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...

Turkey's Ministry of National Defence, SSB, and Roketsan signed contracts on 3 February for the serial production of Tayfun, Sungur (displayed at DIMDEX 2022), Karaok, and TRLG-230 missiles. (Janes/Shaurav Gairola)  Turkey's Ministry of National Defence announced on its website on 3 February that it, the Defence Industry Agency (SSB), and Turkish missile house Roketsan signed contracts earlier the same day for the serial production of Tayfun, Sungur, Karaok, and Artillery Rocket Laser Guided-230 (TRLG-230) missiles for the Turkish Land Forces...

Tron Future Tech displays its C-UAS' new hard-kill component called T.Interceptor at the World Defense Show 2024 in Riyadh. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)    The Republic of China Army (RoCA) has deployed a modular counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) developed by Taiwan's Tron Future Tech, the company told  Janes  at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February.   The C-UAS, with a new hard-kill component named T.Interceptor, has been displayed at the show.    Tron Future Tech told   Jane...

The Viking 6×6 multirole UGV was used in the AUKUS TORVICE trial, held in Australia in 2023. The vehicle can carry payloads weighing up to 750 kg and is suitable for a range of missions including last-mile logistics, surveillance, combat, and improvised explosive device detection. (Crown Copyright)  Australia hosted a robotics and autonomous systems trial under the AUKUS Pillar 2 initiative to evaluate the technologies' resilience and performance in contested environments, the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) announced o...

Saudi Arabia will locally manufacture the Orion-H9 handheld jammer, developed by TRD Singapore, as part of a joint venture. (TRD Singapore)  Saudi Arabia has struck a deal with counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) manufacturer TRD Singapore to locally manufacture its Orion-H9 radio frequency (RF) jammer.  The agreement, disclosed at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February, is part of a joint venture (JV) called TRD Middle East Industry Co, established between TRD Singapore and domestic defence company Rakaa...

The New Zealand Army's Bushmaster vehicles at the Trentham Military Camp located in Upper Hutt near Wellington. The Bushmaster vehicles are designed to transport infantry into a battlespace. (CPL Maddy Butcher/New Zealand Defence Force)  The New Zealand Army has laid out its plans to introduce Bushmaster 4×4 Protected Mobility Vehicles into service.  The army has procured 43 Bushmasters from Thales Australia – under a NZD102.9 million (USD62.3 million) contract signed in July 2020 – to replace the ageing armoured Pinzgauer Light Operational...

The DGA has awarded Nexter a contract for 109 CAESAR 6×6 Mk II SPHs, with deliveries beginning in 2026. (Nexter)    The Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, has awarded Nexter a contract for 109 CAESAR 6×6 Mk II new generation self-propelled howitzers (SPHs), KNDS (KMW+Nexter Defense Systems) announced in a press release on 2 February. Later the same day, a KNDS spokesperson confirmed to   Janes  that all 109 CAESARs would be newbuilds, with deliveries beginning in 2026.   Developm...

Iron Fist Light Decoupled system mounted on the Lance turret of the 8×8 Rheinmetall Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle. (Elbit Systems)  The US Army is a step closer to awarding General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems a sole source contract to upgrade Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) with Elbit Systems' Iron Fist active protection system (APS), following a pre-solicitation notice published on 18 January.    The announcement proposed an eight year, firm-fixed price, indefinite delivery contract worth an undisclosed sum, f...

NATO countries are buying F-35 aircraft. (Swedish Armed Forces)  NATO countries are on course to reach the goal of spending at least 2% of their GDP to defence spending to continue to ensure the alliance's military readiness, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on 31 January during an event at the Heritage Foundation.  NATO defence ministers agreed to commit to the 2% minimum in 2006, but Stoltenberg acknowledged that even as of a few years ago only three countries had met that bar. Complaints from US officials prompted more countrie...

The AD Counter FPV C-UAS developed locally by Kvertus is in service with the Ukrainian military. The device disrupts FPV RF signals, rendering the threats uncontrollable. (Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine/Mykhailo Fedorov)  Ukraine is deploying a new locally developed, portable counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) that blocks first-person view (FPVs) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).  The system – AD Counter FPV – is manufactured by Ukraine company Kvertus and is designed to disrupt FPVs operating in the 850–940 MHz radio freq...

The British Army is understood to be interested in procuring a new SHORAD system to replace British Army Stormer SP-HVMs (seen here on exercise with the 3rd (UK) Division on Salisbury Plain in 2015) sent to Ukraine. Given that the Stormer SP-HVM is scheduled to be retired in 2026, this new system could serve as an interim capability until the procurement of GBAD systems based on the Land Mobility Programme's Medium Protected Vehicle. (Janes/Patrick Allen)    The British Army is considering the procurement of a new mobile short-range air...

The US Marine Corps ACV is designed to deploy off the back of a ship and swim in open waters as well as operate in littoral environments. (US Marine Corps)  Amphibious combat vehicles (ACVs) and other tactical vehicles find themselves with an uncertain future until after the US Marine Corps (USMC) finishes its Infantry Battalion Experimentation (IBX), service officials said in January.  The USMC first released its Ground Combat and Tactical Vehicle Strategy (GCTVS) in 2021, but service leaders have since incorporated the vehicle strategy into...