Thales UK’s Watchkeeper program is moving forward, with the first production unmanned air vehicle (UAV) platform flying since April this year. The first flight took place in Israel, the second aircraft is being completed by U-TacS, the joint venture company established by Thales UK and Elbit Systems in England. Flight testing is expected to continue in Israel until fall, focusing on envelope expansion, airworthiness and testing of the sensors. By fall the first and second aircraft will transition to ParcAberporth in Wales, where special corridor and operating airspace have been established for these unmanned aerial systems.
“The coming months are critical for the program” said Alex Dorrian, Thales UK Chief executive Officer. With the platform undergoing flight testing, the next steps will include integration and testing of the EO/IR/laser target designation capabilities, automatic takeoff and landing and the I-Master radar and dual payload flights.
Watchkeeper will provide real-time imagery and situational awareness enabling commanders on the ground to gain a detailed picture of the battlespace and to make timely decisions accordingly. The system will be configured with a dual payload as standard, comprising of the D-Compass, an electro-optical payload and Thales I-Master synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). “The SAR imagery seen in initial trials of I-Master is outstanding and testing of the Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) functionality is well underway” said Dorrian. “The combination of the radar and EO/IR sensors operating form a tactical platform will provide a transformational step in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability for the UK armed forces”.
According to Nick Miller, Business Director, UAV Systems at Thales, the system is designed for a high degree of autonomy, supporting autonomous takeoff and landing (ATOL). This system will be capable of operating in all weather conditions, using GPS and radar navigational systems, determining the direction and approach glide slope in regular as well as GPS-denied conditions.
The Russian navy and air force continue to expand their operations on a global base. Their most recent plans call for joint naval exercises, combining naval units, Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95 Bear long-range strategic bombers, to be held in Indian Ocean later this autumn.
According to the Russian Air Force commander, Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, the Air Force had received orders to increase joint training with the Navy and the number of patrol flights across the world’s oceans are aimed, to ensure the security of Russian shipping in it’s national, strategic- and economically important zones. Last year Russia resumed strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. “Since August 2007, Russian strategic bombers have carried out about 150 patrol flights with tactical interference of foreign aircraft, which accompanied our planes on their missions and in some instances jeopardized their success,” Zelin said.
Flying these patrols, strategic bombers are supported by aerial tankers, gain experience flying in northern latitudes and deploy on temporary missions to forward landing airfields.
It is of special interest, that in June 2008 two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers were deployed to the Engels airbase in the Saratov Region, flying routine patrols over the Arctic. One month later, in July 2008, similar patrols were flown by four additional bombers based at the Ukrainka air base in the Far Eastern Amur Region. These aircraft were sent on 14 hour patrol flights over the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. Other missions conducetd last week involved a pair of Tu-160 bombers flying 12 hour missions over the Arctic sea and Atlantic ocean. These patrols provide routine Russian presence in these highly strategic areas, as well as improving the air-crew’s proficiency, in flying and navigating over the vast and featureless arctic region.
The Russian Navy also places more attention on the Arctic region, resuming its regular naval presence in that area, after 17 years of noted absence. In June and early July 2008 the Russian Udaloy class anti-submarine ship Severomorsk entered the arctic circle for about a month’ deployment, replaced by the Slava class missile cruiser ‘Marshal Ustinov’ in mid July.
As Severomorsk left the area it paid a visit to the Norwegian port of Haakonsvern to continue the traditional spirit of cooperation with participation in ‘Northern Edge 2008’ – a tri-national exercise involving the Russian Fleet, US Navy and Norwegian Navy, taking place in the Norwegian and Barents seas. Northern Edge 2008 focuses on maritime interdiction operations, search and rescue and tactical interoperability to improve maritime safety and security in Northern Europe.
Yet, such peaceful spirit is somewhat obscured, by Russian naval patrols around the area of Spitsbergen, claimed within Norway’s exclusive right to the 200-mile economic zone. A subsequent test launch of a intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) from the Delta-3 nuclear powered missile-carrying submarine Ryazan, further raises concern of the Russian intentions. Ryazan is also operating with the Russian Northern Fleet. The launch was described by the Russian Naval comman, as ‘routine check-up of the nation’s naval strategic nuclear forces’, It was fired from a submerged position in the Barents Sea, hitting a target on the Kamchatka Kura training range.
The arctic area is only one of the areas the Russian Navy is expected to operate in. speaking to journalists on the occasion of the Russian Navy Day celebrations, the commander of the Russian Navy, Admiral Vladimir Visotskiy confirmed the the Russian Navy is planning to deploy six aircraft-carrier groups with its Northern and Pacific fleets. They will be operated within a new, network-centric task groups, closely integrated with Russian air force and air-defense assets via Russia’s military-satellite network. At present, the Russians operate a single aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov with the Northern Fleet.
Modern weapons are no longer compared on the size and power of their warheads. In a world where illusive targets take cover amongst innocent civilians, and friendly forces are located across the street or behind a wall, the smaller, more surgical effect a weapon has is better. To successfully engage targets under such restrictions, an attack should be pursued swiftly as soon as a target is exposed and while nearby friendly forces and non-combatant elements are least vulnerable.
Responding to these requirements, weapon manufacturers are offering a new range of lightweight precision weapons, optimized to destroy soft targets, while reducing effects beyond a specified distance. While containing smaller amounts of explosives, such weapons are also designed to have even more powerful effect over a limited area, utilizing ‘enhanced blast’ (thermobaric) explosive compounds, which are particularly devastating indoors. Such materials are being evaluated for future, ultra low collateral damage version of the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), developed under the US Air Force Focused Lethality Munition (FLM) program developed by Boeing.
Reducing the Weapon’s Lethality
Compared to the FLM’s 93 kg blast, low fragmentation warheads, the latest member of this class being displayed at Farnborough for the first time is designed to far more surgical strikes. The new Lightweight Multi-Mission Missile (LMM) developed by Thales contains a warhead weighing only three kilograms. LMM will use laser guidance (beam riding) to fly out to a range of about seven kilometers, where it will activate a semi-active laser or passive infrared seeker to detect the target from a distance of about 1,000 meters. It will then pursue a terminal attack profile, continuously monitored by the operator.
Presently the missile uses blast fragmenting warhead but in the future Thales considers adding an anti-tank dedicated version, fitted with a tandem shaped charge warhead. LMM is designed for light platforms, including light helicopters and unmanned systems. It has been fired from the BAE Systems Herti Unmanned platform and test flown on Scheibel’s S-100 Camcopter unmanned helicopter. Both platforms can carry two missiles each. At Farnborough 08 Thales displays the missile on the AgustaWestland Sea Lynx, where seven LMM missiles are carried by a new launcher weighing about 275 kg.
70mm/2.75″ Guided Rockets
In 2006 BAE Systems was awarded $45.7 million by the U.S. Navy to develop the Advanced Precision-Kill Weapon System (APKWS) modifying standard 2.75″/Hydra 70 rockets into laser guided weapons. Following successful demonstrations conducted through 2007 fired from US Marine Corps AH-1W and Army OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed scouts. BAE Systems is planning to begin full rate production of the conversion kits in 2009.
Raytheon is also developing the Griffin air-to-surface lightweight missile as a private venture. The Griffin is a 45 lb, 42 inch long tube launched missile using semi-active laser guidance. Raytheon was awarded a $9.3 million contract to supply the missiles to equip Predator UAVs operated by an ‘unidentified’ U.S. customer. Each Predator can carry six Griffins, instead of two Hellfire missiles currently carried by the platform.
Another system unveiled here for the first time is the Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket – Laser (GATR-L) developed under a collaborative effort between Elbit Systems and Alliant Techsystems (ATK). GATR-L will introduce a fixed (non gimbaled) semi-active laser seeker and guidance unit to ATK’s 70mm unguided rockets, converting these weapons into precision attack munitions. Such weapons will offer the effect currently achieved by much larger and expensive weapons such as the Hellfire and Maverick missiles, at much lower cost and reduced collateral effect. Similar developments are being pursued by BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Kongsberg Defense from Norway.
A month ago Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) also unveiled a long awaited multi-purpose version of its Lahat missile, designed to defeat ‘soft’ targets. The new 2.5 kg warhead uses a fragmentation sleeve fitted to a shaped charge, designed for multi-role effect defeating both armored and soft targets with blast-fragmenting effect.
As the first Littoral Combat Ship USS Freedom was delivered to the US Navy on September 18, 2008, marking the completion of the final sea trials phase, began on July 28, 2008 in Lake Michigan. While the US Navy suspended further acquisition of LCS class ships, Israel formally requested to buy up to four such light frigates built by Lockheed Martin. LCS can be configured to deploy with any one of three interchangeable mission modules: the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) module; mine countermeasures (MCM) module and surface warfare (SUW) module also know as mission packages.
The first vessel (LCS-1) was delivered with the ASW mission package (MP) utilizing several different vehicles the MH-60R helicopter, unmanned air vehicle, unmanned surface vehicle and associated sensors, including towed array sonar, remote towed active source, USV dipping sonar, multi-static off-board source — to detect, classify, localize, track and engage submarines in the littoral environment. According to U.S. Navy Program Executive Officer for Littoral and Mine Warfare, E. Anne Sandel, the LCS’ anti-submarine warfare mission package will provide the Navy with a persistent large area detection capability, through our advanced unmanned vehicles and bi-static ASW systems.
The Israeli variant (LCS-I) has been refined in the past two years, under close cooperation between the Israel Navy, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Lockheed Martin, in an effort to optimize the vessel for Israeli Navy requirements. According to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the total cost of the program could reach $1.9 billion, provided that all four ships are procured. Israel’s MOD has set aside $200 million from its five year defense budget planning to fund the first ship, with additional $160 for its weapon systems suite. The second vessel will be funded under the next five-year budget, commencing 2013.
If the program is approved, Lockheed Martin will build the hull, mechanical and electrical systems, while the installation and integration of combat systems performed in both, US and Israel. Rafael Advanced defense Systems, Elbit Systems and Ness Technologies have already teamed with Lockheed Martin on the LCS-I program. As the program progresses, IAI is also expected to join, with Elta and MBT providing key systems including sensors, command, control and communications, as well as offensive and defensive systems.
Maximizing Multi-Mission Capability
The new vessel has a cruising speed of 40 knots, and a range of will benefit from speed and agility uncommon with current frigates, making it especially effective, to conduct operations in littoral waters. It is designed to be capable pf operating at low speeds, on littoral mission operations, transit at economical speeds, and conduct high-speed sprints, which may be necessary to avoid approaching threats, such as, for example, a small boat or submarine, conduct intercept operations over the horizon, or provide for naval commando insertion and extraction missions. The US Navy considers the LCS particularly effective in defeating asymmetric threats in the littorals, including mine warfare, engaging quiet diesel submarines and defeating fast surface craft. The vessel will also introduce dramatic improvements in support of manned and unmanned special operations, relying on its spacious integrated flight deck and capability to launch and recover manned or unmanned watercraft such naval comando fast boats or Rafael’s ‘Protector’ unmanned surface vessel.
Unlike the US ‘flexible design’ approach, the Israelis require their vessel to perform all the LCS missions in a single platform. As a multi-mission frigate LCS-I will be equipped as the baseline for anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-missile warfare missions, as well as special operations. This demanding approach required some compromises, including the elimination of the gun, which will be replaced by a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System. The ‘sacrifice’ of the medium caliber cannon has not been exceptional, since modern guided weapons are far more effective and cause less collateral damage, compared to a traditional cannon.
Considering the limited operational theater defined by Israel’s geo-strategic situation, Israel’s Navy has limited its requirement for large ‘corvette’ size vessels, rather than the larger frigates commonly operated in the ocean sea. The littoral combat ship design was found suitable for Israel’s specific operational concept. However, while the original LCS was designed to operate independently, or as part of a force-package, supported by much larger vessels, it’s mission in the Israeli Navy, is expected to become the centerpiece of Israel’s naval force, providing command, control, situational awareness and protection for a larger force, combining Saar 5/5B corvettes and Saar 4.5 missile boats.
Originally Israel considered have its LCS-I ‘piggy back’ on the construction of LCSs for the US Navy LCS, however, after construction for the first hull was exceeding $450 million. The US Navy cancelled the program. Israel and Saudi Arabia are currently the only potential buyers for this design. Israel requested competing proposals for similar designs, from four different shipyards, including Northrop Grumman, which has recently expanded its shipbuilding activity, the US Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Company Alion.
Assessing Alternatives
Despite of the significant cost increase of the LCS platform, Lockheed Martin’s Freedom remains the only light frigate class vessel that could be procured, meeting the current Israeli schedule. All current naval vessel platforms under construction in the US are much larger. Some shipbuilders in Europe offer ‘light frigates’, but most of the active programs are focusing on larger vessels. Two European shipbuilders were approached by Israel – the German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) which produces the F125 frigate for the German Navy and the Italian shipyard Fincantieri, which has produced four corvettes for the Italian Navy. None is suitable for the Israelis, which require a 2,000 – 3,000 ton platform. Israel could benefit from similar programs currently underway in other countries, such as the Republic of Korea, which has launched the construction of the ‘FFX’, a light and stealthy frigate, the first is planned to be completed by 2015.
TKMS, through its subsidiary HDW has already supplied three Dolphin submarines for the Israeli Navy and is on contract to deliver two additional subs. TKMS is currently producing four F125 a 6,800 ton Frigates for the German Navy. At present, TKMS does not have a US based subsidiary, which could benefit it from the U.S. Foreign Military Sale funding, allocated for Israel. A fifth proposal was submitted by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, currently associated with two major programs – the joint Italian-French 5,900 ton FREMM class frigates, building with the French company DCN a new generation of frigates, and four Cigala Fulgosi class 1,500 ton corvettes, for the Italian Navy. While Fincantieri does have an American based subsidiary, it is not yet geared for major shipbuilding operations in the US.
LCS-I Weapons Complement
According to the US announcement, the LCS-I combat system will comprise of two MK-41 Vertical Launch Systems, each fitted with eight ready-to-fire missiles. These launchers could be equipped with Barak-8 medium-range air defense missiles, extending the ship’s protection beyond the range currently provided by the Barak-1 point defense systems, employed on Saar 5 corvettes and Saar 4.5 missile boats. Barak 8 is currently under development for the Indian and Israeli navies. Consequently, the Barak 8 will have to be integrated with the MK 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS), opening significant export potential for the new Israeli naval air-defense weapon systems.
The LCS-I will carry a single Phalanx Block 1A Close-In-Weapon System, replacing the Mk110 57mm stabilized gun. The Israeli vessel is likely to be installed with two Typhoon remotely controlled naval gun systems or its US Mk-38 Mod 2 derivative. As a self-contained, above-deck system, this configuration could provide the Israelis with enough space to more vertical launchers for Barak 8 or other missiles, extending its capability as an air-and missile-defense asset.
Four Enhanced HARPOON launchers will also be carried on deck, these could potentially carry either Harpoon or Gabriel V anti-ship missiles. As part of its anti-submarine warfare system, the LCS-I will also be equipped with two MK-32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes (SVTT). This weapon complement is not significantly different from that carried on the current Saar 5 corvettes. Traditionally, the Israeli Navy packs significantly more weapons on deck, a trend that could be repeated with its new LCS.
Further adaptation could be made to the ship’s combat system. The vessel comes with the Lockheed Martin SPY-1F(V) and MK-99 Fire Control System as standard, parts of the AEGIS weapon system. The vessel will be controlled through the COMBATSS-21 which will also integrate with Israel’s Navy Command and Control (IC2) systems. The new EL/M-2248 MF-STAR phased array naval radar, locally built IAI/Elta Systems will be considered, as it is claimed to be superior and lighter than SPY-1F(V). Israel has an option to integrate this radar as well as its own combat system, datalinks and communications systems, sensors and defensive measures.
The early warning capability provided by US X-band radar that Israel has requested recently could extend the range of Israel’s Arrow II ballistic missile interceptors, enabling effective intercept above the atmosphere.
The United States agreed to link Israel onto advanced long-range missile detection systems against potential attack by a nuclear-armed Iran, Israeli defense Minister Ehud Barak revealed this week, at the end of his strategic Washington talks with senior Pentagon officials, including US Defense Secretary Robert M Gates.
Nearly 70 members of Congress, including the top Democrat and Republican on the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to President Bush urging him to offer a warning radar that is “fully integrated” with the emerging U.S. shield. Analysts believe that the idea behind this gesture is to encourage responsible elements in Israel to defer offensive measures against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Known as the Forward-Based X-band Transportable (FBX-T) radar, the AN/TPY-2 is built by Raytheon, based on the ‘Ground Based Radar’ employed with the THAAD system. The FBX-T is designed as an air, ground and rail transportable, X-band, phased array radar that uses high-powered, electronically scanning pulsed beams, to track small objects in space at high resolution. The system has been described by U.S. officials as capable of tracking an object the size of a “baseball from about 2,900 miles (4,600 km) away”. The system is being developed in a spiral process. The current phase provides surveillance and search capabilities early in the target trajectory, and enables the early engagement of the threat. It also supports messaging and communication with the Ballistic Missile Defense Systems (BMDS) battle manager (C2BMC).
Performing autonomously, or as cued by other sensors, the FBX-T is optimized for its role as missile detection and tracking sensor. The radar will provide target detection, classification, discrimination, acquisition and tracking. It will plot the trajectory parameters for each threat missile, and pass it to the command and control system for use by the fire control systems, such as the Green Pine radar, acting as fire control system, midcourse and terminal sensors. Furthermore, the long range and wide area coverage provided by the new radar could cause Israel rethinking its sofar shelved, ‘boost phase intercept’ concept, by deploying forward positioned interceptors far from its borders and close to the enemy launching sites.
The new capability will improve both the Israeli missile defense capability, enhancing Israel’s existing Arrow II anti-missile defense, allowing it to engage Iranian Shehab-3 ballistic missiles, fired on Israeli targets at much greater distances. It will also provide an important element of the US missile defense network, providing ascent and mid-course coverage of missiles, launched from Iran, as well as the eastern Mediterranean. This would give a potentially targeted Israeli population at least five precious minutes to prepare for a first Iranian missile impact. The Arrow’s Green Pine radar operates at a lower frequency (L-Band) and therefore, offers lower resolution, While the radar can pick up a missile target as it ascend into space on its ballistic trajectory, its intercept is limited to a later phase of the trajectory, soon before or after it enters the atmosphere on its way to Israeli airspace, with lesser warning time made available in a surprise attack.
Four transportable forward deployed radars are currently planned. Two were produced by the end of 2007 and deployed to protect the United States’, friends and allies from Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and medium range threats. It is not yet clear whether the system destined for Israel will be one of those four.
The US Ballistic Missile Defense System, is planning to deploy four forward based X-Band radars to enhance the US missile defense system, providing a ‘tripwire’ detecting missile attacks from ‘rough states’ soon after they are launched. Current space based sensors and large anti-ballistic missile radars provide launch indication and tracking of ballistic missiles, but are not designed to track medium range ballistic missiles in flight. In addition to Israel, other locations already considered for the radars are Japan, South Korea, and Czech Republic. A sea-based X-Band radar station has already been activated last year, off the Alaskan coast. Forward based radars, coupled with layered sensors, give the Ballistic Missile Defense System a continuous tracking and discrimination capability with more opportunities to engage the target, resulting in a greater probability for a successful intercept.
Iran’s growing ballistic missile capability is of great concern at the Pentagon. According to the Director, Missile Defense Agency Lt. Gen. Henry Obering, the US is concerned that extended range ballistic missile capability, already obtained by Iran is ‘much farther beyond anything that Iran would need in a regional conflict with Israel’, “a missile that is capable of even 1,300 or 1,500 kilometers, could encompass the entire Israeli country as well as – U.S. bases in the region.” General Obering noted. “We do not want to be in a situation where we’re facing a long-range missile threat, in which we don’t have protection against it.” According to Obering, part of this preparation, is the deployment of early warning sensors and interceptors in locations able to provide coverage and protection to those nations that would be vulnerable to long-range Iranian missiles.
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems has also received $41 million to develop generic Sensors Technology Automated Recognition, which could be implemented for ‘radar vision’ capability, featuring Combat Identification (CID), Ground Moving and Airborne Moving Target Indication (GMTI/AMTI). The fully integrated system will be able to utilize a multiple algorithm to perform recognition and combat identification of ground targets at tactically significant ranges. Possible applications of these capabilities could include Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) and countermeasures employment. In Intelligence, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (ISTAR) and Battle Damage Assessment role, data-fusion empowered by the new technology could improve information processing cycles, between the sensor and decision maker.
Northrop Grumman will develop a new signals intelligence (SIGINT) payload for unmanned systems under the U.S. Navy’s Warfighter’s Tactical SIGINT Resource (WTSR) program. The capabilities to be offered by WTSR will enable tactical units to benefit from sensor networks to track targets, collect and share actionable intelligence over the network, and automatically distribute SIGINT based alerts.
At present, due to the complexity and unique technical skills required from systems operators, SIGINT is managed primarily at operational and strategic levels and is not directly supporting forward echelons. The Navy’s objective is to provide small unit tactical forces with the sensing and tracking capabilities needed to conduct warfare against an asymmetric threat. The program focuses on developing new sensors; tags and taggants; and network communications that integrate unmanned vehicles and unattended ground sensors into the net-centric battlefield.
Under a three-year $5.2 million contract low-cost Northrop Grumman is developing a lightweight, plug-and-play SIGINT sensor package that requires minimal power. The sensor will be equipped with flight-tunable receivers that enable rapid re-tasking of the SIGINT payload during flight operations. The system will be designed to fly on Tier II/Class II tactical UAVs (similar to the US Army/AAI Shadow 200 UAS), operating at an altitude of 3,000 feet.
On February 4, 2008 Sweden has decided not to proceed with the development of the next-generation SEP family of armored combat vehicles. Joris Janssen Lok reported on Aviation Week’s Ares blog. According to armed forces procurement chief Leif Nylander, one of the main reasons for the decision was that neither Sweden nor BAE Systems have managed to find an international partner for the program, with whom Sweden could have shared the development cost. The Swedish Army planed to field a new Modular Armored Tactical System program (SEP) which will be based on common modular wheeled and tracked platforms configured for more than twenty different roles. These included armored personnel carrier, command post, ambulance, medical vehicle, anti-tank missile system, anti aircraft missile system, mortar vehicle, reconnaissance, forward observation vehicle, nuclear, biological and chemical warfare decontamination centre, mine clearing and mine scattering, recovery and repair, communication post, radar, electronic warfare etc.
The common chassis will have an electric transmission system, replacing the mechanical drive shafts with electrical cables, transferring the power from the engines to wheels. This transmission system has many advantages over existing mechanical systems, including volume and fuel efficiency, and increased stealth characteristics. Other benefits are reducing life cycle costs and environmental impact. Decoupled from the final drives, the engine can be mounted flexibly, including the use of distributed power sources (multiple engines). The batteries integrated into the electric drive system allow stealth movement on electrical power only, driving silently with the engines shut down. Another benefit of the electric drive is the increased useable internal volume.
The armored hull is built with integral ballistic armor primarily protecting the fighting compartment. The hull is constructed of high hardness steel armor construction rated to protect against shell fragments and rifle rounds. Appliqué armor weighing 1.5 tones made of ceramic tiles protects against 14.5 mm armor piercing rounds. Heavier armor provides protection against 30 mm armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot (30 mm APPFSDS) rounds.
The new vehicles will comprise mission or role specific modules, fitted on common tracked or wheeled vehicles. These modules will be designed as “Plug in building blocks”, allowing fast adaptation to different tasks and quick upgrades as new technologies become available.
In a troop carrier role, a combat ready SEP will be able to carry a load of 4.5 tons, including 12 infantrymen. A space of 10 cubic meters will be available in a standard load carrying module, substantially larger than that of conventionally powered vehicle of a similar length. Fully laden, SEP will weigh 16.6 tones, carrying up to 6 tones of payload, at top speed of 100 kilometers per hour for the wheeled version and 85 km/h for the tracked variant.
SEP Wheeled
The wheeled version, called “SEP-Wheeled” vehicle has three axles and uses 6×6 drives. The vehicle uses two engines driving an electric transmission, powering each wheel by a 100 kW maximum power permanent magnet, in-hub electric motors. The motors are fitted with a two speed reduction gear. This design offers high redundancy and survivability when operating in combat conditions.
The SEP uses two commercially available diesel engines placed in the sponsons of the vehicle. This gives the advantage of a totally clear central volume of the vehicle, compared with traditional designs built with large, centrally mounted engine compartments. The wheels are mounted with double cast-steel wishbones with short torsion bar spring. The front wheels are steered normally, the centre wheels are not steered and the rear wheels are steered to provide steering at low to medium speeds and to cut out the rear wheel steering at high road speeds to maintain high speed stability. The wheels are fitted with 405/70 type R24 tires. Using the electric drive has improved the vehicle’s stealth characteristics, in terms of thermal, acoustic and radar signatures.
The vehicle uses two 6 cylinder diesel engines in-line, developing 2×270 hp (2×200 kw) of power at 4000 RPM. Each engine is coupled to a 7 speed automatic transmission, driving a separate alternator generating 150 amperes. Steering is performed by 1 pr 2 axels, providing 18 meter turning diameter or all four axels, facilitating pivot maneuvers within a seven meter diameter (the vehicle’s length is six meters). The vehicle uses hydro-pneumatic suspension, offering several optional automotive systems designed to improve performance over different types of terrain, including automatic braking system (ABS), central tire inflation system and central leveling adjustment capability. SEP 8×8 will be able to carry a wide range of armament, including gun turrets (25 – 120mm) and mortars (81 – 120mm). While the 6×6 SEP is designed to be transportable inside a C130, the 8×8 version will have to be carried in the larger A-400M. The vehicle comes fitted with displays for the commander and driver, both seated side by side in the front. Integration with different electronic mission systems is also supported utilizing CAN bus multiplex data system for the vehicle’s automotive and maintenance systems and high speed Ethernet data network for tactical, C4ISR systems support.
SEP Tracked
The tracked vehicles are fitted with special rubber bandtracks (already used with Bv206 articulated carriers) rather than conventional steel link tracks. These tracks are lighter, quieter and have a operational life of about twice that of an equivalent steel linked track. The new bandtracks have a lower rolling resistance and are operating more efficiently with the electric transmission systems, yielding higher fuel efficiency. Another unique design feature is the underframe mounted suspension. This spaced outer layer gives improved protection against mines. The SEP vehicle can withstand a 7 kilogram TNT explosion under a track.
The use of bandtracks and decoupling the suspension from the side frames and hull dramatically reduces internal noise level to as low as 85dB, which is sufficiently low to meet civilian vehicle noise requirements. The vehicle uses a new electronic architecture developed by Hägglunds, based on an open scalable, fault tolerant databus which manages all the on-board systems and crew interfaces including the weapons systems, battlefield management, defensive aids suite, built in test, digital radio communications and other mission or role specific systems.
SEP T2 was delivered on November 22, 2005 to the Swedish defense Material Administration (FMV) by BAE Land Systems Hägglunds. According to Sven Kågevall, Managing Director of Land Systems Hägglund, SEP develops considerable international interest, from the UK, where it is considered for the British FRES project, EDA (the European Defense Agency of the EU), which restructures and coordinates the work of future defense products in Europe, as well as Norway and Australia.
SEP was displayed by BAE Systems Land Systems Hägglunds at the AUSA 2007 exhibition. At DSEi 2005 the company displayed its two new prototypes of wheeled and tracked chassis developed for the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) Modular Armoured Tactical System (MATS) program. (also known as SEP – Splitterskyddad Enhets Plattform). SEP is currently under development for the Swedish defense Forces, under a 500 million Swedish Kronor contract awarded to BAE Hagglunds in 2006. This program includes the development of two 6×6 wheeled vehicles and two SEP tracked vehicles in troop transport and logistics carrier configurations. These vehicles will be configured in troop carrier and logistics vehicle configurations. The vehicles will weigh around 17-18 tons and will use electric drive or standard diesel engine. The Swedish Army is expected to buy at least 500 of the new vehicles, and have them operational by 2014.
British MoD Embraces Loitering Weapons as Part of an Enhanced Precision Attack Operational Concept
The need for a weapon capable of loitering over the battle area, instantly responding to targets being exposed for very short period time, was identified during an early assessment phase under the UK’s IFPA (Indirect Fire Precision Attack) Assessment Phase 1 (AP1) program was concluded in 2005. Such weapons maintain long persistence over the battle area, maintaining concealed enemy elements, including air defense and surface missiles units at risk, when being prepared for launch. The second phase of the IFPA Assessment Program (AP2) is nearing conclusion, as it is re-assessing the planned mix of munitions against latest Defense Planning assumptions and scenarios informing the balance of investment between the currently envisaged mix of 155mm munitions, rockets and Loitering Munitions. MBDA and QinetiQ are part of the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Integrated Program Team (IPT), expected to deliver the final results soon.
The loitering weapon (LW) capability is being addressed by Team LW – a consortium comprising MBDA, QinetiQ, Roxel and Thales UK (the Team CW lead companies) plus the best in class in industry including appropriate SMEs and Academia, Blue Bear Systems Research, Cranfield Aerospace, Cranfield University, Lockheed Martin UK INSYS, Marshalls SV, Meggitt, Selex Sensors & Airborne Systems, Ultra Electronics and VEGA. Backed by £10million invested by the industry members in risk reduction aspects of the proposed system, the team launched the first loitering munition concept vehicle, named Fire Shadow, in April 2008, validating its endurance and maneuverability goals.
Officially launched at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2008, the loitering munition assessment phase is part of the overarching ‘Team Complex Weapons’ (Team CW) joint industry -MoD development roadmap. The assessment phase of the LW program is expected to conclude by 2011, to be followed by full scale development decision. The actual weapon could be introduced into service incrementally, beginning in 2011.
‘Fire Shadow’ will be designed to meet the UK’s requirement for an affordable weapon with an operating range exceeding 100km, and terminal attack precision in the ‘sub-metric’ CEP range (Circular Error of Probability). To meet complex rules of engagement, the weapon will features Man In The Loop (MITL) operation, enabling a human operator to overrule the weapon’s guidance and divert the weapon’s flight path or abort the attack and return to loiter mode in conditions where friendly forces are at risk, prevailing conditions do not comply with rules of engagement, o, where an attack could cause excessive collateral damage.
The loitering weapon will be targeted by Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) assets such as Watchkeeper and be compatible with other battlefield systems. The LM will be capable of loitering in the target area for around 10 hours and will be particularly effective in air-defense and ballistic missile suppression missions, and support operations requiring extended persistence, such as asymmetric counter-terror or operations in urban environments. Following launch, Fire Shadow will cruise to its loitering area the battle zone, where the weapon will be able to receive real-time target information from a range of sources in a potentially network or infocentric enabled environment. Such sources could include ISTAR aircraft or surveillance UAVs (Unmanned Air Vehicles) or even from an operator on the ground.
The goal set by the British MoD is to procure the Fire Shadow as a low-cost munition, at a unit cost comparable to that of a Guided MLRS round. Yet due to its extended persistence over the battlefield, Fire Shadow is expected to offer improved ‘yield’, having higher probability of engaging valuable targets over its extended mission.
Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) currently under development for the US Army, is a low cost fuze sized module intended to replace the standard fuzes used with artillery ammunition. PGK performs in-flight course correction to improve fire accuracy and effectiveness of tube artillery, enabling closer support of friendly forces.
PGK will complement other precision munitions such as Excalibur and Saber, offering significant improvement in fire effectiveness at an acceptable cost. PGK will be employed in three separate increments, with 155 and 105mm ammunition. The PGK will be set by the Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuze Setter (EPIAFS). PGK will Enables commanders to suppress enemy elements quicker and more efficiently
Complements precision munitions.
In the past two months BAE systems conducted two series of tests, as part of a second part of an interim testing for the U.S. Army’s Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) Technical Development program. The recent firings tested the fully autonomous GPS guided flight using M549 Rocket Assisted Projectiles (RAP) fired at a range of about 20.5 kilometers; the guided rounds demonstrated the ability to acquire GPS within the desired time and the ability to maneuver within the required 50-meter Circular Error Probable (CEP). The Army plans to award the development contract to the winner of the competitive shoot-off. Increment 1 PGK (<50m CEP accuracy with 155 HE rounds) is expected to be fielded in Fiscal Year 2009. Increment 2 will improve accuracy to 30 meters.
Other competitors for this program are ATK, which teamed with Rockwell Collins and Draper Labs. ATK developed a guidance system embedded into the fuse assembly of conventional projectiles. The kit uses a fixed canard design, which does not require complex activation or deployment of actuation. ATK claims the new guidance system will be able to reduce the calculated error point (CEP) below 20 meters (x10 time’s advantage over unguided artillery).
BAE Systems announced April 12, 2007 the conclusion of20 successful firings of a 155mm GPS-guided artillery projectile. The company is leading one of two teams competing for the PGK program. The recent test demonstrated the capability of the GPS guided high explosive, rocket assisted round to hit targets at a range 20.5 km with 50 meter (CEP) accuracy, which is the threshold of PGK increment 1. BAE Systems and ATK will participate in the ‘shoot-off’ which will determine the final winner of the program.
MBDA is developing a 50kg modular weapon system as part of the Complex Weapons program, addressing future enhancements of the Brimstone air-launched anti-armor weapon, The new weapon will be designed as a modular platform ‘bus’, accommodating modules and subsystems designed for rapid technology insertion through the in-service life of the weapon system. This common missile approach could be adaptable for several families of weapons, with benefits of high production capacity and cost effective through life support. The new weapon is intended to enter service from around the middle of the next decade.
The threat set for this type of weapon is: typically mobile and likely to be capable of fast moving. It will include semi-hardened buildings such as command centers, mobile air defense units and light armored vehicles. Importantly, this new weapon is to discriminate its target when for example the moving “target” vehicle is close to similar sized “non-target” vehicles. The new weapon needs to be very flexible in its targeting which can take place from the platform itself or from a third party. Consequently the weapon must have very high degrees of precision with a lethal package that is focused – this combination ensures that collateral damage is limited and only the target area affected.
The new missile will establish a common weapon employed with army, air force, naval manned and unmanned strike fighters and helicopters. The weapon could be considered to replace the Hellfire on Apache helicopters, the Brimstone on existing fast jets, as well as the future SPEAR (Selected Precision Effects At Range) to me employed on future fast jets like the F-35B and possibly future combat UAVs like Taranis.
The fast jet requirements from the UK Royal Air Force, under the SPEAR requirement, is looking for the ability to engage mobile, re-locatable and fixed targets at long stand off ranges with extreme precision. This requirement recognizes the ever increasing demands placed by the dynamic rules of engagement particularly in complex environments which might include urban and built up areas where the risk of collateral damage is at its highest.
The Network Enabled Capable (NEC – datalink equipped) missile will accommodate a baseline GPS assisted guidance system augmented by an imaging seeker for pinpoint accuracy in the terminal phase. A range of seeker and warhead options are currently being evaluated to optimize the required low collateral precision effect. It will be used as principal weapon on current and future strike fighters including Tornado GR4, Eurofighter Typhoon, Apache and F-35B.
A powerful mysterious blast that took place two weeks ago in the Tehran suburb of Khavarshahar near a Revolutionary Guards munitions warehouse and wrecked a convoy of Revolutionary Guard Corps vehicles that was allegedly carrying arms to Hezbollah. Although the blast was clearly heard throughout Tehran, the Revolutionary Guard imposed a complete clamp-down on any reports on the incident, and the Iranian media have also remained strangely silent about this incident . Intelligence sources have mentioned lately, that there has been a significant rise in the movement of weapons from Iran to Hezbollah in recent months, especially via Syria and even Turkey .
Supporting the Hezbollah
Those sources indicate a number of ways for the IRGC to deliver weapons to Hezbollah. One is overland – by means of Iranian trains and trucks crossing Turkey and reaching Syria, where they unload the weapons and transfer them directly to Hezbollah via the border between Syria and Lebanon. In May 2007, a shipment of Iranian weapons bound for Hezbollah was discovered after the Iranian train that was carrying them derailed as it passed through Turkey.
Another means of delivering weapons is believed to be by air. Iranian planes loaded with munitions are flying over Turkish air space to land at Damascus International Airport, where the weapons are unloaded. From there they are transferred in trucks over virtually unguarded Lebanese border, or by organized smuggling routes through the mountains .
Jerusalem’s is Alarmed
So concerned over this trend is the Israeli government, that two weeks ago the security cabinet convened a special meeting to discuss Hezbollah’s continued arming process, which is regarded highly disturbing, due to it’s size and quality. Of growing concern are suspected air defense weapons, which allegedly could endanger Israeli reconnaissance flights over Lebanon, which Israel regards vital for it’s real-time intelligence monitoring efforts .
According to reports, which seem coming from sources close to Israeli and other western intelligence agencies, the Khavarshahar explosion was just one of several mysterious incidents, which happened recently inside Iran. One occurred on April 12, at a mosque in the city of Shiraz, killing at least 12 people and wounded about 200. The London based Arab newspaper A-Sharq Al-Awsat reported that the explosion was caused by residual ammunition in the mosque following a recent military exhibition, commemorating the 1980-88 war with Iraq which had been held in the mosque. Another incident, which remains unexplained, happened earlier at an IRGC missile site that killed dozens of Iranian technicians .
Mysterious Blasts at an Iranian Missile Base
Reports emanating from Iran in January 2007 indicated a huge explosion in the Kerman area at the edge of the Kavir Lut. The Deputy Governor General of Kerman province Abulghassem Nasrollahi told a news agency of an unexplained crash, which was followed by an explosion and a thick spiral of smoke. Iranian authorities were investigating the crash, described witnesses watching an explosion “caused as a result of the crash of a radiant unidentified flying object onto the ground”. There are several secret military sites in the Kerman Province, among them a military plant which started assembling Chinese Cruise missiles, M-11 missiles with a range of 300 km, as well as CSS-2 missiles with a range of up to 1,000 km.
Last June, another mysterious explosion happened at Bidganeh near the town of Shahriar 40 kilometers east of Tehran. It occurred at a military installation, with Iranian authorities claiming the blast was caused by a “gas leak”. Western military sources are skeptical and believe the authorities are trying to cover up some sort of sabotage. In fact, a similar cover-up occurred back in 2005 following an explosion blast at Daylam, near the Bushehr nuclear site.
In a breathtaking demonstration of aerodynamics and power, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor air dominance fighter claimed an uncontested position as a ‘superfighter’, streaking through the skies in a set of impressive maneuvers flown over Farnborough. “The display performed here is not unique airshow stunt” says Alan Norman, senior experimental test pilot at Lockheed Martin. “We performed here regular maneuvers flown by Raptor pilots as part of their air combat maneuvering.” The Raptor demonstrated only a small part of its performance, highlighting a ‘close combat’ scenario hitherto left shaded by the fighter’s air dominance capabilities.
F-22A Raptor seen during a supersonic weapon delivery test at Edwards AFB, where the air dominance fighter is undergoing flight testing with new Small Diameter Bomb weapons. Photo: USAF
The display highlighted ‘close combat’ scenarios hitherto unclaimed by the air dominance fighters, since it was assumed that Raptors will have the upper hand in any engagement even before it rolls down into close air-combat, through the use of superior situational picture and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) weapons.
“Like most air combat engagements, it tends to end in a dogfight and that’s where Raptor excels” says Larry Lawson, executive vice president, general manager of the F/A-22 Raptor program. Taking advantage of the aircraft closely integrated flight and propulsion control of the thrust-vectored engines, Raptor pilots can point the aircraft nose, fly to any direction and launch their weapons through a wide envelope, unmatched by any contemporary adversary. Situational awareness can be shared by several Raptors, based on information provided by each of the fighters through the intra-flight networking.
Introduction of new datalinks is planned for the next upgrade phase could link Raptors with F-35s and B-2s, expanding sensor sharing and situational awareness capbility beyond the F-22 own flight. Future upgrades could also include the re-introduction of the JHMCS helmet-mounted display sight absent from current Raptors, as the fighters were previously considered primarily for BVR engagements. (this is the reason why the AIM-9X hasn’t been integrated onto the aircraft yet) .
Another enhancement is currently underway as the F-22 is being evaluated in the ground-attack with flight testing of Raptors carrying Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) in their weapons bay. With the completion of this task the Raptor will be able to assume part of the missions reserved in the past for the F-117A stealth strike fighter.During recent force-on-force exercises, including Red Flag in Nevada, and Northern Edge in Alaska, Raptors ‘cleaned up’ the skies from enemy ‘aggressors’ soon after the battle started, leaving many ‘unemployed’ Raptors airborne and many frustrated aggressor aloft, “we have counseling for them” jokes Lawson. Overall, Northern Edge ended in an exchange ratio of 80 adversary kills for each Raptor ‘downed ’.
Meanwhile, air combat skills are developed for the F-22 community at the new air combat fighter weapon school at Nellis AFB, where unique operational tactics are developed, examined and trained by Raptor pilots. These tactics employ the fighter’s unique performance and ability to operate in loose formations (maintaining large distance between fighters), relying on their collaborative situational picture, super-aerodynamics and stealth.
Sofar fighter pilots would be assigned to the F-22 after flying F-15s, going through 100 F-22 flight simulator missions. However, according to Lawson, the Raptor proves quite easy to fly and is also planned for less experienced pilots. New pilots are already being trained at Tyndall AFB, the F-22 training center, to fly the Raptor as their first fighter aircraft.
Lockheed Martin already provided 122 Raptors operating from bases in Langley, Virginia and Elmendorf, Alaska. The third unit was launched recently at Holloman AFB, New mexico with Hickam, in Hawaii expected to become the fourth home for the Raptors. The entire fleet accumulates flight hours rapidly, with a total of 47,220 flight hours flown through 32,509 sorties to since the aircraft entered service. The F-22 fleet is expected to fly 21,951 hours throughout 2008, almost half of the entire flight time accumulated to date.
According to Lawson, out of the 122 fighters already delivered, “Seven out of ten aircraft were delivered with zero defects, highlighting the high maturity of the production line” said Lawson. Mission capable rate is currently standing at 70%, with 2.24 maintenance hours required for each flight hour.
However, the program’s future is not clear at present, and is not expected to be determined before the new administration is elected. While the air force is eager to get more Raptors, many lawmakers objected to support the program due to the high acquisition cost. This cost could even increase, if production lines are interrupted by lack of long-lead items .
Despite the plans to replace the Falcons, the F-16 is not going away too soon, and several companies, primarily U.S. based are responding to requirements from current operators, to enhance the operational life of the aircraft and introduce new technologies that could extend its usability for many years. At Farnborough 08 Rayteon and Northrop Grumman displayed new radars, employing AESA technologies that could match the form and fit of current F-16 radars. Raytheon unveiled the Advanced Combat Radar (RACR), utilizing technologies derived from the APG-79 AESA radar used on the F/A-18E/F.
Designed for the fighter retrofit market, the new radar can be employed as ‘drop in’ upgrade for F-16s from Block 30 onward, as well as F/A-18C/Ds operating with several air forces worldwide. The radar is designed with modular approach using self-contained cooling and power management systems to accommodate the limited space available in the aircraft nose and forward sections in a ‘non intrusive’ installation, minimizing modification and installation cost.
Northrop Grumman displayed a model of its Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) AESA radar, unveiled earlier this year in Singapore. This radar will fit into F-16s from Block 50/52 onward, as a drop-in replacement for the company’s APG-69 mechanically scanning radar set.
Another upgrade option from Raytheon is the replacement of backup flight instruments installed at the center of the cockpit with large, vertically mounted 6×8 inch multi-function color ‘Center Pedestal Display’ (CPD) unit. This display is optimally suitable to support situational awareness, digital map displays and video imaging which sofar suffered from lack of proper display capability in the cockpit. CPD is designed to operate in daylight and at night (NVIS) color modes. It is linked to the aircraft databus and communications systems, offering two-way situational awareness datalink (SADL) messaging.
Boeing is pitching future enhancements of its ‘Super Hornet’ in case JSF encounters cost overrun forcing significant cuts in the program. For the more distant future, Boeing is already considering a future successor of the Super Hornet, with the F/A-XX design. Although the Navy hasn’t issued a formal request for such studies, Boeing Advanced Systems began studying alternative manned as well as unmanned approaches for such ‘6th generation’ multi-role fighter, which should provide significant increase in reach, access, situational awareness, and firepower for future carrier strike groups.
According to Capt. Mark W. Darrah of PMA-265, the Super Hornet is the most affordable replacement for single-mission combat aircraft operated by the US Navy, including the F/A-18C strike fighter and EA-6B airborne jammer, being replaced by the F/A-18G Growler, the F-14A interceptor and S-3B airborne tanker which have already been retired, and the F/A-18C which will be partly replaced by the F-35C in the next decade. The F/A-18E/F is expected to remain in service for more than 30 years and complement the F-35C to enter service within a few years.
This strike fighter introduced much improved capabilities over previous Hornets, particularly with the fielding of more powerful engines and use of the multi-scan capability of the APG-79 AESA radar. Since its introduction to the US Navy, the aircraft has been selected as ‘JSF gap filler’ by the Australian Air Force. The first of 24 aircraft will be delivered in 2010. The new Hornet is also competing for future prospects in India, Brazil, Japan and Denmark.
Boeing highlight’s the Super Hornet offering of ‘next generation technology now’, in contrast to the generation leap promised by the JSF in the future. Boeing claims the advanced capabilities of the Super Hornet, based on the integrated sensor suite combining sensors (AESA radar), situational awareness and targeting capability (joint helmet mounted cueing system JHMCS) and data communications via Multifunction Information Distribution System (MIDS) Link 16 datalinks, coupled with its flexible weapons load, unrestricted by stealth packaging and advanced self protection systems position the Super Hornet as highly capable air-combat platform. Future enhancements derived from JSF and F-22 related developments, such as AIM-9X Block II short range air/air missiles could enhance the F/A-18E/F capability with better engagement ‘Beyond Visual Range’, assisted by future growth of the current AMRAAM weapon, particularly the ability to employ High Off-Boresight (HOBS) engagements, where the missile goes after a threats in its launch aircraft’s rear hemisphere, enabling the crew to engage targets while ‘looking through’ the aircraft. The introduction of Infrared Search & Track capability, could further extend the capability to intercept targets even under restrictive rules of engagement.
Other developments are also underway at Boeing. In January 2008 Boeing announced a teaming agreement with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to develop a new concept for a future successor of the B-2A bomber, known as ‘Next Generation Bomber’ program. Northrop Grumman is known to be leading the technology demonstration for this project. The future bomber will be available for initial operating capability within a decade (IOC 2018) able to carry ordnance payloads of 14,000 – 28,000 lbs in stealth configuration, striking targets at an operational range of 2,000 nm.
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® and XTEND have achieved a major milestone in JADC2 by integrating the XOS operating system with the MDCX™ autonomy platform. This technical breakthrough enables a single operator to simultaneously command multiple drone classes, eliminating the friction of mission handoffs. From "marsupial" drone deployments to operating in GPS-denied environments, explore how this collaboration is abbreviating the data-to-decision timeline and redefining autonomous mission execution.
As traditional defense primes face mounting competition from agile “neoprimes” such as Anduril, Palantir and Helsing, the balance of innovation is shifting toward software-defined warfare and scalable, dual-use technologies, while global industry consolidation—marked by Boeing’s integration of Spirit AeroSystems and other strategic mergers—signals an intensified race to secure control over the defense technology value chain. Our Defense-Tech weekly report highlights these trends.
In early October 2025, a coordinated wave of unmanned aerial system (UAS) incursions—widely attributed to Russia—targeted critical infrastructure across at least ten European nations. The unprecedented campaign exposed the fragility of Europe’s air defenses...
Executive Summary
The past week (September 18-25, 2025) represents an inflection point where strategic defense concepts have transitioned from doctrine to tangible reality. An analysis of global events reveals four primary, interconnected trends shaping an...
At the 2025 Air, Space & Cyber Conference, U.S. Air Force and Space Force leaders unveiled major updates on next-generation fighters, bombers, unmanned systems, and space initiatives, highlighting both rapid innovation and critical readiness challenges as the services race to outpace global competitors. A short version is available here, with a more detailed version for subscribers.
The Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) 2025 crystallized around four dominant strategic themes that collectively illustrate Taiwan's comprehensive approach to defense modernization amid escalating regional tensions. Based on a detailed report by Pleronix (available upon request). Includes a Podcast discussion on TADTE 2025's highlighting Taiwan's four strategic themes beyond the post's coverage.
Israel’s Iron Beam 450 high-power laser system has completed final testing, marking a major leap in air defense. Developed by Rafael, it offers precise, cost-effective interception of rockets, UAVs, and mortars, and is set for IDF deployment by 2025.
Last year Russia resumed strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. “Since August 2007, Russian strategic bombers have carried out about 150 patrol flights with tactical interference of foreign aircraft, which accompanied our planes on their missions and in some instances jeopardized their success,” Zelin said.
As Severomorsk left the area it paid a visit to the Norwegian port of Haakonsvern to continue the traditional spirit of cooperation with participation in ‘Northern Edge 2008’ – a tri-national exercise involving the Russian Fleet, US Navy and Norwegian Navy, taking place in the Norwegian and Barents seas. Northern Edge 2008 focuses on maritime interdiction operations, search and rescue and tactical interoperability to improve maritime safety and security in Northern Europe.
