March 2018 Global Defence & Security Industry - Military News

 
 
 
 

 

During AFED 2018, the defense exhibition that was held in Saudi Arabia in February 2018, the American Company General Dynamics has presented a new version of it 8x8 light armoured vehicle under the name of LAV-FSV (Light Armoured Vehicle-Fire Support Vehicle). The vehicle is based on a V-shaped hull to increase survivability against mine blast and IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) threats.

At DIMDEX 2018, the International Maritime Defense Exhibition & Conference in Qatar, the French Company Nexter Systems in collaboration with the local Company Barzan Holdings presents a new version of its VBCI 2 8x8 IFV  armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle under the name of Al Zubarah. The Company Barzan Holdings has been recently created by the Qatari Ministry of Defense to enhance military capabilities and investment in the defense industry.

According to the latest press release by UkrOboronProm, Ukrainian State Enterprises (DPs) Malyshev Plant and Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (KMDB) are preparing to deliver a batch of T-84 Oplot "Fortress" main battle tanks (MBTs) for trials by the Ukrainian armed forces.

DSNA, Groupe ADP and Thales present HOLOGARDE a unique long-range solution for protecting sensitive sites from malicious drones. DSNA, Groupe ADP and Thales have decided to pool together their expertise for the development of the HOLOGARDE solution in response to this imminent need to protect sensitive sites, presenting it during the World Air Traffic Management Congress held in Madrid on March 7, 2018.

On 7 March, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet approved the expansion of Germany’s military missions abroad, namely in Afghanistan, Mali and Iraq. The defense budget, still to be approved by the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) would for instance raise the number of German troops deployed in Afghanistan by a third to 1,300.

"The United States and NATO are working together to counter violent extremism and Russian destabilization efforts", said US Army General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, the commander of U.S. European Command, during a press conference. The United States has responded to the threat by deploying rotation forces to Europe, to include an armored brigade combat team and a combat aviation brigade.

A NATO commitment set the members’ national defense budget to 2% of each GDP in view of building a credible defense force. In this regard, Belgium is – at last – launching a major rearmament process. Its 2018 military budget includes 4.7 times more so-called engagement credits than the 2017 budget. This process means cash to be paid on delivery; therefore, it does not appear in normal operating budgets. Altogether, this involves spending €9.2 billion ($US 11.3 billion) on military equipment between 2020 and 2030.

Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC) continues to develop and test the prototype of tracked combat vehicle that is proposed for the U.S. Army’s need as part of the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program. SAIC, together with ST Kinetics of Singapore and CMI Defence from Belgium has developed a new generation of combat vehicle that offers the U.S. Army an innovative solution that provides infantry forces access to combat environments in 21st century operations.

The SE “Malyshev Plant” and the SE "Kharkiv Morozov Machine-Building Design Bureau" are preparing another batch of T-84 tanks for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Kharkiv enterprises conduct repair and modernization works. For this purpose, the SE “Malyshev Plant” repaired the next batch of T-84 tanks. The combat vehicles underwent checking, restoring or complete replacement of all main nodes and components.

Today MBDA and Lockheed Martin announced a new joint venture to pursue the next generation Integrated Air and Missile Defence System, “TLVS,” for the German Bundeswehr. Registered as TLVS GmbH, the joint venture is expected to become the prime contractor for the new system, which is currently being negotiated with Germany’s procurement office for the Bundeswehr, BAAINBw.

Beginning from 2018 the latest Russian combat airborne vehicles - BMD-4M will land on the battlefield with the crew inside. It will be possible after the creation of a platformless parachute is completed. Experts say such hardware airdrop will considerably decrease combat engagement time, the Izvestia daily writes.

Security Devices International Inc. (“SDI” or the “Company”) announces the release of its ground-breaking 40mm Collapsible Head Impact Projectile (“CHIP”) round, the US-based company said on March 7, 2018.

Two Lockheed Martin PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI) interceptors successfully intercepted two tactical ballistic missile targets recently in a test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The PAC-3 CRI intercepts support the U.S. Army's Field Surveillance Program (FSP) ensuring the reliability and readiness of fielded PAC-3 missiles. The test also marked the tenth and eleventh successful PAC-3 CRI FSP intercepts in six years. More than sixty PAC-3 CRI and Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors have achieved flight test success at White Sands Missile Range.

The Israeli-based aerostat company RT LTA Systems Ltd. presented a live demonstration of its newest member of the SkyStar family, the patented SkyStar 110 micro-Aerostatsystem, in the SDF internal communication exhibition at Kurihama army communication System College, Japan.

The Ministry of Finance of the People's Republic of China (PRC) published the report on the central and local budget draft for 2018 at the first session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) on March 5, 2018. The report showed that in the general public expenditure of the central government the national defense budget increased by 8.1% to 1.11 trillion yuan ($175 billion).

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