Archive: News & Articles

On 8 November 2022, MBDA announce that the DragonFire consortium (consisting of MBDA, Leonardo, and Qinetiq) had conducted their first high power static firing of the DragonFire High-Energy Laser (HEL) at the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl) Porton Down test range on 17 October 2022. The test involved generating a beam with a […]

On 9 November 2022, the German government revealed that it had supplied additional IRIS-T SL missiles to Ukraine, to arm the IRIS-T SLM battery previously delivered to Ukraine on 11 October 2022. The additional missiles were present in a list of military assistance to Ukraine published on 9 November by the German government, however the […]

According to a so-called “voluntary ex ante transparency notice” on the European Union’s Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) website, the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Agency (DALO) is in the process of awarding a contract for 76 mm ammunition to Leonardo SpA in Italy. The ammunition is intended for the 76 mm Oto Melara (now Leonardo) […]

The Canadian Army has awarded Aimpoint a contract to deliver an unspecified quantity of Aimpoint FCS13-RE Fire Control Systems (FCSs) and the TH-60 thermal sight systems. Deliveries are scheduled for 2023, and the system will be used as the Canadian Army’s primary FCS for their in-service SAAB Dynamics M3 84mm Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle. The […]

On 4 November 2022, Northrop Grumman announced that their first Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) sensor was installed on an E-7 Wedgetail Mk1 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft for the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF). The MESA sensor is intended to provide the UK Wedgetail fleet with long-range airborne sensing capabilities, for early […]

On 4 November 2022, Hensoldt announced that their newly-developed SferiRec LCR100 compact flight recorder has received ED-155 and ETSO-2C197 certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The SferiRec LCR100 is equipped with modern sensors to record flight, datalink, video and audio data. These are used are used for data analysis after an aviation accident […]

Rheinmetall AG and 4iG PLC have set up an IT joint venture (JV) in Budapest, known as Rheinmetall 4iG Digital Services LLC (R4), deepening their existing cooperation which started in early 2022. The JV will provide IT services for Rheinmetall’s subsidiaries starting in 2023, and potentially to third parties as well. 4iG holds a 51% […]

Northrop Grumman signed a six-year agreement with Quickstep Holdings for the supply of components to support the F-35 programme. The order was signed under an existing Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian company, with work to be completed in Sydney. Northrop Grumman manufactures the centre fuselage section for all three F-35 variants. In 2012, the […]

In May 2022, a weekly magazine claimed it had insight into a new Austrian MoD “Strategy Paper 2032+”, drafted after the shock of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine – a battlefield in a country only a five-hour drive from Vienna. What is known from this – officially not disclaimed – document, might mark a significant reversal regarding […]

On 3 November 2022, Leonardo announced that their Marlin 40 naval remote weapon station (RWS) has been selected to equip two Indonesian Navy PC60 fast patrol boats under construction at PT Caputra Mitra Sejati shipyard. This follows Indonesia’s 2021 purchase of four Marlin 40 systems to equip two PC60 vessels and two Teluk Bintuni-class tank […]

Embraer has signed several memoranda of understanding with South Korean aerospace companies, including ASTG (Aerospace Technology of Global [sic]), EMK (EM Korea Co.) and Kencoa Aerospace to strengthen cooperation with Korean defence companies in the supply of parts for their C-390 MILLENNIUM transport aircraft. The aircraft is a participant in Korea’s Large Transport Aircraft (LTA) […]

On 3 October 2022, UK defence technology company SEA announced that it had signed a strategic partnership agreement with Indonesian defence procurement company BTI Defence, to provide the Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Navy with access to maritime defence technology. The partnership was signed at the Indo Defence Expo & Forum 2022, and will […]

Airbus has delivered two H135s to the Spanish Guardia Civil and National Police. These were the first deliveries under a contract signed at the end of 2021 to supply 36 helicopters for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Ministry of Interior. The new helicopters are due to replace BO105 helicopters in policing, surveillance, and […]

As part of a lease agreement, Poland will take delivery of MQ-9A Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI). The agreement between GA-ASI and the Polish Ministry of Defence is valued at USD 70.6 million. MQ-9A Reapers are operated by the United States, the UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and […]

The Lithuanian Armed Forces have contracted Expal Systems SA of Spain to supply 120-MX2-SM 120 mm towed mortars, in order to improve their infantry fire support capabilities. According to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence, the contract was awarded to Expal due to the company offering the best price. The contract is valued at EUR 9.8 […]

The US Navy awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipbuilding division a USD 2.4 billion contract to build the LHA 9 Amphibious Assault Ship, which would be the fourth vessel of the AMERICA class. Construction on LHA 9 is scheduled to begin in December 2022, and the contract includes options, that if exercised, would bring the […]

Ever since humans first realized the advantages of some form of protection against weapons, in the form of armour, there has been a continuous effort to find and maintain the optimum balance between protection and weight, as both threats and materials have evolved. If too little armour is added, protection is insufficient. If too much […]

On 28 October 2022, Hamburg-based PLATH Systems & Integration announced their participation in the Type 212CD (Common Design) submarine programme, with the company set to outfit two German and four Norwegian Type 212CD submarines with modern electronic reconnaissance systems and software. The strategically significant Type 212CD programme is intended to strengthen both countries’ subsurface warfare […]

On 31 October 2022, Elbit Systems announced that they had been awarded a contract by the Finnish Ministry of Defence to supply radio communications systems to the Finnish Army. The contract was valued at approximately USD 25 million, and is due to be completed by late-2024. Under the contract, Elbit Systems will supply advanced secured […]

On 27 October 2022, RAM-System GmbH (RAMSYS) was awarded a contract to deliver 600 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2B surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) for the German Navy. Deliveries of the missiles are scheduled to start in 2024. The RAM Block 2B is also known as RAM Mk 44 Mod 6, with both terms used to […]

On 30 August 2022, for the first time ever, the German Armed Forces fired a ship-based high-energy laser (HEL) weapon during tests, marking step forward toward the introduction of fully operational laser weapons. During the test, the German frigate Sachsen successfully engaged drones at short and very short ranges in the Baltic Sea near Putlos […]