Start Archive: News & Articles

Archive: News & Articles


Two Defence Media Awards 2024 for ESD

ESD is happy to announce the magazine received 13 nominations and secured two awards at the 2024 Defence Media Awards (DMAs), held in Washington, DC, on 13 October, along with a further win at the 2024 European Military Press Association (EMPA) awards in Vienna. ESD Editor-in-Chief Mark Cazalet won the DMA for ‘Best Defence Electronics Submission’ with his article ‘Silent Struggle: […]

Northrop Grumman adds AI to FAAD C2 package to defeat UAV swarms

Northrop Grumman has introduced a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature to help warfighters make real-time, informed decisions on the move, the company announced on 7 October 2024. The Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Advanced Battle Manager (ABM) system addresses the growing complexity of threats in the counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) mission space. The ABM’s AI […]

Galvion receives more US DoD orders for its power management solutions

Head protection and power management specialist Galvion has received further orders from the US Department of Defense (DoD) for its MAX-8 Mission Adaptive Charging Station and Squad Power Manager (SPM), the company announced on 10 October 2024. The company’s Nerv Centr power management solutions have been selected as a part of a System Modernization Program […]



Thales contracted to supply thermal imagers to Canadian Armed Forces

Thales Canada announced on 9 October 2024 that the Canadian government has awarded it a contract for the acquisition of its Sophie Ultima Handheld Thermal Imager (HHTI) as part of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Night Vision Systems Modernization (NVSM) project. It is the first contract to be awarded under the NVSM project. The Sophie Ultima […]

Meprolight introduces new micro magnifiers for use on assault rifles

Israeli electro-optical system specialist Meprolight unveiled its MMX3/MMX4 micro magnifiers for assault rifles on 1 October 2024. The compact and lightweight magnifiers, which provide either ×3 or ×4 magnification for any red dot sight respectively, are designed to significantly enhance a soldier’s accuracy, range and observation capabilities. “In today’s conflict scenarios, the perception of assault […]

Allen-Vanguard receives major follow-on order for Scorpion ECM systems from NATO country

Allen-Vanguard, an Ottawa-headquartered specialist in providing customised solutions for defeating radio frequency (RF)-based security threats, announced on 11 September 2024 that it has received a significant follow-on order for Scorpion electronic countermeasure (ECM) systems, accessories and spares from a NATO ally it supplied 68 systems to at the beginning of the year. The name of […]



Stockholm announces 17th support package for Ukraine, raises prospect of supplying Gripens

The Swedish government presented its 17th military support package for Ukraine on 9 September 2024. The package, worth SEK 4.6 billion (EUR 0.4 billion), “meets Ukraine’s military needs and creates freedom of action for the future”, the government stated in a press release, adding that it “includes donations of materiel, direct procurement, material units and […]

Galvion receives more orders from USMC to keep its equipment charged

Head protection and power/data management specialist Galvion has recently received an order from the US Marine Corps (USMC) for 5,000 of its SoloPack II lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and a USD 1.5 million (EUR 1.38 million) order for additional ancillary cables to further support the USMC’s in-service Portable Power Scavenger Systems (P2S2), the company announced on […]

Galvion receives follow-on Caiman helmet order from Canadian DND

Head protection and power/data management specialist Galvion has received a follow-on order from Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) for its Batlskin Caiman ballistic helmet systems, the company announced on 8 July 2024. The Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) programme contract was awarded in February 2023 for 2,100 helmets and 4,200 helmet covers, all […]



Colt CZ Group expands small arms production capacity via Colt CZ Hungary site

On 15 July 2024 Colt CZ Group announced the continued global expansion of its small arms manufacturing network to include the Colt CZ Hungary facility, where the group owns a majority share and fully controls all production activities. This newly built firearms manufacturing plant will provide additional manufacturing capacity to support the increasing worldwide demand […]

Rheinmetall teams with QUS to introduce biomonitoring into Gladius 2.0 soldier system

Rheinmetall announced on 14 June 2024 that is has entered into a partnership with Austrian company QUS Body Connected with a view to introducing the tracking of vital biomonitoring data onto its Gladius 2.0 soldier system. “Live tracking of vital data allows training units to be adjusted during training to ensure optimal fitness development,” Rheinmetall […]

FN makes ergonomic changes to Evolys ultralight machine gun after testing feedback

The FN Evolys ultralight machine gun has been given some modified features based on feedback from in-depth testing by potential customers during their evaluation of the weapon, FN Herstal announced on 4 June 2024. Chambered in 5.56×45 mm or 7.62×51 mm calibre, the FN Evolys is designed for mobile infantry or special forces units to […]



Bundeswehr orders around a million smoke grenades from Rheinmetall under framework contract

Rheinmetall has been commissioned by the Bundeswehr to supply around one million DM45 smoke hand grenades, the company announced on 27 May 2024. Annette Lehnigk-Emden, President of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Information Technology and In- Service Support (BAAINBw), and Rheinmetall Waffe Munition signed a framework agreement for the manufacture and supply of the grenades […]

FN Herstal introduces Minimi LMGs with long rail feed cover to allow fitting of multiple optics

Belgian small arms manufacturer FN Herstal has launched a new variant of its widely adopted Minimi light machine gun (LMG) with a long rail feed cover, the company announced on 23 May 2024. Explaining that it constantly adapts its products to align with evolving user requirements, FN stated in a press release, “One requirement that […]

Avon Protection wins tender to continue providing General Service Respirator to UK MoD

Avon Protection has won the tender for the continued supply of the General Service Respirator (GSR) and associated service support for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), the company announced on 9 May 2024. The contract, which covers four years with five further 12-month option periods, is valued at up to GBP 38 million (EUR […]



Galvion introduces BATLCHRG soldier system wireless charging concept

Power management solutions and head protection specialist Galvion is taking the opportunity of the SOF Week 2024 exhibition, held in Tampa, Florida, from 6 to 10 May 2024, to demonstrate a new soldier system wireless charging concept. The system, called BATLCHRG, follows the January 2024 announcement regarding Galvion’s strategic investment partnership with the Canadian technology […]

Invisio claims ground-breaking level of hearing protection with X7 in-ear headset

The X7 in-ear headset launched in January 2024 by communication and hearing protection specialist Invisio has achieved a ground-breaking level of hearing protection, performing even better than initial results and providing higher safety levels for users than ever, the company announced on 2 May. Latest tests show that the Invisio X7 offers a signal-to-noise ratio […]

Galvion sees NSPA framework deal take Caimen helmet orders from NATO past 125,000

Head protection and power/data management specialist Galvion has received three new orders for its Batlskin Caiman head system through its framework contract with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), the company announced on 23 April 2024. These latest orders, combined with previously announced orders from Norway, Finland and Sweden, take the total number of […]



US Army awards L3Harris ENVG-B full-production order

The US Army has awarded L3Harris Technologies a USD 256 million (EUR 240 million) contract for continued production of the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle – Binocular (ENVG-B), the company announced on 15 April 2024. The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract represents the first full-scale production order under the ENVG-B’s programme of record. “The L3Harris ENVG-B systems enhance […]

Babcock Immersive Training Experience launched at IT2EC 2024

Babcock International Group took the opportunity of exhibiting at the International Training Technology Exhibition and Conference (IT2EC), held in London from 9-11 April 2024, to launch the Babcock Immersive Training Experience (BITE): the company’s latest experiential tool to support individual and collective training. On display at IT2EC was the military version of BITE, named Proteus, which […]

IWI launches Arbel ‘computerised small arms system’

Israel Weapons Industries (IWI) announced the launch on 4 April 2024 of what it bills as “the world’s first computerised small arms system”. Called Arbel, the system comprises a computer, an upgraded electronic trigger mechanism with sensors and a new ‘Arbel’ firing mode, and a removable battery. As a support system, Arbel is designed to […]




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