Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels (USVs) targeted naval units from Russia's Black Sea Fleet at Russia's naval base in Sevastopol during a ‘kamikaze' attack on 29 October.  According to video footage circulating widely on social media, a Project 11...

Poland signed a framework contract with Hanwha for 288 K239 Chunmoo MRLs on 19 October. (Hanwha)  Poland signed a framework contract with Hanwha for 288 K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) on 19 October. The contract was signed by Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak and Son Jaeil, president and CEO of Hanwha Defense.  Under the framework agreement, the first batch of 18 Chunmoo systems and ammunition will be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces in 2023, Hanwha announced in a press release...

The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence's Defence Materiel Agency has signed a contract with Saab Dynamics for Bolide and Mk 2 missiles for the RBS 70 short-range air-defence system. (Lithuanian Army)  The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced on its website on 21 October that its Defence Materiel Agency had signed a EUR45 million (USD45.1 million) contract with Sweden's Saab Dynamics for Bolide and Mk 2 missiles for the RBS 70 short-range air-defence system. Saab said in a press release published on 24 October that the...

The Mrt Me Acg 81 mm mortar was developed by the Brazilian Army's Technological Center, and is being produced at the War Arsenal of Rio de Janeiro. (Victor Barreira)  The Brazilian Army plans to progressively convert 182 of its more than 550 IDV VBTP-MSR Guarani 6×6 amphibious armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) into 81 mm mortar carriers.  The effort intends to increase fire-support troops' mobility and protection, while also safely transporting mortar and related equipment inside a vehicle, the army said. The kit must be easy to install, util...

A 1/4 scale model of a canistered LRASM-SL configuration for use with Mk 41 Strike Length VLS. Note the booster. To the immediate left of the LRASM-SL is a smaller-scale model of Mk 41 VLS configured with four LRASM-SL effectors. (Robin Hughes)  Lockheed Martin Australia, teamed with Thales Australia, is advancing a surface-launched (SL) derivative of the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) for the Australian Department of Defence's (DoD's) future land- and sea-based maritime strike requirements.  Canberra is preparing to acquire up...

The Royal Saudi Naval Forces received its first Couach FPB 2200 patrol boats at the Jeddah naval base on 25 October. (Saudi Press Agency)  Saudi Arabia has confirmed that its new FPB 2200 patrol boats that the French shipyard Couach is delivering are armed with LIG Nex1's Low-Cost Guided Imaging Rocket (LOGIR) missile launcher for countering small attack boats.  The Saudi Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 25 October that the first batch of Couach patrol boats had been delivered to the Western Fleet. It did not mention how many had been d...

The HDF received the first of 209 Lynx armoured vehicles (foreground) and the first of nine Büffel ARVs (background) from Rheinmetall on 15 October. (HDF)  Hungary received its first KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and Büffel armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) on 15 October. Rheinmetall announced in a press release on 17 October that it delivered the first of 209 Lynx armoured vehicles for the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF) at Petöfi Sándor Barracks in Budapest.    A Rheinmetall spokesperson told   Janes  on 19 October...

The first block of the first FDI HN frigate is laid down in dry dock at Naval Group's shipyard in Lorient on 21 October. (Naval Group)  French shipbuilder Naval Group has laid down the keel for the first Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention (FDI) multimission frigate on order for the Hellenic Navy (HN).    The first block of the first FDI HN, to be named  Kimon  , was officially laid down in dry dock during a ceremony held at Naval Group's shipyard in Lorient on 21 October. The keel-laying follows a steel-cutting ceremony for t...

An F-15E Strike Eagle drops a JASSM-ER during trials. The US Air Force has launched an effort to develop an improved version of the missile, dubbed the JASSM New Variant. (US DoD)  The US Air Force (USAF) has launched an effort to develop a new version of the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM), posting a sole source notification of a contract award to Lockheed Martin on 20 October.  Announced on the sam.gov US government procurement website, the JASSM New Variant is a classified version of the air-launched weapon that will...

A Typhoon pilot launches an ASRAAM missile during a mass live-fire exercise held in September. (Crown Copyright)  The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has honed its aerial combat capabilities with a major missile firing exercise off the coast of Scotland in September.  Announced by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 22 October, the exercise saw Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 and Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning combat aircraft launch multiple MBDA AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAMs) during a 10-day period.  “The Missile Practice Camp to...

Among the land platforms were Titan-DS vehicles. (Watan Habarlary)  The Armed Forces of Turkmenistan displayed a wide range of military equipment at a parade held in Ashgabat to commemorate the 31st anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence.  Video footage released by the state-run TV channel, Watan Habarlary, showed Chinese, Emirati, Israeli, Italian, Russian, South Korean, and Turkish equipment.    Highlights included footage of the newly inducted Turkmen-class corvette   Deniz Han  , Cavalon two-seat autogyro, StormRider li...

NATO combat aircraft tested Luftwaffe Patriot batteries defending Sliač airbase in Slovakia on 20 October during ‘Neptune Strike 2022.2'. (Janes/Nicholas Fiorenza)  NATO combat aircraft tested Luftwaffe Patriot batteries defending Sliač airbase in Slovakia on 20 October during exercise ‘Neptune Strike 2022.2' (‘NEST 22.2'), which is being held from 14 to 28 October.    Aircraft including US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft flying from the USS   George H W Bush  aircraft carrier in the Ae...

An SM-6 Block I missile arcs skywards following launch from a US Navy DDG-51 guided-missile destroyer. Japan plans to integrate the missile-defence system onto its Atago-class destroyers. (US Navy)  The US Department of State has approved a request by Japan to procure Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) air-defence missiles for an estimated USD450 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has announced.  It said on 20 October that the proposed Foreign Military Sales (FMS), which requires approval from the Congress, includes 32 SM-6 Blo...

A full-scale mock-up of the Thales and Nexter RapidFire turret is pictured on display in its final configuration at the Nexter stand at Euronaval 2022, Paris. (Janes/Kate Tringham)  Nexter and Thales displayed a full-scale version of their 40 mm RapidFire Naval gun in its final design configuration at the Euronaval 2022 maritime exhibition in Paris.  RapidFire Naval is a multirole, artillery, medium-calibre 40 mm gun developed by Thales and Nexter to meet the French Navy's requirement for a close-in self-defence capability against air and sur...

AVNL unveiled the BMP-2M infantry combat vehicle at Defexpo 2022. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  India's state-run Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited (AVNL) has unveiled the BMP-2M infantry combat vehicle (ICV) at Defexpo 2022, being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from 18 to 22 October.  According to the company, the BMP-2M is an upgraded BMP-2 with a loitering munition system (LMS), fifth-generation anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), and an armament upgrade with an integrated fire-control system (FCS).  The LMS, manufactured by Telangana-based Avision Syst...

IRRPL showcased AK-203 assualt rifles at Defexpo 2022. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)    Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) – a joint venture between Russia and India to manufacture AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian Armed Forces – has initiated the process to produce the rifles in India, it has been confirmed to   Janes   at Defexpo 2022, being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from 18 to 22 October.     Rajeev Sharma, general manager, Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), which is one of the stakeholders...

AWEIL has showcased Dhanush 155 mm/52 calibre towed howitzers (pictured) at Defexpo 2022 being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  India's state-run Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) has upgraded the Dhanush towed howitzers.  AWEIL has showcased Dhanush 155 mm/52 calibre towed howitzers at Defence Expo 2022 being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from 18 to 22 October.    Rajeev Sharma, general manager of AWEIL, told   Janes  that the Dhanush 155 mm/52 calibre towed howitzers have a firing range o...

KSSL's ATAGS (pictured above) at Defence Expo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has unveiled the indigenously developed 155 mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) at Defexpo 2022 being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from 18 to 22 October.  The ATAGS is jointly developed by the DRDO, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), and Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL).  According to TASL, the system has capabilities such as a self-propelled mode and a...

Austrian defence spending trend, 2014–33. (Janes)    Austrian Ministry of Defence planners are seeking parliamentary approval of a 10-year state defence financing act to give more predictability in planning and avoid future governments from cancelling projects,   Janes  learnt during a briefing at the ministry on 13 October. This will increase defence spending to EUR5.25 billion (USD5.16 billion) by 2027 for a total of EUR16 billion over the four years until then, as announced by the ministry on 6 October. In addition, the pla...

DRDO's Akash-NG mobile missile launcher (pictured here) at Defexpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has showcased the Akash-New Generation (Akash-NG) mobile missile launcher at Defexpo 2022 being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from 18 to 22 October.  The Akash-NG is a short-range mobile surface-to-air missile system (SRSAM) with a range of up to 30 km. The system is designed and developed by the DRDO and manufactured by Pune-based Electropneumatics and Hydraulics (I...