April 2020 Global Defence & Security Industry - Military News

 
 
 
 
 

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense is preparing to train personnel and set up training facilities for the 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks to be received in four batches from the U.S. from 2023 to 2026, the sale having been approved in July 2019 for a budget of US$ 1.34 billion according to Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA).

EOS Defense Systems US has successfully fired anti-tank missiles and a 30mm cannon from an EOS remote weapon station mounted on a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). The firings, conducted at the Redstone Test Center, Alabama, utilized US Army-supplied FGM-148 Javelin missiles and the Northrop Grumman M230LF Bushmaster gun.

T-14 Armata main battle tanks have been tested in Syria, Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said on Sunday, April 19: "They [Armata tanks] were used in Syria," he said in an interview with the Deistvuyushchiye Litsa (Political Actors) with Nailya Asker-zade program on the Rossiya-1 television channel answering a corresponding question. "They were used in field conditions, in Syria, so, we took into account all the nuances."

On April 17, 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has announced that BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $14,069,872 modification (P00087) to contract W56HZV-15-C-A001 for engineering and manufacturing development portion of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV). The AMPV is the U.S. Army’s program to replace the Vietnam War-era and legacy M113 Family of Vehicles.

On March 20, 2020, U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) pilots and sensor operators from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) conducted their first operational flight of an MQ-9A Reaper Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) in the Middle East. The multi-sensor reconnaissance-equipped MQ-9A UAS produced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has provided crucial support to USMC’s forward operations on the battlefield.

On 13th April 2020, the U.S. Army announced the selection of Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) as the de-processing site for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program. The AMPV has proven through operational and developmental testing to be more effective and survivable than the thousands of M113s it is replacing. Ashley John reports.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect us all, and International Armored Group is dedicating resources and working around the clock with its team of experts to help create essential solutions in supporting first responders, healthcare and front-line workers around the world. The company is utilizing its vehicle and ambulance design expertise to re-design and manufacture specially modified COVID-19 ambulances that would help protect the lives of frontline workers as they work tirelessly to treat others.

The British Armed Forces have ordered four amphibious 8x8 Rheinmetall Mission Master robotic vehicles (UGVs). Configured for transporting cargo, these unmanned ground vehicles will form part of the United Kingdom's Robotic Platoon Vehicle programme. The four Mission Master – Cargo vehicles will be delivered throughout the spring of 2020.

Elbit Systems announced on 16 April that it was awarded a contract valued at approximately $15 million from the Swiss Federal Office for Defense Procurement (“Armasuisse”) to provide Command and Control (C2) systems for the Tactical Reconnaissance System (TASYS) of the Swiss Armed Forces. The contract will be performed over a three-year period.

More UGVs (unmanned ground vehicles) are entering the arsenal of the Chinese army (PLA). The latest additions are a small model fitted with a 7.62mm machine gun, and a bigger crane-like missile-loading robot, Liu Xuanzun reports on Global Times.

General Dynamics European Land Systems has been awarded a contract by the German procurement agency BAAINBw for the delivery of 80 highly protected Eagle 6x6 vehicles for the German Army`s ambulance corps. The first vehicle deliveries will start in 2021 and continue throughout 2024.

Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace has received a contract under the United States Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program for delivery of the Kongsberg Protector Remote Weapon Station (RWS) to Lithuanian Armed Forces as part of a total package worth $170.8 million USD. This award is part of the United States Army Commonly Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) program and includes a request for Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV). 

Azerbaijan recorded a 5.6 % year-over-year increase in military production in 2019 as the country's defense output exceeded $150 million, Ilham Karimli reports. The overall value of defensive output last year stood at $153.9 million compared to $145.8 million in 2018, according to government data published by Interfax Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan exports locally-made ammunition, modern small arms, UAVs, and armored vehicles to more than 10 countries, and the country's defense enterprises produce more than 700 items and their components.

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