Sweden mounts the IRIS-T SLS air-defence system on the trailer section of the BvS10 armoured all-terrain vehicle. (Försvarsmakten/Jessica Krantz)    Germany has bought back 200 IRIS-T SLS (Surface Launched Short Range) air-defence missiles from Sweden to supply to Ukraine,   Janes  has learnt.   The Swedish missiles are being refurbished by Diehl Defence and will replenish IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Medium Range) missiles that have been fired by Ukrainian forces defending against Russian air attacks.  Sweden will procure...

A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system is a critical capability for US missile defence in Guam. Shyu said the US and Australia are working together to figure out how to integrate missile defence systems. (US Army)  The US is set to step up its technology partnerships with Australia in the coming months with an AUKUS-related announcement in the fall, the Department of Defense's (DoD's) chief technology officer announced on 29 August.  As part of the Australia, US, and United Kingdom subdevelopment agreement, US President J...

Rheinmetall is producing 40,000 rounds of 35 mm rounds in 2023 for Gepard SPAAGs that Germany has supplied to Ukraine. (Rheinmetall)  Rheinmetall is on track to deliver 40,000 rounds of 35 mmammunition by the end of 2023 for the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns (SPAAGs) it has supplied to Ukraine. “Deliveries are being made in accordance with the contract,” a company spokesperson told Janes on 29 August.  During the 14 February Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Rheinmetall would produc...

Spanish Minister of Defense Margarita Robles and her Estonian counterpart, Hanno Pevkur, agreed that Spain would extend its NASAMS air-defence unit rotation in Estonia on 29 August. (Estonian MoD)  Spanish Minister of Defense Margarita Robles and her Estonian counterpart, Hanno Pevkur, agreed on the fringes of the 29–30 August EU defence ministerial meeting in Toledo, Spain, that Madrid would extend its National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) anti-air defence unit (UDAA) rotation in Estonia, the Baltic state's Ministry of Def...

The Rheinmetall-Diehl-Hensoldt ARGE NNbS working group is offering FlaRakPz (left) and fire control (right) versions of the Boxer armoured vehicle for the Bundeswehr's mobile air defence. (ARGE NNbS)  The Rheinmetall Electronics, Diehl Defence, and Hensoldt Sensors Arbeitsgemeinschaft (ARGE) Nah- und Nächstbereichsschutz (NNbS) short- and very short-range air defence (V/SHORAD) working group submitted its best and final offer (BAFO) to the Bundeswehr on 9 August, Oliver Hoffmann, Rheinmetall's head of press and public relations, announced dur...

The Indonesian Army's Harimau tanks on display at Indo Defence 2022. Harimau is equipped with the CMI Defence Cockerill 3105 turret, which is fitted with a 105 mm high-pressure gun and a bustle-mounted autoloader. (Janes/Andrew Galer)  Indonesia's PT Pindad has conducted a series of final tests on the Harimau medium tank, the company announced on 23 August.  According to the company, it “successfully” completed firing test to validate the function and feasibility of the Harimau tank at the Cipatat Pusdikif shooting range on 22 August.  The fi...

The command post vehicle is equipped with a metallic container mounted on BEML's 8×8 high-mobility vehicle, similar to the one pictured above. (BEML Limited)  Indian state-owned company BEML Limited, formerly Bharat Earth Movers Limited, has received a contract worth INR1.01 billion (USD12.2 million) from the Indian Army to supply an unknown number of command post vehicles (CPVs), BEML announced on 22 August.  According to BEML, the CPV is a fully enclosed metallic container mounted on a BEML 8×8 high-mobility vehicle (HMV).  The CPV is autho...

The first five LAV 6.0 Reconnaissance vehicles equipped with the Light Armoured Reconnaissance Surveillance System are being delivered in August. (Elbit Systems)    Upgraded Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) 6.0 Reconnaissance vehicles are being delivered to the Canadian Army in August to begin testing, but new delays have pushed the programme to the right, a government official told   Janes  .   The Light Armoured Vehicle Reconnaissance Surveillance System (LRSS) project is designed to replace the Canadian Army's ageing 141 Coy...

Elbit Systems ReDrone C-UAS solution has been acquired by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. (Elbit Systems)  The Netherlands has acquired new counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UASs) from Elbit Systems for GBP43 million (USD55 million), the company announced on 21 August.  As part of the contract, the company will supply several mobile, stationary, and deployed configurations of its ‘ReDrone' integrated C-UAS solution. Logistics and training will also be provided.    A Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson told   J...

The Spike LR II (pictured above) is being tested by an infantry team in manportable configuration. This is a fifth‐generation portable fire‐and‐forget ATGM system. (Rafael Advanced Defense Systems)  The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has signed a contract with Rafael Australia to procure an unknown number of Spike LR II long-range anti‐tank guided missiles (ATGMs) for Boxer 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs), the company announced on 22 August.  According to Rafael, the procurement is part of Australia's Guided Weapons and Expl...

Poland's first K239 Chunmoo MRL mounted on a Polish Jelcz vehicle was delivered by sea to the Port of Gdańsk, Poland, on 21 August. (Polish Armaments Agency)  Poland's first K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher (MRL) mounted on a Jelcz launch vehicle was delivered by sea to the Port of Gdańsk on 21 August 2023, the Polish Armaments Agency (AA) announced on its website on the same day.    Asked for more details, Hanwha Aerospace sent   Janes  a press release on 23 August, originally distributed only to Polish media on 29 June,...

Elbit Systems ReDrone C-UAS solution has been acquired by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. (Elbit Systems)  The Netherlands has acquired new counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UASs) from Elbit Systems for GBP43 million (USD55 million), the company announced on 21 August.  As part of the contract, the company will supply several mobile, stationary, and deployed configurations of its ‘ReDrone' integrated C-UAS solution. Logistics and training will also be provided.  The Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) did not respond to Janes regard...

Rheinmetall officially opened its new Lynx IFV factory in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, on 18 August. (Rheinmetall)  Rheinmetall officially opened its new factory in Zalaegerszeg on 18 August, which will produce the KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) for the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF). Addressing the opening ceremony, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said the factory would “produce top-notch military systems for the Hungarian armed forces as well as export customers”.  At the event, Papperger and Hungarian Minister of Defence Kristóf Szala...

The US government has approved the sale of the AWS to Germany. (IAI)  The US government has approved the sale of the Arrow Weapon System (AWS) to Germany, the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) announced on its website on 17 August. The approval paves the way for the IMOD, the German Ministry of Defence (MoD), and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to sign a USD3.5 billion agreement on the procurement, Israel's largest ever defence deal, according to the IMOD.  The Israeli and German MoDs will sign a letter of commitment to start work immediate...

The HIMARS, pictured above from a US Army exercise, can hit targets at a range of 70 km using the Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions, both guided and unguided, and 300 km with the MGM-142 Army Tactical Missile System. (US Army/Sgt 1st Class Steven Queen)  The US Department of State has approved the possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARSs) and related equipment to the Australian government for an estimated cost of USD975 million.  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (D...

Raytheon Technologies is building the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor for the US Army's integrated missile defence architecture in Guam. (Raytheon)  The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) transitioned its power to the US Army in June 2023 on the integrated missile defence of Guam effort, service leaders announced recently.  The memo – signed by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks – establishing Army Sustainment Command as the lead service for Guam's defence, went out in June, Lieutenant General Robert Rasch, director of the Rapid C...

A US Army HIMARS launcher from the 17th Field Artillery Brigade fires its first salvo at the Lancelin Defence Training Area in Western Australia as part of Exercise ‘Highball'. (Commonwealth of Australia)  The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the US Army have carried out a live firing of the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) against a maritime target in a bid to hone this capability for Australia.  The activity was carried out in Western Australia as part of Exercise ‘Highball', which was conducted by the ADF in conjunction wit...

The ZSSW-30 30 mm remote-controlled weapon station will become a primary weapon for future and current APCs and IFVs replacing the manned Hitfist 30P turrets. (Jakub Link-Lenczowski)  Three months before Poland's parliamentary elections, Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak has announced three contracts that will provide several types of armoured vehicles for the Polish army during the next 12 years.  The first contract, announced on 14 August, was signed between the Polish Armaments Agency (AA) and state-owned Polish Armaments Grou...

Swedish Leopard 2 MBTs and CV90 AFVs donated to Ukraine will receive additional ammunition from Sweden following a military aid package. (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann)  The Swedish government is preparing a SEK3.4 billion (USD313.4 million) military aid package for Ukraine, the authority announced on 15 August.  The assistance includes ammunition and spare parts for several of the equipment donated to Ukraine by Sweden, including the CV90 armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) and Leopard 2 main battle tanks (MBTs).  In addition, Sweden intends to supply...

The northern lights glow behind a Patriot M903 launching station assigned to 5th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, during Exercise ‘Arctic Edge 2022' at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, on 5 March 2022. The Patriot system allows soldiers to detect, analyse, and defend against incoming air and missile threats. (USAF)  The latest US security assistance package will allocate about USD200 million worth of equipment for Ukraine, including 155 mm and 105 mm artillery rounds and ammunition for air-defence systems, according to a 14 Augu...