British Army to receive new C-UAS capability
27 June 2023
by Olivia Savage
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 features a ‘drone mode' that enables soldiers to engage and achieve a high probability hit rate against micro and mini UAVs.
The GBP4.6 million (USD5.85 million) contract comes under a larger GBP20 million five-year framework that seeks to equip all three services in the dismounted close combat category with the capability.
This initial order is for the SMASH X4 weapon sight, with deliveries expected to commence towards the end of 2023, a Ministry of Defense (MoD) spokesperson told Janes.
Viking Arms is the UK partner for Smart Shooter, which will support the delivery of additional sights to the three services based on operational and readiness commitments, the announcement said.
US Army unveils test plan for TRILOS modernisation
10 May 2024
by Carlo Munoz
Multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, assemble a Terrestrial Transmission Line Of Sight radio system at Fort Stewart in Georgia in August 2019. (US Army )
US Army officials are soliciting industry feedback on the service's technology development strategy to revamp its Terrestrial Transmission Line of Sight (TRILOS) communications equipment, with plans to acquire two to three new TRILOS variants beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2026.
Led by Program Manager Tactical Network (PM TN), the 3 May request for information (RFI) will inform development of the new TRILOS variants.
The variants will feature a radio frequency (RF) base system, “with modular extensions incorporating Free Space Optics (FSO)” to connect with aerial tier assets via a “variable height, mast type configuration”, the 3 May RFI stated. Army officials plan to acquire over 700 modernised TRILOS systems.
DSA 2024: Poly Technologies showcases new armed large unmanned underwater vehicle
10 May 2024
by Vinod Kumar CV
Poly Technologies' UUV300CB LLUV was displayed at the DSA 2024 exhibition in Malaysia. (Janes/Vinod Kumar CV)
China's Poly Technologies has displayed a new multimission-capable large unmanned underwater vehicle (LUUV) at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur.
According to the company, the LUUV – named UUV300CB – can undertake missions including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and minelaying operations.
A Poly Technologies official told Janes that the UUV300CB is in development phase and that several variants of the platform could be produced by the company.
A cutaway model of the platform displayed at DSA 2024 shows torpedo tubes, a belly bay for loading EM12-500/1000 mines or UUVs, an image intelligence and reconnaissance mast, an electromagnetic intelligence and reconnaissance mast, sonar systems, and a covered vertical launcher for small missiles in its rear.
Other capabilities include satellite/ultra-high frequency communication and low acoustic signature.
USSOCOM seeks new mounted, dismounted EW capabilities
10 May 2024
by Andrew White
Anduril's Pulsar multimission EW solution is to be available in air (Pulsar-V) and ground (Pulsar-G) variants. (Andrew White)
US Special Operations Command's (USSOCOM's) electronic warfare (EW) Family of Systems (FoS) is the “newest” programme in the Program Executive Office (PEO) – SOF Warrior portfolio and was initially approved in November 2023 to focus on the “ground domain” operations, the command announced on 7 May.
SOF Warrior documents stated the EW FoS will include “dismounted/body-worn; mounted; unattended sensor; and small unmanned payloads to enable electromagnetic surveillance (ES), electromagnetic attack (EA), and electromagnetic protection (EP) capabilities”. The documents were presented at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2024 in Tampa, Florida.
Officials suggested aspects of EP would be “pertinent” to countering unmanned aircraft systems as well as electromagnetic countermeasures (ECM). Other areas of interest include jamming-resilient radar capabilities.
The British Army will be equipped with new weapon sights that identify and track unmanned aerial veh...
Latest Podcasts
The value of OSINT for intelligence sharing
In this episode Harry Kemsley and Sean Corbett are joined by Phil Ritcheson Ph.D. to discuss why intelligence sharing is now more important than ever. They discuss the growing need for allied and partnership and how by using open sources facilit...
Listen now
Using OSINT to support law enforcement
Iran Israel analysis
A focus on Libya
China Taiwan relations
Janes Case Studies
Using Janes Intara to build a common intelligence picture: Russian build up on the Ukrainian border
View Case Study
Assessing threats in the South China Sea
A competitive assessment of the military aircraft market
Identifying an unknown aircraft
Case study: Using Interconnected Intelligence to Monitor Russian Troop Movement
News Categories
Land Details