A mock-up of the advanced weapon station on display at DSA 2024. (Janes/Rakend P)

Shrike Marine has secured an arrangement to trial an enhanced version of its advanced weapon station (AWS) with the Malaysian Army.

While speaking to Janes at the 18th Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur, Shrike Marine disclosed that the trials are planned to start from the week beginning 13 May.

The enhanced version of the AWS was revealed for the first time at DSA 2024.

Shrike Marine is manufacturing the AWS in Malaysia in collaboration with Advanced Defence Systems Sdn Bhd (ADSSB).

The enhanced AWS is provided with an “ammo box” for feeding the rounds and a better shock-absorption mechanism to improve the operation. The enhanced version is available in the 12.7 mm cartridge version only as compared with the older version, which is available in 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm. The contractor informed Janes that a 7.62 mm model of the enhanced version is in pipeline.

The Elbit Systems Rampage is a stand-off weapon with all‐weather capabilities and is designed for deep penetration strikes. (Elbit Systems)

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is inducting Elbit Systems' Rampage supersonic, long-range air-to-ground missile, the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) announced.

As a stand‐off weapon (SoW) capable of engaging high‐value targets in attack missions, the Rampage is expected to give the IAF significant strike capabilities. The IAF's induction of the missile will allow its aircraft “to strike targets up to 250 km away”, the MIB said on 30 April.

According to the MIB, the missiles are being deployed on IAF Sukhoi Su-30, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29, and Sepecat Jaguar combat aircraft.

The IAF told Janes it could not comment on the matter as the service has not issued an “official notification” on the missile. Janes understands that while the missile has likely been deployed with IAF Su-30 and Jaguar units, it is not yet operational with the IAF's MiG-29 UPGs and Fulcrum-As.

The IAF acquisition follows the Indian Navy's acquisition of the missile for its carrier-borne MiG-29K fleet. Janes

A model of the South Korea-developed CIWS-II on display at MADEX 2023. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)

South Korea's defence procurement agency has announced programmes to bolster its navy's ability to intercept ballistic missiles and unmanned vehicles.

These include a programme to improve the country's indigenous close-in weapon system (CIWS) project undertaken in consideration of recent changes in warfare techniques, said the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in its announcement on 26 April.

South Korea's indigenously conceived CIWS is known as the ‘CIWS-II' and it is being developed by LIGNex1 under a contract awarded in 2021.

It is based on a seven-barrelled Gatling gun system incorporated with a tracking active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a four-faced AESA search radar, and an electro-optical tracker. The weapon can fire about 4,200 rounds per minute.

At the 161st meeting of the country's Defense Program Promotion Committee that was held on the same day of the announcement, changes to the CIWS-II programme's quantity and localisation plans were decided on, DAPA said without giving further details.