November 2018 Global Defence & Security Industry - Military News

 
 
 
 

Rescue team of Ukraine’s SSES Field Office in Donetsk region received new vehicles based on the 6х6 KrAZ-63221 chassis as part of the fleet upgrade and renovation program. According to the website of State Service for Emergency Situations, three special vehicles entered service with rescuers of the Donetsk region.

Israel’s new Eitan armored personnel carrier is in final field testing with the Nahal infantry brigade. Its series production is scheduled to start in 2021. Once the Israeli army has received enough Eitans to replace the last of their old M113s, the vehicle will be made available for export.

Paramount Group, a South Africa-based global defence and aerospace company, operates in countries in the Middle East, South America and Africa. Its joint venture Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE) produces advanced armoured wheeled vehicles, such as the Arlan 4x4, Nomad 4x4, Barys 6x6 and Barys 8x8, in the country.

"Kim Jong-un has overseen the testing of a new “high-technology” tactical weapon at the National Academy of Defense Sciences," the official KCNA news agency reported on November 16th. She added that the test had been successful but did not specify the nature of the weapon tested (could it be a "railgun"?). This weapon, which has been developed over a long period, "helps to build an invulnerable defense for our country and strengthens the fighting power of our people's army," the agency said.

The UK is cementing its deep and special relationship with Oman for generations to come with the opening of a new Omani-British Joint Training Base. As part of his visit to Oman for the culmination of Exercise Saif Sareea 3, the UK’s largest exercise in 17 years, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson underlined the UK’s enduring commitment to Oman and highlighted the importance of protecting peace and stability in the Gulf.

Qatari and U.S. Army Central forces launched into Exercise Eastern Action 19 on Nov. 4, 2018. Soldiers from the U.S. 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor Regiment, 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Spartan, and Qatari Emiri Land Forces, combined for the ceremony and will join forces the Command Post and Field Training Exercises.

IndoDefence 2018 gave the Indonesian company PT Pindad and the Turkish company FNSS a golden opportunity to demonstrate and, hence, efficiently advertise their Harimau/Kaplan medium tank. Harimau (Javanese tiger) is the Indonesian name, while Kaplan MT Modern Medium Weight Tank (MMWT) is the Turkish one. As told to Army Recognition by an FNSS representative, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Brunei have expressed interest in purchasing the tank, the two latter countries for 40 to 50 each.

MyDefence Communication announces the successful integration of Counter Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) technology in vehicle platforms for military forces. The integration of the drone sensors allows military operators to effectively detect and defeat enemy drones used for reconnaissance or as weapon delivery systems.

Spanish Company Star Defence Logistics & Engineering (SDLE) has won a multi-million Euros contract for the reactivation, maintenance and modernization of 80 first-generation Centauro Cavalry Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) of the Royal Jordanian Army. In February 2014, it was announced that Jordan to buy about 80 Italian Iveco 105 mm Centauro tank destroyers by June 2014. The Centauro 105mm is a wheeled tank destroyer designed for light to medium territorial defense and tactical reconnaissance.

The U.S. Army is about to buy an advanced camouflage defense system able to protect troops, vehicles and various equipment from a variety of threats in multiple combat environments. Three companies bid for the contract, which was ultimately awarded to Fibrotex USA – a leader in camouflage, concealment and deception systems for armed forces.

Leonardo DRS announced that it has won Department of Defense contracts for Electro-Optical/Infrared programs worth up to $800 million. The significant U.S. military Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity program contracts were awarded in September 2018. The contracts include: a ten-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract from the U.S. Army to produce the Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder 3, a next-generation lightweight precision laser targeting system, enabling forward observers to call for precision-guided munitions onto targets. The firm-fixed-price contract, awarded September 9, 2018, is worth up to $231 million, if all options are exercised over ten years.

Members of 15 foreign delegations, as well as representatives of the European Defence Agency (EDA) and of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), have been given the opportunity to witness the full range of capabilities of MBDA's 5th generation MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée) ground combat missile during a live firing demonstration.

The Russian army has received more than 1,800 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types over the past six years, the Russian Defense Ministry newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda said. "A qualitative leap has been made in the development of unmanned aviation over the past few years. Close to 40 military units and subdivisions have been created over those years. They have received more than 1,800 modern unmanned aerial vehicles for operational service what makes it possible to conduct reconnaissance at a depth of up to 500 kilometers," the newspaper wrote.

The RQ-7B Shadow tactical unmanned aircraft system's engine roared as it slingshots off a mobile launch ramp at Horsemen Flight Landing Strip in Trzebien, Poland, Nov. 2, and into the bright horizon during another day of training for soldiers assigned to Delta Company, 91st Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, as reported by Sgt. Lisa Vines on the U.S. Army website.

On 12 November, Ukroboronprom announced that the company had signed an agreement on the extension of the military and technical cooperation with Indonesia. Ukrinmash, which is a part of Ukroboronprom, held a meeting with the Indonesian Defense ministry during which Indonesia expressed its intension to purchase WAC-47 assault rifles from Ukraine and is interested in Ukrainian radio detection and ranging system, including counter-battery, air assets of electronic warfare and drones.

Across two demanding weeks (12-21 Nov) in south-west France, Exercise Falcon Amarante is testing the Airborne Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (A-CJEF) – a partnership between 16 Air Assault Brigade and 11e Brigade Parachutiste. The two brigades provide the airborne rapid reaction forces for their respective armies, and the A-CJEF has been trained and ready since 2013 to deploy on short-notice operations ranging from war fighting to disaster relief.

During the 5 November wargames held in the Central, Eastern, Northern and Western parts of Iran, Seraj successfully intercepted and destroyed a mock-up drone in flight. Seraj is a 35-mm artillery system with an optimized cannon which uses radar and a new optic system to intercept enemy targets, specially tiny flying objects.

South Korea could provide Indonesia with additional surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). LIG Nex1 sold the Chiron SAM to Indonesia in 2012. Now, South Korea could expand the number of systems in service with the Indonesian Air Force which acquired and has been operating Chirons since 2014, integrated with Oerlikon Skyshield 35 mm anti-aircraft gun system.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced that a contract has been awarded to DRS Sustainment Systems worth $17.2 million for the acquisition of Joint Assault Bridges.
This is a modification to an existing contract: Leonardo DRS was awarded a production contract in May 2016 for up to 273 JAB systems plus related testing and support. The company is partnered with Anniston Army Depot and Israel Military Industries (IMI). The production will take place in West Plains, Mo., and the deliveries are expected to be completed by May 2024.

On 5 November, Iranian air defense units carried out the operational test of modified versions of two indigenous missile systems during a large-scale war game. The Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have staged a large-scale joint military exercise, as reported by Tasnim and AMN.

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