Europe

RITA Valo – developed and produced by Thales Communications, is the French Army tactical communications system, The Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) based network provides voice and data communications between theater deployed headquarters supported terrestrial, satellite and wireless communications, both military, civil networks. The infrastructure supports high security (SD/SO) call and data routing, stationary and mobile subscribers and interfaces with external...

// Finland is investing about $460 million (3 billion NOK/€345) replacing its Russian medium-range air defense systems, introducing western air defense missiles to replace relatively modern Russian made systems, in an effort to streamline its arsenal with NATO standards. Finlands' Ministry of Defence selected a team of Norwegian Kongsberg Defense (Ticker: KOG) and U.S. Raytheon (NYSE: RTN)...

BAE System’s Herti Unmanned Autonomous System (UAS) is positioned to assume an expanding the range of applications, from commercial missions such as pipeline, plant and infrastructure surveillance, through to maritime, coastline, border and military surveillance, and even armed reconnaissance and close air support. The armed version of the Herti, dubbed ‘Fury’ is the latest version of the British unmanned system,...

// // Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) will produce 50 new Dingo 2 all-protected vehicles and remote controlled weapon stations, under contract awarded by the German Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB). The contract includes the manufacture and delivery of a total of 50 DINGO 2 patrol and backup vehicles, four DINGO 2 GSI (battle damage repair) vehicles, to be delivered...

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.

The Romanian Army has completed testing of SPIKE LR (Long Range) missiles as part of the Romanian Army qualification of the man-portable Spike-LR for dismounted operations.

// The U.S. Navy, and the Italian Air Force performed two missile firing tests of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) n August 2008. The tests were performed at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, as part of the missile's Operational Assessment, preceding a forthcoming 'Milestone C' Decision to begin Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP)....

Lockheed Martin Sikorsky has signed a strategic agreement with and German defense firm Rheinmetall teaming for competing in the German Air Force planned replacement of Sikorsky's CH-53G heavy transport helicopter program (Schwerer Transporthubschrauber - STH). The Germans evaluate two options - the CH-47F Chinook from Boeing and CH-53K from Lockheed Martin Sikorsky. The team plans to introduce more German teammates in the weeks to come.

Cassidian has successfully carried out a series of test flights with its Barracuda UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) technology demonstrator at Goose Bay military test range in Canada. In the past month Barracuda testbed completed five test flights under the 'Agile UAV in a Network Centric Environment' (Agile UAV-NCE) program.

Addressing the concern of restrictions of operating MQ-9 Reaper drones over Europe, due to the fact that this drone has not been certified to fly over civilian airspace, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA ASI), the drone’s manufacturer is developing a variant of the Predator B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to be certified for flight according to the NATO...

Facing serious threats to their armored forces operating in Syria, the Turkish Army turned to Ukraine to counter the Kurd missile attacks on their tanks. The system presented by the Turks as ‘Akkor Pulat’ is actually the light version of the Ukrainian Zaslon that has recently completed its initial tests in Ukraine and now enters an accelerated test series in Turkey. Designed with simplicity and relatively simple integration, the system is expected to be fitted soon to all types of Turkish main battle tanks currently operating in Syria.

The SkyLord family employs XTend’s edge technology with cognitive skills to safely perform dangerous missions. The system uses augmented reality (AR) guidance and control technology to enable an operator to perform complex missions with great ease and precision, using an AR vision system and a single-handed controller. This telepresence interface enables operators to immerse themselves and “step into” a remote reality and engage targets effectively yet safely.

L3 subsidiary Geneva Aerospace was awarded a $6 million contract by US Special Operations Command, for the development and production of the Expeditionary Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (EUAS) system. The classified program is expected to provide US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) with integral surveillance and reconnaissance capability. The potential value to Geneva, over five years, could become $250 million. Geneva...

STORM H is an individual, wearable Radio-Controlled IED (RCIED) counter-measure jammer, designed to protect dismounted troops on foot patrols. The device is sized similar to a hand-held radio, and can be worn in a pouch or pocket, or clipped to webbing. These new devices enable dismounted troops to safely move away from the restricted field of operation immediately surrounding an...