February 2023 News Global Defence & Security Industry - Military |
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As reported by various media, namely Kirill Ryabov on topwar.ru, Norway at the end of January announced its desire to transfer Leopard 2A4NO tanks to Ukraine, and now the possibility of sending CV90 IFVs and self-propelled mortars is being discussed.
Amid the current ‘’Leopard frenzy’’ that is nearly submerging Europe, be it to supply the Ukrainian army or buy new fleets of main battle tanks, the Czech Republic is working on the possibility of purchasing the latest version of the Leopard 2, i.e. the Leopard 2A7+, as Army Recognition already reported on September 19, 2022.
According to Park Eun-jee on koreajoongangdaily.com, Hanwha Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Romania’s state-run defense company to export its K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer and AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), the Korean engine and arms manufacturer announced Tuesday, February 7.
According to a joint statement published by the Defense Ministers of Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands on February 7, 2023, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands will provide Ukraine with 100 refurbished Leopard 1A5 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) coming from private defense company stocks.
According to information published on the Twitter account of the German Ministry of Defense on February 8, 2023, the first German Leopard 2A6 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) will be delivered to Ukraine at the end of March 2023. Following this delivery, Ukraine's armed forces will be equipped with one of the best tanks in the world.
When it comes to making a world-class business operate efficiently, good teamwork is essential. Never has this been truer than when talking about one of Tobyhanna Army Depot’s newest workloads — installation kits for the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, or SBCT. Justin Kucharski, Public Affairs Specialist, and Danielle E. Weinschenk, Lead Public Affairs Specialist, report.
The U.S. Defense Security Agency on February 7, 2023, announced that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Poland of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers and related equipment for an estimated cost of $10 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this sale.
Specializing in the creation of innovative solutions based on small arms, the Belgian company FN Herstal announces a first major order of FN Elity ballistic calculators, manufactured in Europe (ITAR-free) and for use by French snipers and designated marksmen.
According to a Tweet published by the British Ministry of Defense on February 6, 2023, the first Ukrainian soldiers arrived in the UK for training on the AS-90 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers, which the British government will donate to the Ukrainian armed forces.
According to Seth J. Frantzman in The Jerusalem Post on February 3, Iran showcased a legion of miniature tank robots, remote-controlled 4x4 and 6x6 UGVs fitted with various weapons.
In an unprecedented move, Israel might send its Iron Dome air defense missile system to Ukraine. According to an Ukrinform correspondent, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this in an interview with Tara John and Rob Picheta for CNN on February 1. "Well, I'm certainly looking into it," Netanyahu said when asked whether Israel can send air defense systems to Ukraine. Netanyahu promised during his election campaign that he would consider supplying weapons to Ukraine if elected.
The U.S. Defense Department on February 3 announced a new package of security assistance for Ukraine. This includes the authorization of a presidential drawdown of security assistance, valued at up to $425 million, as well as $1.75 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds.
On Monday, February 6, Army Recognition called Freddy Versluys, CEO of the Belgian company OIP Land Systems (formerly Sabiex International, founded in 1967), to enquire about his claim his company could restore 20 former Belgian army Leopard 1A5 tanks in combat condition for Ukraine, should a buyer pay for.
According to a video published by the "Ukraine Weapons Tracker", the Ukrainian army is now equipped with M113A1 tracked APCs (Armored Personnel Carriers) that were formerly in service with the Belgian army. In fact, the M113 shown in the video has a unique design that was only used by the Belgian army. According to information found online, Belgium purchased M113 APCs (Armored Personnel Carriers) through a British company that delivered them to Ukraine.
On 1 February, the European Defence Agency (EDA) launched its largest Research and Technology project to develop highly autonomous combat unmanned ground systems. The project, Combat Unmanned Ground Systems (CUGS), brings together nine member states and 28 European industry partners. With a € 35.5 million budget and running for 36 months, CUGS aims to define, design and develop a set of functional modules which will be mounted on to existing platforms. The final phase of the project will test full demonstrators for highly autonomous combat unmanned ground systems.
British Army’s 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals has taken the Multi-Mode Radio to Belize to test the full range of its capabilities on Exercise Mercury Canopy. The jungle provides a stern test for communication systems as the dense and moist vegetation absorbs radio waves and limits line-of-sight transmission. Also, like any electronic equipment, radios require careful handling and maintenance to protect them in hot and humid conditions.
According to pictures published on Social Networks on February 3, 2023, the German company FFG (Flensburger Farhzeugbau Gesellschaft) unveiled the facilities where is stored the Danish Leopard 1A5 Main Battle Tanks that will be donated to Ukraine. FFG will have 20 Leopard 1A5 tanks repaired and ready to ship to Ukraine within three months and another 20 tanks in six months.
Germany plans to invest €17 billion to strengthen its air defense capabilities with a new multi-layered anti-missile shield including German IRIS-T, Israeli Arrow 3, and American PATRIOT air defense missile system. Currently, the German government negotiates with the company Diehl Defence to procure eight IRIS-T anti-missile systems.
According to a tweet published on February 4, 2023, by the Canadian Minister of Defense, Anita Anand, the first Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank (MBT), specifically the 2A4 version, donated by Canada is on its way to Ukraine.
According to information published by the German newspaper "Spiegel" on February 2, 2023, the German government has requested the Swedish government to purchase the tracked version of the IRIS-T mobile air defense missile system for Ukraine.
According to information published by the Spanish Newspaper website "El Pais" on February 1, 2023, Spain plans to supply four to six Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tanks to Ukraine coming from the military inventory of the Spanish armed forces.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, four Marker anti-tank robotic UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) platforms have arrived in Ukraine and specialists have started testing algorithms for conducting warfare within a group of combat robots, Dmitry Rogozin, Russian ex-space boss and head of a group of military advisers and the Tsar Wolves research and technical center, said. A video has been released, showing the arrival of the UGVs.
The Norwegian government officially announced on Friday, February 3, that it has decided to acquire 54 tanks of the Leopard 2A7NO type from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). An option has been entered for the purchase of a further 18 tanks. The first new tanks are expected to be delivered in 2026.
According to information published by the International Press Agency Reuters on February 3, 2023, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that the SAMP/T air defense missile system jointly developed by Italy and France will be delivered to Ukraine within the next two months.
The German government has issued an export license for Leopard 1 main battle tanks, a decision that Steffen Hebestreit, spokesman of the Government, has confirmed this Friday, February 3, without giving further details.
