Toshiba displayed its C-UAS, incorporating a long-range radar, at the DSEI Japan 2023 show in Chiba. (Janes/Sunil)  Japanese firm Toshiba revealed a radio frequency (RF) detection sensor and a long-range detection radar as part of a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) solution at the DSEI Japan 2023 show in Chiba.  The C-UAS solution, which the company has not named, includes an RF sensor; a short-, medium-, and long-range radar; two cameras; and a net gun-based autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) countermeasure.  Toshiba said its R...

ATLA displayed a model of its scramjet-powered hypersonic anti-ship missile at the DSEI Japan 2023 show. The model shows elements of the missile, including its seeker, warhead, fuel tank, scramjet, and energy source. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)    Japan's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) is accelerating the development of its proposed scramjet-powered hypersonic anti-ship missile, an agency official told  Janes  at the DSEI Japan 2023 show in Chiba on 15 March.   The official, who did not want to be identified, sai...

The original Type 12 SSM is pictured, on the left, being launched from a transporter-erector-launcher vehicle. Images on the right show the system's sensor and control station. (Japan MOD)  Japan's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) expects the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) to induct the upgraded ship-launched variant of the Type 12 surface-to-surface missile (SSM) by 2026, ATLA told Janes at the DSEI Japan 2023 show in Chiba.  The missile – developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) – is an improved variant of...

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) test-flies a very short-range air-defence system missile in Odisha on 14 March 2023. The missile has a length of 2 m, a diameter of 0.09 m, and a weight of 21 kg. (DRDO)  India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has completed two flight tests of its very short-range air-defence system (VSHORADS) missiles, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.    According to a press release by the MoD on 14 March, the tests were conducted from the Integrated Test Range...

The 155 mm/39 calibre M777 ultra lightweight howitzer, displayed above undergoing trials with the UK Army, has a maximum range of 24.7 km using unassisted rounds and a sustained rate of fire of 2 rds/min. India and the US are exploring the development of a 155 mm/52 calibre M777 with an extended range. (BAE Systems Landsystems UK)  India and the US are exploring the development of an extended-range, longer barrel variant of the M777 155 mm/39 calibre ultra lightweight howitzer (ULH), manufacturer BAE Systems told Janes.  Ravi Nirgudkar, manag...

Improving the GMD system has been a top priority for MDA. However, the effort suffered a major setback after a new kill vehicle programme was terminated. That programme was replaced by the NGI. (MDA)  The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is requesting about USD3.076 billion to improve its strategic missile defence system, known as the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD), including funding to develop a new Next Generation Interceptor (NGI).  Last year, MDA received USD2.618 billion for strategic missile defence. That funding was meant for upg...

THAAD is intended to engage targets both inside and outside the earth's atmosphere. (US Missile Defense Agency)  The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has requested USD484.7 million for the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) programme in fiscal year (FY 2024).  This funding would integrate the THAAD capability into the US Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) and continue development of an 8th THAAD battery, according to the agency's budget documents, published on 13 March.  A battery typically consists...

HNLMS De Ruyter (F 804), 10.2013 (Michael Nitz - Naval Press Service)    The Royal Netherlands Navy's (RNLN's) third De Zeven Provinciën-class air defence and command frigate (luchtverdedigings en commandofregatten - LCF) HNLMS   De Ruyter  (F 804) is preparing to start its sea-acceptance tests (SATs) in late March, following the completion of a major maintenance and capability upgrade.     Under current timelines,   De Ruyter  is planned to be fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2023, a DMO spokespe...

Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson (right) and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell (left) hosted an informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Stockholm on 7–8 March, where a plan for increasing and accelerating the production of artillery shells was discussed. (Swedish government/Johannes Frandsen)  European Union (EU) defence ministers meeting informally in Stockholm on 7–8 March discussed a plan for increasing and accelerating the production of artillery shells. High Representative of the E...

The IAF has developed a low-cost C-UAS that can jam and spoof hostile UAVs. The C-UAS was unveiled at Aero India 2023 in Bangalore in February. (Janes/Oishee Majumdar)  The proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and the ways in which these platforms are leveraged by India's adversaries, has pushed the country to prioritise the development of counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UASs).  On the one hand, India is concerned about China and Pakistan's growing arsenal of military UAVs, which are often operated in an intelligence, surve...

A model of the Switchblade 300 loitering munition is displayed at the 2021 Association of the United States Army annual trade show in Washington, DC. (Janes)  Obtaining warheads for AeroVironment's Switchblade 300 and 600 tube-launched loitering missiles has become a “challenge”, because the Ukraine war has boosted demand for the explosive parts, according to the company's chief executive.  It will take time for warhead suppliers to increase production and for AeroVironment to develop alternative sources, AeroVironment chairman, president, an...

Romania plans to seek parliamentary approval to procure a battalion of M1 Abrams tanks, seen on exercise in the country in 2016. (Romanian MoD )  Romania plans to seek parliamentary approval to procure a battalion of M1 Abrams tanks under a government-to-government agreement, Lieutenant General Teodor Incicaș, the national armaments director, told the podcast of the Ministry of National Defence's weekly Observatorul Militar (Military Observer). He said the Romanian Land Forces General Staff considers it the best choice for equipping one of th...

The Javelin, displayed here at Aero India 2023 held in Bangalore, is a medium-range, manportable, shoulder-fired, fire-and-forget, lock-on before launch (LOBL) ATGM system. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  The US Department of State has approved the possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of Javelin FGM-148F anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and related equipment to the Australian government for an estimated cost of USD60.18 million.  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 7 March that Canberra has requested to buy 255 such Javelins...

India's Nirbhay cruise missile, displayed above at Defexpo 2020 in Lucknow, will be equipped with small turbofan engines, enhanced radio frequency seekers, and other subsystems to transform it into the proposed Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile. (Janes/Rahul Udoshi )  India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently conducted a flight test of its Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the northeastern coast of Odisha.  The ITCM is a technology demonstrator pro...

An Ashwin AAD interceptor launched from Wheeler Island. (Government of India Press Information Bureau)  South Asia has traditionally been protected from neighbouring territorial conquests by a geological ‘Maginot Line' consisting of the Himalayas in its north and northeast and the Hindu Kush mountain range in the northwest.  In recent years, the vulnerability of the region – especially northern India – has been highlighted by tensions over territory and China's military modernisation. This escalating threat perception has prompted India and P...

The 5th Fleet identified some of the recovered items as a set of jet vanes for a ballistic missile at the front, three impact sensor caps for ballistic missiles on top of the black box, and Iranian copies of the Kornet anti-tank missile at the rear. There also appears to be an actuator for a jet vane on the right and possibly an actuation control system on the left. (US 5th Fleet/US Naval Forces Central Command)  Ballistic missile components have been found for the first time in an Iranian weapons shipment that was presumably heading to Yemen...

Denmark has awarded contracts to Elbit Systems for eight PULS MRLs (pictured) and 19 ATMOS SPHs. (Elbit Systems)  Denmark has awarded contracts to Elbit Systems for 155 mm/52 calibre Autonomous Truck Mounted howitzer System (ATMOS) self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS) multiple rocket launcher (MRL) artillery systems, a spokesperson for the Danish Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) confirmed to Janes on 6 March. The procurement includes training, spar...

The French Navy's first new BRF logistic support ship,   Jacques Chevallier  (A 725), started sea acceptance trials on 25 January.  (Naval Group)    Chantiers de l'Atlantique has delivered the first of four new batiments ravitailleurs de forces (BRF) logistic support ships (LSSs),   Jacques Chevallier  (A 725), to the French Navy.   Announcing the formal handover, which took place at Chantiers de l'Atlantique's shipyard in Saint-Nazaire on 3 March, the French Navy said the ship would depart fo...

The S-400 consists of a regimental command-and-control vehicle, regimental search radar to provide search-and-tracking functions for the S-400 system as a whole, transporter-erector-launcher (pictured above), and tracking and fire-control radar. (Janes/Peter Felstead)  Russia has delivered the third S-400 Triumf self-propelled surface-to-air missile (SAM) system to the Indian Air Force (IAF), a senior defence official told Janes on 2 March.  The official added that the system will be deployed at the western border with Pakistan. India signed...

The Colombian Army mounted its Rafael Spike ER missile systems on M966 Humvee trucks. (Roberto Jose García Hernandez )  The Colombian Army in February 2023 showcased its Rafael Spike ER anti-tank missile systems for the first time, having quietly purchased them in 2019 and receiving them a year later.  The army revealed the updated systems during a ceremony in Bogotá on 14 February. Military sources told Janes that the service acquired a small batch of three launch units and more than 15 missiles to reinforce defences against armoured threat...