North America

On January 16, 2014, Austal USA successfully completed the launch process of the USNS Fall River (JHSV 4). Recently christened, this 103-meter high-speed catamaran represents the U.S. Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform. It is part of a 10-ship program, the funds for all of which have been appropriated, worth over US$1.6 billion. The launch of USNS Fall River...

The Marine Corps plans to buy or lease active protection systems (APS) for its M1 Abrams main battle tanks, Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh, deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for combat development and integration, told members of the Senate Armed Services subcommittee on seapower April 13. that are vulnerable to proliferating anti-tank guided missiles.

The MTS multi-sensor payload integrates infrared and CCDTV sensors, laser rangefinder, designator, and illuminator with optional addition of a laser spot tracker. The system provides high rate of stabilization (six axis) and flexible operating modes including integrated line-of-sight targeting (for laser designating), sensor fusion and automatic target tracking, using centroid, area and feature tracks. Embedded maintenance and alignment contribute to...

Following its plan to expand the former Killer-Bee platform it acquired from Swift Engineering in 2009 into a family of UAVs, last month Northrop Grumman flew the first in a new series of BAT unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The unmanned vehicle that flew in January 2010 was the BAT-12, a new, 12-foot wingspan (3.65 m') version powered by a German...

The US Army will field a comprehensive "enterprise level" maintenance information system for its ground combat vehicle fleet. The system will integrate existing test and diagnostic equipment to develop fleet wide logistic and situational awareness, implementing modern Condition Based Maintenance service that will enhance the operation and effectiveness of the tactical and combat vehicles of the current force. DRS is developing...

The U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) awarded Oshkosh Defense (a division of Oshkosh Corporation NYSE:OSK) an order for the supply of more than 6,000 upgraded vehicles to the U.S. Army’s Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicle (FHTV) fleet. The upgraded FHTV family of vehicles includes increased horsepower and performance features due to power-train and suspension upgrades. All three...

The ISDEF 2013 exhibition opened yesterday in Tel Aviv is the largest, most impressive defense expo taking place in Israel in recent years. Over 100 exhibitors gathered here, with thousands of visitors attracted by many professional seminars and demonstrations of assault means, weapon systems and CBRNE protective measures. In this brief coverage we highlight Unmanned `systems & Robotics. Two...

Foster-Miller, a subsidiary of QinetiQ's Technology Solutions Group announced the receipt of new orders for TALON robots under a recent $400 million IDIQ (indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity) contract awarded by the Robotic Systems Joint Program Office (RSJPO) administered by the Naval Air Warfare Training Systems Division (NAVAIR). It is a follow-on to the $150 million IDIQ awarded in the...

AME Unmanned Air Systems (AME UAS) is displaying the Fury 1500 Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) for the first time at the Paris Air Show 2011. The UAV has recently demonstrated flying powered by a heavy fuel engine. The use of JP8 significantly increases the capability of the system, decreasing the logistical footprint of the system while increasing...

BAE Systems has completed installation of 500 enhanced armor kits on US Army Caiman Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. The additional armor will be applied to more than half (1,694) of the 2,868 Caimans built for the US Army. // // Originally shipped directly to theater for installation, the kits are now being installed in Orangeburg, South Carolina due to the...

The US Marine Corps plans to field hand held Target Location, Designation and Hand-off Systems (TLDHS) to equip artillery forward observers with entry device designed to "speak" with new Excalibur Unitary GPS Precision Guided Munitions expected to be fielded with teh corps' M-777A2 155-mm howitzers by the third quarter of fiscal year 2007. The system will enable forward observers to perform target acquisition, then...

Lockheed Martin performed a successful flight demonstration of a company funded lightweight, precision guided weapon called Nemesis. In the first two tests, Nemesis demonstrated vertical launch, GPS navigation to targets located at distances of eight and 12 kilometers. The third GPS guided test aimed at short range target only 100 meters away from the launcher

Goodrich Corporation's (NYSE: GR) new reconnaissance pod has successfully completed flight testing as part of the F-16 Poland Peace Sky program. Testing was conducted recently at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The Goodrich DB-110 reconnaissance pod is carried on the F-16's centerline station and is controlled by the pilot using a cockpit Multifunction Display (MFD). The pilot has the ability to:...

With more F-35s joining the flight test fleets in Edwards AFB (CA) and Patuxent River Naval Air Base (MD), Lockheed Martin said today the F-35 flight test program moves closer to achieving year-end milestones. From the start of flight testing in December 2006 through July 25, 2011, F-35s flew 1,065 times, including the production-model flights and AA-1, the original...