A Tactical ‘Tomahawk' Block IV cruise missile conducts a controlled flight test over the Naval Air Systems Command's western test range complex in Southern California. (US Navy)  Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) is considering the procurement of Tomahawk cruise missiles as part of its plan to bolster Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) counterstrike capability.  The MoD indicated to Janes that a procurement of the Tomahawk is a possibility as it seeks to redefine the country's defence posture in the face of what is perceived in Tokyo as rapidly...

A still from a video released by Raytheon shows a Coyote Block 2 being launched during tests at Yuma Proving Ground in August 2021. (Raytheon Technologies)  The US Department of State has approved the sale of counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems estimated to be worth USD1 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 29 November.  The approval covers 10 Fixed Site-Low, Slow, Small UAV Integrated Defeat Systems (FS-LIDS) and 200 Coyote Block 2 interceptors, as well as associated equipment and services.  The FS-L...

An Iranian infographic says the Ghaem-100 satellite launch vehicle could be used to carry a nuclear warhead. (Iran Metropolis News Agency)  The Ghaem-100 satellite launch vehicle (SLV) that Iran unveiled on 5 November could be used as an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), the British, French, and German governments said in a joint letter to the United Nations Security Council.  “Modelling and simulation of the elements constituting the Ghaem-100 indicate that, if converted to a ballistic missile role and equipped with a 500 kg warhe...

Finland has been approved for a multimillion-dollar weapons package to equip its fleet of Hornet fighters. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The United States has approved the sale to Finland of 88 air-launched weapons valued at an estimated USD323.3 million.  Announced on 28 November, the package comprises 40 Raytheon AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and 48 Raytheon AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) cruise missiles, as well as related equipment, training, and support.  “It is vital to the US national interest to assist Finland in devel...

Sahand  with the new rotating radar above and launcher in front of its bridge.  (President Ebrahim Raisi)    The Iranian Jamaran-class frigate   Sahand  (74) has been upgraded with a new air-defence system, it was revealed when President Ebrahim Raisi boarded the ship during a visit to Jask on 27 November.   Photographs of the event showed the new rotating radar with a single phased-array antenna on top of the frigate's bridge. This is presumably a new target engagement radar as it still had its previous Ples...

Mines constitute the most cost-efficient anti-access, area-denial (A2/AD) naval weapon. NATO's Naval Mine Warfare Centre of Excellence defines mines as small, easy to conceal, and cheap explosive devices that require minimal maintenance. These can be easily laid in the water or on seabed from almost any type of platform. Mines have been used by the navies both in defensive and offensive ways. They can be used to directly attack the adversary's ships or submarines or to protect one's own ships, submarines, or critical sea areas, ports, or wa...

A South Korean Air Force F-35 fighter jet drops a GBU-12 precision bomb during joint air drills in response to North Korea's ICBM launch on 18 November. (South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images)  South Korean Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters have started training to destroy North Korean missile launchers amid continuing provocations by Pyongyang.  The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said that four F-35As began training to drop GBU-12 Paveway II precision-guided bombs at Pilseung Shooting Range in Gangwon...

An artist's rendering of a HAAWC weapon being released from a P-8A Poseidon at altitude. (Boeing)  The US Navy (USN) has confirmed an initial operational capability (IOC) for its High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC), paving the way for fleet introduction on the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.  Designed to enable the deployment of the MK 54 lightweight torpedo from P-8A aircraft operating at altitude, the HAAWC programme introduces the Boeing-developed MK 14 MOD 0 adaptor wing kit to enable the torpedo...

The Indian Army exercised with the K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzer along the border with Pakistan. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  The South Western Command (SWC) of the Indian Army has conducted an Integrated Battle Group (IBG) exercise along the country's western border with Pakistan.  The integrated firepower exercise took place on 21 November and was conducted by the SWC's Chetak Corps (X Corps) at the Mahajan Field Firing Range (MFFR) in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan.  During the exercise, attended by   Janes  , the Indian Army performed a se...

JS   Maya  , seen here firing the SM-3 Block IIA interceptor against a ballistic target in waters near Hawaii on 16 November 2022.  (JMSDF)  The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has demonstrated its ability to engage in enhanced co-operative ballistic missile defence (BMD) operations by test-firing two sea-based variants of the SM-3 interceptor.  The firings were carried out by the Maya-class destroyers, JS Maya and JS Haguro, in waters near Hawaii on 16 and 19 November, respectively, the service disclose...

Canada plans to upgrade its LAV 6.0 light armoured vehicles. (Elbit Systems)  Canada is seeking equipment for its forces in Latvia and to replace arms supplied to Ukraine, Director Armament Sustainment Program Management in the Canadian Department of National Defence, Colonel Yves Raymond, said the first day of SAE Media Group's Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability 2022 conference held in London from 16 to 17 November.  He told the conference that Canada had an urgent operational requirement (UOR) for anti-tank guided weapons and counter-un...

The new AKF98A stand-off missile seen fitted onto a PLAAF Xi'an JH-7A2 fighter and a Shenyang J-16 fighter at the Airshow China 2022. Although the designation of the two missiles is identical, both feature design differences suggesting two different configurations or versions. (Janes)  Two new air-to-surface weapons were unveiled at the Airshow China 2022 exhibition, which concluded on 13 November. The systems – not previously seen publicly – included the AKF98A and the AKF088C.  According to Janes analysis, the AKF98A appears to be an autono...

Drawing on lessons learnt from the Ukraine conflict, the French Air and Space Force is to equip its Rafale fighters with a dedicated SEAD/DEAD capability from 2030. (French Air and Space Force)  France is to equip its Dassault Rafale combat aircraft for the suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD)/destruction of enemy air defences (DEAD) mission from 2030, which was disclosed on 17 November.  Speaking at the IQPC International Fighter Conference 2022 (IFC 2022) in Berlin, Colonel Benjamin Souberbielle, deputy leader of the Future Combat Air S...

Lockheed Martin's F-21 fighter jet for India is equipped with an advanced electronic warfare system and triple missile launcher adapters. The F-21 also has a dorsal conformal fairing for extra fuel and the integration of specialised domestic systems required by the Indian Air Force. (Lockheed Martin)  Lockheed Martin is leveraging its manufacturing ecosystem in India to support its proposal to supply the Indian Air Force (IAF) with F-21 fighter jets as part of India's Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) acquisition project.  The USD18 billion...

China showcased the HQ-9B surface-to-air missile weapon system at Airshow China 2022. The country has upgraded the system with eight smaller missiles. (Future Publishing via Getty Images)  China has unveiled various surface-to-air missile (SAM) weapon systems for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) at the Airshow China 2022 exhibition held in Zhuhai from 8 to 13 November.  The country showcased the FK-3000 air-defence missile weapon system, the HQ-16FE mid- to long-range air-defence missile weapon system, and the Red-11 (also called HQ-11) uni...

Lockheed Martin/Sikorski MH-60Rs destined for the Indian Navy have specialised equipment to fit Indian requirements. This includes domestic IFF and other systems. (Lockheed Martin/Sikorski)  The Indian Navy (IN) has received six Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare helicopters.  William Blair, chief executive for Lockheed Martin India, told Janes that the first three MH-60R multirole helicopters have been delivered to the Indian Navy. The company said that these aircraft are operating at nava...

China displays the Red-11 universal terminal defence weapon system at Airshow China 2022. The system provides short-range terminal defence at mid-to-low altitudes. (Future Publishing via Getty Images)  China has unveiled the Red-11 universal terminal defence weapon system at the Airshow China 2022 exhibition taking place in Zhuhai from 8 to 13 November.  Janes learnt that the Red-11 system includes ammunition and artillery in addition to air-defence weapons. It can intercept air-to-air missiles, guided bombs, cruise missiles, fixed-wing comba...

This Japanese MoD graphic shows the estimated launch site and trajectory of North Korean missiles fired on 5 June. The MoD said it detected the launch of at least six ballistic missiles, all of which landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. (Japan MoD)  North Korea launched a series of ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on 5 June, defence officials in South Korea and Japan have said. It represents Pyongyang's 18th missile-launch event in 2022 and what is thought to be its largest number of launches on a single day....

Leonardo developed the LDEW beam director as part of the UK Dragonfire consortium. (Richard Scott/NAVYPIX)  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has completed the first trials of a high-powered, long-range Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) testbed at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's (Dstl's) Porton Down range in Southern England.  Conducted in October, the trials involved firing the DragonFire LDEW capability demonstrator at several target sets. Led by MBDA UK, the UK Dragonfire consortium includes Leonardo and QinetiQ as key tec...

Belgium has been cleared to field the extended-range AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM missile for its F-16 (pictured) and F-35 aircraft fleets. (Belgian MoD)  Belgium has been cleared to buy the extended-range Raytheon AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) for its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft.  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 8 November that the Department of State had approved the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of up to 120 missiles to Belgium, to be...