13 September 2022
by Jeremy Binnie
Iraq's first Thales GM403 air surveillance radar. (Iraqi Ministry of Defence)
The Iraqi Air Defence Command (IADC) had held an inauguration ceremony for its first Thales Ground Master 403 (GM403) long-range air surveillance radar, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 11 September.
The event was attended by Iraqi Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah and the French ambassador to Iraq, Éric Chevallier.
The MoD said the recently arrived GM403 was switched on during the event so it could begin to detect air targets over the western region, marking a new era in the country's ability to control its airspace.
The MoD confirmed it had ordered radars from Thales on 24 July, when it announced that construction of a new air-defence operations centre had begun, saying they would be operated in conjunction with Iraq's US-made TPS-77 long-range air surveillance radars.
At the time, it was reported that both the GM403 and the smaller GM200 radars have been ordered. However, there has been no indication as to the numbers that will be delivered.
18 April 2024
by Giles Ebbutt
A screenshot of the Hadean POLI constructive simulation displayed through the 4C Strategies Exonaut training management software. (Hadean)
Hadean and 4C Strategies have successfully integrated a constructive simulation with Exonaut exercise management software, utilising Hadean's spatial computing platform.
The integrated solution, displayed at the International Training Technology Exhibition & Conference (IT²EC) 2024 in London, enabled Hadean's Pattern of Life Indicator (POLI) constructive simulation to be controlled from within 4C Strategies Exonaut software.
Exonaut is widely used in the UK and NATO as an exercise management tool, while constructive simulation is fundamental to effective command and staff training. Integrating the two previously separate functions offers the potential to improve training.
Explaining the integration, Paul Steel, UK military sales director for 4C Strategies, told Janes
16 April 2024
by Olivia Savage
The Netherlands has ordered seven additional GM200 MM/C radars from Thales after having ordered an initial nine in February 2019. Pictured is the first GM200 MM/C radar being handed over to the Royal Netherlands Army in Hengelo in February 2024. (Dutch MoD/Sgt Maj Gregory Fréni)
The Dutch Command Materiel and IT (COMMIT) procurement authority has ordered seven additional Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission/Compact (GM200 MM/C) radars from Thales.
The contract includes an option for two additional radars, according to a Thales announcement on 15 April.
The GM200 MM/C is a compact mobile radar that can detect, track, and classify a large number of targets including rockets, artillery shells, mortar rounds, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles.
For the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA), the radars will be mounted on Scania Gryphus 8×8 trucks to enable rapid deployment.
A Thales spokesperson was unable to comment to Janes on the delivery timeframes.
This latest contract follows an initial agreement in February 2019 for nine GM200 MM/C radars for EUR100–250 million (USD106–266 million) to replace its legacy TPQ-36 radars. Deliveries are expected to be completed by 2024. In February Janes
11 April 2024
by Olivia Savage
VBS4 24.1, the latest version of BISim's VBS4 virtual simulation software pictured being used by MoD personnel with commercial-off-the-shelf hardware, is due to be released in May. (Bohemia Interactive Simulations )
The latest version of Bohemia Interactive Simulations' (BISim's) Virtual Battlespace 4 (VBS4) environment will feature munition-equipped unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the company announced at the International Training Technology Exhibition & Conference (IT2EC) 2024 held from 9 to 11 April in London.
VBS4 is a virtual desktop training environment with whole-earth rendering for tactical training, experimentation, and mission rehearsal.
The latest version – VBS4 24.1 – is due to be released by the end of May and will integrate all major gun-tank variants of the T-72 main battle tank and will include a new feature that allows any UAV to drop improvised munitions or have impact-detonating munitions, the company detailed.
Control AI will now also be default in VBS4 24.1, which the company says is a “big step towards removing all legacy ‘game' AI from the product”.
The Iraqi Air Defence Command (IADC) had held an inauguration ceremony for its first Thales Ground M...
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