TDV is developing the Pandur II 8×8 EVO infantry fighting vehicle (artist's impression showing it with UT30MK2 remote-controlled weapon station). (TDV)  Czechoslovak Group's (CSG's) Tatra Defence Vehicle (TDV) is developing a new generation of Pandur II 8×8 EVO (Evolution) armoured vehicle as the 107 Pandur II 8×8 CZs mostly manufactured in the Czech Republic and delivered to the country's army in 2009–13 reach obsolescence. Vehicles are expected to be procured for the Czech 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade, including a completely new mortar vers...

Slovenia has signed a programme agreement with Germany to procure the IRIS-T SLM. (Diehl Defence)  The Slovenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on 6 December that it had signed a programme agreement with the German Federal MoD to buy the IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Medium Range) air-defence system from Diehl Defence. The agreement was signed by Slovenian State Secretary for Defence Damir Črnčec and his German counterpart, Benedikt Zimmer, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the joint procurement of...

The Croatian government is procuring 89 Bradley combat vehicles donated by the US. (Croatian MoD/F Klen)  The first batch of 22 M2A2 Bradley ODS (Operation Desert Storm) infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for the Croatian Army arrived in the port of Rijeka on 6 December, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced later the same day.  The vehicles will be overhauled by Đuro Đaković Special Vehicles in Slavonski Brod so that they are ready for operational service by 2026.  The Minnesota National Guard, which has been co-operating with Croatia since...

The components of Lockheed Martin's SIMRES geo-pairing system include a player unit, a helmet sensor, and a weapon sensor mounted on the barrel of an Airsoft weapon that was being used for demonstration purposes. (Giles Ebbutt)  In response to the US Army's search for an alternative to its existing laser-based line-of-sight (LOS) tactical engagement simulation system (TESS), Lockheed Martin has developed a geo-pairing system that reflects the true ballistics and effect of terrain and demonstrated this during the Interservice/Industry Training...

The CPV (pictured above) is operated by a two-person crew with accommodation for up to eight additional personnel. It is equipped with a positive pressure system to protect against nuclear, biological, and chemical agents, and is fitted with a protected weapon station. (DAPA)  The Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) has deployed a wheeled command post vehicle (CPV) to the service's 25th Infantry Division in Yangju, located 30 km north of Seoul, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a press release on 12 December....

IDSI's Visionflex Direct View curved LED display showcased at I/ITSEC 23. (Giles Ebbutt)  New display technology using LED (light emitting diode) panels, which offer advantages over traditional projector-based systems, was evidenced at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) 2023 in Orlando.    Immersive Display Solutions Inc (IDSI) showcased its Visionflex Direct View (DV) curved LED display. Andrew Jamison, IDSI general manager – special projects, told   Janes   that the display consi...

The air force's new C3 vehicles are based on a military variant of the Volkswagen Crafter, also in service with the Portuguese and Bangladesh army in an ambulance role. (Abicon AB)  The Swedish Air Force has received new command, control, and communications (C3) vehicles to bolster its tactical mobility.  The vehicles are based on a military variant of the Volkswagen Crafter and are meeting an urgent requirement for light, robust, and highly modular C3 platforms, according to an announcement by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV...

Aegis Ashore is a four-storey deckhouse and launch tower, which will provide a static home in Romania and Poland for the SPY-1D(V) radar, SM-3 missiles, and other systems taken from the US Navy's BMD ships. (Missile Defense Agency)  The US Navy (USN) is scheduled to officially accept the Aegis Ashore site in Poland by mid-December, according to Rear Admiral Douglas Williams, the acting director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).  “The navy will formally accept Aegis Ashore Poland into their inventory on December 15,” Rear Adm Williams told...

The Croatian government is procuring 89 Bradley combat vehicles donated by the US. (Croatian MoD/F Klen)  The first batch of 22 M2A2 Bradley ODS (Operation Desert Storm) infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for the Croatian Army arrived in the port of Rijeka on 6 December, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced later the same day.  The vehicles will be overhauled by Đuro Đaković Special Vehicles in Slavonski Brod so that they are ready for operational service by 2026.  The Minnesota National Guard, which has been co-operating with Croatia since...

US Army 125th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare (IEW) Battalion, Electronic Warfare team, trained 25th Infantry Division soldiers on the V-MAX jamming backpack during the ‘Super Garuda Shield 23' exercise in September. (US Army)  As the US Army works toward revamping its force by 2030, it hopes to capitalise on new technologies such as warfare on the electromagnetic spectrum and tackle the complexities of training soldiers to operate in the unseen world.  The army wants to expand training on weapons that jam, suppress, and dominate the ele...

Saab has integrated a UAV capability into its instrumentation systems. Pictured is the UAV with Saab's integrated computer card, laser detector from a dismounted harness, and laser small arms transmitter displayed at I/ITSEC 2023. (Giles Ebbutt)  Saab has developed additional capabilities for its live tactical engagement simulation system (TESS) and is eyeing new opportunities both in Europe and elsewhere, company representatives said during a briefing at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) 2023 i...

Rohde & Schwarz has officially been named as the chosen vendor for the Bundeswehr's multibillion-euro digital radio programme. The company has already delivered units to the Bundeswehr, which are based on the SVFuA dual-channel, multiband radio (pictured in the vehicular variant). (Rohde & Schwarz)  Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) has officially been named as the chosen vendor for the German Bundeswehr's major Combat Net Radio (CNR) programme, the company announced on 7 December.  In December 2022 the Bundeswehr signed a multibillion-euro contract with...

EW officers monitor a simulated test in the Central Control Facility (CCF) at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The CCF is used to oversee EW mission data flight-testing. Portions of their missions are likely to expand under the new Air Force Cyber Command. (US Air Force)    Members of the trilateral security co-operative between Australia, the UK, and the US (AUKUS) have agreed to kick off    collaborative development of advanced combat technologies, with an eye towards commonality and interoperability, beginning with electroni...

The Redback IFV (pictured above) weighs 42 tonnes and has a length, a width, and a height of 7.9 m, 3.64 m, and 3.75 m respectively. It has a maximum onroad speed of 65 km/h with a seating capacity for a crew of three and up to eight troops. (Hanwha Defense Australia)  The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has signed a USD2.4 billion contract with Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) to deliver 129 Redback infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to the Australian Army under its Land 400 Phase 3 programme, HDA said in a press release on 8 December....

The Green Ammo E-blanks M249 version displayed at I/ITSEC 2023. (Giles Ebbutt)  Norwegian firm Green Ammo has continued to develop its electronic blanks technology and introduced several enhancements.    Speaking to   Janes  at Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) 2023 in Orlando, Steffen Botten, Green Ammo chief operating officer, said that the system software had been improved and there was now an inertial measurement unit (IMU) embedded in the bolt to monitor weapon movement. The sof...

The components of the CAE-led partnership SVT solution demonstrated at I/ITSEC 23. The modified weapon (top) and the virtual range with instructions displayed on a screen (bottom). (Giles Ebbutt)  The CAE-led partnership developing the Soldier Virtual Trainer (SVT) demonstrated its solution at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) 2023 in Orlando.  The SVT is an immersive trainer using virtual, mixed, and augmented reality that will provide individual training in three areas: weapons skills develop...

BAE Systems demonstrated its new counter unmanned aerial systems Armoured Multi Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) during a live fire in Kingman, Arizona. (BAE Systems)    The newly designed 120 mm mortar variant of the Armoured Multi Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) will make its debut at the annual Maneuver Warfighter Conference in September 2024, Bill Sheehy, AMPV programme director at BAE Systems    told   Janes  on 30 November.     BAE Systems first told   Janes  in September that it was delivering the prototype...

The Latvian MoD has signed a EUR600 million contract with Diehl for IRIS-T SLM air-defence systems. (Diehl)  The Latvian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Diehl Defence have announced that they signed a contract on 30 November for the delivery of the IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Medium Range) air-defence system to Latvia. The EUR600 million (USD649 million) contract was signed by Latvian National Armaments Director Mārtiņš Paškēvičs and Torsten Cook, senior vice-president of Diehl Defence's ground-based air-defence business unit.  The order follo...

Cubic has overcome the challenge of simulating the use of combustible charges and the recoil-assisted breech in its M777 155 mm howitzer simulator solution. An M777 is shown here in action with US forces. (US Army)  Cubic Defence is expecting a low rate initial production (LRIP) contract for its 81 mm mortar solution from the US Army, and has secured an interim 105 mm Light Gun simulator contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). The company has also made progress in developing its indirect fire simulation solutions, according to represe...

A trial held at Radnor Range, Wales, in October demonstrated how a blend of live and synthetic environments can be used to assure artificial intelligence. (Crown Copyright)  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 4 December that they have developed, alongside a consortium of companies, a new test and evaluation (T&E) capability for the assurance of autonomous systems under Project Zeus.  Led by Radnor Range, the new capability blends live and synthetic evaluation techniques to create a fast and more efficient approach to the T&E of aut...