Aerojet Rocketdyne provides solid rocket motor boosters and other products for ‘hypersonic' weapons. (Aerojet Rocketdyne artist concept)  The US Army is in the midst of a massive effort to ramp up its production capacity for artillery, but will still have to contend with supply chains for the fuel that powers the in-demand rockets. Ammonium perchlorate (AP) – an oxidiser used in solid rocket fuels – is a crucial ingredient but can be difficult to source.    The number of approved sources for AP increased in recent years, US Office of the...

Estonia and Latvia are jointly procuring the IRIS-T air-defence system. (Diehl)  Estonia and Latvia are jointly procuring the IRIS-T air-defence system, the two Baltic states' defence ministers announced in Riga on 21 May. Latvian Defence Minister Ināra Mūrniece and her Estonian counterpart, Hanno Pevkur, said the joint purchase would create a new ‘Livonian shield' protecting their countries' airspace.  The two defence ministers said negotiations would begin with Diehl Defence, which if successful Pevkur hoped would result in a contract and a...

In 2022, Raytheon released this computer rendering to illustrate its HACM concept. (Raytheon)    Raytheon's Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), an air-launched, air-breathing hypersonic vehicle, is undergoing subsystem component testing and beginning component fabrication, company programme director Nate Szyba told   Janes  .   In September 2022 Raytheon and Northrop Grumman were awarded a USD985 million contract to build and test the HACM by 2027, with the latter providing the propulsion system and the former the vehi...

The Netherlands ordered 20 PULS MRLs on 17 May. (Elbit Systems)  The Netherlands ordered 20 Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS) multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) on 17 May under an agreement between the Israeli and Dutch ministries of defence (MoDs), Elbit Systems announced in a press release the next day. The Israeli company said the USD305 million contract would be conducted over a five-year period. It will supply PULSs integrated into Dutch-produced Scania Gryphus trucks selected by the Netherlands' Materiel and IT Command (Comman...

Since February China's Eastern Theater Command has inducted several new military platforms including multiple launch rocket systems, propelled mortars, and armoured fighting vehicles. (China MND, state media, and social media)  The People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) and PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) are increasing their presence along the Taiwan Strait to pressurise Taiwanese pro-independence developments and deter foreign actors from explicitly supporting the island.  National reunification is a core tenet of the Communist Party of Chi...

The Aselsan CIWS was unveiled at the IDEF 2019 exhibition. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The first Aselsan Gökdeniz naval close-in weapon system (CIWS) destined for the Turkish Navy has been integrated into the lead Istanbul (TF-100)-class frigate following the completion of its factory acceptance test (FAT), the company has announced.    First-of-class   İstanbul  is under construction at the Istanbul Shipyard Command and is planned to be commissioned in the last quarter of 2023.   The FAT milestone follows the successful comple...

The UK has confirmed its intentions to equip the RN's five Type 31 general-purpose frigates with the Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launching system (VLS). (Royal Navy)  The UK Royal Navy (RN) has revealed plans to install the Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launching system (VLS) into its five new Type 31 Inspiration-class general-purpose frigates. The fit will expand the range of missiles and capabilities the ships can deliver.  Speaking on 17 May at theFirst Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference 2023 – co-hosted by the RN, the Council on Geostrat...

Team EU HYDEF displayed a mock-up of a potential interceptor at FEINDEF 2023. (Andrew White)  The Spanish-led consortium tasked with developing the European Hypersonic Defence (EU HYDEF) interceptor concept released further details of the programme at the FEINDEF 2023 exhibition in Madrid, held from 17 to 19 May.  An initial 36-month concept study and technologies maturation phase started this week, designed to define a concept for “a European interceptor to achieve the highest manoeuvrability and capability to respond to high-velocity threat...

The US Navy is expected to accept the Aegis Ashore facility by the end of 2023. (US Navy)  The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is expected to confirm the Aegis Ashore site in Poland “safe and technically capable”, and the US Navy (USN) is expected to accept the facility this year, according to US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released on 18 May.    The GAO report  Missile Defense: Annual Goals Unmet for Deliveries and Testing  also cited other recent milestones for the delayed programme.   “Aegis Light Off o...

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...

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...

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,...

AeroVironment's Switchblade 300 Block 20, showcased at SOF Week 2023, has twice the endurance of its predecessor and hosts a modular payload and a side tilt camera. (Andrew White)  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is prioritising loitering technologies to support counter-violent extremist organisation (C-VEO) operations and strategic competition, service leaders said.  “Loitering capabilities has been one of the big things on my mind” this year, Colonel Anh Ha, programme executive officer Special Operations Forces (SOF) Warrior, said a...

Airmen and riggers with the 1st Special Operations Squadron Logistics Readiness Squadron load a Rapid Dragon Palletized Weapon System aboard an MC-130J Commando II in December 2021. (USAF)  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to demonstrate its ‘Rapid Dragon' missile launch capability in November 2023, the command's acquisition executive, Jim Smith, said at SOF Week in Tampa, Florida, on 9 May.  The weapon is to be launched from a US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) MC-130J Commando II at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and fol...

The KTSSM, pictured above from a test in 2021, features a payload section carrying a small-diameter penetrator warhead filled with a high‐blast or thermobaric explosive intended to attack protected, underground artillery emplacements. (ADD)  South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) conducted a quality certification shooting test (QCST) of the Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile (KTSSM).  The QCST was jointly conducted and supervised by DAPA, the Defense Science Research Institute, the Republic of Korea (RoK) Army...

In keeping with its focus on long-range strike capability, Australia hopes to upgrade its Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fleet to the Block 4 standard. This is to integrate the JSM with the aircraft. This missile has a maximum range of 300 n mile. (Commonwealth of Australia)  Australia's rejection of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider for acquisition has prompted it to focus on improving its long-range strike capabilities using existing aircraft.  Janes assesses that this decision was made based on factors of long-range deterrence, plus acqu...

Australian Army soldiers from the 16th Regiment and the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery received training on the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System. The system includes the Raytheon AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel X-band 3D air-defence radar, the Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Fire Distribution Centre (FDC), and the Kongsberg Mk II canister launcher with provision for the AMRAAM and the AIM-9X interceptors. (Commonwealth of Australia)  The Australian Army has received hands-on training of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile S...

Seen in its wings-folded stowed configuration, the air-launched Storm Shadow is a long-range cruise missile with a published range ‘in excess' of 250 km. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The United Kingdom is donating MBDA Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace said.  Wallace made the announcement in the House of Commons on 11 May, saying the donation was in line with other long-range weapon systems gifted to Kyiv. He added that the conventional cruise missiles would enable the Ukrainian armed forces to push back Russi...