The UK is accelerating the British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform programme to replace its AS90 SPHs (pictured above). (Crown copyright)
UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced to the House of Commons on 16 January that he is accelerating the British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) programme, so that it delivers during the 2020s rather than the 2030s. He said he has also directed an interim artillery capability to be delivered, subject to commercial negotiation.
Janes understands that the UK now plans for the MFP to enter service in 2027.
Author: Michael
An employee at The Institute of Heraldry holds a steel die that shows the stamp of the Medal of Honor cut into it. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Reina Delgado/U.S. Navy).
When service members hear the term ‘military grade’ they often think of cheaply-made or poorly designed garbage that does not work, like the earplugs they used in Iraq or the Army’s Universal Camouflage Pattern.
But there is one thing used by the military which often does stand the test of time: the medals, pins, and other metal-based insignia used for military awards, rank chevrons, and some unit insignia.
US Coast Guard icebreaker
Healy
calls in Seward, Alaska, while embarking on North Pole deployment.
(Michael Fabey)
Despite continued reports of receding ice in the Arctic, the recent deployment by the icebreaker US Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Healy (WAGB-20) showed the necessity to build more icebreakers, Commanding Officer (CO) Captain Ken Boda told Janes ahead of the Surface Navy Association (SNA) annual symposium held from 10 to 12 January in Arlington, Virginia.
Sean Carberry, NDM
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Craig Hooper, Forbes
Over the next decade, a combination of strategic, economic, and environmental concerns will bring modern, fourth-generation nuclear reactors to the waterfront.
F.
Toft, Conversation
L. Thompson, Forbes
A hundred years ago, the United States did not have a defense industry. At least, not in the sense that term is used today.
US-based company Oshkosh Defense has secured a new contract to provide additional tactical trucks and trailers for the US Army.
The new contract has an estimated value of $141m and has been awarded by the US Army’s Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC).
As part of the latest contract, the company will deliver a total of 414 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) A2 and 56 FMTV trailers.
With the signing for a second batch of 18 helicopters, Austria is to receive 36 AW169M LUH platforms by the end of 2028. (Bundesheer)
Austria has finalised a contract to acquire an additional 18 Leonardo AW169 medium-twin helicopters from Italy.
The manufacturer announced the milestone on 19 January, saying that the EUR304 million (USD329 million) deal for the AW169M Light Utility Helicopters (LUHs) follows a declaration of intent signed between Austria and Italy in December 2022.