The BAAINBw has ordered 2,300 PARM off-route anti-tank mines from MBDA subsidiary TDW. (MBDA)  The Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw), Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support, signed a contract with MBDA subsidiary TDW on 14 November for 2,300 Panzerabwehrrichtmine (PARM) off-route anti-tank mines, MBDA announced in a press release on 15 November. Thomas Gottschild, managing director of MBDA Germany said, “With the procurement, PARM is in...

Conceptual drawing of the ABBS Dragon mine-clearing UGV presented at FAVS 2023. (Janes/Sonny Butterworth)  United Kingdom-based company Advanced Blast & Ballistic Systems (ABBS) displayed its Dragon mine-clearing unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) concept at SAE Media Group's Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2023 conference held in London between 13 and 15 November.  Described as an “attritable autonomous ground vehicle for minefield breaching” by ABBS, the Dragon is a wheeled UGV designed to clear a path through minefields by using i...

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is shown a cutaway model of the second stage of the Fattah-2 hypersonic missile during a visit to the IRGCAF museum in Tehran on 19 November 2023. (leader.ir)  Iran unveiled its Fattah-2 hypersonic missile during a visit by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Aerospace Force (IRGCAF) museum in Tehran on 19 November.  Media coverage of the event showed the Fattah-2 consists of a ballistic missile motor that looks similar to the one used to power the Fattah missile that...

The Norwegian government is procuring more NASAMS launchers, fire-control centres, and missiles for the Norwegian Armed Forces. (Forsvaret)  The Norwegian government, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, and Nammo announced investment plans on 15 November for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) launchers, fire-control centres, and missiles for the Norwegian Armed Forces.  The NOK12.5 billion (USD1.2 billion) order is Norway's largest single investment in air defence in 30 years, according to the Norwegian government. It include...

The US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS   Chafee  seen here firing a Tomahawk Block V missile during an exercise on 1 December 2020. The US has approved a possible sale of the weapon to Japan.  (US NAVAIR)  The US State Department has approved a possible sale of Block IV and Block V Tomahawk missiles and associated equipment to Japan.  A notice published by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 17 November disclosed that the sale is estimated to be worth some USD2.35 billion.  Japan has reque...

The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System – pictured above firing an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile at Woomera Test Range in South Australia in mid-November – provides air defence against a variety of aerial threats, including UAV, missile, helicopter, and aircraft attacks within 40–50 km. (Commonwealth of Australia)  The Australian Army has test-fired the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) at Woomera Test Range in South Australia, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) said in a press rel...

FFG is working on the Boxer RRV variant. (FFG )  Lieutenant Colonel Karlheinz Boehnke, Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV) Boxer representative in the German Army Concept and Capabilities Development Centre, presented a Boxer jamming variant and an update on other planned versions on the second day of SAE Media Group's Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2023 conference held in London from 13 to 15 November.  The Boxer Knifefish jamming variant would exist in two versions – ultra-high frequency (UHF)/very high frequency (VHF...

Lockheed Martin is under contract to continue PrSM development for the army. (US Army)  The US Army's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) completed its shortest ever trip during a production qualification test on 13 November, according to a service announcement on 16 November.  Fired from an M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), the missile demonstrated “successful target engagements” at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, according to the army release. The test announcement comes as PrSM is expected to reach early operational c...

The Royal Swedish Navy's Visby-class corvettes are to be fitted with the Sea Ceptor local area anti-air missile system. Space for a vertical launcher installation for CAMM missiles already exists in the weapon deck area beneath the main deck hatch. (MBDA)  Sweden is moving ahead with plans to retrofit MBDA's Sea Ceptor local area anti-air missile system to its five Visby-class corvettes as part of the mid-life upgrade (MLU) for the class.  The country's Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk: FMV) on 16 November announced it...

Edge unveiled the MANSUP-ER, an extended-range version of Brazil's National Surface Anti-Ship Missile, at the Dubai Airshow. (Edge Group)  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces has signed a letter of intent covering a AED1.2 billion (USD327 million) order for anti-ship missiles, local defence group Edge announced during the Dubai Airshow on 15 November.  It said the order would cover the National Surface Anti-Ship Missile (MANSUP) that was originally developed for the Brazilian Navy and the extended-range MANSUP-ER version that was unve...

An F-35A fires an AIM-9X missile from the its external wing against an aerial drone target at Point Mugu Test Range, California. (US Air Force)  The US State Department has approved the potential sale of Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II+ short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missiles (AAMs) to South Korea.  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on 15 November that the possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) is worth USD52.1 million and features 42 AIM-9X Block II+ missiles, training missiles, guidance units, and associated...

An artist's portrayal of the Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM. (Northrop Grumman)  The Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is “struggling” with “unknown unknowns”, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall told a crowd at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) on 13 November.  “Sentinel is one of the most large, complex programmes I've ever seen,” Kendall said. “It's probably the biggest thing in some ways that the air force has ever taken on, because it's a vast real estate development [and...

An SM-6 Block I missile arcs skywards following launch from a US Navy DDG-51 guided-missile destroyer. South Korea plans to integrate the missile onto its second batch of KDX-III guided-missile destroyers. (US Navy)  The US State Department has approved the possible sale of SM-6 Block I air-defence missiles to South Korea, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 14 November.  DSCA said Congress was informed of the possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) – estimated to cost USD650 million – earlier the same day.  The deal f...

The UK plans to field a Land GBAD C-sUAS capability starting with 225 SMASH SLS anti-drone fire-control systems for small arms in December. (Technische Bureau H A Muller (TBM BV))  The UK plans to field a LandGround-Based Air Defence (GBAD) counter-small unmanned aircraft system (C-sUAS) capability starting in December, Squadron Leader Hugo Piers Morris, senior officer 2 (SO2) counter-small uncrewed air systems, Project 6 lead, joint effects, in the British Army Programmes Directorate, said on the first day of SAE Media Group's Future Armoure...

The integration of the SkyStriker is being considered by Thailand to augment the munitions options on the D11A, pictured above at the Defense & Security 2023 show in Bangkok. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)  Thailand's Defense Technology Institute (DTI) and Elbit Systems are exploring possibilities to expand their partnership to focus on the Israeli company's SkyStriker autonomous loitering munition.  Janes   understands that the DTI is interested in integrating the munition into Thailand's new D11A, a local version of Elbit Systems' multicalibre Pr...

The RCCTO delivered four DE M-SHORAD prototypes to the 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, at Fort Sill, Kentucky, on 7 September. (US Army)  The US Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) delivered four Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) prototype systems mounted on Stryker 8×8 vehicles to the 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, at Fort Sill in Kentucky, on 7 September, Colonel Steven Gutierrez, RCCTO project manager for the system, said at the first day of...

The Sky Scout-M combat UAV is being integrated with Edge Group's RASH-1M precision guided munition, which is seen under the UAV's wings on the far left and far right. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)  The United Arab Emirates' (UAE's) Edge Group and Thai defence firm RV Connex have announced a partnership to collaborate on “unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), loitering munitions, and precision-guided munitions (PGMs)”.  An Edge spokesperson told Janes on 11 November that the agreement, which was signed at the Defense & Security 2023 exhibition in Bangkok, wi...

An artist's impression of the UAE Edge Group Reach-M UCAV revealed at the Dubai Airshow 2023. (Edge Group)  The United Arab Emirates' (UAE's) Edge Group has showcased a range of new unmanned aircraft and effectors.  Revealed for the first time at the Dubai Airshow 2023, held from 13 to 17 November, the new product range includes fixed- and rotary-winged unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as air-launched munitions and a jammer.  “The new … products and systems cover a wide range of missions, including tactical intelligence, surveillance...

A Spanish Air Force Eurofighter of Ala 14 at Albacete Air Base. In front of the aircraft are its primary weapon systems, including the AMRAAM missile. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  Spain is to buy the extended-range Raytheon AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) for its fleet of Eurofighter (C.16 in national service) and Boeing EF-18 (C.15) Hornet combat aircraft, as well as for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) ground-based air-defence system.  The Council of Ministers authorised the conclusion of...

The Israeli MoD released a file photo of an Arrow 3 interceptor being launched to illustrate the first operational use of the missile on 9 November. (Israeli Ministry of Defense)  Israel used a long-range Arrow 3 exoatmospheric ballistic missile interceptor operationally for the first time on 9 November, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced later that day.  The Arrow 3 is one of two interceptors that can be launched by the Arrow Weapon System (AWS), the other being the Arrow 2 that is designed to...