The Netherlands ordered 20 PULS MRLs on 17 May. (Elbit Systems)
The Netherlands ordered 20 Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS) multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) on 17 May under an agreement between the Israeli and Dutch ministries of defence (MoDs), Elbit Systems announced in a press release the next day. The Israeli company said the USD305 million contract would be conducted over a five-year period.
Author: Michael
The US Navy is expected to accept the Aegis Ashore facility by the end of 2023. (US Navy)
The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is expected to confirm the Aegis Ashore site in Poland “safe and technically capable”, and the US Navy (USN) is expected to accept the facility this year, according to US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released on 18 May.
The GAO report
Missile Defense: Annual Goals Unmet for Deliveries and Testing
also cited other recent milestones for the delayed programme.
Rheinmetall and Elbit Systems conducted a live-fire demonstration of an automated 155 mm L52 10×10 SPH in March at the Shivta firing range in southern Israel. (Rheinmetall)
Rheinmetall and Elbit Systems announced in a joint press release on 16 May that they had conducted a live-fire demonstration of an automated 155 mm L52 10×10 self-propelled howitzer (SPH) at the beginning of March at the Shivta firing range in southern Israel. The two companies signed a co-operation agreement to develop, produce, and market a European fully automated wheeled 155 mm howitzer.
The first MESA radar being installed on Boeing 737 NG airframe undergoing modification into the E-7A Wedgetail for the UK Royal Air Force in November 2022. Despite cutting its planned procurement to three aircraft, the MoD has opted to retain its purchase of five radar systems, which it will now use for spares. (Boeing)
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has defended its decision to continue with the purchase of five radar sets for its Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning Mk1 (AEW1) programme, despite the procurement having been reduced to three aircraft.
A Challenger 3 main battle tank prototype shown at DSEI fitted with a mock-up of the Trophy APS. (Janes/Riccardo Cociani)
Further details of EuroTrophy GmbH’s Othello sensor and the silent-mode capabilities of the active protection system (APS) were revealed at SAE Media’s Future Armoured Vehicles Central and Eastern Europe conference, which was held in Prague on 15 and 16 May.
The F-104 Starfighter has been the subject of controversy in the aviation world, being considered by some to be one of the worst fighters ever. However, former fighter pilot Ed Cobleigh challenges this view, defending the thrill he experienced flying this aircraft.
Although its appearance is impressive and has made its mark on movie culture, the F-104 had significant shortcomings that earned it its bad reputation.
An Unfavorable Design
The F-104 could not effectively fulfill its role as an interceptor.
The Russian Air Force has taken a bold step in the field of military aviation using the “Loyal Wingman” concept. This approach involves a state-of-the-art stealth fighter, the Su-57, controlling a drone, the Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B (Hunter).
Equipped with up to four S-70s, the Su-57 gains the ability to stay out of range of enemy air defense systems and engage heavy combat drones.
Su-57 alongside S-70 Okhotnik in combat
According to Russian reports, the Su-57 can link up with the Okhotnik drone at a distance of more than 900 miles, an amazing capability if true.
The Russian Navy is in a transition stage, shedding its older and larger warships, and the Kirov-class battlecruiser Pyotr Velikiy could be next to be retired.
Although Russia may need all available ships to operate in the Black Sea and launch missiles at targets in Ukraine, the Pyotr Velikiy is expensive and complicated to maintain, according to navy sources quoted by the TASS media agency.
The legacy of Pyotr Velikiy
On April 18, 1998, the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet formally commissioned the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky, or Peter the Great.
Over the course of its fourteen-plus month invasion, Moscow has suffered heavy losses in its main battle tanks (MBTs).
At the start of the war, Russia deployed its most advanced armored vehicles to Ukraine to support its offensive efforts, but to no avail. Poorly equipped troops destroyed, captured, or abandoned many of these tanks.
The resurgence of veteran T-54 and T-55
Faced with their dwindling tank fleet, Russian forces turned to outdated weaponry, the most surprising being the Soviet-era T-54 and T-55 models.
Author’s image
Turkish McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom IIs have been operating for nearly five decades, an exceptional lifespan for some of the last frontline third-generation fighters. They once ruled the skies, but today face a growing number of threats and have been outclassed by more advanced adversary fighters. So, how do these historically famous aircraft fit into Turkey’s modern fight? We got a good idea of just that at Turkey’s large Anatolian Eagle (AE) exercise earlier this month.