In September 2000, a hostage situation unfolded in Sierra Leone during a knee-deep civil war and rampant chaos. Amid this turmoil, a group of British soldiers were under the United Nations‘ banner. The service members were doing their best to keep the peace. But life had other plans. These men found themselves in the crosshairs of the West Side Boys. WSB was a rebel group that had a knack for making trouble. This was the crucible that birthed Operation Barras, an audacious rescue mission that would test the mettle of the British forces to their core. A real baptism by fire.
Author: Michael
Leonardo RAT 31DL/M radar will be delivered to the German Air Force to supplement its air-defence capabilities. (Janes/Patrick Allen )
Leonardo will deliver a new tactical RAT 31DL/M long-range deployable air-defence radar (DADR) to the German Air Force following an agreement with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), the company announced at the Paris Air Show 2023 held between 19 and 25 June.
This will be the third system delivered by the company to the German Air Force since 2007.
The two radars currently in service will receive a mid-life upgrade as part of this contract.
The US, Russia, and China are all testing hypersonic technology, generating fears of escalating global competition for weaponry that has the potential to render current defences inadequate.
For the past five years, MBDA has been working on options for counter-hypersonic air defence.
The counter-hypersonic solutions project is named the “Aquilia”. MBDA, Europe’s biggest defence systems supplier, has built on its Aster anti-missile interceptor – a surface-to-air missile designed to intercept destroy a range of air threats.
The third MANSUP test launch was carried out in July 2019. (Marinha do Brasil)
The Brazilian Navy and the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) Edge Group signed an agreement on 14 June to co-operate on the development of a “family of anti-ship missiles”, the navy announced two days later.
Brazilian Navy Chief Fleet Admiral José Augusto Vieira da Cunha de Menezes said Edge would help form a sustainable business model for the sale and production of the National Surface Anti-Ship Missile (MANSUP).
The Australian Army sappers guide a Boxer CRV through the decontamination bay during the CBRN defence training at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane. (Commonwealth of Australia)
The Australian Army’s 7th Brigade has conducted training on neutralising chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.
The army said in a press release on 21 June that a Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle (CRV) and an HX77 truck towing an M777 howitzer were put through an equipment decontamination medium (EDM) as part of the training held in Brisbane.
The Franco-Italian SAMP/T medium-range air-defence system (seen here test firing an Aster 30 missile) donated to Ukraine has been deployed and is operational. (MBDA)
The SAMP/T medium-range air-defence system donated to Ukraine by France and Italy has been deployed and is operational, protecting “key installations and lives”, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on behalf of himself and ItalianPrime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, during a conference on air and anti-missile defence on the fringes of the Paris Air Show 2023 on 19 June.
The King Cobra deployed for operation on an undisclosed naval vessel. EM Solutions has secured a contract to supply multiple King Cobra and Cobra satcom terminals to the RAN under Project Sea 1442 Phase 5. (EM Solutions)
EM Solutions, a subsidiary of Australia’s Electro Optic Systems, has secured a contract to modernise the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) satellite communications (satcom) systems under the Department of Defence’s (DoD’s) Project Sea 1442 Phase 5.
IDV (Iveco Defence Vehicles) has agreed with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration to deliver up to 3,000 light vehicles to the Swedish Armed Forces.
The initial order under this framework agreement will consist of 400 vehicles, marking a step in the collaboration between IDV and the Swedish military. The framework agreement spans four years, from 2023 to 2027, with an option to extend for five years.
The chosen vehicle, the MUV 4×4 (Military Utility Vehicle), meets the criteria for a light multipurpose vehicle.
The Nato Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, met with the German Chancellor, Olaf Schultz, in Berlin on 19 June. Stoltenberg praised Germany’s defence contribution to Nato and Ukraine after he addressed future plans to bolster Nato’s model, deterrence and defence.
“We are now putting in place new regional plans, with assigned forces and capabilities, and high levels of readiness,” Stoltenberg stated.
Nato defence ministers will meet ahead of the Vilnius summit next month to discuss planned changes to Nato’s military structures.
Akash Prime – seen here on its flight test in September 2021 – has a maximum firing range of 30 km and can hit targets at a maximum elevation of 18 km. (Ministry of Defence, India)
India’s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has received an order worth INR39.14 billion (USD477 million) from missile manufacturer Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to supply two improved Akash weapon systems for the Indian Army, BEL announced on 20 June.