Archive: News & Articles

The Norwegian Armed Forces have placed an order with FN Herstal for new machine guns. A two-part framework contract for this was recently awarded according to a notification from the Norwegian procurement agency Forsvarsmateriell (FMA). The first contract has a duration of seven years and provides for the delivery of up to 4,000 FN MINIMI […]

During a presentation at the Klietz military training area in Germany, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) demonstrated the live firing of the wheeled Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) in motion for the first time in front of an audience. The weapon system combines the Artillery Gun Module (AGM) from KMW – a fully automatic gun turret – […]

The Ministry of Defense of Turkey recently announced that the PARS IV 6×6 Special Operations Vehicle qualification tests are coming to the end and so the delivery to the Turkish Armed Forces will begin this year. The first assembly of the Pars IV 6×6 Mine Protected Vehicle took place in July 2020. The PARS IV […]

The Slovenian Armed Forces are to be equipped with 8×8 BOXER armoured transport vehicles (GTK) as part of their modernisation process. During the visit of German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to Ljubljana on 28 June 2021, Slovenian Defence Minister Matej Tonin announced the result of an expert group that had recommended procuring 45 BOXERs to […]

Nexter presented the VBCi PHILOCTETES infantry combat system for the first time at the DEFEA expo in Athens. Based on the requirements of the Greek Army, the armoured infantry combat vehicle (Véhicule Blindé de Combat d’Infanterie, VBCi) received a newly equipped remote-controlled 40-mm CT turret . The main weapon is the 40 mm Cased Telescoped […]

NP Aerospace, manufacturer of the 4030 ELITE Bomb Disposal Suit, has joined forces with CRF-I Limited to offer SCIMITAR technology for real-time EOD operator management and tracking. The SCIMITAR system, showcased for the first time at DSEI in London, is to provide EOD teams with a greater understanding of what EOD operators are experiencing in […]

Rheinmetall and Polish company Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) have signed a contract for the licence production of parts for the Rh-120/L44 120mm tank gun, including the barrel, the latter company has announced. The agreement covers a period of 20 years and relates to the Polish LEOPARD 2A4/A5/PL/PLM1 fleet. Also included in the scope of the […]

BAE Systems has reported a contract signature with Finland to upgrade the Finnish Army’s CV90 armoured vehicle fleet. The agreement, worth up to US$32M with options, includes a mid-life extension programme to increase the vehicles’ combat effectiveness. The CV9030FIN prototype and test series vehicles will be upgraded first, with the remaining lifecycle upgrades carried out […]

The Finnish Armed Forces have received all of the GTP 4×4 protected vehicles they ordered from manufacturer Sisu Auto in June 2020. The vehicles were delivered as five-seater armoured multipurpose vehicles and 10 seat APCs. Mission modules are mounted on the vehicle chassis, which is the same for both versions, enabling the vehicles to be adapted to […]

In operational artillery scenarios, shoot-and-scoot efficiency means the difference between avoiding counter-battery fire or not. Shaving seconds off a fire mission is decisive. Artillery charge system improvements are welcome in this regard, and according to Elbit, there is growing interest in Elbit Systems’ (ELS) M662 Uni-Modular Artillery Charge System (UMACS). Introduced in 2019 following ELS’ […]

The US Army is equipping some of its 8×8 STRYKER combat vehicles with unmanned 30-mm gun turrets. In a framework contract with Oshkosh Defense (who announced the news) as prime contractor, the US Army Contracting Command has agreed to integrate remotely operated 30-mm Samson gun turrets on STRYKER chassis Double V-Hull Infantry Carrier Vehicle for around […]

The US Army will divest all STRYKER Mobile Gun Systems (MGS) by the end of fiscal year 2022, the service announced today. This decision comes after a comprehensive analysis highlighted obsolescence and systemic issues with the its dated cannon and automatic loader. While updating and providing new capabilities is most commonly associated with modernisation, the divestiture […]

FN Herstal introduced a new machine gun named FN EVOLYS during a digital product launch event in early May. According to the company, FN EVOLYS is an ultralight weapon that combines the firing capabilities of a belt-fed machine gun with ergonomics and balance similar to an assault rifle. The gun has been developed in two […]

The US Army has selected BAE Systems to deliver two prototype vehicles for evaluation as a potential solution for the Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) programme. The BEOWULF is based on proven, existing solutions and is capable of moving personnel and cargo in the most remote and harshest conditions. Its articulated mobility system is key to the […]

PPM Systems has designed and produced 90 custom filters for the British Army spectrum team based at Blandford Camp to support the Army’s Battlefield Tactical Communication and Information Systems (BATCIS) programme to upgrade its capability. The custom filters include multiple designs of narrow band cavity filters in band pass and band stop versions. They are […]

Ricardo Defense has secured a three-year, US$89M contract to provide critical safety upgrades protecting the lives of thousands of High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) operators around the world. This will provide up to 9,480 critical safety improvement Antilock Brake System / Electronic Stability Control (ABS/ESC) retrofit kits over the next three years for the US Army’s […]

The two contenders for the largest acquisition project in the history of the Australian Army have been officially unveiled in Canberra. The new IFV prototypes are currently under evaluation, and once delivered, the project will provide the Army with an advanced, cutting-edge, mounted close combat capability. The two shortlisted contenders for the project are Rheinmetall Defence […]

The Dutch Army and Marines will receive new 81 mm mortars after a procurement contract between the Dutch Defence Procurement Agency (DMO) and Hirtenberger Defence Europe GmbH was signed on 25 February. The Dutch Armed forces currently use British-made 81mm mortars as indirect fire support weapons at the company level. These are deployed in the […]

Etion Create showcased its CheetahNAV tactical navigation system for the first time at IDEX 2021 in Abu Dhabi. The system combines MEMS-based Inertial Navigation with GPS and is specifically adapted for use in light military vehicles. It was developed from Etion’s Integrated System Display which has been in operation for several years within the rail […]

The contracts for the integration of the TROPHY Active Protection System (APS) on Germany’s LEOPARD 2 MBT have been concluded. The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and the companies involved, Rafael (for the delivery of the protection systems) and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (for the construction of new hulls and the […]

Iveco has given its first public presentation of the Medium Tactical Vehicle (MTV) currently being developed for the Dutch Armed Forces. The vehicle will be introduced in all branches of the armed forces and the military police from 2023. During 2019 and 2020, the Dutch Ministry of Defence ordered a total of 1,185 vehicles in […]