Tag: UK

General Dynamics Land Systems–UK today unveiled a new variant of AJAX Family of Vehicles (FoV) based on the ARES troop-carrying reconnaissance vehicle. In the Overwatch role, Brimstone is the differentiator for high intensity, peer-on-peer warfighting under all weather conditions, excellent reach, high loadout, and salvo capability.

Thales UK and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have joined forces to offer IAI’s Sea Serpent anti-ship missile to replace the Harpoon Block1C anti-ship missile currently in service on board the Royal Navy Type 23 frigates.

The Royal Air Force (RAF), in partnership with Leonardo, successfully conducted a live trial of a ‘swarming drones’ capability targeting a simulated enemy air defense radar. The demonstration showed how a swarm of BriteCloud-equipped drones overwhelmed the threat radar systems with electronic noise.

The Royal Air Force has selected Leonardo to support the next stage of their research and development program, exploring the current and future threat posed by hostile drones, and evaluating a range of technologies for counter-drone capability. The three-year program will commence in early 2020. Leonardo counter-drone technology has already seen use with the RAF and is under contract for the Italian Army and Air Force. In 2018 and 2019, following drone sightings at Gatwick and Heathrow airports, elements of Leonardo’s counter-drone technology were deployed by the RAF to allow airport operations to resume.

UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson unveiled today a concept model of a brand new next-generation combat aircraft being developed exclusively in the UK. The Tempest, as the futuristic fighter plane is called, could be ready for operations with the Royal Air Force in less than two decades, as the first Typhoons begin to be phased out of service.

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.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, a manufacturer of jet-powered tactical unmanned aerial drone systems, will soon offer its Mako militarized, combat unmanned aerial vehicles systems for export, following approval of such export by the U.S. State Department to certain European and Asia Pacific region countries.

Israel's armor specialist Plasan was selected to design and produce armor protection for Britain's new Type 26 frigate. The ships will be built by BAE Systems in Glasgow, Scotland and are considered among the world's most advanced combat ships. Armor production for the first three vessels will begin this year. Plasan's advanced armor technology has been implemented to protect armored vehicles and personnel, transport aircraft and helicopters as well as naval vessels. The Royal Navy plans to replace eight Type 23 Duke class anti-submarine frigates with six Type 26s, based on BAE Systems' 'Global Combat Ship' design.

BAE Systems, Pearson Engineering and Thales UK have signed agreements with the German-Dutch ARTEC consortium, as partners for the production of BOXER. The agreement paves the way for significant local manufacturing of the vehicle and its systems in the UK, should the BOXER be selected by the Ministry of Defense as the British Army’s next generation Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV).

The U.K. Army completed the induction of a new, tactical radio system known as the Mercury Radio System, that recently achieved Full Operational Capability (FOC). The new radio is now in service with the UK Army Cadet Force (ACF). The Mercury Radio is based on Elbit Systems' PRC-710 and -720 sets.

Brazil has purchased Royal Navy ship HMS Ocean, the helicopter carrier recently retired from the Royal Navy service. The UK Ministry of Defense is selling the Ocean for £84 million. The vessel will remain in the UK until the autumn of 2018.

Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first Tiger helicopter retrofitted into the HAD version of the French Army Aviation. In the UK, after completing a modernization of Puma 2 helicopters, the company entered an agreement to support the Royal Air Force Puma 2 fleet.

In recent months Qatar defense officials were busy dealing in shopping for fighter jets to expand their minuscule air force into a significant, modern air power. If those deals are fulfilled, in less than five years the Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF) will increase its order of battle from the current nine Mirage 2000-5 fighters to 96 modern combat jets, armed with the latest weapons the Western world can offer.

OUTRIDER, a miniature, expendable drone launched from submarines while underwater at periscope depth was unveiled today by Lockheed Martin. The drone was developed in the UK and is being evaluated by potential customers.