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Parachute and Airborne Delivery expert IrvinGQ has adapted its ATAX platform to support the autonomous aerial deployment of unmanned ground vehicles, enabling users to deploy UGVs by parachute to remote locations, behind enemy lines without risking human lives to support those assets.

With new survivability solutions, including advanced ERA against kinetic and chemical energy threats, passive armor stopping threats beyond the medium caliber level, and blast protection from mines and IEDs, Plasan's expertise become essential for combat vehicle manufacturers producing efficient designs of next-generation platforms such as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV).

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.

Aerovironment announced today expanding its loitering weapon family, as it introduced the Switchblade 600 – the largest weapon in the family announced to date. The new weapon employs the tube-launched, collapsible wing, electric propulsion architecture as Switchblade 300, and its Blackwing variant. With longer range, extended mission endurance, and multi-purpose warhead Switchblade 600 expand the warfighter’s capability engaging larger, hardened targets at greater distances.

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has unveiled a tracked robotic platform (TRX) designed to meet the US Army’s ‘Robotic Combat Vehicle - Medium’ class requirement. Yesterday, TRX starred at the center of GDLS’ virtual display at the virtual Modern-Day Marine expo, hinting more information will be provided at the upcoming AUSA virtual event next month.

The U.S. production facility will provide Israel the ability to finance the acquisition of Iron Dome batteries, and Tamir missile interceptor reloads with U.S. military support. Apart from protecting troops and bases, Iron Dome will be able to protect long-range defense systems such as the THAAD, which could be vulnerable to unconventional threats such as short-range missiles, cruise missiles and drones.

The Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS and Finland's Patria Oyj have formed a teaming agreement to provide turreted mortar solutions for future U.S. Army mortar programs. Under this agreement the team will promote the turreted mortar and produce the 120mm Patria Nemo, turreted, remote-controlled mortar system in the US.

Suffering in silence under the crisis triggered by COVID 19 is not the way to respond to the dramatic market changes unfolding. Guest author Joel Alon outlines some of the positive prospects hiding in this dire situation, presenting new opportunities for Israel's struggling defense industries.

The U.S. Navy recently completed a portion of developmental testing of the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) electronic warfare (EW) pod. Moving to flight testing with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 by late June or early July 2020, the program is scheduled to reach Milestone C by the end of this fiscal year and expected to become operational in 2023.

Patria and the U.S. Army have entered into an agreement for a feasibility study of incorporating a turreted, breech-loaded 120 mm mortar weapon system in U.S. mortar carriers. The evaluation will assess the integration of carrier weapon platforms and fire control systems and the use of current U.S. 120 mm mortar ammunition in a breech-loaded system.

The unmanned Loyal Wingman aircraft was unveiled in Australia yesterday. The aircraft is the first of three prototypes built under the Australian Loyal Wingman program. The Loyal Wingman prototype now moves into ground testing, followed by taxi and a first flight later this year.

Lockheed Martin has received a $6.07 billion contract from the U.S. Army for the production of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors. PAC-3 MSE leverages an advanced multi-mission interceptor that expands the Patriot weapon system's capability against advanced tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft.

The US Navy awarded Marinette Marine Corporation (MMC) a contract to design and produce the next generation small surface combatant, the Guided Missile Frigate (FFG(X)). The FFG(X) will be based on the successful ‘European multi-purpose frigate’ designed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and the French Naval Group. Ships of this design are already operated by the French, Italian, Egyptian and Moroccan and will also be supplied to Brazil.

Russia has been engaged in direct ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) anti-satellite weapon tests in the past months. On April 15 a missile launch from the Plesetsk test site on the arctic circle. Russian media sources reports said the missile tested was a variant of 'Nudol' anti-ballistic missile that has reached a speed of over 7,000 m/sec, thus positioned in the 'hypersonic' category.