The US Department of Defense (DoD) has issued two contracts yesterday, 31 May, to adopt directed-energy weapon (DEW) systems for air defence and commit to funding pulsed laser research.
The first contract tasks the Alabama-based defence company, Kord Technologies, to develop, integrate, test and sustain directed-energy short-range air defence systems for the US Army.
Kord’s ‘Other Transaction Authority’ agreement – which gives the DoD flexibility to adopt business practices that reflect commercial industry standards – is worth $158.1m.
Author: Michael
Brazil’s armed forces are undergoing modernisation and increased defence spending as the country implements a new National Strategy for Defence to strengthen Brazil’s defence capabilities, protect its sovereignty, and address internal security challenges.
Brazil’s defence budget is projected to increase steadily over the coming years, reaching $29.9bn in 2028, according to GlobalData’s report on the “Brazil Defence Market 2023-2028“, reflecting its commitment to modernising its armed forces.
The US Department of Defense (DoD) plans to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences with 35mm Gepard anti-aircraft tanks.
Under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the DoD has contracted the small Florida-based business, Global Military Products, to manufacture the air defence systems in Amman, Jordan for $118.3m.
Originally produced in West Germany, the self-propelled anti-aircraft guns entered active service in the 1970’s. The US-produced platforms will be completed by 30 May 2024. The DoD has not specified how many units it will provide to the wartorn country.
Australia has reduced its procurement of infantry fighting vehicles from 450 units to 129. Two platforms are competing for the tender – Rheinmetall’s Lynx KF41 and, pictured above, Hanwha’s Redback. (Hanwha Defense Australia)
Australia has announced the establishment of an external advisory panel (EAP) to oversee the implementation of the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) recommendations, which include a reorganisation of the Australian Army.
The Republic of Singapore Navy’s combatant craft large. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)
The combatant craft large (CCL) was first unveiled by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in 2021. It was conceived by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) for the service’s special forces formation known as the Naval Diving Unit (NDU) and jointly developed with the country’s Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA).
South Korea has announced plans to upgrade the RoKA’s K9A1 self-propelled howitzers. (Hanwha Defense)
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced plans to upgrade K9A1 Thunder 155 mm/52 calibre self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and 120 mm self-propelled mortars (SPMs) in service with the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA).
A DAPA spokesperson told Janes on 31 May that a visit by the agency earlier that month to the RoKA’s Capital Mechanized Infantry Division in Gapyeong had identified about 15 upgrade requirements.
It is 2028, and the United States Space Force’s early warning radar modernization is complete. Technical Sergeant Jack Nichols works at Buckley Space Force Base operating systems that detect and assess ballistic missile threats against the United States and Canada. Since arriving at the Colorado base, Nichols has experienced his share of false alarms. However, these are no ordinary false alarms; the system Nichols watches provides early warning that the United States is under ballistic missile attack.
A US triservice formation of the US Air Force F-35A (lead), the US Marine Corps F-35B, and the US Navy F-35C. (US Air Force)
On 30 May the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report about the Lockheed Martin F-35, finding that the programme has not adequately explained a cost increase of USD13.4 billion since 2019, that the upgraded Block 4 version has run into technical snags and a USD1 billion cost increase, and that the US Department of Defense (DoD) has not fully defined requirements for an engine cooling system upgrade.
The USD13.
KMW displayed a PULS MRL armed with a Kongsberg NSM at its site in Munich on the first day of Defence iQ’s Future Artillery conference held in Munich from 29 May to 1 June. (Janes/Nicholas Fiorenza)
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann-Nexter Defense Systems (KNDS) is proposing that the Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS) multiple rocket launcher (MRL) be armed with Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM).
The Indian Army is upgrading its 9K111-1M Konkurs-M ATGW systems – pictured above in operation with the Russian Army – with thermal imagers for use in low-light or night operations. (KBP Instrument Design Bureau)
The Indian Army has upgraded its 9K111‐1M Konkurs‐M anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) systems with Bangalore-based Tonbo Imaging’s cooled, longwave Infrared (LWIR) thermal imagers known as Sarisa, a source at Tonbo told
Janes.