October 2018 Global Defence & Security Industry - Military News

 
 
 
 

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems has successfully completed delivery of the first Army-Ground Mobility Vehicles (A-GMV 1.1) to the US Army. This marks the First Unit Equipped (FUE) with the new A-GMV 1.1 capability, which was delivered within four months of contract award and consisted of vehicles, spares and training. Estimated completion of this contract is March 2019.

On October 11, the Lithuanian Armed Forces received 54 Unimog U5000 trucks manufactured by Daimler AG. The successful collaboration with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) continues to be demonstrated. Lithuania already received 88 such trucks under an agreement signed with NSPA in 2015.

On 10 October, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen announced she intends to enhance national security, warning her government will not submit to China's pressures amid growing military threats in the region.

According to the combat training plan for 2018 approved by the Minister of Defense, the rocket and artillery troops of the Azerbaijani Army conducted tactical exercises in various firing ranges, the Ministry of Defense said. “In the course of the exercises conducted at night and daytime, the live-fire stage was held to improve combat skills of military personnel.

In September 2018, two top arms companies from South Korea and the Philippines inked a key joint venture deal. While the initial scope of collaboration in the deal covers only firearms, it nonetheless put the focus on ongoing activity within the defense aspect of the Philippines-South Korea relationship.

Excalibur Army and Ukraine’s State Concern Ukroboronprom have signed a memorandum of cooperation to develop, manufacture and promote innovative products in the field of militray vehicles, mainly armored ones. The signing of the memorandum was held during the international specialized exhibition "Arms and Security-2018" in Kyiv on October 9. Excalibur participated in this year’s Arms and Security international specialized exhibition in Kyiv, Ukraine.

On 1st October, following the tragic loss of a Russian Ilyushin Il-20 last 24 September over the Mediterranean, Russia supplied Syria with three battalion sets of S-300PM air defense systems and twenty-four missile launchers in total, eight launchers for each system, as well as more than 100 surface-to-air guided missiles for each battalion, as reported by BulgarianMilitary.com.

The U.S. Army wants a new ICV Infantry Combat Vehicle to accompany the M1A2 Abrams MBT into battle. The vehicle would take over the M2A3 Bradley’s role in carrying a squad of infantry across the fast-moving battlefields, along with a limited fighting capability. Three manufacturers are working on the competition for what the U.S. Army calls the Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV).

InstantEye Robotics announced on 10 October the next evolution in its family of combat-proven, small, unmanned aerial systems: the InstantEye Mk-3 series. These new systems incorporate state-of-the-art data encryption, enhanced payload support, and a new operator interface with expanded features and capabilities.

China will sell 48 advanced armed drones to Pakistan. Called the Wing Loong II, the drone can be used for both combat and surveillance missions. Although details of when and deal price is not clear, the drones will enhance Pakistan’s capabilities in the backdrop of India signing a deal with Russia for the S-400 missile defence system.

Last June, the US has started deploying Aegis Ashore missile-defense systems, as well as Mk-41 Vertical Launching Systems tubes that could be used to launch intermediate-range cruise missiles in Europe, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said. The deployment of the US Mk-41 launching systems in Romania and Poland contradicts the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, according to Vladimir Yermakov, the head of the ministry’s Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control. “There are also serious questions regarding the actions of our American colleagues that are contrary to the INF Treaty, including the ground-based deployment of universal Mk-41 launchers in Romania and Poland,” Sputnik quoted Yermakov as saying during a general debate in the First Committee of the UN General Assembly.

On October 8, the U.S. Army’s chief of staff proudly announced that the 6.8mm, next-generation weapons, which will replace the M4A1 carbine and the M249 squad automatic weapon made by FN America, will be able to penetrate any body armor on the battlefield. "It will fire at speeds that far exceed the velocity of bullets today, and it will penetrate any existing or known body armor," General Mark Milley said. Considering their cost, the Army will likely field these new weapons to infantry and other close-combat forces only.

From September 17 to 21, Naqoura's firing point, on the extreme southwestern edge of the area of operations, hosted the FINUL semi-annual Steel Storm exercise. Organized by the Force Commander Reserve (FCR), it gathered 13 nations, 700 soldiers and allowed its actors to train while demonstrating their abilities. The aim was to further enhance the cooperation and interoperability of UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (FAL).

Raytheon completed a significant milestone in the development of its long-range DeepStrike missile to meet the U.S. Army's Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM, requirement. The company has integrated its new launch pod missile container into the Army's M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS launchers.

The U.S. Army has completed qualification testing for a new proximity fuze that significantly enhances the combat-proven Stinger missile produced by Raytheon. During recent testing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, the upgraded weapon system scored a perfect 100 percent hit rate against a variety of targets. The missiles were shoulder- and vehicle-launched.

Raytheon and the U.S. Army completed development of a revolutionary capability for cannon artillery by upgrading the combat-proven Excalibur precision-guided projectile. The Excalibur Shaped Trajectory, or EST, variant will enable soldiers to eliminate targets in hard-to-reach locations by selecting the projectile's terminal or final phase attack angle.

Top commanders of the Army are locked in a week-long discussion to chart the course of their force, change “structure” and create more avenues for promotions. Chaired by Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, the conference has kicked off in New Delhi on Tuesday 9 October, as reported by Ajay Banerjee in The Tribune.

The Commonwealth has selected Indra Australia to design and manufacture a Level 2 deployable forensic laboratory capability that is being procured under Project LAND 154 Phase 2 for AUD 36M. The system will be used primarily by the Australian Army to provide a forensic support capability for a range of roles including Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (CIED).

Page 4 of 6