy, Marines and the Air Force. The exercise will span over two months, from July 15 through September 15.

TEC Torch - a small, hand-held thermal erosive cutting (TEC) torch that cuts through steel bars in two seconds is being developed by EMPI for use by SOF personnel, law enforcement and first responders, used for hot breaching, forced entry and in rescue operations, as well as for the neutralization of explosive devices (EOD-UXO) and thermal destruction of objects and systems on land and underwater.

The Centaur optionally piloted aircraft (OPA) has flown multiple unmanned flights over the State of New York, operating from Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York during the past month. The flights marked the first time any large-scale, fixed-wing aircraft has flown at either of six FAA-designated unmanned aircraft test sites in the U.S.

The Scorpion reconnaissance and attack aircraft displayed at the Paris Air Show this week is currently on its second European tour, visiting mainland Europe and the UK. Seeking international customers Textron offers the Scorpion at a cost of business aircraft - 'below $20 million per aircraft', and at a flight-hour cost of $3,000 – about 10 – 20 percent of the acquisition and operating costs of modern combat aircraft or advanced trainers.

A superficial look at the 51st Salon la Bourget may give the impression that this year's Air Show is all about civil and commercial aviation. Take a closer look at the aisles and the static park, look under the wings or below some innocent looking planes, and you will realize that military aerospace is still 'in.'

The United States and Japan have conducted the first flight test of a new version of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3 Block IIA). This new missile interceptor is designed to extend the reach of current AEGIS Ballistic Missile defense systems deployed on naval ships and ashore. It is being developed jointly by the two countries at a combined cost of $2...

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is unveiling an advanced, UHF, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar at the Paris Air Show. It is designed to search, detect and track ‘air breathing targets,’ including low-observable (stealth) aircraft, missiles, UAVs and ballistic missile targets at very long range, providing operating early warning. The new radar, which has already become operational with an unspecified customer, is part of the new ULTRA family of UHF radars developed by IAI's ELTA Systems Group and subsidiary.

Unconfirmed media reports from Poland are indicating the Polish MOD has selected the US company Raytheon to provide the Polish future medium-range missile defense system, the Polish paper Gazeta Wyborcza reported Earlier today.

A number of new technologies spotted By Defense-Update covering breaking news at the Counter Terror Expo that opened today in London.

Iran unveiled yesterday the Bavar-373, an indigenous long-range air defense missile defense system employing Sayyad-3 (Hunter III) interceptor during the Army National Day parade. Iran launched the indigenous development program after the delivery of Russian S300 systems was suspended under the sanctions imposed on Iran by the UN in 2010. Immediately after the cancellation of the Russian sale Iran displayed a mockup of a similar weapon during a military march in Tehran, claiming it is developing its own version of the system.