March 2023 News Global Defence & Security Industry - Military |
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According to a video published by the Egyptian Ministry of Defense on March 18, 2023, the European defense company MBDA delivered MMP anti-tank guided missiles to the Egyptian armed forces, which are now being used by the Navy Special Forces. The MMP, now named Akeron MP, is a French-made anti-tank guided missile designed, developed, and produced by MBDA.
The American company GDLS (General Dynamics Land Systems) unveils its new TRX SHORAD, a new robotic short-range air defense system based on the modular Tracked Robot 10-ton (TRX) technology demonstrator. The new TRX variant will be presented for the first time during the Association of the U.S. Army’s Global Force Symposium & Exposition, scheduled for March 28 to 30, 2023, at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala., United States.
According to information published by the Turkish Defense website "Defence Turk", on March 23, 2023, the first Turkish-made New Altay Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) will be delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces on April 23, 2023. Its development was initiated to address the Turkish Army's need for an advanced and capable MBT that could meet the demands of modern warfare, while also decreasing the country's reliance on foreign military technology. It is the first Turkish-designed and manufactured MBT, marking a significant milestone in the country's efforts to reduce its reliance on foreign military technology and strengthen its defense industry.
An Indonesian weapons company, PT Pindad, located in Bandung, West Java, recently announced their new weapon product, Defense Studies report. Quoted from the official pindad.com website, last January PT Pindad held a trial demonstration of a new aiming device as well as introducing their newest weapon: the Pindad AM1.
According to a statement released by the Czech Ministry of Defense on March 22, 2023, the Czech army has finalized a report on the military trials of the Leopard 2A4 MBT (Main Battle Tank), which was presented to the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, Major General Karel Řehka. The tank was successful in all tested parameters and can be adopted for use by the Czech Army.
Once again, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has published a highly interesting report about the worldwide arms trade. The imports of major arms by European states which increased by 47 per cent between 2013–17 and 2018–22, while the global level of international arms transfers decreased by 5.1 per cent. Arms imports fell overall in Africa (–40 per cent), the Americas (–21 per cent), Asia and Oceania (–7.5 per cent) and the Middle East (–8.8 per cent)—but imports to East Asia and certain states in other areas of high geopolitical tension rose sharply. The United States’ share of global arms exports increased from 33 to 40 per cent while Russia’s fell from 22 to 16 per cent, according to new data on global arms transfers published today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
As reported by several sources, the UK is planning to send armour-piercing rounds which contain depleted uranium (DU) to Ukraine, for use with the Challenger 2 tank squadron donated by the British army. As reported by Declassified UK, British Defence minister Baroness Goldie made the admission on 20th March, in response to a written parliamentary question from crossbench peer Lord Hylton. Goldie said: “Such rounds are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armoured vehicles”. Russia has previously warned it would regard the use of depleted uranium in Ukraine as a ‘dirty bomb’.
As reported by Ko Peng-hsin, of Military News Agency at Nantou, on March 16th, the 209 Factory of Production and Manufacturing Center of the Armament Bureau held a dynamic display and production line introduction of the CM34 wheeled armored vehicle with a 30mm chain-gun at Yuegang Camp that day. The exhibition demonstrated the advanced achievements of indigenous-made national defense equipment, namely a 105mm version of the CM34.
On March 16, 2023, the Croatian parliamentary Defense Committee gave a positive opinion on projects to procure SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles, Patria APCs Armored Personnel Carriers and rigid inflatable boats (RIB) and to modernize the radar system and upgrade the combat communications system of the Croatian Air Force (HRZ).
After the press conference held on March 21, 2023, Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon Press Secretary, revealed that the deployment of US Patriot air defense missile systems to Ukraine will occur at a swifter pace than initially anticipated.
As reported on 21stcenturyasianarmsrace.com, in December 2022 a defense exhibition in Hanoi, Vietnam, that was organized by the government included an outdoor exhibition of weapon systems. Coverage from an unlikely source – RosoboronExport, Russia’s arms export agency – revealed the extent of Soviet vintage weaponry still being used. Photos of Vietnam’s R-17E Elbrus, also known as Scud- B, were shared online. Vietnam was always acknowledged to have a stockpile of these liquid-fueled SRBMs but the origin and size were never well-documented.
According to information published on the "Juha Salmela" Twitter account on March 21, 2023, Finland has donated 20 to 30 Sisu XA-185 6x6 APCs Armored Personnel Carrier vehicles to Ukraine. The vehicles are operated by the Ukrainian Naval Infantry.
On March 21, the U.S. Defense Department published that, in January 2023, 31 M1A2 Abrams tanks would be delivered to Ukraine, but officials had speculated it would take about a year to make that happen. Now, they say, the U.S. will instead send M1A1 Abrams tanks from refurbished hulls already in U.S. inventory, and the delivery will be in the fall — faster than what was initially expected. C. Todd Lopez reports.
According to a video published on a social network on March 18, 2023, the United States will have delivered an undisclosed number of M-ATV 4x4 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to Ukraine. There is no official information about the delivery of this type of combat vehicle by the United States.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday, 21 March 2023, launched his annual report for 2022, covering all aspects of the Alliance’s work over the past year.
According to a tweet posted on March 21 by the British Army, positive progress has continued on the next phase of Ajax trials, with the Ministry of Defence confirming the revised in-service dates and resuming payments to General Dynamics for delivery of the programme. With an initial payment of £480 million, withheld since December 2020 due to challenges with noise and vibration, the MOD will resume payments to General Dynamics as the vehicles are scheduled to enter initial operating capability between July and December 2025.
On March 20, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announces the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This authorization is the thirty-fourth drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021 and is valued at up to $350 million.
Citing information released by Stine Barclay Gaasland, spokeswoman for the Norwegian Armed Forces, Norway announced on Monday, March 20, 2023, that eight Leopard 2 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) were delivered to Ukraine. Poland and Canada have respectively already delivered 14 and 8 Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius revealed at an EU Foreign and Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday, March 20, 2023, that a shipment of Marder tracked armored IFVs Infantry Fighting Vehicles is on the way to Ukraine. In January of this year, Germany pledged to provide 40 of these vehicles to Ukraine and subsequently hosted Ukrainian soldiers for training on them.
Eighteen states signed on Monday 20 March the European Defence Agency (EDA) project arrangement for the collaborative procurement of ammunition to aid Ukraine and replenish Member States’ national stockpiles. The project opens the way for EU Member States and Norway to proceed along two paths: a two-year, fast-track procedure for 155mm artillery rounds and a seven-year project to acquire multiple ammunition types. Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Norway have signed. More Member States have already expressed their intent to join the initiative soon following national procedures.
According to information published on the "Visegrád 24" Twitter account on March 18, 2023, Poland donated to Ukraine 30 Oncilla 4x4 wheeled armored personnel carriers that will be used by the Ukrainian Special Forces to fight Russian forces deployed in the country.
According to information published on the Twitter account "A-129 Mangusta" on March 19, 2023, Ukrainian soldiers have been training on the SAMP/T air defense missile system in Italy since the beginning of March this year, specifically at Santa Barbara di Sabaudi, which houses the anti-air command of the Italian army. Once training is completed, the system will be delivered to Ukraine in collaboration with France.
According to the latest report of the SIPRI Arms Trade Database 2022, Pakistan signed a contract with China for the purchase of 679 VT4 MBTs (Main Battle Tanks) that will be assembled and produced under license in Pakistan under the brand name of Haider.
According to a video released on Twitter by the Canadian Ministry of Defense on March 18, 2023, Canada has sent a Leopard 2 ARV, an armored recovery vehicle to Ukraine, based on the chassis of the Leopard 2 MBT (Main Battle Tank).
According to The Independant, the Uganda Police Force has received improved anti-riot Control Vehicles (RCVs) for Public Order Management, and Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) to address the emerging security challenges. The tactical armored vehicles are to be used in ‘volatile areas’ like Karamoja and combat zones in Somalia to guarantee the safety of officers and protect communities.
