October 2020 News Global Defence & Security Industry - Military

 
 
 
 
 

The Dutch Army has recently completed a live-fire counter-drone trial using Smart Shooter's SMASH Fire Control System. Soldiers from all branches of the Dutch army, including the Air Force, Special Forces, and Marines, attended the trial, which was done in close co-operation with Smart Shooter Dutch Partner, TBM.

Elbit Systems announced on Oct.22 that its U.S. subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America, was awarded an Other Transaction Authority (“OTA”) contract from the U.S. Army for Enhanced Night Vision Goggle – Binocular (“ENVG-B”) systems. The potential contract value under the OTA contract could reach a maximum of approximately $442 million.

The Russian Defense Ministry decided to fully equip the 76th Air Defense Division with Nebo-M radars. The first unit has been already supplied. It can monitor round-the-clock aerodynamic targets over a territory of 1 million square kilometers, detect stealth aircraft, drones and ballistic missiles. It is a part of the plan to create a total radar field along the national borders, the Izvestia daily writes.

According to information published by American Company General Atomics, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and Boeing have announced they are partnering to jointly pursue opportunities for a 100 kW-class scalable to 250 kW-class High Energy Laser (HEL) weapon system to support a variety of air and missile defense applications. The partnership combines both companies’ expertise in directed energy to build a best-in-class HEL solution capable of delivering superior, combat-ready protection for the warfighter on an accelerated timeline.

The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) of 11 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) M142 Launchers and related equipment for an estimated cost of $436.1 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

According to a press release published on October 22, 2020, Finnish Company Patria has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Army to conduct a turreted mortar feasibility study of Patria Nemo 120mm in the form of Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT). The testing complements ongoing cooperation between Patria and the U.S. Army on a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) announced in May 2020.

The supplies of Grad-M upgraded MLRS will begin in 2021. The upgraded Soviet-era weapon will independently aim and calculate the number of projectiles. It is fully digital and integrated into modern automatic controls. Experts believe Grad-M will make artillery units operate faster and more effectively, the Izvestia daily writes.

According to a report by PTI, an indigenously developed laser-guided anti-tank guided missile was successfully test fired on October 1 in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar, The Economc Times reports. It was the second such successful test firing of the missile, having a range of up to 5 km, in the last 10 days, the earlier one being held on September 23.

Iran’s air defense units are going to stage a military exercise covering more than half of the country’s territories, Tasnim reports. The joint air defense exercise, codenamed ‘Guardians of Velayat Sky-99’, will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 21, the commander of the wargame said.

People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers stationed in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region have received new marksman rifles QBU-191, Zhang Han reports on Global Times. In an article released by PLA Tibet Military Command's WeChat public account, photos show that the new rifle arrives during the seasonal maintenance of their weapons. The new rifle is expected to replace the QBU-88 sniper rifle that is currently used by the troops.

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