A Challenger 3 main battle tank prototype shown at DSEI fitted with a mock-up of the Trophy APS. (Janes/Riccardo Cociani)  Further details of EuroTrophy GmbH's Othello sensor and the silent-mode capabilities of the active protection system (APS) were revealed at SAE Media's Future Armoured Vehicles Central and Eastern Europe conference, which was held in Prague on 15 and 16 May.  Speaking at the event, Dan Kalfus, managing director and co-founder of EuroTrophy GmbH, said the Othello sensor is designed to minimise the host vehicle's exposure t...

Rheinmetall and Elbit Systems conducted a live-fire demonstration of an automated 155 mm L52 10×10 SPH in March at the Shivta firing range in southern Israel. (Rheinmetall)  Rheinmetall and Elbit Systems announced in a joint press release on 16 May that they had conducted a live-fire demonstration of an automated 155 mm L52 10×10 self-propelled howitzer (SPH) at the beginning of March at the Shivta firing range in southern Israel. The two companies signed a co-operation agreement to develop, produce, and market a European fully automated whee...

A David's Sling system launches a Stunner interceptor in a test. (Israel Defense Forces)  The David's Sling air-defence system made its first two successful operational interceptions during the five-day escalation between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militant group in the Gaza Strip from 9 to 13 May.    In the first interception on 10 May, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) took the opportunity to test the system's capability, while the second was linked to an operational requirement during a rocket attack, with David's Sling...

Montenegro will receive Elbit Spear mortar systems for its JLTVs. (Elbit Systems)  Montenegro will receive Elbit Spear 120 mm mortar systems for its Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) under a government-to-government agreement between the Israeli and Montenegrin ministries of defence (MoDs), the Israeli company announced in a press release on 15 May. Elbit Systems was awarded a EUR20 million (USD21.6 million) contract – signed by Yair Kulas, director of Israel's International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT), and Colonel Vladan Mart...

Germany's new EUR2.7 billion military support package for Ukraine includes four IRIS-T SLM systems with a total of 12 launchers. (Diehl)  Major European countries pledged more military support for Ukraine during a tour by President Volodymr Zelensky of their capitals on 14 and 15 May.  During a joint press conference with Zelensky in Berlin on 14 May, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a new military equipment support package worth a total of EUR2.7 billion (USD2.9 billion) for more Leopard 1 tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFV...

The Taiwanese MND has announced the procurement of 18 additional M142 HIMARSs. The picture shows the US Army firing the HIMARS during Exercise ‘Eager Lion' in Jordan. The HIMARS can hit targets at a range of 70 km using the MFOM, both guided and unguided, and 300 km with the MGM-142 ATACMS. (US Army/Sgt 1st Class Steven Queen)  The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense (MND) has announced the procurement of 18 additional M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARSs) from the US.  In a recent press release, the MND said it has purchas...

This is Ukraine's third order for a tranche of TRML-4D radars in less than two years. The ground-based air-defence system is designed for near- to long-range ground-to-air detection and for weapon assignment. (Hensoldt)  Ukraine will receive additional Hensoldt TRML-4D active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars to strengthen its air defences.  Under the agreement, Hensoldt will supply six systems to Ukraine for EUR100 million (USD108.2 million), the company announced on 16 May.  The radars will be delivered in the second half of 2023,...

The Polish army received its first five M142 HIMARSs at the 1st Transport Aviation Base in Warsaw on 15 May. (Polish MND/Leszek Chemperek)  The Polish army received its first five M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARSs) on 15 May. The Polish Armaments Agency (AA) said on its website on 15 May that the systems were delivered by air to the 1st Transport Aviation Base in Warsaw.  Attending the handover ceremony, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak said the systems would go to the 16th Mec...

The Australian DoD will procure around 80 EOD robots from L3Harris Micreo including the company's T7 (pictured) and T4 robots. The T7 is also used by the British Armed Forces and the USAF. (Janes/Melanie Rovery)  The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has signed a AUD46 million (USD30.7 million) contract with L3Harris Micreo to procure around 80 explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) robots for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).  “[These new robots] will carry cameras and sensors that have an improved ability to find, examine, and neutralise...

Chief of Staff General Saïd Chengriha inspects forces after an exercise, including trucks with the antennas associated with the CHL-906's multifunction radar jamming and ELINT stations. (Algerian Ministry of National Defence)  The Algerian Ministry of National Defence (MND) released a photograph on 9 May confirming it has acquired the CHL-906 electronic warfare system made by China's ELINC.  The photograph showed Chief of Staff General Saïd Chengriha inspecting troops after an exercise in the 3rd Military Region, which is headquartered at Béc...

Locally named ‘Yeni Altay', this latest iteration of the Altay MBT reflects lessons learned from tank crews in Syria. (BMC)  The latest version of Turkey's Altay main battle tank (MBT) reflects some of the lessons learned by Turkish forces during operations in Syria, Tugrul Gazi, programme manager for main battle tank systems at Turkey's Defence Industry Agency (SSB), said at SAE Media's Future Armoured Vehicles conference held in Prague from 15 to 16 May.  The ‘New Altay' incorporates several new features ahead of the planned serial producti...

Austria's Bundesbeschaffung GmbH Wien has signed a seven-year framework agreement with RMMV for the procurement of HX (pictured), TGS, and TGM vehicles. (Rheinmetall)  Austria's procurement organisation Bundesbeschaffung GmbH Wien has signed a seven-year framework agreement with Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) for the procurement of up to 1,375 vehicles with a potential order volume of up to EUR525 million (USD570.6 million), Rheinmetall announced in a press release on 10 May.  RMMV bid for an Austrian government request for tenders...

KMW and Rheinmetall have received an order for 50 more Puma IFVs. (Bundeswehr/Marco Dorow)  Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall announced in a joint press release on 15 May that they had been awarded a EUR1.087 billion (USD1.18 billion) contract by Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr: BAAINBw) for 50 more Puma infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).  The announcement came five days after the budget committee...

According to the Indian Ministry of Defence, the Arjun Mk 1A main battle tank integrates 72 new features – some of which are highlighted above – over the Arjun Mk 1 model. (Indian MoD/Janes)  The Arjun Mk 1A main battle tank (MBT) was designed and developed by India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The project was centred on upgrading the Arjun Mk 1 MBT, which has been in service with the Indian Army since 2009.  Manufacturing of the Arjun Mk 1A MBT is undertaken by the Chennai-based Heavy Vehicles Factory (...

EODH presented its ASPIS armour-protection system upgrade kit for the Leopard 2 MBT at DEFEA 2023. (Dmitrios Mitsopolous)  EODH, the Greek supplier and producer of protection systems for army vehicles, presented its Advanced Shielding Platform Integrated System (ASPIS) Modular New Generation (NG) kit for the Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT) at Defence Exhibition Athens (DEFEA) 2023 from 9 to 11 May. The ASPIS Modular NG was demonstrated on a Hellenic Army Leopard 2A4 MBT provided to EODH for testing and exhibiting.  Athanasios Grammatikos, re...

The Bundestag's budget committee approved the procurement of 50 more Puma IFVs on 10 May. (Bundeswehr/Marco Dorow)  The budget committee of the Bundestag, the German parliament, approved the procurement of 50 more Puma infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) on 10 May, with an option for an additional 179 IFVs, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on 11 May. The procurement – which also includes spare parts, special tools, and eight Multirole-capable Light Missile System (Mehrrollenfähiges leichtes Lenkflugkörper-System: MELLS, th...

Shown here is the VBE Eng configuration of the VBTP-MSR Guarani. (Victor Barreira)    The Brazilian operation of Iveco Defence Vehicles (IDV) is proposing an export version of the Guarani 6×6 amphibious armoured vehicle, Giovanni Giordani, marketing manager at IDV in Brazil told   Janes  .   The vehicle is equipped with provisions for an external armoured add-on jointly developed with local company System Car and has a rear-mounted ComeUp Industries Bison 20 hydraulic recovery winch, according to Giordani.  IDV is deliverin...

Brazil is receiving twelve JLTVs as part of the Marine Corps Combat Power Strategic Program 2020–2040 or PROADSUMUS. (Victor Barreira)  The Fleet Marine Force of the Brazilian Navy's Marine Corps is advancing the introduction of the 4×4 Oshkosh Defense M1278A1 Heavy Guns Carrier (HGC) Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).    The first four of twelve vehicles acquired in October 2020 for USD15.1 million were recently delivered to the Marine Armour Battalion. Training on the new vehicle is under way, a source close to the vehicle programme...

The Mula UGV by American Robotics from Argentina was designed to deploy several types of payloads. (Victor Barreira)  Argentinean unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) company American Robotics designed a multi-purpose, modular, tracked UGV capable of being equipped with several payloads, company's CEO Javier Sebastián Mirich told Janes.  The UGV – designated the Mula (Mule in English) – is being developed alongside the Research and Development General Directorate of the Argentine Army (DGID), Sebastián Mirich said. A prototype is scheduled to be bui...

Avibras has designed the ASTROS III AV-LMU missile and rocket launcher to offer significant artillery saturation firepower. (Avibras)  Avibras Indústria Aeroespacial is considering building a prototype of its newly designed Artillery Saturation Rocket System (ASTROS) III self-propelled missile- and rocket-launching system.    The development of the ASTROS III was fuelled by the lessons learned from the military conflict in Ukraine, where artillery saturation systems have been in demand and effective, João Brasil Carvalho Leite, the comp...