Transmobile COPSIS SL ‘universal silent system', fitted with digital aiming device. (Richard Jones)

Sofia, Bulgaria-based Transmobile has developed what the company describes as a “niversal silent system” for launching mines and grenades.

The company's COPSIS SL is not the only ‘silent' system of this type available, with examples including the FLY-K MkII and 2B25 82 mm mortars. However, the COPSIS SL differs in that it uses the RPG-7 series of projectiles modified for firing from the specially developed spigot launcher.

Transmobile displayed the COPSIS SL at Eurosatory 2022 in Paris, but did not disclose how it functions. However, it is believed to be based on the ‘captive-piston' system. Upon firing, an encapsulated piston impacts and transfers energy to the projectile, and all propellant gases and derived smoke and noise are retained internally making the launch signature effectively ‘silent'.

Russia plans for its RS-28 Sarmat heavy ICBM (pictured), leaving a silo during its first test launch from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk Oblast on 20 April, to begin combat duty at the end of this year. (Russian MoD)

Russia's first RS-28 Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) will begin combat duty at the end of the year, Russian President Vladimir Putin told military university graduates he met in the Kremlin on 21 June.

The announcement came two months after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Russian Federation reported the first test launch of the ICBM with a dummy warhead from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk Oblast on 20 April.

Armed with a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV), Sarmat will replace the Voyevoda RS-20 ICBM, also known by its NATO designation SS-18 ‘Satan' Mod 5, which Russia's Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) plan to retain until the RS-28 is officially accepted into service.

Developed by State Rocket Center ‘Academician V P Makeyev', the three-stage Sarmat is produced by the Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Plant (KrasMash), a subsidiary of Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos.

IWI ACE Sniper 7.62 mm self-loading rifle. (IWI )

Israel Weapons Industry (IWI) representatives provided further details of the company's new ACE Sniper rifle at the Eurosatory 2022 defence exhibition.

Announced in April, the ACE Sniper is the successor to the company's Galil Sniper SA self-loading sniper rifle. Based on the ACE-N 52, the ACE Sniper brings all the improved features of the ACE series over the Galil pattern rifles, including steel and polymer receiver; left-hand side cocking handle with spring-loaded dust cover; redesigned ambidextrous fire-selector levers; side-folding stock; and modern optics and accessory rail capability.

The ACE Sniper is a long-stroke gas piston-operated weapon, with a semi-automatic only mode of fire. It is fitted with a 584 mm long, heavy profile barrel, featuring a double baffle muzzle brake. The barrel features six grooves, with a right-hand turn every 241 mm.