The Indian Army has issued an RFI to procure new SPAD-GMSs. South Korean defence group Hanwha is expected to bid for the programme with its K30 Biho self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) system, pictured above, which is in service with the Republic of Korea Army. (Janes/Sunil Nair)  The Indian Army has released a tender to support its procurement of new self-propelled air-defence gun missile systems (SPAD-GMSs).  A request for information (RFI) issued in early July said the procured systems will be operated as ‘Mobile Terminal Air-Defence...

The Netherlands ordered three Improved Ribbon Bridge systems from GDELS – Bridge Systems on 30 June. (GDELS)    The Netherlands signed a contract for three new bridging systems with General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) – Bridge Systems on 30 June, the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website the same day. A GDELS spokesperson told   Janes   on 5 July that the systems are Improved Ribbon Bridges (IRBs) and will be produced in Kaiserslautern, southwestern Germany, but he declined to give the contract val...

One of the BRDM-2 armoured reconnaissance vehicles donated by Egypt with M-30 howitzers in the background. (Ministère de la Défense Nationale du Niger)  The Armed Forces of Niger (FAN) has received a large consignment of military equipment from Egypt, the country's Ministry of National Defence (MDN) announced on 8 July.  It said the equipment included 30 BRMD-2 armoured reconnaissance vehicles, 12 122 mm M-30 howitzers, 12 mortars, 50 AK-47 assault rifles, 300 “light automatic rifles”, 1,900 pistols, other equipment and accessories that inclu...

The US Army approved Raytheon's Third-Generation Forward-Looking Infrared (3GEN FLIR) for low-rate initial production in July 2023. (Raytheon Technologies)  The US Army programme for third-generation FLIR sensors entered into low-rate initial production (LRIP), the service announced on 6 July.  The kit will be integrated first on the Abrams main battle tanks, but the service's next focus could be on the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (formerly Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicles [OMFVs]), a Raytheon executive told Janes on 6 July. Th...

Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner (right) and Viola Amherd, head of Switzerland's Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection, and Sports (centre), signed a letter of intent with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (left) for Austria and Switzerland to join the German-led European Sky Shield Initiative during a trilateral meeting in Bern on 7 July. (DDPS)  Austria and Switzerland signed a letter of intent (LOI) to join the German-led European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) on air defence during a trilateral meeting with Germany i...

A Saudi M1 Abrams tank is displayed at the World Defense Show 2022 in Riyadh. (Janes)  Honeywell plans to create a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capability in Europe to accommodate several new customers for its AGT1500 gas turbine engine, which powers the M1 Abrams main battle tank, according to an official at the US-based conglomerate.  The company is working with the US government and US-based General Dynamics Land Systems, the Abrams prime contractor, to determine an MRO location or locations in Europe, said Matthew Milas, who be...

Sweden has acquired the SMART-L MM/F AESA radar that is capable of detecting missiles from 2,000 km and low-observable threats from 65 km and has a track capacity of up to 2,000 targets. (Thales)  Sweden has acquired new long-range radars from Thales to bolster its air surveillance and ballistic missile defence capabilities.  The contract, signed with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), is for the company's SMART-L Multi Mission Fixed (MM/F) land-based long-range radar.  A Thales spokesperson informed Janes that the radars woul...

The NG7 ULMG has been developed based on customer feedback that sought a lighter machine gun with full rifle calibre. (IWI Ltd)  Israel Weapon Industries' (IWI's) new Negev 7 Ultra Light Machine Gun (NG7 ULMG) has been developed based on customer feedback that called for a lighter-weight, full rifle calibre machine gun, Janes has learnt.  Speaking to Janes, Ronen Hamudot, executive vice-president of SK Group – owner of IWI – said the design puts greater emphasis on portability and mobility. The weapon has already been supplied to an unnamed E...

The Netherlands ordered three Improved Ribbon Bridge systems from GDELS – Bridge Systems on 30 June. (GDELS)    The Netherlands signed a contract for three new bridging systems with General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) – Bridge Systems on 30 June, the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website the same day. A GDELS spokesperson told   Janes   on 5 July that the systems are Improved Ribbon Bridges (IRBs) and will be produced in Kaiserslautern, southwestern Germany, but he declined to give the contract val...

The Australian DoD has ordered an additional batch of an unknown number of Saab's Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles with FCD 558 fire-control systems. (Saab)  Saab has received an order worth AUD56 million (USD37.2 million) from the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) to supply additional Carl-Gustaf M4 84 mm recoilless rifles, the Swedish company said on 4 July.  Without disclosing the number of M4s to be delivered, Saab said the additional batch of rifles will be equipped with FCD 558 fire-control systems (FCSs). Deliveries are scheduled...

Poland received its first company of 14 M1A1 tanks at Szczecin on 28 June. (Polish MND)  Poland received its first company of 14 M1A1 Abrams tanks at the Port of Szczecin on 28 June, the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced on its website later the same day. The Polish Armaments Agency said on its website on 28 June that three M88A2 Hercules armoured recovery vehicles were also delivered.  Two more M1A1 companies will be delivered in 2023, to be followed by a second battalion in 2024.  Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błasz...

The Australian Army has tested an AS9 155 mm SPH at a government testing facility in South Korea. The image above shows an AS9 from an Indian Army exercise in November 2022. The AS9 is known as K-9 Vajra T in India. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  The Australian Army has test-fired three artillery rounds from an AS9 Huntsman 155 mm/52 calibre self-propelled howitzer (SPH) at a government testing facility in South Korea, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) said on 3 July.  The DoD said the test validated the AS9's automated loading capabilities. H...

Australian Army soldiers from the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, onboard F470 Zodiacs conduct small-boat training in the littoral environment during Exercise ‘Tiger's Run 2022' on the Timor Sea off the coast of Northern Territory. (Commonwealth of Australia)  The Australian Army has initiated restructuring of its units to support a Defence Strategic Review (DSR) recommendation that requires the country's ground force to engage in littoral operations.  The DSR – released in late April – recommended restructuring the army to focus on...

Nammo MAC displays its .50-calibre polymer-cased ammunition at Modern Day Marine 2023 in Washington, DC. (Janes/Marc Selinger)  US-based ammunition provider Nammo MAC plans to double its production capacity “over the next couple of years” to meet growing demand, according to a company official.    MAC will implement the expansion by adding machines and staffing at its factory in Bay St Louis, Mississippi, which is about 60 miles (97 km) northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana, said Joe Gibbons, MAC's manager of government programmes. Founde...

The Gereon RCS traversing autonomously in one of the scenarios at the Unmanned Ground Systems Autonomy Trials in Estonia. The platform dimensions are 141.5×131×73 (L×W×H) cm. (Janes/Olivia Savage)  A new unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) called the Gereon Robotic Carrier System (RCS) was unveiled and demonstrated for the first time at the Unmanned Ground Systems Autonomy Trials (UGV-AT) held in Estonia from 28 to 29 June.  The Gereon RCS, manufactured by Germany-based ARX Landsysteme, participated alongside 10 other UGVs in the trial to demonstr...

Taiwan's CM-34 IFV, fitted with its 30 mm gun, is pictured at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition in 2019. (Janes/Kelvin Wong)  The United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has announced potential deals with Taiwan worth USD440.2 million to supply the island with 30 mm ammunition as well as spare parts for military vehicles and weapons.  The DSCA said on 29 June that the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) deals have been approved by the State Department. The proposed sales must be approved by the US Congress before b...

BAE Systems is producing the 30 mm Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV-30) for the US Marine Corps. A prototype of the vehicle was on display at the Modern Day Marine event in Washington, DC. (Janes/Meredith Roaten)    BAE Systems will deliver the first prototypes of the third variant of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) in 2024, an executive told   Janes  .   Three prototypes of the improved lethality 30 mm variant (ACV-30) will be delivered in January 2024, Mark Brinkman, director for combat mission systems, said at the Mode...

The Hensoldt TRML-4D ground-based air-defence radar is being acquired for Ukraine's IRIS-T SLM systems. The radar is designed for near- to long-range ground-to-air detection and weapon assignment. (Hensoldt)  Hensoldt has been contracted to deliver four additional TRML-4D active electronically scanned array (AESA) ground-based air-defence radars to Ukraine.  The radars, ordered by Diehl Defence, are intended to supply Ukraine's IRIS-T surface-launched medium-range missile (SLM) air-defence systems, Hensoldt announced on 27 June.  According to...

Rheinmetall will supply Ukraine with two Skynex air-defence systems at the beginning of 2024, Germany's   Handelsblatt  newspaper reported on 9 December 2022.  (Rheinmetall)  Ukraine will receive two Skynex short- and very-short-range air-defence systems by the end of 2023, Rheinmetall announced. The company included the system in a list of equipment it said it was supplying to Kyiv at the end of a press release published on 27 June announcing that the Netherlands has ordered 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks that it and Denm...

UK CGS General Patrick Sanders told the RUSI Land Warfare Conference 2023 on 26 June that the upgrade of more than 60 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems would contribute to making the British Army more lethal. (Crown copyright)  At the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Land Warfare Conference 2023 on 26 June, United Kingdom Chief of the General Staff (CGS) General Patrick Sanders outlined plans to make the British Army better prepared to fight in Europe. “We must have the confidence to structure ourselves to meet our core purpose – to fight...