Two companies – Rowden and IBM – have been announced as the preferred bidders for two separate contracts under the broader British Army Human Machine Teaming (HMT) programme.  Speaking at the 2022 Disruptive Technology for Defence Transformation Co...

Hyundai Rotem is developing a next-generation wheeled armoured vehicle (left) and main battle tank (right). Scale models of both platforms were displayed at the DX Korea 2022 exhibition. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)  Hyundai Rotem and Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace have partnered to develop unmanned turrets for next-generation military vehicles being developed by the South Korean company.  Hyundai Rotem said on 28 September that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the two firms at the DX Korea 2022 defence exhibition in Goyang, which co...

The NATO eVA battlegroup in Slovakia was declared combat-ready following exercise ‘Strong Cohesion' in Lešť, held from 20 to 22 September, in which Slovak BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles (pictured) were part of the enemy forces. (Bundeswehr/Lars Pötzsch)  The NATO enhanced Vigilance Activity (eVA) battlegroup in Slovakia was declared combat-ready following exercise ‘Strong Cohesion' in Lešť, held from 20 to 22 September. A spokesperson for the battlegroup told Janes on 23 September that the declaration was made after evaluation by an in-thea...

The transfer of authority of the UK-led NATO EFP contingent between the incoming KRH Battlegroup and the outgoing Royal Welsh Battlegroup took place in Tapa, Estonia, on 21 September. (UK MoD/Crown copyright)  The British Army has deployed a tank-heavy battlegroup to Estonia, completing the restructuring of the UK-led NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) contingent in the Baltic state.  The King's Royal Hussars (KRH) Battlegroup was deployed to Tapa in Estonia, relieving the armoured infantry battlegroup of 1st Battalion, the Royal Welsh regi...

The UK MoD does not expect a delay in the Boxer programme, despite supply chain pressures. (Rheinmetall)  Supply chain pressures are not expected to delay the British Army's Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicle programme, according to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).  The British Army's Boxer programme director, Colonel Iain Fake, said on the second day of the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2022 event held at the Millbrook Proving Ground from 21 to 22 September that some electronic components were taking 55 weeks to source because of the Covid-...

India's MoD said that the Arjun Mk 1A integrates 72 new features over the Mk 1 model to ensure mobility in all terrains and day-and-night target engagement. (Indian PIB)    India's state-run Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is equipping the Indian Army's new Arjun Mk 1A main battle tank (MBT) with an electro-optical (EO) fire-control system. A source from Tonbo Imaging told   Janes  that the company is manufacturing the system in partnership with BEL's unit in Chennai, India.    “Tonbo Imaging is partnered with BEL, Chenna...

French Boeing E-3F Sentry AWACS to get latest military tactical datalink. (Boeing)  The Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminal Block Upgrade 2 (MIDS-LVT BU2) has been qualified for use on all four of the French Air and Space Force Boeing E-3F Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.  Announced by the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) on 22 September, the new terminal will enable the operation of the latest-generation Link 16 military tactical data network on its aircraft in September−Novem...

A Mastiff 3 fitted with NP Aerospace's upgraded suspension kit was displayed at DVD 2022. This is one of the 12 different types of vehicles that make up the British Army's existing fleet of protected mobility vehicles. (Janes/Christopher Petrov)  The British Army elaborated on its plans to rationalise its protected mobility vehicle fleet at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2022 event held at the Millbrook Proving Ground from 21 to 22 September.  During a presentation at the event on 22 September, Brigadier Mike Fayers, head of military capa...

One of the Falaq ballistic missiles that were displayed during the parade. (Ansar Allah)  The Yemeni rebel group Ansar Allah (Houthis) unveiled several new weapon systems, many of them seemingly of Iranian origin, during a parade in Sanaa on 21 September.  Three ballistic missiles labelled as the Falaq were displayed that looked similar to a version of Iran's Qiam liquid-fuel ballistic missile that has fins on its re-entry vehicle. The ballistic missiles that Ansar Allah refers to as the Burkan-2H and Zulfiqar have earlier been identified as...

MSI unveiled the Terrahawk VSHORAD counter-UAS concept at DVD 2022. (Janes/Christopher Petrov)  MSI Defence Systems unveiled the Terrahawk flatbed-based very short-range air-defence (VSHORAD) system at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2022 event held at the Millbrook Proving Ground on 21 and 22 September. The system is designed to counter small aerial targets, including unmanned aerial systems (UASs), while also retaining capabilities to engage low-flying fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.  The main armament of the Terrahawk is the 30 mm Mk 4...

QinetiQ's Talon 6N EOD UGV demonstrated at DVD 2022. The vehicle is pictured lifting a 12.5 kg weight from behind an obstacle. (Janes/Alexander Stronell)  QinetiQ has exhibited the Talon 6 explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) robot for the first time at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2022, the British Army's biennial defence industry exhibition, held at the Millbrook Proving Ground from 21 to 22 September.  As the name would imply, the Talon 6 is the latest in the Talon series of EOD unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) developed by QinetiQ, whic...

RBSL displayed a concept demonstrator of the Boxer Overwatch variant at DVD 2022 with a mission module for launching eight Brimstone missiles (seen here in the raised position). (Janes/Christopher Petrov)  Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) unveiled a demonstrator of the Boxer 8×8 armoured vehicle equipped with a mission module for launching Brimstone missiles at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) event held at the Millbrook Proving Ground on 21 and 22 September 2022.  Known as Boxer Overwatch, this new variant was developed by RBSL in colla...

The British Army is planning to increase the size of the UK's M270 MLRS fleet under plans to boost the service's deep fires capabilities. (Crown copyright)  Richard Smart, Senior Responsible Officer for Joint Effects at British Army Headquarters in Andover, outlined plans to increase both the capability and numbers of M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRSs) in the UK service on the second day of the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2022 event held at the Millbrook Proving Ground from 21 to 22 September.  Smart said that the first MLRS had g...

Horiba Mira's Viking unmanned ground vehicle exhibited in the logistics and resupply configuration at DVD 2022. (Janes/Alexander Stronell)    Horiba Mira is to deliver two Viking unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in an intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) configuration to the British Army in 2023,   Janes  has learnt.     Speaking to   Janes  at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2022 – the British Army's biennial defence industry exhibition – Andrew Maloney, chief engine...

RBSL selects Elbit Systems UK ELAWS protection system for Challenger 3. (RBSL)  Elbit Systems UK (ESUK) will deliver its laser protection system for Challenger 3 main battle tanks (MBTs).  ESUK has been selected by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) to deliver 150 of its Laser Warning Systems (ELAWS) for the Challenger 3 (CR3) programme, ESUK announced on 22 September.  An ESUK spokesperson was unable to disclose further details regarding the subcontract.  ELAWS can detect, categorise, and accurately pinpoint laser sources such as from range...

French Boeing E-3F Sentry AWACS to get latest military tactical datalink. (Boeing)  The Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminal Block Upgrade 2 (MIDS-LVT BU2) has been qualified for use on all four of the French Air and Space Force Boeing E-3F Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.  Announced by the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) on 22 September, the new terminal will enable the operation of the latest-generation Link 16 military tactical data network on its aircraft in September−Novem...

SNT Dynamics has integrated its KM120 mortar system with a 4×4 vehicle made by Kia Motors for the Republic of Korea Army. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)  South Korea's SNT Dynamics has integrated its KM120 120 mm mortar system with a 4×4 light tactical vehicle (LTV) built by Kia Motors for a requirement in the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA).  The company showcased the new LTV mortar capability for the first time at the DX Korea 2022 event being held in Goyang from 21 to 25 September. SNT Dynamics has not yet officially named the product.  “This capabilit...

A USMC Amphibious Combat Vehicle heads into the water. US marines can again train with the vehicles in open-water areas and surf zones since a July 2022 accident with two vehicles. (BAE Systems)  US marines are once again allowed to train with Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs) in open water and surf zones but they can only operate the vehicles when the breaker height is less than four feet.  The US Marine Corps (USMC) ACV fleet has been sidelined from open-water operations since July when two vehicles were involved in an accident during a mor...

The Philippine Army said that the ATMOS will boost the army's mobility and range, and enhance its indirect fire-support capability. (Soltam Systems)  The Philippine Army has deployed its Autonomous Truck Mounted howitzer System (ATMOS) 155 mm/52 calibre self-propelled artillery units to the service's 10th Field Artillery ‘Rolling Thunder' Battalion, marking the weapon system's entry into operational status.  The deployment was held on 21 September at Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation area in Nueva Ecija, which lies about 120 km north of Man...

Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov expects the modernisation of Bulgaria's T-72 tanks to be completed by the end of April 2023 (photo of upgraded T-72 unveiled at the HEMUS 2022 defence exhibition in June). (Janes/Christopher Petrov)  Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said during a visit to the Novo Selo training ground that the modernisation of Bulgaria's T-72 main battle tanks will be completed by the end of April 2023, his ministry reported on its website on 20 September. He expected the command and information systems f...