News Headlines -Saturday 7th July 2018

1. In a fire demonstration that took place on the Suippes firing range in Northern France last week CMI Defence displayed an impressive lineup of...
2. The Defense Material Organization (DMO) of the Netherlands announced the selection of Vectronix AG, Switzerland (a subsidiary of Safran Electronics & Defense) to supply more than 1,000 handheld thermal sights for the Dutch Army.
3. Rheinmetall displayed today a new configuration of the KF41, unveiled at Eurosatory yesterday. The turreted combat vehicle that was displayed yesterday was reconfigured overnight,...
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5. Facing a growing aerial threat from unmanned systems, rockets, artillery, and mortars, the U.S. Army is accelerating the fielding of an Interim, Mobile Short Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) system to complement the tactical formations of its Stryker brigades. Leonardo DRS, Inc. was selected to provide such IM-SHORAD Mission Equipment Package (MEP) for installation Stryker A1 vehicles. The package includes onboard radar system, a turreted weapon system mounting missiles, guns, and non-kinetic (jammers and Electronic attack) capabilities. This system will provide the “detect-identify-track-defeat” capability required to defeat UAS, rotary-wing and fixed-wing threats.
6. General Dynamics Land Systems was awarded $258 million contract modification to upgrade 116 Stryker flat-bottom vehicles to the Stryker A1 configuration. The upgrade includes the installation of Double-V Hull, improving the vehicle's survivability against mines and improvised explosive devices. In addition to the DVH survivability, the Stryker A1 provides a 450-horsepower engine, 60,000-pound suspension, 910-amp alternator and in-vehicle network. All vehicles will be delivered by March 31, 2020.
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8. Lockheed Martin's Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) system has successfully passed its Defense Acquisition Board review and achieved milestone C. The signed Acquisition Decision Memorandum...
9. The U.S. Navy is testing an upgraded weapon kit for the KC-130J Harvest HAWK to provide close support for Marine and special operations forces. The HH+ is an upgrade to the original Harvest HAWK roll-on, roll-off precision strike package weapons system. The team also develops an engineering change proposal (ECP) to improve the Hellfire weapons capacity on the aircraft and ensure the KJ platform is sensor-shooter, electronic warfare and digitally interoperable capable.
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11. Australia commits to buy six Northrop Gruman MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance drones, to be fielded beginning in 2023, at an investment of $1.4 billion. The Tritons will operate with manned aircraft to enhance Australian anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike, and search and rescue capabilities.
12. Highlights of day II at Eurosatory - as viewed by defense-Update
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14. A 150 meter long, and 8,800 tons displacement the Hunter class frigates will be operated by a crew of 180 personnel. The Future Frigates will replace the eight ANZAC class frigates currently in service. The ANZAC’s entered service in 1996 and are expected to be maintained until the 2040s, when the youngest ship, HMAS Perth, will have been in service for more than 35 years.
15. The U.S. Marine Corps has selected a new wheeled, amphibious combat vehicle (ACV) for the service and awarded BAE Systems a $198 million contract to deliver the initial 30 vehicles, with options for additional 174 vehicles, what could lead up to a $1.2 billion procurement. Based on the Italian SuperAV design introduced by Iveco Defense Vehicles, ACV provides exceptional mobility in all terrains, a suspended interior seat structure for 13 embarked Marines, blast-mitigating positions for a crew of three, and improved survivability and force protection over currently fielded systems.
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17. The foundation established by DRS Leonardo to support the US Army induction of RAFAEL's TROPHY APS can also support future Israeli procurement of the system
18. Germany and France are jointly launching the development of a new main battle tank and self-propelled gun, what seems to be the most strategic project in the European European land defense for the next 30 years, a program package that will shape the future of European armies’ main combat capabilities
19. Israel’s armor specialist Plasan showcases broadened product line at Eurosatory, introducing a blast-protected model of the SandCat along with several light armored vehicles. In the heavier weight classes, Plasan provides a peek into the advanced protection technologies being integrated into newly designed combat vehicles. In recent years Plasan expanded its activity to heavier armored combat platforms, including 6x6, 8x8 and tracked fighting vehicles at weight levels up to 45 tons. Such armored vehicles are required to withstand medium caliber cannon threat levels and maintain functionality.
20. Israel’s specialty and combat vehicle producer Carmor unveils the Mantis at Eurosatory 2018. The vehicle to be displayed at the defense exhibition in Paris next week is the first variant of a new family of vehicles designed to perform combat and combat support missions.
21. Plasan expands the Sandcat family with the introduction of the 4 GEN Sandcat. The new generation uses a monocoque hull, that eliminates the need for the Ford 550 frame, although retaining the automotive parts of the heavy-duty commercial vehicle. The use of a monocoque hull enabled designers to improve the vehicle's blast protection while retaining the overall vehicle's weight below nine tons.
22. The British Ministry of Defense has selected four groups to bid for its upcoming Air Support to Defense Operational Training (ASDOT) requirement. Each of the groups selected for the program has teamed with training services specialists from the USA, Canada, and Israel to deliver adversary aircraft and weapons. The winning group will operate various high-performance jets simulating aggressor fighter and attack planes, cruise missiles and electronic combat to training British air, land and naval forces. A final selection is expected in September 2018 followed by the contract award in 2020 that could be worth up to £1.5 billion over 15 years.
23. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, a manufacturer of jet-powered tactical unmanned aerial drone systems, will soon offer its Mako militarized, combat unmanned aerial vehicles systems for export, following approval of such export by the U.S. State Department to certain European and Asia Pacific region countries.
24. The Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Malcolm Turnbull MP, has announced today that Rheinmetall has been selected by the Australian Government to provide its next-generation 8x8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs)The German-designed Boxer 8x8 wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicles will replace the Piranha-based ASLAV armored vehicles currently in service under the Land 400 Phase 2 Project.
25. Israel's armor specialist Plasan was selected to design and produce armor protection for Britain's new Type 26 frigate. The ships will be built by BAE Systems in Glasgow, Scotland and are considered among the world's most advanced combat ships. Armor production for the first three vessels will begin this year. Plasan's advanced armor technology has been implemented to protect armored vehicles and personnel, transport aircraft and helicopters as well as naval vessels. The Royal Navy plans to replace eight Type 23 Duke class anti-submarine frigates with six Type 26s, based on BAE Systems' 'Global Combat Ship' design.
26. Lockheed Martin Sikorsky has signed a strategic agreement with and German defense firm Rheinmetall teaming for competing in the German Air Force planned replacement of Sikorsky's CH-53G heavy transport helicopter program (Schwerer Transporthubschrauber - STH). The Germans evaluate two options - the CH-47F Chinook from Boeing and CH-53K from Lockheed Martin Sikorsky. The team plans to introduce more German teammates in the weeks to come.
27. BAE Systems, Pearson Engineering and Thales UK have signed agreements with the German-Dutch ARTEC consortium, as partners for the production of BOXER. The agreement paves the way for significant local manufacturing of the vehicle and its systems in the UK, should the BOXER be selected by the Ministry of Defense as the British Army’s next generation Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV).
28. BAE Systems introduced today the fifth evolutionary variant of the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle that embeds many of the upgrades and modifications designed through the evolution of the vehicle family.
29. Military technology and defense news
30. Australia to Operate Six MQ-4C Drones by 2025
31. Eurosatory Photo Review – 2
32. Robotic Systems at Eurosatory 2018
33. Eurosatory 2018 – First View
34. Raytheon is Building a 100kW Tactical Laser
35. US Army To Get Mobile Air Defense Strykers by 2020
36. General Dynamics Upgrades More Strykers to A1 Variants
37. RAFAEL: “The Majority of TROPHY Components are Manufactured by the American Defense Industry”
38. Hellfire Successor Approved for Production
39. Navy, Marines Test Improvements to Hellfire Spitting KC-130J