VSHORADS – pictured above from a DRDO test in March 2023 – is a tripod-launched missile system designed to strike moving aerial targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, and fighter aircraft. (DRDO)  India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) test-fired two of its very short-range air-defence system (VSHORADS) missiles from a ground-based portable launcher, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a press release on 29 February.  The tests were conducted on 28 and 29 February from the Integrated Test Range (...

The Bundeswehr has ordered Skyranger 30 air-defence systems mounted on Boxers, Rheinmetall announced on 27 February 2024. (Rheinmetall)  The Bundeswehr has ordered Skyranger 30 air-defence systems mounted on Boxer armoured vehicles, Rheinmetall announced in a press release on 27 February. Under the EUR595 million (USD644.8 million) worth of contract, the prototype will be delivered at the end of 2024, followed by 18 production vehicles, with an option for 30 more.  According to the German company, the Skyranger 30 will be a key component of t...

Hessen  is pictured departing Wilhelmshaven naval base on 8 February to join the EU's new maritime security mission to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea.  (Bundeswehr/Julia Kelm)    The German Navy's Type 124 Sachsen-class air-defence frigate FGS   Hessen   (F 221) successfully repelled two one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Red Sea launched by Yemen-based Ansar Allah (commonly known as the Houthis) militants on 27 February.   Briefing media at a German government press conference o...

Repair work on attack submarine USS   Boise  is just one of the programmes that could be at risk during a year-long continuing resolution restricting funding.  (Newport News Shipbuilding)  Officials for the US Navy, US Air Force, and US Army painted a grim picture for the services if they are saddled with a full-year Continuing Resolution (CR) and unauthorised supplemental funding for fiscal year (FY) 2024 during a 28 February round-table media briefing at the Pentagon.  “I'm so very concerned about where we are...

APS SKYctrl skid C-UAS with FIELDctrl 3D MIMO radar, CyView C2, and the Mk 44 Bushmaster II single 30 mm cannon. (APS)    Polish company Advanced Protection Systems (APS) is delivering its SKYctrl skid counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) to a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) customer,   Janes   learnt.     A spokesperson from APS told   Janes  on 14 February that the GCC customer has ordered an undisclosed number of SKYctrl skidss, with deliveries ongoing since December 2023. They were unable to elaborate...

The Santa María-class frigate   Canarias  with the now-removed Meroka CIWS above the hangar. The frigate has embarked a counter-UAV system for the first time.  (Spanish Ministry of Defence)  The Spanish Navy has deployed a counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system on the Santa María-class frigate Canarias (F 86) for the first time ahead of the frigate's deployment to European Union Naval Force's (EU NAVFOR's) Operation ‘Atalanta' in the Indian Ocean.  Announcing the frigate's departure from Rota on 15 February...

The Bundesheer and Rheinmetall signed a contract on 21 February for the German company's Skyranger 30 turret. (Georg Mader)  The Bundesheer (Austrian Armed Forces) and Rheinmetall announced on 23 February that they had signed a contract for the German company's Skyranger 30 turret, making Austria the launch customer for the air-defence system.  Austrian Minister of Defence Klaudia Tanner and Rheinmetall Air Defence CEO Oliver Dürr signed the contract on 21 February for 36 Skyranger turrets to install in the same number of the 225 Pandur Evolu...

Austria has ordered 225 Pandur EVO AFVs for the Bundesheer. (GDELS)  A contract for 225 Pandur Evolution (EVO) armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) for the Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer) was signed by Minister of Defense Klaudia Tanner, Chief of Defence Staff General Rudolf Striedinger, and managing director of General Dynamics European Land Systems-Steyr (GDELS-Steyr) Martin Reischer on 19 February.  Present at the signing were Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Karl Hufnagel, managing director of ESL, which will supply the AFV's 12.7 mm...

The Redback IFV (pictured above) weighs 42 tonnes and has a length, a width, and a height of 7.9 m, 3.64 m, and 3.75 m respectively. It has a maximum onroad speed of 65 km/h with a seating capacity for a crew of three and up to eight troops. (Hanwha Aerospace)  Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) has awarded a contract worth USD600 million to Israel-based military technology company Elbit Systems to supply protection and fighting capabilities and sensors for Australian Redback infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), Elbit Systems said in a press releas...

High Point Aerotechnologies displayed its latest-generation Sawtooth counter-unmanned aircraft system. (Janes/Prasobh Narayanan)  US-based High Point Aerotechnologies showcased its latest-generation Sawtooth counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) for the first time at Singapore Airshow 2024 held from 20 to 25 February.  Speaking to Janes, the chief revenue officer of High Point, Evan Hunt, said the Sawtooth C-UAS uses layered technologies to adequately detect unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).  The system comprises a passive radio frequency (...

Kratos continues to develop its XQ-58 Valkyrie drone to meet new customer requirements. The Valkyrie demonstrator made its first flight in March 2019 (pictured). (US Air Force)  Kratos saw significant revenue growth in 2023 and is investing internally for future programmes. Revenues of USD1.04 billion resulted from 15.5% growth and 12.6% organic growth compared with 2022, according to a company statement on 13 February.  In the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023, Kratos saw revenues of USD237.8 million from 9.8% growth and 7.3% organic growth compa...

The Terrex s5 infantry fighting vehicle is likely to incorporate a small unmanned aerial vehicle as a MUM-T capability to assist with waypoint navigation. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal/ST Engineering)  A range of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities are being planned for Singapore's recently unveiled Terrex s5 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).  The Terrex is an 8×8 IFV with six distinct operational roles such as a troop carrier, command vehicle, anti-tank guided-missile (ATGM) vehicle, fire-support vehicle, mortar vehicle, and an amphibious ass...

Workers at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant prepare 155 mm artillery rounds to be filled as a part of the load, assemble, and pack operation. (US Army)  It has been more than a year since the US Army announced its ramp-up of 155 mm ammunition was under way. Now, the Pentagon has to find a way to more than double its production output by the end of the year as the war in Ukraine marches on.  The 155 mm artillery round is fired by several weapons that see heavy usage in Ukraine, and one estimate – cited by the European Union's (EU's) European Par...

Sweden and Denmark have agreed to co-finance the 50 Swedish CV90s donated to Ukraine and for the production of additional IFVs. (Hägglunds)  The Swedish government announced its largest military support package for Ukraine on its website on 20 February. The SEK7.1 billion (USD683 million) package includes a maritime package, ground equipment, and financial support for bilateral projects and funds.  The latter includes financial support for Ukraine to buy more CV90 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).  The ground equipment Sweden is donating com...

The Netherlands has received the first of 20 PULS MRLs it ordered on 17 May 2023. (Elbit Systems)  The first of 20 Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS) multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) ordered by the Netherlands on 17 May 2023 has arrived in the country and will be presented to the local media in May, Janes has learnt.  The systems were ordered under an agreement between the Israeli and Dutch ministries of defence (MoDs). Under a USD305 million contract, Elbit Systems is supplying the MRLs as well rockets and missiles of various rang...

India has cleared various defence equipment aquisitions, including the procurement of heavyweight torpedoes to enhance the attacking capabilities of Kalvari-class submarines, as shown in the above picture. (Ministry of Defence, India)  India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved the procurement of various defence equipment worth INR845.6 billion (USD10.19 billion) for the Indian Armed Forces and the Indian Coast Guard.  The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement on 16 February that...

The SAMAR air-defence system – seen here at Aero India 2023 – features two refurbished Russian Vympel R-73E infrared‐guided air-to-air missiles mounted on a Stallion 4×4 Mk IV BS-III truck. (Janes/Saketha Potlapalli)  The Indian Air Force test-fired its newly inducted Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation (SAMAR) air-defence system during Exercise ‘Vayu Shakti-24', which took place in the Pokhran range near Jaisalmer on 17 February.  According to a press release by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 17 February, the Indian Air F...

ST Engineering's Next Generation Singapore Assault Rifle, unveiled for the first time at the Singapore Airshow 2024. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)  ST Engineering has unveiled the latest iteration to its Singapore Assault Rifle – 21st Century (SAR 21).  Known as the Next Generation SAR (Next Gen SAR), the 5.56 mm weapon was unveiled at the Singapore Airshow2024, which is taking place at the Changi Exhibition Centre from 20 to 25 February.  The Next Gen SAR has been positioned as a weapon that features the advantages of a bullpup rifle in terms of co...

Italy has been approved to buy further SDB II and AIM-120C-8 air-launched munitions to be carried by its combat aircraft types, such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. (Italian Air Force)  The US government has approved the sale of air-launched munitions to Italy for an estimated USD219.3 million.  In two separate approval notifications posted by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 15 February, the US Department of State cleared the sale to Italy of RTX GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) II (also known as StormBreaker)...

A display of the Ultimax 100 Mk 9, the latest variant of ST Engineering's Ultimax 100 light machine gun, at Singapore Airshow 2024. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)  Singapore state-affiliated defence company ST Engineering has unveiled the latest variant of its Ultimax 100 5.56 mm gas-operated light machine gun.  The product, known as the Ultimax 100 Mk 9, is on display to the public for the first time at the Singapore Airshow 2024 defence exhibition, taking place at the Changi Exhibition Centre from 20 to 25 February.  A new feature found on the Mk...