David’s Sling Weapon System Completes Final Testing
The Israeli David's Sling air and missile defense weapon system (DSWS) successfully completed today the fourth and final series of tests (DST-4), representing the final milestone in the system's development. DST-4 is the final milestone before the IDF declares the David's Sling an operational system. The first of two units is expected to become operational in early 2016.
U.S. Army increases orders for SwitchBlade microUAV based guided weapons
Award of $4.3 million increase the Switchblade funded contract value to $63.8 million
Military Applications of Fuel Cell Technologies
Fuel cells offer significant savings of loads, in weight and volume, compared to conventional power sources. For example, a 13 pack BA-5590 batteries weigh more than 29 lbs and cost $100 each. (Thirteen batteries are required to support a typical 72-hour deployment.) The US Army is evaluating the use of inexpensive, injection-molded fuel cell technology formed into the common...
Northrop Grumman Realigns its Shipbuilding, Missiles Operations
Northrop Grumman Corporation announced a strategic realignment of several of its operating sectors in an effort to improve customer support and utilization of resources. Under this realignment the company created a single shipbuilding sector called Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding which will merge its Newport News and Ship Systems operations creating a single management for the company's annual turnover of approximately...
Lockheed Martin Unveils 2.75″ Laser Guided Rocket
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) today unveiled the Direct Attack Guided Rocket (DAGR), a 2.75 inch guided rocket developed as a company funded initiative, designed g to defeat targets in urban operations, while minimizing collateral damage. The DAGR is fully compatible with the Hellfire II laser guided missiles, increasing M299 smart launcher load-out by up to four times. Its off-axis capability...
Global Net-Centric Surveillance and Targeting (GNCST)
A BAE Systems led team is developing a web-based surveillance and targeting system for the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's (NGA) under a US$47 million contract. Global Net-Centric Surveillance and Targeting (GNCST) system, dubbed "Gun Coast", uses real-time intelligence to rapidly identify battlefield targets and other possible threats to accelerate the decision-making process performed by human intelligence analysts. Through the...
Raytheon Receives Multi-Year Contract to Supply over 6,000 TOW-RF Guided Missiles
Raytheon announced it has won a multiyear contract worth US$349 million, to deliver 6,676 TOW RF missiles to the US Army and Marine Corps
Next-Generation FBCB2 JCR on the Test Bench
Northrop Grumman Corporation has delivered the next version of Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) software to the U.S. Army to begin formal government testing. The new software, called Joint Capabilities Release (JCR), provides a common FBCB2 platform solution for both the Army and U.S. Marine Corps. FBCB2 is the key situational awareness and command-and-control system used by...
Raytheon, Dynetics are is Building 100kW Tactical Lasers for the US Army
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.
Italian Tornados Prepared for New Weapons
Panavia, the European consortium responsible for the multinational Tornado program has been awarded a contract introducing the AGM-88E (AARGM) and GBU-39 (small Diameter Bomb) weapons to the Tornado Strike Fighter platform, addressing the Italian Air Force long term upgrading plan.
Tactical Image and Intelligence Exploitation Systems
Miniature Video Recorders and cameras PhotoTelesis from Symetrics Industries group developed lightweight video recce system (LVRS) which is currently in service with special forces. The image acquisition and transmission device integrates image processing, storage, display, annotation and management functions. The whole system can be packed in low weight, compact system called the Military MicroRIT (MMR) or operate in a ruggedized...
US Army Awards 3rd Contract for Armored FMTV Medium Trucks
BAE Systems has been awarded a $1.6 billion contract from the U.S. Army to build 10,000 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) and trailers for delivery during 2009 and 2010. BAE is already working on two previous orders received earlier in 2008, for the production of 10,000 vehicles. This new contract brings the total award value for FMTV trucks...
Modern Bombers Applications for Conventional Warfare
Start < Page 8 of 9 > The high combat effectiveness demonstrated by precision guided weapons brought the US Air Force to reconsider the employment and mission priorities for its bomber force. The US Air Force uses three types of bombers – Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, Rockwell B-1 Lancer and Boeing B-52H Stratofortress. All three were designed during the cold war era to penetrate enemy...
NIE 07: Has Bush “Lost the Nuclear Battle” to Ahmadinejad?
By all means it's all over bar the shouting and latest US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) 2007 will have given Washington a painful shot in the leg, a remarkable achievement, which has doubtlessly caused the Tehran Mullahs a hearty Persian laugh! An exultant Iranian spokesman, Gholam-Hossein Elham already hastened to claim Tuesday, that US accusations about Iran's peaceful nuclear...
