Archive: News & Articles

Vehicle integrator and armour manufacturer NP Aerospace has been contracted by the Belgian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliver the remaining 87 Light Tactical Transport Vehicles (LTTVs) of an original order for 199 won by Jankel Armouring Limited. The contract to deliver the remaining LTTVs, which are based on the Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG chassis, was novated […]

Rheinmetall is building on the maintenance and support partnership established with RGM Maintenance Townsville for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) Medium Heavy Capability by joining with defence prime contractor Supacat to ensure a maintenance footprint across Australia. Nathan Poyner, managing director for Rheinmetall Defence Australia, said the signing of the deed of agreement in 2022 […]

California-based Mayman Aerospace announced on 26 September 2024 that it has completed successful flight tests at a military base in the Southern California desert of its Razor test-bed vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The Razor test bed has exactly the same dimensions and weight as Mayman’s Razor P100 UAV concept and uses the same jet-powered propulsion, engine […]

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) has contracted Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) to upgrade the Royal Norwegian Navy’s fleet of six Ula-class submarines with a view to extending their operational lives, KDA announced on 23 September 2024. KDA supplied the combat system for the Ula-class submarines, which were commissioned between 1989 and 1992, and […]

UK artificial intelligence (AI) software provider Adarga has been awarded a contract by the Defence Support organisation under UK Strategic Command to provide its Vantage software to accelerate analysis as it explores threats to UK military operations worldwide, Adarga announced on 23 September 2024. The software’s search, discovery, and generative AI capabilities will be used […]

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Bulgaria of FGM-148F Javelin anti-armour missiles, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 20 September 2024. The proposed sales, which is worth an estimated USD 114 million (EUR 101.7 million), has been passed to the US Congress for final […]

Saab is to boost its US-based production capacity by building a new munitions factory in Grayling, Michegan, the company announced on 24 September 2024. “Saab is moving quickly to increase US munitions production capacity and meet the urgent needs of our customers, building on our decades-long relationship with the US military,” Saab stated in a […]

An international NATO customer has placed an order with Rheinmetall for the production of mortar rounds for the NATO partner’s armed forces, the German-headquartered company announced on 25 September 2024. The identity of the NATO customer was not disclosed. The value of the order, which was booked at the beginning of the third quarter of […]

The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) are exercising an additional purchase option to buy more Patria 6×6 armoured personnel carriers (APCs), the company announced on 23 September 2024. In the summer of 2023 Patria and the FDF Logistics Command signed an agreement for 91 Patria 6×6 APCs with equipment. The procurement agreement included an additional purchase […]

On 18 September 2024, on the opening day of the 2024 Rheinmetall Skyranger System Demonstration Days held at the company’s Ochsenboden range in Switzerland, the Skyranger 35 air defence system was presented to the public for the first time on the chassis of a Leopard 1 main battle tank. The Skyranger 35 is, so to […]

Portuguese unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer Tekever announced on 23 September 2024 that it has unveiled ground-breaking UAV technologies at the ongoing NATO Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems (REPMUS) 2024 exercise, being held around Portugal’s Troia Peninsula. During the exercise Tekever’s AR3 and AR5 UAVs were deployed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance […]

Rheinmetall and MBDA Deutschland announced on 20 September 2024 that they are to continue their successful co-operation in the field of laser weapons. The aim is to bring a joint maritime product to the market within the next five to six years, which opens up new possibilities, particularly in relation to counter-unmanned aerial vehicle defences […]

Insitu Incorporated, a Boeing company, reached a milestone this year: 30 years of unmanned aircraft innovation excellence – and nearly 20 years of supporting NATO, helping it to project NATO power on land and at sea from the air. ESD’s Curtis Hand spoke with Insitu CEO Diane Rose about what is next for the company […]

BAE Systems announced on 23 September 2024 that it has begun integrating the Mk 45 naval gun system onto the future HMS Glasgow: the first of eight Type 26 frigates being built for the Royal Navy. This is the first installation of the Mk 45 and its ammunition handling system (AHS) on a Type 26 […]

The first flight of a Royal Air Force (RAF) E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft was successfully completed on 20 September 2024. A Boeing flight-test crew conducted functional checks during the flight, which took place out of Birmingham Airport, marking a significant milestone in the programme’s test and evaluation phase. Currently unpainted, […]

The Boxer multi-role vehicle was one of the dominant AFV platforms presented at the British Army’s 2024 Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD2024) show, held at UTAC Millbrook in Bedfordshire on 18 and 19 September. In the event’s presentation programme the Boxer was the only project to take up more than two hours, in which the programme-leading […]

Polish counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) company Advanced Protection Systems (APS) announced on 23 September 2024 that it has introduced an ‘interceptor drone’ that autonomously tracks and knocks down UAVs through direct collision. Billed by APS as “a powerful and cost-effective solution to the threat”, the new interceptor is part of APS’s SKYctrl C-UAV system, which […]

Babcock International, in partnership with Supacat, has been awarded a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to build an additional 53 High Mobility Transporter (HMT) Jackal 3s for the British Army, the company announced on 19 September 2024, on the second day of the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD2024) show, held at UTAC Millbrook […]

European missile house MBDA exhibited a mock-up of its Wolfram Surface-Launched Brimstone (SLB) concept at the 2024 Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD2024) show, held at UTAC Millbrook in Bedfordshire in 18 and 19 September. Although the concept, which was mounted on a Supacat Coyote 6×6 platform at the show, has been previously shown, at DVD2024 MBDA […]

Leonardo showcased a mobile version of its Falcon Shield counter-uncrewed aerial vehicle (C-UAV) system mounted on a Mastiff protected patrol vehicle at the 2024 Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD2024) show, held at UTAC Millbrook in Bedfordshire on 18 and 19 September. The overall Falcon Shield system is a rapidly deployable, scalable and modular C-UAV system, focused […]

Briefing on 18 September at the 2024 Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD2024) show, held at UTAC Millbrook in Bedfordshire, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) firmed up the timelines for its much-anticipated Land Mobility Programme (LMP). The show, meanwhile, featured numerous platforms that could potentially address the LMP and associated British Army programmes. The UK MoD […]