May 2020 Global Defence & Security Industry - Military News

 
 
 
 
 

Part of the first batch of FNSS/Deftech AV-8 Gempita 8×8 Armoured Wheeled Vehicle (AWV) delivered to the Malaysian marines were 46 AFV-25 armored infantry fighting vehicles (AIFV) armed with an M242 Bushmaster 25mm gun. These amphibious vehicles formed the bulk of the 19th Mechanised Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment (19 RAMD Mek). Defense Studies provides details.

APV military seatbelts will be used in several next-generation amphibious and land military platforms built by BAE Systems in the USA, including the Amphibious Combat Vehicle program for the US Marines and Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle program for the US Army that replaces the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier.

Russian Army armored units are expected to receive more than 120 upgraded T-72B3M main battle tanks by the yearend, the Defense Ministry’s press office said: "Under the state defense procurement program, the manufacturing enterprises will deliver the fighting vehicles with improved combat and running capabilities to the Defense Ministry".

After GDLS' Griffin III was selected as the sole valid candidate for the US Army's Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) competition aiming at replacing the M2 Bradley IFV (see what Army Recognition published on the basis of a U.S. Congress report of April 16, 2020). According to a news published on May 5, 2020, on Jane's defense news website, Raytheon (USA) and Rheinmetall Defence (Germany) will come back with a new modified version of the KF41 Lynx tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) that will respond to the new requests of U.S. Army's OMFV program. 

According to a tweet from the Israeli MoD, the security relations between Israel and Greece are expanding. The first agreement between IMoD and the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense was signed: Israel will lease IAI Heron UAVs to Greece. The Israeli system will be used primarily for border defense.

Review and analysis of U.S. Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Program based on a document released by the U.S. Congressional Research Service on April 16, 2020. The General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) Griffin III technology demonstrator based on tracked armored vehicle chassis, one of the candidates for the OMFV program of the U.S. Army.

Less than a year after having projected the first NX70 micro-drones from Novadem in external operations (OPEX), the DGA (French Defense Procurement Agency) placed a new order with the company to double its fleet. This new acquisition thus brings the NX70 fleet to more than 100 drones available to support the operations of the French forces.

Israel's MoD (Ministry of Defense) has placed an order for RAFAEL's SPIKE FireFly (known in the IDF as "MAOZ") loitering munition. A loitering munition also knowns as a suicide drone or kamikaze drone is a weapon system category in which the munition loiters around the target area for some time, searches for targets, and attacks once a target is located.

Northrop and Raytheon Missiles & Defense are partnering to pursue a U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) contract for the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI). This strategic partnership will offer the MDA an interceptor solution that will support the warfighter and MDA’s efforts to rapidly deploy a system that complements and strengthens the existing Ballistic Missile Defense architecture.

Allied forces have kicked off live-fire training in Estonia, as part of the annual exercise Spring Storm. Led by Estonia, Spring Storm tests the integration between NATO troops and the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF), strengthening their ability in times of crisis. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s exercise is scaled down, with around 3,200 troops participating, compared to 9,000 last year.

According to pictures published on the China Defense Blog on May 02, 2020, the Chinese-made ZTQ15 or Type 15 light main battle tank is now in service with the 54th Heavy Armor Combined-Arms Brigade, Tibet Military Area Command. The new light tank also named VT5 for the export version was unveiled to the public during the Zhuhai AirShow China in November 2016.

VietDefense published some recently broadcasted footage of the Vietnamese Mobile Task Force Regiment under Guard Police High Command. The MP5s used by the men seen in action are either the Turkish-manufactured models purchased from the American Company Zenith Firearms or those manufactured by Pakistan Ordnance Factories and directly bought from Pakistan.

Lockheed Martin successfully test-fires from M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) its next-generation long-range missile designed for the U.S. Army's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. All objectives were achieved in the third and final flight demonstration as part of the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction phase of the program. Today's flawless performance follows a highly accurate inaugural flight last December and equally successful March 10 test event.

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