Defense & Security 2023: Thai army inches closer to D-Iron procurement

by Jon Grevatt

The RTA has a requirement to deploy the D-Iron for roles including infantry support, border surveillance, reconnaissance, logistics, and counter-insurgency. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) is moving closer to procuring the D-Iron, developed through a collaborative arrangement between the Defence Technology Institute (DTI), an agency under the Thai Ministry of Defence (MoD), and Estonian robotic vehicle manufacturer Milrem Robotics.

A DTI official told Janes at the Defense & Security 2023 exhibition in Bangkok on 9 November that the D-Iron has passed a series of trials held by the RTA's test and evaluation committee in August in Saraburi, central Thailand.

The official said the trials included extensive tests of the D-Iron's manoeuvrability in heavy terrain and tests of its integrated R400S-Mk2 Direct Drive-Heavy Duty (D-HD) remote weapon station (RWS) – supplied by Australian firm Electro Optic Systems – and its associated Northrop Grumman M230LF 30 mm machine gun.

The acquisition of the unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) now moves to the RTA's materiel standardisation committee, which is anticipated to rubber stamp the procurement soon. After that, the RTA will be expected to finalise the terms of a procurement contract.


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Poland orders second batch of Chunmoo MRLs

by Nicholas Fiorenza

The AA signed a second executive contract with Hanwha on 25 April for 72 K239 Chunmoo MRLs (pictured), several thousands of missiles, and technology transfer. (Hanwha Aerospace)

The Polish Armaments Agency (AA) signed a second executive contract with Hanwha Aerospace for 72 K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) on 25 April, the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) and the South Korean company announced the same day. The USD1.6 billion contract also covers the delivery of several thousands of missiles with ranges of 80–290 km, including the 600 mm CTM290, and technology transfer.

The Polish MND said on its website that it expected the contract to have a significant impact on the development of the Polish defence industry, with the technologies acquired allowing the establishment of a capability to carry out repairs and modernisation, as well as produce spare parts for the MRLs and launch pods for 122 mm rockets produced by MESKO, part of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ).


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Saab's Skapa initiative aims to speed technology into customers' hands

by Jeremiah Cushman

Saab has developed an autonomy package for its CB 90 fast boat and demonstrated its ability to navigate the Swedish coast. Pictured above is a CB 90 that was delivered to Malaysia. (Dockstavarvet)

Saab has established a new business function to revamp how it develops and delivers products to meet changing customer requirements. Skapa, a Swedish word that means “to create, to make, or to shape”, will focus on solving customer and stakeholder problems at speed, Erik Smith, president and CEO of Saab in the United States, told reporters on 23 April. “Skapa will accelerate the development and deployment of cutting-edge solutions to our warfighters” at pace, he said.


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XR Training-led consortium wins USMC ACV simulator contract

by Giles Ebbutt

The XR Training consortium's USMC Amphibious Combat Vehicle driver simulator in its seat configuration with two DoF motion platform. The Vive HTC Elite headset is on the seat. The Instructor station laptop is on the table behind. (XR Training)

A consortium led by XR Training has been awarded a contract by the US Marine Corps (USMC) under an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to produce a driver training simulator for the new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). The value of the contract was not disclosed but Neil Levin, XR Training CEO, told Janes that it was “in the high seven-figure area”.

The consortium, which also includes Talon Simulations (hardware), 302 Interactive (software development), and Theory Studios (modelling and visuals), will deliver 81 simulators by the end of 2024, followed by a two-year training and sustainment period. Most simulators will be deployed to Camps Pendleton and Lejeune, with some for use for “schoolhouse” training and some for deploying units.


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https://www.janes.com/defence-news/land-forces/latest/defense-security-2023-thai-army-inches-closer-to-d-iron-procurement

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) is moving closer to procuring the D-Iron, developed through a collaborativ...

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