A rendering of an MQ-4C Triton UAS demonstrating persistent targeting for long-range fires during ‘Northern Edge 2023'. (Northrop Grumman)  Northrop Grumman is gleaning lessons learned from the MQ-4C Triton's recent participation in the US Navy (USN)-led Arctic military exercise ‘Northern Edge 2023', as programme officials are preparing for the unmanned aerial system (UAS) to reach initial operating capability (IOC).  Achieving IOC for the Triton Integrated Functional Capability (IFC)-4 variant remains “a critical step as the [USN] achieves i...

Artist impression of ASW frigates. (Damen Naval)  The Dutch Materiel and IT Command (COMMIT) signed a contract with Damen for the design, build, and delivery of four anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates for the Netherlands and Belgian navies on 29 June.  At the same time, COMMIT signed a separate contract with Thales to equip the ships with its Above Water Warfare System (AWWS) fire control cluster and sensor suite.  Under their joint ASW Frigate (ASWF) programme, the Belgian and Dutch navies are procuring two ships each to replace their res...

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Starlink payload launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 17 December 2022. The Japan Self-Defense Forces has been testing the communication capabilities offered by Starlink at 10 sites across the country. (Joshua Conti/US Space Force)    The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) has been testing SpaceX's Starlink satellite communication (satcom) services since March, a spokesperson for the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) told   Janes  on 27 June.   “In recent years, the threat towar...

Systematic's SitaWare Frontline running on a DRS MFoCS tablet at the Everest experiment. The screen shows the common operating picture. (L3Harris UK)  An industry team has completed an initial experiment seeking to better exploit the information-sharing, resilience, and interoperability of land-centric military-off-the-shelf technologies.  The project took three months to build, but the experiment was conducted over two days at the Defence BattleLab in Dorset in mid-June. The event was attended by around 250 staff from the UK Ministry of Defe...

DAPA has ordered new ground laser target designators, which will replace Scarab GLTDs, pictured above, in service with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. (L3Harris)  South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has signed a contract worth KRW86.7 billion (USD66 million) with local firm Hancom Lifecare to procure ground laser target designators (GLTDs).  DAPA said in late June that the project comprises the acquisition of a laser target designator, a laser rangefinder, a thermal imager, camera, and auxiliary equipment. It a...

The Hensoldt TRML-4D ground-based air-defence radar is being acquired for Ukraine's IRIS-T SLM systems. The radar is designed for near- to long-range ground-to-air detection and weapon assignment. (Hensoldt)  Hensoldt has been contracted to deliver four additional TRML-4D active electronically scanned array (AESA) ground-based air-defence radars to Ukraine.  The radars, ordered by Diehl Defence, are intended to supply Ukraine's IRIS-T surface-launched medium-range missile (SLM) air-defence systems, Hensoldt announced on 27 June.  According to...

A screenshot of BSI's ARMOR Unity-based 3D viewer for the Modern Air Combat Environment showing radar beam shape, scan pattern, and threat zones in a ground attack scenario. (BSI)  Battlespace Simulations Inc (BSI) has developed a visualisation tool using the Unity game engine.  Augmented Reality Mission Observation and Rehearsal (ARMOR) is a Unity-based 3D viewer for BSI's Modern Air Combat Environment (MACE). BSI describes MACE as “a physics-based, full-spectrum computer-generated/semi-automated forces (CGF/SAF) application”. ARMOR is now i...

The EU is looking to boost the airborne electronic attack capabilities of its member states via the REACT II programme. As a participant in the programme, Germany is already developing its own Eurofighter EK aircraft for the mission. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  The European Union (EU) is looking to enhance its airborne electronic attack (AEA) capabilities via the Responsive Electronic Attack for Cooperation Tasks II (REACT II) programme announced on 26 June.  Led by Spain's Indra Sistemas, REACT II is to be a 48-month research and development ef...

The MCU for the JASDF's E-767 fleet will improve its battlespace command and control and decrease target identification time. In this photo, one of the JASDF E-767s which is scheduled for the upgrade participates in Exercise ‘RED FLAG-Alaska 23-2' on 9 June 2023. (US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Julia Lebens)  An upgrade of Japan's Boeing E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft will give the fleet electronic warfare (EW) capabilities and the ability to track a large number of airborne and sea-level contacts.    The Japan...

Smart Shooter's SMASH weapon sight uses ballistically calculated coincident shot release to significantly increase the hit rate against micro and mini UASs. (Smart Shooter Ltd)  The British Army will be equipped with new weapon sights that identify and track unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) announced on 27 June.  Known as SMASH, the fire-control weapon sight developed by Smart Shooter is designed to improve a soldier's accuracy on the battlefield by integrating a track and lock-on capability. It also feature...

Training solutions for the Challenger 3 main battle tank (pictured) and Boxer armoured vehicle are the mainstay of Project Vulcan. (RBSL)  The British Army's Ground Manoeuvre Synthetic Trainer (GMST) programme for the provision of simulators for its new Boxer and Challenger 3 platforms is more ambitious than the requirement suggested, with several other new or existing platforms in its sight.  A contract for Project Vulcan was awarded to Elbit Systems UK in April 2023 and the first installation is scheduled at the Combat Manoeuvre Centre at B...

The AN/WSN-12 Inertial Sensor Module, which provides accurate positioning data with or without Global Positioning Systems for US Navy ships and submarines. (Northrop Grumman)  US Navy (USN) leaders have approved full-rate production for the newest variant of the sea service's Inertial Sensor Module (ISM), which will provide surface and underwater combatants with precision positioning data, even in the absence of Global Positioning Systems (GPSs).  Low-rate initial production (LRIP) variants of the Northrop Grumman-built AN/WSN-12 ISM had alre...

The GM400α software-defined 3D air surveillance radar has an update rate of 6 seconds and an elevation coverage of up to 40°. (Thales)  Estonia has selected the Ground Master 400 Alpha (GM400α) long-range radar to enhance its air surveillance.  A total of two GM400α radars, developed by Thales, will be procured by the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment (ECDI) as part of the Medium Range Radar 2023 project (MRR 2023), the company announced at the Paris Air Show 2023, held from 19 to 25 June.  An ECDI announcement noted that the radars woul...

The French Army's ATLAS automated FCS, provided by Thales, is being upgraded to receive UAV intelligence and target information. (Janes/Giles Ebbutt)  Thales has been awarded a contract by the French military to integrate most of their “in-service UAVs” into the army's ATLAS (Automatisation de Tir et des Liaisons l'Artillerie Sol-sol) automated artillery fire-control system (FCS), Janes learnt at the Paris Air Show 2023, held from 19 to 25 June.  The contract was awarded this month, Jean-Michel Negret, command chain product line manager for T...

A rendering of the Stingray very low Earth orbit space vehicle. (EOI Space)  The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking industry input on the viability of developing and fielding very low Earth orbit (VLEO) satellites for use by the US armed forces, according to a pair of recent solicitations.  Project Otter, as envisioned, will assist DARPA in evaluating potential industry solutions to “develop and demonstrate ‘air-breathing' electric propulsion technologies enabling extended satellite operations in very low Earth orbit...

Hanwha Systems will partner with Leonardo to develop AESA radars for export. Hanwha Systems has earlier developed AESA radars for South Korea's KF-21 fighter aircraft (pictured) in collaboration with the ADD. (Defense Acquisition Program Administration)  South Korea's Hanwha Systems has signed an agreement with Leonardo to collaborate on the development and export of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars for light combat aircraft (LCA).  The agreement, signed at the Paris Air Show 2023, is expected to lead to the development of an...

Hanwha Systems will partner with Leonardo to develop AESA radars for export. Hanwha Systems has earlier developed AESA radars for South Korea's KF-21 fighter aircraft (pictured) in collaboration with the ADD. (Defense Acquisition Program Administration)  South Korea's Hanwha Systems has signed an agreement with Leonardo to collaborate on the development and export of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars for light combat aircraft (LCA).  The agreement, signed at the Paris Air Show 2023, is expected to lead to the development of an...

The HELMA-P LDEW prototype was housed in a containerised shelter installed on   Forbin's  fight deck.   (DGA)  France's Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), the French Navy, and CILAS (a subsidiary of ArianeGroup) have undertaken first at-sea trials of the High-Energy Laser for Multiple Application – Power (HELMA-P) laser directed-energy weapon (LDEW) demonstrator, the DGA said on 20 June.    Testing was performed from the Horizon-class anti-air warfare frigate   Forbin  in the Mediterranean fr...

Leonardo RAT 31DL/M radar will be delivered to the German Air Force to supplement its air-defence capabilities. (Janes/Patrick Allen )  Leonardo will deliver a new tactical RAT 31DL/M long-range deployable air-defence radar (DADR) to the German Air Force following an agreement with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), the company announced at the Paris Air Show 2023 held between 19 and 25 June.  This will be the third system delivered by the company to the German Air Force since 2007.  The two radars currently in service will recei...

The King Cobra deployed for operation on an undisclosed naval vessel. EM Solutions has secured a contract to supply multiple King Cobra and Cobra satcom terminals to the RAN under Project Sea 1442 Phase 5. (EM Solutions)  EM Solutions, a subsidiary of Australia's Electro Optic Systems, has secured a contract to modernise the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) satellite communications (satcom) systems under the Department of Defence's (DoD's) Project Sea 1442 Phase 5.  A spokesperson for EM Solutions told Janes on 20 June that the contract will r...