September 2018 Global Defence & Security Industry - Military News

 
 
 
 

Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a full rate production contract from Lockheed Martin to deliver insensitive munitions (IM) rocket motors for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) program. The motors, which recently completed 100 percent successful flight tests, reflect years of work by Northrop Grumman in support of its long-standing commitment to producing safe and affordable IM rocket motors for the U.S. Army.

AeroVironment, Inc. has received a fixed-price contract award valued at $5,962,494 from NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) on August 20, 2018. The contract award encompasses the procurement of Raven unmanned aircraft systems equipped with Mantis i23 sensors and pocket Remote Video Terminals (p/RVT) for the Portuguese Army, with delivery scheduled over a three-year period.

A new fleet of robots and drones designed to test for chemical agents, provide 3D mapping and identify casualties have been put through their paces by troops, police officers and scientists for the first time. Tests of the cutting-edge multi-million-pound project, co-funded by the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office, included robots that can ‘read’ and climb stairs and miniature drones weighing less than a bar of soap which could soon come into service to rapidly assess hazardous scenes.

KONGSBERG has been awarded an IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity) frame contract with the United States Army for production, system support and technical engineering support for the family of CROWS Remote Weapon Stations (RWS). The frame contract has a value of up to USD 498 million and extends over a five-year period.

Major General Shao Yuanming, director of the Chinese side participating in the “Vostok-2018” strategic military exercise and Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Department of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), presented the achievements made by the Chinese participating troops from the drill and provided prospects for deepening pragmatic and friendly cooperation between the Chinese and Russian militaries after the combined actual-combat phase of the “Vostok-2018” strategic joint military exercise and the military parade on the afternoon of September 13, 2018.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an international organisation of seven nations of South Asia and South East Asia, housing 1.5 billion people and having a combined gross domestic product of $3.5 trillion (2018). As reported by AutocarProNews Desk, Tata Motors will display its two flagship vehicles that have substantial export potential at the BIMSTEC Nations Summit 2018 in Pune: the 4X4 Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) and the WhAP8x8 ICV (Co-developed with the DRDO).

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea (ROK) of 64 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles for an estimated cost of $501 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

The US military is developing a ground-based laser which can charge drones as they fly and potentially help them stay perpetually in flight, Feilidh Dwyer report in WeTalkUAV. According to New Scientist, Army engineers working for the Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center in Maryland are developing a laser which could fire beams from distances of up to 1600 feet (487 meters) in order to charge photovoltaic cells aboard small drones.

Russia`s National Guard (Rosgvardiya) is planning to acquire a batch of Kalashnikov AK-204 carbines developed by the Kalashnikov Group (a subsidiary of Rostec state corporation), according to Russian media outlets. A source from the service said the Rosgvardiya would buy the AK-204 carbines "at an early date". He did not specify neither terms nor number of the firearms set to be acquired.

IMI Systems developed a new and unique mortar munition of its kind in the world that is capable of pinpointing ground targets. According to the "Walla news" magazine, the new "Dokran" mortar shell is guided by a GPS and inertial navigation systems and enables fighters to hit targets in an accuracy level of up to 10 meters from the target.

The governmental armed forces of the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) have received some BTR-70M armored personnel carriers (APCs), according to Syrian media outlets.An armor unit of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (SAAF) in northern Syria has taken the delivery of a batch of at least three BTR-70M 8x8 APCs. Previously, the SAAF operated ageing BTR-60 8x8 carriers and BRDM-2 4x4 armored reconnaissance vehicles (ARV). Several units were reported to be equipped with BTR-80 and BTR-82A APCs.

The Indian manufacturer is testing a new 4x4 Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) for the Army, Vibin P Vijay reports on GaadiWaadi.com. Kalyani group have been a pioneer in manufacturing of axles, aggregates and driveline technology for defence compact vehicles worldwide and they expanded the business to building various military protected vehicles especially for the Indian Army.

Baykar’s General Manager Haluk Bayraktar answered the questions of TVNET Editor-In-Chief İsmail Halis in a joint live broadcast aired on the digital platforms of Yeni Şafak, TVNET and GZT, YeniSafak reports. “Turkey used to procure helicopters, drones and tanks from overseas. These purchases have all been cancelled. We said that we would locally produce these and a will was put forth. This was only a dream 15 years ago, but we advanced to today step by step,” Bayraktar said.

The U.S. Marine Corps is terminating its Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV7) survivability upgrade program, InsideDefense reports. It will instead acquire a larger fleet of new Amphibious Combat Vehicles. Marine Corps spokesman Manny Pachecho said the decision stems from a renewed focus on modernization in support of the National Defense Strategy, according to InsideDefense.com. The service issued a 90-day partial stop work order to Science Applications International Corp, but SAIC said they will still delivery four vehicles over the 90-day period.

President Putin visited Vostok-2018 maneuvers and said they were held successfully. "The active stage of the maneuvers is ending today at Tsugol range in Transbaikalia. It was held at a high level. All units and formations accomplished their missions. All of them demonstrated military skills and ability to successfully counter potential military threats," he said.

Russia`s Military-Industrial Company (VPK) has upgraded its BTR-87 armored personnel carrier (APC). The modernized vehicle was demonstrated at the Army 2018 international military-technical forum held in Kubinka near Moscow on August 21-26.

Saab has been chosen in competition for a mortar ammunition contract amongst other vendors for 81mm grenades, including both explosive and training rounds for an undisclosed customer. The framework contract will have a duration of five years and the first order intakes are expected to take place in 2019 followed by deliveries in 2020.

The joint military exercise between Indian and Mongolian armies, the Nomadic Elephant - 2018, started Tuesday 12 September in Mongolia, The Pioneer reports. The Nomadic Elephant is an annual, bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the partnership between Indian and Mongolian armed forces, Kohima-based Defence spokesman Col. Chiranjit Konwer explained.

Page 2 of 5