15 November 2021
by Victor Barreira
The Dagger precision guidance kit has been designed to convert a freefall 500 lb bomb into a longer-range smart air-launched weapon system. (Mac Jee)
Mac Jee Defesa, part of Brazil's Mac Jee Group, is finalising the development of a wing-assisted guidance kit that converts an air-droppable, unguided 500 lb low-drag general-purpose bomb into a long-range, air-to-ground all-weather precision-guided weapon.
The Dagger kit comprises a guidance module consisting of the electro-optic/infrared payload with Medium-Wave Infrared camera, delivering a Circular Error Probable of less than 1 m, a sensor stabilisation system, an INS/GNSS unit for autonomous mid-course navigation, a guidance and navigation computer system, a computer vision system, and a crypto dual-band frequency-hopping datalink system. The Dagger system also features quick-fold-out mid-body wing-set kit with an energy storage and distribution system, while the rear module comprises an electronic fuze and interlock, dual-band telemetry and command system, and the control and actuation system.
03 February 2023
by Kapil Kajal
The FK-3 air-defence system, an example pictured above in service with the Serbian Armed Forces, was unveiled by the Royal Thai Navy's Air and Coastal Defence Command. The FK-3 is the export variant of China's HQ-22 medium- to long-range semi-active radar homing/radio command guidance air-defence system. (Serbian MoD)
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has unveiled its Chinese-made FK-3 air-defence system during a visit by Commander-in-Chief Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengphaet to the Air and Coastal Defense Command (ACDC) stationed in Chonburi province.
In a social media post shared by the RTN, the service was seen displaying the weapon to Adm Chomchoengphaet. The FK-3 is manufactured by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC).
The FK-3 is the export variant of the CASIC's HQ-22 medium- to long-range semi-active radar homing/radio command guidance air-defence system. It retains the domestic version's top speed of Mach 6, although its maximum range of 100 km is significantly shorter than the Chinese HQ-22's maximum range of 170 km.
The FK-3 was inducted into the RTN in 2022 and serves as an offensive combat missile and an air-defence shield.
According to Janes Intelligence Review,
31 January 2023
by Nicholas Fiorenza
The FMV and BAE Systems have signed a contract for 20 more Grkpbv 90 mortar systems for the Swedish Army. (BAE Systems)
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and BAE Systems announced on 27 January that they had signed a contract modification for 20 more Granatkastarpansarbandvagn 90 (Grkpbv 90) self-propelled mortars for the Swedish Army. The FMV valued the contract at approximately SEK293.5 million (USD28 million) and expects deliveries to take place in 2025.
The contract was awarded to BAE Systems' Swedish joint venture Utveckling, which combines BAE Systems' Hägglunds and Bofors manufacturing capabilities, with production to take place at BAE Systems Hägglunds in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden.
The Swedish Armed Forces already operate 40 Grkpbv 90 systems delivered in 2019–21 under a previous contract, and another 20 were ordered in February 2022 for delivery in 2023–25. The FMV also ordered the integration of the Swedish Army's new LSS Mark command support system into all 60 Grkpbv 90s in 2023–25.
The Grkpbv 90 provides Swedish mechanised battalions with indirect fire support.
25 January 2023
by Nicholas Fiorenza
Elbit presented the Crossbow 120 mm turreted mortar system at IAV 2023. (Elbit Systems)
Elbit Systems presented the Crossbow 120 mm turreted mortar at Defence IQ's International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2023 conference being held in London from 23 to 26 January.
The weapon can be installed in a mission module with minimal protrusion, can be easily operated by a single crew member, and is fuzed for fully automatic operation, according to Elbit.
It can fire the company's range of mortar rounds, including those with an extended range and precision guidance. It has a range of 10 km and a rate of fire exceeding 12 rds/min, achieving 16 rounds for the first minute, an Elbit representative told Janes on 23 January. Crossbow is designed to be fired on the move and to shoot and scoot with a multiple round simultaneous impact (MRSI) capability.
A second Elbit representative said it was developed over the last three years based on Elbit's experience in ammunition, fuzes, fire control, and command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) integration. It is scheduled to enter service in 2024 with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which financed its development.
Mac Jee Defesa, part of Brazil's Mac Jee Group, is finalising the development of a wing-assisted gui...
Warren Strobel, National Security Reporter joins Harry Kemsley and Sean Corbett in this podcast to understand the role open-source intelligence has to be play in Journalism.
Listen now