January 2023 News Global Defence & Security Industry - Military |
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According to LSM.iv public broadcasting of Latvia, Latvian donors are sending military equipment manufactured locally to the Ukrainian army. Two months ago, the charity “Ziedot.lv” launched a donation-gathering campaign Labas ziņas (“Good News”) for the cause. Since then, EUR 439,768 has been donated. On Wednesday, January 25, the first military cargo traveled to Ukraine, Latvian Radio and Latvian Television reported.
According to a statement published by the United States Department of Defense on January 25, 2023, the United States will supply Ukraine with 31 M1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks (MBTS) and 8 M88 tracked armored recovery vehicles. According to information published by the American TV News channel "CNBC", the variant of the M1 Abrams tank that will be delivered to Ukraine is the Abrams M1A1.
Saab received an order in mid-December 2022 for the anti-armour weapon AT4 from the French Armament General Directorate (DGA). The order value is approximately EUR 24 million and deliveries will take place in 2023. The order was booked in Q4 2022.
The German army (Bundeswehr) has contracted with Rheinmetall to modernize the command and control equipment of its soldier systems. A total of 14 "Future Soldier- Extended System" platoon systems are to be delivered to the troops. These comprise equipment for 476 individual soldiers.
As reported on January 25 by Jim Garamone, the U.S. Defense Department just updated DoD Directive 3000.09, Autonomy in Weapon Systems, which governs the development and fielding of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems. The core of the directive remains unchanged. DoD updated the directive due to advances in technology, changes in the structure of the department and changes in the security environment.
According to an official statement published by the German Government on January 25, 2023, Germany agreed to the initial delivery of 14 Leopard 2 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), and more specifically the 2A6 version which is considered as one of the most powerful MBTs in the world.
According to NL Times, the Dutch government will look into supplying some of its 68 F-16A/B MLU fighter jets (it originally had 213 aircraft) to Ukraine if the Kyiv government asks for it. During a parliamentary debate on January 19, Minister of Foreign Affairs Wopke Hoekstra said the Cabinet would look at such a request with an “open mind.” In Davos, Minister of Defense Kajsa Ollongren also said that the Netherlands is willing to help pay for modern Leopard 2 tanks that other countries send to Ukraine, NL Times reports.
According to information published on January 25 by British Defence Intelligence, Russia has been working on preparing the first operational deployment of a small number of the latest-generation T-14 Armata main battle tanks in Ukraine.
Epirus announced on January 23 a $66.1 million contract award from the U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) in support of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High-Power Microwave Program.
Italy, teaming up with France, has confirmed it is ready to supply Ukraine with its SAMP/T air defense system after weeks of doubt over Rome’s readiness to hand over the costly system, Tom Kington reports in Defense News. Its dispatching was confirmed to Defense News by a spokesman for Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani, who announced the decision in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera: “In collaboration with France we are finalizing the dispatch of SAMP/T while there are also other initiatives on which we are also working secretly,” Tajani told the newspaper.
Defence industry tech player meets "third wave" AI specialists: with sensor solutions provider Hensoldt and AI company 21strategies, two of Europe's leading innovators in their industries agree on a strategic collaboration. The aim is to jointly drive the development of next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) for defence systems. To this end, Hensoldt and 21strategies collaborate on next-generation artificial intelligence for defence systems is participating in 21strategies' financing round, which will give the cooperation a strong foundation.
According to information published by the German Newspaper "Spiegel" on January 24, 2023, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz approved the delivery to Ukraine of German-made Leopard 2A6 Main Battle Tanks.
Airbus has signed a contract with the Belgian Ministry of Defence to provide tactical satellite communications services for a 15-year period. The Armed Forces will utilise channels of the Airbus UHF (Ultra High Frequency) military communications hosted payload on board a commercial telecommunications satellite manufactured by Airbus.
European Union on Monday, January 23, granted new funding of 500 million euros for supplies of armaments and military equipment to Ukraine, and allocated 45 million euros for the training of Ukrainian soldiers in the EU, it said.
According to information published by the German Newspaper "Handelsblatt" on January 20, 2023, the defense industry of Germany could propose refurbished ex-Jordanian army Challenger 1 Main Battle Tanks to Ukraine. Two countries in the Middle East including Oman and Jordan have a large quantity of Challenger 1 tanks that have been withdrawn from service.
As reported by The New Voice of Ukraine on January 23, Estonian Ambassador to Ukraine Kaimo Kuusk said: "We are giving all of our 155mm howitzers to Ukraine and we want to set a precedent in this way so that other countries don’t have excuses why they can’t give Ukraine the weapons to win the war”. The remainder of the original Estonian arsenal of 24 FH-70 155mm and 36 D-30 122mm howitzers will thus be sent to Ukraine.
Italian company IIDV has entered into an agreement to become the majority shareholder in Mira UGV, Horiba Mira’s Uncrewed Ground Vehicle (UGV) division. The agreement combines IDV’s expertise as a manufacturer of defence vehicles with its technological know-how and global production capabilities, with Horiba MIRA’s position as a sector-leading company in delivering state-of-the-art Uncrewed Ground Vehicle solutions. The agreement also provides capital and capability to move Horiba Mira’s UGV platforms and technology to the next stage of development and production.
According to a statement published by the Dutch Ministry of Defense on January 20, 2023, The Netherlands will deliver to Ukraine two launcher units of Patriot air defense missile systems and an undisclosed number of missiles.
The Swedish government announced on January 20 that Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Finland's Minister of Defence Mikko Savola signed a Finnish-Swedish letter of intent that will enable Finland to provide Ukraine with heavy military weapons at a replacement cost of more than SEK 4.11 billion (EUR 370 million).
According to Defense Studies, Filipino company Anos Research Manufacturing posted that their 4x4 armored vehicle, which they now call the Liberato, is now ready for production.
NP Aerospace, the engineering authority for the UK Ministry of Defence protected mobility fleet, and Supacat, are progressing with the development of new Lightweight Recovery Vehicles (LWRV) for the British Army.
After having planned the delivery of AMX-10RC combat reconnaissance vehicles (erroneously designated as ‘’light tanks’’) within two months, France no longer rules out delivering Leclerc tanks to Ukraine, which would mean, once the British Challenger 2 tanks will have entered the scene, the first time Western-designed tanks will fight against Russian-designed tanks, a crucial test to make their strengths and weaknesses appear in actual combat.
According to information by the German Newspaper "Der Spiegel" on January 21, 2023, Germany could deliver 19 Leopard 2A5 Main Battle Tanks to Ukraine which are now used by the German army at a training center.
As reported by autocarpro.in, Allison Transmission has been chosen by Larsen and Toubro (L&T) to provide the Allison 3040 MX propulsion solution for the Indian Army’s Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) The U.S manufacturer will manage engineering design, development, fabrication, testing and demonstration of the 3040 MX for the FICV prototype vehicles through 2024. The Indian Army intends to procure approximately 1,750 FICVs over the next two decades.
According to a Tweet published by Odi F., the latest generation of Israeli-made Main Battle Tank nicknamed "BARAK" or Merkava 5 entered into service with the Israeli army to perform field test capabilities. The tank is now in service with the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade.
