Hensoldt UK will supply its Kelvin Hughes Mk11 SharpEye naval navigation radars (pictured) for the Philippine Navy's new offshore patrol vessels and corvettes, being developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries. (Hensoldt)

Hensoldt UK, formerly known as Kelvin Hughes, has secured two contracts to supply its Mk11 SharpEye naval navigation radars for the Philippine Navy's new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and corvettes, being developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).

In addition to navigation, the Mk11 SharpEye pulse-doppler radar can provide enhanced surface surveillance capability to the Philippine Navy, Hensoldt said in a media release on 17 March. The radar will be installed in conjunction with an integrated navigation bridge system, the company added.

According to company specifications, the Mk11 SharpEye can transmit powers of up to 300 W. The radar's X-band (I-band) transmitters employ gallium nitride (GaN) power transistor technology to improve the performance of the radar.

Rheinmetall Defence Australia's Boxer CRV, the variant of the ARTEC Boxer designed for the Australian project Land 400 Phase 2 requirement, and fitted with the Lance two-person turret armed with the MK30-2/ABM cannon. (Rheinmetall Defence)

Rheinmetall Defence Australia's Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) has begun full-scale production of the locally made Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs) in Redbank, Ipswich.

In a joint press release on 20 March, the Queensland government and Rheinmetall Defence Australia said that with the completion of technology and skills transfer to Rheinmetall's workforce, the full-scale local production of the Boxer CRVs at the MILVEHCOE can commence.

With the support of the Queensland government, Rheinmetall secured the USD5.2 billion Land 400 Phase 2 project to deliver 211 Boxer CRVs to the Australian Defence Force.

In mid-October 2022, the Australian Army announced that the first 25 Boxer CRVs, partially manufactured in Germany, had achieved initial operating capability following testing and live exercises.

ATLA displayed the Type 16 MCV at the DSEI Japan 2023 exhibition in Chiba. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) plans to procure a total of 250 Type 16 Mobile Combat Vehicles (MCVs), Japan's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) told Janes on 15 March at the DSEI Japan 2023 exhibition in Chiba.

ATLA officials said the JGSDF has ordered and taken delivery of about 100 MCVs and orders for 150 additional vehicles – including variants – are expected in the next few years. The MCVs, which are also referenced as Maneuver Combat Vehicles, are built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) at its facility in Kanagawa Prefecture.

In fiscal year (FY) 2022, Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) ring-fenced funding of JPY23.7 billion (USD178.4 million) for 33 vehicles. In FY 2023, the MoD has allocated funding of JPY13.6 billion for 26 MCVs. A total of 22 vehicles were procured in FY 2021.

Initial development of the MCV started in the late 2000s and the first vehicle was delivered to the JGSDF in 2017 to start replacing the service's ageing fleet of Komatsu Type 96 8×8 armoured personnel carriers (APCs).