The Netherlands has received the first of 20 PULS MRLs it ordered on 17 May 2023. (Elbit Systems)  The first of 20 Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS) multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) ordered by the Netherlands on 17 May 2023 has arrived in the country and will be presented to the local media in May, Janes has learnt.  The systems were ordered under an agreement between the Israeli and Dutch ministries of defence (MoDs). Under a USD305 million contract, Elbit Systems is supplying the MRLs as well rockets and missiles of various rang...

Texelis will supply its Celeris 4×4 chassis – pictured above – to Indonesia's PT SSE to develop a new armoured personnel carrier. (Texelis)  French vehicle chassis manufacturer Texelis and Indonesian vehicle manufacturer PT Sentra Surya Ekajayais (PT SSE) have signed a partnership agreement to develop an armoured personnel carrier (APC) for the Indonesian National Armed Forces.  According to a press release by Texelis on 15 February, the company will supply an undisclosed number of Celeris 4×4 chassis kits to PT SSE and will also provide “c...

The first GM200 MM/C radar was handed over to the RNLA by Thales Nederland on 14 February. (Dutch MoD/Sgt Maj Gregory Fréni)  The first Ground Master 200 Multi Mission/Compact (GM200 MM/C) radar was handed over to the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) by Thales in Hengelo, eastern Netherlands, on 14 February.  The handover included a live demonstration of the Scania Gryphus 8×8 truck-mounted system at the Dutch Ministry of Defence's ‘t Harde firing range on 15 February, tracking 81 mm mortar rounds and 155 mm Panzerhaubitze (PzH) shells fired at...

The Sabrah light tanks – pictured above from the Philippine Army training exercise – have a combat weight of 30 tonnes. They are capable of attaining a maximum onroad speed of 72 km/h. (GDELS)  The Philippine Army (PA) has completed the initial training courses on operations, driving, and maintenance of Sabrah ASCOD II combat vehicles.  According to a press release by General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) on 14 February, the training courses were conducted by the Spanish subsidiary of GDELS for members of the Armed Forces of the Phil...

The GM200 MM/C mobile radar in the compact antenna test range at Thales Nederland. (Janes/Nicholas Fiorenza)    Thales Nederland has tripled its radar production over the last few years,   Janes  learnt while attending the company's handover of the first Ground Master 200 Multi Mission/Compact (GM200 MM/C) radar to the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) in Hengelo, Eastern Netherlands, on 14 February.   The increase is in the production of both land-based and naval radars, and the GM200 MM/C is a case in point, with the Netherl...

A digital twin of the French Army's VBCI infantry fighting vehicle is being developed by KNDS and Arquus that will eventually become their key offering for the modernisation and maintenance of the army's vehicle fleets. (Nexter)  KNDS and Arquus will develop a digital twin demonstrator of the Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie (VBCI) 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in support of the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) and Defence Innovation Agency.  The digital twin will be developed under the ‘Digitization of Maintenance' (...

US Army Medevac UH-60L Black Hawk seen at Kandahar Airfield. DARPA is exploring new ways to produce battlefield medicines at front-line bases and outposts. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  A new Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) programme aims to accelerate drug manufacturing in austere environments, such as forward operating bases (FOBs), generating data and processes to evaluate new paradigms for real-time regulatory approval.  Launched in January 2024 the aim of the Establishing Qualification Processes for Agile Pharmaceutical Manufa...

The TPY-4 radar. (Lockheed Martin)  Lockheed Martin is positioning its TPY-4 ground-based long-range surveillance radar for the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) air-defence requirements.  Chandra Marshall, vice-president for radar and sensor systems at Lockheed Martin, confirmed the matter during a briefing for media representatives on 14 February. The briefing was held as a run-up to the Singapore Airshow, which will be held from 20 to 25 February.  The RSAF operates the FPS-117 long-range surveillance radar as part of a multilayer...

Aselsan Gürz SHORAD system shown at WDS 2024. (Janes/Sunil Nair)  Aselsan's Gürz short-range air-defence (SHORAD) system was displayed at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February. This was the system's international debut after it was shown at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul in July 2023. An all-in-one, layered air and missile-defence system, the Gürz is designed to intercept aerial targets ranging from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of all types and sizes, fixed- and rotary-wing a...

A still from the video shows an Iraqi soldier setting up an AN/TPQ-49 radar. (Iraq MoD)  The Iraqi military now has the AN/TPQ-49 radar, it was revealed on 10 February when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) released a video showing Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah visiting the Artillery Branch Directorate.  The MoD said the chief attended the official opening of the first ‘astimkan' battalion of the post-2023 Iraqi Armed Forces and was briefed on the ‘astimkan' device, a word associated with target l...

FNSS Pars Alpha 8×8 New Generation at WDS 2024. (Janes/Sunil Nair)  Turkish vehicle manufacturer FNSS unveiled its Pars Alpha 8×8 new generation (NG) armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) at the World Defence Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February.  The Pars Alpha on display had a Teber-II 30/40 remote-controlled turret (RCT) fitted with a 30 mm dual-feed automatic cannon. This can be replaced by a 40 mm cannon by changing the recoil spring and forward feeder.  A 7.62 mm or 5.56 mm machine gun can be fitted as a secondary armament on a...

Otokar Tulpar AFV with HITFACT MkII 120 mm turret at WDS 2024. (Janes/Sunil Nair)  Turkish company Otokar displayed the Tulpar armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) fitted with Leonardo's Highly Integrated Technology, Fire Against Combat Tank (HITFACT) MkII 120 mm smoothbore gun turret at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February.  Otokar's Tulpar is a family of medium-weight tracked AFVs designed to provide a user with a single common platform that can perform multiple roles.  The HITFACT MkII turret is armed with an Ot...

The DGA has ordered sights from the GME between Nexter and Safran for the Leclerc XLR, which was displayed at Eurosatory 2022. (Janes/Sonny Butterworth)  The Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, has ordered sights from the temporary company grouping (GME) between KNDS's Nexter and Safran Electronics & Defense for the upgrade of the Leclerc main battle tank (MBT) to the XLR standard, the two companies announced in a joint press release on 8 February.  Nexter and Safran will digitise the optronic core o...

The Armed Forces of the Czech Republic has received all eight of its EL/M-2084 radars, with FOC expected by the end of 2024. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The Czech Republic's EL/M-2084 Multi-Mission radars (MMRs) from Elta Systems will reach full operating capability (FOC) by the end of 2024, Janes learnt.  A spokesperson from the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic told Janes that all eight radars are now in the country after the final system was delivered in December 2023, with FOC expected before the end of the 2024.  In December 2019 the armed f...

Hydrogen fuel cell used in the Kia hydrogen fuel-cell all terrain vehicle. (Janes/Sunil Nair)  Kia Motors showcased its all-terrain vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel-cell technology at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February. Previously, the vehicle was shown at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 as the EV9 military concept car.  The vehicle is powered by the same hydrogen fuel-cell stack that powers Hyundai's Nexo passenger cars. The Nexo's fuel-cell system combines oxygen and hydr...

India's state-run Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited unveiled the Dhanush 155 mm/52 calibre towed howitzer (pictured above) at Defexpo 2022, held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This is one of the gun options available to the Indian Army. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved the procurement of the towed gun system (TGS) for the Indian Army.  The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement on 9 February that the procurement – approved through the provision...

Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Khalifa poses with air defenders from the Royal Bahraini Air Force in front of Patriot and HAWK components at Camp Ras al-Bar. (Bahrain News Agency)  Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Khalifa, the commander-in-chief of the Bahrain Defence Force, inaugurated a base for the kingdom's new Patriot air-defence systems on 7 February.  Bahrain TV aired footage of the event held at a location identified as Camp Ras al-Bar, where a Patriot system was displayed in Bahrain for the first time alongside on...

The DGA has ordered sights from the GME between Nexter and Safran for the Leclerc XLR, which was displayed at Eurosatory 2022. (Janes/Sonny Butterworth)  The Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, has ordered sights from the temporary company grouping (GME) between KNDS's Nexter and Safran Electronics & Defense for the upgrade of the Leclerc main battle tank (MBT) to the XLR standard, the two companies announced in a joint press release on 8 February.  Nexter and Safran will digitise the optronic core o...

This infographic shows Poongsan's 155 mm shells for the K9 howitzer. A photograph of a cutaway version of the extended-range 155 mm shell appears at the bottom. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)  South Korean metal and munition manufacturer Poongsan will initiate the mass production of the extended-range 155 mm artillery shells for the Hanwha Land Systems K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) in 2024, a Poongsan official told Janes on 8 February.  Development and trials of the extended-range 155 mm shells were completed in 2023 and the company recei...

Sweden plans to replace its in-service ARTHUR WLS, with the procurement process beginning in 2026. Pictured is the rear view of the ARTHUR weapon locating radar integrated on an M113F4 series tracked armoured platform. (Christopher F Foss)  The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has issued a request for information (RFI) on 5 February for the replacement of its Saab ARTHUR (ARTtillery HUnting Radar) weapon locating system (WLS).    According to the RFI provided to  Janes  , the Swedish Armed Forces seeks a future WLS...