July 2018 Global Defence & Security Industry - Military News

 
 
 
 

Researchers at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University developed a new technique to quickly teach robots novel traversal behaviors with minimal human oversight. The technique allows mobile robot platforms to navigate autonomously in environments while carrying out actions a human would expect of the robot in a given situation.

The Belarusian armed forces unveiled new types of wheeled armored vehicles at the Independence Day military parade on July 3, 2018. The fleet of 4x4 platforms presented during the event was comprised of Russian-, Chinese- and Belarusian-made systems including Lis-PM Belarus version of the Russian-made Tigr, Chinese DongFeng Mengshi EQ2050F, Chinese Dajiang CS/VN3 Drakon, and Belarussian MZKT-490100 with Shershen ATGMs.

The Indian Army is all set to acquire Heron TP drones from Israel. An India-Israel defence deal worth $ 400 million was agreed upon in the annual working joint group discussion between India and Israel. India will acquire 10 Heron TP armed drones from Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI). This deal between India and Israel was lingering on for three years.

Demonstrations show progress on disruptive technologies for traveling quickly over varied terrain and improving situational awareness and ease of operation. DARPA’s Ground X-Vehicle Technologies (GXV-T) program aims to improve mobility, survivability, safety, and effectiveness of future combat vehicles without piling on armor. Several Phase 2 contract awardees recently demonstrated advances on a variety of potentially groundbreaking technologies to meet the program’s goals. “We’re looking at how to enhance survivability by buttoning up the cockpit and augmenting the crew through driver-assistance aids,” said Maj. Amber Walker, the program manager for GXV-T in DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office. “For mobility, we’ve taken a radically different approach by avoiding armor and developing options to move quickly and be agile over all terrain.”

Rheinmetall is “very interested” in selling military vehicles to the Romanian army, in particular military trucks, and in producing ammunition and armament in Romania. The Business Review reports that the German group ensures that its new 8×8 amphibious armored personnel carrier “Agilis” project tailored for the Romanian army is still on track despite the procurement of armored vehicles from General Dynamics.

Crews of T-64B tanks and IFV-1 infantry fighting vehicles carried out tasks on firing at an imaginary enemy and combat tactics. New drills with combat shooting from tanks and armored infantry vehicles on July 3 took place in the area of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) under the leadership of Commander of Ukraine's JFO Serhiy Nayev.

The first infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) on the basis of Kurganets-25 platform will be supplied to the troops for test operation in 2019, the annual statement of Kurganmashzavod producer said. “Prototypes are being prepared for all-round trials which precede acceptance into service. Kurganmashzavod signed state contracts for the delivery of development batches of the vehicles in 2019-2021," it said.

RADA Electronic Industries Ltd. A leader in the development , production and sale of tactical land radar for force and border protection - announced that its Multi-mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR) has been down-selected as part of the Leonardo DRS mission equipment package (MEP) solution for the US Army’s Initial Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) capability. DRS is in negotiations with the US Army for this prototype contract which should be awarded in August 2018.

General Amanollahi made the remarks in Tehran on 4 July, addressing a ceremony with a delegation of young and veteran officers from the Chinese defense ministry. "Brigade 65 of Nohed is ready to exchange its experiences and have constructive interactions with China's special forces" after the approval of high-ranking officials of both countries, he underlined.

On 2 July, British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson officially opened a Bolton-based factory where almost 700 staff are making multi-million-pound missiles for British soldiers, warships and fighter jets. An opening ceremony saw the Defence Secretary unveil a plaque to mark the completion of five years of work and £50 million worth of investment into the high-tech site, which has been labelled ‘the jewel in the crown’ of weapons firm MBDA.

Controp Precision Technologies Ltd., an Israeli company specializing in the field of electro-optics (EO) and infrared (IR) defense and homeland security solutions, announced today that it has won a $31 million contract to supply EO/IR systems and services for an Asian defense customer. Under the contract, Controp will supply the systems and services over a 20-month period.

Gary Sheftick, Army News Service, reports “The Army's depots, arsenals and ammunition plants are a key component of force readiness, said Lt. Gen. Aundre Piggee, who added a holistic assessment is underway to modernize those facilities. Piggee, the Army's G-4 or deputy chief of staff for logistics, testified June 28 before the House Armed Services Committee's readiness subcommittee during a hearing on Army and Marine Corps depot policy issues and infrastructure concerns.

Tuesday, July 3, 2018, the new Belgian Army Special Operations Regiment (SOR) has officially takes delivery of the first production vehicle of the Rapid Reaction Vehicle (RRV) also nicknamed FOX. In January 2016, Belgian armed forces have awarded a contract to the British Company Jankel for the delivery of 108 FOX Rapid Reaction Vehicles (RRV).

On Tuesday, July 3, 2018, in the presence of Steven Vandeput, Belgian Minister of Defense, the new Special Operations Regiment (SO Regt) was officially presented with an explanation on its transformation from Light Brigade into SO Regt and the announcement of the delivery of the Jankel "Fox", their new Rapid Reaction Vehicle (RRV).

Russia has completed testing of a long-range missile for the S-400 air defense system. A source told TASS this week that "the state trials for the 40N6E long-range missile for the S-400 system have been completed at the Kapustin Yar practice range. The inter-departmental commission has recognized them as successful and the corresponding certificate has been signed. The missile may be accepted for service before the end of summer."

Raytheon is developing a 100 kW class laser weapon system preliminary design for integration onboard the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles. This is a $10 million U.S. Army's High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstration program contract.

American Police Force based in Texas has received the BATT-X (Ballistic Armored Tactical Transport) to perform rescue operations. Police forces from all over the world face new threats as bombs and assault rifle used during terrorist attacks. These vehicles are often armored and can also be used to transport specialized equipment (for example, tactical equipment and breaching tools).

On June 28, Leonardo DRS announced it has been down-selected by the U.S. Army, and will begin negotiations, to provide its mission equipment package for the service’s accelerated Initial Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) effort. The mission equipment package includes kinetic and non-kinetic defeat capabilities and an on-board radar.

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